“Just Do It”
sequel to: “The Price”
by: ssdangel
Disclaimer: I do not own Ardeth Bay, Rick, Evy or Alex O’Connell, Jonathan Carnahan, Imhotep, Anck-su-namun, Lock-nah, or any event relating to The Mummy or The Mummy Returns, Stephen Sommers does.
Rated: F18
Chapter One
“Don’t move” she said softly – again. It would take longer if he kept squirming.
“Little One…” he groaned – again.
“I know you want this…”
“Faster…yes…please…”
“You know I have to do it slowly.”
“You enjoy torturing me, I think” he said and then squirmed again.
“Patience, my love…” she said softly, a smile crossing her face. She knew it did tickle a bit when she did it slowly.
“I told you, you should have let me take them out earlier” Rick chuckled as Ardeth dropped his head down on his arms crossed on the top of the chair back. He was sitting on one of the table chairs, straddling it backwards, leaning on the back of the chair.
“Here” Rick said as he handed Ardeth a cup of tea, “…nice and hot, just how you like it.”
“Thank you, my friend.” He did like a cup of hot tea in the evening, preferring coffee in the morning.
“Well, at least we know you’re healing ok if it tickles…the nerves are healing. And Rick…you know you’d just rip them out. I want to be careful and make sure it’s healing all long the wound.”
“I know, Ani…I was just kidding” Rick said, knowing she was right. And then turning his attention back to Ardeth, quipped “Just remember that next time…if I’d stitched it, there wouldn’t have been half as many and you’d be done by now.”
“And he’d have a big lumpy scar. You know you can’t stitch straight.”
“No…but he’d be done by now” Rick said, still trying to make his point.
Ani finished removing the stitches in the long wound across Ardeth’s shoulder blade and then cleaned and bandaged it.
“Sweetie, you still need to give it another week, please. You could still rip it open if you pull it too far.” She took his cup of tea while he put on the clean shirt she’d handed him and sat in his big comfy chair, taking a couple sips of his tea before handing the cup back to him. Neither noticed how Rick watched, his eyes widening just a bit.
Ani listened to them talking as she cleaned up the mess and then went to their bedchamber. She knew Rick was leaving in the morning and wanted Ardeth to have as much time with him as possible. He would miss him.
“Jeffrey’s decided to go with you?”
“Yeah…we’re going to see what Izzy’s up to and see if they can’t do a little business together. You know Izzy…if he doesn’t keep busy, he gets into trouble. And Jeff needs something to do, too. He’s got some money set aside from selling his half of the business in the states, and he wants to buy another plane.”
They talked for some time before Rick yawned, realizing how tired he was. As they talked, he noticed Ardeth’s eyelids getting heavy and smiled to himself.
“I think I’ll go on home and get some sleep; which is exactly what I expect you to do. You still don’t look quite like your old self.” He almost thought about staying on a while longer, to make sure Ardeth rested some, but he missed Evy.
“I will miss you, my friend…and I will try to rest. But you know that is not always easy.”
“Easy or not…do it. At least until you come to Cairo…soon, right? Then Evy and I will come back with you. She’s all excited about that new dig down near Aswan. Alex said they found some well-preserved pottery and tools, and some graves. No real mummies, though. He said the village isn’t that old. But you know it doesn’t take much to get that boy excited.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
When he crawled into bed, edging up against her and kissing her softly before settling on her, nuzzling his face against her neck and pushing his arms under her, she whispered “He’s right, you know.”
“About what, Little One?”
“You haven’t been getting enough sleep. It still bothers you.”
“Yes…but I will be fine. I just keep thinking that if I had lost, the boy would have been killed…and then maybe Kalil and Za’id…all of them if Onaas had had his way.”
“But you won…”
“I didn’t win anything…”
“I know…but you know what I mean. You defeated Onaas and his men, and Yahr and the boys are ok.”
“And life will be a great deal harder in the future. It will be more difficult along the border, and I have no way of knowing if Dothan will be of any help protecting Ahm Shere, or if he will become a problem there when we must.”
“Well, you can’t solve all that tonight, sweetie. I’m sure you and Nafad will think of something. So please don’t worry about it…at least tonight…”
“You will say that again tomorrow night, I am sure.”
“Yes, probably, but you know I’m right…and if you sleep now, I’ll make love to you in the morning” she promised. She caressed his cheek and then combed her fingers through his hair until he fell asleep. She, too, knew the ramifications of Dothan’s actions, possibly affecting many generations to come. She worried about Ardeth until sleep finally took her also.
