Daughter of the Nile

Chapter Twelve

The next night, Bek woke up in a haze, not remembering her return to her sarcophagus. As the event of the previous night rolling through her mind, she jerked to full wakefulness.

Ank! He's ill! He needs me!

She bolted upright and tried to climb out of her case. However, she sat up too quickly, causing the room to spin and tilt around her, and she landed on the floor in a heap.

"Bek!" "Lady Beck!" Cries of her name rang out behind her. Two pair of arms gently picked her up, carried her across the room and laid her down on something firm but soft.

"Ank...my brother...needs me..." She struggled weakly.

"Bek! Bek, it's okay. Akh's fine," a familiar voice broke through the haze of grogginess.

"Gaurdian Larry?" She opened her eyes again and met a pair of grey-blue ones.

"Yeah," Larry chuckled. "It's me."

Bek turned her head to find her other savior. "Lord Teddy?"

"I believe I told you just 'Teddy' would suffice, Missy," the president grinned down at the Egyptian.

"Akh...Is all well with him?" Bek asked.

"He's just fine," Teddy nodded. "His fever broke early this morning."

"He is on the mend?"

"Yep," Larry answered. "He's just resting now."

"Just as you will be," Sacajawea's voice sounded from the doorway. The Shoshone knelt by Bek's side. "And when you are up once more, we will be have a talk about taking care of yourself."

"But I had to look after Akh," Bek protested weakly.

"And you had all of us to help you," Sacajawea countered gently.

Larry nodded. "She's right, you know."

"All you have to do was say the word, and we will be there in a moment," Teddy added, craddling her hand in his big, gloved one.

Just then, Atilla enter carrying the fur blanket from the night before. He said something with surprising gentleness and carefully draped the blanket over her. Bek could not understand Hun like her brother, but she understood the sentiment he was trying to convey. Since you can't seem to take care of yourself, please, let us do it. The huge Hun gently patted her hand.

"Thank you," Bek murmured, overwhelmed by their kindness. "Thank you all."

"Bek? Sister?" She quickly looked to the doorway to find Ankmenrah leaning on the doorframe, wearing an everyday tunic instead of his usual kingly attire, draped in one of the Vikings' woolen blankets.

"Akh?" Bek rose onto one elbow. "What are you doing here? You need rest!" She tried to toss her blanket aside and rise, but Atilla stopped her with a firm but gentle hand. Teddy and Larry rushed over to the young pharaoh.

"Hey, what's up, Akh?" Larry asked as Teddy let Akh lean on him.

"I had to see Bek," he answered. "Make sure she was alright"

"Your sister is just fine," Larry replied. "Sac's making sure she rests.

"I want to stay with her."

"Now, lad, Lawerence and the Civil War soldiers made a fine bed in your tomb to rest in," Teddy answered.

"And you need rest," Sacagawea added firmly.

"Why can I not rest in here with Bek?" Akh asked, sounding a little a child for a moment.

"Because one will feel the need to take care of the other if you stay together," Sacajawea answered. "The only way you two will rest is to separate you."

"It is all right, Akh," Bek piped up. "I will be fine. Go and rest, little brother."

"But-"

"Akhmenrah, go. All will be well, I promise."

"If I must," he sighed, and let Teddy lead him back to the "bed", or rather, pile of cushions the Civil War soldiers put together for him.

"Is there anything I can get you, lad?" Teddy asked as he helped the young pharaoh lower himself into a reclining position.

"Yes," Akh answered. "Please, ask Jed and Octavius to come. I have a request to ask of them."