Some things never change
Part 3
Disclaimer: They are not mine, and I'm not denying that. So what? I'm just having some fun with them and I hope so do you. No money is made with this (unfortunately!)
I think you all know my warning by now. So enjoy!
*~*~*
It was nearly midday when Doubar's bone shaking snoring stopped; only to be replaced by his groaning that made the Nomad's planks shake.
"Ohhh... did somebody stop that wagon that rolled over my head?" the giant moaned sitting in the galley.
"Technically seen it was no wagon that hit you, Doubar." Firouz stated while brewing a drink to calm Doubar's headache. "What you are feeling now, is a classical hangover resulting from excessive consumption of alcoholics which causes an extreme..."
"Ahh... stop it Firouz, all three of you!" Doubar growled holding his head. "I don't want to know where it came from – I want it gone! And soon..."
Sindbad entered the galley and shook his head. "Looks like we'll be going to the village without you two." He told Doubar and Firouz. "You're in no condition to walk all that way, big brother; and I want you, Firouz, to stay here and look after him."
Firouz nodded. "I have to work on my new invention anyway. And when you're back I'd like to show Maeve what I invented during the time she was gone..."
Doubar groaned again. "I swear, I'm not drinking anything anymore... the whole day long! Be careful, little brother; and watch out for the lass!"
"I will!" Sindbad promised and then he headed on deck where Rongar and Maeve where waiting.
"Looks like it's going to be just the three of us. Doubar's got the hangover of the year and Firouz is going to stay with him. But I think we can handle this."
Rongar tapped on Maeve's shoulders and made some complicated signs, motioning at Maeve and then touching his own chest.
Maeve grinned. "True, I could easily rid Doubar of his headache, Rongar, like I healed your wounds." She said. "But honestly I think that the respect of a terrible hangover is the only thing that keeps Doubar from drinking like that every night! He'll be fine soon."
"Truer words were never spoken, Maeve. Let's go then! If we hurry we can be back by nightfall and catch the next tide." The captain ordered.
"I could get us to the village within a few seconds..."Maeve suggested. "Only, we'll have to walk back."
"Still, your magic would save us about two hours of walking. Doubar would worship you for that one Maeve." Sindbad laughed. "Okay, go ahead!"
"Fine, close your eyes. I'll transport us to a spot a bit outside the village. I guess it would frighten the people if we just appeared in the middle of the village." She took up Sindbad's and Rongar's hand and they closed their eyes.
Sindbad got the funny feeling in his stomach again and his skin tickled. When Maeve told them to open their eyes again, Sindbad found himself standing at the border of the forest, the village in a distance of about 300 feet.
"Now I can understand why sorcerers don't travel the normal way. This is much more easier and faster." Sindbad mumbled.
"Actually that's not true, Sindbad. Magicians spend a great deal of time travelling the "normal way" as you formulated it. That's because a sorcerer can only mist to places where he or she has already been. And that's one of the reasons why I'd like to sail with you guys. To travel as far as possible." Maeve explained. Truth to be told, that fact wasn't Maeve's most important reason to sail with them. She simply enjoyed the adventures and her friend's company and especially Sindbad's.
The three friends separated to gather the supplies and agreed to meet again at the same spot one and half an hour later.
~*~
When they came together again later that day, they had bought four barrels of wine, fresh meat, baskets full of fruits, a sack of flour and two dozen loaf bread. Enough for more than ten days – within that time they would have reached Baghdad.
Maeve had been late, mumbling some excuse about a last minute purchase.
Sindbad had rented a wagon and a horse to transport their goods back to the ship. Having loaded it Sindbad, Rongar and Maeve headed to the trail that lead to the beach.
~*~
Sindbad wiped the sweat away from his forehead with the back of his hand and took another sip out of their water-bag. He sighed and handed the bag to Rongar. He took a few quick steps and then walked at Maeve's side. The witch didn't seem to mind the unusual heat; she was smiling all the time and set a strong pace.
"Tell me, Maeve," Sindbad addressed her, "why couldn't you simply mist us back to the Nomad, like you brought us to the village?"
"Already tired of that little walking, sailor?" Maeve teased him, "I'll help you cool down!" She gave a wave of her hand and mumbled a few strange words to cast a spell. A little rain cloud appeared directly above Sindbad's head and let it rain down on him.
