AMONGST THE YOUNG
by SpelCastrMax
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, this a fic based on ideas from two of the three Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films, which is funny since the Adventures of Sinbad TV series is based on those same movies. Ah yes, it comes full circle.
Also, I am an true blue Sinbad/Maeve fan, but I chose not to write Bryn out completely. Don't worry, I'm not going to create any "love triangles". This is where the idea from one of the original Sinbad movies comes in. For those of you who have seen those movies you'll probably figure out which ideas I took. For those of you who haven't seen those films...well, you are heathen dogs and I will pity you until you educate yourself in the magic of Ray Harryhausen. Down with CGI!
CHAPTER THREE: PET EXPERIMENTS
Niku, as the eight year old Maeve had called the giant creature, switched her scorpion tail up over her lioness like body. It made a shallow hole in the ground directly in front of Captain Sinbad and his companions.
Sinbad shouted out, "Maeve, how do we fight this thing?" It seemed to natural to need to ask her such things, but to have the answer come from the voice of a child only lowered his spirits.
"She's not a thing. She's a manticore," the little girl yelled back.
"Not helping!" Sinbad snapped.
Maeve crossed her arms. "I don't know how to fight her! I'm only eight, for heavens sake. I just feed her everyday!"
Doubar twisted around to stare at the child. Almost fearfully, he asked, "What do feed her?"
Wrinkling her nose, the child told him, "You don't want to know."
Firouz held out his sword with timidity. "Wait, this may be a good thing. Maybe, because Maeve feeds it, it won't attack."
The scorpion tail whipped through the air for a second time. Maeve screamed and Doubar realized it was aimed at her. The pair jumped out of the way just in time to feel a rush of wind as the insect stinger hit the ground.
Firouz shrugged. "Then again..."
Niku's furry woman-like face let out another roar and the sunlight bounced off her golden coat. Her head came downward with sharp teeth bared. Dermott swooped toward the manticore, dive-bombing her ears and distracting her from the crew.
Maeve cried, "No! You...Bird! Get away from here!" She ran to the front of the group and formed a fireball in her hands. She thrust it at the monster with all her strength, but it only went a high as the manticore's chest. Niku's let out an annoyed growl and her attention was back on the four humans.
Sinbad grabbed Maeve and practically threw her back to Doubar. The large man commented, "I'm not a nursemaid," and handed her off to Firouz.
The scientist set Maeve off to the side, under a tall palm and told her, "Just wait here."
"But I want to help," she responded, however Firouz ignored her.
Sinbad stood with his feet shoulder width apart. "C'mon!" he yelled to Niku, his sword poised in the air. The scorpion tail sprang towards him. Sinbad jumped to the side and managed to cut into the amour like hide of the tail as it swooped passed him. Niku let out a pained cry as she recoiled the tail. With a swiped of her front paw, she knocked Sinbad over, but he was back on his feet in a second. Doubar took his brother's place in keeping the monster occupied. He began swinging his sword around threateningly while Sinbad and Firouz crept beneath Niku. Both slice their blades into the back of the manticore's front knees, then moved out of the way as the beast lost her balance from the wounds.
Now that she was immobile for the most part, Niku tried once again to swing her tail at the three men. For a second time Sinbad struck the stinger and Niku yowled out. The stinger came back again, this time aimed at Doubar. Suddenly, the tail stopped mid air. It was frozen. Niku wiggled her back end and roared in frustration, but the tail would not budge.
Sinbad glanced over at the little Maeve who was holding out both of her hands and wore a surprised expression. "Did you do that?" he asked her with amazement.
"I think so," she told him.
"How did you do that?" Firouz wondered allowed.
"More importantly, how long will it last?" Doubar added.
"I have no idea," the girl truthfully replied.
Sinbad put away his sword and heaved a sigh. "Then, I suggest we move before it wears off."
Firouz took little Maeve's hand and they followed Doubar and Sinbad back to the clearing where they had left the others to guard the cowardly magician Baroff.
