Goodness. Once again, I am terrible at this. My sincere apologies for the atrocious delay. Real life is a massive rollercoaster unfortunately (exams, graduation, moving to a different city, etc.) but I am still fervently working on editing this baby in my few moments of spare time.

Here are the next 4 chapters, I hope you enjoy them! Still a lot of things to get into context here, new characters to introduce and all that jazz, but don't worry, a Sinbad chapter is coming up soon with a flashback...Stay tuned! XD

Maevelynn xox

Chapter 7 - Reflection

The streets of Southampton were a buzzing beehive of activity, brimming with stalls and booths of all kinds, with citizens going about everywhere, selling and buying, bargaining and arguing, chatting and laughing. The last time Maeve recalled seeing so many people so tightly packed together was at the market square in Basra, where you constantly had to watch your steps lest you bumped or tripped into anyone or anything in the way.

Eyes jumping everywhere in assessment of her dizzying surroundings, she noticed that all the men wore attires similar to Robin's, with adjusted shirts and trousers, some of less quality, others with richer colors and designs, depending on their economical status. It was nothing compared to the flowing ample garments and scarves she had seen people wear in the eastern kingdoms, and as for the women, she simply couldn't take her eyes off their beautiful garbs. It seemed that no matter if they were born into wealthy families or lesser ones, they were all wearing elegantly patterned dresses of a variety of cuts and styles. Some of them were detailed with printed flowers, others had rims of embroidered symbols, and even when the fabric was coarse and simple, the colors were still stunningly vibrant. It was absolutely enchanting to see. It made every woman and young girl shine with effortless femininity, not to mention the beautiful way their hair were occasionally pinned up on their heads in intricate braids of all sorts.

Maeve was fascinated by it all, and it soon began to make her feel out of place, what with her short, leg-exposing dress that caught the ravenous looks of men every once in a while. Indeed, many times she saw their eyes unabashedly travel down to gaze at her exposed flesh, making her wish she were wearing a longer dress like all the other women.

"Alright, no time to waste," Robin stated as they walked side by side on the busy cobbled lane, the reins of his horse loosely clutched in his fist. "We need to get you properly equipped for the trek."

"Meaning what?" Maeve asked distractedly as they navigated through the throng of lively citizens.

"Well, you're going to need a better outfit," Robin noted, oblivious to the fact that she had been thinking the exact same thing a moment ago. "A warmer one that's for sure. You'll also need better boots," he went on, thinking out loud as he enumerated a bunch of stuff, his eyes surfing on the many stands and boutiques all around them. "You'll need a pack, a bedroll, a gourd, and since you're familiar with archery, a bow would definitely be a good investment."

"Whoa whoa whoa, hang on," Maeve grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to a stop. "I can't pay for all that. I have no money, remember?"

"It's not a problem," he dismissed her with a shrug as his acute gaze resumed its scanning of the busy street.

"I can't let you do this," Maeve insisted, turning him to her again while his horse stomped impatiently, eager to move forward. "You're already allowing me to tag along. I can't let you pay for everything I need."

"Do you have a choice?" he faced her fully, his calloused hand patting his horse's collar in a calming manner. "We're leaving tomorrow at dawn. You don't exactly have time to find a job at the local inn."

"I know, but still…" Maeve's voice trailed off as she pressed her lips together, uncomfortable with the whole situation. There was a protest at the tip of her tongue but Robin cut her off.

"I'm only paying for the clothes and the boots; the rest won't be a problem. We have a lot of equipment at the soldiers' barrack and I'm sure my friends will be able to spare a few things for you." He smiled reassuringly and started walking again, pulling his horse along as he resumed his quest for the shop he was seeking.

"I'll pay you back," Maeve promised as she fell into steps with him again, twisting her body to the side to avoid bumping into a pregnant woman.

Robin shook his head incredulously. "You've got to be the hardest woman to please I've ever met."

Maeve rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "Oh I think Lilian stands for good competition," she mocked wittily, side-stepping again to make way for an elderly man with two goats.

