Disclaimer: I don't own squat, not a damn thing. Well, I own a rather nice pair of red Converse high-tops, but that's it. As far as Ardeth, Evy, or Rick, no, sorry, not mine. The OC, however, is mine. Flames will be used to light my backyard barbecue pit. Please R&R, I'm desperate.
-Belle
First thing in the morning, Ardeth awoke and went to see the O'Connells to make sure they were ready to be on their way. If anything was going to happen, he wanted them out of the city immediately. In fact, their luggage had been sitting by the door and Rick had been about to turn the handle when Ardeth knocked. They invited him inside and they talked for a moment, saying their goodbyes as Ardeth was disinclined to follow them down to the lobby. He wasn't about to tell Evy, but he was concerned that whoever had been following him and Lira the previous night might be lying in wait for them this morning. So he kept his silence, and helped carry the luggage as far as the stairwell.
"Well," Rick said, setting down a suitcase made heavy by the books Evy had thought necessary to bring back home, "I guess this is goodbye for now."
"Indeed, but I hope to see you soon, my friends." Ardeth responded graciously.
"You're welcome in our home any time." Evy volunteered, trying to contain a squirming Alex.
"And you in mine." He replied. Rick and Ardeth shook hands; and the O'Connells were about to descend the stairs when a front desk clerk came trudging up, an envelope in hand. He saw them gathered and immediately recognized the dark, tattooed Medjai.
"Mr…" the sweaty, red-faced clerk began, still climbing the stairs, "Bay? This letter for you was dropped off at the front desk earlier this morning." He finally reached the top and handed the envelope to the Medjai. Both Rick and Evy stared at Ardeth as he opened the envelope and the pudgy older man turned and descended the steps, grumbling that he'd not been properly tipped. Ardeth paid him little attention as he read the name on the envelope. The flowing script that had formed his name could only be a woman's handwriting. His heart immediately sank into his stomach, and both his friends noticed the pale wash that overtook his complexion. With nimble fingers he removed the letter and quickly set to reading.
Dear Ardeth,
Long ago there was a vast and powerful city on the banks of the Nile. This city was the home of a great king who ruled over a wide kingdom. His palace was an elaborately designed fortress with massive gates facing in each direction. Not far from the city, workers labored day after day to construct the great monument that would be the pharaoh's final resting place. Among the workers was a slave girl who ran errands between the dig site and the city. Every day she passed by the palace's Southern gate on her way to market. She would often contemplate the palace and those who lived within, wondering who could be so important that so many people were subjected to brutal labor each day. Still, she did her job and every night returned to a home and a family who loved her dearly.
One day, as she passed the palace, this slave woman noticed someone she was sure hadn't been there before. Guards changed nearly every day, and rarely did she take notice or keep track. This new man, however, was different. Though she made a conscious effort to keep her eyes diverted, she was constantly aware of his presence. Some days he was there, some days he was not. Eventually, she began to notice that he was there every day, and she began looking forward to her journey into town. Even when her errands did not necessitate passing by the palace, she would hasten her trip and detour past the south gate. True, she was married and had children to care for, but it became almost as a game. She was not being disloyal simply because she admired the dark, handsome soldier. So it continued, for years in all truth. Finally one day she gathered the courage to look him square in the face as she past.
She knew the moment she looked over that it was a mistake. She could have easily been punished for looking at someone so far her superior on account of insolence. Aside from that, she found it was an error to look into his deep brown eyes. Those eyes would forever haunt her dreams. It nearly broke her heart when, in their most intimate moments, she would see the face of this bodyguard instead of her husband's. Still, she could not stop herself from passing that way. She had to know that he was still there, that he still existed. Then, one day, he was gone.
An ill feeling in the pit of her stomach engulfed her, and as she made her way to market she saw a celebration outside the temple. There was her warrior in his finest robes, arm in arm with a beautiful Egyptian woman. Had the slave girl believed in the gods of Egypt, she would have sworn that this stunning woman was one of them. Not until this moment, when she felt a small part of her die and blow away with the desert winds, did she realize who this man was to her. So she lived out the rest of her days, wearing a mask of joy for the sake of her family. Now, when she passed the palace, there was nothing for her. When her hope had gone so had her longing.
Now I go. No longer a slave to my former life. I thank you for your generosity and hospitality. You have freed a trapped soul, and I can go on now, knowing who I am and where I fit in the universe. I'm sure I will think of you, and perhaps you will think of me. It's a chapter that I will never forget out of a book that may never be written. My best wishes go out to you and Dalal. Have a safe trip home.
