| Secret Love By Tanith |
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| Disclaimer – I do not own
any of the characters. All though I would love to own Ardeth Bay. Rated PG-13 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ |
| Two years after they had returned to London
from their adventures at Ahm Shere, Evy and Alex were spending most
of their time at the British museum. Rick had got himself into trouble
again and was now in south America, looking for the treasure of the
Incas. This was to save himself from going to prison for smuggling treasure
into the country from another tomb. Evy was really angry about this but she could do nothing. Rick had told her he would be in South America for a couple of years and that she was to go to Egypt after a year and buy them a house there and they would live there where it was safe. “Safe, after Hamunaptra and Ahm Shere, you call that safe” said jonathan. “Yes if you leave tombs alone” replied Rick as he left. “Take care of Evy and Alex” “Be careful Rick and I’ll see you in Egypt, I hate you going alone but I know you have to. Write and telegram me when you can okay. I love you” “I love you too, tell Alex not to worry and to keep out of trouble” “Him keep out of trouble, says the man who is running away from prison” replied Jonathan. “One of these days Jonathan” said Rick laughing. That was 4 months ago and Evy had immersed herself in the museum and nearly had all the work done. She had a lot to clear up after the damage they and Imhotep had done but that was all repaired. Alex was helping when he wasn’t at school and was looking forward to going back to Egypt and to see his friend, Ardeth Bay. He had had a couple of letters off him, which was surprising in a way considering where he lived and who he was. It was the beginning of the summer holidays from school, when he received telegram from Ardeth. This he had to show his mum, Ardeth had problems. “Mum, I have a telegram from Ardeth, he needs our help, can we go?” “Let’s have a look Alex, what does he say?” Alex. Stop. Need your mum and dads help urgently. Stop. Regarding Hamunaptra stop. Please come as soon as you can. Stop. Will meet you at Cairo Hotel on 25th July. Stop. Yours Ardeth Bay. “does he know about your father?” asked Evy “No, I never told him. Can we go and help him?” “I don’t know, we have to go to Egypt, I suppose we could bring it forward, but July that’s only 3 weeks from now. Whatever is happening at Hamunaptra now, I hope it isn’t Imhotep” “I’ll pack, I can’t wait to see him again” said Alex “Come on mum, we have to go” “Okay, but I have to get someone to take over here first, I can’t just leave it. We’ll pack tomorrow. I have to see if Jonathan will come with us too. God, why am I agreeing to this, whenever we get together we end up in trouble” she said calling one of the curators to come and see her. After a lot of rushing around, they found themselves on the way to Egypt and another adventure with Ardeth and Evy dreaded it. Why on earth was she going, without Rick, just because Ardeth had asked her. Maybe she felt an obligation to him after all his help in them getting her son back. Jonathan wasn’t too happy but he couldn’t let Evy and Alex go alone, Rick would kill him. When they arrived in Cairo, they checked into the hotel and Evy met one of her friends who worked at the museum. She told him that she was meeting Ardeth Bay and asked if he had seen him. “Yes, but it was about a week ago, he was here but then some of his men arrived and he left with them in a hurry but he left a note for you. Ah, here it is” Evy took the note and read it. Ardeth had had word that some men were at Hamunaptra and he had to stop them trying to get in. Hopefully if they were stopped he wouldn’t need her help after all. But he still wanted to see her and Alex and Rick. “Where is Rick anyway?” he asked “He couldn’t come, he was busy elsewhere. Thanks, I’ll see you later” She took Alex up to their room, she was a bit annoyed that she would not be needed now but she would stay to see him and sort out a house for them and try and get her job back at the museum. As she unpacked, there was a knock at the door. Alex answered it. There was a Med-jai warrior standing there, he recognised Abdul and asked him in. “Mum, it’s Abdul, Ardeths friend” he shouted. Evy came out of the bathroom. “Abdul, what are you doing here, where is Ardeth?” “There has been trouble at Hamunaptra and Ardeth has been hurt, badly. I was sent to get medicines for him, as I do not know what I need, I thought I would ask you” “Ardeth hurt, oh my God. What happened Abdul?” She told him