The Forever Friends
by LadiSwan

Summary: Evy's American penpal arrives in Egypt with her young daughter and younger brother.  But as she sets foot on Egyptian soil, she becomes haunted by dreams of a past life, of a handsome prince, a young concubine, and the concubine's best friend. . .a beautiful girl named 'Anck-su-namun.'  As an ancient evil arises once more, Anck-su-namun finds herself in a Place-in-Between, and while there, she also discovers a chance at redemption. . .if she can look past Ardeth Bey's Med-jai markings.

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Several hours after the abduction in the bazaar, the Med-jai and the O'Connells set out.  Ardeth insisted he could ride a horse, but Rick and Evy joined forces to make him ride in the car.  They used a decidedly unfair method in this. . .by having Miranda ask him to stay with her.  Ardeth promised himself that he would make those two pay for such underhanded tactics. . .when his head didn't feel like it would fall off his shoulders.

Kaphiri awaited them at the dock.  He had been informed of the change in plans, and had gathered the necessary bribes and such to make sure the guilty parties did not know they were on board. . .and to delay the departure of the boat as long as he could.  It was not easy to sneak five Med-jai, three Westerners, and two children aboard the barge, but it was done and in short order, Ardeth found himself settled in his cabin.

Kaphiri was briefing him about what they knew to date.  From the information he had gathered, Celia was still unconscious. . .most likely drugged.  It didn't seem that she was otherwise harmed, and Ardeth silently swore to slit the throat of every men in that party, if she suffered further.  While he waited, too, Kaphiri had sent messages to the Med-jai, informing them of the attack on their chieftain and the abduction of the girl.  He made it clear that though the men sought Hamunaptra, the girl did not, and she was not to be harmed, under any circumstances. 

Good.  Very good.  Ardeth didn't like the idea of rescuing Celia while they were on the docks. . .he preferred to wait until they were in the desert.  Med-jai territory.  Not just theirs, but it was in the desert that his Med-jai would hold the advantage.  And so he sat in his cabin, burning with frustration, but knowing any attempt to rescue his new American friend in such close quarters would most likely result in her death.

O'Connell and Evy were with him at the moment. . .it seemed Evelyn didn't fully trust him not to do something foolish.  True enough, Ardeth often forgot to take care of himself.  But his stupidity had already resulted in Celia's capture. . .he would not allow his stupidity to cause her death.  And so, he simply listened while Evelyn talked about. . .things. . .Ardeth wasn't even sure what she was saying.  At the same time, O'Connell was cleaning his guns.

O'Connell broke in, "Evy. . .why don't you check on Miranda and Alex?"  Evy stopped in mid-sentence to glower at her husband.  O'Connell nodded toward Ardeth, and the Med-jai saw understanding dawn in her eyes.  She looked back at O'Connell and nodded.  She closed her book, walked over to kiss Ardeth's forehead, then left the room.  O'Connell looked back at Ardeth with a wry grin, asking, "Subtle, ain't she?"

"Yes," Ardeth agreed with a wry grin of his own, "about as subtle as you, my friend."  O'Connell laughed, and Ardeth continued, "Well, since my brother is currently checking on your son and Celia's daughter for the third time tonight. . ."  Anatol had been jumping back and forth between the children and Ardeth, until O'Connell 'suggested' he stayed there, so he wouldn't make Ardeth's head feel worse.

"Okay, you're right. . .and so is Evy.  Subtlety ain't my strong suit.  Listen.  Aw, shit, this was so much easier when I was rehearsing it in my head.  Why didn't you trust me enough to tell me everything about Jason Ferguson?" O'Connell finally asked.  Ardeth was startled.  He had managed to keep Evelyn and Alex out of danger. . .why was O'Connell so. . .why was he behaving like this?

"O'Connell. . .how do our conversations go usually?" Ardeth asked with a sigh.  The other man glared at him, but Ardeth wasn't about to back down.  The Med-jai continued, "I kept your wife and son from harm. . .what more do you wish me to do?  How many times have we been through this, O'Connell?  I could not keep your family out of this, not completely. . .but I did keep them safe.  What more do you want?"

The American's answer startled him.  Instead of answering him directly, the other man asked, "How long have we known each other, Ardeth?  Almost eight years?"  A bit surprised, Ardeth nodded, and O'Connell continued, "You call my brother-in-law Jonathan.  You call my wife Evelyn.  You call my son Alex.  But you have never called me 'Rick.'  It's always been O'Connell.  Why is that?"

"You have never given me leave to use 'Rick,' my friend," Ardeth answered simply.  O'Connell blinked in surprise, and Ardeth continued, "During our second adventure together, shortly before you and Evelyn married, your wife told me to call her 'Evelyn' or 'Evy,' which I did. . .and I told her to call me by my name.  At the same time, your brother-in-law gave me leave to use his name.  You have never given me leave to call you 'Rick,' so I have not."

O'Connell stared at him a moment longer, then muttered, "Holy crap.  You're serious." Ardeth simply glared at him, getting well and truly annoyed with the other man for. . .for not taking Ardeth's ways seriously.  From the first moment of their meeting it had been like this! 

What did Ardeth have to do?  His headache returned with a vengeance and he asked around the pounding in his head, "What would you have me do, O'Connell?  I realize you do not respect my ways or beliefs. . .but this is whom I am.  Whom I have always been.  What do you want of me?  You accuse me of putting your wife and child at risk, when I am trying to save them.  You belittle my beliefs, you. . ."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. . .Ardeth, calm down!  Shit.  Listen, I'm sorry.  I never meant. . .  It's just that after all this time, I didn't think you needed me to tell you to call me by my name!" O'Connell exclaimed.  Ardeth sank back against his bunk, closing his eyes.  He knew he should apologize to O'Connell, but he simply didn't have the energy for that.  There was the scratch of a chair moving across the floor, then footfall.

