Isha
Chapter 11
Rick woke slowly, not really wanting to let go of sleep. The bed was soft and warm against the slight chill of the night air, and he had Ardeth held tightly in his arms which just made it better. "Guess you decided to nap too huh?" He smiled and then just held Ardeth closer. Ardeth mumbled something Rick couldn't make out and just shifted into his arms a bit more. It was kind of odd, still, the way it made him just as warm and content to have Ardeth in his arms like this as Evie, but he couldn't find any difference in his heart between one joy and the other. He glanced up at the ceiling and tried to recall the words Ardeth had taught him the other night, wanting to thank the gods properly with the little Egyptian he'd learned. "My thanks to you, AmmunRa." He stroked his fingers through Ardeth's hair. "For my love." He didn't know how to phrase the rest in Egyptian so he fell back to Arabic. "For-- letting us all, Ardeth, Evie, and me, come though this all. For letting me hold them both like this and know it's okay. There isn't any thanks in the world that I could offer to you, or Horus, or Anubis or even to Allah that could come close to telling any of you how much this means to me. But if there's anything I can do to let you know how much it means, just let me know what it is, okay?"
There was no answer to the prayer but he was more than willing right now to go on faith.
Ardeth stirred a little in his arms and then started to sit up suddenly.
"Just me, habib." He offered.
"Rick?" Ardeth blinked and then relaxed back into his arms. "Thebes?"
"Yeah." He stroked his hand through Ardeth's hair again. "Bad dream?"
"Odd, but not a nightmare no. I was searching for something and could not find it or my way in the dark. I was more frustrated than anything. Odd."
Rick tightened his arms. "Well, you're awake now. Or as awake as you can be while were sleeping. Whatever."
Ardeth chuckled. "So I am. It is night I see."
"Yeah, and no uninvited guests." He smiled himself at that.
"Hmm, he has been quite a good host, lately, habib. And a good ally. And Allah must know I owe him my thanks for the miracle he has given me. But, I am still glad he has decided to let us sleep unwatched."
"Yeah." Rick sighed, not really sure how he was going to reconcile what he owed Imhotep with how much he hated the damned priest. "Just so long as he doesn't expect-- more than thanks, huh?"
Ardeth sighed but snuggled closer. "For the joy of being whole, and even more so for the fact that he aided me so in bringing you back from Paradise, habib, I will not mind another ten kisses or so in payment."
Rick thought for a while. "He ask you for that?" He guessed finally.
Ardeth chuckled. "You are learning to think like a Medjai, Rick. Yes, well, he asked for thirty. I bargained down to fifteen."
"Damn it, Ardeth."
"Shhh. It is a small price to pay, habib, truly. While I would be happy indeed to not owe him such, I do not doubt I shall survive them. Rick, habibi, he is mad yes, I know that. But he will not harm me, I have come to believe that as well. Thanks be to God, no doubt. It is-- embarrassing, yes. And I am by no means happy with the way he teases me with his desire. But-- truly, if I am well and whole and in your arms, Rick, what does another dozen kisses matter? All he succeeds in doing is making me all the more thankful for the joy and pleasure of kissing you before and afterwards."
"Really?" Rick smiled a bit despite himself. "You sure about that, Ardeth?"
"I am." Ardeth propped himself up on one arm to look down at Rick, his face hidden in the shadows of his hair and the darkness of the room. "Truly, what has he managed with this most insane game of desire he plays with me, Rick? Except aid me in saving you first from hell and then from death, helping to rescue me from hell and-- healing me from what the German did, and, for which I am most thankful indeed, for giving us the-- reason we found the joy of loving each other so in the first place. All in all, that is worth the annoyance of how he teases me do you not think?"
"Yes and no." Rick reached up and traced Ardeth's jaw. "Yeah, I think every one of those things is wonderful, and over half are worth more than I can even find words for. But... I hate the whole thing, Ardeth. How he looks at you, that he expects you to let him kiss you, how he touches you. I want to just shoot him you know?"
Ardeth chuckled. "Yes. As do I on occasion. And no doubt if someone were to annoy you as he does me I would feel no less angry about it than you do. It is only kisses, Rick, and looks, and words. He will not press me further I do not think. I shall appeal to Horus if he does, I promise you that."
"No more martyrdom, huh?" Rick smiled a little. "Promise?"
"I swear it. I will do my best, Rick O'Connell, to survive whatever fate Allah wills me and to do so well and without any unnecessary sacrifice on my part. I do not wish to be a martyr, Rick."
"Okay then. I'll try to-- keep a lid on the anger then. But so help me he'd better not hurt you."
"In'sh'Allah, I will have to explain to Ammun why it is we have caused damage to his wonderful city, hmm?"
Rick thought about it for a second. "Nah, we'll explain it to Horus, he can explain it to Ammun."
Ardeth laid his hand over Rick's heart. "No such harm done." A slight smile to the words that Rick could feel a moment latter when Ardeth leaned down and kissed him. "I am growing fond of decadence, Rick."
Rick smiled a little and buried his fingers in Ardeth's hair. "Easy to do. Why?"
"Because, I was truly most willing to sleep the afternoon away once I considered that I might very well wake here in Thebes with you."
"Yeah?" That made him smile again. "Better than stealing a few kisses in Ahm Shere, huh?"
"Yes." Ardeth leaned down and kissed him again, with all the joy Rick had come to expect from Ardeth's kisses. And it was almost enough to just lie there and enjoy one long deep kiss after another. Finally, he rolled them over so he was lying mostly on top of Ardeth, not bothering to put his weight on his arms since Ardeth seemed to like the feel. "Rick." Ardeth arched his back a bit, tossing his head back against the mattress. Rick took the invitation for what it was and licked and nibbled his way down Ardeth's throat.
"Gotta figure out who we thank for no weapons and boots in the way, Ardeth and see if we can ask them if we can just wake up in bed naked, okay?"
Ardeth chuckled. "Now that would be decadent indeed." Ardeth reached up and began to unbutton his shirt, so Rick raised himself up on his arms to make it easier. "Although you know Ammun's high priest will only then come and annoy us."
"Yeah, probably." Rick rolled his eyes. "Are you sure I can't shoot him, Ardeth? He's dead already right?"
Ardeth only laughed. "Waking in your arms and being able to make love with you without undoing all these damnable buttons would be worth having to worry that the sheets were in place. It is growing chilly here, perhaps we will have blankets to snuggle under as well. Why does that appeal to me so, habib?" He finished with the buttons, pulling the shirt free from Rick's pants and then running his hands up along Rick's chest.
"Because it sounds really good? There's something real appealing about being warm and comfortable under a few blankets, despite being naked." Rick sat up for a second and shrugged out of the shirt, tossing it onto the floor.
"Hmm, it does sound good, does it not? To lie in your arms after making love, warm and content despite the weather?" Ardeth asked and then surprised Rick by flushing dark enough for him to tell in the low light.
"That embarrass you, habib?" He tried not to smile, but Ardeth looked so damned gorgeous when he was flushed like that. He shifted back so he was lying mostly on top of Ardeth again and just kissed him. "Want to tell me why that embarrasses you, Ardeth?" He asked finally, breaking the kiss slowly.
"A passing thought of how much more enjoyable that would make visiting England is all." Ardeth's flush didn't let up any.
"Really?" Rick did smile now. "You going to come visit and let me keep you warm?"
"It is miracle enough, Rick, that Evelyn does not object to us sharing this love between us in Thebes. I do not know that it is fair to ask of her to allow us the same amazing gift in England as well."
