The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, just the original characters I've created. 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 bad language, violence, blood, death and possibly sex.
28. Found Out (Fand heraus)
In his panic, Edward forgot about picking up the things he'd dropped. And in his rush to get away. he fell to his knees when he tripped over the camp stool which had somehow fallen over. Edward quickly scrambled to his feet, but they were slow to move him forward. He had taken only a few stumbling steps, more sideways than anything when the tomb antechamber abruptly tilted and the floor rushed up to strike the side of his head.
"...he's starting to come 'round..."
The voice came from very far above him as the world slowly came back into focus. Edward heard a voice in heavily accented English say, "Rudolf says he was examining an inscription in the tomb's entrance when he heard a noise. He looked into the antechamber and saw your artist fellow staggering about before he fell on the floor and lay still."
A second voice, which Edward recognized as that of Major Howard's reis next spoke up. "Sahib, it may have been stale air which caused this. See? The fresher air is reviving him."
Edward blinked several times before he cautiously opened his eyes. He was laying on a cot under a canvas canopy which sheltered him from the hot afternoon sun. A cool breeze that fanned his right cheek came from a small reed fan wielded by the reis's youngest son. Edward smiled at him and mumured his thanks in Arabic which made the boy's face split in a wide gap-toothed grin. Major Howard was sitting on a camp stool nearby while he looked through Edward's sketchbook. He glanced over as Edward slowly sat up on the cot. "Excellent work as usual, Bauer, but I think that's enough for you today. Go back to the house after you've rested a bit."
"Thank you - sir." Edward mumbled as he accepted a glass of water pressed into his hand by April. She smiled at him, then patted his right knee and said, "Dr. Schwinghammer has graciously offered the use of his motorcar to take you home, Mr. Edward. You look too woozy to ride a don - FATHER! Mr. Bauer has fainted again!"
Edward awoke to the feeling of movement and the sound of an engine. He opened his eyes to narrow slits and tried to keep his respiration even while he surveyed his surroundings. Someone had propped him with pillows into a half-reclining position on the back seat of a large touring car with very stiff springs. He grunted when one wheel dipped into a pothole and a now familiar voice spoke quietly, "Ah, you are finally awake, Shambalan."
"Stop calling me that!" Edward growled out the side of his mouth and he fully opened his eyes to glare at the man he now knew as Dr. Schwinghammer's assistant, Rudolf. "It sounds idiotic."
Rudolf's wolfish smile widened even further and it made Edward very nervous. "Deny it all you want, but I know you are from that world. I truly believe it was fate which led our paths to cross. Madame Eckart has been so very worried, and we've been searching all of Europe for you. How happy she will be to discover your whereabouts."