Robin docked his head slightly to the side, hiding a cringe, then tossed her a scolding look before surveying the alley like a hawk tracking a prey. "I think it's around here somewhere..." he mumbled to himself, seizing the opportunity to change he subject.

As he scanned the shops and stalls, turning his head from right to left over and over again, Maeve smiled inwardly, satisfied her little tease had hit home. When she focused on the task at hand again and wondered what Robin was looking for specifically, she opened her mouth to ask him for details but the words died on her lips when a boastful merchant suddenly invaded her personal space with a bunch of sparkling, colorful jewels displayed on a red silken cushion.

"A necklace for you, milady? Today could be your lucky day! It's my two for one sale!"

Maeve stammered a polite excuse to decline his offer and swiftly jumped out of the way before the hoof of a grey horse trotting by could crush her feet.

When she glanced around again, Robin had vanished.

He was gone.

Maeve's head immediately whipped around, eyes wide as she stared down both sides of the street hurriedly. She turned on her heels, glancing everywhere, attempting to cover as many angles as possible, but Robin was nowhere to be seen.

Her heart skipped a nervous beat as a bolt of alarm rapidly shot through her, her entire body going taut like the string of a bow. She rose on the tip of her toes and craned her neck to better scan the street, blinking repeatedly to locate Robin's familiar head of dark hair, but she was swarmed by an ocean of unknown features, the shifting faces of perfect strangers. As far as she strained her eyes, Robin and his tall brown horse were simply nowhere to be seen. He was just gone. There were simply so many people tightly packed together on the bustling cobbled lane, with a few occasional wagons and horses, that the split of second interlude with the jewel merchant had been more than enough to separate her from him.

Cursing under her breath, Maeve glanced right and left again with rising dread, her nerves slowly twisting into solid knots. He'd been standing right beside her only seconds ago. He couldn't possibly be all that far, now could he?

Exhaling nervously as the wheels in her head began to twirl, standing alone amidst the scrutinizing eyes of the numerous people subtly gaping at her in quiet interest, Maeve finally sprung into action and wove her way through the crowd, deciding to head in the same direction she and Robin had been going moments ago, reasoning that maybe if she kept following that same route she would eventually catch up with him. After all, he must have realized that she wasn't next to him anymore and was probably looking for her as well. He would come back for her, wouldn't he?

As she circled around a young boy clutching his mother's hand securely, Maeve realized how dependant she had become over Robin in the expanse of one little morning, like a young chick safely tucked away under the wing of an hen. If it weren't for him, she'd still be lost in the woods, running from the band of thieves. In fact, if it weren't for him she'd probably be dead. He had saved her life.

But she owed him far more than that. She owed him dinner. She owed him passage through the Blind Mountains to Denwood and she was about to owe him for a new outfit and a bunch of equipment. His hospitality and generosity had been a real blessing amidst the confusion of her arrival to this strange island, and she hadn't even thanked him for everything he'd done so far. She had to find him.

The noises of the busy market alley were beginning to buzz in her ears, lending more chaos to her inner sense of worry. Children were running and laughing, merchants were shouting prices to draw customers to their stalls, and cartwheels were rumbling on the ground, answering the echoes of hooves.

Maeve felt completely lost. More to the point, she didn't like the idea of wandering alone in the streets of Southampton where everyone looked at her so mysteriously because of the color of her hair. It made her feel profoundly uncomfortable and, to some degree, even more alone than she already felt. She decided that if she didn't find Robin within the next five minutes she was going to ask someone to direct her to the soldiers' barrack, where Robin was supposed to meet Simon later on, and she would wait for him there.

As she squeezed her way as best as she could through the current of people, a head of brown hair suddenly stopped her dead in her tracks. At first glance she thought it was Robin, with his broad back slightly towering over a duo of eldery merchants, his face angled away from her sight and shadowed by the dark tarp of the selling booth. But something in the sweeping light brown hair of the man and the set of his shoulders sent her heart lurching foward into her chest.

She knew those hair...those shoulders...

Like sparks flying from flint and stone, fire ignited within her, licking her core and setting her ablaze with hope.

