Disclaimer: This story is fictional. The characters of Ardeth Bay,
Rick, Evelyn and Alex O'Connell belong to Stephen Sommers and Universal
Studios. No infringement intended.
All other characters are the property of the author.
Ardeth Bay glanced around the desert, his dark eyes taking in
everything around him. He had circled the oasis several times before
determining that no one was there. Dismounting from his horse, he held
the reins loosely in his left hand and rested his right hand on the
hilt of his scimitar and approached the familiar site. His hawk-like
eyes saw behind every bush, every tree, every boulder until he was
completely satisfied that he was alone, and even then he did not let
his guard down. One could never be too careful in the Sahara,
especially a man with his title and reputation.
Ardeth secured his horse and settled in to wait for his brother-in-law,
Rick O’Connell. Pulling out the folded piece of paper from a pocket
inside his robes, Ardeth read the short note again.
Ardeth, old buddy:
I need to see you as soon as possible. Meet me at the oasis (you know
the one) on the 16th around 10 a.m. Don’t tell Emma you are meeting me.
The fewer that know I am here the better. Rick
Looking up towards the sky, Ardeth knew it was nearly 10 a.m. Rick
would be here soon. Taking another look around, Ardeth noticed that the
oasis had not changed much. A small smile flirted around the corners of
his mouth as he remembered another time he had been here. He had
rescued Rick’s sister from Gerald Tate and after learning from her that
Tate was looking to raise Imhotep, they had left Hamanaptra to go bring
Rick and Evelyn back. They had met up with Rick and Evelyn at the
oasis, this oasis. And it was here, at this oasis that Ardeth Bay fell
in love with Emma O’Connell. It was here, at this oasis, that Ardeth
Bay had kissed Emma for the first time and knew that she would be his.
That had been seven years ago, and Emma was his wife and they had a
very active six-year-old son. He sighed softly. Seven years ago. It
seemed like a lifetime ago. They had been so happy and in love, and now
he and Emma hardly spoke. What had happened? Where had things changed?
Ardeth didn’t know anymore. He was frustrated and restless and buried
himself in his duties and in his responsibilities so that he did not
have to deal with it. He brought his hands up to scrub roughly at his
face. Damn, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d touched his
wife.
Ardeth stiffened and came to his feet, his scimitar in his hand. He
pivoted on his feet, tense and ready. “A little jumpy there, aren’t we
old buddy?”
Ardeth relaxed as a smile came to his face. Rick O’Connell stood before
him as reckless and careless as he ever was. He put his scimitar back
in its sheath and reached out to grab Rick’s offered hand. “Next time
I’ll just take your fool head off and mount it on my wall,” he grinned.
Rick laughed as he clasped Ardeth’s hand in a firm handshake. “Don’t
you think Emma might have something to say about that?”
Ardeth’s grin turned into a mock frown. “You do realize, you bastard,
that if Emma finds out I met with you and didn’t tell her, that my ass
is in hot water?”
“Yeah,” Rick teased. “Glad it is you and not me!”
Ardeth gave Rick a dirty look that made Rick laugh. “So what is so
important that drags you all the way out here from London?”
Rick sobered up quickly, and he looked around, making sure they were
alone. “You sure nobody is about?”
Ardeth raised an eyebrow. “Getting a bit paranoid, brother-in-law?”
Rick turned his gaze back to Ardeth and smiled. “No, that’s your job,
buddy!”
A smile played around Ardeth’s full lips. “Then you should know that
nobody is about.”
Rick laughed and nodded his head as he reached into his jacket and
brought out a rag. He began unwrapping it until half of an amulet
appeared. It was huge. Even broken in half it barely fit in Rick’s
large hand. Ardeth carefully picked it up and looked it over. It was
definitely old and had hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian writing on it.
Ardeth cursed softly.
“I have the feeling that I am going to regret asking this, but what is
it?”
“Well, that’s the fun part. We are not completely sure yet. Evelyn has
some ideas, based on what she has been able to decipher, but she is
still working on it.” Ardeth lifted his intense dark gaze to pin Rick
with it. Rick raised his hands up, palms out as if to ward him off.
“Seriously, she is working on it!”