When the fat man saw the girl he immediately put on an act. "Maeve, my dear. I was so worried. I could hear Niku all the way from her. See how dangerous your little games have gotten."
The child glared at Baroff. "I locked the door of her cage," was all she said after a moment of thought and a glanced at her hand..
"What was that?" he responded, nervously keeping his eyes from Sinbad's.
"I know I locked the door of Niku's cage this morning 'cause I cut my finger." She held up her hand as proof. "You must have let her out."
"Me? Why would I..." Baroff swallowed at the invisible lump that was obviously still in his throat. Glancing up at the crew of the Nomad he tried to force a laugh, "Kids, huh?"
"Is it because of what I found in the cabinet? Is that why you sent her to eat me?!" The temper of the child began to rise and her eyes flashed as a fire ball grew between her fingers.
"Stop!" Firouz ran up to the child and held her arms down.
She struggled and fought, tears forming in her eyes. "No! He tried to kill me! He'll try again!"
Firouz tried to calm her, but she wiggled and screamed. "Someone help me, please," he managed to say over the din of the girl.
Finally, Doubar came up behind little Maeve and wrapped his arms completely around her body so her arms were pinned to her sides. When she settled down, Firouz explained, "You can't hurt him, Maeve. He's the only one who knows how to turn you back."
Those words intrigued her. "Turn me back? Turn me back into what?"
Sinbad put in, "He means getting your memory back." Everyone gave the captain a questioning expression. They didn't understand why he wasn't telling the girl who she really was. Seeing their faces, he added, "She's just a little kid. I think she has enough to think about, right."
The group trekked through the forest, weapons close at hand and attention completely upon Baroff, who continued to insist that he had not sent the manticore to attack Maeve. No one believed him.
Several small homes were scattered amongst the landscape of the island. Most of them had families standing outside, cleaning the windows or playing in the road. The people would all stop to stare at the band of travelers. Maeve simply glared at them and skipped a little faster. Baroff waved, however he obviously was not popular anyplace. Only Sinbad's smile stopped the people from whispering behind their doors.
While they walked, each member of the crew met the young Maeve. She would actually smile as each of them explained themselves and what their job was on the ship. It was the most she had smiled all day. The introductions made her so happy that she started to ask questions about Firouz's science or where Rongar was from. She was especially interested in the fact that Bryn had also lost her memory.
A bounce was added to the girl's step. "Bryn, is Dermott your best friend then? You seem to talk to him an awful lot."
"I guess he is," Bryn replied with a smirk, "But how did you know I've been talking to him?"
"I can hear him in my head. I can't hear what you're saying back to him though." Maeve paused in order to turn to the hawk on Bryn gloved hand, "I was not eavesdropping! I just was asking." The hawk just ruffled his feathers. "What about you, Captain Sinbad?" Maeve asked, her newly acquired smile beaming at him.
The captain had obviously been locked in his own thoughts and she caught him off guard. "Huh? Oh, I try make as many friends as I can."
"Everyone knows you don't need anymore enemies, right little brother," Doubar teased.
Baroff shook his head impatiently. "Pay no attention to Maeve. She doesn't have any friends of her own so she has to ask about everyone else's." He said the words in a light hearted tone, but there was an underlining meanness that was easy to spot.
Baroff's "home" was an old tavern that had been in a fire, so one half of it was just a brown building frame. The other half, he had secured with gray planks and unfriendly looking stone pillars. Curtains and tattered tapestries were used to separate rooms. What he referred to as the "main hall" was really all that remained of the counter where drinks were once served and a couple of tables. Potions and magical ingredients were spread all over the floor.
Maeve picked up a bottle filled with a thick purple liquid. When she waved the vile around, the substance barely moved inside. "He wanted me to drink this," she told the crew of the Nomad with disgust.
Baroff groaned and took the bottle from her. "She's so dramatic. I was trying to give her back her memory, but she refuses to try any of my cures."