Then O'Connell said softly, his voice much closer now, "I'm sorry.  And. . .you're right.  I've been a lousy friend.  You've put yourself at risk, and I never really bothered to thank you for that.  And I don't mean to. . .sound like. . .like I do.  It's just. . .these things which you accept so easily. . .I'm still getting used to.  And I suppose I'm jealous of you."  Ardeth opened his eyes at that, startled by the admission. . . especially given who was making it.

O'Connell continued, "You have your life turned upside down on a regular basis. . .most of the time by Evy and me. . .and you just deal with it.  You're stronger than I am, and I'm jealous of that. You're stronger than I am, and you know exactly who you are.  That's not something I know.  I guess I forget that it comes with a price.  You didn't ask to guard Hamunaptra or have your world shattered.  But you did the best you could, and I got no business trying to take that away from you."

Now Ardeth was speechless.  After a moment, he found his voice, asking with no small amount of concern, "My friend. . .are you feeling all right?  Were you struck on the head at the same time I was?"  O'Connell dropped his head, and for a moment, Ardeth was on the verge of apologizing, but the other man lifted his head and smiled at him.  O'Connell just shook his head. . .amusement warring with exasperation.

"See!  Th. . .th. . .that's what I'm talking about!  Ardeth. . .Evy and me, we had a long talk today before we left the house today.  I thought at the time that she. . .well. . .she didn't know what she was talking about.  But damn if she hasn't been right every time so far.  She's starting to sound like you, scary as that is," O'Connell said, and Ardeth rolled his eyes.  O'Connell continued, "She knew, before anyone else, that you were attracted to Celia.  And. . .she told me outright that I'd been a lousy friend to you.  And that you had come to expect it.  You shouldn't.  You don't deserve it.  Nobody does."

Ardeth's mind had stopped, albeit briefly, when O'Connell referred to his feelings toward Celia.  What did O'Connell mean, he was attracted to Celia?  He had vowed to protect her. . .a vow that he was now even more determined to carry out, since he had failed her.  O'Connell leaned forward and said, "Now don't you even think about denying it, Ardeth.  I saw the look on your face when you touched her hand."  When. . .oh.  Ardeth swallowed hard, remembering the incident in question during a lesson.

Most of the time, Celia was on her feet immediately after falling, but on that particular day. . .and the two days which followed. . .her reaction time was a little slower than it had been, and her movements were sluggish.  Ardeth had reached down to help her up.  She had taken his hand with a rueful smile. . .rueful and pained.  And as their palms touched, something zapped through Ardeth and for a moment, he thought his heart would stop from the shock.

It had been the first time they touched and it had startled him.  From her expression, it had startled her, too.  But she wrapped her fingers around his hand, and allowed him to pull her to her feet.  They had stared at each other. . .Ardeth wasn't sure what to do next.  If he was supposed to do anything.  Did he acknowledge the sensation which had shot through him at her touch?  Or did he carry on, as if nothing had happened?

She made that decision for him when she gave him a faint smile and said, "I'm all right.  Just a bit sore."  But Ardeth couldn't help feeling as if there was something more she wanted to say.  And he had no idea what to do next, so the lesson began once more.  He permitted himself a teacher's pride in his student.  She was attentive and she was smart, sometimes seeing where he was going with a particular point before he got there.

He wasn't worried about her 'clumsiness.'  What she lacked in grace, she made up for in brains, which was important indeed.  She was beginning to anticipate his actions. . .he could see it in her eyes.  She would never be a great warrior. . .but she would, in time, be good enough to protect herself, her home and her child.  Further, Ardeth was pleased that she knew there were times to fight and times to run.  Such as when she had been chased by those men.  If she had stood and fought, she would have died.  Something which made Ardeth Bey very cold inside. 

Aware of O'Connell staring at him, Ardeth said softly, "I have. . .even if I am attracted to Celia. . .it can go nowhere.  She is an American.  She will go back to Chicago with her daughter.  And I cannot ask a woman to share this life I lead.  I cannot make her my first priority, O'Connell, and she deserves nothing less than to be first."  O'Connell just smiled, and Ardeth had the eerie sense the other man was hearing what he wasn't saying.

"In the first place. . .despite all that you just said, I didn't hear a denial in there.  You are attracted to Celia.  In the second place, Celia ain't goin' nowhere for a while.  She's staying in Egypt until the baby is born.  She's been through a pregnancy, she has a better idea of what to expect, and she can help out Evy.  And in the third place. . .you were the last person I'd ever expect to be a coward when it came to love.  You're afraid, Ardeth," O'Connell said.

Ardeth knew he should have been furious with O'Connell for calling him a coward.  But the Med-jai did not like wasting time on denying the truth. . .especially not when he had a pounding headache.  He sighed, "I am afraid.  Even without the other. . . complications. . .I am afraid to make my. . .dreams. . .known to Celia.  I have no experience with. . .such things.  And I fear I would. . .offend her."

O'Connell looked at him, his mouth opening.  At first, nothing came out.  Then he blurted out, "Holy. . .are you telling me that you're a virgin???????  No way!"

Ardeth felt his face grow very, very warm.  O'Connell got up suddenly, in a movement which made Ardeth's head hurt anew at just the sight of it, and began to pace.  He muttered, "Of course you are. . .you ain't the love 'em and leave 'em type.  You're too serious to pay attention to a girl unless you really, really like her. . .and being the Med-jai leader, you got other things on your mind.  You're a virgin!"

This was said with entirely too much enjoyment, for Ardeth's liking.  O'Connell continued, shaking his head, "Unbelievable.  The man who reduced Celia to a blithering idiot when he smiled at her. . .the man whom both she and my wife describe as 'devastatingly handsome,' usually just to annoy me. . .is a virgin!  Ardeth, buddy. . .before we do anything about this attraction of yours to Celia, we've got to get you more experience!"

The door had opened and closed in the middle of O'Connell ranting, but until he moved, Ardeth couldn't see who had come in.  And Evelyn blurted out, "Richard O'Connell, you leave him alone!  Shame on you for embarrassing him like that!"  Ardeth groaned and tried to sink lower into his bunk.  He wondered if there was a spell in the Med-jai records he could learn for future reference. . .like the next time he was in the middle of a husband/wife argument.