She sprang forward without a second thought, her pulse quickening in her throat like a sudden rainstorm unleashing at sea. She dodged her way passed everyone in her path, his name hanging on her lips, ready to be shouted over the commotion of the market square to catch his attention. Reason left her completely, galloping away to a world of naively crafted scenarios where her path would cross his again. Even if it made no sense, the only tangible thought that registered in her mind was that he was here, in Southampton, nearly within her grasp, just one step closer...

The sight of him struck the wind from her lungs, leaving her completely breathless, mindless, the gears in her head creaking to a rusty stop. Nothing mattered anymore.

She wanted to fling her arms around his neck and never let go, to drown in his musky oceanic scent as he crushed her against him. Tears were already burning her eyes like salt, blurring her vision and altering her focus, but she blinked them all away, refusing to severe the visual connection that was guiding her to him. So close...just a few steps...

A wagon blocked her progression and she choked on his name.

When he came into view again, the man finally turned around, his face illuminating in the harsh sunlight, his dark grey eyes and heavy beard marking the features of a complete stranger.

Maeve stopped abruptly, the name on her lips withering away like an old parchment crumbling to dust at her feet, and her heart fell into the pit of her stomach in cruel realization. The acute, arresting pain paralysed her on the spot, as if someone had struck her, her eyes burning as she stared where the man had been standing seconds ago, tearing her apart with wicked hope.

It wasn't him.

She blinked away, eyes lowering to empty space as she fought to compose herself amidst the middle of the crowded street. Her heart pounded hard against her ribcage and a dull numbness claimed her limbs as an utter sense of foolishness settled over her. She chastized herself furiously for getting carried away so easily by the illusion that he might have truly been here in Southampton, in Kalladrell. She should have known better than to latch on to such a stupid trick in the blink of an eye.

Dim-Dim had sent her away, to travel down a separate path, his wrinkled cryptic gaze wordlessly indicating that they wouldn't meet again anytime soon.

Of course it wasn't him.

Devastated over her own weakness, a small storm of torment tearing the world asunder in her heart, Maeve stepped away, forcing her feet back on their previous course a bit clumsily. She swallowed hard past the painful clench of her jaw, attempting to set herself back on track. She had to find Robin. She had to-

An old woman unexpectedly bumped into her, a cascade of fresh apples spilling from a bag on the ground, effectively jolting her back to the harsh reality.

"I'm so sorry, I'm-" Her mumbled excuse as she crouched down to pick up the fallen fruits was swiftly interrupted by the woman's urgent finger pointing behind her.

"Watch out for-" The old lady's warning immediately drove home as Maeve saw the two huge horses trotting down the lane, pulling a large wagon behind them.

She barely had time to stand up when someone steadfastly grabbed her arm from the other side of the alley and yanked her out of the way before she could be trampled, and the wagon rolled by, leaving a small trail of dust in its wake as it traveled down the street carrying barrels of ale and sacks of spices.

"Where the hell have you been?" Robin hissed agitatedly, remnants of sharp concern vividly bright in his small blue eyes.

Maeve felt warm relief immediately spread in her chest like a tidal wave when she realized it was him who had pulled her out of the wagon's way, his strong hand clasped around her arm securely, fingers locked in place like unbending iron. He had come back for her.

"Where have I been?" she snapped at him incredulously, her pride kicking in despite how reassured she felt at seeing him again. "Where have you been? I turned my head for a second and you were gone!"

Robin shook his head, a low growl almost vibrating in his throat, his features haunted by a veil of wild concern. There was a hard tension in his entire body, his spine straight like steel and something dark was shining in his gaze, a fierce sense of alarm, as if losing her amidst the crowd would have been the promise of unforgiving disaster. He had almost lost the woman with red hair.

They stared at each other wordlessly then, a silent conversation of stubborn pride and unanswered questions bouncing back between their touching bodies, saturating the air between them like smoke.

It took a few seconds for them to compose themselves, taming both their respective raw nerves, until eventually his shoulders relaxed, his grip on her arm loosened and he finally released her.

He blinked away awkwardly, emptying his lungs in a deep exhale, then attempted to fall back into his normal stence. "Come," he declared calmly, although with a touch of lingering awkwardness. "I found the shop I was looking for."