"Guess I'll have to ask her, huh?" Rick shrugged, and maybe it should have bothered him that he really liked the idea of sharing a warm bed with Ardeth in England as much as he did. But he didn't think Evie would really hold it against him. And that just brought a thought to mind that he was pretty sure both Evie and Ardeth would object to but God it sounded nice to share that same warm bed with both of them too. You are punch drunk, O'Connell, Evie would smack you and Ardeth would die of embarrassment. He managed not to chuckle. "For now, habib, let's just enjoy this, okay?"
"Yes." Ardeth pulled him down into another kiss. Rick just gave the kiss back as long and deep as Ardeth wanted it, his hands tangled in Ardeth's hair and Ardeth's arms tight around him. He broke the kiss finally to nibble at Ardeth's throat and the chuckled. "What amuses you?" Ardeth sighed.
"You really are going to have to stay dressed you know. We got a little crazy." He licked lightly at the dark passion mark he'd left on Ardeth's throat the night before.
"Hmm. No doubt." Ardeth hands stroked down his back. "I-- do not mind staying dressed, Rick. And Allah must know how much it meant to me that you-- that we-- when you gave me that last night-- I..."
Rick sighed and then propped himself up onto his arms to look down at Ardeth. "To hell with propriety or whatever, Ardeth. Say it, huh? It'll just be easier next time is all."
"I hate being afraid, Rick." Ardeth's voice was low and there was no doubting the pain.
"What are you afraid of, Ardeth?" He asked, trying to put all the support he knew how into his voice.
"I was-- so lost, Rick. Lost, afraid,-- broken. I-- am afraid to look too closely at any of it. Still." Ardeth's hands stroked over his chest, one resting over his heart. "Whatever magic Imhotep wrought to undo what the German did to me-- I do not think it gave me back my courage, Rick. Allah forgive me, but I am so afraid."
"You're wounded, Ardeth. We both are, huh? It'll take time is all."
"No matter the wounds I have taken in battle, or the enemies I have faced, or even here when we first began these visits and I truly believed all the threats and tried to face such horror with some sort of courage was I this-- afraid." Ardeth shook his head. "He-- unmanned in me in more ways than one, it seems."
"Bullshit." Rick growled out the word. "For the love of God. Ardeth, you're only human. Being afraid doesn't make you less a man than you've ever been. All men break habib, if they're pushed hard enough. You survived it Ardeth. And more than that, you found the courage to live after it, huh? Last night, right here in this bed when you made love with me despite what the son of bitch did. Jesus Christ you are still the most stubborn, idiotic-- You are not a coward, Ardeth. You're just human, okay? Do you think I just make this stuff up when I tell you I'd be curled up in the corner if I had to deal with half the shit you do? No. I don't. So you're afraid of the memories. Okay. I'd worry about your sanity if you weren't. I'm afraid of the memories, huh?" He gave a frustrated sigh and then pulled Ardeth up to sit beside him on the bed. "But I know you, Ardeth and you're stronger than anything that son of a bitch did to you. Now, let's figure out how we convince you of what I already know."
"Why will you not believe me when I tell you I am not as brave as you think I am?" Ardeth sighed.
"Because I know better." He pulled Ardeth close. "You said it yourself, habib, we're stronger together than either of us are alone, huh? We don't have to fix it all, Ardeth. God knows we both need time to heal, but if we don't start now it isn't going to happen. It's just going to fester and scar up worse. You know that. Remember the other night when we tried so hard to walk through your ghosts and mine, Ardeth? You asked me to trust you. I did and we made it through, huh? Together. That's all I'm asking now. Trust me and we can beat this."
"Together." Ardeth shivered a bit. "Perhaps-- in your arms, I can try to be so brave, yes."
"Okay. How's this for a deal? You lean on me, I'll lean on you and that way neither of us falls down, huh?"
That actually got a chuckle from Ardeth. "In'sh'allah."
"Well yeah." Rick stroked his hand through Ardeth's hair. It didn't take much to get them snuggled under the sheets, Ardeth mostly in his arms. "Okay, now, just a step, huh? I think we're both too exhausted to beat all the ghosts right now, Ardeth. But let's start the maze anyway? Then we can walk a few more steps later when we feel like pressing on."
Ardeth sighed, but he nodded a bit. "It seems-- a good way to picture it does it not?"
"Yeah, it does." He agreed, continuing to run his hand through Ardeth's hair and down his back a bit, trying to offer what comfort he could. "Okay?"
"Yes." Ardeth nodded a bit. "How is it you think we should walk this maze, Rick? I can not think of a way to invoke it as we did the other night."
"I'm not sure, Ardeth. I don't have anything to work with, huh? Except you told me he had a riding crop he hit you with. I can't think of anything we've got here that could remind you of that."
"Thanks be to God." Ardeth shuddered. "I-- do not know I could find that courage."
"So, let's start with just words, okay? Did he start by hitting you with that damned crop?"
"No." The word was low and flat, in Arabic now. "At first-- I was mostly unconscious from the injuries I had taken on the field. He slapped me several times, I think it was, to make certain I was awake."
Rick closed his eyes. "Right. How bad were you injured then?" He was willing to do this in Arabic if it was easier for Ardeth.
"My legs were broken, at least I know the right one was. The left was less so, but likely it was as well. And I had lost some blood from where the bone broke through the skin." Ardeth shifted a bit closer. "Several times he-- would strike that spot, for the pain it caused."
Rick swallowed hard. "Right leg, huh?" He was amazed he could force his voice calm. "Your thigh or you lower leg, Ardeth?" He stroked his hand down Ardeth's side to his hip.
"The larger bone here." Ardeth sat up a bit and then pressed his hand against Rick's calf, a few inches below his knee.
Rick sat up as well, and then laid is hand lightly over the same spot on Ardeth's leg. "Here?"
"Yes." Ardeth nodded.
"Can you look at me, Ardeth?" He reached over as gentle as he knew how, and traced Ardeth's jaw with his other hand.
"Yes."
"Good." He tightened his fingers just a bit. "Did he strike you here with the crop or with his hand?"
"Both." Ardeth replied, but Rick could feel the muscles under his hand tense almost to knots. "As long as it caused me pain."
"Bastard." Rick growled. "What did he want to know, Ardeth?"
"I have no idea." A bitter chuckle followed the words. "He spoke no Arabic or English, only German, and it is not close enough to English for me to grasp. He-- read hieroglyphics I think. He kept muttering over my shield. But, if it was Egyptian he was trying to speak I could not grasp it. And he never questioned me in it. Only German."
"That's...just nuts, Ardeth."
Ardeth nodded. "I-- do not think-- he cared about answers, Rick."
He slid his hand slowly up along Ardeth's leg, to his hip, then along his waist and up his side. "What makes you say that?"
Ardeth shuddered, obviously trying not to and then closed his eyes. "He-- only-- it was-- the pain he caused that he-- enjoyed."
Rick pulled him close again, wrapping Ardeth as much in his arms as he could. "What makes you say that?"
Ardeth was silent for a long moment. "Mostly his eyes. The way-- he looked as he struck me. How it made his eyes shine. And he-- would smile sometimes when he knew he was truly causing me pain." Ardeth hugged him back almost as tightly. "And it-- roused him more when we screamed."
"Son of a bitch." Rick growled. "If he wasn't dead I'd rip his head off."
"No." Ardeth shook his head. "I would take a looping knife to him and let him live with the consequences."
"Yeah, okay. That's fair." Rick nodded, stroking his hand through Ardeth's hair.
"I-- do not know that I have-- the strength for much more of this, Rick."
"It's okay. As much as you can, Ardeth, that's all."
A shaky nod against his shoulder. "I tried not to cry out, not to be stubborn. but because he took such pleasure from it when I did. I-- would fade out of consciousness sometimes and then wake when he tossed water on me. I do not think he always stopped hitting when I was not conscious though." Ardeth shuddered again. "Even when-- he had-- torn me apart so-- when there was-- no reason to-- keep hitting he did not stop."
