Chapter Ten – The Gift
"You will not wear that."
Khay looked down at the vibrant red evening gown she was modeling for her husband. "Why ever not?" she asked.
"It is unbecoming for the queen of the Med-jai. You will not wear it."
Khay felt her blood begin to boil. After spending so many hours at his bedside willing him to get better, she was now wishing he'd stayed bedridden until after the museum's gala reception. Khay had been shopping all day with Evy looking for a decent dress and now that she'd found it, Ardeth was protesting. It didn't help matters that she didn't care for the dress. It was too much.
She was tired and hungry, not to mention the fact that she was just plain nervous. This reception was not only her final duty as Evy's secretary but it was her first foray into public as Ardeth's wife. She wanted to make a nice impression. And she wanted him to be impressed, too. The dress was perfect and she told him so.
"It is also improper for a member of the museum staff to be improperly dressed at a major social function, Ardeth! And I don't see what you're complaining about! The dress isn't cut too low in front, the sleeves cover my arms past my elbows. Do you know how hard it is to find an evening dress that covers as much as this one does? Impossible! I tried on hundreds of dresses and this was all I could find. I'm sorry you don't approve of it but it will just have to do!" Having said that, she promptly burst into tears.
She felt Ardeth's warm, strong arms surround her. In a way, she wanted his comfort but she also felt that he was the source of her problem right now. He really didn't understand how hard it was to find something in her size for evening. She wasn't trim and petite like Evy and not all clothiers catered to her buxom build. She had literally tried on every gown in every decent store in London before finding this one. And with the reception only two days away, it wasn't like she had time to have another dress made. Ardeth would simply have to like this one. That thought alone made her cry even harder. She'd so desperately wanted him to be proud of her, proud of how she looked, when she appeared in public on his arm the first time but that seemed impossible now.
"My heart, do not weep so. It is not the dress I object to, truly."
"But you just said..." she blubbered.
"The dress itself is lovely, habibah. However, the color..."
"It's the only color I could find!" Khay whined, knowing she was whining but unable to stop herself.
"For that I am sorry, but you must...Khayriyyah..." Ardeth stopped, not quite sure how to explain this so that she would understand when inspiration struck. "Have you ever seen a Med-jai wear red?"
"Wh...what?" Khay paused in her weeping, taken off guard by the strange question.
"Have you ever seen a Med-jai wear red? Any Med-jai."
Her brow furrowed as she searched her memory for an answer. "Well, no," she admitted with a sniff. "I haven't." She raised wet, red eyes to her husband. "I never thought about it before. Why is that?"
"Do you know of the Ahmar Haris?"
"The Red Guard? Yes. They were the temple guards who protected the priests of ancient Egypt just as the Med-jai protected the Pharaohs."
Ardeth nodded. "They put the lives of their priests above all else. It was the Ahmar Haris who aided Imhotep and his priests in their quest to restore Anck su namun to life. It is the Ahmar Haris who strive, to this day, to return him to power."
"The sworn enemies of the Med-jai." Khay shook her head. "I'm such an idiot, Ardeth. I'm sorry. I really had no idea. I never put the two concepts together."
Ardeth put a finger under his wife's chin and raised her face until her eyes met his. "Never," he warned softly, "call yourself an idiot in my presence." Then he kissed her, tenderly.
Khay sighed and lifted her arms to encircle his back. She couldn't stay mad. No matter how hard she might try, she couldn't be angry with him for long. All he had to do was kiss her and she melted like butter on an August day.
After a long moment, Ardeth broke the kiss and placed his lips on her forehead. "I have something for you," he murmured against her skin. Then his warm arms were gone and Khay shivered in the sudden absence of his warmth.
She watched as he pulled a large box from closet and laid it on the bed. His eyes glittered as he stepped away and a hint of a mischievous smile played at the corners of his generous mouth.
"I hope you are not angry with me when you open it," he teased. "I was not aware how you were going to spend your day until you were already gone."
Khay wondered about that as she slowly approached the bed. He wasn't aware of how she was going to spend her day until she was already gone? What did he mean by that? And what could be in the box that might make her angry. Her dark eyes met his hesitantly as her fingers caressed the cool boxboard.
"What's in it, Ardeth?"
