Goddess- Am back again to write some more for my fans... although it seems no one got the update... I am updating more and more! YAY!
Calypso- Here's your disclaimer: If it's something you recognize, it's not mine. Only made ups are mine. I created some of the names for tribesmen, but they are still Steve Sommers cuz I really don't know their names... so made some of my own...
Ardeth POV (A few days later)
After my argument with the Nameless One, many of the tribe questioned the argument, and who it was I was arguing with. I said little to them of what part I played in this, nor what I was to do for the Goddess. I told them to be careful; the warnings of another God or Goddess were not to be taken lightly. The less they knew of the plot around us the better, for anything could be turned against us. Leaders from the other tribes arrived in the afternoon. We would hold council come the evening. Jasmine seemed oblivious to the fact that her life lay in the hands of men sworn to kill any who might bring the creature to life, or any person that approached the city of the dead. I alone could not convince them that she was not to be harmed, for I had sworn the same.
"Ardeth, you sent for us to hold council on a woman who was found near Hummnaptra. Where is she?"
"With our healing woman." I said.
"I will go retrieve her."
"No, I will Ardeth. Gather your leaders. I will fetch Jasmine." The Nameless One said.
The leaders jumped back in shock at her sudden appearance, as did I. I was startled by her sudden appearance as usual. They were shocked that she acted much different than the women in our camp. She seemed to enjoy startling me as much as I enjoyed doing the same to Jonathan Canrahan. I shook my head at the memory with a silent laugh. I motioned for the tribesmen to follow me to the fire.
"Who was that woman? And why is she dressed as she is?" The eldest leader asked.
"She is the Nameless One. She has no name, and is an enigma. She is the daughter of one of the old Egyptian Gods. Her dress is that of the Gods, I would think."
"How do you know all this?" Another asked.
"Because I told him Kareem." She said.
Jasmine's POV
I was surprised to see a woman suddenly appear in my tent. She was beautiful, in every way. Her skin glowed in a golden bronze, her deep black hair was plaited with gold ends, and her eyes were deep and mysterious. I could not stop staring at her. She was dressed as an ancient Egyptian might if they had the money to do so. I suddenly remembered her to be the one Ardeth argued with. I bowed in respect, unsure of what to do in the presence of the Goddess.
"Hello Jasmine." She said.
"You… you know my name." I whispered, embarrassed. Of course she would.
"That is because I gave it to you. I cannot offer mine because I do not have one." She said.
"You are the Nameless One." I said. "I am under your protection."
"You learn quickly. Come, Ardeth and the tribesmen have called you to council." She said.
"Alright. Please, do not start an argument with Ardeth again." I said.
"Hm, we'll see. I'm worried about what may happen to you, my dear." She said. "They may decide to kill you. I cannot allow that."
I looked at her, startled for a moment. Surely they wouldn't do that. I saw the grim set of her beautiful eyes. I knew she spoke the truth, and why Ardeth had been so moody. I knew of course that was his normal state, but he hardly left his tent in the days since I had awakened here. I sighed and looked at the Goddess.
"Let's go then. I won't run from this." I said.
"Spoken like a true warrior." She said.
I nodded, hoping that all would turn out well. It was strange how I had appeared, and yet stranger when I looked upon the markings on my face. But I felt so empty without my memories and speaking with her, being near her, made me feel whole, like she was the answer to my questions.
"We aren't getting anywhere with you standing there Jasmine." She said.
She took my hand and lead me away from the tent I had been staying in, and towards Ardeth. He stood among a group desert hardened men, speaking to them of the Nameless One. One of them asked him a question which he was about to answer, when the Goddess spoke.
"Because I told him Kareem." She said.
"What gives you the right to meddle in the lives of the Medjai, woman?" Another asked.
"Because I protect the Medjai although I have no bailiwick of my own, I have the same wishes, and it is your people who have allowed my father's name to be tarnished as black as Set's!" She countered.
"And who is your father?" Another sneered.