"Cures?" Maeve's smile was gone and her cheeks burned. "He's just too afraid to try any of his spells on himself."
Sinbad held out his arms and shook his head as if it hurt. "Wait a second. What are you talking about?"
With his pudgy hands outstretched, Baroff started to speak, "You see, Captain Sinbad, ever since Dim-Dim left Maeve with me, I turned her young to protect her. But my magic is so rusty that I have been trying to teach Maeve to make and test anecdotes for her memory loss. I'm afraid she is a very stubborn student though..."
Nodding at the wizard, but not allowing him to finish, Sinbad knelt down to Maeve's level. "What's going on around here?"
Surprised that he was more interested in her side of the story instead of Baroff's, she quieted. In a calm, slow pace, Maeve explained, "I'm one of his experiments. He wants to take someone's magic or live forever or something like that. I don't know. He never tells me. He doesn't like to use the magic on himself, so he uses me and Niku and the mice he has in a cage."
"What about Dim-Dim?" Doubar asked, "Why would he leave Maeve with someone who would mistreat her?"
Baroff jiggled with rage. "I do not mistreat her! She just doesn't understand that I am trying to help!"
The child stepped over a cauldron on the floor to try and confront Baroff. "I heard you tell that woman I was your new pet!"
Baroff's eyes narrowed at her and his barked, "I knew were spying on me, you little..."
Maeve ducked behind Rongar when Baroff leaned forward to grab her. The wizard cowered in the shadow of the silent warrior.
Meanwhile, the crew was still trying to make sense of everything. "Woman? What woman?" Doubar asked completely lost.
Peaking out, Maeve told them, "I didn't see her face, but I didn't like her. She wasn't really tall but it felt like she took up the whole room. Her hair was black and she wore a lot of jewelry."
"Rumina!" Sinbad exclaimed, "But how? We saw Dim-Dim. He told us Maeve was safe."
"Well, if he told you that, then why did you have to come looking for her?" Baroff blurted out.
For a second Sinbad tried to avoid the question. He gritted his teeth and rested his hands on the hilt of the sword hanging by his side. It wasn't until the little girl wandered towards him, her eyes full of the hope he had glimpsed earlier.
"You've been looking for me? Why?"
Sinbad glanced at Doubar, Rongar, and Firouz who, for once, weren't teasing. He looked down at the girl and told her, "Because, even though you don't remember it, you're a member of my crew. And I never leave a crew member behind."
Suddenly, Dermott gave out a loud cry and everyone turned just in time to see Baroff escape from what remained of the building. The crew chased after him, but his head start and knowledge of the terrain proved to be more of a disadvantage than they thought. It wasn't long before he lead them back to the forest. The little Maeve was the last in the line and Sinbad was the first. Baroff glanced back at them, dodging a dagger Rongar tossed at him.
Feeling empowered at his luck, Baroff continued to stare back at them with a smirk as he ran through the clearing and downhill. His blind running caused him to trip directly over a stump and at the feet of Niku.
The man let out scream as the wounded manticore let out a shrill noise, then leaned her head down to swallow the man who had kept her captive. The crew arrived just in time to see Baroff disappear into her mouth.
Sinbad kept his sword out in front of him as he joked, "Didn't anyone ever tell her not to gulp down her food whole like that?"
Niku's fur covered, woman-like face glared a little at the humans, then nonchalantly began to lick the cuts they had given her earlier. Her tail was still frozen in motion, but she had given up trying to move it. Maeve crept out from where Firouz had been trying to hold her. She approached the manitcore slowly. Niku snapped at her once, but didn't move her head anywhere close enough to the child.
"Thank you," she told the beast. Niku just cocked her head to the side, then went back to cleaning.
Doubar turned to his little brother and sighed, "What do we do now?"
Sinbad's eyes stayed on the little girl. "We find Rumina and put Maeve back to normal."
"How does he always make it sound so simple?" Firouz questioned.