Forever in your debt,
Lira Onen
Ardeth's head snapped up, his eyes wide and heart pounding. Without a word of explanation to his friends who still stood at the top of the stairs, he strode twenty feet down the hall to Lira's room and knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again, harder this time, still no answer. When he began to pound violently against the door, shouting her name with a mix of anger and fear, Rick walked over and stayed his arm. Ardeth looked up and down the hall in a panic and strode across to his room. He emerged shortly thereafter, his bandoleers slung across his chest, both swords hanging at his sides. Evy was now standing next to Rick, a look of concern on her face.
"Ardeth, whatever is the matter?" Evy asked, her hazel eyes open wide.
"She is gone," he replied shortly, "And I do not know how long. She could be anywhere right now."
Evy shrugged.
"Perhaps she decided to return home on her own." Evy offered, not having heard his conversation with Rick the night before. Rick understood completely, and though he shared a certain concern, there was no matching the look of panic and worry on Ardeth's face.
"You have to go find her, don't you?" Rick confirmed. Ardeth stopped for a moment, looking from Rick, to Evy, and back again.
"I fear she is in grave danger. I should never have brought her here."
She had left long before the streets of Cairo had grown busy. The sun had not yet risen, though a streak of orange glowed in the Eastern sky. For all she was concerned, it was better this way. After all Ardeth had said the last night they camped together, coupled with what had happened, she decided that it would be easier for them both if she left, and continued the journey alone. She had already checked at the front desk to find out when the next boat left for Istanbul. To her great fortune, one was scheduled for five in the morning. So, she made her way to the pier, unaware of the man shadowing her. She passed a few residential areas, quiet in the chill morning air. The city was quiet and breathtaking at this time of day. She saw hardly a soul and finally she came to a street on a hill overlooking the docks of the river. Quickly she made her way down, cutting between houses and through alleys, afraid of missing her ship. It was in one of the alleys that an unknown hand holding a moist cloth, reached out from behind, and silently covered her face and mouth. The only sounds to be heard were Lira's panicked cries, muffled by the cloth, until she was quieted and her struggling ceased
Hours later, she awoke. The world was spinning brightly and something inside her head pounded violently. She was sitting and she could feel that her arms were pulled back and bound by ropes. Her stomach churned and she leaned over to the side, vomiting on the floor. From across the room she could hear a man's voice echoing curses in Arabic. She had actually learned enough of those to get the gist of it all. Her eyelids were heavy but the harsh light of day was fighting its way through. Suddenly, rough hands grabbed her shoulders and sat her up straight. Her head still wobbled a little and she could feel her legs shaking from her getting sick all over the floor. Footsteps came closer and she struggled to open her eyes, seeing only blurs of shape and color. Those harsh hands still held her upright, so she put all her effort into opening her eyes.
She was in a finely furnished room with great silk curtains and ornate tapestries on the walls. There were two men before her and her eyes settled on the one closest, trying to focus. He was a short, powerfully built man wearing the linens and robes of the desert nomads. He wore a white tagelmust and a thick black beard. Most noticeable was the scar that ran from one cheek to the other, a deep gouge taken out of the bridge of the nose. She could hear his wheezing breaths as the air passed through his deformed nasal cavity.
"So, this is the girl you were so intent on." He appraised, taking her in from head to foot, "I fail to see the danger."
"She survived the desert, didn't she?" a voice behind him asked. The voice was familiar, but in her current state she could neither discern it nor keep her attention focused on it for long.
"Yes, but with the help of those Medjai dogs." The scarred man spat. Lira was quite offended by the comment, and considered protesting until she saw that the man in the background approach, and thought better of it. He was dressed in white and pale tan; he had sandy blond hair and a familiar shape. All too soon he came into focus and Lira's heart almost stopped.
"Hello, dear. Have you missed me?"
A/N: Yay, the next chapter! I know it took awhile, but see I had a beta for this one. Hopefully the quality is much improved. So, all you readers out there, give a shout-out to Elrowen Tinuviel for her beta work. Also, thanks to Pirate Gyrl for sticking with me and Picchic (I dig the name) for dropping me a line. I'm hoping to get the earlier chapters beta'd and reposted at some point. Anyway, see you all on the flip side.