~~~***~~~***~~~
As Rick and Jeffrey walked up to the guards standing outside their house, one said “He is not up yet” with just a bit of wonder in his voice. He knew it was unusual for Ardeth to sleep late, and even when he didn’t leave the house early, it was usually because he and Ani were making love. All the guards were accustomed to the sounds of their passion.
“It’s ok, kid…I slipped him a little something in his tea last night so he’d sleep. Fyad has some wonderful herbs and stuff.”
“I noticed the extra guards” the guard said with a knowing smile. He’d seen more warriors on duty throughout the night, but hadn’t spoken with any of them, faithfully standing his post. He knew that though rare, there were a variety of reasons to assign more than the normal number of guards about the village.
“Yes, with Ardeth out of it, I asked Nafad to have more guards posted about. I put him out of commission, so if anything had happened during the night, he’d have my hide…he still may if he finds out” Rick said thoughtfully, and then looking pointedly at the young guard, said “So mums the word…ok?” seeing that the guard looked a bit confused by the phrase.
“But wouldn’t Ani be up by now?” Jeffrey asked.
“Nah…she drank some of his tea. It might be the first good night sleep they’ve both had in a while. We’ll come back in a while and check on him” Rick said before nodding to the guards and walking off.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Well, that explains that, now doesn’t it?” Ani whispered. They both woke just before hearing Rick and Jeffrey outside with the guards. “I thought it was late.”
“Yes, I will have to speak to him about that.”
“But we did sleep well.”
He was still lying on her where he’d fallen asleep, and she didn’t think either of them had moved during the night.
“Yes…and since we are already late getting up…” he said as he kissed along her neck, slowly making his way down to her breasts. As he suckled one and then the other, her moans and the movement of her body exciting him, he moved off her, his hand caressing its way down her body.
“But I was going to make love to…” she started, a deep moan then groaning from her as his fingers found just the right spot. As her body moved with his attentions, he kissed her passionately, her arms wrapping around him, pulling him onto her.
As he slipped inside her, thrusting deeply but slowly, watching her reactions to what he did to her, he leaned down and kissed her softly, whispering “You may have me tonight, my love. I look forward to your touch.” And then watching as her orgasm shuddered through her, he quickened his pace until his own body exploded with his release. He could feel her muscles still contracting around him, finishing him, a long deep moan escaping him, before he laid on her. He thought he could lie there all day, enjoying how her small hands caressed him and held him.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Why did you decide to write this…journal? I think when you are done, it will be a very large book” Za’id said as he read what Daya had written earlier.
“I don’t know…I’ve been thinking about it for so long, it just seemed like I should go ahead and do it. I know you probably think it’s silly. Our scribes have always kept records of our history, everything that everyone else feels is important. But there’s so much more that I think is important.”
“About your father.”
“Yes, and his father and grandfather. He’s always told us stories about what they did and how they led the nation. I remember every story father ever told us. He loved his father so much. He never knew his grandfather, but he knew everything about his life. And I want our children, and Kalil’s children, to know more than what is in the archives, what others think is important. I want them to know our family, how father lead our people and how his father and grandfather did it. Father is who he is because of them and their belief in the Medjai mission.”
“Does he know you’re writing this? You’ve written quite a bit so far, maybe you should let him read it, fill in what you can’t remember.”
“I’ve thought of that, and maybe at some point I will. But I want to finish all his stories first. That could take a long time. Then I’ll have to tackle mother and father’s life together. So much has happened since father became Chieftain. As you know, he and mother have had quite a life together. That will take quite a while to write. I’m not even sure I can write it all, but I just feel I have to try.”
“Well, from what I’ve read so far, I think you’re doing a fine job. I can hear your father telling these stories. Kalil is a great storyteller, too. He embellishes on your father’s stories” he said, and then closing Daya’s journal, “I like how you’re writing from your father’s perspective.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
It had been quiet for the past two days since Rick and Jeffrey left, and Ani was grateful that Ardeth was taking a little time to relax in the evenings. He enjoyed reading, but rarely made time to. She finished cleaning up the bedchamber and now stood watching him as he sat in his big chair, reading a book he’d started weeks ago and then hadn’t found time to finish. He’d mumbled something earlier about having to reread part of it to get back into it.
Finally, she stepped over in front of him and asked “Want some company while you read?”
