"I don't know anyone by those names," Jacob replied calmly. Amneris looked into his eyes. The Pharaoh herself looked deeply upset.
"Please don't lie to me," she said with a sigh as she sat down across from the older man. "I know Radames and Aida are alive, even though they most-likely told you otherwise. I also know that they're here, you messenger boy told me about them. They're village was attacked, or so they claim. Now, you have three choices. One, you tell me where they are, and I go see them. Two, you go get them, and bring them back here. Or three, my guards will go search each and every tent here for them. The third one will be hard, because my guards think that their Captain has been dead for over a year. What's your choice, Jacob?" Jacob stood up.
"I'll go get them for you." He exited through the back door, and went to get Radames and Aida.
Radames and Aida were sitting on the floor of their tent talking in hushed voice when Jacob entered their tent. Both looked up, clearly startled by their visitor.
"Amneris knows you're here," Jacob stated simply. "She wants to see you. Come with me." Reluctantly, the couple got up, and followed Jacob. How could Amneris know that they had survived? How did she know where they were living? Questions swarmed the couple's minds as they walked to Jacob's tent. The walk to the tent felt like the walk to the tomb where the lovers thought that they were to meet their doom; never-ending.
"I'll be with Rebecca and Micah," Jacob told the couple when they reached his tent. Aida and Radames both nodded. He then left them alone. Radames kissed Aida's cheek softly.
"Ready?" he asked quietly. She nodded. Holding hands, they entered the tent where Amneris was waiting for them anxiously.
Amneris' back was to Radames and Aida when they entered the tent. She spun around the second she heard them arrive. She was wearing a red tube top dress that appeared to be made of many layers with a matching cape, and an elegant gold necklace around her neck. Amneris' face immediately lit up when she saw Radames and Aida. She literally flew across the room, and gave both her friends a huge hug.
"I'm so glad you both found the brick I cut loose from the tomb!" she exclaimed. Aida and Radames were shocked by what Amneris had just said.
"You cut loose the brick?" asked Aida. Amneris blushed.
"When you both were sentenced, I knew I had to do something. I rushed down to the tomb, and cut loose the brick. After you were buried, I was terrified that I wouldn't get back to you two in time. I'm so happy to see you again!"
"It's good to see you too, Amneris," Radames said. "So now you're the Pharaoh of all Egypt?" Amneris nodded.
"Yes, my Father passed away shortly after you both left. I heard that you both got married." Aida nodded. "Congratulations. I'm stopping here to restock supplies, but I have something to ask of you."
"What can we do for you?" the Captain asked. Amneris' eyes were bright with excitement.
"Come back to Egypt with me," she said simply. Aida and Radames could tell that Amneris wanted desperately for them to return home with her. The couple exchanged glances.
"We can't go back to Egypt. We're criminals for starters, and we're supposed to be dead!" Radames exclaimed. Amneris shook her head.
"I cleared you both of all charges the second I got to the throne. Please come home with me. Will you at least think about it?" Aida sighed.
"We'll think about it," she said. Amneris smiled. "Why don't we go outside so you can see our village and meet Joseph?" Amneris looked confused.
"Joseph? Who's
Joseph?"
Radames replied, "Our adopted son. We also have an
adopted daughter named Martha, who is with a wet nurse for a few more
weeks. I don't think it's smart to go wandering around the
village, Aida. Amneris' guards will recognize me."
"Everyone will recognize you if you return to Egypt. I'd really like to see your village and meet your children," Amneris replied hopefully. Radames sighed. This was going to be a long day.
Radames and Aida led Amneris outside. The Pharaoh's guards were talking to several of the villagers, including Micah. Micah didn't know Radames and Aida's secret; he hadn't been home when they told Rebecca. He was about to find out though. Amneris' guards froze when they saw Radames and Aida.
"Excuse us for one moment please," one of the guards said as he brushed past Micah, and walked towards Radames. Micah followed them with a confused look on his face. "Captain Radames?" asked the guard.
"Captain?" Micah repeated. "What does he mean by 'Captain'?"
