Asr
Chapter 2
Ardeth sat beside Rick as his brother lay unconscious on the pallet the women had set up for the wounded. Many of them were empty now, his tribesmates either having been healed by Evelyn and the Priest of Ammun's spells or joined Allah in Paradise. So many gone, but not, Allah be praised as many as he had feared. Adham and Husan had come back from the battlefield with litters of more wounded almost an hour ago. And they were slowly putting together an idea of who was dead or missing and who had survived. Of the ten Medjai tribal leaders who had gone into battle with him that day, he had lost three. Jalil, Sura, and he was most saddened to hear, Arebe, who was still among the uncounted dead on the battle field. Pasha had lost one son, Akihm his second eldest and over a hundred of his tribesmen, easily a third of his warriors. Selim and Adham had lost at least as many but praise Allah his Uncle had not lost any more sons and Adham's where as yet to young to fight in such a battle. Husan's tribe had faired better, but many of them were still out checking the field and returning from riding down any Germans who had fled the field so the count was uncertain at best. Gamal, who Ardeth had not seen yet had lost at least as many as Pasha and it pained him to know that the man had sacrificed so much for a fight he had been so reluctant to follow Ardeth into. Kashim was resting, having been healed of a handful of bullet wounds that would have ended his friend's life if not for Evelyn's healing. It was hard to find the thanks for what he had been given when he was so very horrified at the loss, but he was trying to find the balance somehow. He recalled Horus' words in Thebes, is a woman who has lost one child somehow expected to be thankful she has not lost three? He thought that was oddly enough how he found himself feeling now.
"Has he woken at all?" Adham came over to sit beside him.
"No." Ardeth sighed, and pulled himself from the darkening thoughts to rewet the cool cloth he had placed on Rick's forehead to ease the slight fever some. "Can you help me lift him cousin, so perhaps we can get him to drink some?"
"Certainly." Adham agreed and moved behind Rick to ease him up. It was almost amusing to see his cousin have to work at lifting someone. Adham was easily the largest man among the Medjai at the moment. Ardeth put the cup against his friend's lips, steadying his head with his free hand.
"Come now, Rick, you must wake just a bit, hmm?" He tried to coax. Some of the water must have gotten down though because his friend swallowed reflexively without waking. "Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim." He muttered but he pulled the cup away after a moment. "He should wake. The wound is healed and his fever is light."
"I would think he would be at least having brief periods of waking, yes." Adham eased Rick back to the pallet. "Perhaps you should see if either his wife or our most unlikely ally have another spell to use."
"Certainly if there is one, Evelyn will not hesitate to use it." He agreed. "Perhaps the High Priest of AmmunRa can tell me if my brother spends this unconsciousness in Thebes. That would ease my mind some anyway."
"You care too much for your family, Ardeth. You always have. But I am glad you have found a brother and sister and nephew such as you have. Truly, I am not at all uncertain about having them as relatives."
"Thank you, Adham." He smiled a bit. "Rihana will no doubt like having a nephew for her children to look up to."
"Do not think for a moment that will get you out of her trying to find a wife for you, Ardeth." Adham smiled.
He nodded, and then smiled a bit, sadly. "Truly, cousin, I am beginning to think I should see if Selim will speak to my aunts for me and see who amongst Amal's nieces is not adverse to being the wife of the chieftain of the Medjai."
"You say that like it is a curse, Ardeth. Truly, cousin, there are no shortage of women in the tribes who would be greatly honored to marry you. And not just for your title either." Adham chuckled. "You would be amazed how many of Leila's sisters, and cousins, and friends find ways of letting me know they would be very happy if I would introduce them to you."
He shook his head. "Do not tease me Adham, I am too exhausted for it now."
His cousin looked at him with an strange expression to the scared face that made Adham look oddly young. "Ardeth, Ardeth, truly you are still such a child. Kahlid and I should have brought you to Cairo more often when we were young and foolish."
He felt himself flush at that. "Adham."
His cousin chuckled. "You will know what I mean, but I will tell Leila and Rihana both that you might not be as adverse to them finding you a few young women to meet as you have been."
"I do not know whether to thank you or punch you. Go see to your tribe and your wife and children, Adham. I will sit here until Evelyn comes back and then have Sallah and Jonathan help me move him to our tent."
"See that you rest yourself, Ardeth." Adham squeezed his shoulder as he got to his feet.
"I will have a very hard time doing anything else." He replied. "Ma Salaama, Adham, Al’hamdil’Allah, entu kyaisa."
"I am most thankful to Allah myself that we are well cousin. God's peace to you too." Adham returned and went toward his own tribe's area of the camp. It was a bit longer before Evelyn, Selim, Sallah, and Ammun's High Priest came back to where he was.
"Has he woken at all, Ardeth?" Evelyn asked, kneeling beside her husband's side and stroking her fingers through his hair.
"No. He drinks a bit if you hold the cup to his lips but he has not woken." He looked over at the priest of Ammun. "Would you know if he walks in Thebes while he is unconscious here, priest?"
"I am sorry, Ardeth, I have no way of knowing that. But I will certainly check as soon as I return. Which I must do soon. Ammun sails the sky here for only a short time yet and I may not stay once he goes to battle Set in the waking world."
"Truly?" He smiled a little. "I suppose that eases my burden of hospitality then." He sighed. "Is there yet a spell in one of your books that might help him?"
"Not that I am aware of. But there may be something in the book of Sekhmet." His most unlikely guest turned to look at Evelyn.
"Not that I've found, no." She sighed. "I'm really beginning to worry now, Ardeth."
"Would that there was some way of knowing what it is that is wrong." He agreed.
Horus gave a cry from overhead and came circling down to perch on his shoulder.
"Well hello, my friend. Did you carry my thanks to your namesake as you flew? Truly, we are blessed to have won today, even with the losses we suffered."
Horus chirped but he did not settle only shifted from foot to foot and then gave an unhappy sound and jumped down to pick his way to Rick's side and tapped his beak against his brother's jaw.
"Can you wake him then?" He asked half seriously.
Horus flapped his wings and then moved to tap his beak against the center of his chest, just over his heart.
"Perhaps the bright son of Osiris answers you after all Ardeth." Ammun's priest pointed out.
"Is there something wrong with his heart then?" He reached over uncertainly. Horus squawked and snapped at his fingers. "I do not understand, my friend. What is wrong with my brother then?"
Horus tapped Rick's chest again and then took to the sky, circled and came down on the shield of his namesake for a moment and then going back to where he had started and tapping Rick's jaw.
Ardeth looked from Evelyn, to Sallah, to the priest of Ammun but it was apparent none of them understood the message either. "I know you are trying to tell us what it is that the bright son of Osiris has told you my friend but we are foolish and only human and do not understand."