“I always want your company, Little One” he said as he welcomed her into his lap and his arms. She settled on his lap, sitting on him sideways, hooking her legs up on the arm of the chair, and edging her shoulder under his arm so she could use his shoulder as a pillow. Once she was settled and comfy, he said “I just want to finish this chapter,” quickly getting back to reading.
She sat quietly, letting him enjoy his book, enjoying being there in his arms, feeling his bare skin. He’d bathed earlier and smelled good, awakening her senses as she inhaled his scent. He was wearing only a pair of light pants, as he normally did when they were home alone. He enjoyed the freedom of divesting himself of his usual trappings, relieving his body of the weight of his clothing and weapons, and especially freeing his feet of his heavy boots.
As she began to doze there in his arms, she vaguely felt his free hand softly caressing her thigh, inching up under her long nightshirt. She knew he liked the high slits up the sides as he liked how they revealed her legs and bottom as she moved about. She thought she should have worn the black gown she knew he liked even more, its thin silky fabric revealing as much of her body as it hid, outlining her curves, just transparent enough to show him what he wanted to see, but hiding her enough to make him want more.
As he finished the chapter, his hand had found its way up along her hip and back to her bottom, squeezing gently, caressing her curves.
Ardeth woke later, feeling a shiver run through him. He’d fallen asleep there with her in the chair, his cheek leaning down against her forehead, his hand still grasping her bottom. And then he felt it again, what he realized had actually woken him, her body shivering from the cold night air, her usually warm skin now cold. He’d dropped the book at some point in his sleep and saw it now lay on the floor. He edged it aside with his foot and stood, trying not to wake her, and carried her to their bed, covering her with their blankets.
“Ardeth” she whispered sleepily, “…it’s cold.”
“Yes, we fell asleep in the chair” was all he could think to say as he removed his pants and crawled under the covers with her. She pulled off her nightshirt and pulled him to her, still shivering, wanting him to warm her. He rubbed her back and bottom until they both fell asleep.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Kalil, Za’id, and Nafad sat and watched, each grimacing every so often Ardeth winced.
“You know mother’s going to have something to say about this. Another tattoo. It’s too soon. You’re not healed yet. What if it becomes infected, it’s right around the wound” he said, softly mimicking his mother’s tone. And then seeing the look on his father’s face, said “I’m just warning you of what you’ll hear later. You know it’s not the tattoo that will bother her. It’s that you’re having it done now.”
“I know…but it just seemed like a good time to do it” he said, and then winced again and looked back at the tattooist, seeing a slightly apologetic look cross his face, and said “Well, it seemed like a good idea this morning…now I’m not so sure.”
“It is appropriate…” Nafad said appreciatively as he watched the tattoo come to life on Ardeth’s back. It was simple, and not the largest of his various tattoos, but would tell the story of Dothan’s betrayal, of the Medjai and his own people, destroying the hard won peace between their peoples, impacting their lives, quite possibly for generations to come. Where Ahm Shere was concerned, the Medjai’s mission to protect the world would surely be affected, but more than that, on a daily basis, the Nubians would suffer. They would no longer have easy access to trade with
“It will forever remind you of what Dothan did to you” Kalil said as he looked closer.
“Once it heals, and your mother stops worrying about me, and it, I will give it no further thought. It will simply be there.”
They talked for a while as the tattooist worked his magic, Nafad nodding periodically. Ardeth explained what he intended to do about the magistrate in Cairo, that he planned on going to Cairo in the next couple days and he wanted Kalil to go with him. If circumstances had permitted, he’d have gone sooner, as the situation certainly wasn’t going to improve without action, and more people would probably suffer in the meantime. He also explained that he knew Kalil and Za’id had planned on going to Cairo to deal with the magistrate and he didn’t want Kalil thinking that he thought he couldn’t handle the situation. He did trust him to handle any situation that arose. He had been giving Kalil more and more responsibility. He just felt for some reason that he must go. It was just a feeling he had about the situation.
He also explained why he wanted Za’id to stay here. He knew it upset him, though Za’id tried not to show it, but he felt it would be better for Daya right now, so soon after Inara’s birth, and he wanted him to learn from Nafad what his duties as second would be. As much as it will be a natural progression for Kalil to take over his duties, it will fall to Za’id to take over Nafad’s, which included a great deal more than just watching Kalil’s back, and as Ani was so prone to saying ‘keeping him out of trouble.’
