Part One
He stood in the hawks nest of the Nomad, his sea blue eyes sparkling wildly, his light brown hair escaping his head band and falling into those eyes. With barely a thought he tossed his head back, flicking his semi long hair out of his way; nothing was going to block his view of perfect beauty.
Her body sliced through the clear blue waters, barely breaking the surface as she passed by the ship. For Maeve this was a rare moment of release; when the Nomad had become stranded upon a hidden sand bar during low tide, she wasn't about to miss a chance to slip into the cool waters. She was not unaware of Sinbad's eyes upon her, and the pleasure she derived from her swim was intensified at the knowledge of his obvious interest in her activities.
Diving deeply into the sea, Maeve turned and headed back towards the Nomad. The tide would soon be in and they would set sail once more. As she pulled her long, powerful body out of the waters and onto the jacob's ladder, she sighed. Though she truly loved sailing with Sinbad and the crew, she found herself longing for the island she had shared with Dim-Dim and Dermott for so much of her life. She longed once again for the peace and tranquillity of her home, where afternoon swims and long twilight walks were not luxuries but daily events. A place where her life and those of her friends were not continually threatened by the forces of a nature born of darkness. But her home would be unbearably silent now, with Dim-Dim gone, and with Sinbad sailing off on another great adventure, Maeve would be utterly alone.
She pulled her dripping form over the railing and onto the deck. So lost in her thoughts was she that Maeve never noticed Sinbad sliding down the rigging to greet her. He landed with a slight thump in front of her and she glanced up in surprise. His wind ruffled hair and smiling eyes took her breath away, and for a moment she was speechless.
Sinbad smiled widely, raising an eyebrow as his eyes took in the sight of her. She had obviously had time to do some shopping at their last port as a royal blue suit clothed her awe inspiring body. As it clung tightly to her, it gave Sinbad cause to wonder if he would ever again be able to close his eyes without seeing her like this. Her brown eyes sparkled, almost as if she had read his thoughts, and Sinbad had to laugh; the little vixen was teasing him, he just knew it.
Reaching around her he leaned in intentionally closer than necessary, just slightly brushing across her, only enough to wring the slightest of gasps from her lips. With a smile he removed her cloak from where it was hanging on the railing and slowly wrapped it around her drying body. He slipped his arm tightly around her shoulders and began to walk her towards the lower deck.
Maeve raised an eyebrow and glanced over at his intimately close frame. "Sinbad? What are you doing?"
The captain shrugged as he smiled at the celtic sorceress, gently brushing a lock of her glorious red hair off of her face. "Leading you to your cabin."
"Why?" She asked suspiciously.
"Because as much as I may respect your beauty in that outfit, Maeve, I feel that the men don't need to. If you get my meaning."
Maeve grinned. "Jealous?"
Sinbad looked over at her and hesitated, but decided to play along with her game. "Oh, extremely jealous."
Maeve sniffed and shook her head. "Men." Shrugging off Sinbad's arm she chuckled as she dissapeared into her cabin.
Sinbad turned away with a confused expression on his face. "Women."
********
The Nomad cut through the water at full sail, her captain and crew trying to make up for lost time. Doubar stood at the tiller in good humor, watching Maeve as she leaned back over the railing, allowing the wind to blow freely through her long firey red hair.
"Maeve, girl, what's gotten into you today?" The usually quiet sorceress had been acting strangely all day long, first with her swim, then with the bout of teasing with Sinbad, and now hanging over the edge as if she hadn't a care in the world. Firouz walked up behind Doubar, curious to hear the celt's answer, for he too was concerned over Maeve's recent behaviour.
"Doubar, has there ever been a time in your life when you chose passion over duty?"
"I have always made the time for pleasure, Maeve, but my duty to Sinbad must come first." Doubar's brow furrowed, what was the girl getting at?
"Yes, exactly. There is always a duty that must come first. On the island I at least had some time for myself. Sure between my studying, my chores and practicing my sorcery relaxation time was minimal, but it was my time." Maeve sighed. "Arg, this makes no sense."
"What are you getting at, girl?" Doubar asked in concern. "Are you not happy sailing with us?"
Maeve sat straight up on the railing, and looked sharply at the big man. "Oh, Doubar, I shall never regret the time I spend aboard the Nomad. I guess I'm just frustrated that we are no closer to finding Dim-Dim, I am no closer to fulfilling my sworn oath, and I have no means of completing my training to help with either quest."
Firouz frowned deeply, it was highly unlike Maeve to complain so bitterly about things that were out of her control. "My dear, does Sinbad know what you are feeling?"
Maeve sniffed. "Not hardly, and I wouldn't wish him to." She paused. "Doubar, Firouz, don't be worrying yourselves with me. I think I'm just missing Dim-Dim and feeling a little helpless. I hate feeling helpless."
Both men grinned at that comment, how well they knew. "Are you sure you'll be all right, Maeve?" Firouz queried.