Horus gave another unhappy sound and then pulled one feather from his own wing and placed it carefully over Rick's heart. And for just a moment it was not a falcon feather at all, but pure gold.
"What does the medallion bright Horus gave my brother in Thebes have to do with..." He stopped. "Oh Allah, Rick, what have you done?" He sighed. "How do we wake him then, Horus if he travels the dark realm of the dread god of those who's hearts have stilled?"
"Anubis?" Evelyn asked, worriedly. "What?"
"I found him two talismans in Thebes to keep Anubis from his dreams, but apparently something has happened that negated that. Is that not true, my friend?"
Horus flapped his wings, and then came back over to walk up Ardeth's arm to perch on his shoulder once more.
"Ammun himself told Anubis to leave your brother well." His unlikely guest pointed out.
"As you have pointed out to me, one must be careful of how a geas is worded. It does not keep him from fighting for Egypt to keep him in the dark god's realm now does it? The battle is done. And if I know my brother he would do it if he thought it gave us....Oh Allah have mercy, no wonder he ran you through." He sighed. "Tell me then, Horus, how do I help him?" He asked his friend and the falcon's namesake both.
Horus tapped his jaw and then hoped off his shoulder and back to the gold shield.
"Could you explain this to me, Ardeth?" Evelyn asked.
"I do not know much myself, Evelyn. Only that Rick has told me that Anubis gives him dreams of walking through hell. But we had managed to stop them. Now I think we have failed." He picked up his shield uncertainly and Horus launched himself into the sky only to settle again on his shoulder.
"And why does this explain why your brother found it necessary to run me through with the Spear of Osiris, Medjai?"
He was too concerned to let the sudden embarrassment at that question cause him to flush but it was an uncomfortable one to find an answer to voice in front of Sallah and Evelyn. "Why does my brother usually desire to run you through, priest of AmmunRa?" He asked in return finally.
"Many reasons, none of which as I can see it apply to now."
"Then you do not understand my brother's conception of hell." He sighed. "I am not certain what I can do, Evelyn. But I promise you I will try to bring him back to you."
"I'll go with you." She said, reaching for her own weapons and the mask which was hanging from her belt.
"No. One, I am not certain it will work, and someone must stay here to pull us from the dreaming if it does not. And two, if there is no way to succeed sister of mine, do we deprive your son of us all in a stroke?" It was a cruel question and he knew it but it was the only thing he could think of.
Evelyn's eyes hardened but she nodded once. "You've got an hour Ardeth. One. And then so help me I will find a way to either yank you back here, or come get you both if I have to find Sekhmet and entire lake full of beer as payment do you understand me Medjai?"
"Most certainly." He agreed. And he recalled standing on the balcony in Thebes promising Rick that he would go to hell if necessary to find him. And Rick commenting that Evelyn would probably send him anyway or come with him. He sighed. "I should be more careful with what I promise Allah apparently. Very well then Horus, how do I do this?" He shifted his shield onto his left arm.
"Try asking nicely, Medjai." Ammun's priest suggested.
"As you say. Please then great Horus, bright god of Vengeance, Swift son of Osiris and most revered Isis, grant me I pray you a way to my brother's side in the realm of your dark brother Anubis, the dread god of those who's hearts have stilled. And, grant us also a way for both Rick and I to return from those dark halls to the waking world here at Ahm Shere. I ask you for your grace once more, Please. I can not do this alone."
A strong hand gripped his shoulder as Horus took to the sky with a cry and before he could think, he was standing in a half-lit chamber somewhere he had no knowledge of. And the High Priest of Ammun stood beside him. "I-- did not think you would come with me."
The priest shrugged. "You can barely stand in the waking world, and I was uncertain as to how you would mange here. I did not heal you and your brother both to lose now. Besides you have a few kisses yet you owe me, Ardeth. And I can hardly collect on them if you are in Paradise with Allah can I?" They both looked around the room, finally spotting an opening between two pillars.
He shook his head but he was oddly glad for the assistance none the less. "I did not think even you were mad enough to risk walking the halls of Anubis for the- entertainment of collecting the four kisses I yet owe you." He walked over to the opening but it was pitch black beyond the yard or so of torchlight.
"It is far more than entertainment, Ardeth. And I shall expect you to at least give me one extra for keeping your brother from the realm of death, permanently." Ammun's priest replied and came over to stand beside him before taking one of the torches and extending it into the hall. But while that increased the light for a few more yards there was still only bare walls and a sand floor.
"You did not ask for one." He pointed out. "Now you wish to bargain after the fact?" He took another torch for himself, gave a quick prayer to Allah and stepped into the hall, the shield of Horus held in front of him.
"You are too honorable a man, Ardeth Bay to not give me what payment I would ask for. And we both know that had I but demanded it you would have come to my bed with whatever compliance you could find if that is what I demanded for his life." The creature followed him into the hall, but there was as yet nothing to be seen but more hallway ahead.
He sighed, but there was too much truth in the words. "You have told me that the next time I offered for any reason you would accept. And while you are correct in that I would pay any price you demanded if it saved him, I would not enjoy it. And you have promised to Ammun not to take me unwilling no matter my compliance or submission."
"There you go again, Medjai managing at once to offer me the very thing I want most and then keeping me from enjoying it. And you wonder why I am mad?" There was a smile to the words. "I will take a kiss, foolish Medjai, nothing more. I will even be so kind as to not make your brother watch you pay for his life, hmm? Is that not a small price after all to pay for the life of a man you love, Ardeth?"
He sighed. "Very small. I would have paid much higher a price, priest of Ammun."
"I know. You may thank Allah I did not ask any more, tempting though it was."
"There is some truth to that." He agreed despite himself. "I owe you one more kiss then for the life of my brother, I swear it to Allah."
"You could thank me by name too, Ardeth."
He sighed. "I did so already did I not?"
"I like hearing my name from you, Ardeth." Ammun's priest chuckled.
"You have walked the halls of Anubis before have you not? Is it always like this?" He asked, ignoring the comment.
"I can not say, Ardeth. I went from the never ending horror of the Hom-Dai to the voice of Ammun and then to the land of the faithful. Truly, I have no more knowledge of the realm of Anubis and the great journey to the Tuat than you, other than that which all priests have. I can quote you the journey of the forty-two gates without problem."
"We may well need it." He agreed. But there were no gates, no guardians, and no horrors at all. Only this seemingly endless hallway. "It does not seem much like hell." He shook his head.
"I would not know. Hell is a concept we of old Egypt never had." Was the reply.
Ardeth was about to quote the Prophet when he heard a sound he never had before, but there was no doubt as to who the scream came from. "Evelyn." He whispered to himself and then ran. Another scream even worse than the first and he found himself wondering if the grace of Horus would work here. Alex shouted something as well, but while it was obviously words he could not make them out. And then there was a different scream entirely that it took him even longer to place.
