Bloodlines
Fundamental Gains and Losses

Through the mischief of two Hobbits Rick discovers his family line travels further back than he could have imagined.

~~~~~~~

A small, white and otherwise innocuous door was opened for them and a light turned on by the flipping of a switch.  The sparse illumination brought wooden walls and strange devices into view.  "Here you are, Elf," said the large Med-Jai with a smile.  "It's a far cry from what we do in the desert and your woodland home I would wager.  I believe I will leave you to figure it out on your own."  There was a small laugh, then he turned away with a parting glance aimed at the both of them.  The Elf's brows knit as he watched Abdul-Medjid Bay leave them to the task at hand.

Aragorn leaned over the shoulder of Legolas, peering into the small room.  When his eyes fell upon a small, white seat whose center had been removed, he smirked and nudged his friend forward.  "Go ahead, Legolas."

Legolas gave him a flat look, then disappeared into the room, shutting the door behind him.  Hours of fruitless searching had left the Elf and the Ranger tired, hungry and a little of something else.  Taking a deep breath, Aragorn crossed the hall and leaned against the wall, running hands over his hair as twenty things raced through his mind.  He had not taken much rest since Evelyn had disappeared.  Legolas had gone in search alone, but Aragorn could not bear to leave him to it for too long.  Somewhere along the way on a street Aragorn did not know except by view they met and his friend had given him a stern look, but accepted the help anyway, knowing it would prove fruitless to argue.

The Med-Jai believed that Imhotep would not leave Cairo without obtaining the other American, for without being at full power he could not have any hope of raising his lost love, but where then would he keep Evelyn while waiting?  When tracking he would look for the tell-tale signs and follow them to his quarry, but how does one follow signs that are all around him?  The whole of Cairo was in despair.  Still, he was comforted by the fact that when he and his companion had traveled to the outskirts of town there had been no signs of the fire and destruction that blanketed within.  Despite the reassurance Imhotep would be in town Aragorn found himself questioning whether or not that mentality should be relied upon so heavily.

A sudden rushing sound filled the air, dragging the tired Ranger out of his thoughts and bringing him to stand a little straighter.  His hand on his sword hilt, he called, "Legolas?'

From behind the door a muffled voice called out, "'Tis nothing, Estel."  His friend sounded a bit amused.  The sound of what seemed like a tiny waterfall accompanied the Elf's new silence before he emerged, wiping his hands on a towel.  Pushing it into Aragorn's hand, Legolas bowed slightly and motioned him in.  "I believe I will leave you to figure it out on your own."

The Ranger grunted, then passed Legolas up and entered.  Ignoring the seatless chair, he studied the sink and its strange knobs.  Turning one produced the suspected effect, but before touching the small stream Aragorn thought a little about it.  Two knobs…what should the other one produce?  Tentatively, he touched the falling water with the tip of his finger and pulled his hand back when the hot temperature bit at his flesh.  He turned that knob off, then tested the other one, guessing there would be a difference.

When the water was at a cool temperature, Aragorn exhaled with a sudden refresh of tiredness, leaned down against the sides of the sink and drew the freshness over his face.  After roughing it in the hot desert without a river to bathe in, this felt particularly nice.  It washed away the sweat of his search and the dirt of his failure, but not the worry contained within him.  These enemies he knew not.  If Evelyn had died in his failure to protect her…

Aragorn smoothed another handful of the clear water over his face, closing his eyes and savoring the feel.  When he straightened he met his reflection in an ornately framed mirror and searched those eyes as if they would deliver answers.  In defeat, he smoothed his now damp hair back from the sides of his face.  There were no answers to be found.

He took up the towel, drying his hands and then gave the toilet a sidelong glance.  A sudden crack, loud and jarring, broke his thoughts immediately.  Outside Legolas called, "Aragorn, tolo!  Goston amarth anglenna!"

Emerging from the small refreshing facility, Aragorn saw his companion already halfway down the hall towards the main display room where the Med-Jai congregated.  The very walls seemed to tremble beneath the sway of something power, which could prove to be one thing.  His hand found the hilt of Anduril in preparation for the inevitable.