"You're supposed to be dead! I saw you buried alive in the tomb with her; the Nubian Princess!"
"Princess? What's going on here you guys?" A small crowd was beginning to form around the group. Everyone was trying to figure out what the guard was talking about. "You must be confusing them with someone else." Radames shook his head.
"I'm afraid he's not confused, Micah. I used to be the Captain of the Guards in Egypt, and Amneris was my fiancé. Aida's the Nubian Princess that I captured while in Nubia about two years ago. We fell in love, and were found out by my power-hungry Father."
"So you lied to us?" Micah demanded.
"We're supposed to be dead," Aida replied. "Tried for treason by Amneris' Father, and escaped at the last possible minute. We're not supposed to be alive."
"So you're criminals?"
Amneris stood up for her friends, and said firmly, "No, they aren't criminals. They are a man and woman who love each other, and have been cleared of all charges." Micah closed his mouth. He knew better than to argue with a Pharaoh.
A guard came up behind Amneris, and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, and turned to Aida and Radames with a smile.
"I cannot believe I forgot to tell you this," she said. "After the fight on the docks, some soldiers went to clean up, but Mereb wasn't there." Aida and Radames looked at each other.
"You mean his body…right? The Nubians probably took it," Aida said. Amneris shook her head.
"No, he survived the attack. He's here right now." Aida's eyes nearly doubled in size.
"Where is he?" she demanded.
"Down by the well. He and a young woman from here are getting water for the camels." In an instant, the young Princess was gone.
Aida pushed her way past people, and ran with all her might towards the well. Mereb was talking to Mary with his back to Aida. Mary seemed quite smitten with the Nubian. Aida firmly grabbed Mereb's shoulder, and spun him around. At first, he seemed shocked, but his face immediately softened when he saw who it was.
"Aida," he breathed. Aida threw her arms around Mereb's neck. Tears began to stream down her face. Mereb wrapped his arms around Aida, and returned the hug. "I thought you were dead. You and Radames are supposed to be dead."
"So are you," Aida replied through tears of joy. The friends broke apart. Aida smiled as she wiped away her tears with the corner of her head scarf. "I see you met Mary." Mereb nodded.
"She was showing my where the well is." He took Aida's hand. He needed to feel her to know that it was true. "I can't believe you're here…alive! So much has changed in Egypt since your 'death'. Amneris is sending our people home, but is first offering to pay us for our labor!"
"Then what are you doing working for Amneris? Why aren't you back home in Nubia?" Mereb shifted his gaze to the ground.
"I have nothing to go back to in Nubia, so I'm working in the palace. Amneris is taking care of me since Radames…"he trailed off for a second. "Is Radames here too?" Aida nodded.
"First I'll help you do what Amneris told you to do, and then we'll go see Radames." She picked up two of the buckets of water, and took them to Amneris' small camp.
"Radames," Amneris said quietly as she and the Captain sat together in his and Aida's tent. Joseph was curled up on his Father's lap with his thumb in his mouth, half asleep. "We're leaving in a few hours. I hate to put pressure on you, but I'll need to know if you and Aida are going to return to Egypt with me." Radames looked surprised.
"A few hours?" he repeated. Amneris nodded solemnly. A few hours? They couldn't make such a life-altering decision in such a short amount of time.
Radames heard Aida and Mereb enter the tent after several minutes of silence. Joseph climbed off his Father's lap, and scurried over to his Mother. Aida picked him up, and kissed his cheek. Joseph popped his thumb in his mouth, and rested his head on Aida's shoulder. Radames got up, and gave Mereb a friendly hug.
"Look at you!" exclaimed the Nubian. "You're married with a family! You look amazing." The two friends embraced again.
"Look at you, you're alive!" Radames replied. "Come sit down with us." Radames and Mereb sat on the floor with Amneris while Aida put a now sleeping Joseph on their large bed.
"Aida, I was just telling Radames before you and Mereb arrived that we're leaving for Egypt in a few hours. If you are going to return with us, I can delay the departure until tomorrow, but no more than that."