"Argh... Maeve, make it stop, now! Or else..." Sindbad shouted, trying to get away from the cloud, but it followed him, wherever he ran.
"Or what, sailor?" Maeve sneered.
"Or... or I'll hold you in my arms until you're as wet as I am!" the wet man threatened in lack of a better idea. Honestly it sounded very tempting to him to hold the witch in his arms, standing in the rain...
Maeve's thoughts went along the same line, but Rongar's goofy grin brought her back to reality. Sighing she clapped her hands and the cloud disappeared.
Inwardly the captain sighed. In a way he had been looking forward to fulfilling his threat. He shook his head to get rid of some of the water and especially those thoughts. Maeve would never think this way of him, now would she? No, of course never! He told himself firmly. He was merely a friend to her. Unfortunately.
Maeve laughed some more about the wet captain, mostly to cover her embarrassment about her own line of thoughts, then she grew serious. "To answer your question about why I can't mist us back to the Nomad: It has to do with our supplies, Sindbad." She explained. "Magic works in strange ways. You see, with misting the... hmm, powers draw some of the essence of the subjects that are transported. This has no bad influence on anything living as their essence changes and renovates all the time. But with "dead" and harvested things, like the meat and the fruits it is different. By drawing from their essence they would rot within seconds and when we'd arrive at the Nomad, we'd only have inedible food. Imagine Doubar's reaction!"
They all had to laugh at the idea of their friend's reaction as the man loved nothing more than food, wine and beautiful women. And adventures of course.
For a while the conversation went about easier topics until Rongar stopped them with a wave of his hand. He pointed to a spot on the ground that was covered by a dark brown layer. It was dried blood. Rongar's blood.
The three fell silent for a moment, thinking of the past day's events, until Sindbad spoke up.
"This is where we met her." He spoke their thoughts. "This is where you were hurt Rongar. And this is where we got back our Maeve." He paused. "What a place of united good and bad..."
Rongar was very upset and lost in his thoughts. He remembered the last day, the unbearable pain, the fear of dying.
Maeve seemed to feel his tenseness. She walked to his side and lay a hand on his shoulder. A simple, yet calming gesture. She looked directly into his dark eyes, and to Rongar it was as if she had touched his soul.
Maeve gave him an encouraging smile before she spoke up: "I promise you, my silent friend, she'll never hurt you again. Not you, and not anyone else of my friends. Now that I've mastered my powers, I'll defeat her and finally fulfil my task. I'd say in less than a month will be free of her forever"
Rongar nodded. He trusted his friend with all his heart and he knew that she would keep her word.
But Sindbad gave Maeve a quizzical look. "How can you be so sure of that, Maeve?" he asked. "I mean, how do you know that Rumina won't pop up right this second?"
"Because it would be the most stupid thing she could do, to attack me now; and she knows that!"
"Why?"
"As I said, Sindbad, I am a witch now and that means that my powers have changed. Let me explain: The magic of sorcerers and witches differs very much. While a sorcerer drains the energy to cast a spell from his own body, a witch drains this energy from her surroundings, from the elements. And the moon has a big influence on a witch's powers. Right now we have full moon which means that my powers are at their highest point and Rumina knows that. If she was to attack me during the next three days, it would be her certain death."
The two men were impressed. Assured that they would be save they continued their way to the ship.
~*~
When Sindbad, Rongar and Maeve reached the beach about three quarters of an hour later they discovered a little problem. They had no longboat to take them back to the Nomad as they hadn't used one to get to the island.
"What do we do now?" Maeve asked. "How do we notify them we're back so that they come and pick us up?"
"Well, you could always throw a fireball and split the mast." Sindbad joked. "That would certainly show Doubar that you're back!"
Maeve growled. "Very funny! What would you do if I did indeed split your mast?" With that she formed a small fireball and tossed it in her hands.
"No! Don't!" Sindbad shouted. "Spare my ship! I'll get their attention!" He ran back to the wagon, grabbed a cloth and began waving it in the air. Soon a member of the crew had spied them and sent a longboat to pick them up. So Maeve let the fireball disappear. Sindbad heaved a sigh, glad to have saved his mast from Maeve's magic. Somehow he was always on the verge of loosing either his mind or one of his possessions when he was near her.
