Later in the afternoon, Basel took note of the time and so preparation for the evening meal began.
Elizabeth could smell the wonderful scent coming from kitchen. "Oh Basel that smells wonderful"
Basel laughed "It's your Mother's favorite stew"
That brought a smile to Ali's face. "Yes Basel made it many times when I was here"
The women were finishing up as Ali sat down a soup bowl on the table. Just then there was a quiet knock at the door. The door opened quickly, flooding the room with the late afternoon sun. As Ali turned toward it, the bright light masked the person's identity. Just as quickly, the door closed and there just a few feet away from her stood Ardeth.
Ali let out a small "oh" taking in the fact that Ardeth was just a few feet from her. She could instantly smell the scents that she so associated with him…. Sand and vanilla. She tried to take in the sight of him. He was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen. She smiled to herself noting the gray that was now gracing his temples and trailing down his mustache into his goatee. Looking back up into his dark, dark eyes she was overwhelmed by a million emotions. Emotions she had held at bay for 20 years. 20 years of suppressing the passion, the want, the need, the love and the pain. Pain of losing their son, pain of being sent away and never knowing why, the pain of thinking Ardeth hated her and simply no longer wanted her.
Ardeth stood staring at Ali. She was finally there…in front of him. He wanted to step forward and take her into his arms and yet he wanted to keep her there in front of him so he could take in her beauty. She had not changed in 20 years. Her beautiful porcelain skin, her waves of auburn hair. He watched as so many emotions played across her face as she looked back at him. The last one pulled at his very heart. It was one of pain, pain he knew he had caused.
Finally, he came back to the present and found his voice "Hello Ali".
His voice. His voice. Shaking her head slightly as if to clear her thoughts she replied "Hello Ardeth"
'I hope your trip went well" He said smiling down at Ali.
She nodded "It did. Thank you for sending Ahmed".
"You are very welcome. I thought it would be nice for you to see a familiar face"
"It was" Realizing her family was now standing behind her, Ali added "Let me introduce you to my family." Turning a bit she said "This is my daughter Elizabeth, my son Jonathan, my sister-in-law Caroline and my brother-in-law Peter. Everyone this is Ardeth".
Everyone bowed to Ardeth and he spoke "Please do not bow. It is very nice to finally meet you". Then reaching out he shook Peter's hand. Peter spoke "It is good to finally meet you as well". Ardeth then greets the others. As he finished he found himself in front of Ali again. Again they looked into each other's eyes and again Ardeth could see a million emotions in Ali's beautiful hazel eyes. This time though he saw something new. He watched as a mask came over her face as if she was closing out the emotions. Watching this happen hurt Ardeth and brought about a feeling of dread. He had hoped that possibly he and Ali could talk. That he could explain what had happened.
Basel speaking brought him out of his thoughts "Well now that you're here Grandson, let us eat".
Ardeth turned to his Grandmother, "Of course Grandmother."
As Ardeth sat down at the head of the table Basel ladled out stew into a bowl. Without thinking Ali took the bowl and set it in front of him. Looking up he smiled a small smile and quietly said "Thank you ". Ali blushed and just nodded. She then passed bowls to everyone else.
As she sat down Basel looked to Ardeth and asked "Ardeth, how were your meetings?"
"They were good, Grandmother"
"Did you get everything settled?"
"Yes, it was quite a bit of work, but it is settled"
Ali spoke "What was going on?" then adding "If it's alright to ask"
Ardeth turned to her "Of course. Do you remember Batek?" Ali nodded and he continued, looking at everyone else "He was the leader of the tenth tribe for many years". Then looking back to Ali "He passed away about 6 months ago and well there were some issues between his two sons as to who would take his place".
"Why would there be issues? Shouldn't it be his eldest son?" Ali questioned.
"Yes normally. But, his eldest son Tamar, had actually left the village for several years. He came back when he received word of his father's declining health"
"Oh". Ali said very surprised. "Why did he leave?" Then looking at her family "It is very unusual for Medjai to leave their villages"
Ardeth nodded at her statement and then added "Actually, he had been in Ciaro for some time at my request. We were trying to stop a flow of artifacts from several sites. While he was there, he fell in love with an English woman who worked at the museum. His father did not approve so he stayed in Cairo"
Another oh left Ali's lips. "What happened with their relationship when he returned to his village?"
"That was actually another bit of contention I dealt with. She stayed in Cairo, but once Batek had passed Tamar had her come to the village. Most in the village were fine with her, but as you can imagine there were several older members that didn't think she would make a good wife for their leader. In fact those same people thought that Tamar should not be the leader at all. They thought his younger brother Simid should be."
The similarity of Batek's story to Ardeth and Ali's was not lost on anyone. It was Basel that spoke "I am assuming Grandson that you pointed out the obvious?"