"But. . .but. . .but. . ." O'Connell stammered, his blue eyes going very, very wide at this surprise attack from his wife.  Ardeth made no attempt to help his floundering friend.  Instead, he pulled as far from the bickering couple as was humanly possible with the wall at his back, and the fact that his six foot two inch frame could only do so much.  O'Connell finally blurted out, "But Evy!  He's a virgin!"

"Sooooooo?" Evelyn asked with exaggerated patience.  Ardeth had once heard a peculiar Western saying, regarding a fish.  How did that go?  Oh yes. . .his gaping mouth rather resembled a stranded fish.  That saying seemed perfect for O'Connell at this moment.  Evelyn continued, "Honestly, Rick!  I thought you wanted me to leave so you could make things right with Ardeth, instead of embarrassing him further."

"That was before I figured out that he was a virgin!  Honey!  Do you really want your best friend's first time to be with another virgin, one who has no experience?" Rick finally managed to get out.  Clearly, like Ardeth himself, O'Connell did not regard the night which produced Miranda to be a true first time for Celia.  The pathetic excuse for a man, whose only true accomplishment was the child he had helped to create, had only been using Celia.

"Yes!  As a matter of fact, I do!  Not that it's any of your concern," Evelyn retorted.  Ardeth thanked her with a glance, and she simply winked at him.  She turned back to her husband and continued, "Now, unless you have an apology to make to Ardeth, I suggest you go talk with your son.  He's making the Med-jai utterly insane."  O'Connell simply huffed, but did shoot a glance over at Ardeth.

Understanding immediately, the Med-jai answered, "All is well, O. . .all is well, Rick."  He was rewarded with a grin, then the other man was gone.  Ardeth allowed his head to drop back against the pillows. 

His headache had gotten even worse during the last few minutes, and he closed his eyes, sighing.  In a way, he was glad Evelyn had decided to come with them.  She was right.  He would have collapsed before they had even rescued Celia.  It was just. . .there were so many things to do.  Plans and preparations to make.  The bunk shifted slightly and Ardeth opened his eyes to see Evelyn looking at him.  He smiled, and she said, "You know. . .he did mean well."

"I do. . .but I do not wish my. . .my lack of sexual experience broadcasted over the entire barge.  I have other priorities in my life, Evelyn, I. . .what am I doing, having this conversation with you?" Ardeth groaned.  He closed his eyes, and Evelyn just touched his burning cheek very gently.  He could not believe he had just said that to her.  True enough, she was his friend. . .but O'Connell, Rick, had just referred to Celia as Evelyn's best friend.

"Because, Ardeth, you can.  There is no need to be embarrassed.  But you're a young, handsome, intelligent, loving man.  You have so much love to give, Ardeth, and all I want. . .all either of us want. . .is for you to be happy.  Rick isn't very good at saying so, but I know he feels as I do.  We want you to be happy. . .we want a good woman who will take care of you, and love you the way you deserve to be loved," Evelyn replied and Ardeth opened his eyes.

"And what about Celia?" he asked, "are you so sure I can make her happy?  I do not even know if I am capable of loving her as she deserves to be loved!  I do not know if I am capable of loving any woman!  All I know is duty, Evelyn, duty and sometimes death.  What kind of a life is that for a woman such as her?  I would not ask such a thing of her, even without the other complications.  It would be too presumptuous."

"No, my darling brother. . .you are being presumptuous now.  Celia can make such a decision for herself.  She knows the difference between a man whom she can trust and a man whom she cannot.  And she trusts you.  Do not take that away from her!" Evelyn said fiercely.  She shook her head, saying, "I told Rick that he hasn't done right by you. . .I suppose neither have I.  At the beginning, I hated you.  I hated you for trying to drive us away from Hamunaptra, for being so. . .so. . .such a know-it-all man.  But I was wrong, Ardeth.  I was wrong." 

Ardeth was stunned by Evelyn's words.  She smiled at him tenderly and continued, "I was fortunate, Ardeth, because in time, I grew to know the real Ardeth Bey.  Someone whom I love very much.  Family is not created by blood.  Alex was not born of my body, but I love him no less than the child Rick and I have created together.  You were not born into the Carnahan family, but I love you just as much as I love Jonathan."

By now, Ardeth couldn't have spoken under any circumstances.  Half of him believed this was a hallucination, created by the blow to his head.  Evelyn just smiled and said, "I think you and Celia can love each other.  I think you are coming to love each other.  Don't be afraid of love, Ardeth.  Never be afraid of love."  Ardeth didn't know how to answer her.  And it wasn't necessary.  Evelyn whispered, "Just think about what I have said, Ardeth.  You don't have to make any decisions right now.  Tomorrow, we rescue Celia, and right now, that's everyone's top priority.  Rest now."  She leaned forward and kissed his forehead, then quietly left the room.  She left a very confused Med-jai chieftain behind her.

*         *          *

He stood alone, staring at the moonlight as it glistened on the moonlight.  By all rights, he should be in his bunk, asleep.  Tomorrow would be a difficult day, and they all needed their rest.  There were three other Med-jai on board, in addition to the party who would be rescuing Celia Ferguson the following morning, and those Med-jai were keeping watch.  He should have been resting. . .but sleep would not come easily for Anatol Bey this night.

When he closed his eyes, he could still see his brother lying in Garai's arms, unconscious and terribly, terribly pale.  It had brought back memories which he thought he had banished for good.  Not just of finding his elder brother in Hamunaptra, but older memories.  Andreas.  Anatol had thought those memories were gone forever, with the death of Lock-nah, but it seemed that he would be forever haunted.

He had known about the abduction attempt this morning, because Ardeth had told him about Jason Ferguson's plans.  Anatol had asked him why he would agree to the visit to the bazaar, if he already knew about it.  Ardeth answered that for one thing, it would have tipped off the conspirators that they were onto them.  Anatol could see the truth in that.  The other reason was, Ardeth had hoped to learn more about this new threat.

