The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, only the OCs I've created for this story. I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile.
Author's note: post series and very AU. Some movie events may happen, but differently.
Warning: may contain movie spoilers, also violence, blood, death, and possibly sex.
26. Routine Ending (Routineende)
early March,1928
In the next two months, Edward's life settled into a kind of routine. He would arise soon after dawn and dress, then breakfast with the staff in the kitchen, before he presented himself at the door to the Major's study to discuss the day's lesson plans for the twins. Howard wanted them to learn the usual public school subjects: maths, grammar, English history, geography, and Latin. This was usually no problem for Edward, the subjects - even Latin - were mere child's play for him. But Edward wanted to add subjects more germane, like Egyptian history, and Arabic. Howard grudgingly allowed the first, although he didn't see the use. But he puffed out his walrus mustache and absolutely refused to let his children learn Arabic.
Edward was dismayed by the Major's attitude, and it especially bothered him the Major had ordered him not to teach April anything more difficult then basic math, no algebra or calculus. The first time he broached the subject, Edward had nearly gotten his head torn off. April, Howard had icily informed him, was to grow up a proper English lady, not one of those "demmed suffragette bluestockings!". Edward bit back the sarcastic reply he'd planned to say, bowed his head, and conceded defeat. But it saddened him to realize April would not be allowed to use her magnificent mind for anything more strenuous then snagging a wealthy and titled husband.
About seven-thirty am, Edward would go to the schoolroom to prepare for the day's lessons, which lasted from roughly eight till noon. After he and the children had lunched, he had to take them to Major Howard's dig site in the Valley of the Kings. While on the way, Edward would ride his donkey next to April's while Patrick urged his forward so he could try out his Arabic on the huge Egyptian who accompanied them as a sort of "bodyguard". The twins begged him to teach them the language, and Edward had disobeyed the Major's orders. Not once, but twice.
He also surreptitiously tutored April in the forbidden math subjects, plus the fundamentals of trigonometry and geometry. Edward had to do it on the sly because Patrick also disapproved of women learning too much, on the grounds they would forget their place. He would just smile when the boy pontificated because the simple truth was, April was the smarter of the pair. Not that Edward was going to burst Patrick's bubble of male superiority, doing that might get him sacked.
The dig site would be a hive of activity with lines of men wielding pick and shovel, or bringing out endless bucket fulls of refuse from the minor tomb which had been discovered. Inside, the first antechamber had just been cleared, and he could hear the Major's booming voice as he pointed to and read (incorrectly) the hieroglyphics painted on the walls. Edward had learned to read the ancient language quickly, and he had a hard time suppressing a smile at the way Major Howard mangled it. Today's victims, er, visitors were a German archealogist and his assistant, who were also working hard to keep their poker faces from slipping.
Edward didn't like the way the latter man, a tall fellow with a face heavily pockmarked face was looking at him. But he had his secondary job duties to perform: sketching the tomb paintings and hieroglyphs. After a worker brought him a camp stool, he thanked the man and sat down. He dug in a rucksack he'd brought with him for his sketchpad, lap board, and drawing pencils. As Edward began to to make a preliminary sketch, even Major Howard's loud voice faded away - he'd never lost his ability to focus - and he eventually forgot he wasn't alone. The scarred man had slipped back inside the tomb, and he dropped a heavy hand on Edward's shoulder before he said, in German: "Hallo, Shambalan."