A sly grin played across Ardeth's face. "Yes, Grandmother I did"
"And did that change their minds"
"It opened up much need negotiations" he said then chuckled. He then added more seriously "It was finally decided that Tamar would lead the village and Simid would lead the warriors".
Elizabeth spoke up "Were Tamar and his lady friend able to stay together?"
Ardeth smiled "Yes, Tamar and Sarah will be married soon"
Finally, Ali spoke "Well I'm glad you were able to straighten everything out for them"
Ardeth nodded and then stood "I know you must be tired after your travel, so I will take my leave."
"Ardeth, will you be by for the morning meal tomorrow?"
"Yes, Grandmother. I thought that if they would like, Peter and Jonathan might make my rounds with me. I need to visit the Ferrier tomorrow, and if I remember correctly, Ali wrote that you own horses."
Peter spoke "That would be wonderful. I would love to see more of the beautiful animals we rode today"
"Very well then we will go after eating"
Basel spoke up "That sounds wonderful Ardeth. Ladies I thought we might, perhaps, visit Aren. She does the most beautiful embroidery."
"Yes, please" Elizabeth said.
Everyone laughed and Ardeth said "Then I take my leave. I'm glad your trip was pleasurable and I will see everyone in the morning. There was a round of "thank yous and good nights, then Ardeth spoke again "Ali may I speak to you for a moment?"
Ali nodded and rose from the table. She made her way to the door, Ardeth opened it for her and then he followed her outside shutting the door behind him.
They stood staring at each other for several moments, finally Ardeth spoke "I am very glad you, and your family are finally here"
"Thank you. It's good to finally be here".
For another moment neither spoke. Ardeth drew a long breathe. He hated feeling unsure; he was not use to that feeling. He recalled as he earlier watched Ali put up a mask, but he had to ask. "I had hoped we would be able to talk while you are here".
Knowing what he meant Ali nodded "I had hoped we could also".
"Good" he stopped then added "There is much I want to try to explain"
Again Ali nodded. She was fighting to control her emotions.
Ardeth watched and it hurt his heart.
"Would tomorrow night be acceptable?" He needed to tell her. Being near her, he needed to tell her.
"Yes, I would like that"
"Good. Then tomorrow night after the evening meal we will talk. I should take my leave and let you get some rest"
"Good night Ardeth" she said. She so badly wanted to hug him, and yet she was so unsure of it all.
"Good night Ali". He wanted to take her in his arms. But he could not. He turned to leave and Ali reached out and took his hand. He turned back to her. She looked so small and vulnerable.
"Thank you Ardeth for allowing us to come to the village. And well, I'm glad we are going to talk"
Ardeth smiled down at her. "This was your home Ali and I too am glad that we are going to talk. Sleep well and I'll see you in the morning"
"You sleep well too."
With that she let go of his hand and turned to open the door.
He watched as she made her way back into his Grandmother's home. He was an emotional mess. He would never allow anyone, other than Ali, to see that. But as he made his way back to his home, he struggled with everything that had happened between them.
Ali closed the door behind her, so lost in her thoughts she didn't see Basel walk toward her.
"Ali, my dear"
"I'm sorry, Basel" Ali said shaking her head.
"It's alright, my dear. Are you alright?"
"Yes, Basel I'm fine." Knowing what Basel was referring to she added "We are going to talk tomorrow night after the evening meal"
"I am very glad"
"I am too Basel, and nervous, but I know we need to talk". She then added "and I will remember what you said, I promise"
Basel hugged Ali "I know you will child. Now you should retire for the night as I am sure you are tired. The rest just retired."
"I am tired." Ali hugged Basel again "Thank you, I can't tell you what it means to me to be back"
"My dear, it is I that should be I thanking you. You made this old woman very happy"
Ali shook her head and kissed Basel's cheek and made her way down the hall.
As she entered the bedroom, Elizabeth and Caroline stopped talking. Ali smiled "Alright, what were you talking about". As she said it she chuckled.
Elizabeth blushed but Caroline answered "Well, of course we were talking about Ardeth".
Ali smiled "And what were you saying?"
"Well, you had always said that he was the most beautiful man you had ever seen. Honestly, I always wondered why you described him that way. But, seeing him tonight, I totally understand." As she finished she smiled.
Elizabeth then spoke up "He is very handsome Mother".
Ali smiled "Yes, he is. I especially like the white that is now at his temples and in his beard"
Elizabeth then asked "If it alright to ask Mother did your talk go well?"
Ali slipped her nightgown over her head, stopped then said "Of course my dear and yes it went well. We are going to talk tomorrow night….about what happened".
"Oh, Mother I'm very glad. I know you have wanted that"
Lying down Ali said "Yes, my dear I have. We should probably get some rest as we will busy day tomorrow"
They said their good nights and then Ali was left to her thoughts.
She was back. And maybe tomorrow she would find some answers.