Chapter 24
Evy stroked Hermione’s hair in order to soothe herself. Hermione was pale. Evelyn had been the one who died and she did not look so sickly. What happened during the battle with the Army of Anubis?
“Is Aunt Hermy gonna be okay?” Evy smiled tiredly at Alex.
“Don’t let her catch you calling her that, or Hermione will show you just how fine she is,” Evelyn looked over to her brother with a twinkle in her eye. “Jonathon pissed her off while you were gone and he was puking slugs.
“How did she do that?” Alex’s brow was burrowed with confusion.
“She is a bloody terrifying witch! That’s how!” Izzy said dramatically and Rick rolled his eyes.
“What our ‘roguish’ Captain is saying is your Aunt is magical, but nice; unlike Imhotep. And she is only terrifying if certain morons make ill chosen comments about her bedroom life. Right, Jonathon?” Rick turned to Jonathon with a grin.
“Mmmm-hmmm,” Jonathon adjusted his wrinkled tie nervously. “Right.”
“That… actually makes some sense,” Alex said thoughtfully. Sneaky Aunt Hermione. She wasn’t kidding about the whirling top being magic. She was telling the truth. And her ability to pop up out of nowhere like a magician made perfect sense now.
“You will have to ask her if you can stay over at her house,” Evelyn smiled with sudden excitement. “It was amazing! So many wonderfully old books! I could have spent days there if we hadn’t been so worried about you.” Evey kissed the top of Alex’s head and he let her; rather than his usual habit of pushing his Mother off of him when she got too goopy.
“Figures, old mum, that your first thought is the books and NOT my incident with the staircase,” Jonathon said with his usual grandiose gestures.
“What happened with the staircase?” Alex’s inquiry was interrupted by Rick.
“We are nearing the village, Izzy. Prepare to land,” Rick yelled out as the Medjai on the ground signaled to come down. Ardeth was climbing the side of the dirigible before they had even hit the ground. Alex startled back at seeing the tall, Arab man suddenly in front of him checking Hermione over.
“Is she really going to be okay?” Evelyn said with concern.
“Has she slept this whole time?” Ardeth questioned without answering.
“Yes,” Evy sighed with frustration. “What happened out there?”
“Hermione,” Ardeth sat back with a tired sigh. “Took on the entire second wave of the army single handed.”
“How?” Evy said with shock.
“She called it…. fiendfyre,” Ardeth said thoughtfully.
“What the hell is that?” Rick questioned.
“Giant… truly giant beasts of fire. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen,” Ardeth said quietly while gently swiping hair from Hermione’s forehead. “It was… incredible. She was a sight to behold,” Ardeth said admiringly and lovingly.
“Anyways,” Jonathon interrupted him awkwardly. “Shouldn’t we be getting her to better sleeping accommodations? I can’t imagine that witches like to sleep on hard floors more than the rest of humanity.” Ardeth nodded and picked Hermione up .
“Are you sure she will be alright?” Evelyn stumbled to her feet on tingling legs and followed Ardeth off the blimp with concern.
“Hermione assured us she was just tired,” Ardeth smiled. “Me and my family will keep a close eye on her in the meantime, my friends. You are welcome to stay as long as you need.” Ardeth walked through the village to the murmuring and gossipping of everyone. Ali had certainly been busy. Hermione was already famous among his soldiers…. now she was a legend and a hero among the entire tribe. Any concerns Ardeth may have had with her acceptance into his life were swiftly fading away. Adham and Basma had huge grins on their faces until Ardeth drew close enough for them to see how sickly Hermione looked.
“Oh, my Dear!” Al’umu rushed forward and felt Hermione’s sweaty forehead.
“Hermione used too much magic,” Ardeth said with uncertainty. “She told me she just needs rest.”
“Well… bring her inside!” Adham exclaimed. Ardeth was ushered in to place Hermione on his bedroll and then promptly ushered out by Al’umu.
“We are engaged, Mama!” Ardeth pleaded.
“Wonderful news!” Basma said happily. “But you are not married yet,” and she promptly drew the curtain firmly and blocked Hermione from their view. Ardeth sighed with frustration before dropping next to his chuckling Father.
“That is good news, my son!” Adham clapped him on the back. “But she is right. Your Al’umu will see to it Miss Evans is taken care of. Lay back and get some rest.” Ardeth attempted to do just that, but couldn’t stop worrying. Was she really going to be okay? And when Ardeth began to calm somewhat and doze off against the sitting cushins….
“Arghhh!” Ardeth immediately jumped in alarm and along with his startled Father ran behind the curtain. Al’umu stood in shock with a bleeding finger and staring down at a partially undressed Hermione.
“What happened?!” Adham yelled when he couldn’t immediately understand what had happened. Basma merely pointed down at Hermione and what they saw likewise stunned them into silence. A lion, a hawk and an otter ran, swam and flew across Hermione’s skin. Occasionally, their figures rippled out of her skin to become almost solid. Adham reached forward only to quickly snatch his hand back again as the lion slashed at it with too real claws and an audible hiss.
“Incredible,” Adham breathed.
“Yes, yes, incredible. HOW am I supposed to bathe her if I cannot touch her!?” Basma was clearly frustrated and sucked on her bleeding finger.
“Maybe,” Ardeth said with uncertainty. “Maybe… because she does not know you and is unconscious… it is reacting like this.” Ardeth took a cautious step forward. He sat down next to Hermione and held his hand out just within swiping reach. They all held their breaths as the tattoo lion stepped out across her skin to sniff his hand while maintaining eye contact with Ardeth… like a real live lion would as it assessed the prey before them. Basma and Adham breathed an audible sigh of relief as the lion began to rub up against Ardeth’s hand like a house cat and Ardeth in return rubbed the life-like mane with a finger.