The Med-Jai had taken defensive stance already and their leader was positioned at a nearby window, the drapes drawn back and his face pensive.  He shook his head, looking to Dr. Bey who hovered nearby.  "He controls them it appears.  His powers are great."

Approaching, Aragorn asked, "What is it?" and peered out the window as the curtain was pulled aside.  Outside he saw not a monster, but the very people whose lives they were trying to protect by putting the creature back into its grave.  Their gazes were dreamlike and thoughtless, their movements slow and steady.  They came with enthralled attention, the name of Imhotep at their lips.  "What can be done?  We surely cannot end the lives of innocents.  Do they have hope of recovery from this?"

Abdul-Medjid shook his head with a frustrated breath.  "That I do not know.  We have seen nothing of this power in 3,000 years, if even then.  He speaks with the authority of the undead.  These poor souls may already be devoured beyond recovery."  He looked to the curator for wisdom and was met by uncertainty.

Petting his stray kitten, Jonathan joined them.  "What in blazes is causing that terrible shaking?  Surely it can't be just them."  The little animal mewled in distaste of what was going on outside, perking its ears up and darted wide-eyed glances outside the window.

They had an answer to that soon enough.  The grave vigil continued as the crowd gathering outside came to a halt, staring with lifeless eyes towards the museum.  And suddenly they parted down the center.  Aragorn and Legolas exchanged looks, surmising what would emerge from that pathway.

He came with a slow, purposeful gait and dark, confident eyes, robed in the color of shadows and touched by the hand of decay.  On his left Evelyn stumbled in step with him, held directly beside him by a grasp she could not free herself from.  Aragorn hissed in a breath unconsciously, tightening his fingers around the hilt of his sword.  Imhotep spotted them watching, came to stand in full view of the window and shoved Evelyn to the ground.  She immediately looked for a means of escape, but his thralls closed in to prevent her escape.  In loud, unearthly tones the dread priest began to speak in his dark tongue.

"I will kill the girl if you do not give me the one I seek," translated Dr. Bey.

Legolas shook his head sadly.  "What can we do?"

The curator looked at him sharply.  "Well, we certainly cannot give him the American!"  His expression grew stern at the protest that Legolas, Aragorn and Jonathan were about to make.  "It doesn't bother me any less than it does you.  I knew her parents.  They were fine people and while she can be a pest, I do care for her.  But to let Imhotep regain his full powers for one life is madness!  He already commands great forces.  Think of what he would be like if his power was complete!"

It was tactically true, but to leave a lady to such a fate seemed shameful to Aragorn.  He looked to the curator urgently.  "Can you not speak to him?  Negotiate?"

A dubious grunt preceded his reply.  "Negotiate?  With a madman?"

"We cannot let Evelyn die," Legolas countered firmly.  The Elf glared out the window at the fell beast, his eyes betraying his mind's inner workings.  "Perhaps a ruse of some sort?"

Impatiently, Imhotep shouted something in angry tones.  Bey repeated in English, "You test me foolishly."

A soft sound drew all eyes to the ball of fur in Jonathan's arms.  Legolas looked at Bay intensely.  "He could take the animal out there."  Instantly the little meowing feline was shoved into the Elf's hands.  Legolas gave Carnahan a look, absently petting the soft, fuzzy head.  The kitten clawed at his fingers playfully.  Aragorn was baffled and made it apparent with his expression, causing his friend to smile.  "It seems this Imhotep has an aversion to kittens."  The Ranger nodded briefly and decided not to pursue it.

"So, what is that you believe he will do if you take this little beast out there?" he asked, running his hand over the kitten's head.  It pinned its ears, growled and leapt at the Ranger's fingers.  "Feisty little one.  Perhaps it wishes to face the dark one alone."

Legolas grinned and shoved the animal into his hands.  "Take it out, mellon nin, and threaten him with it.  I will take to a window in the room adjoining this one and when you have him distracted, I will leap out and claim Evelyn since I am the faster.  I can fight off the villagers without killing them."

Abdul-Medjid inhaled sharply, looking at the terrible face of their enemy.  "This is a great risk, but I see little choice.  We cannot give him the American."

Motioning towards the back of the building and giving Bay a set of keys, Dr. Bey said, "Take him around back.  I have my car parked out there."  The younger Med-Jai nodded and headed to do just that, and the curator turned to the strangers.  "They will wait for as long as they possibly can, but I will make no promises.  It is imperative that Mr. Henderson survive this."

