It was very early morning and already the entire palace was awake. The servants were running here and there, carrying things, cleaning, decorating. Everything had to be prefect in this one special day.
Aiden, Doubar and other friends had thrown a stag night for Sinbad. They wanted to celebrate together the last night of his freedom, and they had not economized the wine. Their room looked like a place after a fierce battle. Sleepy Firouz was sitting, abutting the table and watched the rest who was still sleeping.

Doubar open his eyes and slowly raised his achy head. He looked around at his friends sleeping on the floor and then looked at Firouz.

The big man got up and sat by the table next to the scientist who push the glass of some kind of liquid to him and offered, "Drink it Doubar. It's going to help you."

Doubar took a glass and sniffed the liquid.

"What is it?"

"Don't ask, just drink it."

The first mate closed his eyes and drunk it. It did not taste good to him but it was cold and he needed something like this exactly.

"Sinbad is getting married today."

Firouz pronounced and Doubar looked at him like at an idiot.

"Really? Thanks for the information."

"Well, you're welcome but I said it because I think we should wake him up. "

The big man looked at his little brother. It was just like yesterday when he was still a small, annoying little boy. Doubar thought about all the times when he had, had to wake him up; all the times when he had, had to hold his hand till he fell asleep; about all the stories he had told him.

One little tear flew down Doubar's cheek.

He quickly wiped it away before anyone saw it and said to Firouz, "I will wake him up and you prepare a bath for him, cold would be best."

The scientist nodded and left while Doubar stood up and walked closer to his brother.

He squatted and gently jerked Sinbad's arm and spoke,"Sinbad…"
But the captain did not move and just murmured something.

"Hymmm?"

"You have to get up."

Sinbad, again, just murmured something but this time it sounded like an objection.

"Eeyymm…"

Then he covered his head with the pillow but Doubar did not give up.

"Sinbad…"

Sinbad said from under the pillow, "Doubar, go away."

Aiden who stood behind the first mate and watched the brothers said to his friend who was about to jerk Sinbad again, "It won't help. Watch this."

Doubar made way for Aiden who squatted next to sleeping Sinbad and yelled to him, "Captain!!! Man overboard!!!"

Sinbad strained himself from the bed and looked around.

"What the.."

Aiden fell into laughter. Disoriented, the captain wiped his eyes.

When his memories of the past returned to him, he said in an voice full of discovery,"Doubar, I'm getting married today!"

His big brother twisted his head and asked ironically, "Really?"

Maeve and Marina were waiting for Sinbad. He had promised to take care of the girl so her mother and Caipra could prepare themselves for the ceremony, but his morning indisposition caused him to be a little late. When he finally arrived, he tried to smooth the situation. Slowly and quietly closing the door, he said the first thing that came to mind at the mad woman in a white, silk bathrobe, "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

Maeve just gave him a hostile look because she had quickly figured out what he had been doing last night. He had done his best to hide it, but even a cold bath and a different outfit had not helped.

His hangover was visible.

Sinbad decided not to continue this line of conversation with his mad beauty. He wanted to try his chances with someone else who for sure would not be mad at him for such a thing. The young captain came to the bed where his daughter was laying, sat down, and took her into his arms.

"And how is My Little Angel today?"

"Much better than you, I guess."

The Celtic Sorceress answered ironically and gave him a little smirk. It was the happiest day in her life and she was not able to be angry at him. She watched the beautiful picture of daddy and his little girl. They were smiling at each other happily. There was no other person alive who could influence Marina in that way. She had become daddy's little girl the very first time they had seen each other.

"She was missing you and looking for you all about the room with her eyes."

"Aww, My Angel!"

Sinbad kissed his girl's foot which made her laugh gaily.

Her mother just rolled her eyes and smiled at them and said, "I have to go now. Caipra and the hairdressers are waiting for me."

The redhead bent down and kissed Marina's forehead.

Sinbad was about to kiss his fiancée too, but she pulled her head back with a sly grin.

"Hey! What about my kiss?"

"You will have your chance later, after the ceremony."

Maeve winked at the captain and turned around to leave when Doubar walked in.

