Chapter 5
It had been a few days since their talk. Dermott had become determined to put his sister and a man who had quickly become one of his closest friends together where they belonged. He knew that it would not be easy, both people being as headstrong as they were, and in the end it would be their own decision to where they wanted to go within their relationship. However, Dermott had no problems with giving them EVERY opportunity to think on the matter.
"Good Day, Sister." He said while walking into her potions room. She waved at him from under her book and continued working. She was diligent in making spells and potions to counter act anything Vexicus may throw at them. Dermott knew what she was doing, putting all the pressure and guilt on herself; she always put the world on her shoulders, even as a child, and it was always his job to help her unload. "I was thinking, today is a beautiful day, we should take a walk." She lifted her eyes from above the book to give her brother a perplexed look. "Dermott, I am working. Take Firouz or Bryn." She pointed to the door and put her eyes back on the book.
He went from amused to annoyed. So he decided to do wheat any good brother would do, annoy her right back. "Hey Maeve, what is this?" He picked up a bad of powder that was on her table. She looked up again in frustration, "Dermott, put that down." She went to grab it out of her brother's hand but he moved it away. "Dermott give it to me." He smiled at her demand seeing the building irritation in her eyes, "Take it from me." His smirk was infuriating her, "LITTLE brother, I have work to do. Unlike some of us I can't play around all day. Now give it here!" She got up and went after her potion bag. Not realizing what exactly her brother was doing.
He had drawn her outside like a Shepard to a sheep. "Stop acting like a child Dermott. GIVE ME MY BAG!" Once he reached the beach he saw someone unexpected, Sinbad. He saw his Captain and decided it would be the perfect time to put his plan into effect. "HEY SINBAD...CATCH." And without realizing what he was taking part in he grabbed the small bag flying towards him. Maeve glared at her brother again and then turned to find where her bag landed. She hesitated at first, but recovered her composure, "Sinbad, can you give me back my bag please." He figured what game Dermott was playing with her, and he was in a playful mood as well. Especially when he saw that aggravated look in her eyes. "You mean this bag." She crossed her arms and huffed, "Yes, Sinbad I mean THAT bag. May I please have it now?" He smiled at her. 'She's beautiful when she is angry, well she is beautiful anytime, but especially when she is angry.' He thought to himself as he gazed at her now open hand demanding what was hers.
He held out the bag, and when she was about to grab it, he pulled it back, and pulled her in as he did so. As he held her in one arm he heaved the bag back at Dermott. He spun her around as she tried to release herself, "I AM GOING TO TURN YOU BOTH INTO ASHES. NO BETTER YET, I WILL TURN YOU INTO WORMS SO MAILA CAN USE YOU FOR THE FISH!!! NOW LET ME GO!" Both men laughed at her screeching threats, and through Sinbad's laughter he could not hold her anymore. When she felt release she ran straight for her brother, but he threw the bag back to Sinbad. The boys had fun turning their meticulous Maeve into a upset little girl. The boys continued their entertainment until the bag was no longer floating between them; it was just floating. Dermott turned his head to see the object of his affection, her dark hair flowing in the wind as she held up the bag on top all their heads.
"I think you boys have had enough fun on Maeve's behalf, don't you." Bryn had been watching them for quite a while now. She enjoyed watching these two men, who she had grown to love in different ways, be so happy. She had never seen either one as joyful or as playful as she had at that very moment. She knew why too, Maeve. There was a longing that she had seen in both their eyes that was now gone. She knew she should have probably felt more jealous at the fact it took her to bring them to these emotions. She had tried to take the sadness out of their eyes, and she had her moments, but nothing she saw ever compared to their laughter now.
However, she didn't feel jealousy, just love and happiness, happiness for two men she held dear, and she liked that feeling. After a while she got irritated herself, these boys should never have the upper hand this long, so she decided to do something about it. With some concentration and with the wave of her hand she lifted the bag from mid-air, and after some focusing put it back in its owner's rightful hands. "Oh, Bryn, we were having fun." Said Dermott as he gave Bryn the look a little boy would give his authoritative mother. "You were having fun at Maeve's expense, now I think you boys should let her get back to her work, and YOU get back to yours." She said with a raised eyebrow trying to hold back a smile. Maeve walked up beside her, "Thank you Bryn, I knew there must be someone keeping The Nomad afloat because it could not be its juvenile Captain or crewmember." Dermott just smiled at his sister aggravated words, knowing she was just as amused as they were. Sinbad just pretended she just stabbed him in the stomach, and then let out a laugh.
Maeve walked away from them and gave Bryn a smile when she winked at her. Maeve made a mental to ask Bryn how she floated the bag without reciting a spell, but she dare not ask in front of the boys. They would just continue to pester them. She went back to her potions room, smiling at the memory of the boys jesting, making sure no one was insight to see her happy about it. Then went right back to work.
