This is the last chapter. It's quite short but hopefully it's enough.

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Chapter Seven

Return

The next morning Ardeth woke up by someone shouting his name. It was vague at first yet it grew stronger each second. Ardeth opened his eyes, expecting to see the alabaster roof above him but instead he saw the open sky. Ardeth sat up, feeling confused, and looked around. He was sitting in the sand, in Hamunaptra, right above the very same place where Imhotep had rested from the beginning.

Ardeth looked beside him and saw that his weapons were all next to him. He kept wondering if everything had only been a dream yet he soon changed his mind. It couldn't have been just a dream; it had all been too real.

The shouting continued and Ardeth stood up to look for the keeper of the voice that was screaming his name so desperately.

"O'Connell?" Ardeth said with surprise as he finally saw the American run towards him. He looked like a mess. He didn't stop running until he was standing right in front of Ardeth. He was completely out of breath. Shortly after him came Evy, Alex and even Jonathan.

"We were beginning to think you were dead," Rick said between breaths. Before Ardeth could say anything Evy had went up to him and embraced him tightly.

"I'm so glad you're alright," she said with a smile. Ardeth gazed at each one of them.

"How long have I been missing?" he asked. The family gazed at each other and then at Ardeth.

"A little over two weeks," Evy answered. Ardeth lowered his gaze to the soft sand underneath his feet; it felt like he had spent months, maybe even years with the high priest, not just a couple of weeks.

"What happened to you?" Rick asked, seeing the slightly puzzled expression on the Medjai's face.

"Where's the mummy?" Jonathan added. Ardeth was silent. He wasn't sure how to answer it. As he lowered his gaze he noticed that he had something around his neck; Imhotep's necklace. Ardeth took the necklace in his hand and gazed at it for a while and then gazed at the others.

"Imhotep is gone," he said softly, half to himself. He didn't know how he knew this so certainly but he did. Imhotep had left him there and disappeared himself, perhaps to never come back again.

"Did he do anything to you?" Rick asked, gazing intensely at Ardeth. The Medjai shook his head.

"No, nothing," he answered.

Ardeth returned home shortly after that, first having to convince Rick and the others that he was fine. He was well welcomed by his people who cheered at his return. They said that their leader was a great warrior who had managed to escape the Bringer of death all on his own.

Imhotep was never seen again yet Ardeth thought about him often and he would still guard the lost city but not out of fear but more out of anticipation. A part of him wanted the priest to return so that they could see each other again. The Medjai never told anyone what had really happened during the days he spent with the high priest but he never forgot it.

Years later when Ardeth told his children about the high priest Imhotep, who lived centuries ago, he always made sure to tell them that he too was human once. He was just like anyone else, except that he fell deeply in love with a woman who belonged to the pharaoh. The high priest wasn't a creature; he was a man.

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That's it. It's over. I know some people might hate this ending since I didn't explain a few things yet I like it this way. It gives you a chance to try to figure out yourself what really happened.

Well, that's it. The story has been re-edited and re-posted. I had thoughts about adding a new chapter which would go deeper into the relationship between Ardeth and Imhotep after chapter six but I decided against it. If a lot of people want the extra chapter I might write it. It's all up to you guys. Review and let me know what you think of the story, please.