Chapter 11
“I don’t believe you!”
“Admit defeat, Jonathan Carnahan!”
“Nay, I say!”
“Well there is only one way to settle this then.” Nasir grumbled with frustration as the Europeans walked right up to him. He had changed… just as Ardeth suggested. Nasir felt completely out of place in the dust colored robes. He gripped his newspaper tightly so the blasted woman didn’t snatch it again.
“Are you one of the formlerly black robed gentlemen?” Miss Evans said as she sat across from him.
“Yes,” Nasir sighed with a wince.
“The ones that have been following, Miss Evans?” Jonathon asked a little desperately.
“Yes,” Nasir was as embarrassed as Terrence had been to find out their mistake. It was absolutely humiliating.
“NO!” Jonathon said with frustration.
“Pay up,” Hermione said with her hand held out. Jonathon grumbled profusely as he pulled out his wallet. Nasir’s eyebrows raised.
“You couldn’t have held out another month, dear fellow? Black was such a good color on you.” Hermione snatched the cash from Jonothan’s hand primly.
“Thank you. Have a nice day.” The two of them walked off and Nasir opened his newspaper again with a shake of his head. He really hoped that his duty would be relieved soon. These Europeans were absolutely insane.
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Basma, Terrence, and Ardeth watched with amazement as the green smoke cleared and Adham’s wounds were mostly healed. Basma touched it carefully and Adham grinned.
“The pain is almost gone,” Adham croaked.
“Allah’s shit!” Terrence yelled.
“Terrence! Watch your filthy mouth,” Basma yelled.
“I think, Al’umu; this is one of the few times cursing makes absolute sense,” Ardeth said with amazement. Adham sat up carefully.
“I still feel…” Adham granted as he held onto his chest. “...Pain within my chest, but I feel leagues better.” Basma wiped away happy tears from her eyes.
“I am making that wonderful girl a blanket!” Basma exclaimed suddenly, and immediately went off to get her supplies. She stopped suddenly. “What colors does she like, Terrence?”
“How the bloody hell should I know?” Terrence burst out.
“You see her every day. What colors does she wear?” Basma hedged.
“Just… colors. I’d know!”
“You have eyes, yes?”
“Yes! But…”
“So your eyes haven’t deduced the colors she has worn even though the woman is literally in front of you nearly every day?!” Their arguing went back and forth for several minutes and grew more and more heated by the minute.
“Black and red,” Ardeth supplied when it looked like Terrence was going to blow a vein in his forehead.
“Thank you, Ardeth. At least SOMEONE pays attention,” Basma huffed. She gave Adham a kiss and walked off. Terrence threw his hands up.
“WHY do men get married?!”
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Adham improved vastly over the next couple of weeks, but it was clear to him that he was altered. He became breathless easily, and his chest began to hurt if he overexerted himself. Adham was still healthy, but it was clear that he would not be able to attend to the guard in the way that a chief needed to. He called Ardeth to his tent along with Hazeeb. There was really no point in tip toeing around the issue.
“Ardeth… you need to take over for me.” Ardeth stopped breathing.
“What?! But… I haven’t even patrolled Hamunaptra! And you are still healthy, Father.” Adham smiled.
“I’m alive, Ardeth; but I am changed and aging. And, I can’t go on forever. I am glad that I will be here to help you take over smoothly. And as for patrolling Hamunaptra, you will begin learning the ropes from Hazeeb while I help the tribe from the camp. You are a humble and loyal man, Ardeth. You WILL earn the respect of the soldiers through your growing experience. It is time, and I am sure that you will learn quickly.”
“I agree,” Hazeeb clapped Ardeth on the back. “Your hesitation tells me that you are taking the responsibility seriously. You are more than ready.” Within days, Ardeth had been granted the tattoos of a protector of the tribe. Ardeth struggled, and quickly began to understand what Miss Evans had been talking about. Death could never be conveyed between people to be understood. It was a purely first hand experience that horrified and scarred your mind. The Medjai lost warriors too often. Thankfully, there were not too many who found Hamunaptra, but the ones who did fought tooth and nail to maintain their foothold within the city. None succeeded. And, while Ardeth understood; he resented the arrogance and greed. It was blood ill spent.
