There is a Fine Line Between Coincidence and Fate
Rick and Evie O'Connell arrived at the Medjai camp for one of their annual visits to their good friend Ardeth Bay. The O'Connells had met the Medjai warrior before they had been married when Evie had wanted Rick's help in finding Hamunaptra. They hadn't been friends in the beginning for it was the Medjai sacred duty to keep people away from the city that was more myth and legend then reality. The Medjai preferred it that way for it made it easier to protect if people thought it didn't actually exist.
The second time they had met, Rick and Evie were married and had an eight year old son Alex. That time Ardeth had come to England in order to find the person who was sponsoring digging up Imhotep. The lady that had been working with the curator of the British museum had somehow known the exact location of where the Creature was buried along with the books of the Dead and the Living.
After that, second adventure, after they had had to rescue Alex who had been kidnapped because he had put on the bracelet of Anubis which led the way to Ahm Shere the oasis in the middle of the desert where the Scorpion King and the Army of Anubis were buried. The bad guys of course wanted the Army of Anubis so they could take over the world and it was up to Rick, Evie, Jonathan and the Medjai chief Ardeth Bay to stop them.
After that, their friendship had blossomed and had become so strong that Rick thought of Ardeth like a brother. Someone he could depend on when he needed him and also someone who could depend on him if necessary.
Ardeth had told him that he was a Medjai, a warrior for God. It had happened right after he had seen that tattoo on Rick's inner wrist when he had been visiting the O'Connells at their home in England. Alex had only been four at the time.
At first Rick had been disbelieving but over the years his disbelief had been worn down until he had finally had no choice but to believe. For one thing he realized he had done some amazing things over the years. Not only had he faced Imhotep twice and both times lived to tell the tale but he had survived out in the desert when he had gotten separated from his buddies when had had been a member of the French Foreign Legion. He had actually even managed to make it back to civilization on his own. Could anybody else have survived out in the desert with no water or food? He didn't know. He supposed it was possible. Could anybody else have survived not only the rising of the Scorpion King but the rising of the Creature twice?
Rick stopped the horse he was riding as he saw Ardeth waving to them from just a few feet away.
"Rick, Evie," Ardeth said by way of greeting.
"Ardeth," Evie cried dismounting and hugging him tightly.
"It is good to see you again my friends," said Ardeth as he hugged Evie back and shook Rick's hand.
"And you too, my brother," said Rick almost casually.
Ardeth's eyes widened at the term 'my brother' for Rick had never called him that before only 'my friend'. That he had implied that Rick had finally accepted that he was a Medjai a warrior for God.
Ardeth recovered himself quickly and said, "Come my friends you are just in time to share lunch with me and tell me the news."
The O'Connells nodded and followed Ardeth to his tent.
Once inside with the tent flap closed Rick and Evie saw enough food for three sitting on a table on one side of the tent.
"How'd you know we'd be here today?" asked Rick in astonishment and he looked at the food. "I know we sent you a telegram telling you we were coming but how did you know we'd be here in time to eat with you?"
"That's easy, my friend, I simply had lookouts posted. One of those lookouts was in Cairo and since I knew what hotel you usually stayed in it was a simple matter to have one of my men placed outside the hotel to wait for your arrival and of course when he saw you arrive he sent me a telegram and of course he sent me another one when you got underway. After that it was just a matter of estimating the time it would take you to travel from Cairo to our camp and having Medjai on the lookout for you. I just got word about twenty minutes ago that you would be here in less than half an hour."
Rick shook his head muttering, "I must be losing my touch. I never even saw anyone watching us, much less someone who should be as obvious as a Medjai."
"Rick you know the Medjai are very good at fading into the background when they must," Evie said comfortingly, patting her husband's arm. "Anyway, we are here and that is all that matters."
"You're right," Rick agreed with a smile. "Anyway can we eat? I'm starving."
"Of course you are, aren't you always?" asked Evie teasingly getting up and serving the food to both men before getting herself a plate. "Between you, Jonathan and Alex I'm surprised we haven't gone broke from all the food you three put away."
"Hey!" Rick protested then fell silent realizing he was being teased when Evie grinned at him.
They ate in silence for several minutes and after each had at least sated their hunger a little they began to talk. "Well as for news there is not much to tell since the last time we saw you," said Evie. "Both Jonathan and Alex are doing fine. Alex is at school and as soon as it lets out for the summer we have promised to bring him here to see you. He misses you a great deal and he considers you an honorary uncle."
"When we told him we were coming to see you he practically begged to come along and it took a lot of convincing to get him to stay at school," Rick added with a half grimace half smile as he remembered the argument that he and Evie had had with their son.
