Bracelets: Repository and Key

She had to find him! Mother could go hang herself with all her, 'words of wisdom'. He has been missing for four moons now, and she was NOT going to just sit around and wait for him to stumble about and somehow, someway, make his way back to her!

She was going to actively look for him, and bring him back so they could marry like they had spoken of! Tetsu and Aileigha married just before they vanished after all! She wanted her time too!

Plus their child was to be born within the next five to six moons! Aileigha was her best friend and rival. And she couldn't pass up the chance to constantly remind her that she was married with a babe and she, Bryn, was not! Not that she wanted to marry and have a baby to compete with Aileigha, but it WAS very annoying that she was without her masculine merchant.

She recalled her friend's anguish when news of Tetsu's vanishing reached her. She visibly collapsed in on herself and it was only the bulge of her mid section that kept her standing straight.

She had raged at the fact that Sinbad and Tetsu had walked out on them, but her mother's words calmed her then as they did today, "A walk past our clan's village is safe enough so long as you stay on the marked paths. Any deviance off the path, and you could stumble through the boundary and forget the clan was even there. Sinbad and Tetsu passed through the boundary, but before I could send someone to retrieve them, they were sent flying by the island's defenses. They have no memory of this place. All they have are the bracelets."

Her mother turned to her and stated, "Should you chase after Sinbad, you will not remember why or even who you are. To chase him is to be a fool, and I did not raise a fool."

Bryn scoffed to herself as she eyed the bracelet around her right wrist and the boundary line she could feel just ahead of her. She knew her mother's words were right.

She even knew Sinbad and Tetsu didn't even know who she was right now, but she had to try. Had to believe that the Fates and Destiny would lead her to her man and her friend.

If they weren't meant to be together, then why did they have her fall in love with the golden brown haired sea blue eyed man?

She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

And promptly found herself on a strange island with barely any resources to sustain itself and native cannibals all clamoring for a bite out of her neck.

She had a split moment to think, Bryn, before she was clubbed over the head and knocked unconscious.

Only to awaken who knows how long later with a man face down in the dirt fifty feet from her soaking wet from the surf.

Dyanna sighed as her daughter passed through the boundary. So impatient. The island protections had once again caught her attention when Bryn passed through. The island magically "tossed" the crosser to any magically strong enough island by random chance. She had no idea where Sinbad, Tetsu, Bryn, Madb, or any of the other hundreds of clansmen over the ages had been sent to. All she knew was that they were where they needed to be to fulfill their destined roles.

She glanced up at the light green orb and said, "Yes dear friend, I'll take her and finish her training."

The orb seemed to nod, and a flash of light emitted from it. When the light and the orb vanished, Dyanna saw a woman with red hair, pale skin, and a toned tall stature.

Dyanna gasped and whispered, "Madb…!"

Then she realized the woman was much too young to be her friend. Plus her hair was a brighter shade of fire red than Madb's auburn hair had been. Lastly, whilst her friend had been tall, this woman was nearly Amazonian in height.

Waves crashed upon the sides of the Nomad. The ship tossed and turned each time a wave rolled up the sides of the merchant vessel. At the tiller, two men, brothers of the heart and body, tried desperately to keep the ship's heading. To them it felt like the sea itself was eager to tear them apart. For all their strength and experience this storm was a humbling reminder that though he called himself the 'Master of the Seven Seas', a true Master he was not.

"We won't last much longer little brother!" Roared the older man as the ship tipped dangerously to the right as a powerful wave pounded them.

"I know Doubar! It came upon us so fast! I have never experienced such a natural occurrence!" Agreed the younger as he spat water out of his mouth and shook his head left and right to move his long hair from his eyes.

"It must be magic Sinbad!"

"Aye! That's why Bryn is down below trying to calm it down!"

"I don't think she is having any luck!" Grumbled Doubar as another wave smashed into their small vessel and threatened to capsize them and send all their crew to the watery depths.

"Firouz! Go check on her!" Yelled Sinbad to his friend and crewman who was currently tying down a line that had snapped with the last tossing about.

