~~~~~~~~ Reflections of a Friendship ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taking place directly after TMR

After the battle with the armies of Anubis, Ardeth Bay is confronted with memories of friends new and old. A story of friendship, trust, betrayal, and new found love.

Disclaimer: Anything that even resembles something familiar more then likely isn't mine. If you sue me, you'll get ten dollars and some bubble gum, that is all I currently posses. :-D In the first few chapters we shift back and forth between the 'past' and 'present' of Ardeth and Adira. Enjoy! Helpful criticism is welcome, constructive flames are great, and simple compliments gladly taken.

{Denotes memories}

'Thoughts'

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CHAPTER ONE: After The Battle Is Won

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Ardeth Bay, commander of all twelve Med-jai tribes, stood in the center of the Med-jai camp, listening as his second in command informed him of their casualties and wounded. Ardeth himself had made it out with very little damage done, he had small nicks and cuts here and there, and he was dreadfully tired, but he was in good shape and could travel easily. They would be moving the wounded to an oasis nearby, where an advance guard was all ready setting up a new camp, and three quarters of the remaining men would make the trip back to their homes to inform the people of their victory. The other quarter would remain behind and care for the wounded until they could travel. The battle with the armies of Anubis would never be forgotten among Ardeth's people, the scars of such a day would last forever in time.

"We cannot allow our wounded to stay out in the hot desert," Ardeth said quickly after the other Med-jai had finished his report. "It will take perhaps six hours to get to the oasis. Will we be able to transport the wounded there without difficulty?"

The other man looked surprised at his leader's assessment of the situation but nodded. "I believe so. It may take an hour before we are able to mobilize everyone, but the men are more than willing to serve you, My Lord." Bashshar was a loyal follower of Ardeth, and one of his closest confidants...but he still forgot himself at times.

That sort of talk always made Ardeth impatient and cross. "They are not serving me, they are serving their brothers in need. Give out the order, begin assigning riding partners." The other warrior hesitated. "Now." He nodded and marched quickly away, shouting out the call for assembly at once to receive orders.

In all his life Ardeth had never felt such a great mixture of feelings, even the first time the Creature rose he had not been dealt such an emotional blow. While he was elated that the Scorpion King and Imhotep would never threaten the world for the rest of eternity, he was greatly saddened by the loss of so many lives. His people had been lead into battle, a thousand or more had been slaughtered at his command, when the world would have been perfectly safe without that sacrifice. The Anubis warriors would have only made it a little further before becoming nothing more than black sand. And it was he, Ardeth Bay, who was charged with keeping the City of the Dead safe. To allow that woman, even if she was Anacksunamun reincarnated, to dig up both books and the Creature unchallenged was a horrible blow to his stature. How could he lead his people knowing how many times he had failed?

And Lock-Nah...he should have killed the man when he had the chance. Years ago he could have ended the life of a man who must have killed hundreds on his own, but he chose not to. He exercised mercy on a living-being that had none towards anyone. His friend...O'Connell, could have lost his son because of Ardeth's foolish dream that Lock-Nah was not as evil as he seemed. They had once been like brothers, and he thought that would mean something to the Med-jai turn-coat.

Words, long ago exchanged between two, innocent boys echoed in his mind.

{"Someday, Ardeth, we will fight together like our fathers, defending the whole World!"

The more subdued child, the son of the Med-jai commander replied, "But I don't want to fight, to kill and murder. Isn't that what the Med-jai are supposed to keep from happening?"

Aghast, Lock-Nah shook his head. "The son of Lord Bay should know better, and look forward to fighting for the glory of Allah."

"Does Allah glory in the death of his children? Med-jai kill the innocent as often as the guilty!" Lock-Nah sighed and rolled his eyes, then turned the conversation to something else.}

That had been twenty years ago, when they were but children. Ardeth's father had lead the people with nothing but the strictest of actions and commands, he was never lenient, he showed little mercy, a thing which had always upset his son. Ardeth's mother had been the exact opposite, silent and caring, showing that every living thing --good or bad-- deserved the chance of proving themselves worthy of that life the Creator had given them.

