They had dug for hours, long into the night, until exhaustion had overwhelmed them. The two smaller men gave up after only six hours of heavy labour, trying desperately to clear the caved in tunnel. The larger man, however, had to be physically dragged away from the site with the coming of dawn.

"Doubar, there is nothing we can do! The whole tunnel from here on in could be solid for all we know! If Sinbad and Maeve survived the cave in, surely they will be able to find their own way out." Firouz pleaded with Doubar to rest; they did, after all, still have a journey to continue.

Xaldar looked at Doubar, begging him to carry on with their mission. "Doubar, there is nothing left we can do!" he repeated, backing up Firouz, "Weve done all that is humanly possible for your brother and Maeve, but for my sister we can still do everything! Her life depends on our being in Morani come sun down tomorrow, before Mordred is able to reach her! Only we can save her from the mortal danger threatening her life! Tayia is an innocent child, she cannot defend herself, Maeve and Sinbad are experienced warriors, they will be fine!"

Doubar looked from Xaldar to the tunnel to Firouz back to Xaldar again. He balled up his fists and punched at the wall. "Sinbad would never leave an innocent to suffer on his account, even for the life of Maeve." He grunted in frustration. "Fine, we will continue onto Morani and Tayia, but once we have her to safety, nothing will stop me from coming back and tearing this place apart rock by rock until I find my little brother!"

Xaldar clapped him on the back. "And youll have the entire force of the palaces army behind you, my friend, I swear it!"

"Then let us go. The sooner we return the princess heir to the Thalderons capital, the sooner we can bring Maeve and Sinbad back safely."

Firouz and Doubar packed up the camp as Xaldar scouted ahead outside, making sure that Mordred was not lurking anywhere about.

Firouz noticed Doubar repeatedly glancing down the tunnel towards the cave in. He decided to stick his neck out. "Doubar, there could be a simple reason as to why Sinbad and Maeve have not returned on their own, you know."

Doubar looked at him blankly. "Aside from theyre being injured or dead?"

Firouz smiled and shook his head. "Im willing to bet that they dont want to be found, my friend."

Doubar scowled. "Why would they not want to be found, Firouz? You make no sense!"

Firouz sighed. "Doubar, think about it. They are in love, and now they have their first chance in a long time to be alone. Without us nearby, Maeve and Sinbad are free to talk privately over certain issues they may be concerned about, among other more delicate activities that they sure cant do while were about." Firouz winked conspiratorily. "Theyre probably enjoying themselves... finding many interesting things to do with each other while were standing here worrying about them, completely forgotten in their minds."

Doubar looked up disbelievingly. "Firouz, man, thats a stretch. Sinbad would never abandon a mission as important as this to fool around, no matter how much he may want Maeve."

Firouz grunted in exasperation. "Douabr! Do I have to spell this out for you completely? If you found yourself in a cavern, isolated from your group, with a woman the likes of Maeve, a girl who loves you more than life itself, and you her. If you have been longing to be alone with her for almost a year, and now you, say, hold her to comfort her, perhaps, or just to reassure yourself that shes all right, and then have that hug turn into a kiss, and then perhaps something more... Would you really remember a mission, or for that matter the people waiting for you? I know I sure as hell wouldnt."

"Thats not saying much." Doubar grumbled. But he did think about it; they had been acting really close lately, it could have happened the way Firouz suggested. "You know something, Firouz, you may have a valid idea, somewhere in there."

"So you will stop worrying for a while, and get this journey under way again?"

Doubar nodded. "I swear, if he is doing this just for some time alone with Maeve, Im going to tan that boys hide when he gets back... and then Im going to buy him a drink. It took them long enough."

Firouz laughed heartily at the mental image of Doubar spanking Sinbad, "If what I say is true, Doubar, you may have to get in line. Spanking Sinbad will be Maeves perogative then!" Doubar looked at Firouz in shock for a moment and then nearly exploded in laughter.

"Youre just lucky the girl isnt aroud to hear you say that, Firouz! We would have been eating crispy scientist for a week!"

