Ardeth dressed quickly, silently cursing himself for letting things get out of control with Dorey.  If he had kept his wits about him, they would have been long gone.  Instead, he gave into both his desire and hers, thrusting her into further danger.  Now he had to find another way to save her.

Bin pushed Dorey into the main receiving tent.  It was different than the night they arrived.  At the far end, a large table had been set up, covered with plush animal furs.  Just behind it stood a large stone statue.  "Min."  Dorey whispered.  He was shaped as a human, unlike some gods, who were fashioned after animals.  Atop his head, there was a crown with two tall plums adorning it.  His right hand was raised, holding what looked to be a lightening bolt.  What horrified Dorey was the fully erect penis protruding from his lower torso.

"You've got to be joking, you want me to join with that thing?"  Dorey asked in disbelief.

"Hardly, princess.  You shall unite with the lord Min in death."  Abdullah explained briefly, "Now, place her on the altar." 

Bin and Ahk-lah carried Dorey to the table and placed her on the furs.  They bound her wrists and ankles to the table.  She tugged at them uselessly, as the ropes dug into her skin.

Outside the tent, Ardeth listened alertly; he was about to storm the entrance, when a hand grasped his shoulder.  He turned slowly; sure he was about to meet his end.

"Hello," a voice said half amusedly.

"Old friend, you should not sneak up on people."  Ardeth was amazed to see Rick, with Evie, Jonathan and Alex not far behind him.  "How...?"

"We were worried when you didn't show up in Cairo.  Evie suggested we backtrack the caravan trails to see if we could find you.  We happened upon a fellow Medjai who told us he saw the two of you arrive here as he was leaving.  It was a place to start."  Rick explained quietly, "Now, where is my sister."

Ardeth pointed to the tent. "It happens your sister was destined to marry the god Min.  She is about to be sacrificed.  Strange family you have, O'Connell."

Abdullah signaled for the priests to begin.  They stood at Dorey's head and feet, the High Priest placing himself between the statue and Dorey.  It was then she noticed the large blade in his hand.

"Please, let me go!"  She knew it was useless to beg, but she wasn't ready to die.

"Remove her covering!"  The High Priest demanded.

Bin untied her makeshift robe and spread it open, revealing her nude body.  Dorey's head turned side to side pleading for them to stop. 

"Laa!" The High Priest cried out his disbelief.  "She has been spoiled!"  He pointed to her upper thigh, where traces of blood and semen mingled.

"How could this be?"  Abdullah demanded.  "Which one of our people would desecrate Min's princess?  He will bestow great torment upon us!"

"None would attempt such a thing, my lord."  Ahk-lah assured him.

Outside the tent, Ardeth cringed when Rick asked, "Just what do they mean by Dorey being spoiled?"  He peaked inside the tent, "and also, why is she naked?  Hmmm?"

"That would be part of the ritual, dear husband."  Evie explained, "But perhaps it would be best if certain members of this party stay behind."  She gestured toward Alex and Jonathan. 

"Yes," Ardeth agreed, as he readied for an attack.  He, Rick and Evie entered the tent, swords at the ready. 

Dorey's attention turned to them as they entered.  She watched as Ardeth and Rick drew the Min warriors and priests away from her, while Evie ran to her untie her. 

Evie first threw the sheet back over her sister, seeing the wave of gratitude pass over Dorey's face.  After Evie had released her right wrist, Dorey reached over to untie her left while Evie moved to the end of the table, cutting the ropes at Dorey's ankle.  Finally, Dorey was free to move and refashioned the sheet around her in a makeshift dress.

With blades clashing, Ardeth fought Bin, "Why do you still fight for her?  You have already said she is spoiled for your god, she is of no use to you!" 

Bin pushed Ardeth and he fell to the floor after tripping over a small chair.  "It was you who spoiled her!"  He accused Ardeth.

The fighting stopped when the whole room heard the accusation.  Dorey ran to Ardeth and helped him to his feet.  "Yes," he admitted solemnly, encircling Dorey's waist with his arms, "and I ask again, why do you fight if she is of no use to your god?"