And with that, ignoring the remnants of unconfortable tension between them, he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the maze of people, booths and stalls, his searing touch quietly betraying his intention not to let her out of his sight again.

Maeve allowed him to steer her down the street, seizing the opportunity to lower her thundering heartrate to a normal rhythm and gather her hazy thoughts back together. She focused on her surroundings, wondering where Robin's horse was located and it wasn't long before she got her answer. The magnificent animal was tied to a post in front of a small boutique with green shutters on each side of a wide window adorned with the sign Larry's journey through the woods.

In response to her reading the sign out loud with blank perplexity and raised eyebrows, Robin rolled his eyes and replied defensively, "He sells good quality clothes and boots for trekking in the woods. The women's outfits are amongst the finest in the city." Climbing the short flight of stairs leading to the door, he held it open for her. "After you."

Inside the dim interior of the shop, numerous pieces of a variety of garments and trekking gears were displayed everywhere on tables and shelves around the room, as well as hanging on the walls up to the ceiling. The air smelled of leather and wood, a rough scent Maeve found strangely comforting.

A tall lean man with short white hair almost identical to a sheep's wool sat behind a distant counter, scribbling down in a notebook. "Yes, can I help you?" he called out to them, not even raising his eyes up, too absorbed in his task.

"The lady needs a good travelling outfit," Robin explained, walking up to the man while Maeve quietly appraised the dark sets of clothing displayed on the nearest table.

When he heard Robin's voice, the lean man raised his head and a wide smile lit his face like sunlight, revealing a set of perfect teeth as white as his hair. "Robin!" he exclaimed happily, hopping down from his high stool and circling around the counter. "How good it is to see you again, my friend!"

"Right back at you, Larry," Robin replied good-heartedly as he clasped the tall man on the shoulder.

When Larry's deep black eyes fell on Maeve, a glint of wonder and awe immediately flashed in their depths and the man froze on the spot, turning into a stunned fish and momentarily slipping away into another world, losing the ability to speak. "It's not...She's...Is that-"

"A friend," Robin cut him off squarely with a sideway glance. "Her name is Maeve. She's crossing the Blind Mountains with me and the others."

Maeve smiled politely as the man's gaze remained firmly riveted on her.

"Right..." he nodded absently, his voice trailing off as his mind still wandered somewhere far away, and Robin had to nudge him a little to bring him back down to earth.

When Larry finally snapped out of his trance, his dark warm eyes jumped between her and Robin and he cleared his throat in an attempt to pull himself back to the matter at hand. "Yes, right, the crossing!"

Beaming like a pumpkin, he then walked over to Maeve, the business man in him immediately surfacing as he studied her from head to toe, probably pondering on what would best fit her amidst all the various items of clothing he was selling in his boutique. Circling around her thoughtfully, his mouth twisted in silent assessment and an analysing frown creased his brow.

After a moment, he finally seemed to put a finger on what it was she would need and motioned them to follow him as he led them to the farthest part of the store. "My wife would be better suited to advise you, but I believe you'll find the perfect outfit amidst these particular ones here. They are practical and warm, yet elegant, light and feminine. You'll be able to move at ease and still feel like a lady."

Maeve glanced at the many different styles of garments displayed on the table before her. Unsure how to proceed about this, her quiet discomfort growing by the second, she tossed Robin a look full of silent interrogation.

"Make your pick," he assured her once again, disregarding her concern for money and slipping her a fashion suggestion instead. "I think blue would go nicely with your hair." A thin smile stretched his lips, his gaze flittering away in a shy manner before he swiftly pointed behind him with a thumb. "I'll find you some boots."

Strangely flushed by his fashion observation, Maeve watched as he walked away with Larry, the lean, white-haired man dipping his head closer to him to speak in a hushed voice, probably addressing the matter of her hair. She rolled her eyes at the mysterious behaviour, which was the norm with anyone she met on this island anyway, and let her eyes surf on the pieces of outfits in front of her.

