TITLE: Shadows of the Past
AUTHOR: Aset
CATEGORY: ADVENTURE/MAGIC/ROMANCE
RATING:
PAIRINGS: S/B, S/M
DISCLAIMER: the personages from AoS aren't mine. Except for Borr of course :o)
SUMMARY: It's a story about Maeve's return. And Bryn's past (and future)…and choices
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First of all, I've got to apologise for possible mistakes in the text. English isn't my native language.
As for the rest, thanks to all my friends, especially Horus, Dena and Ernie for reading, helping me out and listen to my complains and whining over and over again! Thanks guys, you're the best!!!
**************************************************************************** ******
Sinbad and Doubar were standing outside the hut, waiting until someone answered or opened the door. They were people in there, they had heard voices.
He had send Firouz and Rongar back to the Nomad, together with Maeve. He didn't trust it, so he had ordered them to return to the ship and stay there until he and Doubar had checked it out.
They heard footsteps approaching then a lock that was opened. The door went open, surprising Doubar and Sinbad as well as the young woman inside the hut. This was not what either of them had expected to see.
'Bryn?' The men both exclaimed in wonder as they saw their old friend standing there, alive, safe, bit fatter, but she was ok.
'hi' she uttered. She'd never expected to see them again, and neither had they.
The little girl came out of her hideout and ran up to Bryn, hiding behind her, holding on to her legs. Bryn smiled at the little girl 'It's okay, Taya. I know them, they're friends of mine'
'How…why… What are you doing here?' Sinbad's voice was filled with joy. He went up to hug her, holding her again in his arms after all this time, but Doubar was faster. He was laughing as he lifted Bryn up and turned her around.
'Aaaah! Put me down! Aaaahahaha!!'
Then it was Sinbad, only seconds after Doubar, who had put Bryn down, and now was making contact to the little girl.
'I missed you' the captain said as he pulled her into a big hug…
'Wha…Bryn?'
'I missed you too!' she said as she smiled to him.
'You're… You… I mean.. you're.' He couldn't believe it.
'I'm what?? …ow…yeah, I'm expecting' she said with an aggrieved face when she finally realised what he meant.
He would ask her more, maybe already knowing the answer, but still...'How far along are you?'
'Almost five months now.' She said as she went to sit down on a chair, pulling Taya towards her, placing the child on her lap.
Tension. Silence. 'what would he think?'…'Is it mine?'…'Would he be mad?'…'Why didn't she tell me?'… so many questions, so many words unsaid, still that same silence, tension building up.
'You sure know how to surprise us, girl!' Doubar said, picking up Taya from her lap and placing the little girl on his shoulders. She giggled, having fun.
'So…Why are you guys here?' She asked, changing the subject.
'We needed to buy supplies. But the town was desolated…'
'I know.' She said, looking down.
'You know?' Once again she managed to surprise them.
'Alante bad!! Bad!!' Taya said
'They're all in the mines. He has captured them…Alante. Taya and me are the only ones left now.'
'Come', he said, 'Come back to the Nomad. We've missed you too much to loose you now!!'
'And Taya'
'She too. You're not safe here. We have to go back, work out a plan to safe them.'
That's how she remembered them; caring for others. He hadn't changed, he was still the same captain, the same man. He only seemed to have become more handsome. But then again, it could be because she hadn't seen him in all those months.
She got up. He wanted to help, but help was not needed. He hugged her again, causing the bracelets to glow. They felt it. 'Woah!' 'Did you felt it too?'
And then they saw their bracelets…
'Let's go back! I know some people who are going to be thrilled to see you!' Doubar said as he went out, Taya still on his shoulders, followed by Sinbad and Bryn.
He didn't know what to say. Sure, there were a million things he could say, and ask, and do; but words were wrong now. Nobody was to blame, well maybe he was… Nobody had expected this, nobody had thought to see her again. And in a way his heart broke. He still loved her, no hiding it, no denying it. His heart had wept when she'd left, his heart had wept as he had left her behind in her cabin that morning; his heart had wept when he had made a choice. It was love that had made his heart weep.
'Are you okay?' he asked her, trying to build up a conversation.
'I'm fine' she said. Silence. 'How is the rest of the crew'
'Ow, they're doing great! We all missed you terribly.' Silence again.
'I missed you guys too.' And once more, silence. Now it lasted until they reached the ship.
***
They had left her cabin just the way it was, and she was glad for it. Rongar and Firouz had welcomed her back with hugs and laugher. And even Maeve had smiled. 'Probably out of politeness', she thought. And she smiled at the thought of Maeve's reaction when she'd discover that she… no, no, they mustn't know. He'd made his choice.