*****
Sinbad walked into the palace and down the corridors cautiously. It was late, he had been strategizing with Dermott, Toris and his brother for the last 3 hours and he was tired. In addition to his exhaustion he did not have a torch, so the only lighting he was given was the moonlight through the windows. He was almost to his quarters when he saw a light in the other direction, Maeve's potion room, he decided to go find out if she was still awake. There were things that needed to be said, and though he was exhausted, tonight was perfect to say them.
As he reached the room he saw a blond woman exit. "Hello Sinbad." He realized he had startled her by the waving shadows of flames from her torch. "If you cam to see Maeve she is already asleep." He moved around Shalice and opened the door slowly to see Maeve's head cuddled between her arms on top of the table full of liquids and powders. Her hair was let loose and flowed around the table and her body. "I have told Maeve we should just move her bed here. It would be much easier." Shalice said with a quiet giggle. "Let me be off, I have to go check on Maila." The mention of the child's name brought Sinbad of the trance he was in while watching her. "How is the child?" Sinbad asked with great concern. Sinbad knew how much the child has been through, no person should go through so much in their lifetime, and Maila was only a little girl. "She has not been sleeping very well. She worries for her mother. It is too soon after losing the King, her father, for her to lose her mother too. It is too much for any of them." She shook her head at the thought and walked of to console the young girl.
Once she was out of sight Sinbad entered the room. He could not help but just touch her face. He knew she was truly asleep if she did not spring up at just his presence. He was happy, he had seen what she had been put through the past few days, and she needed her rest. Out of impulse Sinbad went around her chair and put one arm under her knees and pushed her body onto his other arm so he was gripping her back. He picked her up, and lifted her out of the room.
Maeve squirmed a bit in his arms; Sinbad was intrigued and worried of her reaction if she had woken up. However, instead of waking she just nuzzled her face into his neck and wrapped her arms around it. Though she was asleep, this drove Sinbad mad. 'Even in slumber she is utterly desirable.' He thought as he found her room. He used his hand with skill and pulled the blankets, disappointedly setting her down atop her bed. He then, almost stalling for time, sat down beside her and picked up her feet to his lap. He gently pulled off each of her boots, and her dagger, and with the same gentleness put her feet back in the bed, and covered her body with the blankets.
He spent a long while just watching her sleep, not wanting to leave her. He looked around her room. He did not get to see it much when Deora toured them of the castle, at the time Maeve was unconscious so his mind was adrift. However, now he looked around. It was just as plain as her old quarters, which were still unoccupied (under Sinbad's orders) on the ship. It, however, was bigger. The walls were made of stone and the door a large metal. She also now slept on a large bed, instead of the small cot. She had one thing that he recognized hanging from her dresser that he recognized. He got up and grabbed it from its place aside the mirror.
It was the pendant that the ship had bought her during the winter solstice. It was really Sinbad's gift to her, but he was to fearful of the other crewmates ideas of giving this to her himself, so he said it was on behalf of the ship for their newest member. It had seemed so long ago, he now wished he had told her it was really from him....his trains of thought were interrupted by the frightened moans coming from Maeve's bed.
"Sinbad RUN....No, Oh PLEASE no.....MAILA, give her back, MAILA." Sinbad picked her up and tried shaking her from her insanity. She bolted up, her eyes filled with tears, and made a loud screech. "Oh, don't touch me, don't touch me." She kept repeating trying to push Sinbad back, but his arms were unwavering. After a moment she caught her breath and realized who was sitting by her. She sniffled a bit and tried to find her composure, "Sinbad what are you doing here?" she could see the worry in his eyes, "I had brought you here because you fell asleep in the other room, and you started screaming for me to run." He put his hands on her face so she would look at him, "Maeve what happened?" she stared at him for an instance and moved her face out of his hands, "I'm fine Sinbad, they are just bad dreams, I get them every now and again. They are nothing to take seriously. You can leave if you would like." She kept her eyes to her hands as she fidgeted wither blankets.
"If you would not mind, I would like to stay." He pulled her chin back up to his eyes. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew any kiss he got now might be one out of trauma. He knew he needed a different type of kiss. He decided on another course of action. He motioned for her to shift to the other side of the bed. And out of almost instinct she moved. He sat where she once laid and pulled off his own boots and sword and set them near Maeve's. Still working on instinct lied back down and turned her body away from him. He laid beside her, putting his arms around her, and just as fast as she woke up, she went right back to sleep.
TBC....
You didn't think they were going that far in this chapter, did you? HEHEHE..I told you I like to drag things...but you'll get what you ALL have been waiting for...and I promise I'll make it good.HEHEHE
You know the drill.R&R....thanks....
