Pondering, Sinbad sat on the steps of the garden. It was done. Rumina was gone. She said goodbye to Sinbad, the only one of the group who was pleased with his plan. She looked sadly at Maeve before she drank the concoction and with that Rumina was no more. Maeve reluctantly used her powers to send the new woman before them to the other side of the world. Sinbad hoped she would turn out better this time. Maeve did too although she shared this with no one. Dermott held some bitter feelings but decided this was the best course of action as well. Bryn knew this was right as well.
Sinbad was relieved that his greatest enemy was gone, all was right within the magic world. Dim-Dim was home. Maeve had felt it. The release of Rumina's magic signified the end of the three magicians who held him in that realm of forgotteness. Other things plagued him now. Sinbad slowly got up and limped up to Maeve's bedroom.
Maeve stared at the parchment for a moment before she heard the knocking. She knew who was there before she ever pulled the door ajar.
"Sinbad."
"Maeve.."
She smiled weakly before heading to the dresser, "Sinbad, I know that I have been so….ugh…I can't even find the words for my actions…"
"Maeve, please, I don't care about the past. Its over and done with. All that matters is the future."
Maeve absently played with her sling, "Your right, it is about the future." She took a deep breath before her bravery slipped away, "I'm not going back."
Sinbad stopped moving and stared at her, "What?"
"I said I'm not going back. I think I need to stay here."
"I don't understand…"
"Remember when I told you that Ademia had a husband and two children. Well she found them…"
"That's great, where…" Sinbad asked not understanding where this was going.
Maeve interrupted again, "It's Ruarc, he knew it was me when I first came through the doors. Ademia found them."
"She's here?"
"She's dead, Sinbad. Died last year. Ruarc wanted to thank me for helping Ademia find them. I told her to come here. He left me this." Maeve motioned to a parchment.
Eyeing her slowly he lifted the parchment and read it. As his eyes grazed the words, he stopped and turned to stare at her in complete shock.
"Maeve, you can't. I need you."
"This is not your choice, Sinbad. Ruarc has given me land here in Galway and enough money to build myself a home. I want to come home after all these years. I miss it." Maeve over to the window and stared out at the hills.
"I asked Dermott to stay but he wants to go; says he likes the sea much better now that he can actually walk aboard the ship. I know you will take good care of him for me."
Sinbad gently grabbed her shoulders with urgency and turned her to face him, "Then I will stay with you."
Maeve chuckled, "No Sinbad, you can't; you have a ship and a crew to look after."
"None of that matters! I don't care. I want to be with you. You know how I feel." Sinbad grasped her face and kissed her hard. She pulled away.
"Don't do this Sinbad, we can't be together. It just wouldn't work. I don't want to hurt you any longer. We are just friends; nothing more. I can't keep pretending." Maeve turned around again.
Panicking, Sinbad pulled her back to him, "Friends! Is that all! Tell me you don't love me; say it to my face! If you can, then I will leave for good. Captain's honor."
Maeve looked sternly into his deep aqua eyes, knowing this was it. This was her chance to say what she felt, "Sinbad, I don't love you the way you think I do…."
His face fell to the floor. As he opened his eyes, the room spun around him. He nodded and turned back to the door. As he exited, Maeve slumped to the floor, exhaling, "I love you more…"
Sinbad's face burned with hate, anger, disappointment and heartbreak. This was it. He would never look upon her face again. She played him for a fool for much to long. Vowing never to love another woman after Lea, Maeve somehow made her way in and he let her only to have her destroy his heart. Hands shaking, Sinbad quickly made his way back to his room and packed his things.
Barking at the rest of the crew, he ordered them to follow him to the ship, they were setting sail.
"What about Maeve? Isn't she coming?" Firouz asked huffing and puffing behind.
"No!" The words came harsh and jagged. Doubar stopped in his tracks, "Sinbad, I…"
"Don't!" Sinbad spun around, eyes glaring. "Do not bring her up in my presence!" Turning back he hastily made the rest of the journey in shattered silence. The others did not know what to say.
Maeve watched silently from her room as the one man who shared the other half of her soul marched on and out of her life. It was for the better she assured herself. So why did it hurt so bad? He would live this way. He wouldn't have to get hurt again, saving her from herself. No, this was the right thing to do.
Months passed by, Sinbad's mood deteriorated until all he tasted was bitter. He conducted his captain duties and then retreated to his dark and dank cabin to ponder away his existence. Doubar could not reach him no matter how hard he tried. All were stumped at how to pull Sinbad back out from his depression. Bryn knew he wouldn't make it easy by no means.
Sinbad arose early one morning and came out onto the deck. Taking a breath of fresh salty sea air, he sneered. Another day like all the rest. His anger had subsided into pure sadness. Everything he did, reminded him of a life lost. His old self buried deep within the confines of his icy heart. It reminded the crew of the days when Maeve first disappeared multiplied by ten. As Sinbad went about plotting their next course, he sighed, taking a break he half-heartedly stepped down back into his quarters. He shut the door before making his way to the cabinet that faced his bed. Opening it, he pulled out an old, rusty chest.