Rick shifted his arms, trying to support Ardeth a bit against the shakes.
"I-- would have begged him to stop, if he would have listened. I might have, I do not know. Imhotep did. Pleaded with him to stop hitting me, but it did no good either."
Rick closed his eyes tighter at that. "God Ardeth, you are so damned brave."
"Brave? No, Rick. I am not."
"Yeah you are. You survived it. Even before Ammun made you whole you'd started to heal from it, Ardeth. That's brave, and a lot stronger than I could've been."
"You are as brave and strong as I, Rick." Ardeth's hands tightened on his shoulders. "No more now? I am so tired and it-- hurts yet to recall it so."
"Okay. Yeah, we can stop, Ardeth." He nodded, and it was more than enough for him too. Because he was more angry and horrified than he'd been since he'd been in the hell Anubis had made for him. And all he could think of to do was hold Ardeth close, and try to comfort him some. It didn't take long for both of them to snuggle back under the sheets, Ardeth's head on his shoulder and his arms as tight around Ardeth as he could and not hurt him. Ardeth had one arm around his waist, just as tightly. Finally, Ardeth relaxed some and the occasional shudder stopped.
"I am so thankful, Rick, that I have you beside me. I would be mad otherwise."
"Works both ways, Ardeth. If you hadn't stood beside me when Anubis was giving me tours of hell I'd be a basket case by now."
"Hmm. Perhaps." Ardeth sighed. "I suppose it is-- in some respects like the bargain I made with Imhotep for the lives of my people. No matter the cost of what I have suffered it is worth it to me to be able to lie here in your arms, whole and well, and know the joy that comes from loving you."
Rick closed his eyes at that and took a deep breath before he could answer. "Loving you is worth a whole lot more than what I've had to put up with, Ardeth, but Allah or whoever has to know that I don't know if any thing is reward enough for what you've had to live through."
"It is to me." Ardeth shifted a bit in his arms and Rick met the long deep kiss with all the love he knew how to put into one. Slow and soft, until neither of them could breathe and they had to break apart to catch their breaths.
"Yeah, that's worth a whole lot of hell isn't it?" He brushed the long hair out of Ardeth's face with one hand.
"It is indeed." Ardeth began to trace a set of equally soft kisses down his throat. "But loving you is better."
"Yeah?" He found a smile. "Loving you, making love with you is better than Paradise, Ardeth."
"Truly?"
"Yeah. Well, maybe making love to you in Paradise would be perfect but until that, I'd take being here in your bed over being there alone any day."
"I do not think you are supposed to think that." Ardeth smiled a little.
"Too bad, it's the truth." He kissed Ardeth again long and deep. They'd started dealing with the wounds they'd both taken, and Rick was more than willing to let the pain go and just enjoy every bit of pleasure he and Ardeth could manage. He rolled Ardeth onto his back without breaking the kiss, burying both his hands in Ardeth's hair. And it really was worth everything he'd been through lately to kiss Ardeth like this, because it was so easy to tell how much Ardeth really enjoyed kissing. Rick took his time with this kiss, making it as long and slow and deep as he knew how, a promise of all the lovemaking he wanted to share with Ardeth while they were here. And if they had to gasp in air occasionally around the kiss that was okay too. Rick caught a breath and then sealed his lips over Ardeth's as best he could and exhaled slowly, offering the air to Ardeth as he had the water the other night. Ardeth took the gift and then broke the kiss with a low groan.
"Allah, Rick, please."
"Please what, habib? Whatever you want, Ardeth." And he meant it, didn't matter what it was.
"Make love to me, now?"
"Sounds perfect." It did too.
"Yes." Ardeth agreed softly. Rick smiled and then rolled to the side a bit to sit up. "Rick?"
"Easier to undress you." He kept his voice to almost a whisper because it seemed to fit the moment they were in. Ardeth smiled a little and Rick reached over to untie his sash. "Easier if you sit up too."
"It would be would it not?" Ardeth did so and then kissed Rick again. Rick chuckled a little, but gave the kiss back stroking his hands over Ardeth's back now and then began to unwrap the sash from around his waist.
He broke the kiss finally and then nibbled lightly along Ardeth's throat up to his ear before taking the lobe in his teeth, which he'd come to realize made Ardeth shiver. "Best gift I ever got to unwrap." He whispered the words over the wet skin as he finished undoing the sash and dropped it to the floor.
"Truly?" Ardeth sighed. "And you, mine, Rick." Ardeth's hands stroked over his back.
"Now we're both gifts?"
"Yes." Ardeth nodded. "Thanks be to Allah, and all the old gods too, habib that I have you in my life, my arms and my bed."
Rick smiled, not sure how Ardeth managed to warm his heart like that but enjoying it anyway. "I don't have the words, Ardeth but Allah and everyone else have got to know how thankful I am too, right?"
"Undoubtedly." Ardeth agreed, his hands sliding up along Rick's ribs and he groaned a little himself at the caress. "Good?"
"Yeah." He managed to undo the first set of ties on Ardeth's robes and then reached for the second. "You wear too much."
Ardeth chuckled. "Here." He helped undo the laces and then shrugged out of his robes. "Better?"
"Yeah." Rick nodded and kissed him easing them both back onto the bed so he could trace Ardeth's throat with kisses then one collarbone, and then to first one nipple then the other, and for once Ardeth didn't seem to mind him taking his time and relishing every second. "You going to let me seduce you, habibi?"
"Is that what you are doing?" Ardeth asked, running his hands down Rick's back. "I was only enjoying it."
"Me too, Ardeth." He smiled. "Good, huh?"
"Always it is so good when you touch me like this." Ardeth nodded. Rick just went back to his teasing, enjoying the way Ardeth shifted beneath him and the soft murmurs of pleasure. "I do not think anything would stop me from enjoying making love with you, Rick."
"No?" He raised himself up on his arms to meet Ardeth's eyes. And it was so good to see passion and love and warmth in the warm brown instead of the horror and loss he could still remember. "Can I thank God for that?"
"Certainly." Ardeth smiled and then kissed him. "If what the German did to me did not take away the joy of loving you, Rick. What then could, hmm? Even-- if one of the creatures of Anubis' hell-- had forced me as we both feared, I do not think it would stop me from loving you."
Rick swallowed hard, because it was so easy to recall how Ardeth had looked in the hell he'd lived through over and over. "Don't." He put his fingers against Ardeth's lips.
"It is only truth, Rick." Ardeth shook his head a bit. "Truly, habib, what does being tortured so have to do with what we share, hmm? It is no more alike than the joy when you do this," Ardeth traced his jaw with one hand. "Is like being struck across the face, although the parts of us touching are the same."
Rick turned his head and placed a kiss against Ardeth's fingers. "Not a lot in common, huh?"
"No." Ardeth smiled and then returned the kiss against Rick's fingers in turn.
"He struck you here, huh?" Rick traced the short beard along Ardeth's jaw.
"Hmm, yes."
"How about here?" He kissed along the tatoo on Ardeth's cheek.
"Yes."
"How about here?" He did the same on the other side.
"Yes."
"How about here?" He smiled a bit and then kissed Ardeth's nose, just to make him smile.
It had the desired effect too. "Rick."
"No?" He chuckled. "How about here?" He moved to nibble lightly at Ardeth's ear again, making him shiver.
"No."
"No?" He teased the spot behind it with his tongue. "Here?"
"Rick." Ardeth sighed his name, hands stroking down Rick's back then up along his chest.
"How about here?" He ran a string of kisses down along Ardeth's throat.