“I understand, father. You are Chieftain, and you always will be. I am quite content, but I will take whatever responsibilities you wish to give me” Kalil said honestly. They had had many talks about it over the years. He knew his father had worried a great deal about this. He could not simply ‘retire’ from his responsibilities as Chieftain as Rick had so often suggested he do. But he also felt he needed to turn more responsibilities over to Kalil, as he would be the Chieftain one day. His father had died before he could teach him so much about being Chieftain and he was grateful he had the time and chance to teach Kalil, rather than him having to instantly assume the role. And Kalil, in a way, was also grateful as, though he did have many responsibilities, he still had many freedoms that his father had never had.
“I give you only what is rightfully yours, son.
“And I, you, Za’id” Nafad said with a respectful nod.
“Yes…” Ardeth continued, another little wince and glance back at the tattooist, “And it will not always seem like a gift, this mantle you must shoulder. It is as heavy at times as it is fulfilling. And it should by normal standards have already been yours. I have lived longer than my father did and my grandfather, and for that matter, longer than most Chieftains throughout our history. I do not remember hearing of any Chieftain living to see his children grow and have children of their own, their son becoming Chieftain. It is the nature of our life; too many battles and too many evils.”
“You have dealt with more evils than most, I think.”
“Maybe. But life was much harder throughout the ages, and our people suffered a great deal because of our mission. And you know I will always be here to help you, even when I become too old to lead. And if I died today, you know I will always hear you if you should choose to speak to me. Through the years, I have often talked to my father, wishing he could help me with situations. And at times, I believe I can hear him speaking to me…usually telling me to trust my instincts, and my heart. As you must also. Always trust your heart, son. You will be the greatest Chieftain if you always consider your people and your family first. The mission will always be there and must be fulfilled, and your heart will lead you.”
Worrying that the conversation had gotten too serious, Nafad threw in “And you…” looking at Za’id, “…your job will not be so easy either. You think looking after him now is difficult…”
“You mean it gets worse?” Za’id chuckled.
And then, bringing them all back to their reason for being there, the tattooist dabbed his finished product with something that made Ardeth groan, stinging badly. He dabbed the tattoo again and then stood back as if waiting for them all to come around and look at his masterpiece; which they did, all nodding appreciatively at his work.
“Mother is going to have words with you…your cut looks a bit pink now.”
“It will be fine” Ardeth said as he stood, rolling his shoulder a bit, and they could tell it was indeed sore. He knew he would be in for a chastising from Ani. But he knew her chastising would ultimately be as gentle as her touch would be. “Come” he said as he pulled his shirt on, Nafad grabbing his robes and weapons, “…I want to talk more about our plans for taking care of the magistrate. I’ll need to talk to the elders tomorrow…and your mother” he said, looking at Kalil. “Unfortunately, this is not the only thing worrying the elders lately” he muttered, more to himself than to them. Kalil thought that his mother’s worrying about him dealing with the magistrate just might make her forget his father’s tattoo. Well, maybe in a day or so, but not tonight.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“You missed the evening meal…” Ani said when he finally came home. “You’ve been avoiding me all day” she gently chastised.
“Now, why would I be avoiding you, my love” he said, kissing her on the cheek. He removed his weapons and robes, pulled off his boots and sat in a chair at the table. “This smells good.”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“What subject?”
She poured him a cup of tea and set it on the table, and that’s when he noticed the bowl of water and cloth across the table from where he sat.
She sat opposite him and watched him eat, thinking he looked so tired, and quite possibly in a little pain.
“It hurts?”
“A little” he said, knowing he couldn’t avoid the subject any longer.
“And you just felt you had to get it today? Why?” Her voice was soft, only the slightest bit chastising. He knew she was more worried than angry. She was worried that his wound, which was healing nicely, until today, might become infected from the ink or possibly from being poked and mashed during the tattooing process.
“It seemed like a good idea when I did it” he said. He studied her for a moment and then asked “How mad are you?”
She sighed heavily and said “Well, let me see it, and then I’ll decide how…if I’m mad. I’m just worried that your wound won’t heal now.”
He finished his last bite, pushed the plate towards the center of the table, and removed his shirt. She stepped around behind him and sighed “Oh, Ardeth…it’s so…it hurts, doesn’t it. It looks like it hurts.”
“Yes…it burns” he admitted.
“Fyad and I thought it might. It is too soon, you know…that’s why you didn’t tell me before you did it, isn’t it?”
“Possibly…I just did it, and I cannot have it undone now” he said as he turned his chair so he was facing her, his back to the wall. He took her hand and pulled her in front of him. He kissed the palm of her hand and apologized “I am sorry I worry you, Little One.”