"Ammun have mercy, Medjai." Ammun's priest's voice was a harsh whisper. "Did you know this would happen? That was your voice, was it not?"
"Likely." He agreed with a wince. No matter what shadows Anubis conjures for you Rick, it is not us. Evelyn, Alex and I are well. I will prove it to you, brother, I promise. He ran as fast as he could, trying to block out the sounds that echoed off the walls. It was incredibly unnerving to hear his own voice give such proof of agony.
Rick's voice came finally, a harsh angry scream of denial. Then Alex cried out again. "Dad!" And another scream of rage from Rick and horror from Evelyn.
"Bis’mil’Allah." He whispered.
The hallway stopped suddenly, finally, and turned sharply left and they came to a stop at the edge of a huge chasm filled with flames. And for the first time, Ardeth believed that hell was exactly where they were after all. He tried hard not to look too closely at the broken, bloody remains of his nephew that lay at his feet. But there was no avoiding the scene at the other side of the chasm. Rick was lying half-dazed on the ground trying to get to his feet as Evelyn screamed again. Then the scream stopped in mid-voice as an exact double of the man standing beside him calmly tore her throat out with his bare hand and dropped the body down to land beside Rick with a chuckle. "Care to try again, O'Connell?" It asked in what sounded like so calm a voice.
Whatever the priest of Ammun growled from beside him was nothing Ardeth could understand.
The creature on the other side of the chasm turned away from Rick with a laugh and Ardeth made himself keep his gaze on his brother and not look too closely at his own double that hung from chained wrists only a few feet away from where Rick was lying.
"I have been many things in life and in death, but never this. Damn you, never this." Imhotep's voice was far angrier than Ardeth had ever heard it and then he simply leapt the chasm with a thought and sent his very startled double tumbling into the flames with a shove that was as much power as brute strength. "May Ammnut eat your soul." He did not seem to care at all that the creature swallowed by the flames could have been his twin.
"Ai-hetrem-heset-Heru." He whispered himself, not even certain it would work, but wanting to get to Rick's side if he could.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Rick was already on his feet, and it took Ardeth a moment to realize his brother was not speaking to him, had likely not even noticed he was there, but to Imhotep instead.
"Saving you from hell, apparently." Ammun's high priest answered, but there was still a tone to his voice Ardeth had never heard before. "Ammun's mercy, Ardeth."
And that, he realized, was not directed at him either. Because the chains holding his twin's weight were snapped with a thought and the body lowered gently toward the ground.
"Don't you touch him..." Rick's voice was a harsh growl that hurt to hear.
"Rick." He started to reach for his brother's shoulder but Rick was already kneeling in the sand, and had his twin cradled in his arms.
"Are you real?" His twin asked, and Allah be thanked he had never in his life known the sort of pain it would have taken for his voice to truly sound like that.
"Yeah, it's okay now." Rick said gently, but there were tears in his voice. "It's over now."
"I-am so sorry, brother mine."
"Don't be. Not your fault, Ardeth." Rick brought one hand up to brush the tangled hair from his twin's face. And Ardeth wanted to tell him once more that he was fine and well but he could not find his voice at all.
"I am so cold, Rick."
"It'll be okay, Ardeth. Shhh."
"Here." Imhotep said with a gentleness Ardeth could not recall hearing either and slipped off the outer robe he had gotten from Adham and handed it with a slow caution to Rick as if expecting something horrible should he move too quickly.
"Are-- you real as well then?"
"I believe so, yes."
"Good..." A harsh groan took whatever else his twin would have said. Rick only wrapped the robe around him, gently. "It was...hard to...remember at times...who it was and was not...Sometimes it was you...and then...he would be...others if...it thought...that would hurt more."
"Oh, god, Ardeth shhh..." Rick's voice caught.
"It does-- .not matter now, Rick...Because I am not real either...am I chieftain?" And he placed why in some ways the tone in his twin’s voice sounded so familiar. He could recall that odd detachment from reality that madness brought all too well.
He swallowed hard before finding an answer to the rough question. "Allah alone I think can answer that."
A chuckle that made him wince with sympathy at the pain it contained. "See...it does not...matter at all...that is good, no? Bis’mil...Allah...Rick. Can Allah have mercy on me...if I am not real?"
"Sure he can." Rick answered softly.
"That is...good..." His twin ground out the words through clenched teeth and then cried out once, a soft, hopeless sound. "I...am...so sorry."
"I know, Ardeth. Shhh." Rick only held his twin tighter and then sighed. "Just let go now."
"La illaha illAllah." His twin whispered and then was utterly still in his brother's arms.
"God damn it you would think it'd get easier wouldn't you?" Rick growled.
"Damnation never does, O'Connell." Imhotep answered softly. "No matter how long you endure it. Let us leave this hell of yours. Ammun knows I will be as insane as you think me if we stay."
"Join the club." Rick shook his head. "Okay, so you're here and maybe real and maybe not, but it's a new twist on the game I'll say that. Now what do we do?”
“Find a way home?” He suggested quietly.
“Right.” Rick shook his head a little but laid Ardeth’s twin down with as much gentleness as if the move could cause pain now.
“Did you think, it would be so easy?” A harsh voice whispered from behind him, and before he could do more than start to turn and draw his sword one strong arm wrapped around his chest, and the other held a very sharp blade to his throat. And it was obvious that both Rick and Imhotep were struggling to move, and having no more luck than Ardeth was himself. “I am not so easy to kill.” The voice could have been Imhotep’s but for all the tones and inflections he had heard the priest use, none came close to the one in the creature’s voice now. “Shall I take this one while you watch as well, O’Connell?”
“I think not.” Imhotep growled and the creature holding him hissed in anger, no doubt finding it as hard to move as he was. “Whatever you are, you are not me. AmmunRa knows I have done many things the gods would punish, but never this.” As he spoke he must have used his own powers to counter the creature’s because he rose slowly to his feet even though Ardeth was still unable to move at all.
“No? But you want to, do you not? ” The creature taunted and it was so very unreal to hear them argue when it was so very much the same voice. “I am going to enjoy you, Ardeth.” He closed his eyes, not able to bear the utter horror on Rick’s face any longer. The arm around his chest loosened and that hand stroked roughly down his chest with more familiarity than anything Imhotep had ever taken.
“No matter who you would like me to think you are creature. I do not believe you.” He whispered the words harshly, trying very hard not to shudder as that rough caress moved lower.
“No!” Imhotep commanded and the hand froze, Allah be praised, just over the sash he had tied around his waist.