Maeve nodded and slid down from the railing. It was time she gave up this fool hardy behaviour. She was a grown woman, for goodness sake, why was she behaving like a child?
******
Doubar frowned at the back of the sorceress as she moved to find a chore to keep herself busy, what she was saying had definate merit to it... He sighed. There was nothing he wouldn't give for a large flask or two of ale right now. His eyes trailed over to the hatch to the lower deck. He had some excellent ale in his quarters, and Sinbad would never notice if he just tied the tiller off for a few minutes and went to cool his thirst.
Tying a swift knott, Doubar set the tiller in the direction they were headed and slipped unnoticed below the deck.
******
Firouz couldn't seem to stop himself from tinkering with his newest invention. As it was, it was large and heavy, but could blast a lead ball large enough and far enough to sink a ship. But if he just made it smaller, and made the lead balls tiny enough, he could have an excellent hand weapon, much more efficient than a sword!
So he worked on that new invention from the time Maeve had left him topside, until near disaster broke loose. Picking up the finished prototype of his new weapon, Firouz aimed it at the door in preparation of firing. Just as he was about to fire, the door to his cabin opened widely, and Rongar became his center target. The dark moor quickly raised his hands and tried to back away.
"Rongar!"
Acting hastily, Firouz jerked his hand back and accidentally dropped the weapon to the floor. With a loud **BANG** it was activated, and the tiny metal ball shot straight up and into Firouz's side.
Howling in pain, the scientist clasped his bleeding side, and looked to Rongar. The moor rushed over to his friend, and wiped away some of the blood, then in silent laughter he stepped away and shook his head.
Firouz also looked down at his side; it was badly scrapped but the metal ball had not penetrated the flesh too badly. He sighed in relief. Perhaps this invention had not been such a good idea after all.
Bringing out one of his pots, Firouz set it over a flame and proceeded to melt the leaden weapon back down into a liquid. He shuddered, what had he been thinking? It's obvious mankind is just not ready for such a weapon.
******
Sinbad watched Maeve work without even considering the work of his own still left to do. He knew she was aware of his presence, and was just waiting for her to turn and acknowledge him.
Maeve sighed as Sinbad's eyes bore into her back, and she turned to face the man who for the last two days had barely left her side. "Sinbad, would you be needing something?"
Sinbad nodded, "What I need involves you standing right here." He pulled her to her feet and planted her directly in front of him. "Now I need you to close your eyes."
Maeve shrugged and did as he asked, her body too alive with his nearness to think for herself. Her skin tingled at his touch, and she didn't protest as he drew her in for a long, tender kiss. His mouth claimed hers softly, and her body melted into his form. Just as his tongue began to beg entrance into the warm recesses of her mouth, a low cough, followed by several louder coughs broke into the mist surrounding their minds.
Maeve's head snapped up, and her eyes began to flash, "What in the heavens are you doing?" Pushing herself away from him she left her work on the sails and stormed off to her cabin.
Sinbad turned to face Firouz and Rongar standing behind him, his eyes registered the confusion his mind was swimming in. What the hell had he just gone and done?
Before he could fathom something half way decent to explain his behaviour, Rongar's face filled with horror, as he gestured violently over Sinbad's shoulder.
Sinbad turned just in time to see the island looming before the Nomad before the ship struck the outer barrier of rocks, and was viciously run aground.
*****
Sinbad and the crew all grabbed a hold of the first thing they could find, unfortunately, several crew members were not quick enough and were pitched over the bow of the Nomad as the ship lurched upon the rocks.
"What in the name of Allah?" Sinbad looked around wildly, his eyes coming to rest on the empty tiller. Where had his brother gone off to? He should have been on duty for hours yet. "Doubar!" He called out, realizing his brother was not on deck. Anxiously he peered overboard, watching as his now recovered crew were helping the unfortunate swimmers back on board. Doubar was not to be seen.
Frowning Sinbad headed for the hatch to the lower deck, gracefully lowering himself through the opening and down the stairs. He came to rest at the bottom of the staircase, and sighed deeply at the sight before him. Doubar was laying face down upon the table, snoring away, having not heard or felt the commotion surrounding him. Spread across the table and upon the floor were flask after empty flask, each having once held the ale that had gotten Doubar into this position.
His heart filling with anger at the lack of responsibility his brother had displayed, Sinbad strode over to where Doubar was passed out. "Doubar!" He pushed on his shoulder; the big man merely grunted. Sinbad pushed him off the chair; Doubar landed with a groan upon the planking below. "Wake up, Doubar, and come see what you have done!"
As Doubar pulled his gummy eyes open, he could see that Sinbad was utterly enraged. But why, he had only stopped for a moment to get a drink? Doubar's thoughts paused, a drink? Peering around him he noticed the many empty flasks and groaned. By the seas, what had he done?