She pulled the bowl of water over, soaked the cloth in it, and said “Cold water and Fyad’s special medicine” as she squeezed the excess water from the cloth, “…should help it to feel better.”
He pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her, and rested his head on her breasts. She reached around him and laid the cold, wet cloth over his tattooed wound, hearing him sigh at the feeling. She gently pressed the cloth on the wound, holding it there, letting the medicine soak from the cloth onto his skin.
“That feels good, Little One” he sighed, hugging her just a little tighter. With her free hand, she caressed his face as he rested against her. He thought he could stay right there all night. “So, how mad?” he muttered against her.
“Ohhh…just a bit, I guess. You could have waited another week. It would have waited until you got back from Cairo.”
“But it is a nice tattoo.”
“Yes, it’s a nice tattoo” she said, as she reached over and re-soaked the cloth, and laid it back over his tattoo, hearing him sigh again.
She held him there for a few minutes, and then removed the cloth, patted him dry with another cloth and then bandaged it before they went to bed.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Duma…why don’t you just go talk to her?” Ani asked, and not for the first time. She’d watched him watching Shau’rai for months. She and Shau’rai generally did her wash at about the same time each morning, so he had ample opportunities. Ani thought he was just too shy, though. He’d often told her he was a warrior, nothing more. He truly never thought that he’d have a wife and family, and now, he usually said, he was too old for children. She knew that a great many warriors felt that way, that they were destined to be warriors, not family men. Za’id had thought that way, until Daya came into his life. She also knew that some were warriors because that was what they were raised to be, but that they were husbands and fathers first. It was difficult for some, as often when they were young men, their duties kept them from pursuing a wife. Some were stationed for long periods of time in remote areas where the only women were the wives of the older warriors also stationed there.
“I cannot…”
“Why not?” Ani insisted. “She is widowed and has no children, no other family. She’s alone and just might enjoy the attention, and the company. She’s not a young girl whose father would have your hide for talking to her.”
“What if she doesn’t want my attention?”
“Well, I’m sure she’ll let you know, if that’s the case. But you’ll never know if you don’t talk to her.”
“What if…”
“No more what ifs, Duma…just go and talk to her. Dahar will be with me.”
“What do I say?”
Ani looked up at him and realized he probably had no idea how to talk to a woman, other than her. She was probably the only woman with whom he’d ever spent any significant time. And they had truly become good friends over the years. “Ask her if you can be of assistance…carry her things for her. She’ll say that it would not be proper for you to carry her clothes. So you say you’ll carry her bucket of water. I know you’ve seen that she always takes a bucket of fresh water back with her when she’s done with her wash.”
“Yes…and if she tells me she doesn’t want my help?”
“I doubt she will do that. And you have to remember, she’s been widowed for what? Five or six years? Once you’ve approached her, she may be as nervous as you. As far as I know no one has shown interest in her since her husband was killed. I’ve never seen her talking to anyone other than a few of the women…other widows. Sometimes it takes a long time after the death of a spouse to accept the attentions of someone else. You’ll probably be able to see from the look on her face if she’s truly not interested, or if she’s just not sure what to do. It may even take you some time to get her to let you walk her home.”
“I don’t know, Ani…”
“We could talk about this all day, Duma…all the ‘what ifs’…all the possibilities. But then she’ll have gone home by herself and you’ll still be wondering. So, just do it…go on, talk to her, even if that’s all you do today” she said, and made a little gesture with her hands as if she was shooing him away.
She watched as he slowly approached Shau’rai across the big wash room. She thought it funny that each woman generally did her wash in the same place. The building was big, with many sinks and tubs for doing wash, and they all seemed to pick a spot where they liked to do theirs. Shau’rai usually picked the sink in the far corner from where Ani and Alana did theirs.
If he’d waited any longer, questioned himself any further, she would have been gone. She had filled her bucket with water and was picking up her basket of wet clothing as he approached. He nodded respectfully and Ani could see from the way Shau’rai looked up at him that she was not put off by what some would consider his forwardness. Actually, she looked like she’d expected it. It was quite possible that she’d seen him watching her these past months, maybe wondering why it had taken him so long to approach her.
“May I carry that for you?” he asked politely, not sure what else to say, and was quite surprised when she said “You may carry this” and handed him the bucket of water. He was almost so shocked that he didn’t take it, his hand shaking just a bit when he did finally reach for it. He thought it odd that he could battle the most evil of enemies, and was not afraid of dying for his people, their cause, or to save Ani’s life, but talking to a woman terrified him so.