Firouz smiled and walked over to his end of the camp; he picked up a strange looking object. "Doubar, did I ever tell you about this invention of mine? Its called a tri....." Firouzs voice trailed off as Doubar groaned loudly and rushed out the door, flinging his pack onto his back on the way. The scientist clapped his hands together as if he were removing dust from them, and looked around proudly, "Works every time."

**

Sinbad glanced over at Maeve, lying by the fire, still sleeping deeply. The poor girl was physically and emotionally exhausted from the last twelve hours; her body was only just recovering. His heart warmed as he looked at her sleeping quietly.

He shone his torch around the cavern trying to see if he could find them a way out. There was water and air coming in from somewhere, so there must be an exit other than the one they entered through. The solid plateau they were standing on extended right across to the waterfall, allowing him to closely examine their water source.

As he stood staring up into the falling water, he noticed a patch of darkened discoloration about fifty feet above the ground. He frowned, waterfalls often had caves hidden behind them, but could that be their escape route?

Glancing back over to Maeve, making sure she was still asleep and wouldnt miss him, Sinbad put out his torch, secured it in his belt, and working by the light of the campfire only, began to slowly climb upwards.

The path he took was a treacherous one; several times he had thought he had attained a solid grip only to have it crumble away when he put weight on it. Still he climbed, gouging open his barely healing hands.

Fifty feet may not sound like a lot when youre standing on firm ground, Sinbad thought biterly, but it was one hell of a climb. It took him nearly forty minutes to climb that cliff face, and sighing in relief as he reached the new cavern, he eased himself off the rocks, back onto solid ground.

The air was warmer in here, and Sinbad wondered if there was a natural spring nearby. Bringing out his torch, he relit it, hoping that it hadnt gotten wet during the climb, but all was well, light filled the tunnel, and he looked around. The sight took his breath away.

The cavern was ensconsed in crystal, beautiful white crystal that hung on every wall and even off the ceiling. Millions of years worth of water being heated away, and it created such beauty; nature was a wonder sometimes. The crystals sparkled in the light of the torch revealing the strange dimensions of the cavern.

Before he went any further, an idea struck him, and Sinbad stopped for a moment, and with his small dagger broke free several of the smaller crystals. One crystal struck him as the most beautiful, the only colored crystal in the entire cavern, and it was the exact color of Maeves firey hair. His heart stopped as he gazed at it, knowing that crystal would be perfect for what he had in mind. Being ever so careful not to chip its perfect surface, he removed it from the wall, and placed them all in his pouch. He smiled, now all he had to do was convince Maeve his plan was the right thing to do.

Wandering deeper into the cavern, the air began to grow hotter and hotter until he was sweating heavily. Sinbad wondered what could be causing the suddne temperature hike, and shone the torch deeper into the tunnel.

Only ten meters in front of him rested the source of the intense heat. The pools of water bubbled gently... Sinbad gasped, their had to be at least twenty of them scattered through out the cavern. Carefully he picked his way around the pools, and sat down beside the largest one. Dipping his hand into the water, he sighed, the temperature was surprisingly comfortable, warm and soothing, begging to be relaxed in.

Behind the pools was the entrance to another tunnel; Sinbad glanced at the pools, an idea forming in his mind, but then he glanced back the way he had come. He should head back, Maeve would be waking up soon, and she would wonder why he was not about. Then he looked at the pools and thought, but this idea is so perfect, and it would only take a few minutes. Then another though struck him, and he glanced up the new tunnel, what if that was a way out for them? If he were to find a way out, hed be able to keep his vow to Maeve, and his vows were his life. Frowning he stepped forward, his idea could wait for a few moments, he could take care of it on his way back through the cavern, but he worried about leaving Maeve for too long. He sighed, and hoped Maeve would sleep for another hour.

**

When Maeve awoke that morning, she instantly sensed that she was alone. She could physically feel that Sinbad was no longer laying beside her, and she sighed, it felt so nice to have someone close to her again. But she could tell that Sinbad was not in the cavern through a sense she didnt realize she had; the air was different soemhow, now that he was gone, but she wasnt afraid. After last night she knew he would never intentionally leave her alone for very long.