“Magic… is so amazing,” Ardeth said with wonder. Ardeth marveled as the otter splashed him with real water and chittered as it swam past all the while eluding the hawk that flew after it playfully across Hermione’s skin. Ardeth picked up the fallen cloth and began to bathe Hermione’s face. “Despite your reservations, Al’umu, I think I’m the only one other than maybe Evelyn that it wouldn't attack. Why don’t you let me do it, and after Miss O’Connell has had some rest; she can take a turn? I know Hermione is probably okay with it if her protector is.” Ardeth grinned as the lion lazily yawned and licked its paws. Basma grumbled, but let Adham pull her past the curtain to the kitchen.
“He is right, habibi. It is not as if he will act inappropriately… or at least any more inappropriately than he has been on a week long trip with Europeans. He probably has had his share of private time with Miss Evans already.” Adham’s comment earned himself a well deserved smack to the arm.
“Irritating man!” Basma said with agitation, but was clearly not all that upset when she grinned soon afterwards. “Ardeth is getting married!”
“He is,” Adham pulled her into a hug. “No more pining!”
“No more grumbling about finding Miss Evans,” Basma chuckled. “He was pining for YEARS. How did we survive it? It is a pity we don’t drink. It may have gone by faster.”
“And…” Adham waggled his eyebrows meaningfully. “We shall finally have a tent all to ourselves, my darling.”
“How wonderful!” Basma grinned into Adham’s kiss at an exclamation from Ardeth.
“I can hear you!” Ardeth called from behind the curtain.
“I shall enjoy regaling to his lovely fiance the tales of lengthy pining of Ardeth Bay,” Basma mused with amusement before planting another kiss on Adham and making her way to make some tea. Ardeth sighed from where he sat. He couldn’t even deny it. He HAD brooded. Chased after any rumor of Hermione, but she was too good to be caught if she didn’t want to be. Ardeth grinned as his finger chased the otter across her skin. Ardeth had caught her.
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“And a fiery hawk devoured the Anubis warriors and Miss Evans withstood it looking as fierce and magnificent as Bast herself with her lion incinerating the entire wave of the army!” Alex sat in rapt attention as Ali told the story of Hermione’s fiendfyre.
“Do you think that Aunty would do it so that I can see?!” Alex fiercely whispered to his Mother.
“Absolutely not, Alex! That is most definitely dangerous, and Hermione couldn’t stand afterwards,” Evelyn couldn’t deny her own intense desire to see it, however. It certainly sounded incredible. “I’m sure Hermione will be willing to show you other things. Just wait until she is better.”
“But when will that be?” Alex whined. They had not seen hide nor hair of Hermione since they had arrived at the camp. It was dinnertime, and certainly his Aunty was tired; but other than their current storytime, the day had been unbearably boring with his Mother not letting him out of her sight for a single second.
“Alex,” Evelyn sighed affectionately.
“How about you let me watch the scamp?” Jonathon offered. “Go be mushy with your ghastly American. I’ll keep him entertained.”
“I’m sure you will,” Evelyn said with narrowed eyes.
“Come on honey,” Rick hugged Evelyn around the waist. “How much trouble can they get into with the Medjai watching out for them? Plus, we can check in on Hermione as I know you would like to.”
“Oh… alright,” Evelyn relented. “Do not get into any trouble young man. And for heaven’s sakes! No putting on any bracelets!”
“It was only one time!” Alex exclaimed.
“It was only one book!” Rick mocked.
“Twelve years ago! I think I’ve proven that I won’t do it again,” Evelyn scoffed.
“Until you opened a chest that nearly drowned us!” Rick and Evelyn’s arguing could be heard for several minutes as they walked away.
“Ali,” Jonathon said with a grunt as he sat down. “Why don’t you regail my nephew with all the ways our lovely Hermione has outsmarted the dastardly men in black.” Ali groaned as several of the men around the fire began to laugh uproariously.
“If I’m telling my story… I expect everyone else to share theirs as well,” Ali glared over at the guffawing men who suddenly looked a little less amused.
“What did she do?” Alex finally sat down next to Uncle Jon in excitement, completely forgetting his earlier boredom.
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Ardeth was nodding off next to Hermione. He was doing his best to stay awake to watch over her, but even his endurance couldn’t last forever. Ardeth wanted nothing more than to lay down next to her, but Al’umu would have a conniption if he so much as suggested it.
“Knock, knock.” Ardeth turned to see Evelyn in the doorway. “How is she doing?”
“Sleeping,” Ardeth sighed as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. “She hasn’t stirred once.”
“You look tired,” Evelyn smiled sympathetically. “Would you like me to take a turn watching over her?”
“Yes,” Ardeth said with hesitation. “...but the lion has to like you.” Evelyn blinked tiredly.
“What lion?” Evelyn said blankly. Ardeth chuckled without energy as he finally escaped Evelyn’s endless questions and excitement. Hermione was going to lose an ear from Evelyn’s incessant questions when she woke up. Rick was nodding off on the cushions when he came out.
“Evelyn has agreed to sit over Hermione for me. Why don’t we find your family and me someplace to sleep?” Rick let out a jaw cracking yawn and just nodded. Forty-Eight hours with no sleep were doing none of them any favors. When they came back to fire, Alex was desperately attempting to stay awake to hear the stories. Jonathon (who had heard most of them from Hermione’s perspective) was still enjoying putting faces to her many antics and paid no heed to Alex’s head as it nodded into sleep every couple of minutes only to jerk upright when he caught himself falling asleep. However, it all stopped when Jonathon let out an unearthly shriek as Ardeth placed a hand on his shoulder, and all the men immediately began laughing.
“Must you ALWAYS do that!” Ardeth only shook his head with a smile and gave Jonathon a hand up while Rick picked up Alex.