He wanted to say something but Maeve quickly cut in, "Oh! There you are! What have you done with my would-be-husband?! Look at him! Doubar, we are getting married today!"

"Yeah, so I heard." He said in a whisper to himself and then added,"Lass it was his stag night. You had your hen night too."

"Yeah, but I don't look like him, and I had to watch over our daughter the whole time."

"He doesn't look so bad."

Sinbad who was watching them from safe distance, heard what they were talking about, looked once at Maeve and once at Doubar.

When he heard his brother's last words, added his own comment, "Thanks, Doubar."

Then he looked at Marina, who was still in his arms, and said to her," 'Not so bad' Did you hear him?"

Maeve rolled her eyes again and said to Doubar, "I'm leaving. You better take care of him. It's our wedding and everything must be perfect."

When the woman left and closed the doors, Doubar looked at his brother and said to him, "You are going to have such a lovely wife."

They both laughed.

Dim-Dim and Caipra were walking through the palace's hall. They had just came from their house and were talking about the bad feeling they both had.

The old wizard asked his wife who had been pensive since breakfast, "I know you got the same bad feelings as me, don't you my dear?"

"Yes, something is not right but I cannot say what."

"Me either, my dear. Me either."

Even if Caipra was worried she did not want to show it.

She knew how happy Maeve was and did not want to spoil it.

"We better hurry, I promised Maeve to help her."

The married couple walked ahead hand in hand.

Meanwhile, Sinbad started preparing himself for the wedding. Their one special moment was drawing closer and closer.
The young captain didn't like the idea of wearing a white outfit but some situations just required the sacrifice.
The white, not very wide, but also not very tight pants were covered to the knees with long, white, leather boots. Also, he was wearing white, silk shirt and a mathcing white vest. He turned around to show himself to his brother and daughter, who was laying on the bed with a few pillows behind her so she could watch everything.

Doubar fell into laughter and Marina seemed to enjoy it and followed her uncle.
Her father looked at her helplessly, "It's very rude to make fun of your father, you know."

Then he looked into the mirror and pronounced, "Doubar, I look like an idiot."

"Good! You it should feel natural on a day like this!"

The familiar voice was coming from the door's side.

The brothers looked in that direction and saw someone who they did not except.

"Talya!"

Sinbad pulled the pirate queen into a big hug.

"I thought you weren't coming."

They pulled apart.

The woman smiled at the captain and said, making funny faces, "But I did! With a bleeding heart, I have to admit, but I'm here!"

Then she hugged Doubar.

"Hi Doubar. How are you doing? You're little brother is getting married!"

"Imagine that, I have been told that before, you know?"

Talya looked at the baby and stepped closer to her.

"I guess, that's Marina!"

She crouched down next to the girl and tickled her with the finger," Hi Sweet One! Sinbad, it's the best thing you've ever made!"

"Why, thank you, Talya."

"Thank Gods, she doesn't look like her mother."

Sinbad gently rebuke her,"Talya…"

She stood up and said, "I won't stay for the ceremony. There are too many people who would like me there. I have already met Adien…" she bit her lips and then added, clapping Sinbad's shoulder,"I wish all best, for you and Red, really. Now I will go. Take care both of you!"

The Black Rose hugged both brothers and left.

In another part of palace, Maeve was seated in front of the dressing table and watched herself in the mirror.

Caipra, who was stood behind her, fixed a wedding wreath in her hair.

The old woman smiled at the redheaded,"You are a very beautiful bride, my child."

"Yeah, but a barefoot bride." She pointed at her feet.

"It's a tradition. Symbol of the innocence."

"Caipra, please! I have a daughter!"

The both woman laughted.

"She is the pledge of love between you both and nothing is more beautiful. Leave your feet that way. Now, I'm going to dress your pledge for the ceremony."

When Caipra left her alone, Maeve stood up and walked to the big mirror to see how she looked.
Her long beautiful, white dress fitted her just perfect and her long red hair was wreathed at the top of her head composed the pretty picture.
She gazed into the mirror and was thinking about how long she had been waiting for this moment, when she heard someone coming from the balcony's direction.

The sorceress turned around and in the same moment she stiffened.

The ironic woman's voice said,"Hello, my dear."