"Open it." To her great surprise, her calm and collected warrior was practically dancing with anticipation. His eyes glittered and he kept bouncing forward on the balls of his feet. Had his hands not been clasped together behind his back, she imagined his fingers would be flittering.
Khay giggled at the thought of the stoic Med-jai king fidgeting. She gave Ardeth a sideways glance, then pulled open the ribbons that kept the box closed. Slowly, she lifted the lid, then pulled up the paper wrapping.
Her eyes slowly grew very wide and a small sound of awe and surprise escaped her mouth. She could feel Ardeth come and stand next to her, so close he was that she could feel his breath against her hair.
"I hope you are not disappointed. I was unaware you'd had so much trouble finding a gown on your own."
Khay said nothing, she only stared. In the box was a dress. A dress of the most brilliant indigo she had ever seen. "Med-jai blue." She didn't realize that the thought had escaped her mind and crossed her lips.
Ardeth reached out and pulled the dress from the box. It unfolded in wave after sensuous wave of bright blue silk. Translucent crystal beads covered the gown from the high waistline to the hem. They hung like stars in the black lace overlay and caught the light, sending sparkling drops of light dancing across the walls. The elbow-length sleeves boasted more of the cut crystal beads, and they dangled from the flared ends like delicate icicles. Longer ones hung from a thin black ribbon that ran shoulder to shoulder, creating a built-in necklace, which framed the sweetheart neckline. Khay reached out a trembling finger and gently touched the dangling gems, setting them swaying.
"I was unsure of what colors you liked. I picked this because..." Ardeth's voice trailed off. "I a sorry if I presumed." His disappointment was palpable.
"I'm not disappointed," Khay gasped, still unable to believe this incredible garment was hers. "I'm... I'm...Oh, Ardeth!" She threw herself into his arms, crushing the dress between them.
Tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks and smeared on his as she covered his face with kisses. "It's beautiful! It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" She held him at arm's length and gave him a beaming smile. He smiled back, his love for her and joy in her delight at his gift evident in his eyes.
"Oh, Ardeth!" Khay said again as she backed away to better admire the elegant lines of the dress, tears still flowing down her face.
"I don't know, brother. I think a tux would be more appropriate but if you really want to wear that..." Rick's lips twitched in barely concealed amusement as he gestured at Ardeth who still held the dress.
"Rick!" Khay turned toward the door and hurriedly wiped away the tears with her hand. "Isn't it beautiful!"
"Yeah, but I think it'd look a lot better on you."
Ardeth turned to his brother. "If Khay had not already decided she liked it, I would have to say it would look best shoved down your throat," he remarked blandly.
"Yeah, but then the pretty beads wouldn't show."
"Neither would your attempts at humor."
"Now, children," Evy warned with a straight face as she shoved past Rick into the room, "that's enough."
"King," Rick muttered under his breath by way of insult.
"American," Ardeth muttered back.
"I mean it! If you don't stop it..."
Rick leaned against her with a lecherous smile. "If we don't stop - what?"
"You'll have to sleep with Alex."
Her husband made a face. "Ouch. He kicks."
Evy smiled. "Tell me about it. You didn't carry him for nine months."
"And Ardeth?" Khay wanted to know. "What if he doesn't behave? I really should know these things if I'm to keep him in line."
"Oh, Ardeth, he's easy." Evy smirked.
"I am?"
"No dessert."
Rick guffawed as a fleeting look of horror crossed the Med-jai's face and then vanished. They all teased him about Azizah's sweet tooth but the truth was she came by it naturally.
Khayriyyah turned to her husband with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I'll remember that." She took the dress from him with a quick kiss on his cheek and whirled around to face Evy. "Isn't is gorgeous? Isn't just perfect?" she gushed.
Evy smiled approvingly. "Oh, Khay, it's incredible! But, that's not the dress we brought home. Wherever did you get it?"
"Ardeth," Khay breathed softly as she sent a liquid glance his way. "He had it made."
"Ardeth had it made?" Evy was incredulous. "Ardeth, I had no idea."
"And who do you think chose your clothing for the Garden City?" he asked with a crooked grin. "My horse?"
"You chose all those lovely garments? Ardeth, you impress me more every day." Then Evy turned to her husband. "YOU, on the other hand..." she teased.
"Would you look at the time!" Rick exclaimed in mock horror as he consulted his obviously empty wrist. "I gotta go. Gotta see a man about a camel." He vanished down the hall with laughter in his wake.