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“I have finished, Ardeth!” Adham and Ardeth turned to see Basma with a giant blanket in her grasp. Ardeth took the soft blanket from her. It would suit Miss Evans. “I need you to deliver it to her.” Ardeth didn’t want to do that.
“Wouldn’t it be better to send it back with Uncle when he comes to visit?” Adham watched his son with narrowed eyes.
“Absolutely not,” Basma scoffed. “I would never know if it got there, and Terrence would just throw it at her with a ‘here’ if he did with no explanation. I want someone to convey my gratitude to her.”
“Of course, Al’umu. I will be honored to,” Ardeth relented. Basma nodded with satisfaction and went back to making dinner. Ardeth sighed.
“It will be good to have a break. You have been working hard,” Adham said as .he continued to work on the figurine he was carving. Ardeth wasn’t so opposed to taking a break. He was opposed to seeing Miss Evans again. It was tempting fate to be in close proximity with an engaged woman he found far too attractive. Ardeth thought with time, he would forget her somewhat; but Miss Evans just grew in his mind in the middle of the night when he had nothing else to occupy him. Uncle Terrance would say he was “utterly ridiculous” if he knew, and Uncle Terrance would be right. What did Ardeth even know about her? He had followed her for a total of three days and had been humiliated at least five times in that small period of time. It WAS ridiculous. But, Al’umu wanted him to deliver the blanket, and deliver the blanket he must.
“Yes.”
“Unless of course,” Adham ventured. “...There is some reason that Miss Evans makes you uncomfortable.” Ardeth looked sharply at his Father. Adham was smiling mischievously.
“No. Why would she make me uncomfortable?” Adham watched Ardeth’s attempts to hide his feelings with a widening grin. Ardeth had never shown any nervousness around any woman… except Miss Evans. Of course, Ardeth hadn’t had any contact with any other woman… but that was besides the point. Ardeth noticed her.
“Maybe,” Adham hedged. “She is attractive?”
“AND engaged,” Ardeth said with a raised eyebrow.
“Engagements are broken every day,” his Father waved off nonchalantly.
“Are you… encouraging me… to pursue an outsider?” Ardeth said with disbelief. Adham shrugged.
“Just letting you know it has happened before. If you are interested, there is nothing wrong with trying. Your mother is already clearly in love with her and they haven’t even met. And I assure you, when it comes to courting whoever you marry, your Al’umu is going to be half the battle.”
“Still,” Ardeth pressed. “Miss Evans is engaged, and dangerous.”
“I get it,” Adham winked. “...that’s half her charm.” Ardeth shook his head in disbelief and walked out the tent to his Father’s rumbling laughter. Ardeth set out the next day. He had firmly determined that he would deliver it and within five sentences be done and on his way back to the village, but Allah was firmly against him in the matter.
“Oh good! You are here to cover the Miss Evans shift,” Terrance said with relief. “The current sentry twisted his ankle falling into the Nile. Don’t ASK me how she did it, we are all ENDLESSLY amazed at the skills of Hermione Evans!” Uncle Terrance was clearly in a foul temper. It had been a year since Ardeth was last in Cairo, and it seemed that Miss Evans was more determined than ever to drive Uncle up a wall.
“I was only here to deliver a package for Al’umu, but I can cover until the new shift comes.”
“Of course, ah… chieftain. That does take some getting used to,” Uncle muttered before leading the way into his study. A young man named Ali bowed his head to Ardeth respectfully from his seat. Ardeth smiled kindly at him.
“Outsmarted by Miss Evans?” The young man blushed.
“Yes,” Ali said with no little amount of embarrassment. “One minute I was following her down by the Nile and the next I had been pushed right into the river… and had twisted my ankle on the way out.”
“Don’t worry,” Ardeth chuckled. “We all have our own stories about what she has done to us. She tricked me into a brothel and doused me in red paint on two separate occasions.” Ali laughed nervously.
“Well, chief; I had better head back to camp to get my replacement. I’m sorry I didn’t make it longer,” Ali said with shame.
“Please. Don’t worry about it,” Ardeth said kindly and picked up the bundled blanket. “I’ll deliver my package now.”
“Don’t you want to wait until you lose Miss Evans?” Uncle Terrance said with resignation. It was sadly no longer a question of if but when.