Henderson grunted, keeping to the shadows.  "Appreciate the concern."

Immediately the curator's expression became cold as he looked at the American, who stood polishing his fingernails against his shirt.  "Believe me, Mr. Henderson, if it did not mean the security of our very existence I would have little trouble handing you over to him for your carelessness in opening that box!  You and your treasure hunting, cretin friends have caused a great deal of trouble."

The American made a cynical little face at that, pushing himself off the wall to join Bay.  "Wouldn't have made a difference if the girl hadn't read from the book."  He blanched when Aragorn, Legolas and Jonathan offered him unappreciative expressions.  "Sorry."

"Well, I should say none of this would have happened had you been honest with us from the beginning, old boy," Jonathan mused to Dr. Bey, who glared daggers in return.

Legolas shook his head.  "All this is getting us nowhere.  We will hurry as best we can, but do as you must concerning Henderson."  He looked to Aragorn and they exchanged ready looks.

The Ranger clapped a hand over his friend's shoulder.  "Whatever happens to me, see that she is saved, Legolas."  He looked into the Elf's eyes most seriously, relieved when Legolas shared the gravity and agreed with a mere nod.

Stepping away from the window, Aragorn looked down at the little ball of gray fur.  It stared up into his face with wide, golden eyes.  "Do not worry, little friend.  No harm will come to you," he said softly, opening the door.  The crowd outside shifted uneasily at his approach.  Imhotep watched him with irritated interest that turned very dark and angry when his eyes fell upon the kitten.  His lips formed a scowl, his cheek muscles shifting and chipping away at his dead skin.  Tightening his fists with a smoldering glare, he spoke harshly in his unfamiliar tongue.

Aragorn looked to Evelyn, seeing that she appeared unharmed for the most part.  She had gotten to her feet and backed against the museum, trying to keep away from the mindless victims around her.  Her brow was knit.  "Is that…is that a cat?"

The Ranger nodded, taking a step away from her to draw Imhotep's attention away from that side.  Carefully, he said, "Yes, it is a cat."  He held it up more visibly, watching the priest and waiting for an attack.

Imhotep snapped something angrily, his fists clenching and unclenching in indecision as he looked from Aragorn to the kitten.  It had turned around in his hands and was now watching Imhotep in measurably as much distaste as it was being regarded.  The little kitten hissed and the Ranger felt claws extend into his fingers.  "He wants to know what you want," Evelyn translated, then spoke something to the creature in his own language.  "I told him I would translate."

"Tell him I want you to be turned over to me safely," Aragorn replied, never daring to take his eyes away from the creature, that same look shared by his enemy.

Evelyn spoke to Imhotep, whose brows narrowed and lips spread into a smile.  Not sounding as though she cared to speak it, she said, "He said you're welcome to try and take me.  The cat will not help you now."

At her finish, Imhotep snapped something else and suddenly the servants around him began to move towards Aragorn.  He was not entirely certain if Legolas had taken this into account.  Backing towards the museum door, Aragorn darted a glance at the window that the Elf had opened and was now climbing down.  Imhotep turned his head rapidly, seeing the same thing.  His eyes wide, the Ranger yelled, "Legolas, now!"

That spurred the Prince of Mirkwood out of stealth and into action.  He leapt from the window's edge and hit the sand, wasting no time in drawing his sword and grabbing Evelyn's arm, pulling her up.  Aragorn could spare only a moment to watch over his friends as Legolas began fighting his way through the crowd, drawing as little blood as possible, before having to retreat back into the museum because of the nearness of Imhotep's thralls.  Once inside, he shut the door and turned the lock, then raced towards the room Legolas had leapt from to see if he could aid a helping hand.  The kitten was placed down into an open sarcophagus in the adjoining hallway.

By the time Aragorn reached the window, Legolas had gone away from it.  He looked out as the raging mob headed towards a direction he could only assume his friend had taken, then snapped his attention back towards the priest.  Imhotep spared him a look that needed no translation.  He would be coming after Aragorn when the time was right.  But now was not that time.  He turned away and followed the procession after Legolas.

He had to warn the Med-Jai which direction Imhotep was taking.  Aragorn turned from the window and raced through the halls towards the back of the building where they had exited.