He quickly glanced back at Ani, seeing a little smile on her face, and then followed after Shau’rai, who was walking towards the door, with or without him.
“I am sorry…I should introduce myself. I am…”
“Duma, I know. I have seen you often with Ani.”
“Oh!” he said, louder than he’d intended. That would mean she’d noticed him, more than once. And he wasn’t sure how to take that.
“Yes…everyone knows her guards.”
“Oh” he said flatly. So it wasn’t him she’d noticed, just Ani’s guards, of whom he was just one.
“But I would have noticed you anyway” she said, and he could tell she was toying with him. She wasn’t anything like he’d expected. He was sure she would be offended by his interest and possibly tell him to leave her alone. But was she interested? Or was she just being polite. Was she just lonely? And would she accept any man’s attention? Was it just that he was the only one who had shown her any attention since her husband’s death? “Duma?” he finally heard, realizing she’d said his name more than once, probably when she’d noticed he was far away, sinking into his thoughts and frets about what he was doing.
“I am sorry” he said sincerely, and then blurted out before he could stop himself “I am just so amazed that you didn’t tell me to leave you alone, I…”
She smiled at him, “Well, I may yet do so” she said as they came to her house. “This is where I live.”
“I know…”
“You know?”
“Yes, I am sorry. I know where just about everyone lives. Rashid expects it…to be on Ani’s guard…I mean…we must know the village, every inch of the village. But I believe Ardeth and Kalil expect that of all warriors. We have to be able to maneuver quickly and surely, without having to think about our surroundings.”
“Come in. I’ll make you some coffee, or do you prefer tea?”
“Coffee is good. I’ve always found tea a bit weak.”
“Me, too.” She noticed he was a bit hesitant to move into the main chamber from the doorway. “Come on in…sit” she said gesturing to the small table in the back corner of the room. She lived in one of two sections of the village where single and widowed women lived, women who for whatever reason had no other family to live with. He knew she’d moved there not long after her husband was killed. There were numerous long buildings consisting of multiple small dwellings, each small dwelling having one large main chamber and a smaller bedchamber. She’d obviously brought with her many of her furnishings from the house she shared with her husband, as the chamber was nicely furnished, at least by what he’d seen of other similar dwellings. It was comfortable and warm, much like Ardeth’s and Ani’s house.
She knew he was uncomfortable being in her home, alone with her, for a variety of reasons. “It’s ok, you know…to be here. We are not children…”
“It is not proper. Some may talk about you. They will not say much about me, but…”
“I do not care what gossips say. I know under most circumstances we should not be alone. But we are both old enough to know what we are doing” she said, not sure she knew what she was doing, or might at some point be doing. She had only ever been with her husband, the love of her life, and though she missed him dearly and would always love him, she knew she needed someone. She was lonely, though she knew she would never marry again just to relieve that loneliness. She missed having someone to talk to and be with. She wanted someone to hold her and care for her and make love to her.
“But you should” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “I care what they say.”
“Then you should…” she started, almost angry, but not sure if she was angry at him or with herself.
“…go?” he finished. “If you wish” he said, a tinge of sadness in his voice as he started to stand.
“No…please…I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m doing, or saying.” She placed a cup of coffee in front of him and looked at him, seeing the same confusion on his face as she felt.
He thought about Ani and how she would handle this, what she would tell him to do. And decided she that would tell him to just say what was on his mind and see what happened. That’s what he always did with Ani, just spoke his mind, though he knew this would be different. He was never hoping for anything from Ani. He already had her friendship and that was all there would ever be, all he would ever want from her. He couldn’t think of her in any other way. But here, now, with Shau’rai, he did want more. He knew it, and he guessed she felt it. He watched her as she sat opposite him at the table, another cup of coffee in her hand. She was very pleasing to look at, he thought, not beautiful in an exotic or mysterious way, but pretty, with even, smooth features and deep caring eyes. Her hair was almost black, with a generous sprinkling of gray and was obviously thick from the size of the long braid down her back. She was taller than Ani, but then he guessed most Medjai women were, as Medjai women tended to be tall, with a good figure and full breasts that not even the typical Medjai clothing could hide.
“I wasn’t sure what to say to you either” he said hesitantly. “I’ve seen you about the village…”
“You were watching me” she said simply.
“Yes. I wasn’t sure if you would be interested in…uh…wanted any…” he faltered, thinking he wasn’t getting too far on just saying it.