"Someone should pay for this outrage."  Abdullah grunted.

"I agree," Rick spoke for the first time his eyes fixed on Ardeth with anger, "and someone shall, but not by your hands."  He was furious with Ardeth.  Not only had he placed his sister in danger, it seems he took liberties with her as well.  He angrily pulled Dorey away from Ardeth's embrace.  "We are leaving now, with our friends, and you will not follow."  He disposed of his sword and raised a revolver above his head, released a warning shot and the four backed out of the tent.

Jonathan and Alex waited outside the tent with five horses, including Ardeth's Arabian.  Rick swung up behind Alex, making sure Dorey rode on a horse of her own, and they moved off into the night.

Dorey was uncomfortable.  The sheet was satin, and staying on the saddle was almost impossible, not to mention that she was naked underneath and somewhat sore from her interlude with Ardeth.  "Uh...guys...can we stop for a bit, please?  I'm in misery here!"

Rick halted his horse, sure that the Bedouins did not follow them, and the rest of them followed suit.  He was still angry with his sister and his "friend".   "What is it, Dorey?"  He asked her impatiently.

"Well, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm having a little trouble staying in the saddle with this satin toga.  I was wondering if Evie had any clothes with her."  Dorey's eyes pleaded with Rick to show some compassion, but he only turned away from her.

"I do, sweetie, come with me."  Evie commanded Dorey and they rode further ahead of the men.  The moon was full, shining plenty of light for them and Evie wanted to make sure there was enough distance between them and the men.

They dismounted and Evie dug a pair of pants and shirt out of her saddlebags, handing them to Dorey.  She took them gratefully.  "Thank you, Evie."  Dorey made quick work of changing, she lacked shoes, but at the very least she would be able to stay in the saddle.

The two women remounted their horses, and Dorey turned to her sister, "Why is Rick so angry?"

"Oh, Dorey, it's hard to explain.  It's different for men, you know.  For some reason, it is perfectly okay for them to have premarital relations, but not for women.  However, they don't mind having the relations with the women they're with."  Evie almost laughed at her attempt to explain her husband's dilemma.

"I know that, Evie, but what does that have to do with Ardeth and me?  I love him and I think he loves me."  She knew he did, although he hadn't admitted it. 

"It isn't that he doesn't approve of Ardeth, and this is just my feeling on the matter, I haven't discussed it with your brother.  It's that Ardeth didn't respect you or care for you enough to wait for marriage."  Evie's feelings were out in the open now.

Dorey hadn't noticed they were in earshot of the men when she said, "It had nothing to do with respect.  For one thing, I practically forced myself on him.  No, not practically, I did force myself on him.  He tried to talk me out of it.  Oh, hell."  Dorey cursed.

"Dorey!"  Evie scolded her.

"I'm sorry.  It's just so hard to explain.  It happened, I love him, and that's the end of it.  Rick has no right to act this way towards Ardeth, and I won't stand for it."  Dorey proclaimed loudly for everyone to hear.

"It's all right, Dorey."  Ardeth assured her.  "Rick has the right to be angry."

"I've had it with all of you!"  she spat.  She pulled at the reigns of her horse; turning it back in the direction she and Evie had just come, urging it forward at a full gallop.

Without hesitating, Ardeth followed Dorey.  He heard Evie tell Rick to wait, stopping him from following his sister.  Ardeth's Arabian caught Dorey easily, "Slow down, Dorey, slow down before you hurt yourself or the animal."  He breathed a sigh of relief when she brought the horse down to a walk.

"Give it time, Little One, and your brother will be fine.  Let him blame me, I deserve it.  I took your virginity with no right to do so."  He admitted, ashamed of his behavior.

"You took nothing," she contradicted him. "I gave you what I had to give, willingly.  I regret nothing.  I only wish you did not regret it, that is the one thing that hurts the most."

"It is not regret, dear one, it is shame.  Shame that I have disgraced you with your family."  He reached for her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it softly.  "The time I spent in your arms were the most heavenly I have experienced.  How could I regret that?"

She saw the truth in his dark eyes, "I'm sorry."