It had been a few days since their talk. Dermott had become determined to put his sister and a man who had quickly become one of his closest friends together where they belonged. He knew that it would not be easy, both people being as headstrong as they were, and in the end it would be their own decision to where they wanted to go within their relationship. However, Dermott had no problems with giving them EVERY opportunity to think on the matter.
"Good Day, Sister." He said while walking into her potions room. She waved at him from under her book and continued working. She was diligent in making spells and potions to counter act anything Vexicus may throw at them. Dermott knew what she was doing, putting all the pressure and guilt on herself; she always put the world on her shoulders, even as a child, and it was always his job to help her unload. "I was thinking, today is a beautiful day, we should take a walk." She lifted her eyes from above the book to give her brother a perplexed look. "Dermott, I am working. Take Firouz or Bryn." She pointed to the door and put her eyes back on the book.
He went from amused to annoyed. So he decided to do wheat any good brother would do, annoy her right back. "Hey Maeve, what is this?" He picked up a bad of powder that was on her table. She looked up again in frustration, "Dermott, put that down." She went to grab it out of her brother's hand but he moved it away. "Dermott give it to me." He smiled at her demand seeing the building irritation in her eyes, "Take it from me." His smirk was infuriating her, "LITTLE brother, I have work to do. Unlike some of us I can't play around all day. Now give it here!" She got up and went after her potion bag. Not realizing what exactly her brother was doing.
He had drawn her outside like a Shepard to a sheep. "Stop acting like a child Dermott. GIVE ME MY BAG!" Once he reached the beach he saw someone unexpected, Sinbad. He saw his Captain and decided it would be the perfect time to put his plan into effect. "HEY SINBAD...CATCH." And without realizing what he was taking part in he grabbed the small bag flying towards him. Maeve glared at her brother again and then turned to find where her bag landed. She hesitated at first, but recovered her composure, "Sinbad, can you give me back my bag please." He figured what game Dermott was playing with her, and he was in a playful mood as well. Especially when he saw that aggravated look in her eyes. "You mean this bag." She crossed her arms and huffed, "Yes, Sinbad I mean THAT bag. May I please have it now?" He smiled at her. 'She's beautiful when she is angry, well she is beautiful anytime, but especially when she is angry.' He thought to himself as he gazed at her now open hand demanding what was hers.
He held out the bag, and when she was about to grab it, he pulled it back, and pulled her in as he did so. As he held her in one arm he heaved the bag back at Dermott. He spun her around as she tried to release herself, "I AM GOING TO TURN YOU BOTH INTO ASHES. NO BETTER YET, I WILL TURN YOU INTO WORMS SO MAILA CAN USE YOU FOR THE FISH!!! NOW LET ME GO!" Both men laughed at her screeching threats, and through Sinbad's laughter he could not hold her anymore. When she felt release she ran straight for her brother, but he threw the bag back to Sinbad. The boys had fun turning their meticulous Maeve into a upset little girl. The boys continued their entertainment until the bag was no longer floating between them; it was just floating. Dermott turned his head to see the object of his affection, her dark hair flowing in the wind as she held up the bag on top all their heads.
"I think you boys have had enough fun on Maeve's behalf, don't you." Bryn had been watching them for quite a while now. She enjoyed watching these two men, who she had grown to love in different ways, be so happy. She had never seen either one as joyful or as playful as she had at that very moment. She knew why too, Maeve. There was a longing that she had seen in both their eyes that was now gone. She knew she should have probably felt more jealous at the fact it took her to bring them to these emotions. She had tried to take the sadness out of their eyes, and she had her moments, but nothing she saw ever compared to their laughter now.
However, she didn't feel jealousy, just love and happiness, happiness for two men she held dear, and she liked that feeling. After a while she got irritated herself, these boys should never have the upper hand this long, so she decided to do something about it. With some concentration and with the wave of her hand she lifted the bag from mid-air, and after some focusing put it back in its owner's rightful hands. "Oh, Bryn, we were having fun." Said Dermott as he gave Bryn the look a little boy would give his authoritative mother. "You were having fun at Maeve's expense, now I think you boys should let her get back to her work, and YOU get back to yours." She said with a raised eyebrow trying to hold back a smile. Maeve walked up beside her, "Thank you Bryn, I knew there must be someone keeping The Nomad afloat because it could not be its juvenile Captain or crewmember." Dermott just smiled at his sister aggravated words, knowing she was just as amused as they were. Sinbad just pretended she just stabbed him in the stomach, and then let out a laugh.
Maeve walked away from them and gave Bryn a smile when she winked at her. Maeve made a mental to ask Bryn how she floated the bag without reciting a spell, but she dare not ask in front of the boys. They would just continue to pester them. She went back to her potions room, smiling at the memory of the boys jesting, making sure no one was insight to see her happy about it. Then went right back to work.