"Aye Sinbad!" He called back as he finished tying the rope down and slipped and slid his way down the stairs and into the lower decks.

There he saw a young dark haired beauty with her eyes closed and her eyes furrowed with severe concentration. Although her bracelet glittered in the candle light and an aura of yellow light illuminated her being, the scientist knew she was not having much luck.

He got closer and heard her muttering to herself, "More power…the storm is fighting me…no some ONE is fighting me….."

He didn't want to interrupt her, so he stayed quiet and waited. After another ten minutes of harrowing tosses and tips, the storm abruptly stopped and all was calm.

A shriek of anger that sounded disturbingly familiar filled the air.

The waves dropped to normal splashes against the hull and the dark rolling black clouds immediately faded to a bright blue sky.

"By Allah!" Everyone shouted in cheer and exclaimed, "Way to go Bryn!"

The young woman looked up at the gloomy black clouds and snorted as lightning and thunder seemed to crash upon her very being. A very familiar aura saturated those clouds and it was a presence she would not allow to harm her friends. The rain nailed down upon her like arrows. Each one trying to pierce her skin to damage her as much as possible. Yet it was only water, and could not damage her.

She raised her hands into their air, took a deep breath and focused her magic into a sharp point ready to pierce those awful clouds and send the caster out of them and back to her skeleton home. A bright bluish purple fire engulfed her before it condensed into a spear like shape. With a light grunt from her, she shoved her weight up into the air and propelled the fiery spear into the clouds.

The spear flew through the air at an angle parallel to the sea before stopping above the ship, turning up towards the sky, and then shot straight up and pierced the black stormy clouds.

A female cry of pain reverberated throughout the sky above the sailors and they looked up in shock and happiness as the clouds simply vanished.

"Sinbad…" whispered Doubar as they calmed down and let another sailor grab the tiller.

They hurried down below deck and Sinbad said, "I know big brother. That was not Bryn."

"But then who, Little Brother?" Questioned Doubar as they found Firouz and Bryn in the galley looking at one another in confusion.

"Sinbad, what happened to the storm?"

The waves gently rolled onto the beach. She stood there for who knows how long before another stepped up to her side.

The woman was young looking but her elder by many years. A mother not of the blood but of her heart. The relationship developed easily and surprisingly on her side. Ever since her young tragedies, trust was something rare in her life.

She moved to the side as the leader of the clan stepped up and scanned the skyline where the sky and sea met and a tiny ship could be seen in the distance. She closed her eyes and the bracelet upon her left wrist lit up in a powerful array of colors. A magical shield of rainbow colors pulsated before her for a full minute and then blinked out of existence. She knew the elder was summoning the two bracelet holders on the ship just before her.

"They will arrive by midday. Once they do, child, they will be disorganized and in disarray. Rumina's spell was strong. Bryn is powerful, but she does not remember how to channel her powers adequately enough to disrupt a spell or disperse it when another Wicca is empowering it at the same time."

"Yes Dyanna, this is why you asked me to do so, correct?" Asked the younger Wicca clan member.

"Correct, now I will leave you here to await them. I'm sure your brother will be here momentarily." She cast a sidelong look at the young woman beside her and added with a grin, "don't be too hard on them. Remember they have no memories of this place."

Maeve snorted and replied, "I know, Dyanna, I know."

As Rongar came down to the galley, Sinbad looked to Bryn and stated simply, "It wasn't you who stopped the storm."

Bryn shook her head and Rongar signed a few signs.

Sinbad nodded and said, "Yes Rongar, a light shot out from the North parallel to the sea and then stopped right above us. It then magically changed direction and directly pierced the clouds above us."

Doubar added with fear and anger in his tone, "Then we heard a woman's voice yell in pain, and the storm then simply vanished! Like it was never there!"

Bryn's eyebrows furrowed as she stated, "I felt like I was fighting a strong opponent the entire time I was trying to stop the storm. Then I felt a magical force that was very strong simply pierce the storm. The presence of the second magical was not dangerous…to us that is. I sensed deep hatred and anger towards the creator of the storm though."

