The early morning birds were singing with anticipation when Sinbad and Maeve finally returned from the fountain. All around them the world was awaking to a new day. The air was sweet and held a trace of summer that melted into the breaking dawn and turned it into something of extraordinary beauty.

The captain and the sorceress walked in comfortable silence, each of them following their own train of thoughts. Barely an hour ago they had mutely agreed on something meaningful and although neither of them would ever regret what they had done, they could not quite grasp the full importance of their decision either. Drinking from the water that was meant to bring everlasting love and happiness wasn't something friends did, and it wasn't something one did with a fling either. The fountain was there for those who wanted to spend their lives together – those who knew had found the other half of their heart.

Those who were in love.

Sinbad knew this, and so did Maeve. And although they had never ever spoken openly about their feelings, they had both wanted to do this. Only, where it left them standing now, they did not know. And so they let the moments at the fountain replay in their heads – imprinting themselves deep into their memory, hoping that one day they would understand what it meant for their future, while slowly they made their way back towards their still sleeping friends.

When eventually they descended the slope which separated them from their make-shift camp, both their gazes settled on the group of sailors that rested close to the fire that had long burnt up. Rongar and Firouz were comfortably settled on carpets that they had brought from the ship while Dermott had decided to perch on a bough above them. The sight of the three alone could have made Sinbad smile with fondness but it was the image of Bryn and Doubar that let the young captain chuckle quietly.

"Now, would you look at them? Not a care in the world", he observed while prodding Maeve gently.
Sinbad's blue eyes lay on the form of his brother who held the brunette sorceress in a tight embrace. Neither of the two was awake and yet they held onto each other, almost as if they did so consciously.

"You think it's the effect of the fountain water?", the young Celt answered him after a second. Her gaze shifted to focus on him and for a second there was just a tiny bit uneasiness in those velvet depths of hers.

"Don't know", he shrugged, "I would like to say they're just young and carefree, but Doubar is older than me, so…"

"Maybe that's exactly why."
Her reply came swift and just as quickly did she tear his gaze from him again, looking back towards the sleeping couple instead.

Sinbad who didn't understand what she was aiming at, frowned and spoke the only thing that came to his mind that instant:
"Huh?"

"He's practically raised you, and then lost you", she eventually explained, referring to the missing two years in Sinbad's life. "I think time might have a different meaning for him, and in truth it's us who are carefree – wasting it while maybe we should treasure it."

Her voice was calm, low, thoughtful and yet also insecure. On her lips a somewhat rueful smile formed while she spoke but then she shook her head as if trying to sober up. "Ah, I really must be tired. I start babbling nonsense."

Across her cheeks the faintest trace of a flush hushed and it was obvious she felt rather self-conscious about the musings she had just shared with him. Her mouth opening once more to speak out she aimed to distract Sinbad and herself from what she had just said, but Sinbad silenced her, taking up on her thoughts and continuing earnestly.

"No, I think you're right", he muttered, "He's lost so much time already, always looking after me. He should have found this long ago."
While he said the last words, the young captain gestured towards the sleeping couple and let a small sigh escape his throat.

"But you're not to blame."
Maeve shook her head gently, understanding what the sailor was aiming at and feeling the need to make him see the truth. But Sinbad just frowned.

"If it hadn't been for me", he expressed doubtfully, "we might have just settled in Baghdad and become merchants – he sure would have had a fine family there."

He really meant what he said. He'd thought about it so often before, it was a burden he carried and something he rarely ever spoke about. So when Maeve suddenly laughed his eyebrows rose and he turned to her with confusion written all over him.
"You're an idiot, you know that?"

Her words had him huff slightly.
"What?"

"If Doubar could hear you now he would talk some sense into you, but since he's indisposed I guess I will have to do that for him", she spoke and then looked him straight into the eyes.

"Sinbad, do you really think he would want that? It was his choice and he is happy with it. And besides, who says it would have turned out for the better? As rough as he seems and as strong, he's still the most innocent of all of us, well, safe Bryn maybe. Aye, maybe he would long be married by now, but who's to say that would-be-wife would have loved him and had not just been after a trusting husband she could take advantage of?" Her gaze softened as she saw him process her words. "Nah, sailor. He made all the right choices."

Sinbad nodded vaguely at her while he still was deep in thought. Maeve was right with what she said, this much he had to grant her. Doubar was still a big kid at heart, trusting too easily and being vulnerable in his wish to help and be there for others. He had already been betrayed bitterly once when Alana had played his game with him, and all Sinbad wanted was for his brother to be finally happy with someone he loved and who loved him in return.

Unconsciously his gaze flickered back to the camp and eventually it settled on the sleeping form in Doubar's arms.

"You think she loves him?"
His voice was barely audible when he spoke the words. He knew Bryn, and trusted her. She had an air of honesty about her that made her be special and if truth was spoken he could not think of anyone better his brother could have fallen in love with. And still, despite all he knew he had to ask.

"Whether she…", Maeve sounded taken aback for a moment, but then she understood. Doubar was Sinbad's brother – best friend and father to him. And more than anything the captain wanted to make sure that he would have someone who was worth him.
"Sinbad, if her gaze doesn't speak of love then I don't know what does", she eventually answered with all sincerity that she could muster. "Seriously, haven't you seen how she looks at him when he is near her – how her eyes brighten up and a smile plays in them that no one but he can bring forth? And actually", she suddenly paused for a moment before adding almost silently, "I would have thought you knew what a woman in love looks like."

"Hey! Those girls who constantly think that I was some prize they could win just by throwing themselves on me don't count. That can hardly be named love.", Sinbad instantly protested, pulling a face as he was so sure to know what the redhead was referring to.
But much to his surprise she rolled her eyes; then added quietly: "I wasn't talking about those."

Again a slight flush conquered her cheeks and just for once she looked at him with her guard let down. Her brown orbs were directed on him and they let him all in, displaying a truth that she had never let him see that way.

Sinbad felt how his breath got caught in his lungs as he detected the same kind of sincerity in the sorceress' gaze that he also saw in Bryn's eyes whenever the brunette looked at Doubar.
And then he understood.

His head moved in a nod while a tender smile settled on his lips.
"They are perfect for each other" , he eventually said, his tone giving no hint as to who he was really referring to.
His eyes lay on Maeve for a second, sparkling at her in the early morning sun and replying the smile that lay in her own depths, before he took her by the hand and lead her back to the camp.

"Come on, we should be back before the guys wake up", he whispered good-naturedly, earning a chuckle from her side.

"Can you imagine if Firouz finds out we were at the fountain?", Maeve endorsed with amusement, "We'd never hear the end of it."

Both, sailor and sorceress, noticed their mood change from thoughtful to more relaxed as they walked. As was their way for far too often, they had left many things unsaid and yet they had conveyed more to each other than they had ever done before.

"Especially after we've basically told him and Rongar that we're only playing along for Doubar's and Bryn's sake." Sinbad grinned and shook his head in amusement.
He wondered for how long they would be able to keep up the charade, for how long they would refrain from talking about what they each felt inside, but for now that didn't matter much.

While the two of them quietly settled down again he stole another glance at his brother before he directed his gaze back at Maeve to see her smile back in return.

Maybe it would still need some time until they would be able to admit to anything, maybe their banters would still have to suffice for another while as their way of getting to terms with their changing relationship, but as he lay down just a few feet away from her and opposite to his brother he knew something for sure – something that he gave voice to in a content mutter:

"All the right choices indeed."