Maeve stood by the railing staring out into the sky. It was
late in the afternoon and the sun was setting, leaving the
sky a mixture of deep blue, pinks and purples. Sea mist
rose from the water and rolled over the railing, covering
the ship in a light fog.

She felt Sinbad approach her and was surprised when he
grabbed her by the arm, turning her to face him and hauling
her up against him, "Maeve," he whispered, his voice husky.
Before she could respond he crushed his lips to hers in a
passionate kiss.

Momentarily stunned, Maeve didn't respond at first, she
simply stood there and allowed Sinbad to kiss her for all
he was worth.

A few seconds passed before she gained enough of her senses
back to respond. Finally able to move, she brought her
hands up around his neck and returned his kiss. Her brain
couldn't process the information fast enough. Did this mean
he felt the same way? Were they finally going to take that
next step?

"Maeve, I.." before Sinbad could finish his sentence the
scene faded and Maeve was pulled from her dream by a loud
and persistent knocking on her cabin door. "Are you
planning on joining the rest of the living?!" Bryn called
from the other side of the door. Maeve grumbled as she
pushed the covers back and grabbed her clothes. She was
never going to get to see how that dream ended.

Maeve emerged from below deck to be greeted by Sinbad's
rather perky voice calling, "Ah, she awakes!"

Her eyebrows lifted as a sense of familiarity washed over
her. That had happened before, hadn't? Quickly shaking the
thought from her head, she smiled as she sauntered over to
him, getting as close as she dared she replied, "Can't a
girl get some beauty sleep every now and then?" she asked.

His breath caught in his throat at her proximity. "You
don't need any beauty sleep," he whispered, his voice deep
with passion. Their eyes locked and they dared the other to
take the first step. Sinbad was the first to break the gaze
and step back.

Once again Maeve frowned. She was positive that whole scene
had happened before. Either that or she was losing her
mind. It was probably the second one.

Suddenly a loud explosion erupted through the air from the
other side of the ship and a piece of wood came flying
threw the air at Sinbad and Maeve. "Duck!" he yelled,
grabbing her and pushing her down. "Forouz what in the name
of Allah are you doing?" Sinbad asked, slightly angry.
"Look out the rope is burning!" he shouted. Several men ran
to get buckets of water but by the time they got back the
rope had burned to nothing.

"Oops." Forouz said, putting his hand up to his mouth.

"Now we have to find some place that sells rope," Sinbad
said, looking at his remorseful friend. He couldn't stop
the smile from forming and soon the whole crew was
laughing, except for Maeve who was starting to feel a bit
uneasy.

"Forouz, what would we do without you little buddy?" Doubar
asked, standing next to the scientist. He gave the little
man a pat on the back and almost knocked him over.

"Excuse me Captain but there is an Island not far ahead."
Came a meek voice from behind the group.

"Good work Gustaph. Lets set sail with the sails we have
and hope we get there!" Sinbad yelled, still laughing a
little. "We needed a little vacation time anyway." Sinbad
said, as he patted his brother on the back. He was grinning
from ear to ear.

Maeve was certain that there was magic at work here. She
couldn't put her finger on it but something terrible was
about to happen. She walked over to the side of the ship
and called for Dermit. The hawk came and perched on her
arm. Telepathically communicating with her pet she asked
him if he had seen anything.

"No malady, although I share your uneasiness." Dermit
replied.

Figuring she was merely over reacting she squashed the
nervous feeling inside of her and joined the others.

Just as before, the harbor was empty. "I wonder where
everyone is?" Doubar asked.

"A Festival," Maeve whispered, something nagging at her in
the back of her mind.

"How do you know?" Forouz asked, coming to stand beside the
sorceress.

"Just a feeling…" She replied, her voice trailing off.

"Is there something wrong Maeve?" Sinbad questioned, coming
to stand next to her. There was concern in his eyes as he
peered down at her.

"I don't know, I don't have a good feeling about this."
Maeve told him, a cold wind blew over her and she shivered.

The group started down the dirt path and soon grew closer
to the happy cheers of the festival.

"Are you getting psychic powers on me Maeve?" Sinbad asked,
laughing.

"Maybe," She replied, smiling up at him.

In front of them an old gray haired woman in a long green
dress walked up to the group, "Welcome strangers! We are
celebrating our good fortune." She started but was
interrupted by Maeve.

"Forty years this island has been running and they are
honoring all their elders from the five neighboring towns."
She explained, her eyes growing wide. She turned to meet
Sinbad's surprised expression, "It just popped into my
head…" her voice trailed off again.

