It was several hours later that Rick was made aware of a presence had come up beside him silently. Rick didn't even look up for he knew instinctively that it was Ardeth for he had somehow felt him approaching. He could feel the other man's emotions very strongly and from what he could tell Ardeth was not half as disbelieving as he was.
"Why are you so troubled, my brother?" asked Ardeth finally speaking after a long silence.
Rick looked up his entire face shuttered his brown eyes troubled. He then turned not saying anything and looked back out over the desert.
"I know the dream you had troubles you, Rick," Ardeth said. "But somehow I think you have always known that we were brothers in another life. You might not have acknowledged it consciously but it was always there. It just like me, somehow I have always known at least subconsciously. I mean, you must have noticed the bond we shared even before the blood brother ceremony."
Rick didn't say anything and continued to stare out over the desert.
"Is being related to me really so terrible?" asked Ardeth his tone joking, but underneath Rick could hear the hurt in Ardeth's voice as if he couldn't understand why Rick didn't want to acknowledge the fact that they were brothers.
Finally, unable to resist the hurt in his friend's voice Rick turned to face his friend—now his brother. "No," Rick finally said, turning to face Ardeth. "You are the best friend I have ever had, but you have to admit finding out we were brothers in another life comes as quite a shock."
"Yes," said Ardeth. "I probably was not as shocked as you were after all I am not only Egyptian but Medjai. We are raised to believe that such things as reincarnation exist and also that there is a fine line between coincidence and fate."
Rick looked up at the phrase, 'there is a fine line between coincidence and fate' for it was the same thing Ardeth had said to him last year when they were on their way to rescue Alex and Ardeth was trying to get him to accept his destiny.
However, Ardeth was continuing seeming unaware of Rick's thoughts. "You on the other hand, were not raised as I was and I know that probably makes it harder for you to accept. Also, know this I have felt for some time that we were related in some way in a past life for I have never felt as close to anyone else as I have to you. I knew the moment we met that I had known you before and in a way, I have always known that a part of me was missing. When we met on that day ten years ago I felt that part of me fall into place, as if it had always been there are you going to tell me you didn't feel the same?"
"No, I'm not going to tell you that," said Rick his expression unreadable as he stared into Ardeth's dark eyes. "If I did I would be lying and you would know I was lying. You would be hurt if I did such a thing and I would never hurt you like that, because if nothing else you are my friend. The best friend I have ever had and if not for you my son would be dead and likely Evie as well. Just for that I owe you more then I can ever repay, but it's not just that it's the fact that I have always felt as if you were my brother, if not by blood then of my soul."
"Then why are you so troubled?" asked Ardeth trying to understand.
Rick didn't respond for a moment then said, "It was the shock of finding out we were actually related, I think. I mean having what you've been feeling suddenly become reality was a little much for me to take in. I just needed time to sort out the emotions and time to accept the idea that these things I have always felt were not just my imagination, but real."
"Ah, I see," said Ardeth and he did see where Rick was coming from. After all, Rick hadn't been raised a Medjai and he had. Rick hadn't been raised to accept that reincarnation, and bringing people back from the dead existed. Rick's two experiences with the supernatural had both times resulted in him fighting for his life and the lives of his loved ones. Medjai were raised to believe that death although sad was a part of life and that it helped keep the balance.
"So I assume you acknowledge it now?" asked Ardeth.
Rick nodded, "Yes, I acknowledge it. You are the brother of my soul, someone I have always vaguely missed but didn't know I was missing until we met all those years ago." As soon as the words were out of his mouth Rick realized they were true and his heart felt considerably lighter at that moment. For the first time in his life he felt whole.
Ardeth's expression went from unreadable to smiling all in an instant and Rick could sense a relaxation in his friend. Rick was shocked to say the least for he had never seen Ardeth smile like that in all the years he'd known him and he had never known him to relax either at least not like this.
"Then come on my brother, there is to be another council meeting but this time you need to be there."
"Why?" asked Rick glancing at Ardeth suspiciously still not having completely forgiven him for that little joke of his.
"Because the elders heard about your dream and they are not unaware of the implications. That both of us shared the dream simultaneously is not unheard but what is unheard of is the fact that it happened between a Medjai and an outsider. Or at least this is what at least half the elders and some of the other Medjai consider you and your family."
Ardeth's voice dripped such disdain at the mention of the elders and the other Medjai who thought that way that Rick laughed and said, "Well you can't please everybody, I guess."
"That is true, my brother, but now we really must go for I fear the elders will be getting rather impatient."