Evy sighed. "I'd better go see what the kids are up to. I left them with Jonathan and, well, you know how that can go."
"Oh, Evy!" Khay offered contritely as she gently put the dress aside. "I'll go."
"No. I think you should stay here and try on your dress. I'll see to the children. All three of them. Unless Rick is there. Then it's all four of them." Evy laughed gaily as she waved goodbye to the couple and closed the door.
For a moment after the door closed, neither Khay nor Ardeth moved. They simply stared at each other, still amazed and awed at the newness of their bond, of their feelings toward each other.
Finally, Ardeth spoke. "Will you try on your gift, habibah?"
Khayriyyah nodded and lifted the dress into her arms. With a shy smile, she went into the bathroom and closed the door. For several long moments Ardeth waited nervously. He was certain he had her measurements correctly but he was still anxious to see if the dress fit as perfectly as his memory of her. Then, when he thought he could stand it no longer, the door slowly opened and Khayriyyah stepped out.
The dress did fit perfectly. The bodice hugged her generous bosom and then slipped in to caress her waist before flaring out over full hips. Khay turned slowly to allow him a full view of the sumptuous creation, then stood in front of the full-length mirror, admiring the beautiful creation she wore.
"It's beautiful," she sighed as her fingers danced lightly over the beaded gown.
"Not nearly so beautiful as the one who wears it."
Khay blushed at the compliment. "How did you know?" she asked his reflection as he came to stand behind her. "How did you know my size? You never measured me that I can recall."
Ardeth's eyes glinted with sensual fire that no mirror's reflection could mask. "I have measured you every night these past nights we've been together, habibah." He rested his hands on her hips. "I have spanned every inch of you and I know you as well as I know myself." His eyes never left hers as his strong tattooed fingers moved up to her waist. "I know how many hand lengths across your waist," his hands climbed upward even more. "I know how many hand widths around your breasts."
Khay's breath caught in her throat as his sensual mirror play continued. She could see his face as his hands wandered over her body, as his fingers rubbed at the nipples tightening under the layers of cloth. She could feel the evidence of his desire against her backside as he pressed closer and watched his progress in the tall glass.
"Just as I know where to touch you to make you shudder in my arms."
She saw his face move downward, felt his beard brush her neck even as she watched it happen before her. Only when his lips began their hungry assault on the sensitive hollow of her throat did her eyes flutter shut and her senses give way to other delights.
The door banging open and hitting the wall startled them both and they jumped.
"Oh, Ahmay!" Azizah exclaimed with one hand dramatically clutched to her chest. "It is beautiful! Aunt Evy said you were trying it on and I wasn't to disturb you but I had to see! Babu said it was the loveliest dress ever and that I wasn't to say anything because it was a surprise but I only saw it in the box. Babu would not hold it up for me to see because he said he would never be able to fold it properly again but I could tell it was the most beautiful dress I have ever seen and I couldn't wait to see it on you. Oh, Ahmay! You will surely be the most beautiful woman there!"
Small arms encircled Khay's waist and squeezed exuberantly. Khay laughed and looked down to see her daughter's happy face shining up at her. From the moment Azizah had accepted her as Ardeth's wife, she had called her Ahmay.
"Ahmay? What is that?" Jonathan had asked that first night. "It's not Arabic or Egyptian, is it?"
"It's Med-jai, Uncle Jon," Alex explained with rolling eyes. "Honestly, haven't you learned anything in all this time?"
"Alex," his mother warned, "don't be impertinent. Your uncle is still your elder."
Rick snorted. "In what way?"
Evy smacked his knuckles with her butter knife. "You behave. No wonder your son has the manners of a digger. Jonathan, Ahmay is mother in the Med-jai language. Well, not mother exactly, a more familiar derivative, like Mama or Mommy."
Khayriyyah's heart swelled with love and pride each time she heard Azizah call her by the name she had used for her own mother as a child. It felt nice to be someone's mother. She pulled far enough away from her daughter to kneel at her level. "I'm glad you like it, darling. I want to be worthy of you and your father."
Azizah laughed. "Oh, Ahmay! You are so silly. You are already worthy of us. I would not have chosen you if you weren't." And with those very matter-of- fact words, she skipped away, leaving the door gaping open behind her.