Besides, she thought, climbing shakily to her feet, Im blind, not helpless. Slowly she began to make her way forward, searching for wood to put on the dwindling fire. She found the pile of wood easily, but gashed her knee open as she tripped over it and landed directly upon a rock. "Damn!" she cursed loudly, moving her hand to her knee, feeling the blood ooze between her fingers. She sighed and got back up, carrying the wood over to the fire, building up the flames until she felt that it was warm enough.

Feeling the pain in her knee, Maeve limped carefully over to the edge of the pond; wading out to her knees, Maeve began to try and stop her leg from bleeding. She was in that cold water for a long time, but finally the blood began to slow. She shivered, probably because its freezing again, she thought, just getting ready to turn around and head in.

"Maeve!" Sinbad cried out from behind her. "What in the name of Allah are you doing?!" Quickly Sinbad rushed over to their campsite where the fire had spread to their wood supply. He began to stomp out the fire, trying to douse the raging flames with their drinking water. Finally getting the fire under control, Sinbad turned to the pond and sighed. "Maeve, come out of the water, its too cold and your body still hasnt recovered from yesterday." What was I thinking? He cursed himself silently. How could I fall for someone as independant as her? Im going to worry myself into an early grave if she keeps this up!

Maeve scowled back in his general direction. "If you must know, I cut my knee when I was adding wood to the fire." At this Sinbad choked, but wisely chose to remain silent. "So I waded out here to see if I could stop the bleeding."

Sinbad swallowed a sharp retort. "All right, Maeve, I understand, but do you mind wading back in so that I can take a look at the cut?" and keep and eye on you so that you dont cause any more trouble, he added in his mind.

Maeve frowned at his tone of voice, was he ordering her to do something? Her back straightened.

Uh oh, Sinbad thought, now Ive gone and done it. But to his surprise, Maeve swallowed whatever she was going to say, and forced her body to relax. He sighed with relief.

She began to wade back to shore, slightly favoring her right leg. He reached out for her hand as she drew near to him, and he led her over to the smaller fire he had burning in the camp. He gently sat her down facing him, moved so that one of his knees seperated hers, and turned his attention to her cut.

The gash in her knee was an ugly one, but the bleeding had almost slowed to a stop. Sinbad looked at it and decided that she was going to have a scar once it healed, but only a small one. Reaching for her arm, Sinbad tore a strip of cloth from the sleeve.

Her head turned towards him curiously, and he couldnt resist teasing her a little. Drawing his hand slowly up from her knee, he brought it to rest on her inner thigh. There his thumb slowly began to caress the soft skin of her thigh in gentle circles.

"Why....." her voice shook and broke as her fists clenched at her side. Her breathing quickened and she had to force her mind to focus on her words. "Why did you.... you... um,.. rip the shirt?" she managed to stammer out.

Sinbad smiled as his other hand slid up the outside of her very same leg, coming to rest just under the rim of her shirt. He sat so close to her that her foot pressed against him intimately. Concentrating on his hand slowly caressing her, Maeve allowed her head to roll back slightly; she leaned back and propped herself up with her elbows. Gently Sinbad kissed her wounded knee, and pulled away to wrap it tightly. Then he moved his hands back to her thigh. "I needed a bandage, my love, and taking the material from anywhere else would have left you, shall we say, less than decent." Maeves face didnt even register the comment for a moment, so caught up was she in the motion of his hands; but then she scowled at him good naturedly. Sinbad smiled in return, sliding his hands just a shade higher upon her leg. "Not that Id mind a little indecency."

He slowly drew his body up along hers, allowing her to feel every intimate detail of him and vice versa. Keeping his weight on one arm so as not to hurt her, Sinbad gently lowered her to her back, pressing her against the rocky floor with a breath taking kiss. His free hand made its way up towards her chest, caressing her softly, his fingers coyly teasing the buttons on her shirt.

Maeves mouth opened freely under the pressure of his, and with a soft groan he allowed his tongue to slip past her lips. He desperately wanted to take this slowly, to remember every kiss and each caress. But, by Allah, it was difficult, he wanted her so badly.