"No." Ardeth pulled one hand away to touch the very visible hickey Rick had given him the night before. "Here though."
"Yeah?" Rick took his hand away and then kissed the spot, feeling Ardeth shudder, and arch against him a bit. "Right here?"
"Oddly enough, yes. Repeatedly."
Rick wondered a bit about that, if the bastard had seen an earlier mark he'd left and decided to cause pain instead of pleasure or if he'd just used the spot for the other side of why Rick did because it was sensitive. He just licked and teased the spot with his teeth before moving to the other side. "Good?"
"Yes." Ardeth sighed. "So good when you do that."
"Then I'm doing it right." He smiled "Here?" He kissed the point of Ardeth's shoulder.
"All along my shoulders."
"Okay." So he just covered the same area with kisses, working his way lower, teasing at first one nipple then the other, not surprised to find that the son of a bitch had hit Ardeth there too. Teasing along Ardeth's ribs brought both shivers and an occasional laugh which Rick really liked. Then down the hard muscles of his stomach before he had to stop and undo the ties on Ardeth's pants. Ardeth growled something and then rolled them both over so Rick was underneath him and undid Rick's as well. They pushed all the clothes onto the floor and Rick did his best to lie there and let Ardeth return all the kisses and caresses, until he just couldn't lie still and pulled Ardeth up into a long deep kiss.
"Rick." Ardeth growled his name against his lips.
"I needed to touch you." He gave it straight out and smiled a bit at the look that brought to Ardeth's eyes. He ran his hands down Ardeth's back then lower and pulled them tight against each other just for the feel. Ardeth groaned, and Rick couldn't keep from doing the same, liking the way their cocks slid against each other. "That feels good."
"Yes." Ardeth nodded, then rolled them back over so that Rick was lying on top of him. "Better like this."
"You think so, huh?" He shifted just a bit but didn't ease any of his weight off of Ardeth either.
"I do. Will you make love to me, habibi?"
"That what you want, Ardeth?" He took his weight onto his left arm and reached down to stroke Ardeth's cock with his right hand. And it was still so damned good to feel the hard weight of it in his hand. Ardeth groaned, pushing into the caress. "Thought maybe I could have you inside me again."
"Next time." Ardeth whispered. "Please?"
"Yeah, sure." Rick rolled onto his side, then reached over Ardeth for the bottle of oil behind them on the small table. "Presents tonight, right?"
"Yes, she deserves them, certainly." Ardeth smiled. "If you do not stop, Rick. I will not be able to wait."
Rick eased his hand back down Ardeth's cock and then as light as he could over Ardeth's balls, cradling them both in his palm for a bit. Ardeth groaned, tossing his head back and arching into the touch. "Rick."
"Yeah, I know. You feel so good, Ardeth." He eased his hand back some more, then gave into what he wanted to do and pushed Ardeth back onto his back and followed the same path with he tongue. Because he could, and he knew Ardeth would enjoy it and it made his own cock ache just a little in sympathy because Ardeth was as hard as Rick had ever known him to be, and that was still such a joy it made his eyes burn. Ardeth said something but it was either in a language Rick didn't speak or was just too unintelligible around the groan. But it didn't sound a bit like a complaint so he did it again, licked from the tip of Ardeth's cock down, feather light over his balls and back along the smooth patch of skin behind them, easing Ardeth's legs a bit further apart to tease at the opening with his tongue. Ardeth groaned out his name, in that low sweet almost broken way he had and Rick raised his head to meet the hot brown eyes, not even the firelight could hide the outright desire in the almost black depths.
"Make love to me, Rick." It wasn't really a question but Rick didn't care to argue with the order either. He just smiled and found the bottle of oil, pouring some onto his fingers and then handing it to Ardeth. He slid the first finger in slowly, but it was a lot easier than the night before, Ardeth not being nearly so tense so he added the second, almost as slowly, wanting to draw as many of those low breathless groans out of Ardeth as he could. "Rick, please."
"You're so tight, habib. Feels so good to touch you." He whispered the words, watching the pleasure play over Ardeth's face as he stroked just a bit deeper and found the spot he wanted. Ardeth tossed his head back again arching forward and Rick took the opportunity to swallow Ardeth's cock as deep as he could manage at that angle.
"God have mercy." Ardeth's voice was a low plea in Arabic so he raised his head slowly. "Too good, habibi."
"Is it?" He poured more oil onto his hand and then eased the third finger inside, recalling his own impatience the other night and wondering if next time he could get Ardeth to skip that step and if it felt as good then he'd try skipping it with Ardeth too. He didn't tease this time, just stroked his fingers as deep as he could when Ardeth relaxed around them and then pulled them free. "On your back, habib?"
"Yes." Ardeth rolled onto his back, and then slid his hand already slick with oil over Rick's cock. Rick bit his lip hard at the sensation, because he was damned hard already himself. Ardeth smiled a bit. "You feel good too."
"Yeah?" Rick managed to chuckle. It was growing a little less awkward to find their balance as he placed Ardeth's legs on his shoulders.
"Next time...perhaps, we can...see if kneeling above you...feels as good hmm?"
"Yeah." He liked that idea a lot, although it would be harder to watch the pleasure play over Ardeth's face that way. "Ardeth." He whispered the name, waiting until Ardeth met his eyes fully to ease inside. Ardeth's eyes widened just a bit, filling with a heat and pleasure Rick couldn't begin to doubt. And it did crazy things to his heart to know he was the one bringing Ardeth that much pleasure. "Ana habb entu, Ardeth." He gave it in Arabic.
"And I you." Ardeth nodded a little.
"Gotta thank God for that." He slid a bit deeper, and then Ardeth arched up, pulling him closer and he gave into the insistence and slid all the way inside. It was a struggle to stay still as Ardeth tossed his head back, groaning out his name, but Rick could recall that incredible sensation from the night before and just gave him time to get used to it before he tried moving. He waited until Ardeth met his eyes again to shift his balance more onto his knees and his left hand and stroked his right over Ardeth's cock. And Ardeth was right, whatever hell they'd both endured to get there, it was worth it just to be able to make love to Ardeth like this. Both of them whole and alive and as lost in the pleasure as Rick could manage. He leaned down a bit, Ardeth meeting him as best he could for a kiss, pressing his hand and Ardeth's cock between them. Ardeth broke the kiss with a soft cry arching his back, pressing his head into the mattress and pushing up hard into Rick's thrust so he was buried as deep into Ardeth as he could be and that was enough. Ardeth's voice was a low breathless groan of his name as he came all over Rick's hand. Rick held back his own orgasm for another few seconds, until Ardeth opened his eyes to look at him and then he let himself fall.
He found the coherency somewhere to ease Ardeth's legs from his shoulders, easing out of Ardeth at the same time.
Ardeth gave a slight groan at the move and Rick just pulled him close, not caring about the mess at the moment. "You okay, Ardeth?"
"I am. Joy to make me weep, Rick."
"Me too, Ardeth, me too." He held Ardeth tight until he'd caught his breath enough to really think. "We gotta find out which god we thank for letting us wake up in bed together, Ardeth."
Ardeth chuckled, sounding mostly asleep. "We do." He agreed. "For now, I am thankful to Allah on principle, but I am also thankful to Bastet and Mut both."
"Bastet and Mut, huh? Okay." He thought for a bit more. "Ni tuau en atu Bast't, ni tuau en atu Mut, seb ai sen, seb ai merru. Ni tuau." He smiled. "Did I get that right?"
Ardeth shifted in his arms and kissed him, long and deep "Yes, habibi, you did. My thanks to you, Bastet, my thanks to you Mut, for my brother, for my love. Thank you." Ardeth offered the same prayer in Arabic and then repeated the Egyptian, better than Rick had but with the same words so he knew he'd gotten it right. "I will teach you the language yet."