~~~~~~~

Once they had broken free of the overthrown crowd, Legolas had wasted no time in urging Evelyn, her hand clasped in his, into a full sprint away.  She was having trouble keeping up with his superior pace, but even still it seemed the villagers took no more effort than a shuffling walk, as if they knew that time would offer the bounty they had been sent to claim whether or not they ran.  Still, they took scant chances.  Legolas held fast to her hand, not allowing her to slow up just yet.

Around them lay the evidence of shattered homes and buildings that had no one to repair them.  They came to an alley where several more thralls emerged, eyes dead and repeating the name of Imhotep over and over, as if it brought strength or reminded them of the task at hand.  He knew not which, but saw now why they did no more than walk.  If Imhotep had taken the whole city and could speak to them without being within earshot, they were indeed in very much trouble.

Evelyn gave a cry when they rounded a corner right into a group of them.  Many sets of hands reached out towards them, grasping at their arms and hair, whatever they could reach.  Legolas kicked one, knocking it into the others and pulled Evy away.  "This does not bode well," he muttered, darting glances down the street, looking for any viable pathway out of the danger.

"What are we going to do?" she asked him urgently and to that he shook his head, questioning that himself.

At an intersection, Legolas stopped and looked behind them.  "Do you have one of these automobiles?"

She shook her head.  "Not anymore.  Jonathan lost it in a card game.  We could try for Fort Brydon.  He can't have turned the entire country into these mindless beasts."

"Then take us there.  Though it grieves me to leave our company behind, I fear we can do them no service now."  The Elf looked into her face, seeing the sorrow he felt mirrored there.  Compelled, he touched her shoulder softly.  "Your curator had a transport.  I am certain Jonathan and Aragorn will make it."

She smiled wanly, but there was no time to spare.  The servants of the priest were closing in upon them.  Legolas took her hand once more and pulled her away from the certain destruction heading their way.  He took her directions to Fort Brydon as she gave them, but more and more they had to duck certain streets and paths due to the mindless thralls.   And soon there was a distinctive change in the gravity of their worries.  It came as a crack from a whip, a terrible cry into the winds.  "Nefertiri!"

Chilled, they stopped and turned.  Imhotep approached, his eyes hungry with anticipation.  They could see death within those intense eyes.  "We're in serious trouble," Evy moaned as Legolas urged her to take up flight again.

The Elf made no comment.  While he agreed, he would not let hope slip away.  He had not been defeated by the enemies of goodness yet, nor would he be today.

Suddenly there was a car before them, directly in their path.  A door opened and the grave face of a Med-Jai peered out.  "Get in!" he ordered in severe tones.

Legolas pushed Evelyn towards the car, then turned to watch her back.  She was quick to get within the safety of the vehicle and he followed seconds later.  Evelyn was forced onto the lap of her brother while Legolas crouched on the floor in the cramped back seat.  The car jerked forward, sending him forward.  He braced against her lap, looking up into her anxious face.  "Aragorn?" he asked, watching her eyes.

She looked into the front seat, then at the faces of the Med-Jai in the backseat.  When her gaze came back down, it was more worried.  "He's not here."

From the front seat, passenger side, Abdul-Medjid turned back to face them.  "We waited for as long as we could, but he did not come.  My cousin was also left behind and a few of my men.  They will aid him if he finds them, I promise you that."

Unable to see into the front, the Prince of Mirkwood turned his mind to other matters, their immediate concern.  "Where is Henderson?"

"Right here," the American replied, seated in the driver's seat.

The car rocked with a sudden wind and Evy grabbed onto Jonathan for support.  "You had better step on it, Mr. Henderson," she advised.  "He's not far behind us."

Henderson cursed, then made a sharp turn.  Legolas found he did not care for this mode of escape just now.  It troubled him to be cut off from seeing what was going on around him.  The Med-Jai kept an eye on all the windows from what he could see, echoing his desire.  He would merely have to trust.

Trust did not matter, though.  Not anymore.  He first catalogued a sudden jerking sensation, before his eyes closed.  Or maybe they hadn't, he could not say.  It all happened so fast that the vision of crashing did not stay with him.  But the sound did.  That he registered fully, unable to block out the sounds even if he had wanted to.  It was loud and jarring.

At first he did not know what had happened, those first few seconds after the car had come to a dead halt.  Then it occurred to him that there was no sensation of movement.  Legolas looked first to Evelyn and saw her face pale white, eyes widened and hands tightened into fists.  Then he looked at the other side of the car.  There was blood there.  Beyond a shattered window were bricks and mortar, and the unmoving form of an unfortunate warrior that had slammed up against the hard wall.  It was then the Elf felt the warmth on his face and hands.  He looked down at saw the liquid of life spattered on his flesh and clothes.  At that point sound seemed to disappear, covered by vision.  He looked up again at Evelyn, seeing then what he had failed to see.  Blood on one side of her body.  She took a trembling hand and wrapped it around the fabric of her brother's pants, shaking him.  Sound rushed back into notice painfully.  "Jonathan?"