Before they could continue, Dermott screeched and flapped his wings in agitation.

"Dermott?" Questioned Sinbad and Bryn together and then their bracelets lit up like magical torches bathing the galley in a mosaic of rainbow colors.

Both heard a voice say, "It is time to come home children…come to The Isle of the Hidden Wicca"

Dermott screeched again and flew out of the valley before anyone could stop him. His goal was the presence he had sensed when the light pierced the storm. His sister was back!

Sinbad and Bryn blinked away the rainbow dots from their eyes and said as one, "We need to go to the Isle Of Wicca."

Maeve was waiting excitedly as she spotted her little brother flying towards her from the Nomad. She has not seen him in nearly eighteen months, and she was thrilled to be with him once more. She was also equally excited to see Sinbad and the others too. She of course knew about his exploits while she was gone.

At first she was upset, upset and angry that he would turn into a killing lothario, but DimDim and Dyanna had helped her to see that people grieve differently and that they had no promises between them.

Sure they both felt strongly for one another, loved one another even, but without the words and actual actions of said love. All it truly was, was them pining for one another and loving flirtations.

Was she happy he acted that way?

No.

Was she going to punish him?

Not really.

Tease him any?

Hell yes!

"Maeve! Sister is it really you?"

"It is my love! I'm here!" She said happily as her little brother in hawk form settled down on her bracelet.

"When did you come back?" Asked Dermott excitedly.

"I was never gone brother. DimDim sent me here to learn more of my powers since this clan is where my magic is originally from."

Dermott's head tilted in question.

Maeve continued, "My mom was from here. The leader here, Dyanna, was my mothers friend decades ago. Apparently she left here to explore the world and found her heart in our father in Hibernia. When she left the island, her memories were locked away. The bracelet is both a repository for magic and the key to unlocking the memories when the one who has a bracelet crosses the boundary here."

Dermott, if he were still human, felt like his jaw would be hanging around his ankles by now. His sister's mother had always been a sensitive topic in their childhood. Their father never liked discussing Madb in any way shape or form, and his mother, Leighree of Clan Cloch Laidir, grew jealous just to see Maeve in the same room as her. So to find out any information about Madb at all was astonishing to him.

"How are you feeling about this then"

"I am well brother. I have had many moons to get used to the facts as Dyanna knew it then. She was a young sorcerer newly accredited and wanted to explore. The boundary sentinel at the time, could have adjusted the boundary line to NOT wipe my mother's memory, but he was in love with her and wanted revenge. When my mother crossed over, her mind was wiped and the magic tossed her to Hibernia. Kind of like misting the crosser over to another island."

Dermot blinked in shock at that. He has never heard of such a powerful defense as to send someone halfway across the known lands like that!

Maeve caught the thought and added, "Remember Dermott, this island's defenses are powered by every single person who lives here. If a person's magical strength is measured at, say, one hundred percent, then one percent of that person's magical strength is given to the defenses, and there are nearly five hundred adult fully qualified Wiccans here, brother. Not to mention all their families as well."

Dermott was flabbergasted at the notion. That was a LOT of magical power being spread out amongst the people to make sure that no one person was solely responsible for powering the defenses.

"So, go back and tell Sinbad and the others that I am here, yeah? Maybe that'll get his rear end in gear and get here!" Maeve said nonchalantly with a light toss of her hair.

Dermott snorted and said as he took wing, "Who are you kidding….you are just as impatient to see him as he will be to see you when he finds out."

Maeve smirked.

Sinbad was gazing at his bracelet. Mystified by it as he always was. Dumbfounded by the fact that it glowed not too long ago and a voice very familiar to him, in ways he can't explain, talked to him through the magic.

This island. There was something about it. Something drew him to it, and the closer they got to it, the stronger the sense that he knew this place grew within him.

Bryn walked up to him, her left hand holding her right wrist, and looked out at the island.

She stated confidently yet very succinctly, "I know this place. I have been here before and it is related to our bracelets. I don't know how I know this, but this is a truth I know deep within my very being Sinbad. This is home."