“Funny enough… the package is FOR Miss Evans,” Ardeth said with a small smirk. Terrence’s mouth dropped.
“Why…?” Terrence said, completely flummoxed.
“Al’umu wishes to express her gratitude. She was under the impression you would just throw the blanket at her with no ceremony if she asked you to deliver it,” Ardeth said with amusement.
“Bloody women!” Terrance growled. Ardeth bowed respectfully and then sat down in the entrance to the museum. Several uptight visitors walked in and looked at him askance before going on their merry way. A particularly rude couple walked in and began commenting very loudly… probably believing that Ardeth did not speak English.
“I thought you told me this was a museum of high repute, Henry? It seems that ANY riffraff can come in?”
“I understand, Gwenyth.” The man was incredibly overweight and had a comically huge mustache. And the woman… She was stitched and pulled into her dress so tightly in such weird places Ardeth was amazed her spine was still intact. “But it is for the public. We will just have to condescend and tolerate the… common man.” The man said ‘common’ like a particularly special brand insult and spit it out like a bad tasting fruit.
“Well… they let YOU in so it goes without saying riff raff are allowed.” Ardeth had been so focused on the incredibly rude couple that he hadn’t even noticed Miss Evans walk in just behind them. Ardeth lost his breath for a minute. She had the same cloak and robe draped over one arm and her voluptuous figure was on full display with her tight pants and heeled boots. The man spluttered indignantly until he saw the beautiful woman standing before him and eyed her assets for a moment. His wife immediately saw his observations and turned an ugly blotched purple and whacked him with her parasol.
“You will stop eyeing that hussy this minute! And YOU!” The woman snarled at Miss Evans nastily.” Put some proper clothes on! I will not have some, some, PROSTITUTE,” Gwenyth said uglily. “...steal my husband because of her LACK of gentile clothing.” Hermione burst into laughter.
“Oh, sweety. There will NEVER be enough money in the world for that to happen.”
“Well, I say!” Henry spluttered angrily. They both stomped away as primly as possible and Hermione rolled her eyes before settling her gaze on him. “Ardeth Bay?” Hermione asked slowly.
“Yes,” he chuckled. Hermione’s throat grew thicker as she heard how much deeper his voice was. Damn. What other changes had he undergone? Hermione shook herself out of that particularly inappropriate and frankly dangerous train of thought.
“How is your Uncle today? Still have a stick up his ass?” Ardeth grinned.
“He is angry that you apparently caused Ali to fall and sprain his ankle falling into the Nile.”
“He’s hurt?!” Hermione said with surprise. “I didn’t mean to do that. Just distract him long enough to escape his attempts at stalking me.”
“Still… you did cause him to fall in the Nile,” Ardeth said with a grin.
“I guess the stick up the ass runs in the family,” Hermione snarked. Ardeth just shook his head at her language.
“Maybe that couple was right about this museum letting in all the… riff raff?”
“They mean lower class?” Hermione explained.
“Ahhh…” Ardeth nodded with understanding. “Well,” he pulled out the giant bundle. “This is for you.” Hermione raised an eyebrow.
“For me?”
“Yes. My mother wished to show her appreciation for you saving my Father’s life. Especially after the strange medicine you sent that almost completely healed him. The one with the green smoke.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Hermione said quickly. “It wouldn’t have been necessary if I hadn’t been willing to save Laknah in the first place.” It had caused an increasing amount of guilt in Hermione. She should have just let it be. Hermione had saved an attempted murderer after he tried to snuff the life out of her, and he had immediately done what attempted murderers do… Gone back to trying to kill people.
“They would have attacked our camp either way,” Ardeth reasoned. “And without you, we wouldn’t have found out what Laknah was like nearly as soon. Please, take it. You really did save my Father’s life and deserve it.” Hermione hesitatingly took the gift, and opened the saddlebag. What she found was the most beautiful blanket she had ever seen. All black, red and gold flowers and patterns. It was absolutely amazing. It put Mrs. Weasley’s sweaters to shame.
“It’s wonderful. Please tell your mother she did an amazing job.”
“I will do that,” Ardeth said. “I’ll leave you alone for today before I… start stalking you. Just consider it my thanks. Just don’t tell my Uncle. You lost me in your usual way, just so you know.” Hermione laughed and nodded.