"I will be glad to see him to," Ardeth said pleased that Alex considered him a member of the family even if they didn't get to see each other as often as they would like.
"As for Jonathan," Evelyn paused then continued. "Jonathan has changed a great deal since Ahm Shere."
"In what way?" asked Ardeth almost concerned. He admitted to himself that Evie's older brother could be a coward but also that he had come through for him and his family during their adventure at the oasis of Ahm Shere. If not for Jonathan and the fact that he was an excellent shot then Ardeth knew that he would likely be dead at Lock-Nah's hands. He also knew that Evie had died at Ahm Shere and if Alex hadn't been able to read the ancient Egyptian from the Book of the Dead and if Jonathan hadn't helped Alex with a couple of words he was unfamiliar with than Evie would have stayed dead and been lost to them forever a thought that made him shudder inside.
"He's stopped drinking," Rick admitted. "Almost completely."
"He still has a glass every now and then but he always manages to stop after one or two," added Evie.
"He's started being more responsible," Rick added. "He's stopped going out every night and drinking and meeting ladies and he's completely stopped gambling."
"You have to remember what happened at Ahm Shere would have affected anybody," said Ardeth. "Some for the better others not. I think that Jonathan has come to realize that he is not as incompetent or as useless as he has always believed himself to be. Not only did he save my life with a single shot he also helped Alex bring Evie back from the dead. Those two events probably gave his self-confidence and his self-esteem an enormous boost and it is possible that he started to think of himself as useful instead of useless."
"And so his lifestyle and attitude changed accordingly," Evie murmured. "Well, let's just hope this change becomes permanent. It's only been about a year since we returned from Ahm Shere and anything can make Jonathan slip back into the role he has been acting since our parents died. It will take awhile for these changes to become permanent and if anything happens to ruin this new self-confidence in the meantime…"
"I hope not," said Rick. "Personally, I like this new Jonathan. He is becoming someone you can depend on to be responsible and to be there when you need him."
"Anyway, to change the subject Rick and I both wanted to talk to you about something, something both of us consider very important."
Ardeth set up straighter at the seriousness in Evie's voice but otherwise his expression remained unchanged except perhaps for the fact he seemed just a little more alert.
"After Ahm Shere, both of us came to realize that both us could die from just about anything," Rick began. "It doesn't necessarily have to be from anything supernatural like Imhotep rising from the grave again. We could die in a car accident or in a plane crash or even just from some disease."
"Both of us have come to the conclusion that if that happens while Alex is still a child we would like you to take him and raise him as your own. Now before you say anything let me tell you that both Rick and I have discussed this for quite some time and decided that you could raise him better then Jonathan could."
"It is true, Jonathan has changed a great deal," Rick said. "I'll be the first to admit that, but we both fear that if he has the pressure of raising Alex while also mourning us that he will be more likely to slide back into his old ways of drinking gambling and whoring."
Ardeth remained silent for quite some time seeming deep in thought.
"I know this seems rather sudden but let me assure you we have discussed it quite a bit," said Evie after a few minutes of silence.
"And despite how little we see each other you are family," Rick added. "Family, after all, isn't always related by blood."
"It's not that it's just that this has come as quite a shock," Ardeth said. "I am honored at your trust in me."
"Ardeth," began Evie, leaning over to gently touching his hand, "As Rick said, we consider you family. Families are not always necessarily related by blood," Evie said repeating what Rick had just said a minute ago. "They are related by choice or through shared experiences and danger. You are an honorable and trustworthy man Ardeth Bay and we would be honored if you would consider yourself part of our family. This request we make of you was not an easy thing for us, but both of realize that with the lives we tend to lead—after all we have been put into extremely dangerous situations twice now—that even though we survived there is no guarantee that we would survive if something similar happened again."
"I am honored by your trust in me," Ardeth repeated, his voice sounding somewhat hoarse with strong emotions. "And yes, if the time comes that both of you die—which Allah forbid—then I promise I will take Alex and raise him as my own son. This I swear to you."
"Thank you, Ardeth, we are in your debt," said Rick his voice thick with emotion.
"You are welcome my friends, but let us pray it never becomes necessary for me to keep my vow."
"We hope not, Ardeth but this takes quite a load off our minds and for that we thank you."
For the rest of the evening they talked of inconsequential things but Ardeth could tell that his friend was distracted and not paying as much attention to the conversation as he normally did. However, whatever was bothering Rick never came up and Ardeth was determined to find out what it was that lay so heavily on the mind of his best friend.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
Early the next morning Rick was outside at the edge of camp watching the sunrise over the desert when Ardeth came up silently beside him. Rick didn't even glance his way just moved slightly making room for him. How his friend had known it was him Ardeth didn't have a clue and it didn't matter at the moment anyway.