He wanted to pull her from that horse and hold her close, instead he settled for kissing her.  "It's best if I leave you now.  Your brother will see you safely home."

She said nothing, only sighed.  A single tear trailed down her check.  She sat silently as Ardeth rode off into the horizon.  She sat straight and stiff as she heard her family approach.

"Where did he go, dove?"  Jonathan asked halfheartedly.  He liked Ardeth, but there was still a bit of jealousy in his heart.

"He's gone, what does it matter where he went?"  She clicked her tongue and flicked the reigns and her horse rode ahead. 

Evie turned to Rick who shrugged his shoulders and followed his sister.  He felt a twinge of guilt for hurting his sister, but he could not help the way he felt.  Ardeth overstepped the bounds of good judgment.  Rick knew his anger would subside, for he loved his sister and his friend dearly, but at this moment he felt his trust betrayed.

O'CONNELL MANSION, LONDON, ENGLAND

"Is she still not talking?"  Rick asked his wife.  They had been back home for two months and Dorey had barely spoken a word since Ardeth left, and he was worried about his sister.   She kept busy around the house and in the gardens, but kept her distance from the family, especially him.  She had left the house only once when she was feeling ill, to visit the family doctor in town.

Evie shook her head and pointed upstairs as Dorey descended the staircase.  Rick turned to his sister, "Dorey, this has gone on long enough."

Dorey nodded, "You're right, please forgive me for my childish behavior."  Her tear-filled eyes shone brightly.  She understood why her brother had been upset, but what's done was done. 

She also understood why Ardeth felt he had to leave her.  She thought he was wrong; they would fit together no matter where they lived.  If he had loved her enough to ask her to stay, she would have.  If he had chosen to come with her and her family, she knew he would find a way to make it work, but he left her and now she had to get on with her life.

Rick embraced his sister, wishing he could make all things right for her.  "It will get better, sis, I promise."  He smiled when she nodded her agreement.

"Thank God for that," Evie stated happily.  She was thrilled to see her family getting back to normal. 

"How about the four of us go out for dinner tonight, hmm?"  Rick asked enthusiastically.

"That sounds heavenly, darling," Evie agreed.  "Could I meet you in town later?  I have a meeting with the head of the British Museum to discuss a possible position."

"If it means you might stay in one place for awhile, sure thing!"  Rick agreed and called for a car to take her to the museum.

Dorey found herself wandering the streets of London.  She had asked Evie if she could tag along to run some errands.  Soon she found the place she had been seeking.  She entered the large glass doors to the stone building and approached the receiving desk,  "I believe I have an appointment....Dorey O'Connell."

"Yes, Mrs. O'Connell, you are expected.  Come this way."  Dorey didn't correct the receptionist; it was probably better under the circumstances.  The young girl led her to an office at the end of a great hall.  "Please take a seat.  Someone will be with you shortly."

She felt as if the time passed slowly, the minutes lasting an eternity, when she finally heard someone enter the room behind her. 

"Hello, Miss O'Connell.  How are you today?"  The man asked as he sat down at the desk in front of her.

"Fine, thank you, Doctor Mitchell.  Would you mind terribly if we dispense with the pleasantries and get right down to it?"  Her voice was strained.

The doctor noted that she looked as if she hadn't been sleeping, but under the circumstances, he could empathize.  "Of course, my dear.  To put it simply, you are with child, just as you suspected."

He saw the tears form in her eyes as her hands went instinctively to her stomach.  "Thank you, doctor." 

"Miss O'Connell," he spoke as she rose from the chair and headed for the door, "please come back in two weeks for a check up."  She nodded and left the room.

She walked slowly back to the museum without noticing any of her surroundings.  Her right hand covered her stomach as she thought about the child growing within her.  Ardeth's child.  That thought was a comfort to her; knowing she would always have a part of the only man she would ever love.

She wondered if she should send word to him.  He was going to be a father; he had the right to know.  She shook her head.  No, he would only feel beholden to her.  She could not bear that.  If he did not want her, she did not want him just for the sake of a child.  She would love this child enough for the both of them.