to sit down and he told her that when they had arrived at the city, the men trying to get into it, had placed dynamite to blow an entrance. They blew it up just as the Med-jai arrived, several were killed and Ardeth was caught in the blast. He injuries were thought to be minor but they wouldn’t heal up, he had a fever that would not go away and they were getting worried. So they sent Abdul to find some medicine that would help. “Rick must bring it to me and I will take it back” said Abdul. “Rick is not with me, he is in South America. I will get the medicine and come with you” she said. “It is not a place for a woman” said Abdul “I will take it” “After what I went through at that place, nothing could be worse. I will take no arguments, meet me in the lobby in half an hour” Abdul bowed and knew he wouldn’t win with this woman and secretly he was glad, she might be the only one who could help. What she didn’t know was that in the fever induced state, he had called out her name several times. “Am I going with you?” asked Alex “I want to see him, mum” “Yes, you will come with me, I am not leaving you here. He will be alright Alex, I promise.” She said hugging and hoping that what she said was true. As promised, she met Abdul in the lobby and they left on camels for Hamunaptra, he was not happy about Alex coming but knew she wouldn’t leave him behind. She was a stubborn woman but also a person worthy of any Med-jai warrior. “God I thought we had seen the last of that place” said Jonathan. “I have to go, Jonathan, I have to help Ardeth, Rick would want it” “Yes, but Hamunaptra, please couldn’t he be somewhere else” It took them 3 days to reach the city and as they neared the place, she felt a shiver go up her spine as she remembered what had happened there. She could see tents in the distance and Abdul pointed out which one was Ardeths. He would take Alex and Jonathan to the other tents and occupy them. “It’s okay Alex” she said “You go with Abdul and let me go and see Ardeth and see what I can do. You can come and see him later alright” “Will you be okay little sis” asked Jonathan. “Yes, now go and see that Alex doesn’t get into trouble and that goes for you too” said remembering how he liked the treasure in the city as well. She walked into Ardeths tent and the man who was there, bowed and left. Ardeth layed on the rugs and cushions and looked pale against the colors. She spent the next hour tending and cleaning his wounds and giving him some of the medicine she had brought with her. “Abdul, I need fresh, hot water, clean bandages and some food and drink, I am hungry” “Yes, miss, I will have it brought to you. Do you think you can help him?” “Yes, Abdul, I think I can, if I can get these wounds clean. I am sure he will be fine in a few days” “May Allah look after you and him” he said leaving summoning one of the others to get the things she needed. She thought it was a strange thing to say but never questioned it. The Med-jai were a strange people and not to be questioned about such statements. She went back into the tent. It was getting dark by the time she came out and Alex was sitting outside waiting for her. “Is he going to be alright, can I see him?” he asked. “He will be fine, I hope. Go and sit with him for a while, I need some fresh air” Alex went in and sat beside Ardeth. He thought how different he looked without his clothes on, he assumed he didn’t have any on under the blankets. He was very restless and Alex got a cloth from the bowl beside the bed and laid it across his forehead, just as his mum had done to him when he had measles a year ago. “Come on Uncle Ardeth, please get better. I miss you” But he just tossed and turned and Alex just kept laying a fresh, damp cloth on his head and talking to him. Evy had gone for a walk over by the city, although it held bad memories, she still a fascination for her. Abdul walked over to her and asked how Ardeth was. “If I can get the fevr to break, he will be fine, the next 24 hours will be the worst. Where is Jonathan, he worries me when I can’t see him” “He is with the other men, you should not be so close to the city, it is still an evil place. Ardeth would not forgive me if anything happened to you” “Abdul, that is the second strange comment you have made about me, I know I should not ask but why?” she said. He went to walk away but she stopped him. “Abdul, please what is it. I need to know if I have done something wrong” “You have done nothing Miss Evy. My leader would not be happy if I told you” “Told me what, Abdul, if you don’t tell me, I will ask someone who will” He sighed and sat on one of the