“Yes, I know how Evelyn works on things, Rick. So why are you bringing
it to me?” Ardeth handed Rick the piece back, and Rick wrapped it back
up in the rag.
“Someone broke into the museum and tried to steal, it that is why,”
Rick explained. “Evelyn received this in part of a shipment that came
from a dig several hundred miles from here. At first it just looked
like part of a broken artifact, but then some unknown men broke in and
tried to steal it, and our curiosity was raised, so Evelyn deciphered
what she could of the writings and the hieroglyphs.”
“I take it what she deciphered is not good?” Ardeth asked.
“No, it’s not,” Rick answered. “She could not get a full reading on it
without the other half, but what she did get was enough to worry her.
According to the ancient writings, the amulet in its entirety can be
used for time traveling.”
Ardeth blinked. “You’re kidding me.”
“No, I’m serious, Ardeth. This could be some serious shit if it’s true
and falls into the wrong hands.” He lifted up the wrapped amulet. “If
the other half is found and the two pieces are put back together,
Evelyn theorizes that it could still be used for time traveling. You
could go anywhere, supposedly.”
“And they could rewrite history,” Ardeth added, catching on to the
potential disaster. He had no trouble believing that this could
actually happen. If curses could be real, then so could time travel.
“Exactly! They could go back in time and change the outcome of certain
events,” Rick hinted.
Ardeth’s eyes narrowed as his lips thinned. “And raise up Imhotep.”
Rick didn’t answer, only nodded. Ardeth raised his hand palm up to
receive the wrapped amulet half. “Do we know where the other half is?”
Rick placed the bundle in Ardeth’s upturned hand. “No, unfortunately. I
suspect that the people who tried to steal this half may have it.” Rick
eyed his friend carefully. “I know you have the Book Of The Dead and
the Book Of Amun-Rah hidden somewhere safe. I was hoping you would keep
this safe too. Keep if from falling into the wrong hands.”
Ardeth’s smile had no humor in it. “What’s one more thing to guard,
huh?”
“Well, if you would rather not, I suppose I…” Rick began, but Ardeth
cut him off.
“No. Anything that could result in bringing Imhotep back is the
responsibility of the Med-jai,” Ardeth replied curtly. “You can rest
assured that this piece will not fall into the wrong hands.”
“Like last time, huh?” Rick couldn’t help but tease his old friend
about the mishap with Evelyn and the raising of Imhotep.
Ardeth grinned. “Yes, but at least this time I am guarding for you and
not against you.”
Rick laughed. “True. So tell me, how is my wayward sister and my terror
on wheels nephew?”
Ardeth’s smile slowly faded from his face. “They are both fine.”
“I see,” Rick answered. “I take it you and Emma are still having
problems?” Ardeth gave Rick a hard look and said nothing. Rick sighed
and shook his head. “Alright, alright, I won’t ask.”
“I must get back,” Ardeth stated suddenly as he turned to retrieve his
horse.
“Why don’t you let Joseph come to London for a while? Alex misses his
cousin.”
Ardeth shook his head. “Yusuf’s place is with me. He does not need to
be traipsing across the country.”
Rick took a risk. “Ardeth, you need to let him be a boy. He has plenty
of time to grow up and learn his place as the future Med-jai leader.”
Ardeth spun around, his eyes blazing. “Do not tell me how to raise my
son!” he snapped angrily.
Rick sighed softly and shook his head. “Okay, buddy.” He knew that it
was more than just allowing Joseph to come visit. Ardeth and Emma had
been having marital troubles for the last three years, and Rick guessed
that Ardeth was beginning to feel that the only control he had over his
family was where Joseph was concerned.
Ardeth took a deep breath and looked almost embarrassed for his
outburst. He turned away from Rick and picked up the reins of his horse
and swung up in the saddle. He urged his horse over and stopped next to
Rick. Bending over at the waist, Ardeth held his hand out. Rick clasped
it immediately. “I will consider it, al zameel (my brother), but not
now.”
Rick nodded and smiled. “It is an open invitation.”
“May Allah bless you and keep you safe until we meet again!” Ardeth
released Rick’s hand and straightened up. Guiding his horse onto a
familiar path, he left Rick at the oasis and made his way towards the
secret hiding place of the two books that had almost destroyed the
world.
