Disclaimer: I'm tired of saying I own nothing, and I think you get the gist by now.
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Sally woke up as the afternoon was slowly making it's way into the evening. She looked around and found that she was not where she thought she was to begin with. Someone had moved her in her sleep, and that someone was standing not too far from where she was sitting.
He was obviously a med-jai by hi attire and tattoos. He was slightly taller than average and of the usual dark complexion and hair. She could tell that he was a bit shorter than Ardeth, but at her age, a few inches meant nothing. He still towered over her. She could tell that he was evaluating her as much as she was evaluating him.
"Who are you?" she asked just to break the silence.
"Zahid." He looked at the girl in front of him. She showed no fear, and she was far too calculating for a six year old. It made him suspicious of her. Was this why Ardeth had asked him to get her out of the way?
She meanwhile, was wondering if Ardeth had anything to do with this stranger. She was getting the feeling that he was going to do something to make sure that the people left the city of the dead. If he was, that meant that this man was here because Ardeth wanted her safe. She could only hope that her family and Rick made it out of there alive, and be angry that he wasn't thinking of their safety as well.
"Okay. Well, Zahid, where's Ardeth?" There she had said it. This man was perceptibly unaware of her relationship to Ardeth, or more appropriately to Wati, his past life. From the way he was staring her down Ardeth had been tight lipped about that. This Zahid was looking at her like she was a threat.
When she said Ardeth's name Zahid was very confused. He kept his face stoic, and wondered wether or not he should answer this too perceptive child.
"How do you know him?" he let himself glare at her.
"If he hasn't told you, then perhaps he doesn't want you to know," she paused, and then smiled, "but since he is plainly behind my kidnaping, I'm mad and will tell you anyway just to spite him." Zahid did not know what to make of this, but if she planned to tell him something that his leader wasn't willing for him to hear, . . .
"Chill out." She interrupted his thoughts. "I don't think he'd actually mind, I'm just miffed at him for being all, over protective of me." Protective? This mystery was getting way too mysterious for him.
"Then what?"
"We were sort of married in a past life." he could tell she thought it was hilarious, but he could see why Ardeth had not thought it so. It explained why she was so knowing and cryptic. "It really isn't fair to him or me for that matter, just a little bit cruel."
"You were not always so far apart in age I hope?"
"Nah, he was like eight, maybe nine years older. Some times I had thought it too much in the beginning, but I later realized that it had absolutely nothing to do with age; Wati was just weird." She laughed, "Then, it just slowly got better after that, but now? It's definitely the age thing. I mean he's still weird, don't get me wrong about that."
"Yeah, I can see how you being like what? How old are you?"
"Six"
"Oh, wow, that's just gross."
"You should've see it whenever we first met in this life. Awkward!" she was all out laughing at this point.
"I see why he didn't elaborate." he soon joined in on the laughter,
"So how do you know him, and please don't tell me he was cheating on me with you." it was a much nicer atmosphere now with them both laughing.
"No, no, nothing like that! We grew up together, best friends, and now he's my commander."
"So he didn't tell you about the love of his life!" she wore a look of mock hurt.
"Oh, I heard about you, Shashai, but not like this!"
"So, you're his best friend, and I'm his old girlfriend. We should get on great!" They settled in for a long night and talked about life, Ardeth, and Wati.
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They were both laughing quite hard when Ardeth rode up. Ardeth was at first very confused, they were talking, laughing, and getting quite cozy. Then he was jealous, that was his girl. He mentally kicked himself in the head for such thoughts. She was six for crying out loud!
Sally surprisingly saw him first. She stopped laughing and walked up to him.
"Wati! I can't believe you!" Crap, he figured she'd be mad, but in the heat of the moment he forgot to think up some way to make it up to her.
"Your family, they are safe, for now." he offered as if it would save him.
"For now?!" wrong thing to say apparently. Oh, Allah where was his tact when he needed it? Any fool would've seen that one coming. "I can't believe you! First you abduct me then this?"
"That is not what I meant. I am merely saying that the city of the dead is a dangerous place. If they do not leave it will go badly for them." Maybe reason would work with her. Ok, now she was crying, smooth one Ardeth.
"So you're just going to kill my family?!" she was sobbing quite forcefully now.
"No."he could hear a bit of panic rising in his voice. If he stuck to one word sentences, she couldn't possibly misconstrue them. Could she? He kneeled down and gently tilted her face so she would look him in the eyes."No" he said it more confident and assuring this time.
This time she put her arms around his neck and just cried. She didn't quite know why she was crying the whole time. But being a full grown woman reincarnate is a bit too much for a little girl to handle all at once. So she cried herself to sleep in his arms while he tried his best to be comforting and supportive.
Zahid meanwhile was having a very hard time not laughing at his friend's predicament. Ardeth spent much of his time being stoic to adequately handle an emotional girl, much less one that knew exactly how to get on his nerves.
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A/N: I know this chapter was a bit dramatic, but I wanted to show how complex this is to Sally. She has the memories of an older mature woman, but she is still just a child. Just FYI for those few perverted souls out there trying to read too much into things -- there is not anything going on between them sexually; they were in love at one point and are just trying to figure out what to do with their emotions right now.