But wait! There's more! A special secret message from the author...and that was it.
by SpelCastrMax
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, this a fic based on ideas from two of the three Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films, which is funny since the Adventures of Sinbad TV series is based on those same movies. Ah yes, it comes full circle.
Also, I am an true blue Sinbad/Maeve fan, but I chose not to write Bryn out completely. Don't worry, I'm not going to create any "love triangles". This is where the idea from one of the original Sinbad movies comes in. For those of you who have seen those movies you'll probably figure out which ideas I took. For those of you who haven't seen those films...well, you are heathen dogs and I will pity you until you educate yourself in the magic of Ray Harryhausen. Down with CGI!
CHAPTER THREE: PET EXPERIMENTS
Niku, as the eight year old Maeve had called the giant creature, switched her scorpion tail up over her lioness like body. It made a shallow hole in the ground directly in front of Captain Sinbad and his companions.
Sinbad shouted out, "Maeve, how do we fight this thing?" It seemed to natural to need to ask her such things, but to have the answer come from the voice of a child only lowered his spirits.
"She's not a thing. She's a manticore," the little girl yelled back.
"Not helping!" Sinbad snapped.
Maeve crossed her arms. "I don't know how to fight her! I'm only eight, for heavens sake. I just feed her everyday!"
Doubar twisted around to stare at the child. Almost fearfully, he asked, "What do feed her?"
Wrinkling her nose, the child told him, "You don't want to know."
Firouz held out his sword with timidity. "Wait, this may be a good thing. Maybe, because Maeve feeds it, it won't attack."
The scorpion tail whipped through the air for a second time. Maeve screamed and Doubar realized it was aimed at her. The pair jumped out of the way just in time to feel a rush of wind as the insect stinger hit the ground.
Firouz shrugged. "Then again..."
Niku's furry woman-like face let out another roar and the sunlight bounced off her golden coat. Her head came downward with sharp teeth bared. Dermott swooped toward the manticore, dive-bombing her ears and distracting her from the crew.
Maeve cried, "No! You...Bird! Get away from here!" She ran to the front of the group and formed a fireball in her hands. She thrust it at the monster with all her strength, but it only went a high as the manticore's chest. Niku's let out an annoyed growl and her attention was back on the four humans.
Sinbad grabbed Maeve and practically threw her back to Doubar. The large man commented, "I'm not a nursemaid," and handed her off to Firouz.
The scientist set Maeve off to the side, under a tall palm and told her, "Just wait here."
"But I want to help," she responded, however Firouz ignored her.
Sinbad stood with his feet shoulder width apart. "C'mon!" he yelled to Niku, his sword poised in the air. The scorpion tail sprang towards him. Sinbad jumped to the side and managed to cut into the amour like hide of the tail as it swooped passed him. Niku let out a pained cry as she recoiled the tail. With a swiped of her front paw, she knocked Sinbad over, but he was back on his feet in a second. Doubar took his brother's place in keeping the monster occupied. He began swinging his sword around threateningly while Sinbad and Firouz crept beneath Niku. Both slice their blades into the back of the manticore's front knees, then moved out of the way as the beast lost her balance from the wounds.
Now that she was immobile for the most part, Niku tried once again to swing her tail at the three men. For a second time Sinbad struck the stinger and Niku yowled out. The stinger came back again, this time aimed at Doubar. Suddenly, the tail stopped mid air. It was frozen. Niku wiggled her back end and roared in frustration, but the tail would not budge.
Sinbad glanced over at the little Maeve who was holding out both of her hands and wore a surprised expression. "Did you do that?" he asked her with amazement.
"I think so," she told him.
"How did you do that?" Firouz wondered allowed.
"More importantly, how long will it last?" Doubar added.
"I have no idea," the girl truthfully replied.
Sinbad put away his sword and heaved a sigh. "Then, I suggest we move before it wears off."
Firouz took little Maeve's hand and they followed Doubar and Sinbad back to the clearing where they had left the others to guard the cowardly magician Baroff.
