DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story. They belong to Ed Naha and my story is just a fan's appreciation of the awesome storylines in Season 1 of AoS!

Chapter 1: Love potion, anyone?

The Nomad's crew and their captain were walking down the winding streets of the friendly fishing village of Alymar which was tucked away in the rugged cliffs several heights from the sea. Sinbad walked, rather stomped rather gruffly. He pretended to gaze around and slipped a fleeting glance towards the end of the road where Maeve dragged along in an irritatingly slow pace with Dermott on her arm. Doubar noticed this and raised his eyebrows pointedly but Sinbad quickly looked away. Firouz and Rongar glanced at one another, but they shared no teasing smiles. The last fight between Sinbad and Maeve had been quite serious. And this time, it really was Sinbad's fault.

Doubar harrumphed loudly and Sinbad stopped in exasperation. "If you have something on your mind, then say it, big brother"

"You owe Maeve an apology!"

Sinbad opened his mouth in an angry retort, then thought the better of it and kept silent. Doubar continued,

"Everything was perfect during our fortnight here and turning fortunate when Razaq drew harbor alongside our Nomad. We invited Razaq and his crew to the local tavern and sponsored drinks all around. Everything was all right until you had to get all competitive-"

"Hey, I wasn't the one who started bragging about my crew-"

"The way you spoke about me and Firouz and Rongar was allright"

"That's right",nodded Sinbad, eagerly.

"But when it came to Maeve-"

Sinbad came to a grinding halt and braced himself for the lecture ahead.

"If you had argued this childishly before about a woman, I couldn't have cared less. But I have seen you two, changing and growing for the past one year and you two were really starting to mature and show respect and care for one another. You didn't have to portray Maeve as your personal pet the same way Razaq referred to Nialla. You know Maeve hates that!"

Sinbad sighed and siddled up under the comforting shelters of a small wayside shop. He considered Doubar's words. There was unmistakable sincerity in his tone and Sinbad was forced to acknowledge that he may have indeed hurt Maeve's feelings.

"I didn't mean to make her angry, Doubar. Razaq bragged about his ship, the Siren and I boasted of the Nomad,he staked wild claims of his crew and I praised my hearty crew, he told daring tales and I spun a tale or two myself and finally, Razaq couldn't resist mentioning that the beautiful Nialla, the exotic spell-caster whom he picked up on the Southern Seas was his companion and lover and I couldn't resist …" Sinbad hesitated. He sighed again in resignation. "Allright, maybe I went too far-"

Maeve had casually entered the shop as well. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wooden post. "It's all right, Doubar. We all know Sinbad can get carried away with his words once in a while-"

Sinbad snapped, "You threw a fireball and burned a hole in the center of our table!"

"You asked for it!"

Sinbad laughed in disbelief. "I asked for a display of your powers and .. you nearly killed me!"

Maeve stepped closer, her eyes flashing. "You didn't ask. You ordered!"

Sinbad looked at Doubar for help. Doubar threw up his hands. "You two better talk this out now. I don't want to have this argument drag on for a week on the Nomad! I hear we are in for some rough seas and one tempest storm is bad enough. We don't need another one on the deck!"

Just before Doubar walked out, he heard the inner door to the shop open with a loud creak and an old hag, shuffled out with a loud cackle.

"Well well well",she cried out in great amusement. "Looks like you've reached here just in time! What a commotion!"

"We're sorry", apologized Sinbad cordially. "We are but humble sailors of the ship called Nomad and we are setting off for the high seas once again after enjoying the warmth of your lovely village"

"Love troubles, that's my specialty!", chirped the hag, cheerfully. "Here look!" She bent down and brought out a tray full of little bottles. "I can solve this little tiff between you and your lady friend. Just one quick sip of my love potion and.."

"Love potion?!",cried Sinbad and Maeve together. They both rushed to the stone counter at once.

"Come close, dearies. Let grandma put all your quarrels to rest. Quick! Select your potion for a fair price and let bliss come into your world once again!"

Maeve cautiously picked up a bottle and took a whiff. She set it down at once and shook her head, as if to clear some fogginess in her vision. Her eyes widened and she declared,

"Sinbad, this really is a love potion."

Maeve stepped out of the shop and looked for the sign. It was written in a strange tongue.

"Madam Ghormal's love potions. That is what the sign says.",cried the hag impatiently. "Now, come along and be quick about it. Which potion do you want? I have this little potion , one dosage each for the boy and girl to solve a petty quarrel. " Ghormal laughed to herself. "This bigger one is for permanent bliss. No more quarrels ever! And this one.. ho ho! This one's a tongue binder!"