Now she was finally home, and Taya was with her. She almost seemed like her own daughter, her little protégéé. Bryn went to lay down next to the sleeping girl, resting, awaiting a new day…
She had told them everything she knew about Alante, and that wasn't much. Just that he was some kind of magician. He hypnotised the people of Pathar to work for him at the silver-mines. She had arrived at the town when there were only a few people left. Bryn had longed for solitude, so she had occupied the abandoned hut on the beach. It was perfect, just big enough. Then one day, she found an empty town. Alante had got them all. She had looked in every house, that's how she had found Taya, hiding out underneath a bed. She had taken the girl into her hut and had started to love her as her own.
Bryn gently caressed the girl's dark, straight hair, and brushed a kiss upon it.
'Goodnight, my girl! We're gonna find your mother tomorrow, I swear!' she whispered before falling asleep herself, slowly drifting of to the land of dreams.
***
Maeve had searched through her books and had found a solution. A simple spell could break Alante's powers.
'I got it!' she yelled as she ran up deck.
She found the boys on the tiller, talking quietly.
'I got it' she said again as she approached.
Her presence had made them stop their conversation. Silence.
'I found it! Just a spell', she said, 'just a stupid little spell' she said, walking up to Sinbad, giving him a little kiss. For a moment he pulled back, but only for a moment.
'She mustn't know' he thought.
'A spell?' he asked.
'Yes, I got it right here,' she said, waving a piece of paper in front of his eyes, 'Say the words while holding this rock' she showed him a beautiful crystal, 'And he'll loose his powers!' she smiled.
'Great!'
'That's fine!'
'Good job, Maeve!'
She felt something was wrong. 'Bryn' she instinctively thought. She hadn't been happy to see the woman again, but she had controlled herself. Bryn wasn't really a danger anymore. Sinbad had chosen for her, and he loved her, only her.
'We'll leave tomorrow. I'll ask Bryn to draw us a map', He kissed Maeve, 'Well done, love' and he left.
***
They slept, both of them. He hadn't expect to find the girl there too.
'Bryn' he whispered, no use, she was fast asleep. And so was the little girl.
He scooped Taya up into his arms, lifting her up, took her to his room and tugged her in. She slept on, didn't wake up. 'Sleep tight, little one' he said, closing the door, returning to her cabin.
'Still so beautiful' he said to himself. Love her, don't, love them both, don't. Choose. Loose one, loose two, loose everything.
A baby. It's his, no doubt. Love them.
He stepped up to the bed, and went to lay down beside her, gently touching her face.
'Bryn?' he whispered again, while his hand touched her womb. She moved, slowly waking up again. A smile appeared on his face.
'Why did you wake me?' she asked.
'I..euh…I wanted to see you'
She smiled. Her smile, God, he'd missed that!
'Liar!' she said, the smile never leaving her radiant face, as she gently pocked him in his stomach.
'Oww;;' he tickled her a bit before pulling her against him, hugging her.
'I really did miss you' he kissed her nose. She sighed
'Is she in your room?'
'Who? Maeve? No! She's in her cabin I suppose'
'Taya'
'Ow..' a giggle, 'Yeah'
Silence.
'We're going to the mines tomorrow… Have you got the map?'
She nodded, 'It's on the table'
'Look, I want you and Maeve to stay down here, as well as the girl. It's not safe for you guys to come along'
'Sinbad..' she interrupted him.
'I want you and the baby safe.'
It was the first time he'd talked about it with her. No longer avoiding the subject. She remained silent.
'How are you feeling?', he asked, looking into her eyes.
'Fine', she said, looking away. Broken heart, lost love.
'I mean… the pregnancy. How are you doing?' His eyes were filled with worry and he sounded sincere, really concerned.
'It's okay… He's moving now.' She said, taking his hand and placing it on her womb. He felt it, and started to smile. The rainbowbracelets started to glow
'Look!' 'Wow!' laugher. Then again, silence.
'Why did you leave, Bryn?'
'Do you have to ask Sinbad? I lost you! I loved you, I still do' her eyes filled with tears.
'Oh, Bryn..' she struggled a bit when he took her into his arms, then let her tears run freely.
'I didn't..I…And then I found out…And Maeve...' Only fragments, the rest was absorbed by her tears. He tried to understand, and he did. He knew it, he had no choice but to understand.
'Get a grip!', she told herself, 'he can never be yours, think of the baby.'
She pulled back and started to dry her tears. She looked at him. He'd been crying too.