Learn they had. . .but Anatol could have lost his older brother today.  He had long since accepted that Ardeth was just a human being, not an angel.  Nor did his brother wish to be put atop a pedestal.  In a rare flash of the brother whom Anatol remembered from his early childhood, Ardeth admitted not long ago that he was lonely enough, as the chieftain of their people.  To be considered somehow more than he was. . .that would have been even more lonely.

And Anatol hadn't been there for him, the way he should have been.  The young warrior had sworn to himself, at the beginning of this holiday, that he would take care of his brother.  And a poor job indeed he had done of it.  He should have been at Ardeth's side.  Never mind what his brother had said about a perimeter sweep.  One of the other Med-jai could have done that.  Anatol's place, as the last-born son of Suleiman and Altair Bey, was at his brother's side.  Nowhere else.  So. . .deeply shaken by his brother's brush with death, Anatol had taken his fear and frustration and anger out on the man who had attacked him.

Not on Jonathan Carnahan.  It wasn't the fault of the Englishman.  After all, his first instinct was to stay with the defenseless child, Miranda.  Ardeth was a warrior and a leader, but Miranda was a child.  Anyone's first instinct would be to see to her, including Anatol's own.  And after that blow had landed, Jonathan had successfully protected Ardeth.  So, no. . .Anatol was not angry with Jonathan.  With himself, yes. . .with that betrayer Jason Ferguson, yes. . .and yes, even with his brother.  But he was not angry with Jonathan. 

Were it not for the chattering teeth, Anatol would have never known he was no longer alone, but the curious sound drew his attention.  He looked down to find little Miranda Ferguson huddled near his leg.  Forgetting his own guilt in the face of her obvious misery, the young Med-jai swooped down and swept her into his arms.  Miranda put her arms around his neck and whispered, "I can't visit Ardeth, 'cause he's sleeping.  And Mr. O'Connell. . .Uncle Rick. . .is talking to Alex, so I left the room."

And so, she had come to Anatol for comfort, because he taught her.  It was comfort which she needed desperately, because she was so afraid for her mother.  Anatol felt guilty for a new reason then.  Here he had been pitying himself because he had been unable to protect his brother. . .but Miranda had seen her mother kidnapped, seen her uncle betray her mother, and seen Ardeth attacked.  No wonder the poor child was frightened.

"Oh, little one. . .you do know that we will find your mother and get her back?" Anatol asked softly.  Miranda huddled against his body, tucking her head under his chin, and nodded, ever so slightly.  Anatol continued, "It scared you, did it not, when that nasty man hit my brother?"  Again, Miranda nodded and Anatol sighed, "It frightened me, too.  He is my older brother. . .and just like you, he makes me feel safe."

Miranda looked up at him and said, "But Anatol, you're big, too!"  Anatol almost laughed at that statement.  He was several inches shorter than his brother, after all, and had a hard time keeping a respectable beard.  But, he realized with a start, to her, he was big.  And he had been teaching her how to defend herself, just as Ardeth had been teaching her mother.  So he decided that he should show a little more respect for the child.

"I know, little one. . .but he's still my big brother, and he always will be.  When we were children, he took care of me.  He made me feel safe.  He still makes me feel safe, and I'm a warrior in my own right.  So when he was hurt. . .it frightened me.  Just like it frightened you," Anatol replied.  He didn't tell her that their older brother Andreas had died when he was only nine years old, that Anatol had seen him die.  Or that in that instant, Anatol had seen Ardeth change from a novice warrior into the new chieftain.

Miranda was quiet for a long time, then she said softly, "It's not so scary, when you're not alone."  Anatol had no answer to that, save tightening his arms around the small girl's body.  There was another long silence, then Miranda said, "Anatol?  I think Ardeth likes my mommy."  This time, Anatol couldn't quite help the twitch of his lips.  So, Miranda thought that Ardeth liked Celia?  She wasn't the only one.

Anatol wasn't sure how he felt about that. . .wasn't sure if he liked the idea of Ardeth with Celia.  For a variety of reasons, none of which actually had anything to do with the fact that she was an American.  It was more a matter of, he wasn't sure if she was strong enough to handle what would come as the Western bride of the Med-jai chieftain.  The consequences which would come for both Ardeth and Celia.  True enough, she respected their ways and their beliefs, understood the need for those ways (which meant she was one up on O'Connell at times), but while that would please the elders, there was still the matter of the maidens.

Was Celia strong enough to deal with the disappointed young girls who had their hearts set on the handsome, solemn chieftain?  Anatol had heard that description of his brother so many times, he rolled his eyes now when he did hear it.  True enough, some of these young females were younger than Anatol himself. . .what about themselves did they think would interest Ardeth?  The ones who concerned him weren't the ones intelligent enough who had an idea of what would make Ardeth, the chieftain and the man, happy.

The ones who worried him were the ones who wanted Ardeth not for his loyalty, his compassion, or his love. . .but for what he could give them.  The prestige of being married to the chieftain of all twelve tribes.  The ones who prized the man Ardeth Bey were more inclined to be fair, and those girls did exist.  It was the poisonous, malicious girls who worried him, who would make fun of Celia for her pale skin and eyes, and for not knowing Arabic.

That would allow them to speak of her behind her back, and mock her unfamiliarity with their ways.  When Anatol acknowledged these fears to Garai, who seemed to regard Celia as a granddaughter or a daughter, Garai reminded him that there was Altair Bey, as well as Aleta and Acacia.  If those three decided that they liked Celia, the poisonous beauties would find themselves facing the Three, as the elders had taken to calling them.

But there was one other reason why Anatol struggled with the idea of his brother with Celia.  She touched his own heart, in a way which Anatol didn't fully understand.  Unlike his older brother, Anatol had been with women. . .though he would have never dreamed of teasing his brother about his lack of experience with women.  Ardeth had a heavy burden, and it was hard for him to make himself that vulnerable, even for so short a time.  Things would turn out as they were meant to. . .but there were times when Anatol wished he could move the time table of the gods along.  And this rescue of Celia in the morning would be a good place to start.




.                     .                         .