“Take your hands off my brother.” Rick growled, slowly pushing to his own feet, and it gave Ardeth hope to try to struggle some himself. Perhaps between them all they could do more than the creature could hold.
“You can not stop me, O’Connell. You never can. Would you like to fight me, Ardeth? I would enjoy that, surely.” The voice teased. “Or shall I give you someone you would not care so much to fight? What do you think of that?” And the arms around him changed somehow and he knew from the expressions on both Rick’s and Imhotep’s faces that something had happened.
“Any better?” An all too familiar voice teased, and the hand against his stomach moved lower, sliding over him with a rough grasp that made him wince. “Like that, brother?” Rick’s voice taunted roughly.
“You are not my brother.” He managed a calmness he did not feel at all. “I will never believe that.”
“No? By the time I’m done with you, Ardeth, it won’t matter. Will it, Rick?”
“By the time I’m done with you, bastard you’re going to be in too many fucking pieces to know.” Rick growled back.
And hearing that harsh horrible laugh in his brother’s voice was almost worse than the caress. The hand came back to his throat and gripped his robes tightly. “Ask nice, Ardeth and I’ll just tear the cloth and not your skin with it.”
“Go to hell.” He found the words with a harsh smile. And then met Rick’s eyes with all the love he could. “Will you forgive me, Rick?”
“Forgive you for..Ardeth no.”
He pushed forward as hard as he could, not caring in the slightest that it dug the blade deeper into his throat then as the creature kept him from moving forward anymore with a strong pressure he let that very weight carry him suddenly backwards sending them both stumbling back toward the flames. Ai-hetrem-heset-Heru.
“No!” Two voices overlapped on the word, one in English, one in Egyptian and he felt the heat just starting to burn. But the bright son of Osiris was listening still because he was no longer in the creature’s grip as it tumbled back into the flames but at his brother’s side once more.
“Oh God. Oh God.” Rick hugged him tightly. “You son of a bitch, don’t you ever do that to me again.”
“In’sh’allah.” He managed the word but he hugged his brother back just as tightly.
“It will not stay gone I do not think.” Imhotep’s voice was oddly gentle still.
“No, you are probably right. Please, oh bright son of Osiris, He who is lord of the Tuat. See us safely to the waking world I beg of you.” He reached over and caught Imhotep’s arm with one hand, the other still wrapped tightly around Rick’s waist.
“My bright brother does not have that power here, Medjai.” The harsh voice of the jackal headed god of the dead came from the shadows. “And your brother is mine, by his own oath.”
“Rick?” He pushed his brother away just a bit, enough to look into the haunted blue eyes.
“It was the only thing I knew to do, Ardeth. I wasn’t going to let you die-- like that for real.” Rick shook his head.
“Never.” Imhotep’s voice was harsh. “I swear it to AmmunRa, O’Connell. Never.”
“Good. Then why don’t you both get the hell out of here, or something okay?”
“And leave you here? No.” He shook his friend once, hard. And it was telling enough of how close to shattered Rick was that he did not seem to even care. He pulled his brother close again. “Evelyn will only send me back or come herself.” Ardeth sighed, and looked over his brother’s shoulder to the jackal headed god of the dead. “Though perhaps she who is the wrath of AmmunRa himself may convince you to let my brother return with us, dark Anubis.”
“Sekhmet has no power here, Medjai, any more than my brother does.”
“Then I will pray for the aid of someone who does.” Imhotep’s voice was cold now, but not angry exactly, something more chilling than that. “Hail to thee, AmmunRa, lord of all Egypt, King of all the gods of both kingdoms. Be praised oh my God and alight your barge once more to sail across the sky and light the path of the day. Grant us oh God of Gods another day of paradise unworthy though we all may be. Come, I beseech you in the name of Egypt. Oh my god grant us light.”
It took Ardeth a moment to recognize that part of the prayer Ammun’s High Priest used every morning to greet his god.
Anubis growled moving forward and Ardeth took a step back, pulling Rick with him and reaching for his sword though he knew it was useless. Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim. He thought the prayer fiercely, meaning it more for Rick than he did for himself.
And sunlight spilled into the darkness where no sunlight could be, and the light came on two legs. He let go of Rick with one arm, moving to his brother’s side and went to his knees pulling Rick with him so that his brother knelt too, right beside him. And Imhotep knelt as well and pressed his forehead to the sand before rising back to his knees.
“Take the children of Allah back to the Egypt that is, Imhotep. I will speak to the son of my son once more on the behalf of Egypt’s champions and we will understand each other better this time. Be at peace warriors, Egypt is safe for the moment and you have earned your rewards and your rests. We shall speak again soon.”
“No, Please? Evie...and Alex...and...” Rick shook his head. “Please?”
“Your wife and son are well in Ahm Shere, O’Connell. Your brother is whole and well beside you. Those you saw die here are illusions only. Bones of spell words given flesh and breath by your own memories of your family, and their reflections in your eyes. Go now, children of Allah, most fortunate to have such children, and walk with my blessing and his. All of Egypt is thankful to you.”
And with one soft caress of sunlight he went from kneeling to the bright god who was lord of all Egypt to being in Ahm Shere. He had time to try and blink to adjust his eyes to the light and then he was kneeling beside Rick, his brother half in his arms.
“Shhh, you are safe now, brother mine. We are all safe now. Evelyn?” He looked around and then pushed Rick away enough for Evelyn to hold him, so he could let go. Rick only held her tightly, muttering things he did not even try to catch against her hair.
“Take care of him, Ardeth. Damnation no matter how brief is not easily forgotten.” Imhotep’s voice was still gentle. “Ammun willing I will see you later in Thebes, Medjai. Ma Salaama.”
And before he could even think of any words to say in return Imhotep was gone in a flash of bright sunlight on gold. Ardeth tried to find something to say to Rick and Evelyn but nothing came to mind that made any sense at all. And Allah had to know that all he really wished to do in the moment was pull his brother into his arms, and Evelyn as well at that moment, as if she truly was his sister as much as Rihana was.
“Come now, cousin, we shall get you to your tent, Ardeth. Truly I am amazed you can stay conscious. Sallah, Selim, can you get him to his feet? Ahmed you can help me with O’Connell then.” Adham’s voice was firm and while Ardeth knew he could argue with his cousin it seemed to require too much energy to do so. Strong hands got him to his feet and he was mostly leaning on both his fellow Medjai as he walked. He heard Adham speaking quietly to Rick and Evelyn but he could not wrap his mind around the English right now.
“Uncle?” He asked quietly as Selim helped him sit down on a soft pallet of blankets.
“Yes Ardeth?” So much concern in his uncle’s voice as if indeed he was a small child and one strong hand rested on his forehead. “What can I do for you son of my sister?”
“Give my thanks to Allah, please? I-- will miss prayers, yes?”