***
AUTHOR: Aset
CATEGORY: ADVENTURE/MAGIC/ROMANCE
RATING:
PAIRINGS: S/B, S/M
DISCLAIMER: the personages from AoS aren't mine. Except for Borr of course :o)
SUMMARY: It's a story about Maeve's return. And Bryn's past (and future)…and choices
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First of all, I've got to apologise for possible mistakes in the text. English isn't my native language.
As for the rest, thanks to all my friends, especially Horus, Dena and Ernie for reading, helping me out and listen to my complains and whining over and over again! Thanks guys, you're the best!!!
**************************************************************************** ******
Sinbad and Doubar were standing outside the hut, waiting until someone answered or opened the door. They were people in there, they had heard voices.
He had send Firouz and Rongar back to the Nomad, together with Maeve. He didn't trust it, so he had ordered them to return to the ship and stay there until he and Doubar had checked it out.
They heard footsteps approaching then a lock that was opened. The door went open, surprising Doubar and Sinbad as well as the young woman inside the hut. This was not what either of them had expected to see.
'Bryn?' The men both exclaimed in wonder as they saw their old friend standing there, alive, safe, bit fatter, but she was ok.
'hi' she uttered. She'd never expected to see them again, and neither had they.
The little girl came out of her hideout and ran up to Bryn, hiding behind her, holding on to her legs. Bryn smiled at the little girl 'It's okay, Taya. I know them, they're friends of mine'
'How…why… What are you doing here?' Sinbad's voice was filled with joy. He went up to hug her, holding her again in his arms after all this time, but Doubar was faster. He was laughing as he lifted Bryn up and turned her around.
'Aaaah! Put me down! Aaaahahaha!!'
Then it was Sinbad, only seconds after Doubar, who had put Bryn down, and now was making contact to the little girl.
'I missed you' the captain said as he pulled her into a big hug…
'Wha…Bryn?'
'I missed you too!' she said as she smiled to him.
'You're… You… I mean.. you're.' He couldn't believe it.
'I'm what?? …ow…yeah, I'm expecting' she said with an aggrieved face when she finally realised what he meant.
He would ask her more, maybe already knowing the answer, but still...'How far along are you?'
'Almost five months now.' She said as she went to sit down on a chair, pulling Taya towards her, placing the child on her lap.
Tension. Silence. 'what would he think?'…'Is it mine?'…'Would he be mad?'…'Why didn't she tell me?'… so many questions, so many words unsaid, still that same silence, tension building up.
'You sure know how to surprise us, girl!' Doubar said, picking up Taya from her lap and placing the little girl on his shoulders. She giggled, having fun.
'So…Why are you guys here?' She asked, changing the subject.
'We needed to buy supplies. But the town was desolated…'
'I know.' She said, looking down.
'You know?' Once again she managed to surprise them.
'Alante bad!! Bad!!' Taya said
'They're all in the mines. He has captured them…Alante. Taya and me are the only ones left now.'
'Come', he said, 'Come back to the Nomad. We've missed you too much to loose you now!!'
'And Taya'
'She too. You're not safe here. We have to go back, work out a plan to safe them.'
That's how she remembered them; caring for others. He hadn't changed, he was still the same captain, the same man. He only seemed to have become more handsome. But then again, it could be because she hadn't seen him in all those months.
She got up. He wanted to help, but help was not needed. He hugged her again, causing the bracelets to glow. They felt it. 'Woah!' 'Did you felt it too?'
And then they saw their bracelets…
'Let's go back! I know some people who are going to be thrilled to see you!' Doubar said as he went out, Taya still on his shoulders, followed by Sinbad and Bryn.
He didn't know what to say. Sure, there were a million things he could say, and ask, and do; but words were wrong now. Nobody was to blame, well maybe he was… Nobody had expected this, nobody had thought to see her again. And in a way his heart broke. He still loved her, no hiding it, no denying it. His heart had wept when she'd left, his heart had wept as he had left her behind in her cabin that morning; his heart had wept when he had made a choice. It was love that had made his heart weep.
'Are you okay?' he asked her, trying to build up a conversation.
'I'm fine' she said. Silence. 'How is the rest of the crew'
'Ow, they're doing great! We all missed you terribly.' Silence again.
'I missed you guys too.' And once more, silence. Now it lasted until they reached the ship.
***
They had left her cabin just the way it was, and she was glad for it. Rongar and Firouz had welcomed her back with hugs and laugher. And even Maeve had smiled. 'Probably out of politeness', she thought. And she smiled at the thought of Maeve's reaction when she'd discover that she… no, no, they mustn't know. He'd made his choice.