Running his fingers across the grainy surface, he slowly pulled it open. Peering inside, he held back tears as he pulled out the first item he saw. It was a book, one of Maeve's old possessions. When Dermott boarded the ship, Sinbad told Dermott to take her room and to do what he wanted with her things. Dermott gave them to Sinbad. As he ran his fingers along the binding another item caught his glimpse. He set the book down carefully before pulling out the small pendant. It shimmered and shined with brilliance. The ruby colored stone reflected Sinbad's distorted image. He turned it over. "To Maeve, Love Sinbad"
"So you'll never forget who you are," the inscription hit him hard. Tears silently rolled off his cheeks onto the pendant. Why couldn't she love him? Or did she and she lied? Why? So many questions and no answers.
She is just a woman, for the gods sake. So why did she affect Sinbad this way? Why was their love some complicated never ending saga?
"Why are you still here?"
Sinbad jerked his head up in embarrassment. Dermott stood in the doorway staring at him.
"Excuse me?"
"I asked why you are still here on the Nomad and not with my sister? Why did you go?" Dermott asked intuitively.
Sinbad looked back at the pendant before answering, "Because she told me to go. She said she didn't love me the way I thought she did."
"Sinbad, don't you see. You are playing right into her game. She lied to you." Dermott made his way over to Sinbad.
"She made it clear how she felt. I have to respect that."
"Don't you tell me that. She does love you. I am her brother and I know better. I see the way she looks at you and I heard her thoughts. She's right, she doesn't love you the way you think she does…because she loves you more than that. You are her soul mate. It has been months since we left and I think you need to go to her and tell her to get off her high horse and stop pretending. I know she thinks she is protecting you by letting you go but I have seen you and this is much worse than death and I know you concur so once again, I ask, why are you still here?"
Sinbad looked up at his friend, "Your right. This is worse than any death. Besides she forgot something," He smiled as he motioned to the dangling pendant.
Sinbad walked through the crisp night air, trudging on. It was well past sunset but he had to find her now. It couldn't wait any longer. He had traveled back to find her; making his way through continents to get here. The last time he saw her had been a year and a few months. This couldn't wait till morning. Finally he reached his destination. A small home stood before him. It was small and quaint. Instantly, he knew it was hers. The windows were dark, suggesting she was asleep. No matter, Sinbad made his way to the door. Sighing heavily he knocked.
Maeve quietly roused from her sleep when she heard the raps from the door. Muttering to herself, Maeve pulled her sleeping gown on and made her way to the door. Grabbing her sword, she silently made her way to door, "Who is it?" She asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance at being disturbed.
"It's me."
Maeve dropped her sword at the males voice and gasped. No time on this earth could ever make her forget his sound. She slowly opened the door. His bedraggled appearance startled her. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days.
"What are you doing here, Sinbad? And no less, in the middle of the night? Have you slept lately? You look unwell." She asked knowing well what his response would be.
"No I haven't slept, in fact, it's been months since I have slept soundly. I came all the way here to……t…" He came all this way not to say anything at all, such a fool, he thought to himself, "You forgot this!"
Handing the pendant to Maeve, she took it and ran her fingers over it lightly before turning it over. As she read the inscription, she smiled gingerly, "Thank you, but why are you really here? And how did you find me?"
"I...um…asked Ruarc. As for my real reason being here, you know why Maeve.. Look, I have been more miserable in the past year than I could have ever imagined. I made a mistake walking out on you. I know what you said but I also know you said it to protect me. I don't need be protected, Maeve."
Maeve dropped her arm down letting the down swing open, she motioned for him to come in. Sinbad made his way up to her letting his arm touch her side.
"Your right, Sinbad."
"I am?" He asked shocked that Maeve would ever say such words.
She nodded solemnly, "I have been miserable without. The day you left I had so many things to think about. I realized that I let you slip away. That I had pushed away." Maeve's voice cracked, "I am so stupid for all those things I said and did. I was just so afraid of what would happen. I lost my father, my brother, and Aidan and when you were injured that day I vowed to never let you get hurt again. So I pushed you away. I was pushing you from the very beginning. I just couldn't let you in." Maeve sighed, "Then I waited for you. I prayed that you would come running back like you always did. But you didn't come back and I knew that I hurt you more than ever…"
Sinbad pressed his fingers to her mouth, "Shh…Its okay. What's in the past is in the past right? I forgive you. I always have. I was just to stubborn to see what was right in front of my eyes. I didn't need to ask you if you loved me. I already knew the answer. I was the idiot for not coming back…"
Maeve just grasped onto Sinbad's chest and she spoke, "I'm so sorry. We are such fools. We had everything and we let it go. I had so long to think about it. I never let another man in this house knowing you would come back. I'm tired of running from my feelings. I need you more than ever. I love you, Sinbad."
Sinbad pulled her head to his, "I love you too, Maeve." Her mouth met his, their kiss becoming intense quickly. No bitterness, he thought to himself as she tasted her sweet mouth.
Pulling away, Sinbad smiled at her, "So what do you say Maeve? Should we start all over?"
"What about the Nomad?" Maeve asked quizzically.
"I left her to Doubar. I'm a captain with no ship, so since I have no where to go, would you like to start over?"
"No, I don't need to start over. I already know what I want, or should I say, who I want." Maeve's eyes filled with fire. The fire that Sinbad had thought had burned out long ago. Hugging her tightly, Sinbad ran his hands up and down her back.
"All right then, I say that we retire and marry. What do you say?"
TBC….
Author's Note:
Okay, yeah I am almost done. One more chapter to go. J I'm so proud of my self. This is my last Sinbad story for now. If anybody has any suggestions as to a another story line then please run it by me. I love writing Sinbad and Maeve stories so I will if I like one enough.