“Allah is merciful Ardeth, he will understand.” Selim sighed and then took his sword and his knives from his sash and laid them aside so Ardeth could lie down.
“Even if I am not the one who is real? What if we had it wrong all this time?”
His uncle did not answer for a moment and then only sighed. “Even if somehow that were true, it would be as Allah wills it to be. Would it not nephew mine? Sleep now, Arda, it will all make sense again come the new day. We are safe and the armies of Germany are defeated.”
“Did we send out scouts to be certain?”
“Of course we did. That is a better question now. Close your eyes, Ardeth.”
“Rick and Evelyn are all right?”
“Fine. Here is Adham and Ahmed with them now. And there is Jonathan and Alex.”
“I wish Rihana was here, then we would have all of us together.” That sounded better than Paradise for some reason.
“Shhh, now, can you lay him down here, Adham? You do not mind do you Evelyn?”
“God no. Let’s let them sleep. Easy Rick, I’m right here, Ardeth’s right here to. Come here Alex, please? Your dad needs to see you love. Lay down now, Rick.” Evelyn’s voice was soft.
“Ardeth?” Rick asked, something far worse than exhaustion in his brother’s voice.
“Mmm, I think so, yes.” He replied.
“Good. Hey sport.”
“I was really worried dad, but uncle Jonathan told me you were okay only knocked out for a while.” Alex’s voice was soft, but praise be to Allah it was strong and well. He managed to turn a bit to see his nephew come and crouch beside Evelyn as she stroked her husbands hair. Jonathan came over too, and kept one comforting hand on Alex’s shoulder. Ardeth smiled a bit, thinking to himself that uncles were indeed a great comfort to have as Selim unbuckled his boots and pulled them from his feet.
“Yeah, I’m okay now, Alex. Just kinda tired.” But there were tears in his brother’s voice. “I’m going to pass out again, okay Evie?”
“We’ll be right here when you wake up. Won’t we Alex?”
“Sure mom.” Alex agreed.
Ardeth shifted a bit so he could feel his brother’s warmth against his back and that was enough. His uncle’s hand smoothed his hair as if he were no older than Alex. And then Mut snuck up from somewhere and he was wrapped in darkness soft and warm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“My God, Evie.” Jonathan whispered. And Selim wanted very much to agree with the Englishman.
“Dad and Uncle Ardeth are going to be okay, aren’t they mum?” Alex’s voice cracked a bit at the question.
“They’re going to be fine. They’re just completely exhausted, Alex. It was a ghastly fight and they both lost some blood. But we used the books of AmmunRa and Sekhmet to heal them. Now they just need to sleep.” Evelyn hugged her son, tightly. “Oh, I’m sorry, Alex. I’m really quite a mess aren’t I?”
“That’s okay mum. As long as it’s not your blood. It isn’t is it?”
“No. Not a scratch. See this? It’s a gift from Adham’s daughter. She found it for us. And it keeps me perfectly safe even while fighting tanks.” She held up the amulet with a smile. “I’m just very tired. And I need a bath.”
“Why don’t you go wash up, Evie? I’ll stay here with Alex. And Rick really isn’t going to wake up soon.” Jonathan offered. “Is that all right with you, Alex? If your mum goes and bathes and we watch your dad?”
“Yeah. I can do that, mum.” Alex agreed.
“Good. Do you remember the spell I’ve been using at night to protect us while we slept?”
“Sure do, and Uncle Ardeth’s too. Well the one in Egyptian. I don’t follow the other one yet.”
“Those two will be fine. Can you recite them then? And keep watch over your father?”
“Sure mum.” There was less fear and horror in the young boy’s voice now. “I can do that.”
“Good.” She hugged him again. “And change clothes so you don’t frighten your father if he does wake up, hmm?”
“Okay mum.” Alex hugged her again tightly for a long moment. Then Jonathan gripped his shoulder and led him over to the chest where the clean clothes were. Evelyn got to her feet with a sigh.
“You’ll stay too, Selim?”
“Of course Evelyn. Azza will you go with our niece here?”
“Of course I will.” His first wife moved to Evelyn’s side and put a strong arm around the younger woman’s waist. “Let us get you clean. I will find you something to wear and much to drink so that you will feel better.” She led Evelyn outside.
“I asked Risa to go get enough water to get them washed up as well, Selim.” Sallah said quietly. “And I have the great books put away. I can not find the cursed armor of the Scorpion King, but here is Ardeth’s shield and both scepters.” The young man put them on the ground above his nephews’ heads.
“Thank you Sallah. Can you help me get them undressed then Adham? They are grown to big for me to manage this as I could with my little ones.”
“Of course, Selim.” Adham agreed and they managed to get the two warriors undressed. “I do not know that any of the clothing is salvageable.”
“Burn it.” Jonathan suggested. “But we should keep Rick’s gun holsters if we can.”
“Dad would like that.” Alex agreed. “And his boots. Mum got them for him.”
So those were easy enough to set aside. Sallah went to wait outside for the water and then began carrying the buckets in, so he and Adham, and Jonathan helped. It took far too long to get the blood washed from both men but they managed it, finally. Then they changed out the top few blankets on the pallet and let the men sleep. Alex had indeed gone over to the door and recited two invocations for protection and safety one to Horus and one to Sekhmet.
“Uncle Ardeth said another one, to Allah I guess, but it was in Medja so I couldn’t follow it. But he cut his hand and put some blood on the tent poles and lintel, like in the book of Moses he said.” Alex shook his head.
“Ah.” Selim nodded. “So we are keeping death from the door are we, nephew? That is a good prayer indeed. Sometimes it is still done with new buildings, to sacrifice a chicken or a goat and put the blood upon the entrance way. Let us pray that it works then. Let us get your father and my nephew dressed before the women return, hmm? Then we can eat and sleep ourselves.”
“I am going to join Husan in sentry duty tonight, Selim. Truly, while manning the grenade launchers and cannon was hard work it is nothing like those who were fighting on horseback. Let my cousin know if he wakes that he has done far more than well in this great victory and truly I am glad to follow him.” Adham smiled. But he stayed long enough to help get Rick and Ardeth dressed.
Amal brought hot tea and water and some light tahini, tabooli, and bread and cucumber for them to eat. No one, he noticed, even Alex, managed much. Azza came back with Evelyn and it was obvious the young woman was almost as exhausted as her husband. She kissed her brother’s cheek and hugged him, before holding her son for a long while and then lying down beside Rick with a sigh. “I’m too tired to think, Selim. Have they woken at all?”
“Not a bit.” He replied. “Rest well, Evelyn.”
“And to you, Selim, Azza, Amal. Good night Alex, Jonathan.”
“Night mum.” Alex smiled.
“Good night sis.”