"You will not wear that."
Khay looked down at the vibrant red evening gown she was modeling for her husband. "Why ever not?" she asked.
"It is unbecoming for the queen of the Med-jai. You will not wear it."
Khay felt her blood begin to boil. After spending so many hours at his bedside willing him to get better, she was now wishing he'd stayed bedridden until after the museum's gala reception. Khay had been shopping all day with Evy looking for a decent dress and now that she'd found it, Ardeth was protesting. It didn't help matters that she didn't care for the dress. It was too much.
She was tired and hungry, not to mention the fact that she was just plain nervous. This reception was not only her final duty as Evy's secretary but it was her first foray into public as Ardeth's wife. She wanted to make a nice impression. And she wanted him to be impressed, too. The dress was perfect and she told him so.
"It is also improper for a member of the museum staff to be improperly dressed at a major social function, Ardeth! And I don't see what you're complaining about! The dress isn't cut too low in front, the sleeves cover my arms past my elbows. Do you know how hard it is to find an evening dress that covers as much as this one does? Impossible! I tried on hundreds of dresses and this was all I could find. I'm sorry you don't approve of it but it will just have to do!" Having said that, she promptly burst into tears.
She felt Ardeth's warm, strong arms surround her. In a way, she wanted his comfort but she also felt that he was the source of her problem right now. He really didn't understand how hard it was to find something in her size for evening. She wasn't trim and petite like Evy and not all clothiers catered to her buxom build. She had literally tried on every gown in every decent store in London before finding this one. And with the reception only two days away, it wasn't like she had time to have another dress made. Ardeth would simply have to like this one. That thought alone made her cry even harder. She'd so desperately wanted him to be proud of her, proud of how she looked, when she appeared in public on his arm the first time but that seemed impossible now.
"My heart, do not weep so. It is not the dress I object to, truly."
"But you just said..." she blubbered.
"The dress itself is lovely, habibah. However, the color..."
"It's the only color I could find!" Khay whined, knowing she was whining but unable to stop herself.
"For that I am sorry, but you must...Khayriyyah..." Ardeth stopped, not quite sure how to explain this so that she would understand when inspiration struck. "Have you ever seen a Med-jai wear red?"
"Wh...what?" Khay paused in her weeping, taken off guard by the strange question.
"Have you ever seen a Med-jai wear red? Any Med-jai."
Her brow furrowed as she searched her memory for an answer. "Well, no," she admitted with a sniff. "I haven't." She raised wet, red eyes to her husband. "I never thought about it before. Why is that?"
"Do you know of the Ahmar Haris?"
"The Red Guard? Yes. They were the temple guards who protected the priests of ancient Egypt just as the Med-jai protected the Pharaohs."
Ardeth nodded. "They put the lives of their priests above all else. It was the Ahmar Haris who aided Imhotep and his priests in their quest to restore Anck su namun to life. It is the Ahmar Haris who strive, to this day, to return him to power."
"The sworn enemies of the Med-jai." Khay shook her head. "I'm such an idiot, Ardeth. I'm sorry. I really had no idea. I never put the two concepts together."
Ardeth put a finger under his wife's chin and raised her face until her eyes met his. "Never," he warned softly, "call yourself an idiot in my presence." Then he kissed her, tenderly.
Khay sighed and lifted her arms to encircle his back. She couldn't stay mad. No matter how hard she might try, she couldn't be angry with him for long. All he had to do was kiss her and she melted like butter on an August day.
After a long moment, Ardeth broke the kiss and placed his lips on her forehead. "I have something for you," he murmured against her skin. Then his warm arms were gone and Khay shivered in the sudden absence of his warmth.
She watched as he pulled a large box from closet and laid it on the bed. His eyes glittered as he stepped away and a hint of a mischievous smile played at the corners of his generous mouth.
"I hope you are not angry with me when you open it," he teased. "I was not aware how you were going to spend your day until you were already gone."
Khay wondered about that as she slowly approached the bed. He wasn't aware of how she was going to spend her day until she was already gone? What did he mean by that? And what could be in the box that might make her angry. Her dark eyes met his hesitantly as her fingers caressed the cool boxboard.
"What's in it, Ardeth?"