Now she was finally home, and Taya was with her. She almost seemed like her own daughter, her little protégéé. Bryn went to lay down next to the sleeping girl, resting, awaiting a new day…
She had told them everything she knew about Alante, and that wasn't much. Just that he was some kind of magician. He hypnotised the people of Pathar to work for him at the silver-mines. She had arrived at the town when there were only a few people left. Bryn had longed for solitude, so she had occupied the abandoned hut on the beach. It was perfect, just big enough. Then one day, she found an empty town. Alante had got them all. She had looked in every house, that's how she had found Taya, hiding out underneath a bed. She had taken the girl into her hut and had started to love her as her own.
Bryn gently caressed the girl's dark, straight hair, and brushed a kiss upon it.
'Goodnight, my girl! We're gonna find your mother tomorrow, I swear!' she whispered before falling asleep herself, slowly drifting of to the land of dreams.
***
Maeve had searched through her books and had found a solution. A simple spell could break Alante's powers.
'I got it!' she yelled as she ran up deck.
She found the boys on the tiller, talking quietly.
'I got it' she said again as she approached.
Her presence had made them stop their conversation. Silence.
'I found it! Just a spell', she said, 'just a stupid little spell' she said, walking up to Sinbad, giving him a little kiss. For a moment he pulled back, but only for a moment.
'She mustn't know' he thought.
'A spell?' he asked.
'Yes, I got it right here,' she said, waving a piece of paper in front of his eyes, 'Say the words while holding this rock' she showed him a beautiful crystal, 'And he'll loose his powers!' she smiled.
'Great!'
'That's fine!'
'Good job, Maeve!'
She felt something was wrong. 'Bryn' she instinctively thought. She hadn't been happy to see the woman again, but she had controlled herself. Bryn wasn't really a danger anymore. Sinbad had chosen for her, and he loved her, only her.
'We'll leave tomorrow. I'll ask Bryn to draw us a map', He kissed Maeve, 'Well done, love' and he left.
***
They slept, both of them. He hadn't expect to find the girl there too.
'Bryn' he whispered, no use, she was fast asleep. And so was the little girl.
He scooped Taya up into his arms, lifting her up, took her to his room and tugged her in. She slept on, didn't wake up. 'Sleep tight, little one' he said, closing the door, returning to her cabin.
'Still so beautiful' he said to himself. Love her, don't, love them both, don't. Choose. Loose one, loose two, loose everything.
A baby. It's his, no doubt. Love them.
He stepped up to the bed, and went to lay down beside her, gently touching her face.
'Bryn?' he whispered again, while his hand touched her womb. She moved, slowly waking up again. A smile appeared on his face.
'Why did you wake me?' she asked.
'I..euh…I wanted to see you'
She smiled. Her smile, God, he'd missed that!
'Liar!' she said, the smile never leaving her radiant face, as she gently pocked him in his stomach.
'Oww;;' he tickled her a bit before pulling her against him, hugging her.
'I really did miss you' he kissed her nose. She sighed
'Is she in your room?'
'Who? Maeve? No! She's in her cabin I suppose'
'Taya'
'Ow..' a giggle, 'Yeah'
Silence.
'We're going to the mines tomorrow… Have you got the map?'
She nodded, 'It's on the table'
'Look, I want you and Maeve to stay down here, as well as the girl. It's not safe for you guys to come along'
'Sinbad..' she interrupted him.
'I want you and the baby safe.'
It was the first time he'd talked about it with her. No longer avoiding the subject. She remained silent.
'How are you feeling?', he asked, looking into her eyes.
'Fine', she said, looking away. Broken heart, lost love.
'I mean… the pregnancy. How are you doing?' His eyes were filled with worry and he sounded sincere, really concerned.
'It's okay… He's moving now.' She said, taking his hand and placing it on her womb. He felt it, and started to smile. The rainbowbracelets started to glow
'Look!' 'Wow!' laugher. Then again, silence.
'Why did you leave, Bryn?'
'Do you have to ask Sinbad? I lost you! I loved you, I still do' her eyes filled with tears.
'Oh, Bryn..' she struggled a bit when he took her into his arms, then let her tears run freely.
'I didn't..I…And then I found out…And Maeve...' Only fragments, the rest was absorbed by her tears. He tried to understand, and he did. He knew it, he had no choice but to understand.
'Get a grip!', she told herself, 'he can never be yours, think of the baby.'
She pulled back and started to dry her tears. She looked at him. He'd been crying too.
***