Rick laughed, and gave Ardeth a friendly slap on the back. "We'd better get going then. After all, we wouldn't want to displease the elders now would we?" This was said so sarcastically that Ardeth laughed out loud a genuinely amused sound.
"Come, my brother, let us get this meeting over with."
"The sooner the better," Rick agreed secretly dreading facing the elders but also knowing he had no choice.
Ardeth shot him a sympathetic look having felt the emotions coming off Rick in waves so thick and strong they nearly knocked him off his feet with the force of them. "Believe me, brother, I sympathize," was all Ardeth had time say as they had reached the tent where the council held its meetings.
They both entered the tent together presenting a united front in the face of what was to come.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
The council meeting lasted for hours and Rick just hoped Evie wasn't too worried about him for he hadn't seen her since 2 or 3 o'clock that morning when they had both left the party to get some sleep.
"You can't be serious about him being and you being the reincarnation of twin Medjai 5000 years ago." Abbas protested vehemently.
"And why not? What is the difference between him being my blood brother and us being twins reborn? So what if we were twins protecting the pharaoh 5000 years ago? What is the difference between then and now? Is it because Rick is American? So what if he was not born among us. The gods have their way of balancing fate and did you ever stop to think that the reason he was born an American was because the gods foresaw the need of someone to stop Imhotep from taking over the world 5000 years down the road? Someone who would be willing to risk his life but who had not been born a Medjai but was one of us nonetheless?"
A lot of the Medjai who had agreed with Abbas muttered at this and seemed to waver at Ardeth's persuasive speech
"In fact I am planning on taking all the O'Connells to Hidden City to be introduced to the rest of our people."
Hidden City? Rick wondered silently. What the hell is Hidden City?
I'll tell you later, came a thought that Rick knew was not his own. Rick glanced at Ardeth but his friends expression was unchanged. Yes it is I, the voice assured him. I think the fact that we were twins in another life and maybe the blood brother ceremony reforged the connection that was always there.
Connection?
Haven't you ever heard that twins have a special connection to each other? How twins were always closer to each other than if you were just ordinary siblings?
Yes I have heard that, Rick admitted reluctantly.
Well there you go, said the voice of Ardeth in Rick's head. The connection was always there we just didn't realize it or perhaps it wasn't activated until we exchanged blood.
I guess that makes sense, said Rick. But now you had better pay attention to what the elders are telling you. At the moment their looking at you like you've grown two heads.
Ardeth laughed inside Rick's head then turned his head back towards the elders.
It was at least another hour later when the elders finally gave in, not that they really had any choice in the matter for Ardeth was technically the king of the Medjai and the council was only around to make certain decisions. They could be disbanded if they annoyed Ardeth enough, but so far they had never gone that far past forgiveness for it to happen.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
"Well that was certainly…interesting," Rick observed as he and Ardeth were finally released to make their way out of the council tent. "Now are you going to tell what this Hidden City is and why we need to go there?"
"Perhaps you should go and let Evie know what is going on and that you are all right and then why don't you meet me in my tent for dinner. I will explain everything then."
"All right," Rick agreed more easily then Ardeth expected him to. Perhaps his brother was finally learning patience. But then, Ardeth shook his head and thought no probably not. He was just probably too tired after spending all day in the council meeting to argue. And the truth of the matter was so was he. Dealing with the council was always tiring for most of them were determined to keep the Medjai in the past and if they succeeded then the Medjai would die—it was as simple as that. He had realized long ago the Medjai had to change with the times or suffer extinction.
The two men parted ways for the moment promising to meet in an hour for dinner.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
Evie wasn't as upset as Rick expected her to be when he finally entered the tent they shared. He should have known the rumors would be making their rounds and so Evie had known where he was if not precisely why he was there. When Rick mentioned that Ardeth had invited them to dinner and why Evie practically radiated surprise and pleasure at the honor.
"Hidden City," Evie whispered awed. "The secret city of the Medjai."
"You mean there is actually a city of Medjai?"
"According to legend. There are very few references to it or the Medjai in any of the books I've read."
"Well of course not Evie. That would kind of defeat the purpose of secrecy now wouldn't it?" Rick said with a completely straight face.
"Oh you," said Evie hitting him on the arm.
"What was that for?" Rick protested.
Evie didn't respond and Rick somewhat at a loss was forced to apologize. "I apologize," said Rick kissing her passionately. "I love you, Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell."
"I love you too and you're forgiven," Evie assured giving him another kiss. "Now shouldn't we be going?"
"Yes, I suppose so," said Rick feeling disappointed that they didn't have time to continue where those kisses were leading. "We don't want to be late."
"Exactly," said Evie, rising to her feet and heading out of the tent flap.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
"Hidden City," Evie breathed her face shining with anticipation. "I wasn't even sure the place existed."