Rick watched as Ardeth rode off. He felt sorry for his brother-in-law
and wished that he could take the time to visit with Emma. The two most
pig-headed people in the world that he knew of had to fall in love and
get married. He really hoped for both their sakes that they worked out
the problem, whatever it was.
********************
Chapter 2
Ardeth rode into the Med-jai village. His people were everywhere, going
about their business. Many called out to him in greeting as he made his
way slowly, to finally stop before his own home. He was back earlier
than expected. He had scheduled a meeting with his men later in the
evening because he thought he would be gone all day, but he had
finished his business with Rick quickly and had taken the amulet piece,
after making sure he was not followed, and hidden it with the two
books. Nobody knew of the hidden place, not Emma, not Abdul, Ardeth’s
second in command, not even Rick. No one but he knew where the books
and now the amulet lay hidden, and he would die with that knowledge
before he would tell anyone.
A young boy appeared before him and Ardeth smiled. “Marhaba
(greetings), Farid,” he greeted, handing the reins of his horse to the
boy. Farid smiled shyly, and Ardeth raised a hand to ruffle his hair.
“Take good care of my horse,” he commanded gently. He realized that in
another year or so, Yusuf would be training in this way. Where does the
time go? he thought to himself.
“Aiwa Sayadi (yes, sir),” Farid answered respectfully and led the horse
off to be watered and fed.
Ardeth turned and entered his home. It was rare for him to be here this
time of day. He was usually always gone with his men, either standing
his duty at Hamanaptra or leading his men against renegade tribes. He
also spent much time dealing with the problems his people had, sorting
out tribal laws or settling arguments. Most days he was up before the
sun and didn’t return until long after Emma and Yusuf had retired for
the night. He knew he had plenty to do that would keep him from here
now, but being back at the oasis had brought back memories of a happier
time with Emma, a time that he desperately wanted back for both of
them.
Emma hung up the last of the laundry she had been doing. It was never
ending, between Ardeth and Joseph; she had a steady stream of black
robes to wash on a daily basis. She had spent the morning mending some
of Joseph’s clothing. He was such an active boy and was constantly
tearing his robes. Emma smiled as she thought about her son. Joseph had
become her whole world since Ardeth had withdrawn from her. She doted
on him, teaching him the ancient Egyptian language and how to decipher
hieroglyphs. He was a good student and even at the active age of six,
he was a quick learner.
Emma’s thoughts turned to her husband. She reached out and fingered his
many robes that hung up in the closet beside her own. She sighed softly
as she thought of the distance that had grown between them. She rarely
saw him except on rare occasions and when they were together, little
was said. She couldn’t blame him though; it was her fault that their
relationship had fallen apart. When she lost the baby three years ago
after trying to get pregnant again for so long, she had gone
temporarily insane. Her grief had so overwhelmed her that she shut
everyone out, including her husband, driving him away from her with her
tears and inability to cope. Emma was stubborn and it was a very long
time before she realized what she had done and by then it was too late.
The damage was done and she had no clue as to how to fix it. It had
been months since Ardeth had last made love to her and she began to
wonder if maybe he was getting his needs met somewhere else. She prayed
to God that he wasn’t, that she hadn’t driven him to seek out the arms
of another woman.
Emma leaned forward and buried her nose in one of Ardeth’s robes,
inhaling deeply. Even freshly washed, she could smell him in the thick
material. What was she going to do? She really had no one to talk to.
She was close to Amina, Ardeth’s sister, but Ardeth would be furious if
he ever found out that she had told anyone of their personal problems,
so she kept them to herself. Emma turned to retrieve the empty basket
and let out a soft gasp as she saw the object of her thoughts standing
in the entryway of their bedroom.
Oh my god, he is so handsome! She thought as she tried to get her
startled heart back under control. “Ardeth, you startled me, what are
you doing here?”
Ardeth raised his hand up to his head and yanked off his turban. “Last
I knew, I lived here,” he answered softly, his dark eyes roaming over
her. Her long black hair was braided and hung down her back, her eyes;
the color of sapphires stared back at him questioningly.
“That’s not what I meant,” she began, but Ardeth cut her off.