“I won’t fink on you. Thanks.” Hermione walked off and when she looked back he was already gone. Ardeth Bay really was improving in being stealthy. She would have to make sure he wasn’t trying to lull her into a false sense of security. Hermione admired the blanket as she walked until she reached an alcove just outside the library. She pulled a tote bag out of her tiny beaded bag and placed the blanket carefully inside along with her coat and robe.
“Jonathan Carnahan, you WILL NOT sell another piece of meaningless junk to her!”
“Beauty is a matter of the person actually doing the beholding and thus the buying. For all you know, it could be priceless in her eyes.” Hermione rolled her eyes fondly and walked into the library without taking notice of Ardeth lurking close by in the shadows. He couldn’t help himself. The minute he heard Jonathon Carnahan in the library, Ardeth had to see the truth for himself. But, it turned out to be impossible to tell.
“Jonathon, Jonathon. Come to sell your wares?” Hermione said teasingly. “Why don’t you just open your own market stall instead of pursuing archeology? I’m sure you would be perfectly suited to the task.”
“How dare you suggest such a thing, beautiful Hermione! I am an archeologist of high repute!”
“High repute!” Evelyn scoffed rudely. “When was the last time you were part of a dig?” Jonathon opened his mouth, but Evelyn immediately interrupted him. “A RESPECTABLE dig!” Jonathon pouted.
“Evy’s being mean to me, Hermione!” Jonathon whined petulantly. Ardeth watched from his hiding place in disbelief. This was the man that he was competing with? A whiny man like this hardly seemed like a man deserving of Miss Evans. However, Ardeth immediately felt like slapping himself. Competing? He wasn’t competing! She was older and he was barely growing into his facial hair. It was utterly ridiculous to even think of it as competing… Especially since Ardeth had determined the very thought of her as a wife was ridiculous.
“What did you want to show to me, Jonathon?” Hermione smiled indulgently. Jonathon Carnahan pulled out a fertility statue. A truly hideous fertility statue. The genitalia was giant and ridiculous… and Miss Evans immediately burst into laughter. “What on Earth possessed you to think I would want to own such a thing?” Hermione took it from him and started laughing hysterically again as she saw a similar genitalia on the statue's backside.
“Well, I say,” Jonathon said with great offense. “I was under the impression that my lovely fiance had good taste.” Jonathon sniffed. “I must have been wrong.”
“I only will be your lovely fiance if you can convince dear Papa,” Hermione said teasingly. “A task you have failed at time and time again… quite catastrophically I might add.” Ardeth swallowed painfully. Jonathon Carnahan had met her Father. They were going to be engaged… provided that Jonathon Carnahan could win over the Evans patriarch. But, what chance did Ardeth stand against an upstanding British gentleman if Jonathon Carnahan was so quickly rebuffed? He would never consent to a desert warrior taking her to the middle of nowhere. Ardeth immediately turned away and left.
“Harry is impossible to please! He set his will against liking me from a first glance. How am I supposed to overcome that!?” Jonathon had still failed to get Hermione’s cat to like him. It seemed to be Harry’s main goal in life to give Jonathon as many scars as possible. Unlike Jonathon, Harry had warmed up considerably to Evelyn and tried to get as many pets out of her as possible.
“It’s not my problem,” Hermione said with a smirk and passed the awful statue back to Jonathon. “And, as much as I appreciate the comedic quality of this particular piece, I shall have to decline. You could try one of the brothels. They might actually have use for art of this… nature.” Jonathon sighed and then turned his best puppy eyes on Evelyn.
“Evy, dear Evy, will you show it to Dr. Bay for me?”
“Absolutely NOT!”
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Ardeth kept his word. He did not follow Miss Evans the entirety of the rest of the day. But, he was unusually agitated. He sat moodily in the library after the Europeans left and attempted to read through some literature detailing the rise of Seti the Second. Ardeth was restless. He eventually gave up on his scholarly pursuit and shoved the book back in its place. It was definitely for the best that he had promised not to follow her. Ardeth didn’t think that he could watch her with Mr. Carnahan if only a few minutes of observation had made him this agitated. It was an utterly ridiculous situation. Curse his Father for being right. He wanted the woman, and having her was completely out of the question.