"It exists, but very few people have ever heard of it even as a legend. No outsiders have been there in at least five hundred years. It is a very great honor."
"Will your people accept us?" asked Rick with a frown. "I mean, I know I was Medjai in a past life, but all they might see is that we have pale skin and light hair."
"Most of them will accept you," Ardeth assured. "And the ones that don't know better than to make trouble. I owe you my life, Rick and Jonathan too, the Medjai will honor you just for that. Besides, you are the brother of my soul and most of them will accept you unequivocally when they learn that."
"I don't know," said Rick. "So far we've found nothing but trouble in places that supposedly don't exist. Just think of Hamunaptra and Ahm Shere."
"This will be different my brother, I promise you. Hidden City is peaceful and very well hidden from the outside world. Please it would be a great honor to be able to show you my home."
Evie looked at Rick and he gave in with a sigh. "All right, but it's going to have to wait until the next time we visit, so we can bring Alex with us. He would never forgive us if he didn't get to come along."
Evie looked disappointed but knew her husband was right.
"That will be soon enough," Ardeth conceded. "Alex will be finished for the summer in just 3 months?"
"A little more than that," said Evie. "So that means we will be seeing you in 13 weeks, possibly 14."
"I will meet you in Cairo at your hotel on the date you telegraph me," Ardeth said. "We will go on from there."
"How far is this Hidden City from Cairo?" Rick wanted to know.
"A little less than a week," said Ardeth.
Rick nodded seeming to know almost instinctively that the Medjai City was hidden inside a mostly hollowed out mountain and could only be seen from the air.
"All right, but that's for later," said Rick.
"I would also be very honored if you all would accept tattoos that will always allow you to find the City of the Medjai as well as other sacred places. The tattoos will also mark you as Medjai. Even if you don't accept you will always be considered Medjai by my people and we will always be grateful for all you have done to protect not only the Medjai but the world."
"We would be honored," said Rick after he and Evie had shared a glance.
"And we thank you," Evie added. "I am looking forward to seeing the City of the Medjai."
"And I am looking forward to showing it to you," said Ardeth with a genuine smile that reached his eyes.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
Late the next afternoon, Ardeth appeared at the O'Connell's tent as Rick had requested when they had been talking the day of the party. He had wondered on and off during most of the last two days what his friend wanted to talk about, but despite repeated inquiries Rick had refused to say. From that Ardeth had been able to guess his brother wanted privacy for whatever it was he wanted.
"Come on in, Ardeth," Rick greeted him with a grin that looked rather tired. Well, they had been up rather late the last couple of nights not to mention Rick had been up early so Ardeth supposed his friend had a right to be exhausted.
"Have you had lunch?" Evie asked.
"Yes," Ardeth answered. "But that was hours ago."
"Well you are welcome to share our food with us, we have plenty," said Evie.
"Thank you Evie," said Ardeth, accepting. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Well I've been thinking that since you adopted me as your brother why couldn't I do the same thing? You would become legally part of the my family just like I became part of yours. I know that technically, we were brothers in a past life, but English law doesn't recognize such things as reincarnation and I doubt they would recognize such things as blood brother ceremonies."
"I would be honored, my friend—my brother," said Ardeth gravely, but with a small smile.
"Then it's settled," said Rick with a grin that this time didn't seem quite as tired. "I'll look into the legal side of it as soon as I get back to London. It should be possible to do."
"And you sir are welcome to come for a nice long visit," said Evie shaking her finger at Ardeth playfully.
"I might just do that," said Ardeth. "If I can manage to get away that is."
"I'm sure you'll think of something. Besides, just because you are chief—well technically king of the twelve tribes doesn't mean you don't deserve a vacation every now and then," said Rick. "I'm sure Kareem your second-in-command can take over for you for a couple of weeks. Besides, you need to come to London anyway so we can talk to Mark about getting those legal papers put together about you getting Alex if anything were to happen to us. We might as well do the adoption thing at the same time. Get it all over with at once."
"You realize this means we'll have to tell Mark at least some about our to run-in with a 5000 year old mummy of an Egyptian high priest?" asked Evie.
"I know Evie," said Rick. "Don't worry I've known Mark a long time and I think he can handle the information. Oh don't get me wrong, he'll be surprised at first, but after the initial shock is over he'll probably take it all in stride. Mark is a lot tougher then he looks."
Evie nodded still looking uncertain but willing to trust her husband's judgment in the matter. After all, as he had just said he and Mark Simmons had been friends for a very long time and Rick should know how much his friend could handle and whether or not he was trustworthy.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~