“Company?” she helped him along. “Yes, I would like some company. Do you find as you get older that you miss having someone to talk to, or just be with, even if you’re not always talking?” she asked, not wanting to sound desperate, but deciding that she didn’t care if she did. If he walked out because she was being honest with him, then so be it.
“I’ve never been married…”
“Oh.”
“No. Until recently I’ve always thought that I was just meant to be a warrior.”
“So, what has changed your mind?”
“Honestly, I do not know. But I agree, it would be nice to have someone…in my life. I wasn’t sure what to do…I…”
“Well, it took you long enough to talk to me…” she said with a smile.
“I didn’t know you would talk to me.”
They sat and talked for most of the afternoon, about their lives, her husband, whom she was amazed to learn Duma knew quite well as they’d been in the same detail some years back, about his life as a warrior and his years on Ani’s detail. He found it interesting to learn that she had noticed him about the village, and not just because he was Ani’s guard. He’d never thought of himself as handsome or even mildly appealing, so it would never have dawned on him that any woman would notice him in any other regard than Ani’s guard. They both admitted that they were lonely and craved attention, in many ways, both realizing that their attraction to each other was multifaceted. They were not young and impetuous, falling in love and lusting after each other. They were mature adults wanting to learn about each other and explore each other, and perhaps learning to love.
She did admit that she missed sex, the passion and pleasure of it, a gentle smile crossing her face when he blushed. She knew that warriors had their means to relieve their bodies’ needs and cravings. And she was sure Duma was no different. He had needs and wants, and he was not naïve about such things. She was well aware of places such as Mrs. Ife’s in Cairo. And she was sure Duma had availed himself of such pleasures, for the need of it as well as for the pleasure of it. He was a man. And though she could not imagine why men would enjoy being with women who shared themselves with so many men, she would not judge him for that. And what he’d done in the past was not her concern. If their relationship went in that direction, and she now thought that maybe she hoped it would, she would also hope that he would not avail himself of those places in the future. She also knew that despite her bringing the subject up and their casual talk of it, he would not speak in any detail of his sexual exploits. And knowing all this, she found his slight blush at talking about sex quite appealing.
They talked until she finally realized it was time to help with the evening meal.
“I’ll walk you to the main lodge…if that’s ok” he said, wishing they could stay there and talk more. He’d gradually relaxed as they talked. She didn’t shy away from anything; she’d brought up sex, after all. In the span of a few hours, they’d talked about a wide range of things. But he wasn’t so naïve in such matters as to think there weren’t a great many things they still had to learn about each other. He thought it would be nice to learn more about her, and he hoped she felt the same about him.
He was just trying to figure out how to ask if he could spend time with her the next day, when she said “I have to work in the gardens in the morning, but if you are not busy, you could come by for your mid-day meal.” She knew from the look on his face that he wasn’t expecting that, and smiled at him.
He smiled back, and she thought that was the first time she’d seen him smile so broadly. “I would like that” he said with a nod, and watched her enter the building.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Ardeth had spent a long day with the elders, not a particularly productive day, just a long one. As he’d guessed, they had no doubts he could take care of the magistrate in Cairo. They had bigger concerns. Now, again, he sat in the chair at the table, eating his evening meal that had long grown cold. He knew Ani had gone to check on a new mother and baby, having delivered the third new baby in the tribe this month earlier in the day. Their paths had crossed as she’d left the house and he was leaving the elders’ lodge, and she’d promised not to be too long.
Running the talks of the day through his head – again – he didn’t hear her come in, and she stood just inside the door and watched him. She could see that the elders had disturbed him. But as much as he knew they were right, he didn’t like it. Some years ago, he’d made the decision that the young warriors should no longer mark their faces. The world was changing and in order to better maneuver throughout the world, as they would surely need to do, they marked only the parts of their bodies that could be hidden by clothing. Many cultures of the world tattooed their bodies, men and women, for a variety of reasons, as had the Medjai for centuries, not caring that the world might see their markings as offensive or frightening. To some extent, that worked well for them. Sometimes it was simply necessary to put a little fear in some people.