"Open it." To her great surprise, her calm and collected warrior was practically dancing with anticipation. His eyes glittered and he kept bouncing forward on the balls of his feet. Had his hands not been clasped together behind his back, she imagined his fingers would be flittering.
Khay giggled at the thought of the stoic Med-jai king fidgeting. She gave Ardeth a sideways glance, then pulled open the ribbons that kept the box closed. Slowly, she lifted the lid, then pulled up the paper wrapping.
Her eyes slowly grew very wide and a small sound of awe and surprise escaped her mouth. She could feel Ardeth come and stand next to her, so close he was that she could feel his breath against her hair.
"I hope you are not disappointed. I was unaware you'd had so much trouble finding a gown on your own."
Khay said nothing, she only stared. In the box was a dress. A dress of the most brilliant indigo she had ever seen. "Med-jai blue." She didn't realize that the thought had escaped her mind and crossed her lips.
Ardeth reached out and pulled the dress from the box. It unfolded in wave after sensuous wave of bright blue silk. Translucent crystal beads covered the gown from the high waistline to the hem. They hung like stars in the black lace overlay and caught the light, sending sparkling drops of light dancing across the walls. The elbow-length sleeves boasted more of the cut crystal beads, and they dangled from the flared ends like delicate icicles. Longer ones hung from a thin black ribbon that ran shoulder to shoulder, creating a built-in necklace, which framed the sweetheart neckline. Khay reached out a trembling finger and gently touched the dangling gems, setting them swaying.
"I was unsure of what colors you liked. I picked this because..." Ardeth's voice trailed off. "I a sorry if I presumed." His disappointment was palpable.
"I'm not disappointed," Khay gasped, still unable to believe this incredible garment was hers. "I'm... I'm...Oh, Ardeth!" She threw herself into his arms, crushing the dress between them.
Tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks and smeared on his as she covered his face with kisses. "It's beautiful! It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" She held him at arm's length and gave him a beaming smile. He smiled back, his love for her and joy in her delight at his gift evident in his eyes.
"Oh, Ardeth!" Khay said again as she backed away to better admire the elegant lines of the dress, tears still flowing down her face.
"I don't know, brother. I think a tux would be more appropriate but if you really want to wear that..." Rick's lips twitched in barely concealed amusement as he gestured at Ardeth who still held the dress.
"Rick!" Khay turned toward the door and hurriedly wiped away the tears with her hand. "Isn't it beautiful!"
"Yeah, but I think it'd look a lot better on you."
Ardeth turned to his brother. "If Khay had not already decided she liked it, I would have to say it would look best shoved down your throat," he remarked blandly.
"Yeah, but then the pretty beads wouldn't show."
"Neither would your attempts at humor."
"Now, children," Evy warned with a straight face as she shoved past Rick into the room, "that's enough."
"King," Rick muttered under his breath by way of insult.
"American," Ardeth muttered back.
"I mean it! If you don't stop it..."
Rick leaned against her with a lecherous smile. "If we don't stop - what?"
"You'll have to sleep with Alex."
Her husband made a face. "Ouch. He kicks."
Evy smiled. "Tell me about it. You didn't carry him for nine months."
"And Ardeth?" Khay wanted to know. "What if he doesn't behave? I really should know these things if I'm to keep him in line."
"Oh, Ardeth, he's easy." Evy smirked.
"I am?"
"No dessert."
Rick guffawed as a fleeting look of horror crossed the Med-jai's face and then vanished. They all teased him about Azizah's sweet tooth but the truth was she came by it naturally.
Khayriyyah turned to her husband with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I'll remember that." She took the dress from him with a quick kiss on his cheek and whirled around to face Evy. "Isn't is gorgeous? Isn't just perfect?" she gushed.
Evy smiled approvingly. "Oh, Khay, it's incredible! But, that's not the dress we brought home. Wherever did you get it?"
"Ardeth," Khay breathed softly as she sent a liquid glance his way. "He had it made."
"Ardeth had it made?" Evy was incredulous. "Ardeth, I had no idea."
"And who do you think chose your clothing for the Garden City?" he asked with a crooked grin. "My horse?"
"You chose all those lovely garments? Ardeth, you impress me more every day." Then Evy turned to her husband. "YOU, on the other hand..." she teased.
"Would you look at the time!" Rick exclaimed in mock horror as he consulted his obviously empty wrist. "I gotta go. Gotta see a man about a camel." He vanished down the hall with laughter in his wake.