broken pillars, and Evy stood in front of him waiting. “Ardeth has been ill for over a week now, but in his unconscious state the only words he spoke, were your name. Time and again he kept asking for you” “There is nothing strange in that Abdul, he had written to us and asked us to come out here to help him. But he had dealt with it himself by the time we arrived” “It is not just that, ever since you left, two years ago, there is something of him missing, he seems more lonely, more silent. Only once did he talk to me about it and you might not want to hear what he said” Evy had sat down beside Abdul and quietly asked what he had said. “Miss Evy, he said that he missed you and wished that you and Mr Rick had not married. He said that he would never take a wife himself because he was in love with you. He knew he would be okay if Rick was here and he did need his help. But I am worried about you being here on your own. If it had been up to me, you would not have come here, not without your husband, but his illness decided differently. When he is well, it might be a good idea if you went back to Cairo.” What Abdul had said didn’t really shock her as it should have done. She had to admit she had felt something whenever she was near Ardeth, ever since their first meeting, over 10 years ago. She had dismissed it, she loved Rick and didn’t want to lose him. “Don’t worry Abdul, I love my husband and he would want me to stay for as long as I am needed. Ardeth would never betray his people or his oath as a Med-jai for a married woman. Now I must go and see to him, I left Alex there and he needs to be in bed. Have we a tent we can use” “Yes, and thank you, please do not tell Ardeth what I have said. I will bring you some more food and your tent will be ready in a while” She thanked him and went back to Ardeth. Alex was still sitting beside him. “I’ve bathed his head, like you did me last year, but he is very hot. What is wrong with him mum?” “Where he has been hurt, the wounds are infected that is why he hasn’t woken up and has this fever. Hopefully, he should be better tomorrow, if not, then I don’t know what else I can do” Alex hugged her and she took him to the tent next door that had been made ready for her and tucked him into bed. Jonathan came in and said he would stay with Alex. “I have to stay with Ardeth, the next few hours are critical if he is to pull through this” “Rick would be proud of what you are doing old mum” he said kissing her on the head. “I know, I just hope I am doing the right thing being here alone” It was about 3am, when she felt a hand touch her arm and she jumped, thinking it was Abdul or Alex. She looked up and saw Ardeth watching her. “Ardeth, thank God, you’re awake” She got the glass of water and helped him to drink it and laid his head back on the pillows. “Evy, what are you doing here, you should be in Cairo” “I know, but you have been very ill for over a week. Abdul came to see me and wanted me to get him some medicine for you. As Rick is not here, I came out here with Alex and Jonathan to help you. You have been unconscious with a fever for days.” “Then I owe you my life. Why is Rick not here?” She told him where he was but said that most of it would wait till the next day. He was to get some rest. “You are still not well Ardeth, as you said once, explainations are better left till later.” He couldn’t keep his eyes open anyway, but he was glad she was there although he never said as much. When she was sure he was just asleep, she went and knocked on Abduls tent. “Ardeth is out of danger, he has woken up although he sleeps now. In a few days he will be back to normal” “Thank you Miss Evy. Allah will be praised tomorrow and I will arrange for you to go back to Cairo” She didn’t argue with him, that would wait. She went back to check on Alex and saw that he was fast asleep next to Jonathan. She made herself comfortable in Ardeths tent and went to sleep, thankful that he was out of danger. Within two days, Ardeth was up and about, although still weak and tired. He had to rest quite often but his men were pleased that he was going to be alright, thanks to Evy. They couldn’t do enough for her or Alex. Then Abdul came over and said that Jonathan had gone into the city through the opening the men had made with the dynamite. “We have to go and find him” said Ardeth getting up. Evy stood in front of him and made him sit down. “You will not be going anywhere yet. You are still not well enough. Abdul will you go and find my stupid brother and if you have to knock him out, tie him up, anything, please feel free to do so and then I will kill