*****
Sinbad walked into the palace and down the corridors cautiously. It was late, he had been strategizing with Dermott, Toris and his brother for the last 3 hours and he was tired. In addition to his exhaustion he did not have a torch, so the only lighting he was given was the moonlight through the windows. He was almost to his quarters when he saw a light in the other direction, Maeve's potion room, he decided to go find out if she was still awake. There were things that needed to be said, and though he was exhausted, tonight was perfect to say them.
As he reached the room he saw a blond woman exit. "Hello Sinbad." He realized he had startled her by the waving shadows of flames from her torch. "If you cam to see Maeve she is already asleep." He moved around Shalice and opened the door slowly to see Maeve's head cuddled between her arms on top of the table full of liquids and powders. Her hair was let loose and flowed around the table and her body. "I have told Maeve we should just move her bed here. It would be much easier." Shalice said with a quiet giggle. "Let me be off, I have to go check on Maila." The mention of the child's name brought Sinbad of the trance he was in while watching her. "How is the child?" Sinbad asked with great concern. Sinbad knew how much the child has been through, no person should go through so much in their lifetime, and Maila was only a little girl. "She has not been sleeping very well. She worries for her mother. It is too soon after losing the King, her father, for her to lose her mother too. It is too much for any of them." She shook her head at the thought and walked of to console the young girl.
Once she was out of sight Sinbad entered the room. He could not help but just touch her face. He knew she was truly asleep if she did not spring up at just his presence. He was happy, he had seen what she had been put through the past few days, and she needed her rest. Out of impulse Sinbad went around her chair and put one arm under her knees and pushed her body onto his other arm so he was gripping her back. He picked her up, and lifted her out of the room.
Maeve squirmed a bit in his arms; Sinbad was intrigued and worried of her reaction if she had woken up. However, instead of waking she just nuzzled her face into his neck and wrapped her arms around it. Though she was asleep, this drove Sinbad mad. 'Even in slumber she is utterly desirable.' He thought as he found her room. He used his hand with skill and pulled the blankets, disappointedly setting her down atop her bed. He then, almost stalling for time, sat down beside her and picked up her feet to his lap. He gently pulled off each of her boots, and her dagger, and with the same gentleness put her feet back in the bed, and covered her body with the blankets.
He spent a long while just watching her sleep, not wanting to leave her. He looked around her room. He did not get to see it much when Deora toured them of the castle, at the time Maeve was unconscious so his mind was adrift. However, now he looked around. It was just as plain as her old quarters, which were still unoccupied (under Sinbad's orders) on the ship. It, however, was bigger. The walls were made of stone and the door a large metal. She also now slept on a large bed, instead of the small cot. She had one thing that he recognized hanging from her dresser that he recognized. He got up and grabbed it from its place aside the mirror.
It was the pendant that the ship had bought her during the winter solstice. It was really Sinbad's gift to her, but he was to fearful of the other crewmates ideas of giving this to her himself, so he said it was on behalf of the ship for their newest member. It had seemed so long ago, he now wished he had told her it was really from him....his trains of thought were interrupted by the frightened moans coming from Maeve's bed.
"Sinbad RUN....No, Oh PLEASE no.....MAILA, give her back, MAILA." Sinbad picked her up and tried shaking her from her insanity. She bolted up, her eyes filled with tears, and made a loud screech. "Oh, don't touch me, don't touch me." She kept repeating trying to push Sinbad back, but his arms were unwavering. After a moment she caught her breath and realized who was sitting by her. She sniffled a bit and tried to find her composure, "Sinbad what are you doing here?" she could see the worry in his eyes, "I had brought you here because you fell asleep in the other room, and you started screaming for me to run." He put his hands on her face so she would look at him, "Maeve what happened?" she stared at him for an instance and moved her face out of his hands, "I'm fine Sinbad, they are just bad dreams, I get them every now and again. They are nothing to take seriously. You can leave if you would like." She kept her eyes to her hands as she fidgeted wither blankets.
"If you would not mind, I would like to stay." He pulled her chin back up to his eyes. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew any kiss he got now might be one out of trauma. He knew he needed a different type of kiss. He decided on another course of action. He motioned for her to shift to the other side of the bed. And out of almost instinct she moved. He sat where she once laid and pulled off his own boots and sword and set them near Maeve's. Still working on instinct lied back down and turned her body away from him. He laid beside her, putting his arms around her, and just as fast as she woke up, she went right back to sleep.
TBC....
You didn't think they were going that far in this chapter, did you? HEHEHE..I told you I like to drag things...but you'll get what you ALL have been waiting for...and I promise I'll make it good.HEHEHE
You know the drill.R&R....thanks....