Gathering together an incredible amount of will power, Sinbad decided to see how far Maeve would allow him to take this right now, depending solely upon her word. He moved his mouth away from hers, trailing tiny kisses over her chin down to her neck; his teeth grated the soft skin of her neck gently, the scruff of his unshaven jaw rasping sensuously. Maeve shivered at the sensations coursing through her body; her heart was beating so fast it hurt, and her blood felt like it was raw lava running through her viens. Her breaths refused to come as her heart clenched, and she held his head against her.

Sinbad took his kisses lower, drawing trails from her neck down to her shirtline and back again, leaving her skin burning, and Maeve beyond reason. Moving swiftly, Maeve wrapped one of her legs around his body, and using his surprise to her advantage, flipped them over. Straddling his waist, Maeve bent to kiss his chest. The very touch of her soft lips against his heated skin caused Sinbad to draw in a sharp breath. Smiling in satisfaction, Maeve slowly began to drag her tongue over his chest, pausing to nibble his skin gently, leaving a warm, moist trail. Straightening, Maeve rested her hands on his stomach, her nails softly moving back and forth over his body. She sighed.

Sinbad had to bite back a groan of dissapointment, but he knew Maeve had to move at her own speed. By the expression on her face, he could tell she was thinking something, but he couldnt decide what it was. Reaching up he began to stroke her face; holding her firmly in his lap, Sinbad sat up. She wrapped her legs around him and began to twist his hair around her fingers. "Whats wrong, Maeve?" he whispered when he finally found his voice.

"We should be trying to find a way out of here, Sinbad, not doing... well... this." Maeve gestured at their entwined bodies.

Sinbad sighed, and began to kiss her shoulder. "While I was out this morning, I found another cavern. I dont know for sure where it leads, but if it will make you feel better, I can go back and check."

Maeve shook her head. "Well go check. Where you go I go, at least while were stuck in here." Maeve paused. "All I need is my own clothing and you can have your shirt back."

Sinbad sighed again, leaning back to peer at his sorceress in his shirt. That old shirt will never look the same again. He looked at her hopefully, "Maeve, are you sure you want to leave at this particular moment?" he laid light kisses from her shoulder over to her throat. "Absolutely?" he nibbled gently on her neck. "Positively?" he ran kisses up to her chin. "Sure?" His lips covered hers and he kissed her deeply.

As he pulled away, she nipped his lower lip gently. "Next time, Sinbad, I promise you. Next time."

Both their bodies ached from the longing they suffered by their own choice, but they moved away from each other. Sinbad got up to go and find Maeves clothing, "You better believe next time, Maeve. And soon."

Maeve laughed as she sat there, and they both fell a little deeper in love.

**

The men were to reach Morani by dark according to Xaldar, it was only just over the next peak and into the next valley.

Doubar never gave up hope that Sinbad and Maeve would either catch up with them on the way, or meet them in the city. He repeatedly glanced over his shoulder, but of his little brother and the sorceress he saw nothing.

They walked through the entire day, eating in motion, not stopping for anything. After spending the entire night digging they were concerned if they stopped they would be unable to continue.

As twilight fell, the lights of Morani shone in the near distance, the men sighed with relief. Xaldar turned to Firouz and Doubar. "You two get us rooms in the inn across the street. I’m going to find Tayia. We’ll rest here tonight and tomorrow; the morning after we’ll begin our journey back to the capital." Xaldar ordered.

Doubar turned away from Xaldar and rolled his eyes at Firouz. "Aye, aye your highness. Will the princess be staying at the hotel as well?"

"Huh?" Xaldar peered at him blankly and then nodded. "Oh, right, yes. Tayia will need a room to herself."

Doubar shrugged. "Come on, Firouz."

The two mem entered the hotel and booked three rooms; one for them, one for Xaldar, and one for Tayia. They left word with the innkeeper to send Xaldar up to their room when he returned with his sister. Then they moved to relax.

Both men layed down on their respective beds, and immediately fell asleep.

**

Tayia ran into Xaldar’s arms. "Brother! How good it is to see you once again!"

Xaldar smiled gently. "Hello, sister, are you well?"