Selim was quiet for a bit although he doubted much but another battle was going to keep her awake. Then he sighed. “Praise be to Allah, we may have survived this yet.”
“God willing.” Jonathan agreed. But he kept his nephew close and talked quietly to the boy until Alex grew tired enough to sleep. Selim rose to his feet finally.
“Will you wake me if anything needs to be done?”
“Of course.” Jonathan agreed.
“I will stay here, Selim. And guard the door, just to be certain. I did not fight today only helped those who did. I can sleep tomorrow.” Sallah gripped his arm.
“As you say. Truly, you are a good friend to have Sallah bin Salin.” He squeezed his friend’s hand and then went to his own tent to sleep. But he gave thanks to Allah for the victory and the chance once more to see his family. And that was enough for any man to be thankful for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ardeth woke slowly, uncertain why it was so very hard to open his eyes. The bed under him was soft and warm against the cool night air, which brought to mind where he was. When, had waking up in Thebes become such a normal thing to expect? He shifted a bit, and then realized one of the reasons the bed was both warm and comfortable. He was lying on his back. And Rick was lying beside him, or more truly, half over him. His friend’s head was on his shoulder, one arm around his chest, holding tightly even in sleep, and one leg pinning his to the bed. He smiled a bit to himself, working his arm free to wrap around Rick’s shoulders. He stroked the hair from his friend’s face with the other hand.
“Thank you, most merciful Allah, for my friend’s life, for seeing us safely from the realm of Anubis, and for the victory of the defenders of Egypt over those who would invade us. Truly, I have no words to offer for my gratitude and joy.” He whispered the words softly in Arabic wishing he had some way to give what was in his heart a voice, but trusting his God would know how he felt none the less.
The room was dark, with only the brazier light in one corner, and the moonlight from the balcony to give form to the shadows. He tried to feel for the time, whether it was closer to nightfall or dawn but the air was still and felt of neither. So he let himself doze back off, slipping easily back to sleep.
Waking the second time was easier, and the room was lit by soft sunlight, indicating it was just past dawn. Someone had come in at some point because there was now a pot of hot coffee on a brazier on the table, making the room smell of the hot liquid. Apparently, he and Rick had moved to, because he was lying with his head on Rick’s shoulder instead of the other way around. He thought about that for a long moment and then only moved a bit closer, putting his arm around Rick as his friend had done with him. And that felt oddly good as well. He would be spoiled soon to this comfort of waking in another’s arms. He was certain it would end soon enough so he would enjoy the feeling while it was there. That was what one did with comfort, after all, enjoyed it while it was available to recall with fondness when it was gone. He sighed, more content than he had first realized with the half-embrace and then let himself simply lie there and enjoy.
Rick must have taken the relaxation for sleep when he woke a bit later because he only muttered something unintelligible and then stroked his hand lightly through Ardeth’s hair. “Oh thank God...” The words were a rough whisper. “Allah, Ammun, Horus, whoever.” Rick’s fingers stoked through his hair again. “I thought I’d lost you, or worse. Christ, Ardeth, for a minute there when I saw you lying with all those bodies-- I couldn’t even breathe, you know? And then-- whatever hallucination that was I guess. And you have done some crazy, idiotic, downright stupid things in your life. But Jesus, I didn’t think you were serious about coming to hell after me. I-- couldn’t have coped if he’d hurt you. You know that right? I’d’ve been stark raving nuts. I almost was just watching him touch you like that. You’re not going to want me to hold you like this when you wake up I bet. That’s okay, just so long as you’re okay. Never thought I’d be glad to wake up in Thebes, you know? But today. Today Thebes seems pretty great.” The fingers in his hair stroked feather light down his back and then back to his hair. “From damnation to paradise, Ardeth. How’d you manage that, huh? And how’d you get the damned thing to help? Please Christ, tell me that one of us had sense enough not to go selling his soul, huh? Please tell me that? But you’re here, so it can’t be too bad, right? Okay, I can believe that right now. Right now I can believe anything. Alhamdilallah. He’s got to know I mean that, right?” Rick’s arm tightened around him and the far hand came up to stroke his hair instead, which really did put them in each other arms. He shifted into the embrace without a sound.
Ardeth had really intended to tell Rick he was not asleep, but now it seemed better to not let his brother know he had been awake for the words Rick had undoubtedly never meant him to hear. He doubted his friend even knew he was speaking aloud. And it felt so very good to lie there, held close like he was. He gave Rick a few minutes to see if his brother was going to add anything and then shifted his position a bit, but he made no move to lessen the embrace any. Rick’s hand left his hair and he sighed. “That felt good.”
Rick caught his breath and then hesitantly put the hand back. “Does it?”
“Mmm, what a wonderful way to wake up.”
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” Rick’s voice was rough but there was such a gentleness to the words.
“Indeed. And how long have you been awake brother of mine?” He asked even though he knew the answer.
“Not long.” Rick replied. “I-- was just convincing myself it was real. Well as real as this ever is, I guess.
“As you say.” He agreed. “It feels real enough, right now.”
“Yeah.” Rick was quiet for a long moment. “I could let go?”
“Yes, I suppose you could. So could I, come to that. But I would really rather you did not. I would like a little bit to convince myself this is real.” And perhaps let you finish convincing yourself of that.
“Okay.” Rick agreed but he kept the embrace tightly.
“Are you well? You lost a great deal of blood in Ahm Shere.”
“I’m tired a little, and I feel-- exhausted I guess. Achy, like I did way too much. But that’s not bad. How about you? You took a pretty bad blow to the head, didn’t you?” The fingers in his hair moved to feel lightly where the injury had been no doubt.
“Mmm, I did indeed. But it is healed now, as is your shoulder. Truly, the books of AmmunRa and Sekhmet are wondrous things.” He moved his head a bit against his friend’s fingers. “I feel like a cat when you do that. Scratch harder, hmm?”
Rick gave a sound between a snort and a chuckle but did so. “I thought you were dead.”
“No, praise be to God.” He truly meant the prayer. “You will put me back to sleep.”
“That’d be nice.” Rick whispered. “Can we just tell everyone to leave us alone and we can stay here for a few days?”
“Now we are wanting to be in Thebes?” He chuckled himself. “But I will give that the beds are comfortable.”
“Yeah,” Rick sighed. “Guess we have to get up.”
“I see no reason why.” He disagreed and only actually let himself shift closer and tighten his arm around Rick. “But I will let you go, if you wish.”
“Who’s holding who, huh?” Rick asked, tightening his own arms around Ardeth.
“Like most things with you, I am finding it is mutual, is it not?”
“Yeah.” The hand left his hair to stroke down his back again, still feather light. “You’re okay, right?”
“I am.” He agreed. “And you, Rick?”
