Author's Note: And here we end this story. . .if I'm VERY lucky, the series will continue, but I'm not about to make promises if I'm not sure I can keep them. I believe I mentioned earlier that I would reveal who Gandalf's reincarnation was in the modern era. Unfortunately, I lost that with my notes when I switched to my laptop, so we'll say for the sake of everyone's sanity that he's still alive in Valinor. I do hope everyone has enjoyed the ride. . .thank you for coming along with me!

Epilogue

Afterward and the Afterlife

At last. At long last, her child was home where he belonged. Even now, the high priest and Terumun's reincarnation were gently bundling him into the vehicle that would carry him home, where his wife would care for him and his family would rejoice. Lady Ardath, mother of the modern Med-jai nation and beloved of Rameses, sighed quietly, leaning back in her mate's arms. Rameses murmured, You are pleased with yourself, my flower, and you have every right to be. Ardeth is safely home, though I have no wish to be one of the Valar when he finally realizes all he ever needed to go home was to simply say so. Ardath snorted. . .tiyu, she wasn't best pleased with them for that, either.

However, rather than waste her time and energy on the Elder Gods and their games with the hearts and minds and lives of mortals, she would focus her concern and attention on something that the White Wizard said. . .Gandalf, not the one who threatened her reincarnation and the one whose brain turned into soup, thanks to Anck-su-namun. No, Gandalf had stated that Ardeth would be necessary here in the days and weeks again. Ardeth whispered, seeking shelter from the chill within the warmth of Rameses' embrace, Something is coming, my love, something that will test our child as never before.

My dearest Ardath, the boy has been tested so many times before, I scarcely think this will be any different, whatever will come! Rameses retorted. However, Ardath was not certain. She had no idea what was coming, only that it chilled her very soul. And it was coming closer with each passing hour, a trial that would tax the Med-jai in a way they hadn't been challenged since the founding of Tiri, three thousand years earlier. Rameses murmured, You are truly frightened, my love. . .never before have I seen you this frightened. What is it that you sense?

I do not know, Rameses, and that is what frightens me most of all. I could tell what Khaldun would do. . .but this is evil as I've never sensed before, an unworldly evil¹. The only thing of which I am certain is that Ardeth and Celia will succeed, if they but hold to each other, as they have always done. Perhaps that is a simple solution, but what I sense coming will be anything but simple, Ardath answered. She wished she had a better way of explaining to her mate about what she could sense. Rameses simply held her tightly, and she relaxed a little more into his embrace.

Perhaps sensing that no words could reassure her, he changed the subject, pointing out, The Elder Gods will wish to reward our child for what he did in Middle-earth. As we are Ardeth's ancestors, it is likely they will ask our suggestions. Do you have any ideas for that, my dearest? She turned in his arms slightly, just enough to smile up at him, and Rameses rolled his eyes, adding, Of course you do, how silly of me to ask such a foolish question. Very well, my love, stagger me with your usual brilliance.

There is one amongst us who committed a terrible deed, while under the influence of an unearthly object. Though he has paid dearly, and redeemed himself in the eyes of his former companions, he has not atoned enough in his own eyes, even with his death. I will ask the Elder Gods for that life, so that he will be able to help our children in the days and weeks ahead, Ardath replied, her smile growing almost flirtatious. Rameses stared at her in absolute shock, before bursting into laughter.

Oh, my dearest darling Ardath. . .I was away from you for too many years! He chortled and Ardath merely smiled at him sweetly. Rameses continued to chuckle, finally saying, So, you will ask for the life of Boromir of Gondor, will you? My darling one, he has spent his entirely life in Gondor, and to a lesser degree, Rohan. . .he will be as uncomfortable in Egypt as Ardeth was in England. So, how will he be of any use to our child, if he is constantly collapsing from the heat?

Ardath, however, had thought that far ahead and responded, He will acclimate, Rameses. I was often sick as a very small child, while my body acclimated to the difference between Ierne and Egypt. Oh yes, he is much older, but even so, he will acclimate. While he does, our child and Celia, and the other Med-jai will look after him. And once he is strong enough, he will lend his sword arm to their causes. He will stand at their side, out of gratitude at first, and then out of affection. He is fiercely loyal, Rameses, this you have seen for yourself.

She was silent for several moments as the strange little caravan reached Tiri, and the Med-jai flooded out to meet Imhotep, O'Connell, Ardeth, and the others. Ardeth was carried to his home with all the tenderness one would show to a small, injured child, where his wife proceeded to wipe away her tears and send word to her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, before setting to work herself. Her dark hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and she began ordering around Imhotep, O'Connell, and anyone else who was awake enough to take orders. It made Ardath smile to see her reincarnation behaving as a proper queen should. She would weep later, once the others were gone. For now, she would tend to her husband, for Ardeth's recovery was not yet complete.

I have seen this, Rameses admitted, as fiercely loyal as you are yourself. Very well, my queen. I will bow to your greater wisdom. Ardath rolled her eyes at him, and he continued, But for now, I have other things I would prefer to bow to. Ardeth is in the very best of hands, they will have no need of us for some time, so. . . He scooped her into his arms, drawing a half-hearted, protesting giggle from her as he carried her back to their chambers. However, he was right. For now, there was nothing more they could do for the children, or even Boromir. They had now to themselves…twas best to enjoy it.

And in the meantime, there were others who could look after the children, in the event something went terribly wrong unexpectedly. Anck would be happy to look after them, even when they would prefer she didn't.

