So I wrote this a long time ago and never published it. Here it is! Is anyone still reading about this show? Let me know.
The Nomade had just arrived in Baghdad. It was a cloudy and windy day but there was no sign of rain on the horizon. Sinbad led His crew off the ship and as soon as they set foot on the docks, sailors and merchants greeted them with welcoming smiles and friendly hand waves. In the past year, Sinbad and his crew had sailed a few times back to Baghdad to trade merchandise or for diplomatic missions. The people of this city had grown to love to see them arrive with exotic goods of happy news of evil vanquished. The news of the Nomade docking in the port of Baghdad traveled each time faster than the previous one amongst the citizens. This time, they did not know, but someone was waiting for them.
A young boy, about 14 years old, was working near the docks. His job was to load and unload merchandise of ships coming in. When he saw Sinbad and his crew, he quickly stopped what he was doing and ran towards the city. He crisscrossed between horses, citizens and merchants until he Found the man he was looking for in the middle of Baghdad's grand market. The boy tapped on the man's shoulder. The large man had long curly brown hair. His attire was much different from most of the city's people's, suggesting he was a traveler. He glanced over his shoulder and his expression changed immediately when he recognized the young boy. A glimmer of hope appeared in the man's eyes as he was waiting to hear what the boy had to say. "They are here, the young lad simply said." The man knew exactly who he was talking about. He had spent the past few days urging everyone he met in the city to let him know if the well renowned crew came by. His people were counting on him to help them. And he knew he needed Sinbad and his crew for that. He had no time to lose. He had to find them now before more lives could be lost. The man dropt the fabrics he was looking to buy. "Lead me to them, he said." The boy turned around and ran back in the docks' direction closely followed by the man.
Sinbad had started to deliver his merchandise to the people gathered around the docks. As the last baril was unloaded from the ship, an man dropped His money into Sinbad's bag and gave him a good handshake. Doubar, Rongar, Maeve and Firouz were impatiently waiting for Sinbad's approval to take off. They all knew that the first day back in Baghdad was a Day off to do whatever they pleased to do. Firouz was usually scavenging the city to find material for his experiences and inventions. Rongar and Doubar usually went to their favorite restaurants or taverns. As to Maeve, she liked to go to the market to find herbs and ingredients for magic potions. When Sinbad was all done with the Khalif's requests, he was generally working to find new interesting goods to trade.
The captain secured the money bag to his belt and turned to his crew and gave them a slight nod. They all smiled and proceeded to walk towards the city. Rongar led the group, followed by Doubar and Firouz. Maeve and Sinbad were not far behind them. They had avoided each other for most of the voyage. Neither of them wanted to talk about the kiss they had exchanged in the last village they were at. Even if they had wanted to, the ship could not allow them to get the privacy they needed to have a real heartfelt conversation. It wasn't their thing anyway. Their relationship had always been complicated with unsaid rules and blurred lines.
After a long journey avoiding each other on the ship, they both wanted to spend this time off together. They missed each other's company even though they still felt uncomfortable about what had happened. Without telling each other, they had both let the crew get a few meters ahead before they stept off the docks. "So, where are you planning to go today? Sinbad asked hesitantly." Maeve firtitiously glanced at her captain.such an attempt at small talk felt awkward after such a long time spent avoiding each other. She tried to hide her discomfort with a nonchalant shrug. "I don't know. I might visit this merchant who sells magic items." A long silence followed as they walked side by side. Sinbad bit his lips. This relatively short answer was all she wanted to give him. Indicating she was not willing to make conversation. Maybe she did not want to talk to him. Maybe she was still mad at him for kissing her. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when she finally broke the silence. "How about you? Maeve awkwardly asked." Sinbad looked at her with a forced smile, trying to look friendly and laid back. "The Khalif can't see me until tomorrow, he answered. I don't have any plans." Maeve nodded as an awkward silence settle again. She looked around, desperately trying something else to talk about. Then it hit her. Did he want to join her? Why else would he ask her that? If she invited him to join, would this mean she would have to explain how she felt about this hole kissing thing? Would he mention it again? No, he wouldn't. Otherwise he would have done so earlier. "Would you… like to join me? She asked hesitantly." They did not notice it, but Rongar had stopped abruptly and Doubar had bumped into him. When Firouz understood why Rongar had stopped so abruptly, he turned to his captain. "Umm… Sinbad, I think someone wants to see you, he said." Sinbad didn't have time to answer Maeve's invitation. Maeve and him both turned their attention on who was in front of the crew. Rongar, Doubar and Firouz parted to let him see and he immediately recognized the man. His jaw dropped in an instant. He did not know how to react. Maeve did not give him time. "Eyolf! She exclaimed as she ran up to him." In an instant, she had her arms wrapped around His neck and he was twirling with her. Sinbad just stood There, unable to move. After what seemed to be an Eternity for Sinbad, Eyolf let Maeve down. "It's so good to see you, she told him with a huge smile on her face." Eyof shyly smiled back. "It's good to see you too, he replied. It's good to see all of you." As he said the last phrase, he turned to the crew and gestured towards them with his hand.
