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Chapter 15 - A Medaji's feelings

Medjai Tribe, 1924

"You're looking better."

"The village elder says I'm doing so. Though I'm not entirely sure my body agrees with him." Samir groaned as he managed to move upright with some help from Elisabeth. She frowned a little at him.

A few days had passed and she'd been with the Medjai for over a week now. She'd hoped Samir would have completely healed by now, but how much did she know about things like this anyway? The only real concern she had this moment was that her friend couldn't use his arm properly. There was little to no strength in there.

She'd asked him to squeeze her hand, which he'd done, only she hadn't really felt anything. An action she made him repeat every day. It was uncertain if his nerves were damaged or his muscle tissue due to the stab wound. A part of her even wondered if the tribe's doctor knew.

"You should practice lifting things with your arm. Small things at first, of course."

The upper right corner of Samir's mouth twitched. "Remember when I met your father for the first time?"

Elisabeth arched an eyebrow. "That has nothing to do with what we were talking about, Samir."

"Then you do not remember it as well as I do, Zahrah."

Cairo, 1922

It wouldn't be until early spring when she'd see Samir again. During his absence from Cairo, she'd often wondered about him and if his mother had gotten over her medicine she'd provided him with was probably used up by now. But she would get her answer soon enough.

Elisabeth was walking across the market alongside her father, a rare occurrence as the German architect usually didn't bother with everyday business such as strolling through the city, let alone in the area of the food stalls. He was always too busy with his own work, dusting off pieces of stone or pillars. Taking artefacts from his dig site and keeping them at home instead of bringing them to the curator.

"Perhaps it might be a good idea for you to come with me next time, Liesl. We can visit your aunt and uncle..."

Ludwig spoke calmly, but Elisabeth knew there was more to his words than the way he made it sound. There was always a hidden agenda somewhere when it came to her father.

"Papa, I already told you I have no interest in going back to Germany. Especially if you're planning on making sure I'll never be able to get back to Cairo." She replied with a hint of frustration in her voice.

"I would never do that. You were raised here, but I do agree that Germany might be a better place for you. Safer,-"

"Safer?" Elisabeth exclaimed loudly. "There was a war not too long ago. I would not call Germany a safe place."

"Alright, perhaps that is a bad argument. You know I prefer Egypt over our homeland. Yet, I can't help but sometimes wonder if this place is right for you. Your education. Meeting someone, start a fa,-"

Elisabeth halted and it took a few seconds for Ludwig to notice she had. She cocked her head and stared at him with narrowed eyes. It was clear what the end of that sentence was. Family. She was only twenty-two years old. Perhaps when her parents were younger, such things were considered normal. But this was the early 20th century. Things were not the same.

"Cairo has more than enough people for me to meet. Another country won't change that." She replied slightly irritated.

"As long as it is not that Carnahan boy from down the road. He has a reputation and not just in Cairo." Ludwig responded, his moustache twitched as he spoke.

If there was anyone Elisabeth was not interested in, it was that drunken boy. Her father need not worry about that. To be honest there were no men in Cairo that interested her and it wasn't just this place. She simply had no time to waste on men or anybody else for that matter. She'd been around enough of them to know how their minds worked.

The chances were much more likely she was going to end up like Menna. Old, alone, but with a nice place and without anybody to bother her. Although it did sound rather sad if you would hear her talk, but she honestly didn't mind the prediction one bit. Things were easier on her own.

"It will never be that Carnahan boy, papa. Do not worry." She threw him a smile but suddenly paused. There, just a stall or two away from them, she saw an all too familiar face. Samir. He was back in Cairo.

"That is good to hear. Come, let us continue home. Your mother is probably waiting for us with dinner." Ludwig offered his daughter his arm, which she took and together they went on down the passageway.

They were getting closer towards the stall where Samir was standing. Though his line of sight wasn't necessarily in their direction, a little voice in the back of her head told her he was probably going to say something the moment they were to pass him.

Perhaps going down this road wasn't a good idea. The last thing she wanted was for Samir to see, or worse, start a conversation with her father. But as those thoughts went through her mind, it was already too late. Her odd 'living in a desert' friend turned his head the second they walked by him.

A big smile appeared on the young man's face and then his eyes landed on the older gentleman next to her. But his gleeful expression didn't waver. In fact, it seemed to have the opposite effect.

Before Elisabeth realized what was happening, Samir jumped in front of them, his arm spread widely. "Good people, salaam!"

The girl couldn't recall the last time she'd felt this nervous. All colour drained from her face and Samir extended his hands and grabbed hold of Ludwig's.

