Third chapter. I also corrected the misspelling at Imhotep's name. Thank you Sareth-the-lost one for the reviews and for correcting me.

Enjoy.

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Chapter Three:

Captured

As Ardeth woke up again he was certain that it had all been just a dream. He thought that he was still laying in his tent underneath the open desert sky. However as he opened his eyes he didn't see the dark inside of his tent and he wasn't asleep underneath the pile of stiff blankets. He was inside a strange room made out of alabaster stone with fire torches lined along the walls, lighting it up. He was laying on a rather large bed with white cotton sheets and soft feather pillows. The Medjai warrior looked around in confusion as he carefully sat up on the bed.

"You are awake at last?" Imhotep's voice said from the other side of the room. Ardeth swiftly turned his head in the direction of the voice and saw the high priest standing by a door opening, leaning his shoulder against the side of the opening, his arms crossed over his chest. He had an amused smile on his face as he gazed at the confused warrior.

"Where have you brought me?" Ardeth asked, completely forgetting to be alarmed by the presence of the high priest.

"It is best that you do not know that," Imhotep answered as he went towards the bed. Ardeth rose to his feet, ready if something would happen. He then noticed that he did no longer have his sable. In fact he didn't have any weapons to defend himself if Imhotep chose to attack.

"I thought it best for you not to be weighed down by those things," Imhotep smiled; clearly noticing that Ardeth was looking for his weapons. Ardeth refused to say anything in response. He wouldn't even look at the priest.

Ardeth kept his gaze fixed on the wall beside him as he heard the soft echo of Imhotep's footsteps moving towards his side.

"Are you upset?" Imhotep asked carefully. Ardeth still kept his face turned away from the priest. Imhotep smiled in amusement at the warrior's stubborn behaviour and placed his hands on the Medjai's shoulders.

"What do you want?" Ardeth hissed between his teeth, turning his back on the high priest. Imhotep leaned his head on Ardeth's shoulder as he let his hands rub up and down the warrior's upper arms, it seemed to be an attempt to comfort the other but the touch also seemed almost sensual.

"I want you to stay here with me," he answered softly. Ardeth glanced at the taller man from the corner of his eye.

"What do you mean? Am I a bait to get to O'Connell?" he asked, knowing that if the priest wished to kill him he would probably have done it already. He heard a small chuckle from Imhotep.

"If I was after him would it not have been more affective to use a member of his family as bait?" he said calmly. Ardeth hated to admit it, but the priest was right. He had the chance to kidnap both Evy and Alex to get to O'Connell yet he didn't.

"Then what are you after?" Ardeth asked silently. "You must have a reason to bring me here. If it is not for revenge then what is it?" Imhotep carefully let go of Ardeth and turned his back towards the Medjai, his face slowly lowering to the floor.

"She left me for death. She abandoned me even though I begged her to help me," he mumbled with a heavy tone to his voice. It was obvious that it hurt for him to remember those things. Ardeth turned around, gazing at the priest.

"When I was tortured during all those years and while I was in the Underworld the memories of her and the thoughts about finally being able to be together with her again one day made me endure it. Now I don't have that anymore. Whenever I think about her now I can only see her face right before she turned her back on me to save her own life; the very life I had sacrificed everything to give back to her," Imhotep continued.

Ardeth couldn't help feeling sorry for Imhotep but he didn't voice it; the priest was still the enemy no matter what he said or did.

"She was the only woman I have ever loved. I would have done anything for her. I always thought that our love was greater than anyone else's. I was wrong," Imhotep continued, the sadness and heartbreak dripping from his voice. Ardeth wouldn't be surprised if the priest was crying.

"I just cannot stand to be alone anymore," Imhotep finally said and turned towards Ardeth, startling him just slightly. "That is why I sought you out. I wanted company and you are alone too, are you not?" Ardeth lowered his gaze, not wanting to admit that the priest was right; he was alone.

Imhotep placed his hand on Ardeth's cheek, raising his head just slightly so that their eyes could finally meet.

"Will you stay with me?" the priest asked, sounding both cautious and a little hopeful. Ardeth avoided his gaze again. He was so confused by everything that was happening; he was trapped by the very same being that had brought fear to his people for generations but he felt no fear in the presence of the priest.

He let out a small sigh as he glanced at the room he was in; it had no windows and seemed to have only one door opening but it didn't seem that it would lead him to freedom. The way he saw it, the high priest was only one who could bring him away from there and that seemed an unlikely scenario.

"I do not seem to have a choice, do I?" he said with a silent voice. The priest shook his head.

"No. You do not," he simply mumbled. Ardeth sighed loudly, not even trying to hide his irritation.