Evy sighed. "I'd better go see what the kids are up to. I left them with Jonathan and, well, you know how that can go."
"Oh, Evy!" Khay offered contritely as she gently put the dress aside. "I'll go."
"No. I think you should stay here and try on your dress. I'll see to the children. All three of them. Unless Rick is there. Then it's all four of them." Evy laughed gaily as she waved goodbye to the couple and closed the door.
For a moment after the door closed, neither Khay nor Ardeth moved. They simply stared at each other, still amazed and awed at the newness of their bond, of their feelings toward each other.
Finally, Ardeth spoke. "Will you try on your gift, habibah?"
Khayriyyah nodded and lifted the dress into her arms. With a shy smile, she went into the bathroom and closed the door. For several long moments Ardeth waited nervously. He was certain he had her measurements correctly but he was still anxious to see if the dress fit as perfectly as his memory of her. Then, when he thought he could stand it no longer, the door slowly opened and Khayriyyah stepped out.
The dress did fit perfectly. The bodice hugged her generous bosom and then slipped in to caress her waist before flaring out over full hips. Khay turned slowly to allow him a full view of the sumptuous creation, then stood in front of the full-length mirror, admiring the beautiful creation she wore.
"It's beautiful," she sighed as her fingers danced lightly over the beaded gown.
"Not nearly so beautiful as the one who wears it."
Khay blushed at the compliment. "How did you know?" she asked his reflection as he came to stand behind her. "How did you know my size? You never measured me that I can recall."
Ardeth's eyes glinted with sensual fire that no mirror's reflection could mask. "I have measured you every night these past nights we've been together, habibah." He rested his hands on her hips. "I have spanned every inch of you and I know you as well as I know myself." His eyes never left hers as his strong tattooed fingers moved up to her waist. "I know how many hand lengths across your waist," his hands climbed upward even more. "I know how many hand widths around your breasts."
Khay's breath caught in her throat as his sensual mirror play continued. She could see his face as his hands wandered over her body, as his fingers rubbed at the nipples tightening under the layers of cloth. She could feel the evidence of his desire against her backside as he pressed closer and watched his progress in the tall glass.
"Just as I know where to touch you to make you shudder in my arms."
She saw his face move downward, felt his beard brush her neck even as she watched it happen before her. Only when his lips began their hungry assault on the sensitive hollow of her throat did her eyes flutter shut and her senses give way to other delights.
The door banging open and hitting the wall startled them both and they jumped.
"Oh, Ahmay!" Azizah exclaimed with one hand dramatically clutched to her chest. "It is beautiful! Aunt Evy said you were trying it on and I wasn't to disturb you but I had to see! Babu said it was the loveliest dress ever and that I wasn't to say anything because it was a surprise but I only saw it in the box. Babu would not hold it up for me to see because he said he would never be able to fold it properly again but I could tell it was the most beautiful dress I have ever seen and I couldn't wait to see it on you. Oh, Ahmay! You will surely be the most beautiful woman there!"
Small arms encircled Khay's waist and squeezed exuberantly. Khay laughed and looked down to see her daughter's happy face shining up at her. From the moment Azizah had accepted her as Ardeth's wife, she had called her Ahmay.
"Ahmay? What is that?" Jonathan had asked that first night. "It's not Arabic or Egyptian, is it?"
"It's Med-jai, Uncle Jon," Alex explained with rolling eyes. "Honestly, haven't you learned anything in all this time?"
"Alex," his mother warned, "don't be impertinent. Your uncle is still your elder."
Rick snorted. "In what way?"
Evy smacked his knuckles with her butter knife. "You behave. No wonder your son has the manners of a digger. Jonathan, Ahmay is mother in the Med-jai language. Well, not mother exactly, a more familiar derivative, like Mama or Mommy."
Khayriyyah's heart swelled with love and pride each time she heard Azizah call her by the name she had used for her own mother as a child. It felt nice to be someone's mother. She pulled far enough away from her daughter to kneel at her level. "I'm glad you like it, darling. I want to be worthy of you and your father."
Azizah laughed. "Oh, Ahmay! You are so silly. You are already worthy of us. I would not have chosen you if you weren't." And with those very matter-of- fact words, she skipped away, leaving the door gaping open behind her.