They seemed to doubt her, to doubt that she was truly a Goddess, even with Ardeth telling them. I don't know how a person could doubt what she was, her presence, and her dress. No one dressed like this anymore. The white Egyptian tunic, the gold on the ends of her plaits. She stood there, like she had nothing to fear. Which in all honesty I wouldn't think she did.
"He is Anubis, the ferryman of the souls of old Egypt." She said.
"How can we be sure you are not lying?" Kareem asked.
"Because I am not bound in flesh and blood like you are. You want proof? I'll give it to you!" She yelled.
She made a motion as if she were throwing something, and the fire blazed brightly. I heard the sound of a jackal barking, echoing around us. The men looked about themselves, shocked by the eerie sounds, since they seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. With the new light of the fire we could see our shadows elongated along the sand. Only one was not entirely human. The head of a jackal adorned the Goddess's shadow.
"Do not worry. The Medjai are under my protection, just as Jasmine is. I would not harm you, and the other Gods do not wish for Imohotep to rise again, but for different reasons." She said.
"Please, I owe this woman my life. She came from no where and brought me from the brink of death so that I could fight once more. In return she asked me two things. To help her remove the blight cast on Anubis' name, and to give her a name." Ardeth said.
"This is not about me. Let us begin the council. And I will remind you that she is under my protection, and my father's. We will not interfere in your council, nor force your hand, but we will not be happy if you choose death in the face of many other options. Do not try his patience, nor mine. You may be under my wing of protection as Medjai, but it will not stop my anger, and I will be forced to renege your decision." She said.
"Nameless One, you said yourself, they are under your protection, and the Gods are on their side. If they deem me troublesome, let their decision stand." I said.
The frustrated Goddess sat down on an Egyptian made blanket, it hadn't been there a moment ago. It looked old, she waved me over and I sat next to her. Ardeth walked over, and joined us on he blanket. The other men sat across from us, speaking amongst themselves. The Goddess offered us food. It was something we didn't see much of in this area, not dried anyway. It was American fruit. I found it interesting and good.
She sat there thinking deeply, staring into the flames. At the same time I saw Ardeth watching her, as if trying to figure something out. He noticed me watching him as silently as he was regarding the Nameless Goddess. He smiled at me. A sort of half smile I guess, as he stirred the fire. It was an alien gesture, a smile. I never saw him smile, but I was sure he had done it at least once in his life, at least as a baby.
"I was trying to think of a name for her, one befitting her very being. It is more difficult than some would think." He said. I might have replied had his attention not been grabbed by the tribesmen standing up. It appeared that they had finished talking amongst themselves, and were prepared to hold council on my fate.
"We are split amongst ourselves. Tradition dictates that all found within the city or about it must be killed, or left to die." Kareem said.
"She is of no harm! She has no memories, and bears no ill will towards the Medjai." The Nameless One said.
"All found by the cursed city cause harm! The creature knows they are there, and can use some simple minded fool to unleash him once more. She could be under his control." Another shouted.
"She bears the markings of the Medjai warriors! Are you so quick to judge those lost and near death? Are those chosen to protect against the creature feeble minded?" She countered.
"Women are not chosen to fight, not the creature! She does not bear the tribal markings of any of our tribes." Someone else called out.
"Perhaps that is because she bears the markings of a female Medjai. There have been few and far between, but they were Medjai none the less. They were marked differently. I would know, I made it possible for them to become Medjai." The Nameless One said.
Suddenly she stood, energy gathering in her fist. I spun, sensing it. She was hit by something and flew backwards. I dropped low as another ball of energy hurtled through the air. Ardeth shouted and darted away, towards where the Goddess had landed. I jumped, beings were coming from the darkness. I rolled and picked up a scimitar that had been laid aside, prepared to fight. Ardeth came back, the Goddess in his arms. She was out cold.
There you have it! I will post up the next chapter again soon... I hope. There was a lot of issue with my other browser, so I had to download firefox... and we'll see how that goes... I'm so used to IE...