“I know what you meant, habibti. I found myself with some rare free
time and decided to come home for a change. I’m tired and wish to rest
before the meeting I have later.” Ardeth looked back down the hallway,
listening. “Where is Yusuf?”
“He is over at Abdul’s house playing with Humam for the afternoon.”
Emma explained feeling unsure of herself in Ardeth’s presence. She felt
like such a stranger with him instead of his wife. “I will leave you,
so that you may rest.” Emma moved forward to leave the bedroom. She
stopped before him, waiting for him to move so that she could pass, “Do
you wish for me to wake you at a particular time?”
Ardeth gazed down at his wife, drinking in the sight of her beauty. He
had forgotten how beautiful Emma was and his body reacted immediately
to her nearness. His nostrils flared as he breathed in the scent of
wildflowers, he felt a tightening in his groin as the familiar scent
surrounded him. He wanted to make love to his wife. He wanted her now.
“No,” he answered softly. Emma raised her eyes up to meet his and
nearly gasped at what she saw. It was in his expressive eyes, in his
face. He wanted her.
“Ardeth?”
“Come here,” he growled softly and reached for her, pulling her hard
against him as his head bent to claim her mouth with his own.
Emma parted her lips immediately as he thrust his tongue inside to
collide with hers. Her arms flew up around his neck, her fingers
tangling in his thick curls as she tried to push herself closer to him.
She felt the evidence of his arousal pushing against her stomach as she
shifted against him, rubbing herself seductively against him. Ardeth
groaned as his hands pressed against her lower back, pushing her more
firmly against his hard length.
“Emma,” he groaned as his mouth traveled down her throat. He nipped
gently at the sensitive skin just below her ear then took the lobe
between his teeth and tugged. His hands moved up her back then around
the front to cover her breasts. His thumbs located the nipples through
the thin material of her robes and worked them till they stood proud
seeking more of his attention.
Ardeth’s hands made quick work of the buttons that held her robes
together and then pushed the material from her shoulders. He looked
down at her as her body was exposed to him.
“Helwa (beautiful),” he whispered as his dark gaze roamed over her
hungrily, drinking in the sight of her full breasts and narrow hips. He
scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their bed where he laid
her down amongst the pillows and blankets. Stepping back, Ardeth
quickly removed his own robes, his boots, and then his pants before
rejoining Emma on the bed. His warm body covered her as his mouth
sought the warmth of her own.
The warmth of his body, the stroke of his hands, the feel of him loving
her, it was what she thought she wanted. Emma missed his touch, his
sweet words, those special looks he’d give her when they were first
married. She wanted those things, she made her self reach for those
things as Ardeth kissed and caressed her body. But she felt nothing.
His touch did nothing. The kisses, the caresses, the sweet words. Her
body lay there unresponsive. It was still between them. The
miscarriage. As long as Ardeth refused to discuss it, as long as he
chose to ignore it and her feelings over it, then there could be no
healing between them.
Hungrily he touched her everywhere, starved for the feel of her. Emma
wrapped her arms around him, her hands stroking his back, feeling the
strength of his muscles beneath the smoothness of his skin, trying to
respond to him, trying to feel something, anything! She could feel the
hardness of his arousal pressing against her inner thigh and she knew
right then that it wasn’t going to work. Her body refused to respond to
his caresses, the hurt and betrayal in her mind and heart having taken
control of her body’s reaction to the man she loved.
Ardeth felt intoxicated. He was totally and completely lost in his wife
as he drew her nipple deep into the warmth of this mouth. Allah help
them all if disaster were to strike right now, because Ardeth knew he
would be useless. His hands moved over the silkiness of her soft skin,
drowning in the taste and feel of her. It had been too long and Ardeth
was determined that whatever had driven them apart the last few years,
it would end today! He was so wrapped up in his desire; he failed to
notice that Emma was not responding to his touch. His mouth left a
trail from one breast to the other as his hand skimmed down across her
stomach, curving over the mound between her legs and easing a finger
between the parted folds of her femininity.
Emma winced as she felt his finger enter her. Ardeth froze when he
didn’t find the expected wetness of her femininity. He raised his head
from her breasts and looked down into her face with a confused look.