“I-- think I’m getting there. Yeah. This is good though.”
“Then we shall lay abed for as long as we want.” He decided.
“Sounds lazy.” There was a bit less roughness to his brother’s voice.
“It sounds rather decadent actually. I do not think I have ever been decadent before. It-- has an odd appeal though.”
Another of those sounds that was not quite a chuckle. “Some day, Ardeth, I’d really like to show you what decadence is.”
“Truly? It sounds like a great deal of fun.” He admitted. And it did, although he was not certain it would be more enjoyable than what he had right now.
“It can be.” Rick agreed. They were silent a bit more. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He asked, but he propped himself up on his free arm to look at Rick now.
“Saving me from hell.”
“You are welcome. Thank you for being willing to suffer that for my sake.” He found a smile. “Truly, no man or god or creature in between has ever had a better friend than you, Rick O’Connell.”
“Nope, I got you in the bargain, that’s better right there.”
He shook his head. “Pot and kettle again are we, my friend?”
“Like always.” Rick agreed. “I’m sorry you had to see that though.”
“It was-- unnerving.” He agreed, but he laid back down, beside Rick now although they were still touching. “But not nearly as horrific as I am certain it was for you. Truly, my friend, you may think me brave, but you are far stronger than I could ever hope to be.” He meant it. “I would have been curled in the corner like a madman I think.”
“If it would’ve helped so would’ve I.” Rick growled. “But having to hear what was going on when I wouldn’t look or fight or something was even worse.” He could feel Rick shudder hard.
“Bis’mil’Allah.” He shivered himself and then gave no care to the utter lack of propriety and rolled back over to hug his brother tightly. “Dare I ask how many times you lived that hell, yesterday?”
“It isn’t like I counted.” Rick replied harshly. “God, Ardeth. I couldn’t help you, or Evie, or Alex.”
“Evelyn, Alex, and I are safe and well. Truly.” He tightened his arms and then pulled Rick over so that he was the one on his back, his brother cradled in his arms as much as he could manage that with Rick being even larger than he was.
“I know that. I knew it then. But God it didn’t help. Every damned time one of you died it felt real. Every time.”
“I am not dead.” He promised. “Nor bleeding, nor hurt.” He added. And it was so easy to recall what his twin had looked like hanging from his chained wrists, bloody and torn. Ardeth was very certain that his brother’s image of him was far braver than he would ever be in fact. “I am well and whole and right here.” He squeezed Rick tightly.
“I know. It’s just....”
“What can I do then, to make you believe it?” He asked. “Hmm, Habib? What can I do?” He recalled that endearment had helped before.
Rick shivered, hard. “I don’t know.”
“The we will see if what has helped before, helps now.” He sat up and reached for the ties on his robe because last time seeing proof that there was neither blood or wounds had helped.
“Don’t.” Rick caught his hands, sitting up as well. “Christ, Ardeth, don’t.”
“I will not.” He promised softly, not knowing why it unnerved Rick so but not wanting to add to his friend’s burden any. “Easy, my friend, what is wrong now?” He asked as gently as he knew how.
“I-- not right now, okay? Not a good idea, Ardeth.” Rick let go of his hands and then climbed out of the bed and went over to pour himself a cup of coffee.
“Then I will wait until you can tell me.” He promised, recalling with a sigh how it had taken a while for Rick to be able to put the horror he had seen into words last time too. He got up himself, and then found his weapons beside the bed and slipped them into place at his belt. His shield he left beside the bed and took the cup of coffee Rick had poured him. “Thank you.”
Rick just nodded. “I’m sorry I’m still such a basket case.”
Ardeth sighed. “And how many times now have you held me while I was shaken near to breaking?” He asked.
Rick’s eyes were still haunted as they met his but there was a bit of a smile. “Okay, okay, were even there too, all right?”
“Certainly.” He smiled back. “I can see if Tahiri or anyone could bring us breakfast if you like.”
“Nah..it’ll be a bit before I’m hungry.” Rick shook his head. “But a few jugs of water and karkaday would be good. I’m thirsty.”
“And I.” He agreed. He went over to the door and looked out into the hall but it was empty for the moment. “Do you recall when we stopped having a guard?” He asked, because it occurred to him suddenly that he had not seen one for what seemed like a long time.
“No, not really.” Rick shook his head. “Come to think of it, we didn’t have company this morning either.”
“Thanks be to Allah.” He agreed but he had to smile. “No doubt the first morning we do not expect him there he will be.”
“Probably.” Rick muttered. “So why did he come to hell with you anyway?”
“I asked him much the same question. Madness I suppose. He seemed to think that since he had gone through all the trouble of saving us on the battlefield he was not about to let us die then. And he seems to have some notion that we are for the moment at least champions of Egypt together. Whether that will extend to the day after the battle remains to be seen. However, I must admit, I was more than glad to have him there. I do not know that we could have prevailed against-- whatever that monster Anubis created was without his help. Or that we could have escaped the dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled without his invocation of Ammun.”
“Yeah, there is that.” Rick shook his head. “I think the only time I’ve seen him that angry was at Hamanaptura when we stopped him from bringing back Anck-se-Naumun, and Evie sent his soul to the underworld. And he did try to keep that damned thing from touching you. Which doesn’t make a lot of sense really cause he does the same damned thing.”
“Never, in all the teasing and annoying he has done me while he plays this game, or even when he had me to order complete submission from has he once touched me like that, praise be to Allah. I will think the kisses I yet owe him not nearly so bad a price to pay, that he does no more than put his hand in my hair to take them.” He sighed and took a long swallow of the hot coffee. “I do not understand him, or his madness, but he has never pressed me to anything nearly so horrible.” He shivered despite himself. “Truly, my friend, I had no idea of-- what it might have been.”
“I’m really sorry you saw that.” Rick said softly, but the hand that squeezed his was gentle.
“It was-- unnerving.” Ardeth sighed. He could recall all too clearly how his twin had looked and sounded as he struggled for that last handful of minutes in Rick's arms. He shivered, feeling for a moment as he had then, like a ghost himself. He shook his head, dispelling the persistent image and found a smile for his brother. "I am well, truly, only tired and thirsty as you said." He refilled his coffee cup. "Allah knows how thankful I am that we have survived both battles yesterday as well and whole as we are."
"Yeah." Rick agreed. "How about everybody else? Jonathan and Selim and Ahdam, and Arebe and the others?"
Ardeth closed his eyes, and let the grief wash over him for a moment. "Jonathan, Selim, and Ahdam, are all well praise be to Allah. Arebe rests now in Paradise. Pasha lost one son, Allah have mercy on his parents in their grief, and in all likelihood I have lost one third of the warriors of the Medjai in battle. There is, I am saddened to say, much lamentation amongst my people tonight. Allah I trusts knows that I mourn their loss as well. It is a great victory certainly. But the cost is always high for such things." He sipped his coffee and then glanced eastward. "Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el’rahim." He meant the prayer with all his heart.