Sinbad nodded and said, "I agree, I know this place. It gives me a sense of home too."

Bryn smiled at him and her heart thudded very hard and fast within her breast as he grinned back at her. She saw his eyes light up at the mention of knowing this place as home.

Just like her.

Somewhere deep inside, a part of her that she has yet to remember thinks, "Home my love…we are home."

But before she could analyze the thought, Dermott arrived and landed on the tiller with a happy thrill.

" Hey Dermott, what did you find out?" Sinbad asked with a tilt of his head and a grin. Bryn wasn't too sure about Sinbad's ability to understand Dermott, but he seemed to do an adequate job.

At least he had a good ratio when it came to guessing what the hawk wanted.

Dermott chirped and fluttered his wings. He flapped and flapped to get himself up from the tiller to the crossbeam just above Sinbad's head. There was a burnt circle there that she had always wanted to ask about, but she had never dared too. Dermott waved his wing down over it and screeched.

Sinbad understood that Dermott was not just a hawk, but something much more. Whether he was enhanced by being a sorceress's bonded familiar, or if he was something more human, he wasn't sure, but it allowed him to communicate with Dermott in a way similar to Maeve and Bryn.

Dermott showed him an image. It was one of his first memories of Maeve being on the Nomad, close to two and a half years ago now, trying to create a fireball.

Then it was of his last and most painful memories of Maeve. It was of her falling into the sea, and him being unable to save her.

Then it was of a beautiful white sandy beach, with beautiful blue green waters, and a lovely red haired woman with chocolate brown eyes and pale skin.

His vision returned to normal and he whispered with awe and longing in his eyes and voice, "Maeve…"

He blinked and stared at Dermott in disbelief, "She's there!?!"

Dermott bobbed his head and flapped his wings lightly as he shot up into the sky and headed back the way he came.

"Dermott!" Yelled Bryn worried about his actions. Sure she had seen him anxious and animated before, but nothing like this! And then there was Sinbad's eyes glazing over and shimmering with an oceanic blue light.

She felt a thrill as she related that instance to herself and her own magic. Her powers often manifested through her eyes too! Somewhere deep within she thought, 'another point in our favor, my love.'

Then she heard his whispers and frowned. Maeve, the allusive sorceress woman no one bothered to speak about on this ship. The first and last time she heard that name on the ship was when Sinbad introduced her to Dermott. Then whenever they stopped at friendly ports the crew had been to before, and helped in some way, they always asked after Maeve. The people always frowned and seemed saddened and slightly upset when they were told Maeve was no longer with the crew. Some, Turhan and Jial, in fact, out right accused Sinbad of doing something to make her leave! She put them straight immediately.

But the fact remained, she knew nothing of Maeve, but felt like she was constantly being compared to her.

And now it seemed that she was here living in her home…..

She wasn't sure what she was feeling just now.

Anger? Yes.

Hurt? Yes.

Jealousy? Yes!

Confusion? Definitely!

All these things and more were tumbling about within her. All those emotions were directed to two different people, the stranger Maeve and Sinbad.

Bryn felt SO angry at Sinbad for some reason. She wasn't sure why she was mad at him, but she knew she was. His voice, so full of hope and love, made her insides curdle like spoiled milk. She wanted to yell at him saying that she was right in front of him! That she was the one he loved! Not this Maeve woman she had never met, but was always being compared to. It hurt SO MUCH to see him time and time again chase after the image and memory of her. Like he couldn't or rather, he wouldn't, let her go and move on to someone who was right in front of him.

She loved him first damnit! Then she had a thought of inspiration!

"Sinbad, if she is there, there is a chance, like us, that she has no memory of you."

Sinbad's face, which had been shining with happiness and hope, immediately drew concern and worried about what their reunion would be like.

Before she could do anything else, Doubar called out, "We are ready to make landfall!"

Sinbad and Bryn quickly got into the dinghy and they towed to shore.

Sinbad was shivering in excitement, worry, anxiously biting the inside of his cheek and praying to whomever was listening that Maeve indeed remembered him.