Soon enough her gaze settled on a pair of dark brown trousers matched with an elegant deep blue shirt. She lifted the garments from the table, studying their quality and trying to picture herself in it, as well as evaluating if they looked comfortable enough to fight in. Opting to try them on to find out, she glanced around the store in search of a screen behind which she could change and spotted one right in the corner behind her. Draping the clothes over her arm, she quickly slipped behind it and set to work.

The outfit was of top most quality, with the warm trousers decorated with a single row of small knotted designs running down the outer sides of the leg, the patterns reminding her of Celtic symbols. The blue shirt was also quite exquisite, with a v-shaped neckline adorned with a matching rim of the same knotted symbols. Accompanying the outfit was also a magnificent black leather corset with golden clasps down the front, and shoulder straps to provide better support. It was a simple set of clothing, but the rich colors and the delicate embroideries gave it a beautiful elegance with a touch of graceful femininity, and yet it was clearly fit for a warrior.

Maeve had never worn anything like it, especially the trousers, but she supposed if she was about to spend a whole month trekking through cold mud, she wanted a practical outfit fit for the task.

Maneuvering in the tight space behind the screen, she managed to slip out of her old dress and wriggle her way into the trousers and the shirt, amazed at how comfortable every piece felt. She would just have to get used to the sleeves, which were more skintight than her former fluffy white ones. More to the point, considering the thin fabric of the shirt, Maeve wondered if she would need something to wear over it to provide more warmth, since Robin had said the nights could turn pretty chilly this time of year, and she no longer had access to her heavy brown cloak.

After buckling the leather corset around her waist securely and adjusting the straps on her shoulders, she paused for a moment, feeling completely alien in these new clothes on her back. She drew in a breath, gathering her courage, then grabbed her former dress in a bundle along with her old, worn-out boots, and bravely stepped out from behind the screen, bare feet on the hard wood floor.

A little mirror was waiting for her on the opposite wall and her reflection momentarily stunned her, her jaw slightly slacking. Although a bit more conservative in the neckline compared to her bolder former dress, this new outfit was still outlining every curve of her body in a very feminine way, with the corset nicely cinching her waist above her hips and lending her an agile and slender build. The deep blue shirt was also quite complimenting, as Robin had predicted, the rich color contrasting with her red hair to make them stand out even more on her shoulders.

As she stared at herself in the mirror speechlessly, it dawned on her how drastic a change it was from her former outfit, and a small voice soon began to whisper in her head, warning her that she would now be unrecognizable in a crowd, to anyone who had ever known her. If she were to ever cross path with the crew again, her trademark outfit wouldn't catch their eye anymore. Sinbad might walk right past her and not see her. It was a disarming thought and a frightening notion.

But Maeve chastised herself again. Of course he would see her. He could spot her anywhere in a crowd with her flaming red hair. He would always find her.

But still, a bitter taste pooled inside her mouth. This new outfit was yet another step she was taking away from the crew and the Nomad, and yet another crack added to her fragile, aching heart.

Her skin throbbed silently as she absently raised her wrist, contemplating the red strip of cloth strung around her flesh like blood, a deep cut that wouldn't stop bleeding anytime soon. She brushed the tip of her fingers on the soft fabric of the bandana, like a soldier tracing a war wound, and she had to close her eyes for a moment, conjuring the strenght to cast his memory aside for the time being. There would be a time to long and miss him later, but not now.

Opening her eyes again, she let her wrist fall to her side and glanced around in search of Robin, spotting him not far off in front of the counter, in a crouching position as he browsed through rows upon rows of boots.

"I'm definitely going to need new boots," Maeve declared with a grimace as she dropped her old tread-bare boots on the floor and placed her old outfit on a nearby chair.

Robin turned his head to reply something but froze in place before any word could come out of his mouth. He became so suddenly still, like a sharp blade driven straight into stone, that Maeve thought time had somehow stopped in the room.

Only his depthless blue eyes moved, scanning her from head to toe, and his mouth slightly gaped open in muted shock. He looked halfway between a man who'd just been struck down, or a man who was seeing a woman for the first time. As if he was seeing her for the first time.