him. Ardeth, I told you to sit down or I will knock you out and don’t think I couldn’t” She was angry with Jonathan, but didn’t mean to take it out on Ardeth, who sat down, knowing she was right, he wasn’t well enough yet to go chasing after silly Englishmen who should have known better by now. Apart from which, he had seen what she was capable of at Ahm Shere and the fight at the house in London. He knew she could easily knock him out at the moment. “You never change do you” he said “How does Rick ever put up with you” “Rick, put up with me, I am not the one in South America because of the police wanting him for smuggling, again. Between him and Jonathan, I am surprised I have survived this long. And now I have a Med-jai leader who is determined to kill himself. Men, give me strength” She made him go and lay down, he still had to get his strength back. Alex was playing with the horses and keeping out of trouble for once. She took some food into Ardeth and looked at his wounds. They were nearly healed up now and she didn’t think he needed the bandages any more. As she put some more cream on them, she had to rub it in. It had been okay while he was out of it but now he was awake and watching her. Their eyes met and she felt herself blush. She had looked at him a lot over the last few days and he seemed to be even more attractive than she remembered him to be. His hair was longer and seemed to make him appear younger although he wasn’t old in the first place. She guessed he was about 35 now, maybe 40 but no older. As she felt her face go red, she stood up and fiddled around with the water, trying not to look at him. “Is something wrong Evy. Is it because Rick is not here, you seem jumpy today” “No, just wondering what Jonathan is up to again. Sorry, look I have to see what Alex is doing” Before he could say anything, she left the tent and went over to where Alex was. She told him to go and talk to Ardeth but not to tire him too much. She wanted to be on her own for a while. “Alex, has anyone said anything to upset your mother?” asked Ardeth “I don’t think so, Abdul was talking to her the other night over by the city, but she seemed okay when she came back. She hasn’t left you alone since we arrived, and I helped by bathing your head like she did me last year when I was ill” “You’re a good son to her and Rick. You have grown since Ahm Shere, how old are you now?” “Nearly 12, and I know just as much as mum about Egypt now. But there is something I want that only you can give me, Uncle Ardeth” “I will give you nothing, if you call me that again, it makes me sound about 60” “Sorry Ardeth, I want to become a Med-jai, like you” “I am not sure your mum and dad would want you to become a Med-jai like me.” “Oh they would, well maybe, they think you are very brave and so do I” “But that is not enough to become a Med-jai, you have to learn our ways, learn to fight for what is right, kill when you have to and live a very hard, dangerous and lonely life. You would not enjoy that” “Yes I would, please Ardeth, even if I can’t now, would I be able to when I got older” “Older for what alex, you are not tiring poor Ardeth out are you?” said Evy coming back in. “No, he is fine, go and get some food, we will talk later” “Okay, but think about it will you. See you later” “Think about what, what is he after now?” She poured a drink and handed it to Ardeth, she had calmed down now and was in control, she hoped. “He wants to become a Med-jai, I told him that I didn’t think you would approve” “He has been on about that since Ahm Shere, I told him that I thought you had to be born into it, a descendant of Seti’s bodyguards as you are. Sorry he bugged you about it” “It’s okay, he doesn’t have to be born into it, although it is preferred, but you forget, you were Nefretiri in a past life, your descendants could have a bigger right to be a Med-jai.” “I know, don’t remind me. I take it you have had no trouble from Imhotep, no-one wanting to raise him again?” “Not really, that is what those men were hoping to find, Imhotep and the treasure. But he is at Ahm Shere, hopefully no-one will ever find him again.” “And if they do, will he come after me again” she asked looking worried. “Let’s hope it never comes to that again. Evy what did Abdul say to you the other night?” “Abdul, nothing of importance why?” “You seem uncomfortable with me, you will not look at me nor will you come too close to me. And yet you looked after me for 3 days” “Nothing is wrong, I’m just tired I suppose, I didn’t get much sleep when you were ill” She was tidying up the plates and didn’t hear him get up and walk over to