Now, only an hour short of the oasis where the wounded would recover, Ardeth could almost hear her soft voice pleading with his father to let their son follow his own ways. It was a memory that always evoked a silent vow from him, that he would do right by his people but maintain the teachings of his mother. She had done so much for him....

"My lord!" Bashshar cried, suddenly appearing at his leader's side. "My lord, we have just discovered that one of the wounded is a...is...it's Adira Manara Haddad, my lord!"

Before the startled man could utter another word Ardeth had whirled in the saddle and grabbed the front of his robes, eyes wide. "Who?" he demanded, voice low. He shook his head, glaring at the man. "There must be some mistake, I ordered her, I COMMANDED her to stay inside our city. Are you certain?" The smoldering flames of pure anger in the king's eyes would have easily put one unused to it in a state of fear, but the Med-jai knew their leader well, and they were not afraid of him.

Even more surprised and flustered now, the man nodded vigorously and forgot he was speaking to his better. "Yes, I'm certain, I saw her with my own eyes! I would not rush away blindly from a dying woman without finding out her identity!"

Ardeth released Bashshar and sat, face devoid of feeling. His voice, however, did quake slightly as he repeated one word. "Dying?"

"The physician thinks so, my lord. She was the worst wounded of all the warriors, and even now, she is riding on a pallet, unconscious." The man watched his leader for a reaction, knowing that he and the fallen woman had been close friends since childhood...and rumor had it that something more existed between them.

In that single instance, it was as if the world came to an abrupt pause, and then spun backward until a time long ago, a time Ardeth barely remembered, when a small child was placed in front of him by his own father.

{"Ardeth, this is your personal responsibility and ally, Adira Manara Haddad. Take good care of her."}

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Past, 25 Years

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It was a custom among the commanders of the Med-jai tribe to be of one line, the title passing from father to son in the same manor of the pharaohs. The Bays had held the place of authority for ten centuries, their family line seemed to have no fault in it. Hamdun Bay was no exception to the tradition, and he knew his son would make a marvelous commander in his own time...even if he had to drag that child every step of the way.

Ardeth Bay was not what his father had expected in a son. While most boys were ready to fight in battle almost as soon as they could walk, Ardeth remained silent and aloof when it came to arms and combat. The boy preferred books over brawn, even though he did well with his weapons he never liked them. He had too much of his mother in him, and was a kind, compassionate child that only wanted to do the right thing...and as quietly as possible. He was a brooder from day one, always thinking, always with a serious little frown of contemplation on his face.

It was an old custom as well to choose the future commander's closest companions when he was yet very young, to bring them up and train them together until they worked as one. On Ardeth's sixth birthday he was told that his new best friend and brother would be a young man, Kaliq Loc-Nah, who was two years his senior. The boys took to each other immediately, despite their different manners to approaching life. Ardeth was the quiet, studios one and Kaliq was the loud and care-free companion. They trained together, their rooms in their home were next to each other, they ate together, they played together, they studied together. The boys got along, no one could separate them for long.

On Ardeth's tenth birthday, the year the Med-jai called the year of Responsibility, Ardeth was to be put in charge of a younger warrior than he to cultivate and train himself. This was to teach him what it was to be a guide in another's life. Ardeth, expecting another exciting person like his best friend, went into the council chamber of his father with high hopes and a slight smile. Lock-Nah had accompanied him as far as the council doors, also eager to gain a new friend.

Hamdun Bay sat on his cushions, quietly watching his son enter the room and bow. "Ardeth," he began, "you know our customs for this day of your life. Do you feel ready for the responsibility of another person's life?"

Without hesitation, for Ardeth did have a great deal of youthful pride, he nodded. "Yes, I'm ready and I know I will not let anyone down."

"Good." Hamdun stood and went to the set of door opposite from the set Ardeth had entered by and opened them. He reached his hand into that hall and took the smaller hand of a smaller person. Ardeth, in absolute shock, watched his father lead in a young girl wearing a black robe and a frightened look on her face. Obviously she was not pleased by the turn of events either. She could be no older than seven, Ardeth was sure.

"Ardeth, this is your personal responsibility and ally, Adira Manara Haddad. Take good care of her."

All right, I know it starts off slow, but I promise the ending is spectacular. I've all ready finished the story, just don't have time to post it all at once. J Be sure to review!