"What if I was to say to you, I am a stranger travelling from the east, in search of that which is lost?" asked Rick suddenly not looking away from where the sun was rising over the desert.
Ardeth's eye widened as he recognized the phrase he had asked his friend years ago back when he had first noticed the tattoo on one of his trips to visit his friends. It took a minute for Ardeth to find his voice and when he replied it came out sounding rather choked, "Then I would say that I am a stranger travelling from the west, and it is I whom you seek. So you believe now?" Ardeth asked looking over at his friend.
Rick didn't reply right away seeming to be trying to gather his thoughts. "I've had a lot of time to think over the last few years," he said finally. "I admit some of the things I'm able to do amaze even me and those two run-ins with Imhotep and the second one with the added danger of the Scorpion King—well let's just say I'm still amazed we lived through it. I figure if I had been anybody else all of us would probably be dead or at least I probably would." Rick sighed a deep very tired sound and turned to face his friend. "I know it's taken me a while to accept and I still don't know what I'm going to do about it, if anything, but I also know that when you said that to me and our conversations through the years including the one on Izzy's blimp afterwards that you were right. Ever since I accepted the fact that I was a Medjai in the time of Seti I, I feel as if I've finally come home. It's almost like a piece of me that I didn't know was missing has finally settled into place." Rick fell silent and turned back towards the rising sun his face thoughtful.
Ardeth's expression remained the same but inside his inner self was jumping up and down in joy. His friend—no his brother had accepted his destiny—finally. It sure had taken him long enough—years to long. But at last it had finally happened and for that Ardeth was happy. "So that's why you called me my brother when you greeted me the other day."
"Yes," said Rick with a grin. "I didn't expect you to be so shocked by it."
"I know you've been struggling with this, but you will find that now that you have accepted that part of yourself that you will be much happier. Knowing how to use a sword and how to defend yourself the Medjai way will also come instinctively, but only if you're not thinking about it. You will find your muscles remember even if your mind does not. And what has finally gotten you to accept you are a Medjai—something I have always known?"
Rick sighed and remained silent for a few minutes seeming to be thinking over the information Ardeth had given him.
"When I was fighting the Scorpion King last year, there were hieroglyphs on the wall of the chamber where we were trying to kill each other. One was of a Medjai holding that scepter that Jonathan kept carrying around except it was turned into a spear, but it was the same scepter alright. What finally clenched it in my mind was that on the hieroglyphs upraised arm, the one holding the spear was the same tattoo I had gotten at the orphanage in Cairo. I thought coincidence, right? But only until I remembered our conversation about there being a fine line between coincidence and fate."
"I see," said Ardeth looking thoughtful. "I'm happy to know my words had some effect on you even if it was only subconsciously at first."
"I'll say they did. If not for your words I can't help wondering if I would have seen the hieroglyphs on the wall and if I had would I have believed them or brushed them off as coincidence?" Rick said then fell silent for a while. Finally he asked, "So now that I've accepted that part of my past what happens now?"
"Nothing necessarily. Rick what you must understand is just because you have accepted your destiny doesn't mean that you aren't still you. You are who've you've always been the man who has defeated a terrible evil twice and who loves his wife and son. Someone who is willing to put his life in danger again and again to not only protect them but mankind. I do not know many people who can say the same except perhaps for the Medjai. The thing that makes what you did so different is that the Medjai are raised to be like that and you were not. Don't you see how special you are by not only defeating Imhotep once but twice? You didn't run and hide somewhere with your family like most people would have done you did your best to try and stop the evil from overtaking the world. If it was possible I would make sure the world knew of your family's sacrifices."
Rick seemed to relax by degrees as Ardeth's words sunk in. "I admit I've always had this feeling that there was more out there. It only strengthened when I met Evie. I've always felt like there was something just out of sight that was waiting for me. That feeling is gone now that I've accepted being Medjai. As for letting the world know what happened we both know that isn't possible and even if it was, you and the Medjai do more for the world then I have. Who else is willing to guard something for three thousand years and is willing to spend century upon century making sure that Imhotep is never raised? Or that Hamunaptra is never meddled with or that the books of the Dead or the Living remain undiscovered so that the Creature cannot be brought back to life again? That my friend is you and all the Medjai rather they be past present or future."