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Hermione knew that Ardeth Bay was following her the next day. But, damn; he was getting good. She finally decided after only barely spotting him every couple streets that she would need to go to Evelyn’s and throw him off that way. Hermione would make it so that he wouldn’t even know when she had left the apartment. There was really no place for an Arab man to hide INSIDE. It was well lit and so long as Hermione made sure not to get caught by one of the occupants, it would be more than adequate.
“So, Hermione, are we being followed today?” Evelyn said with a sigh. She was going to have to accept that her life was doomed to be stalked by strange men so long as she had Hermione for a friend.
“Yes,” Hermione chuckled. “You even have to ask?”
“Yes, yes. I know. Will you bring me some baked goods tomorrow?” Evelyn said hopefully. “I’ll have Jonathon buy us a lovely dinner and we can drink a nice bottle of wine. How about it Hermione? I would love it if you stayed over.” Evelyn was very nervous. Hermione was someone she only was with during the day, and had never taken her up on the offer to stay over if she needed in the three years that Evelyn had known her.
“I think,” Hermione smiled. “That sounds lovely.”
“Wonderful,” Evelyn let out a sigh of relief. “I’ll make sure that Jonathon behaves himself.” Namely, doesn’t cause a repeat of his usual drunken escapades. Hermione smiled happily to herself. She had never had a slumber party. She was always seen as too weird for the Muggle children and the witches in her dorm at Hogwarts had never really liked her all that much. Hermione had pretty much been declared cursed the minute that she was stuck in the same dorm as Lavender Brown. They were catty and awful BEFORE Lavender and Ron’s initial breakup.
Hermione really didn’t know what was going on with everyone when she was thrown back into Egypt. She heard through the grapevine that Ron and Lavender got married, but Hermione really didn’t make any effort to congratulate the two or anything. She did receive an invitation, but there was also an aggressive note from Lavender slipped into the envelope saying to on no certain terms actually COME to the wedding. Hermione had rolled her eyes and RSVP’d no. Harry would nod in the hallways of the ministry and politely ask how Hermione was doing. She would give him a polite response and be on her way. There was nobody else. Luna was busy being married to Neville. Ginny…. best not to even think about Ginny. And, there was no one else. Just her. Hermione had no desire to find her way back. She was going to stay here forever. The ministry could go shove themselves. If they were going to find Hermione, they would’ve.
Hermione and Evelyn chatted happily about what they should purchase for dinner and Hermione offered to bring her chess set with her so she could cream Jonathon like a crushed cannoli. Ardeth lurked outside the apartment in the street. He knew better than to scale the building to listen in. Only one other Medjai had even tested those waters and they almost fell off the building, just like the first had. Ardeth supposed if there was an open window he could just swing in… but how would he get out again. There was nothing for it. He would just have to wait outside. And wait outside he did. All. Night. Ardeth had been awake for the night watching the door, but no Miss Evans exited. When someone did exit, it was Miss Carnahan ready for work. But, Ardeth stayed. And waited for Miss Evans. He was flummoxed when he saw her ENTERING the building with Miss Carnahan the next evening. Ardeth was losing stamina and rubbed his eyes in confusion, but there she was. He sighed. She must have climbed out of a window somewhere. Ardeth groaned with frustration. Trust her to climb out a window. Ardeth finally walked away; there was really no use in waiting now. He had lost her once already and his backup should be at the museum now. Best to just let them know where she was and let them know Miss Evans had found another way out of the building. Hermione grinned as she finally caught full sight of Ardeth Bay leaving. He HAD been following her this entire time. She knew it. Ardeth was getting good. Just not as good as Hermione.
“Why are you smiling so big?” Evelyn said curiously.
“Just happy to be spending an evening with chess and wine. Provided that we are able to hide the bottle from Jonathon and prevent him drinking it all while we aren’t looking.”
“Yes,” Evelyn sighed. “That is a legitimate concern. Maybe we can distract him with the treats you brought.”
“Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting,” Hermione said brightly.
“It is amazing that I don’t weigh twice my original weight with you for a friend,” Evelyn said looking at the plate of cake longingly.
“It really is,” Hermione laughed.