"Ah we have a psychic in our presence. Perhaps you would
like to become part of the entertainment?" The woman asked.
At Maeve's alarmed expression she laughed, "Or maybe not.
Anyways, go ahead and have a look around." The woman said,
wondering off to greet a few other people.

Doubar and Forouz started to head for the food table but
Maeve stopped them, "I think we should stick together. That
uneasy feeling is growing." She said, turning her worried
eyes to Sinbad. He nodded his head and motioned them to
follow him.

"Lets go have a look around." He suggested.

"Wow, I've never seen so much stuff on display." Bryn
breathed, fingering a peace of brown material.

"They have to have ropes around here somewhere," Sinbad
muttered to the group.

Maeve was silent as they came towards the sword fighting.
She gazed around her trying to figure out what was giving
her such an uneasy feeling.

She glanced a few feet ahead of her at a couple that was
arguing. The young man had a hold of the woman's arms and
was yelling something at her. Maeve couldn't make out what
he was saying but she could see fear in his eyes.

A few seconds later a shrill scream pierced through the air
and several men wearing black robes came galloping into the
town on black stallions. They held bows in their hands and
were shooting them off randomely. One struck en elderly man
wearing a white robe.

Maeve watched stunned, as the young man cried out in horror
as an arrow killed the lady he had been arguing with.
Suddenly, Maeve sucked in a deep breath as she was hit with
image after image. It was all coming back to her in a
million of still shots just flipping through her memory in
quick succession. Off in the distance she heard Sinbad yell
for them to take action and as he did the scene where
Sinbad dies came to her.

Turning around she saw Sinbad pick up a potted vase and
throw it at the first rider, knocking him down. "Noooo!"
She screamed, and as everything happened in slow motion she
threw herself in front of him, shielding him from the arrow
meant to kill him.

"Maeve," he croaked out just before she fell limply in his
arms.

Looking up at him, fighting to hold onto life for a little
bit longer she whispered, "this happened before." She
started, "except last time you died. I couldn't go threw
that again." She said, tears slipping down her cheeks. She
sucked in one painful breath and then another.

"Why Maeve, why didn't you just let me take the arrow?" He
sobbed, cradling her to him. The roles were now reversed
but the outcome the same.

"I love you." She whispered.

"No," Sinbad cried, desperately clutching her to him.

Around him the others were still fighting, each of them
oblivious to the fact that this day had already happened.
Maeve's words to Sinbad hadn't registered in his own pain
filled mind, all he could think about was the fact that his
one true love had saved his life but in return had given up
hers.

Like before, Bryn glared at the fourth rider sending him
flying out of his saddle and landing in a heap on the
ground.

Rongar once again grabbed his daggers and killed the fifth
rider.

Unlike the last time though, Doubar and Forouz were with
them. Grabbing some of Rongar's daggers, Doubar launched a
couple at the sixth rider, taking him out.

Forouz had pulled out some of his exploding sticks and
threw it at the seventh rider, taking him out also.

All of the black riders had been stopped and only one of
the Elder's had been killed.

Finally able to check on their friend, Doubar, Forouz, Bryn
and Rongar ran over to where Sinbad was clutching Maeve's
still form.

"What happened?" Came Doubar's concerned voice, "Is she all
right?" When he saw the look in Sinbad's eyes, he knew.
"No!"

He looked up at Doubar, tears still in his eyes. "I never
got a chance to tell her..." he murmured, still clutching
his beloved sorceress to him. "She saved my life Doubar."
He sounded surprised, almost unbelieving. Yet here she
lies, in his arms, gone from him forever.

Doubar pulled his younger brother to him in a fierce hug,
"I'm sorry little brother, we will all miss her."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As the previous time, darkness came over the island and the
group found themselves standing over a wooden casket. This
time with Maeve stuck inside.

None of the shipmates had a clue about what was going on.
Dermit sat perched on a tree limb squawking indignantly as
if to say, "Don't you all realize what is happening? She
tried to tell you."

There wasn't a dry eye among the group as they watched the
casket float away.

Doubar looked to his little brother who hadn't been able to
contain his grief. He wasn't sure if Sinbad would survive
losing her once again.

The group slowly made their way back to the Inn. Sleep
didn't come easily for the group. Soon the sun would rise
and the day would begin anew.


To be continued and going to get a lot more exciting, I
promise. Please R&R or I wont let Maeve come back.