"I can ask for food, coffee, oil, and thank the Gods for you. That's pretty good right there."
Ardeth gave a soft snort that was almost a chuckle. "In'sh'Allah."
"Sure." Rick laughed himself. "Let me get us something to wash up with and then we can snuggle against the cold, huh?"
"Yes, it is chilly is it not?"
"Yeah it is." Rick got out of bed quickly and poured some water into the bowl waiting there, wiping himself off as fast as he could and then taking the wet cloth back over to Ardeth. He started to wipe the remnants of Ardeth's orgasm from his skin and then stopped, running one finger along Ardeth's stomach and bringing it to his lips.
"Rick?"
"Just enjoying, habib, and not taking anything for granted."
Ardeth's eyes lightened but he drew Rick's hand to his own lips and placed a kiss against his wrist this time and not his palm. "Nor I."
"What's the different spot for?" He asked, as he wiped Ardeth clean.
Ardeth didn't answer for a long moment. "Reassurance."
Rick wrapped the wet cloth up in one of Ardeth's robes and dropped it back to the floor. "Reassurance about what?" He bundled up all of their clothes he could find into a pile. "There. Think Tahiri deserves a break huh?" He snuggled back under the sheets which with his and Ardeth's combined body heat took the chill from the night air easily. "Reassurance about what, Ardeth?" He asked again since Ardeth still hadn't answered.
A sigh. "That you are truly here."
He tightened his arms around Ardeth a little. "Okay. But why there?"
Ardeth shivered just a little and then drew Rick's arm from around him so that he could wrap his fingers around Rick's wrist. "It is...good to feel you whole."
That took a long while because he was still thinking in terms of Ardeth being the one who hadn't been whole. Then he recalled the question he'd asked last night about Ardeth loving him if he'd lost an arm or a hand or something to the blast and Ardeth's reply that he had done both. "Here huh?" He put his other hand over Ardeth's fingers.
"Yes."
Rick shook his head. "I'm really glad I don't remember much of that. It hurt like hell but it was over really quick."
"That is good to know." Ardeth sighed. "I...was afraid perhaps that you had...felt it more." Ardeth's hand moved up his arm.
"Nah." He wrapped his arms back around Ardeth and held him close. "But I bet I'm going to have nightmares of the sound of that incoming shell for months."
Ardeth hugged him tighter. "Thanks be to Allah and all the old gods that you are well, habib."
"That another of those things we're even on, Ardeth?"
"I suppose it must be." Ardeth nodded but he moved closer, lying half over Rick now, one leg between his.
"You know what, Ardeth. You're were right though. Being here like this with you-- it does make it worth it all." He stroked his fingers through Ardeth's hair. "Think you can sleep?"
"I think I am to exhausted not to." Ardeth sighed. "May all that is bright and beautiful fill your dreams."
"Poetry again. I gotta keep kissing you so you can't think, huh?"
That got a chuckle. "I will not mind in the slightest."
"Me either, Ardeth me either." He smiled himself. Rick wasn't sure how long they laid there, but he could feel Ardeth's breathing even out with sleep.
"It is good you are concerned."
Rick blinked and then just tightened his arms around Ardeth, recognizing the voice. "Anubis."
There was that same grating chuckle. "Do not use that tone with me, O'Connell."
Rick sighed. "This a social visit?"
"No." The shadows of the room pooled darker around the far corner. "You do not understand yet, do you, champion of mine?"
"Understand what?"
"Why the weapons have been tempered so."
Rick growled a little bit. "We're human beings, dammit, not swords."
"You are both." Anubis growled in reply. "You swore it yourself to him, do you not recall that, O'Connell? To be his sword or his shield if he needed you to be so?"
And how the hell was he supposed to argue with that. "So?"
Another grating chuckle. "So, champion, I am again disobeying great Ammun by speaking with you as I did on the field of Ahm Shere, for the sake of your brother because of my own. Do you understand yet why the weapons have been tempered so?"
"No." He just wrapped his arms around Ardeth a bit more. "And he sure as hell does not need any of you causing him any more pain okay? He's been through enough."
"It may be that you are right. It may be that you are not. That remains to be seen. My bright brother believes that his champion has the strength and courage to succeed in the dark times to come. Perhaps he is right in his thought. Your brother is stubborn, champion, but if he does not know he has the strength or courage he does what good are they?"
"So help me, you put him through anything like you did in that damned hell of yours again and I will find a way to really chop you to pieces."
Anubis laughed, which was worse than the chuckle. "Bravery at least you have, champion of mine. As I told you then, the spell should have seen to it that he was not harmed. And did I not send you back to Egypt whole?"
"Ammun did that. And you sure as hell didn't mind that the spell allowed him to be hurt worse the second time. You should be damned glad the other Medjai showed up when they did or you'd be explaining to Horus and Ammun why you let that damned creature of yours tear him apart."
The shadow stepped forward resolving itself into the jackal headed form Rick recognized now. "Now I understand what Ammun meant. I did not restart the spell, O'Connell. I released you and your brother, Ammun's High Priest and Pharaoh's bright daughter as I said I would. Why you two remained in the dark realm created by your brother's fears I do not know. So, my warning takes on new meaning yet. Not all enemies are as obvious as the soldiers of Germany, O'Connell. And shadows begin to nip at the edges of your family's heels. So beware, champion. More so be wary. You stand my champion in Ahm Shere, which is my temple Rick O'Connell. Do not fail me. Or you shall pay the price and so shall he."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"I do not have answers to give, champion. Only warnings. More things hide in the shadows than simple death." Anubis cocked his head to one side, which looked almost comical really. "You love him."
"Yeah. I do."
"That may do then. That may do. You are protective of those you love, champion. As you should be." Another chuckle. "It may be that he was right and we have something in common after all, it may be he was right. So, for the sake of both our brothers, champion. Guard well."
And with that the room was empty again except for him and Ardeth. "Allah please? Can't we just rest?" He really meant the plea.
"Habib? What is wrong?" Ardeth stirred a bit.
"Nothing." He didn't really know how to answer that yet. "I'm just tired, Ardeth. God has to know I just want a chance to rest and let us all get well huh?"
"No doubt he does, Rick." Ardeth snuggled closer again. "If you hold me any tighter, habib, you will leave bruises hmm? I am here, Rick, thanks be to Allah we are both here."
"Yeah. Yeah we are. Just-- making sure it's real you know?"
"Yes." Ardeth placed a kiss at the spot where his neck met his shoulder. "Is it belief yet, habib?"
"Getting there." He smiled a bit. "How about you."
"As you say. It gets easier each time I wake in your arms."
"Yeah, makes it pretty close to perfect doesn't it? But you're right, sleeping in your arms after making love is better."
Ardeth chuckled. "Then why are we awake?"
"That's a good question. Lets go back to sleep, huh? I'm really tired, Ardeth."
"And I, Rick. And I. Sleep well."