Now, with so much happening around the world, the elders had decided that the Medjai needed more eyes and ears around the world. Since civilization began to spread throughout the continents, the Medjai had sent warriors to surreptitiously monitor countries, politics, social development, and most particularly, those men evil enough to try and conquer others, even the world. Evil men were always attracted to
She smiled to herself when she remembered when Kalil was a boy. He’d told his father that he had watched and listened to the warriors, how they could move amongst the tents and buildings of the village. He’d been told many times of how they could move about in an enemy’s camp, using the shadows, how the flames of the fires created spooky contours throughout the camp, without the enemy knowing they were there. They could move so skillfully and silently that the enemy didn’t even sense them there. He was sure he could do the same, in their own village, and Ardeth had dared him to make it across the village to the stables without being seen or heard. He’d made it almost to the stables when he’d skulked around the end of a tent and ran smack into a very large warrior, who’d as it happened had concealed himself in the shadows of the tents after sensing something was amiss. Kalil was good, even then, the warrior saying that he’d only sensed a presence, but had heard nothing, seen nothing, just had a feeling. Kalil learned that it was just those acute senses that could save a warrior’s life in certain deadly situations.
Ani walked to him when she noticed he was staring at her. She’d stood there thinking too long and now he had a gentle smile on his face. He turned his chair so that he was facing her and pulled her close, resting his head on her breasts, comforted by her arms wrapping around him, her hand caressing his face. After a few minutes, she pulled back just enough to take his face in her hands and lift his face enough for him to look up at her.
“You are worried…about what the elders want?”
“I have to think about it more before I decide what to do” he said as he looked up at her. Her soft hands on his face felt so good, and he closed his eyes as she slid her fingers back through his hair. Again, he rested his head on her breasts, relaxing against her, his arms tightening around her just a bit.
“And the problem with the magistrate in Cairo?”
Not moving from her, he said “I know what I am going to do…but you will not like it, Little One.”
“You’re sending Kalil and Za’id?” She’d guessed that days before when they’d talked about it. But she also knew that the magistrate would probably not listen to anyone other than the Chieftain, if he would even listen at all. He was quickly becoming as bad as the thieves and raiders that often plagued the city. Cairo was no different from any other big, growing city. There would always be crime. The Medjai were the law of the desert, but they generally deferred to the police and courts when it came to crime in the city. Only when the crime occurred in their presence or affected their mission in some way did they openly intercede. Usually, their presence on the streets deterred crime, at least at the moment.
“I am taking Kalil with me” he said calmly.
“Not Za’id?”
“No…I want him to stay with Daya for now. I think she’ll feel better…at least until Inara is a few months older.”
“Does he know?”
“Yes. I talked to him and Kalil earlier. He understands. And I want him to spend more time with Nafad and Rashid, learn his responsibilities here in the village. As much as I’m glad he has thus far kept watch over Kalil, he cannot spend every minute of every day with him. There will be times when Kalil will need to be elsewhere and the village will be Za’id’s responsibility; just as it is Nafad’s when I’m away.”
He knew she liked that he was gradually turning more duties over to Kalil, and though she did worry about Kalil, she worried about him more. She, too, was grateful for Za’id always watching Kalil’s back, as she was grateful for Nafad and Rick watching his.
She pulled back from him again, again taking his face in her hands. As he looked up at her, she gently, slowly smoothed her thumbs over the tattoos on his cheeks, their eyes locked. As her thumbs again slid over his tattoos, she leaned down and kissed his lips softly.
“Come to bed, sweetie…we’ll worry about all this tomorrow.”
‘Yes, tomorrow’ he thought as he followed her to their bedchamber. As he crawled into bed after her and pulled her into his arms, he thought that at least for this night, she would make him forget his duties. She was right, there would be enough time tomorrow to worry about what must be done. And the elders’ wishes would have to wait, which he knew would not please them, but he had to take care of the problem in Cairo. She nuzzled her face against his neck and wiggled on him, pushing her leg between his, flexing her muscles against him, bringing his thoughts back to her, as she knew it would. He rubbed her back and bottom until sleep found them both.
~~~***~~~***~~~
He rested on her, his breathing finally calming, and he thought he would truly miss her, her soft voice, her gentle hands, her soothing caresses, and the way she made his body explode with sensations that made him feel like a young man again, the man who came to life when she came back to him, every time she touched him. He’d awoken early, as he wanted to get an early start to Cairo, but then chuckled when he realized that he’d had no hope of leaving their bed early. He would enjoy this additional time with her.
Just as he began kissing and nibbling along her neck, she whispered “You know how much I love you.”
He pulled up on her, feeling her legs sliding along his sides, resting on his elbows, letting his fingers comb back through her hair, kissed her softly, and then kissed her cheeks and forehead, and then kissed around her mouth, “As much as I love you, Little One, more than life.”
“I’m already missing you.”
“As I am you, my love. I will endeavor to make this a short trip.”
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Just Do It – Chapter 2