When the fat man saw the girl he immediately put on an act. "Maeve, my dear. I was so worried. I could hear Niku all the way from her. See how dangerous your little games have gotten."
The child glared at Baroff. "I locked the door of her cage," was all she said after a moment of thought and a glanced at her hand..
"What was that?" he responded, nervously keeping his eyes from Sinbad's.
"I know I locked the door of Niku's cage this morning 'cause I cut my finger." She held up her hand as proof. "You must have let her out."
"Me? Why would I..." Baroff swallowed at the invisible lump that was obviously still in his throat. Glancing up at the crew of the Nomad he tried to force a laugh, "Kids, huh?"
"Is it because of what I found in the cabinet? Is that why you sent her to eat me?!" The temper of the child began to rise and her eyes flashed as a fire ball grew between her fingers.
"Stop!" Firouz ran up to the child and held her arms down.
She struggled and fought, tears forming in her eyes. "No! He tried to kill me! He'll try again!"
Firouz tried to calm her, but she wiggled and screamed. "Someone help me, please," he managed to say over the din of the girl.
Finally, Doubar came up behind little Maeve and wrapped his arms completely around her body so her arms were pinned to her sides. When she settled down, Firouz explained, "You can't hurt him, Maeve. He's the only one who knows how to turn you back."
Those words intrigued her. "Turn me back? Turn me back into what?"
Sinbad put in, "He means getting your memory back." Everyone gave the captain a questioning expression. They didn't understand why he wasn't telling the girl who she really was. Seeing their faces, he added, "She's just a little kid. I think she has enough to think about, right."
The group trekked through the forest, weapons close at hand and attention completely upon Baroff, who continued to insist that he had not sent the manticore to attack Maeve. No one believed him.
Several small homes were scattered amongst the landscape of the island. Most of them had families standing outside, cleaning the windows or playing in the road. The people would all stop to stare at the band of travelers. Maeve simply glared at them and skipped a little faster. Baroff waved, however he obviously was not popular anyplace. Only Sinbad's smile stopped the people from whispering behind their doors.
While they walked, each member of the crew met the young Maeve. She would actually smile as each of them explained themselves and what their job was on the ship. It was the most she had smiled all day. The introductions made her so happy that she started to ask questions about Firouz's science or where Rongar was from. She was especially interested in the fact that Bryn had also lost her memory.
A bounce was added to the girl's step. "Bryn, is Dermott your best friend then? You seem to talk to him an awful lot."
"I guess he is," Bryn replied with a smirk, "But how did you know I've been talking to him?"
"I can hear him in my head. I can't hear what you're saying back to him though." Maeve paused in order to turn to the hawk on Bryn gloved hand, "I was not eavesdropping! I just was asking." The hawk just ruffled his feathers. "What about you, Captain Sinbad?" Maeve asked, her newly acquired smile beaming at him.
The captain had obviously been locked in his own thoughts and she caught him off guard. "Huh? Oh, I try make as many friends as I can."
"Everyone knows you don't need anymore enemies, right little brother," Doubar teased.
Baroff shook his head impatiently. "Pay no attention to Maeve. She doesn't have any friends of her own so she has to ask about everyone else's." He said the words in a light hearted tone, but there was an underlining meanness that was easy to spot.
Baroff's "home" was an old tavern that had been in a fire, so one half of it was just a brown building frame. The other half, he had secured with gray planks and unfriendly looking stone pillars. Curtains and tattered tapestries were used to separate rooms. What he referred to as the "main hall" was really all that remained of the counter where drinks were once served and a couple of tables. Potions and magical ingredients were spread all over the floor.
Maeve picked up a bottle filled with a thick purple liquid. When she waved the vile around, the substance barely moved inside. "He wanted me to drink this," she told the crew of the Nomad with disgust.
Baroff groaned and took the bottle from her. "She's so dramatic. I was trying to give her back her memory, but she refuses to try any of my cures."