her, not until she turned round, jumped and dropped the plates. “Don’t do that” she said “I wasn’t expecting you to be behind me, look what you have made me do” She bend down to pick up the plates and Ardeth did the same. They both picked up the same plate and their hands touched. She felt a rush of heat as his fingers brushed hers and she moved her hand away before standing up. “I’ll have to clean all this up now” she said and went to leave when she suddenly found herself in his arms and he was kissing her. She pulled away. “Ardeth, what are you doing?” she asked. “Oh God Evy, I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me, please forgive me. I will leave you” With that he left the tent, she stood there not knowing what to think or do and ended up sitting down on the cushions. She put her fingers to her lips, where he had kissed her and took a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart. Why had he done that, God that man wasn’t just gorgeous but his kiss was the most intense thing sh had ever felt. Rick was good at kissing but Ardeth. “Pull yourself together girl, you are a married woman and he is a Med-jai leader. Abdul warned you about this” she said aloud. “What did he warn you of?” asked Alex coming in “And where has Ardeth gone. He just hurried past me without even speaking, got on his horse and rode off” “He’s what?” she said in a very loud voice. “He is not strong enough to ride yet. Which direction did he go?” He took her outside and pointed to the rider in the distance, getting smaller as he rode away. She told him to stay there and to wait for Abdul, who had sent word to her that they had found Jonathan and was bringing him back. Then she saddled a horse and rode out in the direction that Ardeth had gone. “God, he talked about insufferable Americans, they are not as bad as Med-jai leaders” she said to Alex as she rode off. She didn’t know where he thought he was going but he wasn’t strong enough to go riding into the desert in the hot sun. She hoped he hadn’t gone far. As she got to the top of the first dune, she could see him disappear over the next one. She had to push her horse a bit to even try and catch him, he was a better rider than her even in his weakened state. After about half and hour, she seemed to have lost him, but she carried on in the same general direction. Suddenly she spotted Ardeths horse coming towards her but with no Ardeth. God, she thought where was he. She kicked the horse a bit harder and rode off towards the spot where his horse had come from. As she rounded the dune, she saw him laying in the sand. Pulling her horse to a stop, she leapt off and ran to his side. “Ardeth, Ardeth, can you hear me?” “Evy, I’m sorry….I” “Shh, just take it easy, you should never have come out here like that. Here, drink this” She put the water container to his lips and held it while he drank some. Then helping him to his feet, she got him to walk over to the dune which was shaded from the sun and he sat down. “Why did you run off like that, you’ll make yourself ill again” she said. “I…I thought I had offended you by what I did, it was stupid and I am ashamed” “Ardeth, the only thing stupid was you disappearing and me having to come after you. Kissing me wasn’t” “But you are married to my good friend Rick, and to touch his wife is unforgivable. I as the Med-jai leader should have known………” He didn’t finish the sentence because Evy had silenced him with her lips. He closed his eyes and snaked his hand into her hair to deepen the kiss, then suddenly he pulled away. “No, Evy this is wrong, I cannot do this, neither should you encourage it.” “Ardeth, I want you, I think I’ve always wanted you, ever since our first meeting at Hamunaptra. Rick is thousands of miles away, he’ll never know” “I’ll know, as much as I want you too, I cannot do this” With that he left her sitting in the sand and mounting his horse, that had come back, handed her the reins to hers and waited while she got on, then they rode back to the camp. Evy didn’t know how to face him, she should have left it alone and not kissed him, let alone told him she wanted him. She didn’t know what to do, really she go back to Cairo and forget what had happened but she knew she never would forget that kiss. When Ardeth rose the next day, he found that she had indeed left for Cairo, just her, Alex and Jonathan. He hurried over to see Abdul. “She has gone Abdul, did you know?” “Yes, Ardeth, she told me this morning, didn’t give a reason, just that it would be better if she left. Something happened yesterday didn’t it” “As your leader you have no right to question me