During the night and the following morning, the kidnappers were watched like hawks by the Med-jai.  Word had spread among the latecomers that a cowardly attack against their chieftain had taken place. . .and now, it was personal for the Med-jai.  The truth was, among those Med-jai who had followed Ardeth Bey into battle, he was greatly loved.  He was one of theirs, a soldier who was willing to die alongside his men.

Those who did not love him, did respect him.  He was a fair man, though sometimes harsh.  However, there were those among the Med-jai who sometimes wondered if their young chieftain wasn't too merciful. . .the events at Hamunaptra, seven years earlier, were a perfect example.  But at the same time, if he hadn't spared the lives of the O'Connells, they would have never had their help in putting Imhotep down the second time.  Things balanced out in the end.

Those who had no respect at all for their chieftain didn't last long.  There were usually two reasons for this lack of respect. . .one, because of his youth, and two, because he did not spill blood unless he had to.  Those people did exist.  But they did not remain Med-jai for long, because too many people did respect him. . .or love him.  Chief among these men was fifty-five year old Alekos, commander of the Geban tribe of the Med-jai. 

While the Med-jai had begun their sacred duty as the keepers of Hamunaptra, three thousand years earlier, the bodyguards of the pharaoh had turned into a new nation over time.  Each tribe took the name of a specific Egyptian god, or goddess.  The tribe to which the Bey family had always belonged was the Osiran.  The Geban tribe came into being with the arrival of the Ptolemies, and with them, came their Greek influence.  Most of the families in the Geban tribe were of Greek descent. . .including Alekos himself. 

Alekos had been a young man of sixteen when the caravan carrying young Altair Costas was attacked.  In a manner of speaking, since the Geban tribe was the Greek tribe of the Med-jai, Alekos had been responsible for the meeting between the young, frightened Greek girl and the future leader of the Osiran tribe, or the Asu tribe (which is what the Osirans called themselves).  Alekos, as the son of the Commander, was responsible for taking Altair Costas to Hamunaptra, to speak with Suleiman.  He wanted to hear what they knew about the City of the Dead.

When Altair married Suleiman later that year, Alekos and his father stood up with the girl who had lost her entire family in the raid.  Alekos, who loved the stories of the ancient Med-jai, told Altair the story of another foreign girl who arrived on Egypt's shores and won the heart of a prince.  Lady Ardath, mother of the second Med-jai chieftain. . .Ardeth Bey.  From that story, Altair had chosen the name of her second son. . .and the current chieftain.

So Alekos had a long history with the Bey family.  He had watched all five Bey children grow up, and had wept at the death of Andreas Bey.  He, of all people, had the least amount of confidence in young Ardeth when he first became the chieftain.  It was a tumultuous time for the Med-jai, and the next nine years proved to be a troubled time indeed for the ancient protectors.  And Alekos had little confidence that the shy young warrior, who had only passed his rites of manhood the previous year, was strong enough to stand up to the divisions within the Med-jai.

The boy had surprised them all.  He had lost most of his early battles, because the elders weren't willing to listen to a boy of seventeen, chieftain or not.  But Ardeth fought on.  While he lost the early battles with the elders, he won the respect of his men, and the older commanders who saw in him the same determination which had made his father an excellent chieftain.  Diplomacy would come with age, they supposed.

As the years passed, and the warriors loyal to Ardeth grew in numbers, there was some worry that the growing divisions between the warriors and the elders would tear the Med-jai apart.  Not because Ardeth openly sought such division, but because the warriors, like Ardeth himself, had minds of their own.  And then, the Carnahan-O'Connell expedition took place, and everything changed. Including Ardeth himself.

In a way, the debacle at Hamunaptra in 1926 proved to be just the thing for the elders to finally see the truth.  In the modern era, the Med-jai simply weren't good enough any more.  Few of the elders had much experience with Westerners.  They had no idea how to fight them, much less how to deal with a determined young woman like Evelyn Carnahan.  Case in point?  The attempt to recover the key from her on the barge.  The warriors were fine ones. . .but the plan concocted by the elders was simply laughable. 

That attack had been ordered against Ardeth's wishes, because there were too many variables, too many things that could go wrong.  The same objections he had voiced this time around, as well.  But the elders went behind his back, and because of that, many Med-jai were dead.  And in short order, the Creature had been raised from the dead. . .more Med-jai were killed.  Including Ardeth's own uncle, the curator of the Cairo Museum.

Aric, the elder who lost his own son at Hamunaptra, and who had accompanied Anatol Bey to rescue their young leader, was now the boy's fiercest ally.  It would have been easy, Alekos thought, to blame Ardeth.  Too easy.  But the old man had learned his lesson.  The unwillingness of the elders to listen to their young chieftain had, in effect, cost the old man his son.  How could Ardeth fight the invaders, when he received so little support from his own people?  How could they expect that of him, the man had demanded, and then blame him for being unable to turn back the tide, with second or third-rate warriors?

After the first rising at Hamunaptra, the elders were thrown into a disarray.  Both by the change of allegiance demonstrated by one of Ardeth's most vocal detractors, and by almost losing their young chieftain for good, just as they lost his brother and father.  The other Commanders had been waiting for such a break during the last nine years. . .and to the surprise of only a few, threw all their support behind Ardeth. 

For his own part, Alekos had been impressed by Ardeth's determination during the first nine years. He was the first to pledge his wholehearted support.  He acted as Ardeth's agent as the young man recovered from his injuries, by seeking out instructors in Cairo who could teach the Med-jai modern forms of battle.  And for seven years, they had peace.  Until that woman, Meela, had come. . .and the City of the Dead was plundered once more.

Ardeth was away at the time. . .trying to sort out a dispute within the Tehuti tribe of the Med-jai.  By the time he returned, the work had already begun to raise the Creature once more.  Word had it that their chieftain swore in about six different languages, before he finally informed the elders that he would take the place of one of the workers, to find out as much as he could about what this woman Meela wanted.