*****
Sinbad stood upon the rocks and glared at the repairs being made to his beloved ship; of all the stupid, preventable, irresponsible things for his own brother to have done. But then the entire crew had been doing many such things for the last several days, himself included. Sinbad sighed, how could he blame Doubar for giving into his desire to drink, when he himself had been giving into his own desires. He shook his head, Maeve quite likely thought him insane after chasing her around like a school boy. And that kiss.. he kept finding his thoughts trailing back to the kiss they had shared only the day before. He had to keep fighting the almost overwhelming urge to draw her close for another kiss, and another. His eyes moved across the ship's deck to where she was standing, helping Firouz with something or another. Allah she was beautiful.
As a crew member spoke to him for the fourth time, Sinbad snapped back to the work at hand. What was happening to them all? He allowed his gaze to move to the Island, perhaps there he could find the answers.
Leaving the crew members to do the repairs upon the Nomad's hull, Sinbad climbed up the jacob's ladder, and went to round up Doubar, Firouz, Maeve, and Rongar. They were going to take a little trip to that island and just see if he couldn't figure out what exactly was going on.
*****
Away from her, Sinbad, sit at the other end of the long boat, sit anywhere but beside her! Sinbad's thoughts were hollaring at him as he sat down beside the firey sorceress. He sighed. Well, fine, ignore your better judgement, and just see where it gets you. He moved in closely to her.
Maeve watched as Sinbad edged towards her, knowing that she should be outraged, upset, shocked, anything but welcoming his presence. But she didn't protest as his hip bumped up against hers, or as his hand rested upon her bare knee. She shook her head, where were her defences? She didn't know, and pretty soon she didn't care.
The closer the crew came to the island, the more diluted their thoughts became; Sinbad could only think about Maeve, how much he wanted to kiss her, how much he wanted to make love to her; Maeve could only think of relaxation, and having some fun. Doubar's mind kept trailing to food and drink, dance and women; periodically he would burst into song before the other's glares would quiet him. And Firouz, well, Firouz was preoccupied with considering rebuilding his deadly weapon; after all, if he were to build the most deadly hand weapon in the known world, he would be famous, known and respected for his great ability as a scientist. Only Rongar was quiet, for his dreams stemmed from a more impossible source. He yearned to speak again, to have the world hear his once rich voice, but even magic could not bring back what he had lost. He also yearned to love a woman, to hold in his heart a love so rare and true that it would blind both of them to his lack of voice. But he knew that this, too, was impossible. What woman would want him as he was? His head bowed in sorrow as the other's rejoiced in their private fantasies. Rongar was determined to be their voice of reason, even if he was to be forever voiceless.
As the longboat slid gracefully through the final few feet of water, Rongar and Doubar jumped out to drag it fully ashore. The others stood upon the warm sands of the beach, and shaded their eyes against the blinding sun. Where to next?
Sinbad stepped forward. "Crew, I don't know what we are looking for, but I'm sure you have all realized the differences in our behaviour lately."
The men nodded and Maeve furrowed her brow. "It's almost as though something is blocking the part of us that seperates our fantasies from reality." Maeve smiled knowingly at Sinbad, who to his disgrace found himself blushing.
Doubar frowned. "Do you know of any magic that would cause such a thing?"
Maeve shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. I never heard Dim-Dim ever mention such a phenomenon, nor have I come across it in any of my readings."
Sinbad sighed. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Maeve shrugged, "Why does this fall upon my shoulders?"
"You're the only one with any experience in sorcery." Sinbad patronized, she was becoming impossible of late.
Maeve glared at him. "And just who's to say that this is indeed sorcerery? Perhaps there is some scientific explaination. Why don't you ask Firouz what's causing this?"
Firouz took a step backwards. "It is concievable that there is some sort of component in the air or water in this region that we have never come across before. After all, this area is relatively unexplored waters; we've never been this far out in our previous travels, who's to say what the chemical balance is here." He shrugged. "But I have no way of confirming that."
Sinbad's patience was growing thin; Allah Maeve was stunning when her Irish temper flared, what he wouldn't give.... Shaking his head, Sinbad began to snap. "Firouz, find a way! Rongar stay with him! Doubar, you take Dermott and head to the north east. Maeve and I will head to the north west. Look for any physical sign or sign of sorcery that could indicate an explanation to our dilema."
Not willing to argue with Sinbad when he was so obviously disturbed as he was, Doubar cocked his head at the hawk perched on Maeve's arm. Dermott launched himself into the air with a cry, and began to fly over sand and rock, slowly heading further inland. Doubar followed at a much slower pace, his eyes keeping a sharp look out for anything out of the ordinary.
Maeve watched her beloved Dermott dissapear into the distance and slowly began to follow Sinbad over the rocky surface of the beach, and into the treeline. Glancing at the captain's stiff shoulders and straight back, Maeve sighed. The boy was just no fun anymore.
*****
Continued in Too Late To Go Home: Part Two