like that Abdul.” He said as he went to leave, then he stopped and turning round. “I kissed her, and now I have to live with the guilt of touching another mans wife” Abdul watched him go and hurried after him to try and talk to him but Ardeth would not talk about it. A week went by and back in Cairo, Evy was being moody and sad. The slightest little thing and she would end up in tears. Alex spent time with Jonathan because he hated to see his mum like that. “Shall I tell dad and get him to come home sooner?” asked Alex. “No, this has nothing to do with your dad, this is something else, I’ll try and find out what it is” Going into the museum, he was just in time to see her drop a trinket box on the floor, it’s contents going everywhere and her bursting into tears. He ran over and put his arm round her. “Evy, this has to stop, you need to see a doctor, all you do is cry and shout at everyone. What is wrong, you are not normally like this when Rick is away” “Oh God, Jonathan am I being that bad” she sniffed “It’s nothing to do with Rick” “Then if it isn’t Rick, then it has to be Ardeth” “What do you mean” she snapped “What has he got to do with anything” “With that she got up and stormed into the office. Jonathan had his answer. He always knew there was something between them, even though nothing was ever said or done, a look here, a word. They probably didn’t even realise at the time. He knew what he had to do. He told Evy that he was going to take Alex over to the tombs at Saccara and would be gone a couple of days. She needed time on her own. She didn’t like it much but agreed that it might be a good idea. “Alex, we’re not going to the tombs, we’re going to find Ardeth. But I don’t want your mum to know, you game” “Yeah, I’d like to see him, he should be a lot better now and can teach me some stuff about the Med-jai” replied Alex. They were met at the camp by Abdul who told them that Ardeth would be back in a couple of hours and that they were welcome to eat at their camp. They talked and when Ardeth didn’t come back as planned, Alex was put to sleep in one of the tents and Jonathan said he would sit up and wait for Ardeth to return. Abdul said there was two guards on duty and not to roam to far or they might think he was someone else. Sitting by the fire, he waited and about a couple of hours later Ardeth and some men rode in. Walking over to the fire, Ardeth got a shock when he saw Jonathan sitting there. “Jonathan, what are you doing here and where is Evy and Alex?” “Evy is in Cairo, she doesn’t know I’m here, Alex is asleep over there. I need to talk to you” Ardeth sat down and poured himself a coffee from the pot on the fire and waited for Jonathan to speak. He told him about Evy and what the atmosphere had been like since they returned over a week ago. “She is ill Ardeth, the slightest little thing and she is in tears, I’ve tried talking to her, so has Alex but nothing seems to help. You are the only person I could turn to” “What do you expect me to do?” he asked hoping that the dark would hide his concern. “Come back with me and talk to her, you care about her, about all of us and after she came out here to look after you, I thought you might return the favor” “I don’t think I would be the best person to do this, maybe a doctor would be better” “She doesn’t need a doctor yet, just a friend, please Ardeth, I’ve never asked for anything before, help us” “Very well, we will leave tomorrow, but please, do not blame me if I make things worse” “You couldn’t” said Jonathan. Ardeth went to his tent and sitting on the cushions, put his head in his hands and wondered what on earth he was going to do. He couldn’t turn Jonathan down but he also knew that he could very well make things a lot worse, just by being there. But he owed them a debt and he would go. By the time they got back to Cairo, Evy was worried sick about Alex and jumped on Jonathan as soon as they walked into the museum. Ardeth was speaking to a man in the entrance and didn’t go in with them but as he walked towards the office he heard the shouting, he decided to wait a few minutes. “Get out Jonathan and take Alex upstairs and give him a bath, just leave me alone, I’ll deal with you later.” Jonathan and alex hurried out and saw Ardeth standing there, Jonathan motioned him to go in as he went upstairs to the living quarters where they were till they found a house. As Ardeth went in, he saw Evy standing by the window, he could see she was crying and he spoke softly so as not to scare her. “Evy, are you alright?” he asked. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Secret Love - continued |