Her chestnut eyes burned. They burned with disgust and grief. His words pierced her heart like a thousand little daggers. Each one twisting even further every time she heard the words flow through her mind. She knew he spoke truths but still it hurt. She loathed him. She glanced down at the slightest hints of bruises creeping up on her arms. She had dreamt of Baruuk the whole night. She relived the horrible past over and over again. Sinbad had stirred these thoughts...
She got up and grabbed her pouch. She quickly threw her clothes into it. Her trinkets and anything else she owned. She would inform the crew or her departure today. She couldn't stay...
Sinbad stared at his food through bloodshot eyes. He hadn't slept a wink. He just kept replaying the scene in his mind. He hated himself. The look in her eyes frightened him. Everyone noticed his solemn expressions but kept to themselves.
Maeve came down for breakfast. She sat down as far away from Sinbad as possible. She pretended to be cheery. Her facade was much more convincing than Sinbad's. Just then a horn blared through the room. Ceira stood up and exclaimed, "He's here!" She rushed over to the door just as a handsome Celtic man entered the room. She threw her arms around him.
Maeve's heart stopped. The room seemed to disappear as she focused on the man hoping desperately that he wasn't who she thought it was. He looked up. Her heart sank. It was him. Everyone got up and came over to greet the man. Maeve kept her head down hoping he had forgotten her. She could only hope.
Ceira pulled him over to meet the crew, "This is Aidan, my fiancé. Aidan this is my father's good friend, Captain Sinbad," Aidan shook his hand, staring at this sad excuse for a captain, "And this is Doubar, his brother. This is Rongar and Firouz. This is Bryn and Dermott," She kept walking until they stood in front of Maeve, she squeezed her eyes shut, "And this is M..."
"Maeve!" Aidan could hardly believe it was her. After all these years, it was her.
Damn! He did remember. She brought her eyes to his. She smiled as politely as she could. Her heart was pounding, "Hello Aidan."
There most joyous reunion was interrupted by Ceira, "Well, yes. How did you know, Aidan?" Maeve's eyes rolled at the naïve young girl.
Aidan still staring in disbelief finally found the courage to speak again, "Maeve and I grew up in the same village together. Maeve, I still can't.."
Ceira interrupted, "But Maeve told us just yesterday that she was from Dublin?"
Maeve sighed as she thought of a hundred ways to kill the annoying little brat, "I lied. I am from Galway but I found it no ones business to know."
Sinbad and crew looked at her with surprise and confusion. Maeve had been holding her past to herself but she had never lied before.
Maeve walked over to the table before any more questions escaped anyone's lips. She was tired of everyone prying in to her life. She plopped down at the very end. Aidan sat across from her with Ceira sitting next to him. Sinbad took hint and sat on the other end. His mind was reeling. Maeve's past was such a mystery and now here was this man who seemed to take to much interest in her. Sinbad was raging with jealousy.
Ignoring Maeve's menacing eyes, Aidan spoke, "So Maeve how have you been?"
She shot him a look of death. He pretended not to notice, "I see, well how about I start over. Maeve, where have you been?"
Silence. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her anger was rising. How dare he! He knew better than to infuriate her.
Ceira noticed the tension, even as dense as she was, "So Aidan, tell me of your trip."
Aidan ignored, her intended to get to the bottom with Maeve. He most certainly deserved answers after what she did, "Maeve tell me how is Dermott? I have missed my best friend."
She quickly stood up knocking over her bowl, "How DARE you! I never asked to come back! I never meant any harm!" She stumbled as she ran away from the room.
Aidan secretly smiled to himself. He wanted to cause her pain. He wanted her to feel as horrible as he did the day she left him at the altar...
Sinbad stared in disbelief. He shot a look at Aidan as he followed after Maeve.