"Dear, sir! How are you today? You are the man I am looking for. Come, come. I need your opinion on this artefact I have here,-"

Elisabeth's eyes widened at Samir's bold behaviour. What on Earth was the matter with him? Did he have a death wish? She pulled on her father's arm just as Samir was about to do the same.

"Young man, what do you think you are doing?! Let go of my hand,-"

But then Ludwig paused as his eyes caught sight of something shimmering from Samir's bag. Elisabeth recognized that particular look in her father as immediate trouble, and that wasn't the only familiar thing she noticed. As Ludwig retracted his arm from his daughter's hold, Samir took out the shiny object for him to see.

Eagerly, the German architect took it from him and at the very same time Elisabeth's jaw dropped as she saw it. The artefact was golden and rectangular shaped. Set with small gems, green, red and blue. A small scarab adorned its centre. She'd seen this before. In fact, she'd held it in her own hands once.

The first time she and Samir met. The first time somebody had managed to rob her instead of the other way around. She raised her eyes and locked them with Samir's.

"Mein Gott. This is,- Liesl, look at this."

But Elisabeth couldn't be bothered. She bit the inside of her cheek as she pressed her lips in a tight line. Anger written all over her face. She'd never forgotten that Samir had stolen from her once, but she had forgiven him for it as he needed the money for his mother. Now it seemed he had lied about selling the artefact that he had taken from her.

"Sir, this is a very special and beautiful item. Not as beautiful as your daughter of course." He added with a wink.

Present

"Lifting small things from my pockets, you mean." Elisabeth commented glaring at the man in front of her. "I still can't believe you kept that thing with you for so long."

"I did and then your father bought it." Samir replied with a grin.

Elisabeth's mouth twitched a little. Dr. Bey was the one who'd instructed her on retrieving that box, he'd even given her money so she could pay for it in case that was necessary. Ultimately the money ended up in her own pocket and the curator never got his artefact, thanks to Samir. Until this very day, Dr. Bey had no idea what had really happened.

"Didn't you tell me you sold it because you needed money for your mother?"

"Did I? I don't recall." Samir replied.

The woman shook her head. "You're terrible."

"Thank you, Zahrah."

They looked at each other for a moment. Suddenly Samir let out a dry cough and then cleared his throat. "Akhi told me you're leaving for Cairo soon."

His words shocked her. Ardeth had talked to him about that? Then again, that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. She wondered when Ardeth had told him this? Elisabeth had been slipping into the tent every day. Careful and quietly, because both Samir and Ardeth shared it.

But this was the first time he mentioned her leaving. Knowing Samir, he probably had been waiting for her to tell him instead of the other way around. It's not as if she'd been keeping it from him purposely. She'd been meaning to tell him, especially since she was bound to leave for Cairo tomorrow and she wanted to see him before she left.

As it turned out, the Medjai tribe was closer to Cairo than it was to Minya, which was great news as she wouldn't have to travel through the desert for days on end. Ardeth had informed her that one of the Medjai was going to escort her back to the city. But the thought of leaving weighed heavy on her heart.

She'd quite liked it here, despite having to stick to certain rules she didn't agree with. However, the most difficult thing was her going and Samir staying. There wasn't another way. Samir was still on the mend, though thankfully he managed to pull through the fevers, but his breathing was still short as well as the extreme lack of strength in his arm.

Elisabeth had practically begged Ardeth a few nights ago to make sure Samir was to never help her out on a mission again. And he promised her that he would try, but it now seemed the universe had its own cruel thoughts on making her wish come true.

"I am." She replied quietly.

"You don't like it here?" He asked, his eyes searching hers.

"That's not why I'm going." She assured him.

"Is it the American?" Samir then tried and Elisabeth moved her head to look at him properly.

"That's a part of it. It's been a while now. The chances of finding him are less likely the longer I'm here."

It was difficult to look at him. She knew he would be against her going, unless he could come with her himself. Perhaps that was the actual problem. The disagreement as well as concern made her feel a little uncomfortable.

"And if you can't find him?" Samir asked.

"I,-" Honestly she hadn't thought about that yet. Sure, the possibility had crossed her mind, but she'd managed to locate him time and time again. Even if she didn't find him now, she might eventually.

"Zahrah, you have discovered so much already. You've done more than enough. Let akhi handle things from now."

"Even if I would, I still have to return to Cairo at some point. And we both know that if I'm there, I won't be able to forget about it. I am not a quitter."