This seemed to shake Sinbad out of his trans. He felt annoyed to see Eyolf there. Not only because Maeve seemed to be overly happy to see him, but the last time this man was around, he almost got her killed. He left her to a demon. Why was she so happy to see him? It sure ruined his plan to try to make things right with Maeve. He wanted to spend the day with her. He wanted to go back to the casual conversations they could had before this hole thing happened. He wanted to let her know that things could go back to the way they were, that he would not cross any lines again. He knew she would not let him talk about it, tough. But they were now experts at pretending as if nothing had ever happened. Just like after they first kissed when they defeated the Vorgon. She had teased him about that kiss and then they never talked about it again. Things just got back to normal. Why was it different this time? Why had they spent a whole voyage avoiding each other? He could not explain it himself. He just knew that as much as he had gotten to know her since she joined his crew, he didn't know how to act around her sometimes. This day was supposed to give him a chance to set things back to the way they were, but it was sure not going to happen now that Eyolf was there.
Sinbad clenched His jaw and shook his head to brush away his thoughts. "Eyolf, how nice it is to see you, he said forcing a smile." The captain walked up to Eyolf and gave him His strongest handshake. "What are you doing here? He asked in an attempt not t sound too rude." Maeve immediately turned to him and gave him a cold stare. Eyolf did not seem to mind the questioning. He seemed concerned. His face turned serious in an instant. "I am here to request your help. My people are in great danger. Our realm has been invaded by some evil forces we don't even understand." Maeve frowned and put a hand on Eyolf's shoulder in a compassionate gesture.
What do you mean? What happened? She asked.
The children. They are disappearing. We can't explain how but we are convinced that magic is involved.
Sinbad exchanged a look with his crew. Were they willing to give up their day off? Since everyone seemed to want to help, he offered to all go and sit with a drink to discuss what was going on. Eyolf explained to them that children were disappearing in the middle of the night. When parents tried to stay awake to prevent their own child from disappearing, they notices something odd. A mother saw her child get out of bed and exiting the house by himself. He seemed to be under a spell. She was able to wake him up and bring him back inside, but another boy ended up disappearing that night. It became obvious that magic was behind this and it was way beyond Eyolf's understanding. "So, that is why I thought you might be able to help, he concluded. If you agree to help us, we will be forever grateful." Maeve squeezed Eyolf's arm in a compassionate manner and turned to Sinbad with a pleading look. The rest of the crew was looking at him too, waiting for him to make a decision. It was always hard for him to refuse Maeve something, especially when she gave him this look. Though the idea of Eyolf being around for who knows how long wasn't too pleasant, he could not let children be harmed. "I guess we are going north, he simply said." All the cups of ale collided above the table as the crew cheered.
Sinbad and his crew spent the rest of the day shopping in the market to find proper attire to travel north. Eyolf was guiding Them through Baghdad's grand market to help them find the clothes they needed. They all found warm boots and thick cloaks. Maeve had to trade her short dress for a midlenght light blue dress and leggings. It wasn't a bright color, though. She didn't like to stand out too much. It was more a wash out steel blue. Eyolf had picked out a warm beige cloak with an oversized hood for her. "This will bring out your hair color, he had said when he had warped it around her shoulders." Sinbad was trying to ignore this chemistry they had between Them, but he couldn't help but feel possessive with Maeve. He clenched his jaw almost everytime the two of them were near each other.
The next day, the Nomad set sail at sunset. "Come, I'll lead you to your cabin so you can settle down, offered Firouz." Maeve joined Sinbad at the tiller as Firouz and Eyolf disappeared down the cabine. Sinbad glanced at her nervously. "You seemed very happy to see Eyolf, he said."
Maeve side glanced at him. She knew Eyolf's presence was making him uncomfortable. Normally, she would have teased him about it. But ever since the last time they had kissed, things were différent. She was tensed whenever he was around now. She didn't want to lose control, but she felt her body was fighting against her mind. Why couldn't it be just like it was before? They had kissed when Sinbad had saved the crew and an entire village from the Vorgon. At that moment, she had felt so overjoyed that she had leaped into his arms. She didn't know what happened next. Had she kissed him or had he kissed her? She couldn't tell, but the mix of being so happy to be alive and the closeness of their faces had led to a spontaneous demonstration of affection. They had laughed about it and nothing had changed between them after that. But the last kiss they had shared in the past village was different. It seemed as if she had been waiting forever for this without even knowing. She had felt her body surrendering to his touch and she had lost her senses. She had completely lost control and it frustrated her. She did not want to make the same mistake again. That is probably why she had been walking on eggs ever since whenever she was around him. "Yes, she answered while trying to look relaxed. He is a nice man."
There was a silence for a brief moment before she sighed. "I hope we will be able to help his people." Sinbad nodded. "Do you know what kind if magic could cause that?" For the first time in weeks, Maeve turned to face her captain. She looked concerned. "I have no Idea, she answered, but it has to be strong magic." Sinbad nodded as he looked at her.
- We will need you, up there.
- I am ready, she said with a serious tone.
Sinbad smiled. It was the longest conversation they had had in a long time. He had missed her. Maeve reajusted her cloak on her shoulders as the wind blew stronger. She hesitated to speak.
- You know… It was nice of you to agree to go there.
- Well, it is children that are in danger.
- Right, Maeve said absently.
Eyolf had juste came out on deck. He walked to the front of the ship and glanced at the sky. The sun had just set and a few stars were visible. Maeve gave Sinbad a look and he responded with a nod. She knew then that she had been excused of the conversation. She left him at the tiller to join Eyolf. Standing beside him, she took a look at the sky. "You must de worried for your people, she said." Eyolf's eyes traveled to the ground. He took a deep breath before he said : "Maeve, there is something I haven't told you."