"This is true, my friend," Ardeth admitted. "And now you are part of it, you and your family. Also know this you and your family will always be welcome among the Medjai whether it be now or many years in the future. The Medjai and the O'Connells are now inevitably intertwined from this moment and throughout time."
Rick considered this for a minute then nodded. "Thank you, Ardeth, you have cleared up a lot of the things I had on my mind."
"You are welcome, my friend," said Ardeth clapping Rick on the shoulder in a brotherly fashion.
"Would you mind if I ask you something before we head back?"
"No, go ahead," said Ardeth, wondering what could possible make Rick O'Connell one of the most confident and courageous men he knew look hesitant.
"For some time I've been thinking that…" Rick hesitated for a moment then continued. "You know I told you that I grew up in an orphanage in Cairo after my parents were killed. I was really young when that happened and I remember wishing with all my heart that I had a brother or at least someone I could confide in about anything…someone I could trust." Rick paused again seeming to be searching for words finally he continued, "Growing up in the orphanage was not easy for I had to prove myself when some of the other boys proved to be nothing but bullies. It wasn't long before they learned not to mess with me."
Ardeth waited silently wondering where this was going as Rick paused again seeming to be gathering his thoughts. "All my life I've felt like I've been alone with no one to depend on but myself. I know that now I have Evie, Alex and even Jonathan and I do feel like I can depend on them to a certain extent…" Rick paused again then said finally, "What I'm trying to ask you is would you be offended if I asked you to be my brother? Someone I can confide in about anything? Someone I know I can trust with my family's lives?"
Ardeth stared at his friend for a long moment so shocked that he was unable to say anything at first. He was far from being offended he was very honored that his friend thought of him that way. Ardeth also knew it probably wasn't easy for Rick to talk about his past. Although he hadn't grown up in an orphanage he could guess what it had been like just from Rick's words. Those boys had probably picked on him because he was different. After all, Rick was American, not Egyptian and he didn't speak Egyptian or Arabic the two main languages of the country or they had picked on him until Rick had proved that was not a wise decision anyway, Ardeth thought with a quirk of the lips trying his best to repress a smile afraid that his friend would take it the wrong way.
"I would be honored my friend, we can even make it official if you like," said Ardeth putting a hand on Rick's shoulder.
"How?" asked Rick his voice sounding relieved that his friend wasn't offended.
"I'll have to talk to the elders of course, but there is a very ancient ceremony that goes back even farther than Seti I reign. In fact it is thought to go back to the very first Pharaoh. This ceremony is very simple all we have to do is exchange blood with the whole tribe watching."
"Exchange blood, how?"
"Oh, we just use a knife that has been blessed and cleaned for the specific purpose and then we cut each other's arms and if it is blessed by the gods then the cuts will heal instantly and if not they heal normally."
"Sounds simple enough," Rick admitted.
"It doesn't have to be very much blood just a little," Ardeth added.
"Do you think the elders will agree to it?" asked Rick.
"Most of them probably will, there are one or two however that will be difficult, but all we really need is a majority vote."
"I'm guessing that it's going to be the same elders who objected to us coming to visit you that first time last year. The ones who think that you should not have any friends who are not Medjai."
"Yes and I'm going to apologize in advance for their attitude. I'm afraid they are very old-fashioned. Their idea is to let anyone who sees the Medjai die before they can tell anybody we exist."
"That's stupid," Rick muttered "If you just start killing people instead of warning them off Hamunaptra, you'd soon be hip deep in bodies and that in itself could cause problems."
"I know, but they are stuck in the past," said Ardeth with a shake of his head. "And now my friend why don't we go get some breakfast? I'm sure Evie is up by now and is wondering where you are."
"I don't know about that. Sometimes Evie prefers to sleep in, but she might be up. Why don't I ask her to join us and we can discuss the details about that think we were talking about the other night. Certain arrangements with our lawyer need to be made and we need to decide how much we want to tell him about what really happened. I'm not sure if Mark would believe us if we told him the whole truth."
"How much do you trust this man?" asked Ardeth.
"Oh, both Evie and I trust him explicitly when it concerns being honest about handling our affairs but you have to admit the story about a 5000 year old mummy rising from the grave to take over the world is a bit farfetched unless of course you were actually here when it happened and you lived through it."
"Hm, maybe I could be present at that meeting and judge the man for myself," Ardeth suggested.
"That's a possibility," Rick said. "It'll take awhile to iron out the details and everything. I'll let you know when the date of the meeting is."
With that settled for the moment both men talked causally about other things until they reached the tent the O'Connells were using while they were there. Rick stuck his head inside to see if his wife was up and when he saw she was he told her Ardeth had invited them both to breakfast in his tent.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~