"Are you coming back to Egypt with us?" Mereb asked with a hopeful look on his face.
"I don't know; Radames and I haven't had a chance to discuss it yet." Radames stood up abruptly, and pulled Aida to her feet.
"Let's go out back to talk about it right now," he told her.
"Right now?" Aida asked. Radames began to pull her out the back door. "We'll be right back," she called over her shoulder.
"Okay Radames, why do we have to discuss this right now?" Aida asked as she wrapped her arms around herself. Radames gently held her shoulders.
"Because we only have a few hours to make up our minds about Amneris' offer," he replied. "What do you want to do?" Radames looked deep into his wife's eyes.
"We have nothing for us in Egypt. Our family is here, our friends are here; for us to leave would be pointless. What do you think?" Radames pulled Aida close to him. She turned around so her back was against him. He wrapped one arm around her waist, and the other around her shoulders. Aida covered his large hands with her smaller ones, and rested her head against his arm.
"I agree with you. I know I'll miss Amneris and Mereb, but Egypt holds nothing for us except a collection of painful memories. We have our children to consider now. How will this impact their lives?"
"It would expose them to a lifestyle we both hated. So we're not going to return to Egypt?" Radames shook his head, and kissed Aida's cheek softly.
"No, I think we're going to stay right here," he whispered in her ear.
Meanwhile, inside the tent; Amneris turned to Mereb and said, "Mereb, you have been of great service to me, so I'm about to offer you something." Mereb nodded. "If Radames and Aida wish to remain behind, you can too; if they come back to Egypt with us, you are given your freedom."
"Amneris, Your Highness, I already have my freedom," Mereb replied with a confused look on his face. A sudden realization washed over him. "Are you firing me? Am I being kicked out of the palace?" Amneris shook her head.
"No, I'm making you a part of my Royal Court, if you want to come back with me." Mereb opened and closed his mouth several times in shock. Amneris smiled.
"Royal Court?"
"If you want to come back with me. I understand if you want to remain here. Egypt has so many horrible memories for you."
"You're different Amneris, and I can't figure out why." Amneris stood up suddenly, and began to pace. "What's the matter Your Highness?"
"Seeing Aida and Radames living like this, makes me feel…humbler. He's an Egyptian Captain and she's a Nubian Princess. They should be living in lavish palaces with many servants, but they're living like this, and loving every moment of it. It's making me re-think everything."
"This is how Radames and Aida have always wanted to live; the simpler things in life, and making their own choices."
A rustling noise caught Amneris and Mereb's attention. Radames and Aida returned from outside. Aida sat on the edge of the bed, and gently brushed Joseph's curls out of his face. Nobody said anything for a few seconds. Radames was the first to speak.
"We're going to remain here, Amneris," he said. "We have nothing for us in Egypt. I'm sorry." Amneris looked at Mereb.
"I'm going to stay here too then," the Nubian told his friends. "Egypt is nothing to me. I'm going to stay with you both."
"Are you sure that that's what you want? You're giving up so much to get back so little," Aida explained.
"I know that, and I'm fine with that." Aida smiled. Mereb was like a brother to both her and Radames, it would be good to have him around; someone they could relate to that they couldn't with anyone else.
Four hours later, Amneris and her numerous guards all left the small village. The guards were all sworn to secrecy about Radames and Aida surviving their death sentences. Amneris vowed to visit the village every six months to see her friends. She had picked up Radames' love to travel. The Pharaoh remained true to her word until her dying day. Mereb and Mary fell madly and hopelessly in love. They got married during one of Amneris' visits, and had five beautiful children together. Aida and Radames never returned to Egypt, and rarely talked about their past. They had eight children, not including Joseph and Martha. That is the story of the runaway lovers. Their romance swept through the ages, casting centuries aside, and involved a thousand players.
The End
A/N: CONTEST TIME! I'm doing one of those reincarnated Aida fics at some point. Here are the names, your job is to figure out where the names came from (they came from a certain place). Good luck! Heather, Schele, John, Sherie, Adam, and Damian. Good luck!