He Took Them All For Love

"No," Amneris stated firmly, "they will not be buried alive. Forty strokes with the lash a piece will suffice for this offense"

It was the lightest sentence she was allowed to impose. Pharaoh nodded his approval, though you could see in his eyes he was less then pleased. He felt they should be buried alive. Literally six minutes later they found themselves in the courtyard where the lashing was to take place. Aida watched as Radames was tied to the pole so that he could not move while he was lashed. She bit her lip and gave him a reassuring smile, though tears brimmed her eyes.

Radames looked over at Aida, trying not to look nervous. He wasn't really paying attention as they tied him up, more focused on Aida instead. He smiled back at her, though he wanted to frown when he saw the look on her face, but was too stubborn to do so.

Aida knew they had no other choice. This was the smallest sentence they could be given for their treason. "You shouldn't have to do this...." said Aida. "This is my fault...." She bit her lip and watched the first five lashes come down on Radames' back, the small blade on the end slicing him each time.

Radames shook his head. "No, it's not your fault..." He said. He went to say something else, but ended up hissing in pain as he felt the lashings start. He gritted his teeth as he tried to hold in his reaction to the pain.

Aida closed her eyes. She couldn't watch Radames go through this. She didn't see where the next five lashes landed, but she could hear the loud crack of the whip against his skin.

Radames pulled a face, his hands curling into fists as he stubbornly tried to ignore the pain, he frowned as he saw Aida close her eyes, then looked around at the others that stood watching.

Amneris frowned from where she sat watching it all. She truly loved Radames, and had been hurt to see him fall for someone else, let alone the woman Radames had given her as a chamber maid. "I'm sorry," she mouth, unsure if Radames would even see it, the next five lashes coming down.

Radames spotted Amneris amongst the people and looked at her for a few seconds, but ended up turning his head to look back at Aida before seeing her mouth the apology. He accidentally let out a small cry of pain, curling his fists tightter, nails digging into his palms as the whip struck the same spot twice.

"You're almost halfway done love," Aida said, trying to encourage him.The former princess tried to stay strong, tried not to let Radames see her cry. The next five lashes came harder than the others, striking and slashing at his legs.

Radames gave a small smile, only to cry out as the whip got his legs and fell to his knees.

The guard growled lowly when Radames fell. Years before, it had been Radames who had given that same guard a lashing for dishonoring the Pharaoh. "Get up!" he growled. "Get up you traitor!"

Radames stubbornly shook his head, knowing he'd just fall again and didn't want to give that guard the satisfaction.

The guard raised the whip and brought it down hard on Radames' shoulder five times in quick succession.

Radames hissed in pain again, pulling a face when he went to raise his hands to protect himself, but wasn't able to because he'd been tied up.

Aida bit her lip. "Love....he's only going to hurt you more if you don't get up," she said, watching five more lashes come down.

Radames sighed and slowly stood, only doing so because it was Aida who spoke. He hissed again as one of his legs protested, shaking slightly.

"You're almost done love,"said Aida. "Ten more." The guard made the next five lashes as slow and painful as he could, all of them coming down on his backside and tailbone.

Rolling his eyes at the way the guard had started lashing him, flinching but refusing to cry out.

The last five lashes came down quick on Radames' back. The guard raised the whip one last time, using the razor to slash the rope that held him still.

Radames stood there, panting, his leg still shaking. He slowly looked back at Aida, giving a small smile.

Aida gave a small smile, but before she could kneel down to check on Radames, two of the guards grabbed her roughly and began to drag her to the pole, tying her up.

Radames had just been about to reach a hand out to Aida when the guards grabbed her, causing him to frown. "Let her go!" He hissed at them, pain temporarily forgotten as we moved to go over to her.

"The law is the law Radames," said the second guard, a former soldier who had served under Radames. "Aida must be lashed."

"No!" Radames snapped at them. "I won't let you." He said, moving closer to Aida.

"Love," said Aida. "You've taken your punishment.....now I must take mine."