Standing in front of him like a marble statue weathered by time, Maeve watched him as he watched her, rendered equally speechless, and eagerly wondering what in the Wikken Hells was going on through his mind right now to draw such an endearing expression on his face.

After an endless span of countless seconds, never removing his eyes from her sight, he finally rose to his feet across the room, swallowing hard before finding his voice again, deep and resonant. "You look stunning."

Maeve blinked, feeling her cheeks flush a crimson color as she quickly managed to clear her throat. "Thanks to you," she pointed out gratefully, glancing down at the elegant outfit.

His intense gaze still riveted on hers, it was a few more seconds before Robin dipped his head and looked away, a hand reaching up to rub at the back of his neck as he turned around to resume his quest for boots. Maeve blinked, wondering if she had just glimsped a blush on his skin or if she had merely imagined it.

"Ah!" Larry happily exclaimed as he joined them again, unknowingly slicing through the invisible tension in the air. "I knew you would find something to your liking. My wife would be proud."

"Thank you, I've often been told I have a good flair," Robin commented wittily as he faced her again, his composure back to normal as he boasted about the fact that he'd been the one who picked her outfit color.

Larry broke out into a heartfelt laugh and moved behind the counter while Robin stepped closer and handed her a pair of black leather boots, the previous awkwardness slowly melting away. "Here, try these on."

Maeve took them from his grasp wordlessly, only briefly meeting his gaze before sitting down on the edge of the chair where she'd placed her stuff, silently watching him as he joined Larry at the counter probably to take care of the purchase. If there had been a flush in his cheeks and down his neck before, it was gone now, and she silently prayed her own complexion was back to normal as well.

Slipping her feet in the boots, Maeve stood back up and walked a few steps to get accustomed to the feel of them. On top of being made with resistant soles fit for long hours of trekking through rough rocky terrain, the boots were also incredibly light, and equipped with little inner sheaths on each rim to hide daggers. Maeve thus retrieved the knife she normally kept in her old boot and carefully slipped it into place in her right new one, the final touch to complete her new outfit.

"You all set?" Robin asked, walking back to her and handing her yet another piece of clothing; a short, black leather jacket adorned with delicate knotted designs along the edge of every rim, matching those of her shirt and trousers.

"I'm afraid I don't deserve any of these," Maeve sheepishly observed as she took the beautiful jacket from his hand.

"The pleasure is all mine." A sincere smile spread on his lips as he shrugged, discarding her concern once again. "Besides, I couldn't possibly have you cross the Blind Mountains in that former thin dress of yours. You would have frozen to death."

He retrieved her old outfit from the chair and then headed for the door. Maeve slipped the jacket on and followed after him, quickly sending a goodbye wave at Larry behind the counter, his white hair crowning his head and a white smile etched on his features like a beaming child.

"You two be careful in those woods!" he called after them as they stepped out through the door.

When they were back on the busy market street, Maeve felt her senses jolt up in unison, harrassed by the buzz of vibrant activity in the city.

She followed Robin to his horse where he carefully tucked her old dress in the satchel that was strapped to the saddle, while she quietly wondered if she should keep it or not, now that she had this new top quality outfit that was considerably warmer. The sudden dilema made her spare a thought for all those times where she would have turned into an icicle on deck of the Nomad had it not been for her heavy brown cloak...

Unknotting the reins that were tied to a post, Robin swung them over the collar of his noble dark steed. He then mounted up and extended his hand down to her, an inviting gesture that mirrored the first time he offered her a ride in the forest earlier that morning when they had first met.

"I'm not losing you through the crowd again," he said huskily, the ghost of worry subtly creasing his features.

Maeve felt a small smile tug at her lips. Clasping his strong hand, she hoisted herself up behind him and this time, as opposed to this morning where he'd been nothing but a complete stranger, she felt comfortable enough to lay her hands on his hips for support, almost tempted to tease him about the flush she had spied down his neck inside the shop, but she decided to spare him the embarrassment, well aware that he would toss back a reply of his own about the flush in her own cheeks if she did.

So Maeve simply enjoyed the calm, familiar silence that settled between them as Robin heeled his horse into a slow trot, and led them through the maze of the city towards the soldiers' barrack.