What Ardeth didn't know, and what none of the elders or Commanders would ever tell him, was that the official who had given his permission for the dig at Hamunaptra met with. . .an unfortunate accident.  While Ardeth had been risking his life, first on the dig, then in England, Alekos had taken two of his best men and paid that official a little visit.  They could not undo the damage he had done. . .but they could make sure he could not cause any more harm.

And now, here they were. . .once more bound for Hamunaptra.  This time, however, the stakes were higher than in the past.  Even as the Med-jai feared the Creature, most of them also secretly pitied him. . .because each among them had been in love.  Had been that desperate, and had silently condemned Hamadi Bey for giving the order.  True enough, the other men had carried out the order. . .but Hamadi Bey was their captain, and to disobey a direct order was tantamount to disobeying the Pharaoh himself.  So. . .yes.  Many of the Med-jai did pity the Creature, for he had no control over the plagues he would leash into the world.

The evil they faced now. . .there was no such pity for this one.  Khaldun.  Who had killed not for love, but for hate.  For jealousy.  For pleasure.  Alekos knew from the ancient texts that Rameses and Imhotep, along with the Med-jai Terumun and the general Nassor, had taken Khaldun to Hamunaptra when it was learned that Khaldun caused the death of Rameses' favorite concubine.  There, they tortured him to death, then bound his spirit to Hamunaptra, to ensure that he could never again trouble the royal family.

But with Khaldun's death, strange things began to occur at Hamunaptra. . . culminating in the casting of the hom-dai five years after the murder of Khaldun.  And given the amount of activity within Hamunaptra during the last several years, it came as no surprise to Alekos that Khaldun's spirit had awakened once more.  What he didn't understand was how the American woman was involved. . .why she was taken.

However, whatever the situation, Alekos was determined not to fail his chieftain.  This time, they would do things the proper way. . .which didn't end in the death of every Med-jai sent to accomplish the task.  They would wait and watch the kidnappers.  They would allow the kidnappers to think they had the upper hand.  Allow them to get complacent and celebrate their victory.  As Ardeth had pointed out, they would expect a rescue attempt on the barge. . .because the Med-jai had done it before.

In addition, once they got into the open desert, they would be in Med-jai territory. . .the fighting ground which they knew best.  Word had been sent to the Geban tribe by Kaphiri of the Osiran tribe, giving them the route which would be taken.  Instructions had been passed around to all of the men now on the barge, to look into the room where the American woman was held.  Fix her features in their minds, because she was not to be harmed.

The others. . .including her traitorous brother. . .were another story.  Ardeth wanted at least one alive, to learn more about what was going on.  But if it became necessary to kill all of them. . .so be it.  And so, Alekos, Commander of the Geban Tribe, stared out at the Nile.  He promised himself that he would get the answers which Ardeth sought. . .and he would make those dogs pay for attacking his chieftain.

.                      .                      .

This had gone all wrong.  And Jason Ferguson had no idea how to make it right.  He could only stare at his sister's pale face, and silently plead for her forgiveness.  He had done this to her.  Not Ardeth Bey.  Not Celia.  Him.  As the hours passed, he had tried to hold onto his earlier certainty that he was doing this for Celia's own good, that she was falling under the sway of that bastard.  And as the hours passed, that certainty grew less and less certain.

But they were on a barge now, heading toward Hamunaptra.  The man, who had still refused to tell Jason his name, had insisted that Celia remain sedated. . . unconscious.  That wasn't what frightened Jason so badly. . .rather, it was a conversation he overheard.  A conversation which indicated that both Celia and Jason were being used, and that Celia would be the one to pay for Jason's stupidity.

Now, he was starting to understand why Evelyn O'Connell had insisted that he accompany Miranda and Celia to Egypt.  Why she then asked her husband and Ardeth Bey to meet them.  Because of these men with whom he had allied himself.  Men who sought to release someone named Khaldun. . .and his sister was key to this somehow.  Apparently, this Khaldun had murdered a young mother, three thousand years earlier.  Since the woman's blood had been used to bind him, only her blood could be used to set her free.

Since Celia was of the same ethnic background as that woman, whose parents had been from Scotland and Ireland respectively, she was of the same blood.  The Ferguson children could trace their ancestry back to Scotland and Ireland, in addition to other countries.  There were other things involved, which Jason didn't understand, but he understood enough.  Including the fact that their lives were forfeit, once the Med-jai caught up with them.

He had learned during the last week that the Med-jai protected Hamunaptra. . . they would sacrifice even their chieftain to do so.  Or rather, he would sacrifice himself, and tried to do so on many occasions.  With the attack on Ardeth Bey in the bazaar, the Med-jai were now furious.  Word had probably spread to the rest of the tribes. . .Jason had noticed Ardeth Bey receiving missives from birds.

They knew about the attack in the bazaar.  Hopefully, they also knew that Celia was not a danger to them.  Hopefully, Bey had told them to rescue Celia, instead of kill her with the others.  Jason leaned over and gently caressed his sister's forehead with his thumb.  He had done this to her.  And until the Med-jai attacked, he would protect her as best he could.  Taking responsibility was something he should have done a long time ago.

But it was always easier to push the blame onto someone else, for whatever reason.  Because they were older, because they were different, because, because, because.  He could have blamed Celia for coming to Egypt in the first place. . .but he remembered how unhappy she was, especially after she lost her job at the museum.  Evelyn O'Connell had offered her something, something she desperately wanted. . .of course she took it!

Face it, you idiot, he thought, you're a loser. . .you've been living off your sister for years, and denigrating her for your own mistakes.  Or because she loved you.  What kind of man are you, Ferguson?  Hell, that's an easy one. . .you ain't!  Your old man had it right all along.  Celia's more of a man than you'll ever be!  She's protected you and taken care of you ever since you can remember, and you never thanked her for that, did you?

He wanted to ask why. . .why had she put up with his nonsense for such a long time.  However, he knew the answer.  It was because he was her younger brother, and she loved him.  Because she had raised him, and believed his failings were her own.  But that wasn't her responsibility.  She was only five years older than he was. . .she was his sister, not his mother.  That wasn't her responsibility. . .responsibility for raising him had belonged to their parents.  Which was shirked and shoved onto the shoulders of their daughter.  Their five year old daughter.  And sometimes, Annabelle would pick up the slack.