"Yeah." He stroked his hand through Ardeth's hair again. "You too." He just kept stroking his fingers through the tangled waves and then finally drifted off himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imhotep watched the two men sleep for a bit until he was certain they were no where near waking and then walked into the room. Ardeth was lying as he had come to expect on his side, his arm around O'Connell's waist and his head on the man's shoulder. Though tonight he laid more over the American's chest than on his shoulder. "You are far too ungrateful a man to be so blessed, O'Connell." He chastised the man with a sigh. "Would that you learning to be appreciative of the great gifts the gods give you did not fall so hard upon the rest of us, hmm?" He reached over and stroked his fingers through Ardeth's hair. "And you, Medjai. You would try the patience of this god of yours and AmmunRa himself both, I think. If you were not so pleasing that we are willing to overlook the annoyance and even enjoy it at times. How is it that you think so little of yourself when so many others, even the gods themselves, regard you so highly?" He shook his head. But you are thankful for the great miracles you have been given even while you grieve for the people you have lost and that at least is good. I am thankful for the miracles myself, Ardeth. I am loathe to end the game so soon, hmm? When it is just becoming both a true challenge and a great joy." He smiled and then stroked his fingers through the tangled dark hair again. It was hard still not to recall how very shattered the young man had been only the night before in the waking world. Which only wanted to remind him of the horrible memories he had of their capture and the torture the damned German had subjected them too. He was no stranger to such horrors himself, but that made the memories no easier to bear. "AmmunRa, Lord of both Kingdoms of Egypt, who hears all prayers even of the silent, grant that such horrors are past now for Ardeth and for I." He truly meant the prayer. "Horus walk between you and all the dark places you travel, Medjai."
The night was silent with both gods of light no doubt just finishing their eternal battle with the Destroyer. He would have to leave soon enough to see great Ammun to the sky once more. He stepped back, drawing his fingers from Ardeth's hair and insuring that O'Connell stayed asleep and the sheets were well in place he eased his thoughts over Ardeth's. "Wake up, Medjai." He offered it in Arabic.
"Hmm?" Ardeth woke slowly, both his contentment and the lasting exhaustion telling as he did. He sighed a little and snuggled closer to O'Connell.
"I truly would let you rest if I could, Ardeth. No doubt we could both still do with the sleep and more of a chance to recover from our ordeal. But your time in the Duat is short and I must see AmmunRa to the sky. Join me on the balcony, hmm?"
Ardeth sighed but there was pleasantly enough no real annoyance to his thoughts. "Is all well with Egypt?" He asked instead.
"It is indeed, Medjai. Dress yourself, hmm? Or not of course." He teased just a little. "And join me outside so we do not wake your brother. I will be a courteous host and leave you to dress."
Exasperation and a flash of annoyance. "I will join you in a few minutes."
"Bring the coffee with you once you have dressed, hmm?" He gave the young man a smile as Ardeth raised himself up to look at him. "I still do not understand why you are so shy about the beauty that Allah has granted you." He laced the now familiar teasing through his voice. "Although you could of course surprise me and be thankful not only that I do so, but that you are well and whole enough to worry about such things."
Ardeth was quiet for a long moment but he held his thoughts tightly to English, so Imhotep only turned toward the balcony. "Thank you-- seems so very little to offer for the latter." Ardeth said finally in Egyptian. "But for what little it is worth to you to have my gratitude, Imhotep it is yours. For myself, for Rick's life, for our victory over the enemies of Egypt."
He shook his head. "It is far more than you think, Ardeth Bay. Now do not tempt me so by being so complacent while you lounge about in bed, unclothed, hmm? We should both no better than to play with fire, should we not, Medjai?" He chuckled and head out onto the balcony.
"Madness is so very pale a word." Ardeth muttered as he left and Imhotep smiled a little. Ardeth waited until he was certain he was alone in the room before he sighed and got out of bed. Then his thoughts gentled from annoyance to a love and contentment and joy. Imhotep sighed relived a bit that Ardeth was obviously healing from the ordeal the damned German had inflicted on them and yet a bit envious of the young man as well. Ardeth sat beside his brother for a long moment and then rose to his feet, tucking the sheets about O'Connell with a smile. "Sleep well, mukalb." Ardeth brushed his fingers through O'Connell's hair and then quickly dressed, shivering a bit in the pre-dawn chill. "What is it you wished to speak to me about, Imhotep?" He asked as he walked out onto the balcony. And while he had dressed completely it was easy to ascertain that it was due to the chill and not any real fear. Once more he had left his weapons behind him next to the bed.
Imhotep shook his head. "If I am so little a threat, Ardeth whatever shall we do when we are no longer allies?" He smiled.
Ardeth shrugged. "As Allah and Ammun wish us, no doubt." There was a slight smile with the words.
"As if we could do otherwise." He agreed. "You did not bring the coffee, Ardeth." He chided and then concentrated long enough to summon both the pot and two cups onto the balcony with them. He poured them each a cup handing Ardeth his. "When you wake in Ahm Shere in just a while now, Ardeth to see to the burial of your dead would it be amiss if I offered to do as I did after the last battle and see to the burial of not only your lost warriors but also the remains of our enemy?"
"If you would be so considerate and ally, priest of AmmunRa I would be thankful for the offer." Ardeth agreed. "Also I think it might be wise if we were to re-bury the pyramid of Anubis, to insure that its location is even yet in doubt."
"The first I can do. The latter we must ask the gods about, Medjai. It may be that Anubis does not wish his pyramid re-buried. No doubt your brother would know more of that than you or I. But if it does not displease any of the gods I will do so, certainly."
"Good." Ardeth sipped his coffee. "It will be good to have this part of the funerals done. Then tomorrow we can bury the women and children who were also lost to the Germans."
Imhotep sighed. "That is always the harder task, I think, to see to the children. I had not thought to ask, Ardeth. Are the daughters of your cousin and the child who came with you here to Thebes the other day all well?"
"They are." Ardeth gave a quick prayer to Allah in thanks as he spoke. "My cousin Rehan lost one son. And my uncle lost his second wife. But the rest of my family survived well."
"Good." He glanced eastward himself to judge the time. "I will truly enjoy being able to bury our enemies remains, unmourned and without honor too deeply for anyone to find for the next three thousand years if I can."
Ardeth sighed. "On that I would agree." The young man was silent for a bit. "Do you-- know what happened to him?"
That took him a moment longer to decipher and then he sighed himself. "No. I am hopeful that one of the Anubis warriors who rescued us was so kind as to rip the heart from him while he was alive though."
Another bit of silence while Ardeth finished his coffee. "I would be more content with-- knowing he did not die so easily, but I will try to be satisfied with the fact that he is gone."
Imhotep reached over and clasped the younger man's shoulder tightening his fingers after a moment. "Perhaps it is better for both our souls, Medjai that we were not given the opportunity to see to the manner of his death, hmm?"
"Now you are concerned not only for my health but for the state of my soul?" Ardeth shook his head.
"I have been concerned with both since the beginning, Ardeth. Have you not realized that yet?" He admonished gently, but there was an underlying humor to both Ardeth's thoughts and his own reply.
"In your own fashion I suppose you are at that." Ardeth rolled his eyes and then glanced eastward. "Allah grant me patience in dealing with madmen."
Imhotep smiled and then squeezed Ardeth's shoulder for a moment longer truly glad that the contact had not bothered the young man at all. He let go to pick up his own coffee. "If it is madness that makes me concerned for both your health and the state of your soul, Medjai, do you not think you should be thankful for it instead of always complaining to Allah about it?"
Ardeth looked at him for a long moment. "Perhaps there is truth in that, priest of AmmunRa. But I will not say that there are not-- aspects of your madness that I would be truly relived if you would stop."
He chuckled. "My desire for you, Medjai, has nothing to do with madness." He reached over and this time traced Ardeth's jaw with his fingers. "You are far too intriguing, Medjai."
"If you would tell me how I could dissuade you of that I shall try to be less so." Ardeth sighed.
Imhotep chuckled again. "Then you would not be the man your brother loves, your family cares so much for, and your people follow with such dedication, Ardeth. And that would be a loss not only to the waking world but to the Duat as well. So, you will simply have to accustom yourself to the idea that we all are quite pleased with the man that you are."
Ardeth rolled his eyes. "Allah grant me strength."