"Cures?" Maeve's smile was gone and her cheeks burned. "He's just too afraid to try any of his spells on himself."
Sinbad held out his arms and shook his head as if it hurt. "Wait a second. What are you talking about?"
With his pudgy hands outstretched, Baroff started to speak, "You see, Captain Sinbad, ever since Dim-Dim left Maeve with me, I turned her young to protect her. But my magic is so rusty that I have been trying to teach Maeve to make and test anecdotes for her memory loss. I'm afraid she is a very stubborn student though..."
Nodding at the wizard, but not allowing him to finish, Sinbad knelt down to Maeve's level. "What's going on around here?"
Surprised that he was more interested in her side of the story instead of Baroff's, she quieted. In a calm, slow pace, Maeve explained, "I'm one of his experiments. He wants to take someone's magic or live forever or something like that. I don't know. He never tells me. He doesn't like to use the magic on himself, so he uses me and Niku and the mice he has in a cage."
"What about Dim-Dim?" Doubar asked, "Why would he leave Maeve with someone who would mistreat her?"
Baroff jiggled with rage. "I do not mistreat her! She just doesn't understand that I am trying to help!"
The child stepped over a cauldron on the floor to try and confront Baroff. "I heard you tell that woman I was your new pet!"
Baroff's eyes narrowed at her and his barked, "I knew were spying on me, you little..."
Maeve ducked behind Rongar when Baroff leaned forward to grab her. The wizard cowered in the shadow of the silent warrior.
Meanwhile, the crew was still trying to make sense of everything. "Woman? What woman?" Doubar asked completely lost.
Peaking out, Maeve told them, "I didn't see her face, but I didn't like her. She wasn't really tall but it felt like she took up the whole room. Her hair was black and she wore a lot of jewelry."
"Rumina!" Sinbad exclaimed, "But how? We saw Dim-Dim. He told us Maeve was safe."
"Well, if he told you that, then why did you have to come looking for her?" Baroff blurted out.
For a second Sinbad tried to avoid the question. He gritted his teeth and rested his hands on the hilt of the sword hanging by his side. It wasn't until the little girl wandered towards him, her eyes full of the hope he had glimpsed earlier.
"You've been looking for me? Why?"
Sinbad glanced at Doubar, Rongar, and Firouz who, for once, weren't teasing. He looked down at the girl and told her, "Because, even though you don't remember it, you're a member of my crew. And I never leave a crew member behind."
Suddenly, Dermott gave out a loud cry and everyone turned just in time to see Baroff escape from what remained of the building. The crew chased after him, but his head start and knowledge of the terrain proved to be more of a disadvantage than they thought. It wasn't long before he lead them back to the forest. The little Maeve was the last in the line and Sinbad was the first. Baroff glanced back at them, dodging a dagger Rongar tossed at him.
Feeling empowered at his luck, Baroff continued to stare back at them with a smirk as he ran through the clearing and downhill. His blind running caused him to trip directly over a stump and at the feet of Niku.
The man let out scream as the wounded manticore let out a shrill noise, then leaned her head down to swallow the man who had kept her captive. The crew arrived just in time to see Baroff disappear into her mouth.
Sinbad kept his sword out in front of him as he joked, "Didn't anyone ever tell her not to gulp down her food whole like that?"
Niku's fur covered, woman-like face glared a little at the humans, then nonchalantly began to lick the cuts they had given her earlier. Her tail was still frozen in motion, but she had given up trying to move it. Maeve crept out from where Firouz had been trying to hold her. She approached the manitcore slowly. Niku snapped at her once, but didn't move her head anywhere close enough to the child.
"Thank you," she told the beast. Niku just cocked her head to the side, then went back to cleaning.
Doubar turned to his little brother and sighed, "What do we do now?"
Sinbad's eyes stayed on the little girl. "We find Rumina and put Maeve back to normal."
"How does he always make it sound so simple?" Firouz questioned.
But wait! There's more! A special secret message from the author...and that was it.