By the time she reached the museum, Rick and Alex had joined them.  Dorey put on a mask of cheerfulness for her family's sake. Her news would wait, especially since she knew it would make them all less than happy.  Just one more embarrassment she would bestow upon them.  She didn't feel it was an embarrassment, but she knew society did and it would reflect on her family.

They were enjoying a lovely meal at one of Rick's favorite restaurants.  It wasn't fancy, just a small fish 'n chips place.  Alex had been regaling them with his escapades at school.  Evie told the family that the Curator asked her to take a position in charge of the Egyptian division of the museum. 

After dinner, Rick drove the family back to the mansion.  Dorey decided to take a moonlight walk in the gardens and watched the others as they entered the house.  She found her favorite place in the gardens, and sat on a bench by the roses, overlooking a small pond.

She didn't hear the figure approach her from behind.  She was only aware of his presence when she felt a sweater being placed around her shoulders. "The night air has a chill to it," he stated.  Dorey felt as if time stood still.  She had to be imagining his voice; it couldn't be him.

He stood in front of her now. "Are you all right, Little One?"  He asked as he knelt before her.  He looked into her eyes and could see how weary she was.  He hated himself for causing her such pain.  He tried to do the noble thing, give her a chance to forget, and look what he had done. 

Dorey reached out to touch his cheek, not quite sure he was real.  Her fingers touched flesh, and brought back that familiar ache inside.  She pressed her palm to his cheek; Ardeth turned his head and placed a kiss in the middle of her palm.

"Oh, my beautiful Medjai," she cried out as she slid off the bench and into his arms.  Her lips sought his and they kissed passionately, urgently, trying to make up for the time they had been separated. 

"I could not stay away.  I have never told you how much I love you, and I have regretted it terribly."  He cradled her in his arms and realized he had never felt so complete.

"Is that all you regret?"  She asked while she nuzzled his neck, drinking in his scent.

"I regret hurting you, I can see you have suffered."  He answered huskily.  Just the touch of her started his blood to boil and he was having trouble focusing on words.  He wanted to take her, right there in the garden.  He probably would have had it not been for the fact he knew his friends were watching from the house.

She raised her head again to see his eyes flashing with desire.  She placed a hand on his upper thigh and felt him tense.  "Ardeth?  Really?"  Guessing he wanted her as much as she wanted him at that moment.  She smiled brightly when he nodded, his eyes glazed with passion.  She kissed him deeply. "There is something you must know,"  She whispered in between kisses.

"Mmmm...it can wait," he murmured against her ear, nibbling the lobe.

"I suppose, at least for a couple more months," she hinted.  "If you have no mind to talk to me, perhaps we should join the family...if you're able," she joked.

He laughed loudly, "Give me a moment to recover.  It might help if you weren't sitting on my lap."

Dorey joined in his laughter.  "Of course, my lord." She pulled herself back up onto the bench, where he joined her.

"Have you missed me, at all?"  He asked.

"I have had much to think about while we have been apart.  Although I love you, it will take months to get over, I believe."  Her eyes twinkled.  She was teasing him and he really had no idea. 

"Months?  That is the second time you have said 'months',"  He mused. 

"Oh, you noticed."  Was her reply.  She stood then, smiled at her Medjai warrior and touched his cheek.  "Come up to the house, make things right with my brother."  And, with that said, she turned and ran towards the house, yelling, "hurry up, daddy!"

Ardeth stood and started to walk slowly to the house when he stopped dead in his tracks. "Daddy?"  He asked, at first quietly, then "DADDY?!"  Then ran after Dorey catching up to her quickly and lifted her into his arms. 

"Months!"  He laughed.  "You are a sly one, Miss O'Connell.  And, oh, how I adore you, azeez waahed, dear one."  His smile stretched happily across his face, "I love you, Mother of my child."  And bent his head to hers, capturing her lips possessively.

"And I love you, my darling Medjai."  She rested her head contentedly on his shoulder as he carried her into the house to share their news with their most loved friends.

THE END

 

Special thanks to Michelle and liotale from the OFEB and Ardeth_Bay groups at Yahoo for proof reading and editing suggestions!!!