ABABABABABABABAB

When next Ardeth Bey opened his eyes, he was lying between cool sheets, a soft pillow under his head, and attired only in a pair of leggings. He blinked the grit out of his eyes, and distantly noted that he had been asleep/unconscious for some time. No, asleep. Definitely asleep. He had memories, however vague, of O'Connell and Imhotep carrying him together and settling him in a car. . .or something. . .and the sensation of Celia's fingers against his face and hair. His mouth was almost painfully dry, and even before he had the chance to speak, Celia was there again, with a small glass of water in her hand. And there was even a straw for him. Odd, how something as simple as a straw could seem so miraculous.

Almost as miraculous as seeing his wife's smile. . .not in his memory, but in the flesh. He sipped at the water, savoring it on his dry tongue and even drier lips. Ardeth drew back from the straw, and taking that for the signal it was, Celia took away the glass, sitting it beside Ardeth's bed. Their bedroom. Yes, they were in their bedroom. Where else they might have been, he didn't know. Licking his lips, he whispered hoarsely, "I know your face," and reached up to touch that most beloved face. Celia covered his hand with her own, smiling down at him.

"How are you feeling? We bandaged your wounds and cleaned you up as much as possible, but you've been asleep for several days," she replied softly. His shock must have been obvious on his face, for Celia laughed quietly, "Given what you went through, Ardeth, it's really not surprising! Based on what Anck told me when Imhotep and Rick brought you back, just the return voyage was exhausting enough. . .that's not taking into account your injuries." Well, yes, he supposed so. . .he had slept while he was in Middle-earth, but he would have to admit, that wasn't a particularly restful sleep.

"I have felt better. . .but only when I was at full strength. How are the children. . .my mother, my sisters? What has been happening while I was away?" Ardeth asked. It was, he thought ruefully, a measure of just how strange their ordinary was, that neither of them even batted an eye at Ardeth's voyage to and from the far-distant past. They had seen some strange things, just in the two years of their marriage, so he supposed that Ardeth being kidnapped by an evil wizard was hardly the strangest thing. And speaking of said evil wizard. . .Saruman. Ardeth looked up at his wife anxiously, grasping her hand, and asked, "Saruman! What of Saruman? Has he threatened you again?"

That one will never threaten her, or anyone else, ever again, Anck-su-namun replied, appearing beside Celia. She inspected her fingernails, as if looking for blood. If there was anything Ardeth knew about the concubine, it was that she took threats to Celia extremely seriously. . .and it was highly doubtful that she dealt with those threats with her hands. While she was capable of attaining a solid form, she preferred to use that energy when Celia needed the comfort, and Ardeth was unavailable to provide it. She smiled sweetly, adding, He will never hurt anyone again. Not you, not Celia, and not your charming predecessors.

"Then you have my thanks, Anck-su-namun, as well as my thanks for looking after Celia while I was gone. Tell me, what have I missed. . .is everyone all right?"Ardeth asked, since he had been distracted by his concerns about Saruman. Celia nodded and sat on the bed beside him. Now that she was closer, he could see how tired she looked as well. Knowing his wife, she probably had been busy taking care of him and their children, ensuring that no one woke him up, continuing with her duties, and in general, not taking proper care of herself. Not that he had any room to talk. . .indeed, she was much better at taking herself and him than he was at taking care of just himself.

"Everyone is fine. Once we got you cleaned, bandaged, and put to bed, Miranda took one side of your bed, Andreas took the other, and I hadn't the heart to move them until they were both sound asleep. Your mother has been here several times, checking on you and spelling me so I could get something to eat, or deal with the Elders, as have your sisters, their husbands, and their kids. Rick and Evy have been in and out a number of times with Alex and Nef. And of course, Anck hasn't left either of us. One of these days, you need me how to do that," Celia teased. Ardeth's lips quirked as the concubine mimed sticking her tongue out at the reincarnation of her best friend. The gesture had the bonus of making Celia laugh with delight.

I shall not, for you must be dead in order to accomplish this. . .and if I have anything to say about it, you will live to be an old lady, with your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren around you. Ardeth, I am most pleased to see you awake and alert. I must speak with Seti and Rameses. . .well, I must speak with Seti. I will wait to speak with Rameses until after he and Ardath have completed their revels together. . .and see if there is aught more to do. Celia. . .do not wear him out, and are you not supposed to call your brother when Ardeth awakes? Anck asked.

"Oooh, thanks for reminding me, Anck. Hang on, let me figure out what the time difference is between Egypt and New York, especially since I think he's having breakfast this morning at Windows on the World. I know, after all this time, I should have that worked out, but 'time' really doesn't have a meaning in the Legacy," Celia replied. Ardeth, who had a better understanding of the time difference because of the years he spent corresponding with the American Med-jai, was on the point of answering his wife, until he realized that he had no idea what time it was.

It is seventeen fifteen, sister, which means it is eight fifteen am in New York, Anck chimed in. This was growing worrisome. A concubine from three thousand years ago was growing better at telling time than the people who lived in the current age? Anck looked embarrassed, shrugging as she said, Jason is Celia's brother. . .so I look after him, just as I look after Celia and you, and your family. Celia, you returned your cellular phone to the drawer where you usually keep it. Celia found it and waved her thanks to Anck, dialing the phone. Of course. She had Jason on speed dial.

It occurred to Ardeth that he really needed to confirm the date. By his reckoning, he had been in Middle-earth for well over a week, and he had been asleep for several days after his return. As his wife began chatting happily with her younger brother, and Ardeth felt his eyes growing heavy once more, he decided it could wait until the next time he woke up. It really wasn't important, was it? No. . .no, what was truly important was he was home. He had aided the Free People of Middle-earth against their foes. Now, he could rest. Whatever trouble was to come, and he knew trouble would come, he and Celia would face it together, as ever.

Finis

¹In the event that the muses go on another extended silence, the unworldly evil that Lady Ardath is sensing is the Gou'ald. . .and Apocalypse, the same Apocalypse faced by the X-Men. Didn't want to leave you hanging too terribly much.