"No doubt that is something we can always pray for, Medjai." He agreed. "Now I must go and see to great AmmunRa, Ardeth. You may go back to sleep if you wish. No doubt if I am still somewhat tired from our ordeal at the hands of the Germans you must be exhausted yet as less time has passed in the Egypt that is than had gone by here."
Ardeth sighed and then much to Imhotep's surprise reached over and touched his arm lightly. "It probably conflicts with my oath somewhere, but are you well now, Imhotep?" There was honest concern to his thoughts that told plainly enough in his voice.
Imhotep smiled a bit. "Whatever shall we do when we have to go back to being enemies indeed, Medjai? I am well enough. Damnation and I are well acquainted after all."
"And does that somehow make it easier to heal? I thought we had agreed that it is harder to face a fear one has knowledge of after all than one which is unknown."
"We did." He agreed. "But I find the reverse is true for dealing with it afterwards. While damnation and torture are never easily forgotten, Ardeth, the recovery from them is easier I think when one has worse to recall." He shrugged a bit.
"Bis'mil'Allah." Ardeth shivered a bit and then his thoughts went to the Bright god of Vengeance and dread Anubis suddenly. "Is that what they meant do you think? That I would need the strength I learned from what I endured here and in the realm of Anubis to face what would come. Horus said to me that while it was not a lesson I wanted to learn it would give me the strength to face what I would have to bear."
"Perhaps that is indeed an answer to the question, Ardeth." He agreed.
Ardeth sighed and then gave another silent prayer to Allah for mercy and strength both.
"We can pray." He agreed. "I will give your wishes and your thanks to AmmunRa, Ardeth and see you later in Ahm Shere."
Ardeth looked at him for a moment his thoughts held tightly to English now. "You have not asked for a kiss this morning."
Imhotep smiled. "I only have sixteen left, Medjai. I do not wish to squander them. Besides which, it seemed unfitting to end this moment of comradery between two champions of Egypt with animosity. And you are not comfortable enough with the bargain yet to consider it anything more than an unpleasant duty." He shrugged. Ardeth's confusion and disbelief and uncertainty all succeeded in making the young man far too desirable certainly. "If I do what you expect, Ardeth, where is the fun?" He chuckled a bit and then headed back into the room where O'Connell slept and toward the door.
"I will never understand you." Ardeth muttered. "Allah's peace to you, priest of AmmnRa." He added after a moment just as Imhotep reached the door.
"Thank you, Ardeth. That is always a kind thought." And he closed the door behind him with a smile. "Ammun must know how you tempt me, Ahba. But I have all the time in the worlds to be patient after all." He chuckled a bit and then headed down to the main temple to see to his god.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ardeth walked over to where the tribal leaders were gathered. "Is all in readiness for the burial of our people who rest now in Paradise with Allah?" He asked softly.
"I think we have done all we can, yes." Abdul answered first. "The Imam from Aswan is seeing to the prayers for the women and children we have lost. That leaves the battlefield and our warriors to bury now then."
"It will be good to bury the women and children with a full funeral." Ardeth agreed. "Allah grant them peace. It is too many to bury, I fear." He gripped his uncle's shoulder. "I am sorry my friends that I was in such a state yesterday as to cause us to delay the burial of those who died so bravely for Egypt and our tribes."
"I think our tribesmates who rest in peace with Allah will rest better knowing we did not consider causing ourselves more injuries and exhaustion to see to their burials. It is only their remains that we are burying after all. They are already safe in Paradise." Hassan shook his head.
"You need to rest yet, Ardeth. We are beyond thankful that you are once again feeling able to stand with us, chieftain. But as Hassan has said, if we cause ourselves more injury in seeing to the funeral of our tribesmates what honor do we do their memories, hmm?" Arebe shook his head
"If I may speak for Amal, Ardeth, I can say with certainty that she would agree with Arebe and Hassan." Selim squeezed his wrist. "Let us see to the burials now so that we may celebrate our victory and rejoice that our tribesmates and family are in Paradise hmm? Then you can rest."
Ardeth looked from one of the men there to the other and then sighed. "I am well enough-- truly. But I thank you all for the concern."
"We are selfish men, Ardeth. We have had a brief taste of what life would be like without you as our chieftain and we find we do not like it. So we wish to see you well so that we do not have to worry that we will be back in that state soon." Hashim gripped his arm.
Ardeth chuckled. "I think you think too little of yourselves then, leaders of the tribes of the Medjai. But let us see the burials done and then worry about what is to come."
"When do you expect that He who shall not be named will join us, Ardeth? It is still odd that he has agreed to help us in burying our dead. But, I can not say I am not thankful for his aid both in that and in seeing to the defeat of the Germans." Abdul shook his head. "Truly Allah's ways are beyond any man I think."
"There is far too much truth to that, Abdul." Ardeth agreed, but he glanced eastward and gave thanks to God once more that they had managed the victory at all.
Adham reached over and clasped his shoulder. "Will you and the O'Connells walk with us, Ardeth? Mohamed and Alex were going to walk with the rest of the young men who were training with Asyd, may he rest in peace with Allah."
"I would be honored, Adham." He agreed, tomorrow of course he would walk with Selim and see to the burial of Amal and his cousin's son, Ramzi. "Will you and Azza join us, uncle?" He glanced at Selim.
"It would please Azza and Leila no doubt." Selim nodded. "I would be honored."
"Then let us see it done." He agreed. It took surprisingly little time really to gather his tribesmates to the dunes where Adham's cannon and Husan's grenade launchers still sat in mute testimony to the battle that had raged there so recently.
"Horus, my friend, will you fly to your namesake now and ask him to beseech great AmmunRa to send his High Priest here so that we may see to the burial of our people, and cover the remains of our enemies?"
Horus gave a soft chirp from where he was perched on the shield of his namesake and then took wing flying straight up toward the sun overhead.
"He is the strangest of falcons, nephew." Selim shook his head.
Ardeth smiled. "He is-- I am beginning to think, far more than he would let us think, uncle." He looked over at Rick. "Do not find yourself a large black dog, hmm?"
Rick smiled back a bit. "That'd go over well."
"Only if Teta wants to come and keep them company." Evelyn patted his arm. "We'll be happy you have him back, Ardeth."
"As am I." He glanced back up. "What does one give a god for thanks, Evelyn?"
"I think they'd be satisfied with the thanks alone, Ardeth." She answered. "But Sallah and I can work up a list for you if you want."
"I would appreciate it, yes." He agreed. Horus cried out from up above and then came circling down to perch on his shield again. Fluffing his feathers once and then settling calmly.
"Is that a yes or a no?" Rick asked.
"I will take it as a yes." Ardeth shrugged a bit, and true enough the sandstorm he had almost grown accustomed to seeing moved toward them across the plain below and then formed into Ammun's High priest with a bright flash of sunlight. Imhotep was dressed once more in the robes Adham had given him and how that was possible when Ardeth could recall that the German had cut them from him just as he had done with Ardeth's own was not a miracle he felt up to questioning now. "Greetings, High Priest of AmmunRa."
"Medjai, may your God grant you his peace this day," Imhotep returned with a slight nod of his head. "I have Ammun's leave to aid you in burying your lost warriors and the remains of our enemies, Medjai. If you will see to the prayers I will do the rest."
He nodded and then went with Adham and Selim to join the tribal leaders were they had gathered. Each man in turn picked up a handful of sand and cast it out toward the battlefield, thanking Allah for seeing their slain tribesmembers safely to Paradise and asking His blessing for those who were left to mourn and remember. Finally, Ardeth picked up a handful himself and tossed it toward the field. "God grant you peace at his side, my friends, no chieftain of the Medjai has ever had better men to lead, I will miss you all at my side in the battles to come, and thank you with all my heart for your courage and bravery in all the battles we have fought before. Know that we will always remember you, till the winds no longer blow across the desert. We will see to your families and do our best to honor your memory and your sacrifice with our own dedication to Egypt. As Allah wills and gives us strength to do so."
