Maeve smiled and made her way back to her cabin. She opened the door, just to be met by a crying Lottie.
"Lottie? What's wrong?" asked Maeve.
"I had a bad dream" sobbed Lottie. "I dreamt the Queen was about to whip me." Maeve hugged her tightly, but before she could reply, Lottie let out an earth shattering scream. Maeve felt warm liquid on her hands. Blood. Lottie's back was bleeding, as if she'd just been whipped. Sinbad, who had heard her scream, ran in.
"What happened?" he asked concerned.
"She was whipped" Maeve replied shocked and confused.
Then Sinbad noticed the blood trickling down Lottie's back. He walked behind her and saw the slash marks. But a moment later they'd disappeared, vanished. He looked at Maeve to see her concentrating. She was softly chanting under her breath, then a red beam shot out of her hands and surrounded Lottie, in a bubble effect. It disappeared and Maeve ran to Lottie.
"It's ok." said Maeve softly. "I'm here now. Nothings going to get you. I promise." she said gently cuddling the frightened, little girl.
"We wont let anything hurt you again." added Sinbad gently.
Maeve gathered Lottie up in her arms and rocked her tenderly whilst singing a Gaelic lullaby. Sinbad saw the distress and anger in her eyes. He stroked her arms as a soothing gesture. It worked, the anger turned into sorrow as she laid her head on his shoulder. Sinbad gently kissed Maeve's forehead, before kissing the sleeping Lottie's.
"I'll meet you with the others" he whispered.
"I can't leave her." she interjected.
"I think you need to explain what just happened" he replied softly.
She slowly nodded. He smiled and made his way out of the door. Maeve gently laid Lottie back in her hammock. She just stood there watching her for a bit. Playing with her fringe and vowing never to let anything hurt her again. She finally stood up and walked out to meet the others.
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