Sinbad looked dazed.

"We don't want your potions, grandma. Personally I don't think a love potion is any solution for resolving a conflict!"

"If this is any way to start haggling for a fair price, I don't think-"
Maeve reentered the shop determinedly. Doubar, Firouz and Rongar followed her as well. "As Sinbad said",she assured. "We are not interested in your potions. But, we are interested in how this quaint little shop came to be in this harmless remote village"

The hag looked from Sinbad to Maeve and the entire crew. She angrily set down the tray underneath her counter and wiped her hands on a rag cloth. "If you are not interested in the merchandise then leave before I ask my sons to throw you out!"

"Your sons make the magic potions?", pressed Maeve, sharply.

As if on cue, two sturdy young men appeared through the doorway behind Madam Ghormal.

"Trouble-makers!", stated the hag to her boys. "See that they clear out!"

"There is dark magic in these potions, Sinbad. Something is very wrong here."

"Clear out!",said one of the sons in a menacing growl.

"Dark magic, indeed!",cried Ghormal in an outrage. "I'll have you know, Queen Esdel regularly depends on my potions to induce harmony into her kingdom. I make a lot of money when I go there!"

"You mean, the Queen takes your potions?"

"No",said Ghormal, with a sudden glint in her shriveled old eyes. "She makes her subjects take them. Men and women, selected by their health and beauty, fall in love by the potions and create happy homes"

Sinbad looked horrified.

"Tyranny!", bellowed Doubar, for the first time finding his voice in the entire conversation.

"Your love potions are dangerous. They may numb the senses and lull them into a false notion of security but over-time, they are designed to kill!",accused Maeve.

"Enough with the allegations! GET OUT!",screeched Ghormal. The two sons threateningly stepped forward and the crew braced themselves by the roadside.

"Come on,Sinbad",said Maeve, burning with anger. "We are going to this kingdom controlled by love potions and warning the Queen of this witch's treachery!"

"Witch, you say?!",cried Ghormal in a strangely high-pitched tone. "Oh you have no idea who you are dealing with, you conniving little meddlers. Going to warn the Queen?! Not unless we have a say about it- Harmi! Vanghar!"

Both the sons were suddenly off their feet and soaring above the ground! They were harpies! And Ghormal was the ugliest of them all!

"Harpies!",cried Firouz in disgust, as he pulled out his sword.

"I knew it!",said Maeve with satisfaction. She loved it when her intuitions turned out to be right.

"They sure look ugly!",said Doubar with an inward shudder.

"Makes you wanna kill them faster",said Sinbad. He gave a loud yelled and charged forward to tackle Ghormal. He shoved his sword into the air, trying to spear the cackling swearved and dodged the deadly blade, taunting Sinbad to fury. Rongar climbed unnoticed atop the straw roof of the shop and jumped on the back of Harmi. With a loud roar, Harmi struggled under the grip of Rongar's chokehold.

"Get off,you filthy seaweed!"

The added weight pulled down Harmi, just close enough so that when Rongar fell down, Firouz drove his blade into Harmi's heart!

"One down, two to go!"

Meanwhile, Sinbad's blade didn't seem to be making any progress in defeating Ghormal. Maeve appeared beside him and tossed up a quick fireball. One of Ghormal's scaly wings caught up in flames and the harpy screeched long and hard in pain.

"Now, that's what I'm talking about!",cheered Sinbad, whole-heartedly.

Maeve grinned.

"A sorceress!",cried Ghormal in shock. "Vanghar, come.. let's bid farewell to these fools before they destroy us completely!"

Vanghar gave one last heave with Doubar and flew to his wounded grandma's side. Together they cackled and flew away.

"Until the next time we meet, Captain Sinbad", trailed Ghormal's parting shot.

By now, several onlookers had gathered out of their homes and shops.

"I think we better leave",said Sinbad.

"I'm with you, little brother",nodded Doubar,gratefully.

Firouz and Rongar destroyed the little bottles of dark magic but the inventor clung on the last one. "I want to study it",said Firouz. "Love potions are in reality, chemicals.. they act on the nerves and senses. There is more science behind this than magic!"

Maeve looked wary.

"I dunno,Firouz",said Sinbad, pushing his sword back into its scabbard. "Let's not play with fire, here-"

"Just one little bottle. I promise to confine my studies in the safety of my own room"

"All right then", agreed Sinbad with a smile. "Now let's make haste. We got to find this Queen Esdel and warn her of these deadly potions before it's too late. Come on!"