More recently, Celia had her own child to raise. . .Miranda.  Jason shook his head, remembering that his niece had accompanied them to the bazaar.  She had likely seen her mother kidnapped and Ardeth Bey attacked.  Jason was plenty self-centered, but he had noticed that Miranda had developed a strong infatuation for the Med-jai leader.  She was only four years old.  She should have never seen that.

Why was it, that two children in the same family who had the exact same upbringing (or lack thereof) ended up so different?  Jason didn't understand that.  As the man of the family, it was his responsibility to take care of his sister.  Instead, he had actively encouraged her to accept the advances of a man who was seeking only to use her.  What kind of brother was he?  True, he had been happy to see his sister's eyes light up, as they did the first time Leslie Carstairs asked her to dance. . .until that moment, he hadn't realized how lonely she was.

By the same token, Jason had also noticed the way she interacted with Ardeth Bey.  The fighting lessons, the quiet conversations.  Even the way they would sometimes double-team Rick O'Connell at the dinner table.  It was obvious to Jason, who had known his sister for twenty-five years, that she was falling in love with the Med-jai chieftain.  He could see it in her eyes. . .in the way she smiled at him. . .and in her quiet trust of him.

That hurt.  Because Celia had never trusted Jason, the way she trusted Ardeth Bey.  It hurt even more, because he knew that he had no right to that trust.  Not after today.  His sister would likely forgive him, in time.  In time, she usually did forgive.  She had even forgiven their mother. . .though not their father.  But Jason knew in his heart that after his betrayal today, it would be much harder to win his sister's trust back.

All right.  Winning his sister's forgiveness and her trust had to wait.  In order for her to forgive him, and later, trust him, she had to be alive, and right now, Jason didn't think that was in the game plan for the bad guys.  Which meant, then, he had to betray someone once again. . .namely, the creatures who had captured his sister.  He had to make sure the Med-jai knew where to find them. . .and where Celia would be.  Think, Jason, think!  You keep bitching about being just as good as Ardeth Bey. . .well, here's your chance to show it!  There is a way you can help the Med-jai save your sister!

"There is a way.  But it would require that you sacrifice yourself.  Are you willing to do that, grandson?" a familiar voice asked.  Jason froze, his hand sliding from Celia's forehead, to her shoulder.  He prepared himself to protect his sister, by any means necessary.  And then he looked up. . .to see his grandmother standing there.  But she wasn't the old woman he remembered. . .no, she looked like a young girl of nineteen.  All the more curious, however, was that she was dressed in deerskin. . .in the clothes she had worn when she lived among the savages as a girl.

"I would not harm your sister, Jason, and you know it!  Even now, as your foolish associates continue to drug her, Cecelia finds strength in the memories which she had suppressed these many years. . .memories of whom she was.  Whom she can be once more," Annabelle replied.  She smiled faintly, adding, "When I lived among the People. . .I'll thank you not to refer to them as savages. . .I learned that drugs could open one's mind to the past and to the future."

Jason had a sick feeling he knew where this was going.  He was proved correct when this young version of his grandmother continued, " Because Cecelia is so deeply unconscious, I was able to show her the past. . .when she was Lady Ardath, one of the Med-jai matriarchs. . .and the beloved of Prince Rameses."  A wicked smile, which Jason recognized from his childhood, appeared, and his grandmother added, "Prince Rameses, who has been reborn as Ardeth Bey."

WHAT????????  Before Jason could question her, however, she continued, "But you wished to know what you could do, in order to save your sister.  It means, as I said, that you must sacrifice yourself.  And you will only be buying some time, but that may be all that we require, to defeat Khaldun.  Are you ready?"  Jason looked briefly at his sister. . .then he looked back at his grandmother, and nodded.  At the very least, he was ready to listen.

.                      .                       .

Evy had once told him, not long after they got married, that she counted how many times he cleaned or checked his guns.  She had been teasing, of course, but her meaning was clear.  What she didn't understand, at least not at first, was that to Rick O'Connell, ex-Legionnaire, ex-adventure, and current husband and father, guns were security.  For most of his life, they were the one thing he could count on. . .his guns and himself.

Evy was holding to the agreement she had made when she told Rick that she was going with them.  Kaphiri was escorting her, Alex, Miranda, and Jonathan to the Med-jai encampment near Hamunaptra. . .where Ardeth's mother and two sisters waited for them.  Rick would accompany Ardeth and the remaining Med-jai to the planned attack site.  From what Ardeth had told him this morning when Rick arrived in the chieftain's cabin to check on him, several of the tribes had sent men.

They would converge on the kidnappers, encircling them.  By Ardeth's figuring, the kidnappers would become complacent on the barge, expecting a rescue attempt early on.  That honestly didn't make sense to Rick. . .they wouldn't have time to plan a rescue so soon after the attack in the bazaar.  Ardeth agreed, but pointed out that the expectation was for a retaliatory strike immediately after the kidnapping.  Rick had to agree with that.  There was just something about the human mind which expected immediate retaliation.

At the same time, he reminded Ardeth that the longer it took for a rescue to take place, the more nervous the bad guys should be.  However, Ardeth again had an answer for him.  (There were times when Rick really hated that about his friend) The chieftain pointed out to him that the kidnappers probably didn't think the Med-jai would react so strongly to the kidnapping of a young American woman inside Cairo.  He had encountered that mentality before.

Again, Rick had to concede Ardeth had a point.  He really hated that.  And so, once more, he sat in Ardeth's cabin, cleaning and double-checking his guns.  Evy had rounded up the children and Jonathan, and were waiting with Kaphiri, since they would get off separately.  Ardeth was moving a little stiffly, but his eyes were bright and alert.  If Rick knew anything about the man now checking his own equipment, it was that he would do what needed to be done, and when it needed to be done.