"Allah ha'mana." The men about him offered the salute almost in chorus.
"Allah i'hafaz." Ardeth agreed and then turned to look at their most unlikely ally. Imhotep gave him another slight nod and then raised both arms and then sand below rose up in a huge graceful curtain, and then slid forward like a dropped blanket to cover the remains of the field below, and when the sand had settled there was once again no trace that the battle had ever taken place except that the distance between the dunes on which they stood and the plain below was less.
The women of the tribe began the low undulating wail that had accompanied the burial of their tribes for countless generations and when it stopped there was a silence that was filled with a sudden soft breath of wind from the east, and a flash of gold sunlight smoothed the sands again, with an accompanying shadow like a huge wing.
Ardeth glanced up at the sun and then behind him to the east again. "Thank you." He offered first in Egyptian then in Arabic to Horus and to Allah. "If it pleases Allah and you both, bright son of Osiris and most revered Isis, walk between my tribesmates and all the dark places they travel." He asked softly.
"Our blessings to thee, children of Allah. You walk with my thanks for Egypt's victory and his blessings." Came the voice that was not a voice of great AmmunRa and Ardeth smiled just a bit at the warmth the voice gave him. His tribesmates glanced at each other, and the whisper of the miracle carried along the dune like a second wind.
"And our thanks to thee, Great AmmunRa. If you would take our unworthy thanks and great joy to Allah so that our tribesmates know we have buried them as we should?"
"Granted." The word was a soft sigh of wind.
"The gods find favor with you like few men I have ever known of, Medjai." Imhotep shook his head.
"I am fortunate to lead a people they can be proud of." He shrugged the compliment aside and then glanced back down at the field below, wishing that the joy of Ammun's voice could have lasted a bit longer in the face of so much death. "Allah grant that we never have another such battle to recover from."
"God willing." Selim clasped his shoulder. "We are Medjai, nephew, we do what must be done."
"It is still more of us than I ever imagined having to bury, Selim. I am thankful for the victory, certainly, but I mourn the cost. So many of us have died upon these sands. Likely we have lost as many men here as we ever did at Hamanaptura."
"It is the temple of the god of those whose hearts have stilled, Medjai. Little wonder then that it attracts death as easily as the city of the dead." Imhotep's voice was oddly quiet.
"There may be too much truth to that."
"Will you be staying with us to celebrate the victory over our mutual foes, priest of AmmunRa, and the acceptance of so many of us into Paradise?" Adham asked the man standing not that far away.
Imhotep raised one eyebrow in silent question. "Is that an offer of hospitality, Medjai?"
Adham shrugged. "You are my cousin's guest, I can do no less. And I think between us both we can guarantee the hospitality of the rest of our tribes."
"I would offer mine as well." Arebe spoke next. "So that there is no doubt of the offer.
"And I." Selim agreed.
"Bis'mil'Allah, I suppose I shall as well. This is very odd though." Abdul shook his head.
Ardeth smiled just a bit at his unlikely ally's obvious surprise. "Will you join us then, priest of AmmunRa?"
"It would be rude to refuse such hospitality would it not? I shall stay for a bit then, Ardeth. Certainly."
"Good, you can help us determine what it is we should offer the gods for thanks." He gave the man a slight nod and then turned to his friends. "Let us see to the celebration then. We have had to postpone for too long already the honor we would do all of our tribesmates who we have lost to the Germans."
"There is truth to that." Selim agreed and they walked down toward camp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Evelyn sat next to Rick, snuggled half against his side now that they'd finished eating. "Quite a party." She smiled.
"Yeah." Rick nodded. "They're good people, sweetheart."
"Yes they are. Which is good I think, considering they're rather our people now." She wrapped her hand around Rick's wrist, over his tattoo.
"Yeah, they are. I told Ardeth you wouldn't be too happy with me getting any more of those, though."
She smiled and then leaned her head back to study his face for a moment, tracing her fingers across his cheek. "No, I don't thinks so." She leaned up and kissed him. "But I suppose if you wanted to get one on your shoulder or some such I could cope. I'll even help you with the Egyptian if you want."
"I wouldn't even know what to say, Evie."
"Hmm." She thought for a minute. "Am nekhtu khebt her mertu neraut Kemet." She decided.
"Uh huh." Rick chuckled. "What does that mean?"
"Because of bravery, sacrifice and love, victory for Egypt." She turned a bit and kissed him. "I think it's very appropriate don't you?"
"Yeah, Evie. I do." He pulled her close, and it felt so good to have his arms around her that she just did her best to mold herself against him and enjoy the kiss. "Have I told you today that I'm the luckiest man on earth?"
"No." She smiled. "Still?"
"You still love me, right?"
She snuggled against his side. "With all my heart, Rick."
"Then yeah, I'm still the luckiest man on earth."
Evie closed her eyes. Most revered Isis, great Osiris, god of my father, Lords of Egypt, thank you, for the miracle of having him whole in my arms. Hathor, bright goddess of love I thank you for the joy of having him in my life. Sekhmet, great goddess of war, thank you for allowing us this victory, so that I may yet share my life and my love with my husband and my son. Gods of Egypt I thank you with all of my heart.
"You are most welcome, Nefertiri." Sekhmet's voice was a soft low purr that she knew somehow was only in her mind. "He is a fitting husband to you, champion of mine, and a joy to the world, truly. But with such gifts and miracles as you and yours have been given comes great responsibilities and expectations. And with all of that comes enemies, daughter of Pharaoh, so do not forget to watch over your guards even as they watch over you."
"I will do as you ask." She returned silently in Egyptian.
"Then my blessings and that of my bright sister to you and yours, Evelyn."
"Are you still awake, sweetheart?" Rick asked with a smile.
"Hmm? I wandered away a bit I think." She smiled back. "Did you ask me something?"
"Yeah, I asked who all the women fawning over your brother are."
Evie smiled looking over to where Jonathan was sitting only about eight feet away, talking quite happily with one of those women Rick mentioned. "Those are his most ardent admirers love."
"Really?" Rick shook his head. "Okay, I can see it, but that still doesn't answer my question. Why are they all fawning over your brother?"
"Because that's the sort of thing you do, Rick. Fawn over heroes I mean." She smiled even more and then kissed him again. "I certainly did."
"Yeah, right. Okay, okay, I think the fawning part was mutual actually, but that's no answer."
"He saved them from the Germans, Rick. He's very much their hero." She shook her head.
"He-- oh." Rick sighed and his arms tightened around her. "Yeah, I guess he would be, huh?"
"Yes. Rather like being saved from being sacrificed I imagine." Rick was quiet for long enough to worry her so she glanced up. "Rick?"
"Just thanking any god that cared to listen, sweetheart. For them, for us, for everyone. Hell of a thing to have to rescue someone from, Evie."
"Yes, yes I rather suppose it is." She leaned against him again. "My hero."
"Who me? Jonathan shot the German, sweetheart."
"Yes I know. And I'm very very very glad he did. And I've thanked him a dozen times myself I think. But you are still my hero, Rick O'Connell. For saving my life twelve years ago, for saving Alex's life three years ago, for saving Ardeth now, for saving the lives of so many of the Medjai the other night. You are so much more than any hero I ever read about or dreamed of, Rick. In this life or any other."
Much to her delight that actually seemed to surprise him and he blushed just a little, looking suddenly about fifteen years younger and absolutely adorable. She just leaned up and kissed him again.
Isha:ToC