"I am so sorry, Ardeth." Rick gripped his forearm with one hand and squeezed tightly.
"Thank you my friend. Truly, I am saddened at the loss but I can not help but be gladdened as well that we lost no more than we did. We are Medjai, Rick, death always walks with us, close as any loved one, as he always has, and no doubt always will."
"I'm glad we gave him the slip though." Rick's hand shook a bit. "I am so damned sick of watching you die."
"I am not dead." He said firmly, setting his coffee down. He took his brother's hand and brought it to his chest to press it over his heart. "Nor harmed, nor bleeding, thanks be to Allah." He met his brother's eyes with all the honesty he knew how to put into his gaze. "Have faith in that, Rick."
"I wish I could." Rick replied, but the horror in his eyes did not lessen any and it was almost enough to bring Ardeth to tears himself to see such pain.
"Tell me then what I can do to allow you to believe that." He squeezed Rick's hand tightly.
"I don't know." Rick answered but his fingers tightened on Ardeth's robes for a long moment and then let go as Rick got to his feet with a muttered curse. "I can't do this okay? I'm going to go walk...or..."
Ardeth stood up and with no idea if it would help or not but having no idea what else to do he only pulled his brother close and held him with all the strength he had. "I am not dead."
Rick made a choked sort of sound that might have been meant as a chuckle. "You will be. I'll turn around and this'll all be gone. Just gone. And I won't be able to keep you safe, no matter what I do. I'm so sorry, Ardeth. God forgive me, I'm so sorry."
"Shhh." He stroked one hand down his brother's back, not certain of what else to do. But Rick had not tried to pull away only stood there, but he was shaking, a fine tremble that apparently not all of his brother's strength could suppress. "There is nothing to be sorry for. Truly, Rick all that he created for you was shadows. Allah have mercy, my friend I do not have the words for how much it means to me that you would endure such torture for my sake. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I couldn't keep him away from you, Ardeth.. I can't even do it here."
"I am well, and whole, he did not harm me any, Rick. No one has ever harmed me so badly."
"I know it wasn't real. But, it doesn't help. I can still hear you scream. No matter how brave and strong you try to be. So many times, Ardeth. I had to watch, and listen..."
"Look at me." He pushed Rick away a bit and shook his brother hard for a change. "And listen to me now Rick O'Connell." He put all the command into his voice that he used with his tribesmen when he had faced them down the night before. "I am well. Evelyn and Alex are well. None of us is dead. I have not been harmed at all. Anubis showed you lies, brother. Only that, no matter how well wrought. Let the nightmare go now." He shook him again, firmly.
Rick shuddered but his hands came up to grip Ardeth's. "Stop that."
"You shake sense into me when I need it." He reminded him. "Let the horror go now, habib. Truly, it was only shadows. Look at me and let me convince you that I am whole." Rick met his eyes fully and Ardeth could almost see him finch as if expecting the sword to fall and the horror to start. He found all the love he could and tried to put that in his eyes instead.
Slowly some of the haunted look left the blue eyes that met his. "Ardeth." Rick gripped his wrists tighter.
"Yes." He made it an affirmation. "I am right here. There is no enemy to face, Rick. No pain to keep me safe from or hold me after. Nothing to fear at all. Only me."
"He really didn't hurt you any?" Rick asked, and the voice was steady but there was still such fear in his eyes.
"I took a rather bad blow to the head in battle that is the only injury I suffered yesterday. Nothing else I swear it."
"I want to believe you. I do. It's just-- not there, Ardeth."
"Then let us put it there." He kept Rick's gaze and let go of his friend's shoulders to untie the lacings on his robes and slide them from his shoulders. "No blood, no pain, nothing to fear." He took Rick's hand and pressed it firmly over his heart. Then something else came to mind. "He touched me so," he moved Rick's hand down his chest to his stomach. "Only that, through my robes even. That was real, I admit." He took a deep breath and then pushed his brother's hand lower. "Then like so." And he could not keep from flushing a bit. "Only that and nothing more."
"So that was real, and the rest wasn't?"
"Truly." He nodded.
"I..." Rick met his eyes for a long while and then seemed to shake himself but even more of the horror left his eyes. "It's easier to believe when I can see it you know?"
"Then do so." He brought Rick's hand back to rest over his heart. "I am well, truly."
A shiver. "This time.” Rick’s voice was a soft mutter. And Ardeth was almost certain his friend had not meant to say that aloud.
"This moment is all we have Rick. I no more know the future than you do.” He stopped. "So, I will ask of you what you asked of me last night, Rick. How can I help, hmm?” He drew his sword and set it on the table, then his daggers. "My oath on it, as Medjai, Rick. Tell me how to help and I will see it done.”
"Oh God, Ardeth don't. This is so not a good idea."
"Why?" He asked. “Le me help?" He reached out to clasp his brother’s shoulder but Rick turned away and set his cup down on the table. “Can you not trust me with this, Rick?” He had to ask.
"It’s not you I don’t trust, Ardeth. I should...Right now, I'm not all together you know?"
"No, I am rather certain I once again do not understand at all. But I also know I do not care.” He put his hands on Rick’s shoulders, and then began to rub at the tenseness he could feel. “What can I do?” He would wear his friend down with repetition if that was the only option available.
"Ardeth..." Rick shook his head.
He sighed. "Then I will find my patience somewhere." But Allah knew it was a bitter drink to swallow that he could not help. Somewhere, for his brother's sake, he found the strength for a smile. "You would think I would be better at it, do you not?"
"No. I'm not managing it at all. God, Ardeth, don't do this now?"
"Do what?" He asked, because he was no longer certain what his friend meant. He pulled his robe back into place, lacing it shut with countless practice. And it was a familiar weight to be alone even with company. In an odd way though it made him feel much more like himself than he had since he had seen his twin die. What an odd thing to find solidity in.
"Don't..." Rick gripped his shoulders and he fully expected to be shaken, but Rick only pulled him close, wrapping both arms around him tightly. "Don't go?"
"If it helps to have me here of course I will stay." He hugged his brother back. And Allah help him because he could not help but recall how it had felt yesterday to be in Rick’s arms and lost for those amazing moments of passion and desire. And he was ashamed at himself for thinking of it now, when he should have be satisfied well enough with being able to comfort Rick some and the soft warmth of friendship shared. They stood there for a long few moments. And he made himself be content with that. Rick’s arms tightened around him and some of the tension left the strong muscles finally. Ardeth closed his eyes and thanked Allah once more that they were both safe and well.
Asr:ToC