He asked, however, just because he knew Evy would nag him about it later, "Are you all right?"  Ardeth nodded, and Rick supposed he was lucky Ardeth hadn't answered him with a sarcastic remark about this not being his first raid. No, Rick thought ruefully, that's my style, not his.  Even though he never has answered me directly when I've asked him if he was all right.  On the other hand, it was kinda obvious that he wasn't all right in London, not when he passed out practically at our feet after Alex was taken.

And though he was sure Ardeth wouldn't appreciate the reminder, Rick added, "Just wanted to make sure.  We don't want you collapsing at my feet again.  You ain't my type, buddy."  Ardeth glared at him, which relieved Rick's mind to no end.  If he was okay enough to glare at Rick, then he was in good enough shape to take out these jackasses.  Rick continued quietly, "Seriously, though. . .Evy would kill me if you fell over in a heap on the sand."

"I believe you will be safe from your wife's wrath, O'Connell. . .I will not keel over," Ardeth answered.  Rick glared at him. . .didn't they settle this last night?  Ardeth, however, had his back to the American.  He continued after a moment, "My main concern right now is Celia.  I have told Jonathan I am afraid for her.  If this is truly Khaldun. . .O'Connell, it is my fear that Khaldun will be worse than the Creature."

Worse. . .than Imhotep?  Was Ardeth kidding?  Whoops, wait a minute, this was Ardeth Bey they were discussing. . .the man who didn't have a sense of humor.  Of course he wasn't kidding.  And the American had learned the hard way to listen when Ardeth said something.  Rick turned to face the Med-jai, and as he had feared, Ardeth's dark eyes were truly concerned.  The American asked with some resignation, "Okay, I'll bite. . .how can this guy possibly be any worse than our ol' buddy Imhotep?"

"I am not proud of what my ancestors did, O'Connell, when they cast the hom-dai.  But I live with the consequences.  As all the Med-jai do, and have since the casting of the hom-dai. Imhotep deserved to be punished, yes, but not like that.  Khaldun. . .Khaldun was evil.  He took pleasure in killing, and in causing pain.  If he has, indeed, returned, then he will be more dangerous than the Creature," Ardeth replied quietly, with all the intensity which Rick O'Connell had come to expect from the Med-jai chieftain.

But what he had said, Rick hadn't expected.  He had never heard any of the Med-jai express remorse for the casting of the hom-dai. . .and Rick realized with a start that Ardeth had probably never spoken the words allowed.  To anyone, save members of his own immediately family.  The American felt his mouth drying out with the implications of that.  The trust which was being given to him.

So instead of mocking Ardeth's beliefs, to cover his own fear, Rick asked softly, "How is it possible, if this Khaldun didn't get by the hom-dai, that we're dealing with him now?  That was three thousand years ago, Ardeth."  The Med-jai sighed deeply and sat down on the bunk, massaging his temples.  Rick finished loading his ammunition belt, then walked over to sit down beside him.  He said, "Ardeth. . .I remember being Terumun.  I know whom Khaldun is.  But there are missing pieces to my memory."

"According to our records. . .kept by the Med-jai captains of old. . .the younger brother of Hamadi Bey overheard Khaldun bragging about the murder of Lady Ardath, favorite concubine to the prince Rameses.  He informed the prince.  Rameses, in turn, requested that Imhotep, Terumun, and the general, Nassor, accompany him.  It was their intent to abduct Khaldun and learn the truth.  The plans changed, and instead of. . .and instead, they took him to Hamunaptra," Ardeth replied.  Rick felt very cold suddenly. . .as if a wind had swept through him.

"Khaldun bragged about murdering her. . .bragged, because his cousin had loved her so much.  And Rameses went insane with grief and rage.  Imhotep told us to stay outside.  He was so angry," the American whispered, remembering.  Knowing now that Ardeth had been Rameses, he clearly saw his friend's grief-stricken face as Imhotep struggled to bring him under control.  It was so strange. . .seeing Ardeth's face, without the markings, and Imhotep holding him back.

Rick continued after a moment, "We heard his screams outside. . .Khaldun's screams.  Nassor was weeping, because he had loved Ardath as well.  And he was. . .praying to Anubis that Khaldun would suffer in each lifetime to come, for what he had done.  Then there was a silence, and Imhotep and Rameses came out.  Imhotep told us that he had bound Khaldun's spirit to Hamunaptra. . .Hamunaptra."

Rick raised his head to look at Ardeth.  The American at last made the connection which Ardeth had been trying to make him see, and breathed, "My God.  Khaldun swore as he died that it wouldn't end with him.  I heard that. . .and when Imhotep decided to resurrect Anck-su-namun, he took her to the City of the Dead!  Khaldun was waiting for him. . .and for the Med-jai.  I was there, Ardeth!  I remember now!  On the way to the City of the Dead, we only discussed stopping Imhotep. . . nothing was ever said about invoking the hom-dai!"

Now images were flooding through his head.  The madness shining out of Hamadi Bey's eyes.  The madness which seemed to flood through all of the Med-jai, save one.  Terumun himself.  Rick closed his eyes against the memories, and Ardeth said softly, "He wanted you to be the only one unaffected, my friend.  He wanted you to remember, and to know his power.  He wanted you to despair.  He feeds on pain, O'Connell, on pain and loneliness, hatred and grief."  Rick opened his eyes and looked at Ardeth.

"And resentment.  The other Med-jai were angry with Rameses, for blaming them for Ardath's murder. . .so it was easier for Khaldun to corrupt them," the American said.  Ardeth nodded, though he looked somewhat puzzled.  Rick, however, was trying to puzzle something else.  Rameses had been reborn as Ardeth, a Med-jai.  Why, then, in all the times Ardeth had been in Hamunaptra, had Khaldun never tried to take his revenge on the reincarnation of his cousin?

Rick was on the verge of asking Ardeth just that, when he remembered that Ardeth had no memory of his previous life.  Or, at least, not that one.  And since they were about to go into battle, he really didn't think now was the time to remind his friend that he had once been a homicidal maniac, either.  Ardeth asked softly, "Are you ready, O'Connell?"  Rick looked up, and nodded.  Yeah. . .it was time to get this show on the road.