"I'm okay, Old Mum.  You?" Carnahan replied in a quiet, calm tone.

She didn't have time to reply.  A groan from the front seat drew their attention there.  "Mr. Bay," Evelyn said softly, her eyes locked forward.  Legolas wondered what it was she saw.  They were jarred again, this time by the cause rather than the effect.  Up front Henderson's side window burst and a hand curved in, wrapping along the doorway.  It was ripped off the car entirely and Henderson was yanked out.  "He's dragging him away."  Legolas knew who she meant.

Abdul-Medjid Bay groaned again and Legolas reached for the handle to his door, prepared to face death and use all his wisdom and power to defeat it.  When he collapsed from the vehicle and recovered his footing, he saw that Imhotep was nowhere to be seen; had left no trail to be hunted.  The car was bent around the corner of a building, metal twisted and formed into an instrument of death rather than escape.  Legolas pushed his hair back and not knowing what else to do, entered the front seat to see to Bay.  The wounds the Med-Jai had were grave.

He looked up through pained, hazy eyes and weakly grasped at the Elf's shirt.  "Stop him," he whispered, swallowing with terrible effort.  "The world is…is in trouble."

Legolas nodded quickly, covering the hand holding his shirt.  "I swear it."

Bay smiled and let go.  He said one final thing, then perished before the Elf's eyes.  "Sorry."

A sudden despair filled him.  He grieved this stranger that he had not seen his son before passing on and he grieved this city.  And most of all he grieved the bitterness these mortals endured.  Legolas now missed home more than ever.  He had seen death, raw and terrible, but never without the comfort of knowing his home could offer solace.  He did not have that here and the prospect of living here forever, of never seeing the shores of Aman and of living on for ages, watching these mortals die…it frightened him.  He looked at the dead face before him through sorrowful eyes, murmuring, "I tremaethar.  Rado sîdh athan sí."

~~~~~~~

Author:  Ruse – jedinineofnine@hotmail.com
Disclaimer:  No infringement intended.  Naseen and Salih are mine.
Feedback:  Yes!  By all means, my precioussss, lemme know how I'm doing!
Archive:  Sure, just please let me know if you will, so I can stop by and see your Fiction, LOTR Sims Cartoons, Wallpapers and More. :O  Sorry the thanks got cut off last posting.

Elvish:

Aragorn, tolo!  Goston amarth anglenna! – Aragorn, come!  I fear doom is approaching!

I tremaethar.  Rado sîdh athan sí. – The fight is through.  Find peace beyond here.

Reviewers:

Curlly – Thanks for the email!  I appreciate it and hope you continue to enjoy reading! :-)

Lulu Bell – Thanks!  I'm glad you're liking…yes, poor Ardeth.  I can't fight the urge to put him in mortal danger.  ;-)

Angelguide – Ardeth's been dragged off to be a meal! ;-)  Thanks! :-)

Loki – Thanks!  I appreciate that you'd just say hey, even if you had something else to say.  It's nice to see numbers, cause when no one reviews you think no one is reading.  :-D  Glad you're liking.

Terreis  - Whoops…sorry for leaving the cliffhangers all over the place. ;-)  I can't help it.  And sorry for taking long between updates! *sob*  I'll try to do better!  :-D  Thanks for reading when I do update. ;-)  Hope you continue to like!

Karri – Yeppers, they have an Elf!  Always a good good thing. ;-)  Even if Haldir can be snooty.  ;-)  Thank you for the compliments!

Deana – Yeah…poor Hal, having to leave a member behind.  He's a good guy. :-D  I wuv him!  Anyway, Legolas is up to trouble, as you can see!  Next chapter Imhotep might just kill him! ;-)  Well…

Sirithiliel – Hehehe..yes, sending Ardeth and Leggy to impossible situations, poor buggers.  I love them….therefore they must struggle.  :-D  Thanks for the review!  Whether I kill them or not…jury is still out on that. ;-)  Thanks!

Marcher – Hehe…thanks!  Glad you appreciated the Hobbit humor…I had fun thinking it up. :-D  Sorry about the cliffhangers…*gulp*  I can't help it! ;-)  Anyway, thanks for the review…hope to be reviewing yours soon. ;-)