“What is wrong?” He asked as he removed his hand from between her legs,
his eyes searching her face closely. He was still hard as a rock and he
ached to be buried inside her, but he could not enter her in the
condition she was in without hurting her.
Tears formed in Emma’s eyes and she had a hard time meeting his intense
gaze. “I, I ca-can’t do this, Ardeth,” she stammered as she tried to
roll away from him.
Ardeth grabbed her angrily and forced her back down on her back, his
upper body covering her to pin her down, his hands gripping her wrists
and pinning them to the bed almost painfully. “You dare to refuse me?”
He hissed. “I don’t need your permission, Emma. It is my right as your
husband to make love to my wife when I please.” He had never spoken to
her in this way, but she was driving him insane. He wanted her and it
enraged him that she would refuse him now.
Emma’s eyes widened in fear, for the first time since she met him she
was afraid of her husband. Would he really resort to raping her to get
what he wanted? Had she driven him to be so coldhearted towards her
now? Ardeth cursed under his breath when he saw how frightened she had
become. He was so angry with her right now that he almost considered
doing the unthinkable, but Allah help him, he adored her and he wanted
her back and would die first before ever physically hurting her. The
anger and frustration were still there, but the intensity of it faded
as he pushed off her, rolling to his side and pulling her against him.
“Ana ahibuk ya hayati (I love you my life),” he whispered roughly.
“This insanity must end now, kalila (beloved)!”
“Yes,” Emma answered as she sobbed against his chest. Ardeth hadn’t
called her “kalila” in ages! Maybe there was a chance for them to heal,
to fix what was wrong between them. If he would only talk, if he would
only open up to her and tell her how he felt and listen to her own
feelings.
“Allah Emma, I have missed you!” He breathed against her temple as he
held her in the warmth of his arms.
“I love you, Ardeth,” Emma told him hope filling her heart. She placed
a kiss on his chest above his heart as his arms tightened around her.
Emma swallowed the turmoil with in her and hoped that he would not
withdraw from her again, “Please, habibi, we must talk,” she said
softly.
Immediately she felt Ardeth tense again, knowing he understood what she
was saying. “There is nothing more to say, Emma. The baby is gone, we
need to move on, what more could you possible want to talk about and
for God’s sakes, why?”
Emma sat up angrily and glared back down at Ardeth, “The baby, as you
so coldly refer to was your daughter! Why won’t you allow yourself to
grieve, Ardeth? Why won’t you talk to me about it?”
“I know she was my daughter, damn it!” Ardeth yelled as he threw the
covers back and pushed himself up off the bed. He began to swear in
Arabic as he located his pants and shoved his legs into them, pulling
them up over his hips. He picked up his robes and turned back to Emma
with a hard look in his dark eyes. “We will not have this discussion
again, Emma! Get over this obsession you have with the loss of the
child and start being my wife again. I will forgive your refusal this
time, but do not refuse me your bed again!”
Emma flinched as if a sharp knife had just been shoved into her heart.
She rose up from the bed on shaky legs and picked up her clothes, “Or
else what?” She asked knowing that there was a threat behind his words.
Ardeth stood up from putting his boots back on and turned towards her
fully dressed again, “Or else I will be forced to . . .” he was
interrupted by a commotion outside.
“ARDETH!”
Ardeth quickly grabbed his scimitar and headed out of their bedroom,
“Stay here,” he commanded as he disappeared out of the room. Emma
finished dressing quickly and hurried from the room to find out what
was going on.
“What is it, Abdul?” Ardeth asked as he exited his home.
“Sayadi (sir), Hadid and his men are attacking the outer tribes!”
“Gather the men, we ride immediately,” Ardeth turned back to enter his
home to retrieve his weapons.
“Ardeth?” Emma called out questioningly.
“There is trouble, habibti. The outer tribes are being attacked and we
must help,” Ardeth picked up a large leather ammunition belt and draped
it over his shoulder then picked up the other and draped it over the
other shoulder. “I must go.” He said as he picked up the rest of his
weapons, then turned and left without further comment.
Emma stood and stared at the empty doorway as tears streamed down her
cheeks. She wondered what Ardeth had been about to say to her before
Abdul had interrupted. She wondered if she would still have a husband
when he returned.