~*~
A short while later they climbed aboard the Nomad where Doubar greeted them.
"Little Brother! You're back! How did the purchase go?"
"Everything's fine. No set sails! Weigh anchor! Course Baghdad!" The captain ordered. "I'll go below and study the charts."
"Oh no, you won't Sindbad!" Maeve's voice stopped him. Confused he turned around. The rest of the crew also wondered what was going on, why Maeve was taking over command.
"What gives you the right to give me, your captain, orders?" Sindbad asked slightly angered by her tone.
"Yesterday I gave you an ultimatum of twenty-four hours. It ends now. As you haven't changed your outfit by now, I'm going to handle this!" the Celt declared.
Sindbad was speechless for a second, and so was the crew. He had totally forgotten the ultimatum. This might get him into big trouble now, he mused. So he tried to reason Maeve. "But, Maeve, I..." he began.
"No buts, sailor!" she interrupted him. "I'm not willing to see you in that pirate outfit any second longer!" With that she lifted her arms and clapped her hands twice. In a plop Sindbad's clothes disappeared and he stood there, totally naked. Sindbad blushed from his toes to his ears and tried desperately to cover himself. The crew broke into roaring laughter. Maeve merely grinned and clapped her hands a second time and Sindbad was dressed again. But now he wore his old sailor clothes, consisting of his loose blue pants, a white shirt with a blue vest and a red sash. The crew applauded.
"That's our old Sindbad! Thank you lass!" Doubar shouted.
"Bravo Maeve!"
"Very well done!"
Maeve grinned at Sindbad who was still as red as a tomato, her eyes flashed mischievously.
"And now, Captain, you get down into your cabin and get that beard of yours shaved, or I'll handle this, too!" she ordered him. "And believe me, next time I won't be so gracious!"
Sindbad practically fled from his laughing crew and ran below. Why was it that Maeve always made him look like a jerk in front of his crew, while when they were alone she treated him almost loving? Sindbad didn't understand this woman; she made fly high in the air and fall so deep. And all he knew was that he couldn't live without her.
Sighing he started shaving his beard. While Maeve was gone, he simply hadn't had the nerve to do it everyday. But now that she was back, things were different. Very different.
~*~
Maeve, in turn, shared some more jokes with some of the men before she also went below to her cabin. As soon as she was there she locked the door and sank to the floor, covering her face with her hands.
"By the Goddess! What was I thinking? He is never going to forgive me that one!" she groaned. It had nearly been too much to see him like that. From her place Maeve had got a pretty good look at all of him. He was gorgeous! Perfectly shaped as if it was formed by the best artist with the finest marble.
*Why don't finally admit it, sis?* Dermott asked having followed her into the room.
*Admit what?*
*Argh...! Admit that you love him! It is clear to everybody except you two stubborn fools anyway!* he practically shouted in her mind.
*No! I do not love him!* Maeve contradicted. *I don't have time for something as stupid and unnecessary as love! I have a task to fulfil!*
*To free me? You mean that? I already told that that is not more important than your own luck and happiness!*
*It is! And we've had this discussion beforehand, so please stop it for now and leave me alone!* Maeve responded tiredly. *Soon you will be free, and then I'll find my own happiness, okay?*
Dermott grumbled some more and flapped his wings before Maeve let him out of the room to clear her own thoughts. She couldn't hide here all day, she told herself. After all she had a life to live.
~*~
At dinner Maeve was very quiet and so was Sindbad. And this affected the crew's mood, too. Maeve's gaze kept wandering to Sindbad, but whenever he returned her glance, she looked away.
Doubar heaved a sigh. They were back at the old habit of Sindbad and Maeve to avoid each other. Dermott sat on his perch and kept croaking and flapping his wings, as if he was angry about something, Sindbad noticed. Maeve sent the hawk an icy glare.
*Shut up!* she hissed in her mind. But Dermott kept croaking and screeching. It was truly annoying. Finally Maeve jumped up to face the bird and shouted at him in an unknown language. The men didn't understand what she said, but it sounded very angry and unfriendly. Sindbad was fairly sure that is was either an Irish or Celtic curse. Obviously the witch and the hawk were having a fight.
Dermott screeched a last time and the flew out of the galley. Maeve clenched her fists and left the galley with a mumbled "Excuse me...". Quickly she headed on deck.
