A Thief's Gold: Ardeth Bay x Reader [Discontinued]

Chapter V - Rose & Birth

A/N: Hey guys! It's been so long since I last posted a chapter to this fanfic, but I hope this sugary and comical chapter will allow you to forgive me. A new chapter might take a while as I want to figure out the plot a little more. Stay safe and take care of yourselves (drink that H2O)!

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For once, y/n felt something more than the constant anxiety of being caught. Being with the medjai's isn't that bad, she thought. Currently, she was seated back at the dining hall, the steaming pots Fuul Memades, heaps of falafel and pita bread on silver plates already being devoured within the minute of sitting on the lush, embroidered cushions. The realisation that she didn't have to grimace at the idea of not having enough food for the next week and having to skip meals sent a quiet cry down her throat, muffled by the pita bread and constant murmur between the lunch talk surrounding y/n's body. She thought she would get away with the cry until y/n felt a soft nudge on her left side. Looking up, Ardeth gave y/n a look, one that startled her for the rest of her existence.

It was one she hadn't seen in years. One full of concern and comfort, one that y/n would strive to find every day by breaking her back for delicacies to bring a smile to her sister's face, or to her mother's face. If it wasn't for Ardeth's hand slowly slipping into y/n's under the table, softly rubbing her knuckles with hardened fingers, she would have been lost for eternity in those pools of black.

She certainly didn't expect Ardeth's face to slowly close into hers, his plump lips slowly parting as he came closer to her cheek, brushing it softly with the tip of his nose and searing lips. His hot breath was flowing down the side of her ear, almost as though the sands were dancing upon the plains of her neck. Softly, he whispered, "are you okay my love?" his pause was almost deafening, "we can talk more later, at night," Y/n turned her face to search his own, his tattoos so close to being kissable. Instead, y/n vowed to softly brush the tip of her nose against Ardeth's, unaware of the people around them, the pools of love already swallowing them whole.

"It wasn't supposed to be this easy to fall in love with you, Ardeth," y/n croaked out under the trickling waters of aching love, "it's not even been a day and I'm already here, holding onto your gazes as though you are my lifeline."

His eyes kept searching y/n's, his fingertips already growing warm trails over her cheeks, marking them with the invisible paints, his lips twitching at the corners at y/n's confession. "I was always told the necklace was to bring us together. I never knew your face or your voice, only your presence. And so I kept running to it, to find you. I've always been in love with you, Albi, from the day I was born."

It felt too unreal to hear the strings of words sing out of his mouth. Y/n couldn't explain the burning pain of love and doubt flood her mind. Was it clenching and burning her chest and throat? Or was it bringing tears to her eyes that were hotter than a thousand suns.

Y/n placed her smaller hands on top of Ardeth's as his own warn palms encased her face in warmth and love. Bringing her necklace dug under y/n's scarf into her hands, Ardeth copied y/n's actions, encasing their pendants and y/n's hands with his own. It almost made them wail at the table at how whole they both felt. To be worthy of love, of endearment, of words, and the magic that bound their hearts into one.

"How could you have possibly even loved me at the day you were born?" y/n felt the tip of her tongue almost lick the flame between their mouths.

Ardeth's breaths kept fanning her face like warm rushes of sandstorms, but for once it was a loveable one, "I knew before the day I was born that I loved someone," his thumbs tipped y/n's head further back to Ardeth's warm lips cascading between her brows, only for his eyes to lock onto her own, "and if Allah could test me on that it would be the easiest question to answer as to why, because the answer will always be that we were made to be, you and me."

It felt unbearable to look into the warm pools of his dark black eyes. They were even deeper than that of the home of the stars and planets, and that darker than the sweetest molasses of the Earth.

The sudden rustling in front of them made them both flinch and hurry away from the licking fire between them. It felt hotter than midday in the Deserts, between their dusted cheeks.

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Y/n looked up to see Nor and Mash'al sitting down in front of them, Mash'al collapsing unto the cushions underneath with a drawn groan, his body dramatically flailing as his head hit Nor's shoulder. Nor was quick to push him off, giving time for y/n and Ardeth to compose themselves, but not enough.

"It's not even the middle of spring and it's boiling. You guys are even red!" Mash'al cried and pointed in despair at the two.

Ardeth nearly choked on his drink whilst y/n's eyes widened and looked all over the place.

As y/n composed herself, she looked up to see Nor's eyebrow raised before it lowering. Y/n already knew from the direct eye contact she was in trouble. Allah, save me.

"The fight didn't help," Ardeth muttered out, looking down at his plate before picking up a falafel, "and maybe we can take a bath later."

"Good luck dealing with this mutakhalif, Ardeth," Nor smirked Mash'al, her kohl-lined eyes, glancing to Mash'al's done face as he chewed his pita bread.

"Guess it's you and me, Nor," y/n battled out a small sigh, her hands taking the metal cup in front of her and glugging down her rose drink.

Nor nodded over to y/n, her fingers rubbing against the piece of torn bread, "I was told that the Fabler wants to talk to you at 8, including you Ardeth," she pointed a finger at him before dropping the bread into her mouth.

"Wait..." y/n asked, her eyebrows furrowing, "who's... The Fabler?"

"Oh, you don't know yet," Ardeth realised, "she's the wife of the Elder, and also the mother hen of the Medjai's..." he moved his body to face y/n and chuckled, "And she tells stories, ones that everyone knows here and personal stories about your life you never knew existed."

"She's magical and amazing," Mash'al butted in, his eyes gleaming with adoration.

"You're telling me she knows you more than you know yourself? What in the name..." y/n's words fell short in surprise.

"Good luck, she made me cry when she told me about my life," Nor bellowed a laugh out, shaking her head.

"You, crying? Wouldn't have thought the tough and brave Nor would cry," y/n smirked at the disgruntled Nor.

"I'll have you know I am capable of empathy!" She whisper-yelled.

"Like the time you cried when you accidentally kicked a toad?" Mash'al said.

There was no time for y/n and Ardeth to laugh as all was heard was a loud thwack and Mash'al's cry throughout the Hall.

"That is not fair, Nor!" Mash'al yelled.

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Abli - my heart

Mutakhalif - idiot