He had been devastated when he learned that she was gone. Lost to the dimension that DimDim had been lost in. So much so, that he had all but three people overboard if they made any mention of Maeve around him. To his utmost shame, he started to act in ways he knew she would hate. And deep inside, he knew it was because if she saw such behaviors, he knew she would March right up to him and correct it. Whether she knew the male or not. Each time, a tiny part of him hoped she would March right up to him, dressed as he was, not recognizing him due to his hair and beard and demand he change his actions less he be taught a lesson in female respect!

Yet it never happened. And the behaviors grew worse. The hope grew and floundered. The behaviors got more and more bolder until he went one step too far.

He slept with Shirez.

Maeve when she found out would burn him alive. He was sure.

But all the same, being burnt alive was preferable to not being able to see her everyday.

He gasped as Dermott flew over their heads and alighted on the wrist of a woman he would be able to recognize even if he was old and gray and blind. Her fire was felt even from here. The spark that is always there between them sparked to life and he felt a blaze and steam up inside his body.

"Maeve!" He yelled happily as he jumped out of the dinghy and ran up to her.

She was there smiling at him with that little tilting smirk. Her brown eyes sparkling in the sun and the magic and soul within her. Her skin shimmering under the light of the sun and her red hair looked like fire as it fluttered about with the sea breeze.

Her clothes were different but they looked fabulous on her. She was wearing a long emerald green dress. The front had gold threaded designs on it in Celtic swirls. Homage to her heritage no doubt. The top was short sleeves with light green glossy fabric down her arms to her wrists. They were cuffed with emerald green fabric like the dress. Her chest was prominently shown causing him to gulp. Around her neck was a leather string wrapped around an emerald gem in the shape of a ship. The closer he got to her to more details he could see. He felt a bolt of heat flare up as he saw the Nolan's in miniature hanging between her breasts. The dress was short in the front and long in the back as it fell down her legs. She wore soft brown leather boots and on her left wrist was a familiar rainbow bracelet.

As he reached her, he glanced into her brown eyes and saw they sparkled happily at him.

She opened her arms and said as he fell into them, "It's good to see you too, you old sea slug."

"Maeve," he gasped out in relief and happiness as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her in tight to him.

All at once his body felt right again. As if something missing had been slid back into place and all was right once more. Her warmth tingled through his body and he hoped his own was affecting her just as much.

She pulled back enough to grin at him.

Then she grabbed his arm, twisted her body inside his body's defenses, and flipped him over her shoulder.

He grunted as he landed and she said as she placed a knee on his groin area, "Play the lothario again sailor and I'll make sure you cannot ride to the occasion again. Understand?"

He gulped in fear and arousal at her words. He knew she would make him pay for his actions once she found out, but it looked like she already knew.

He shook his head, raised his hands in a disarming way, and said charmingly, "I wouldn't dream of it."

They stared at one another for a minute that felt like thousands before laughter drew their attention.

The two of them turned and saw Doubar, Firouz, and Rongar grinning and snickering into their hands as they watched them.

Maeve grinned beautifully at them and said cheerfully, "Tubby!"

She remembered.

Bryn watched with envy in her eyes and shakes of anger in her body as Sinbad hugged the woman who could only be Maeve.

She didn't know what to do.

Part of her was filled with so much hurt! To see him hugging this woman so. Another part of her was glad to see him hug her. Maeve had been missing for so long. She knew Sinbad and the others missed her.

Part of her wanted to scratch Maeve's eyes out and another part wanted to welcome home a missing daughter of the clan.

She remembered.

As soon as her feet touched the sands of her birth, the magical amnesia vanished like the winds.

Her mother, the guardian of the island, had lifted the protections and she remembered. Why didn't Sinbad?

She scanned the area looking for a reason and then she saw it. Sinbad had not reached the boundary line. Maeve was standing just outside of it. She bit her lip. How was it that Maeve had not lost her memory? Her mother's protection should have made her forget and then flung her away! Did her mother stop the protections for her!?

She gasped when Maeve flipped Sinbad over, she rushed over and cried out, "Get your hands off him hussy! He is my fiancée!"