Sindbad stared at his dinner for some minutes, lost in his thoughts. Then he threw his table knife on the table and stood up.
"To hell with it!" cursed and also went on deck to go and find Maeve. This had to end! He wouldn't allow things to become like it had been before she disappeared! It had to change!
Sindbad found Maeve standing at the bow, staring into the night. He walked over to her, ready for another argument.
"Sindbad, stop." Maeve had heard someone come on deck and she didn't have to turn around to know it was him. She had been sure that he would follow her; and furthermore she recognized his pace.
"Sindbad, please listen to me. And don't interrupt me, or I'll never manage to get over with this." She said calmly. But it cost nearly all her self-discipline not to let her voice waver. "Look, I'm truly sorry about what I did earlier today. I'm sorry for embarrassing you like that." She still wouldn't face him. "I don't know what got into me. I hope you'll be able to forgive me... eventually." The Celt sniffed and had to gulp back tears, fearfully awaiting her captains answer.
Sindbad had to smile. He had come on deck unknowing what to do or to say. And now, before he even had had the chance of saying anything, Maeve had apologised to him.
Slowly he turned her around, but she still wouldn't look at him, instead she kept staring at her hands. Sindbad put a hand under her chin and forced her to look up. Still her eyes kept wandering everywhere but to his eyes. It was dark and he had brought no lamp, yet he thought he saw tears glistening in her eyes. His strong and tough Maeve was crying? About what? Him? Sindbad couldn't believe that. Maybe there was another reason. She wouldn't cry about having teased him once more, now would she? Well, obviously she was trying not to let her tears fall, so Sindbad decided not to mention it for now.
"Already done, Maeve." He said.
"Huh?"
"I mean, I have already forgiven you." The captain repeated. "I don't why, but I can't seem to be angry with you for very long Maeve. There's something about you that makes me forgive you everything."
Finally her eyes locked with his. And there she saw that he meant what he was saying.
"I'm so glad!" she whispered. "Thank you Sindbad." She hugged him tightly burying her head in his shoulder. Sindbad gulped and fought hard not to kiss her senseless. After what seemed like an eternity Maeve stepped back and turned to the ocean again. They fell silent for a while until Sindbad spoke up.
"What were you and Dermott arguing about?"
"You." Was Maeve's simple answer.
"But why?" Sindbad asked quizzically.
"He insisted that I had to apologise to you... I guess he was right about that."
"Yeah. Please remind me to give him an extra piece of meat when he is back. By the way where has he gone to?"
"He said, he had to put some distance between the two of us, or otherwise something very bad was likely to happen." Maeve said matter-of-factly.
"Ah... By the way, when you were shouting at Dermott in the galley, was that Irish?" Sindbad wanted to know.
"Aye, that was my native language." The Celt said.
"What were you saying?"
"I'm not telling."
"Why not?" Sindbad demanded.
"Because I don't think you're old enough for that one, sailor." Maeve teased him. "Coming to think of it, I'm not quiet sure if Doubar would be old enough for that one..."
They shared a laugh, then Sindbad said:
"I think it's time we go down again. Otherwise the crew might think we killed each other."
"Hmm..." Maeve mumbled musing. "You know, there is one good thing about my spell."
"And what would that be?"
"You finally got that terrible beard of yours shaved!" She grinned while Sindbad flushed lightly.
Then Maeve eyed him critically. "But something's still missing..." She looked him up and down, checking his loose blue pants, the white shirt, the vest of the colour of the sea and the red sash. "Come here." She ordered.
Sindbad swallowed hard. What was she planning now? Yet, he automatically obeyed and stepped towards her.
The witch took something out of her pocket. "I found this in the village and thought it was perfect for you!" She stepped closer to him and Sindbad saw what lay in her hands: A red headband, similar to the one he used to wear before he had changed his outfit.
Maeve stood on the tip of he toes and tied it round his head. After she was done she took a step back and eyed him again. "Perfect!" she said satisfied. "That's my old Sindbad!"
What she did then surprised Sindbad the most: She gave him a soft kiss on his right cheek.
"Good night, my sailor." She whispered and headed below.
Sindbad stood speechless. What a day he thought. What a wonderful day!
To be continued
By Sheela