The Medjai didn't like her talk like this. Yes, it was true. She was not one to give up. Something he hated as well as admired. When Ardeth told him Elisabeth was planning on returning to Cairo, Samir opposed to it immediately. Nonetheless, Ardeth had told him that he wasn't going to stop her from leaving, but that he wouldn't allow her to go alone either.

"If finding him is that important or getting your money from akhi, then I do not understand why you stayed here for so long." He retorted.

"It's not because of the money, Samir! I couldn't leave, not while you were recovering."

Samir blinked, slightly taken back by her words of kindness. A warm feeling settled within him. The Medjai was at a loss for words. He stared at her for a while. Just when he thought she couldn't surprise him anymore, she managed to do just that.

"Does this mean you want me to come with you?"

"What? No, you can't." Elisabeth shook her head. "First of all, you are not healed yet. You can barely use your arm. I'll feel much better knowing you're here being taken care of while you get back on your feet."

"I much prefer it for you to do that." He admitted softly.

Not this again. She knew that look too well by now. Was she not allowed to show him she cared for him, without giving him the idea that there was more behind it?

"That is exactly why I won't be doing that." Elisabeth answered shortly.

"Ya Allah, you make things more difficult than is necessary." Samir scoffed.

"I've heard that before. I'd better get going before you get more silly ideas in that head of yours." The woman rolled her eyes and gently slapped Samir's knee.

She was about to move, but stopped when she felt his hand encircling her wrist. Looking up she watched Samir shift in his seat closer towards her. There was that serious expression adorning his face again.

"Tetgawazini?"

It was as if time stopped in that very moment. Elisabeth leaned back, her mouth dropped. "What?"

"Zahrah..." Samir took another deep breath. "Will you be my wife?"

"You're serious..." It wasn't a question and he nodded.

"No. Samir, we talked about this. You promised me you wouldn't do this again." She reminded him.

"I promised I wouldn't try to kiss you again, unless you were to ask me." He corrected. "I've thought about this for some time, Zahrah. I want you by my side until the end of days."

Elisabeth knew she could easily walk away if she wanted to. Yet doing so felt wrong. She had to let him down gently, as she had done back in Cairo when he tried to capture her mouth with his. She wasn't marriage material. She doubted she ever would be.

"Samir, I know how you feel. But you also know how I feel. I'm leaving tomorrow, don't make this any harder than it already is."

Then something unexpected happened, something she couldn't have imagined or seen coming. Samir broke his promise right there and then. His touch was soft and warm, careful but demanding. It was unclear where his sudden burst of energy came from, but he placed it all in that one kiss.

He let go of her wrist and placed his hand behind her neck, pulling her closer towards him. And then as quick as it happened, he pulled back. He looked at her, his gaze intense.

"I'm not sorry for breaking my promise." He said. "I can't live my life not knowing what we could be."

Elisabeth listened to his words, but her mind was a blank. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest and she could feel her cheeks tingle. It had been a sweet kiss. Quite lovely in fact.

She licked her lips, which caused Samir to smile. But it was becoming apparent that he wasn't feeling better just yet. A spell of fatigue fell over him and he leaned back to settle against the large pillows.

"Are you angry with me?" He furrowed his brow.

Elisabeth swallowed the lump in her throat. "A little."

"Do you,- Do you love me, Zahrah? Not as a friend or a brother..." Samir asked, his voice getting quieter.

"I..I'm not sure." She answered honestly. His sudden and bold move had rendered her speechless as well as confused.

So instead, she shifted slightly and grabbed Samir's hand. "I'm going to go now."

Samir nodded. "I hope my prayer will be answered one day."

Without saying another word, Elisabeth stood up and headed towards the entrance of the tent. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder, her stomach feeling quite empty at the moment, and stepped outside.

As the woman walked away, a tall man clad in long black robes appeared from the side of the tent. His dark eyes followed her until she vanished out of sight. He inhaled deeply through his nose and looked in the direction of his own tent.

Samir and Elisabeth had not seen nor heard him almost entering a few minutes ago. But as soon as Ardeth saw what was going on between his younger brother and the girl, he'd taken a step back and listened quietly.

One thing was certain. He needed to have a serious talk with Samir. And the other thing was that he needed to appoint somebody to take his position for the time being. A trip to Cairo was not done in one day.

Originally I'd planned this chapter to be only a little bit about Samir and Elisabeth, and the start of the trip back to Cairo.

But it took a different turn... Hope you all still enjoyed though.

Next chapter, we're back in Cairo and on Rick's trail.

Until next time!