Tayia nodded ernestly. "Oh, yes, Xaldar. Cousin Felicia has been taking excellent care of me." His sister was stunning; she stood at about 5’5" with long flowing brown hair that reached to her ankles; her stylists often arranged her hair to appear as though she wore a crown upon her head. Her eyes were the color of saphire, and sparkled as though all the stars in the heavens resided in her soul. But what struck everyone most about her was her incredible sense of innocence.

"I’m pleased to hear it, wee one. I have friends waiting at the inn to help us return to the capital safely." Xaldar smiled.

Tayia clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, brother do tell, are they fine young warriors?"

Xaldar laughed gently. "Oh the pleasures of ones teen years." He teased. "No, unfortunately not; we had a small mishap along the way it seems, and we misplaced our fine young warrior." Xaldar smiled, and now he’ll never discover what I’m up to. "Instead we have a large strong fellow named Doubar, and a scientist called Firouz."

Tayia frowned. "And no sorcerers?"

Xaldar raised an eyebrow, but decided not to lie to his sister. "The sorceress, Maeve, was lost with Sinbad."

Tayia’s eyes brightened. "Maeve? Our Maeve? What happened?"

So while they walked into the inn, Xaldar explained the entire journey to Tayia, leaving out, of course, his role in the cave in. The arrived at Firouz and Doubar’s room, but the men were deeply asleep, so the siblings decided to leave them rest.

They wandered into Xaldar’s room, and talked through most of the night.

**

Maeve had made it almost all the way to the top of the fifty feet. Sinbad climbed parallel to her, directing her as to where to put her hands and feet.

"Okay, Maeve, about seven inches up and four inches to your left." He watched as her hand reached out and grabbed the hold. He breathed with relief, only three more feet to go and then she’d be safe in the cavern. "Now, your right foot, love, ten inches straight up. Right, you got it."

Painstakingly slowly, Maeve finally reached the cavern and pulled herself to safety; blindly she reached out her hand, and smiled when she felt Sinbad grasp it warmly. "Okay, I’m going to use you as a brace, Maeve, on the count of three...ready?"

"Yes."

"One.... two.... three!" On three Sinbad hauled down on Maeve’s hand, pulling himself into the cave. Falling into her arms, he laughed with relief. "We made it!!"

Maeve smiled softly. "Did you ever think we wouldn’t?"

Sinbad laughed. "Do you feel it, Maeve? Do you?"

"What’s causing it? Hot springs?"

"Wait... I’ll take you to them."

Pulling on her arm, Sinbad quickly began to lead her towards the pools. He knew that she wouldn’t see what he had done, but she would sense it, and the love that inspired it.

They walked into the pool cavern, into a room full of flickering torches and light glinting off beautiful crystals that hadn’t been there before. Sinbad smiled, he had done a good job. Quietly he began whispering into Maeve’s ear every detail of the caverns image; tears misted her eyes.

"You did this for me?"

Sinbad smiled. "You need to relax, Maeve, you need to have some time to yourself to think and to adjust to everything that has happened to you, to us over the last few days. There is a perfect pool right here in the center of everything, with a small ledge you can sit upon, or you can sink right to the bottom. Just enjoy yourself for a little while, love, you deserve it. After I see you safely in, I’ll head down this tunnel a short distance, and see where it leads."

Maeve turned and threw her arms around the man. "Sinbad, do you think of everything?"

"Nope, I couldn’t find a way to fabricate soap or bubbles. I’m sorry."

Maeve laughed. "Now, you’re just being silly." She ran her tongue into the corner of her cheek and raised an eyebrow. "I suppose I’ll need your help to get undressed again. Just the ties on my vest really. I’ll have to learn how to do it blind, eventually, but for now if you don’t mind...." Sinbad looked at her incrediously. "If I don’t mind?" He laughed so hard his stomach and chest began to hurt, and he broke into coughs. "I’m sorry, but if I don’t mind?"

Maeve rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, I deserve it. Now come on and get me out of these clothes."

"Your wish is my command." Sinbad lightly touched his lips to hers as his fingers swiftly removed the belt from her outfit. Holding her hands prisioner, he pulled the suede vest over her head, and smiled at the image before him. "Sit down, love, and I’ll untie your boots." Getting her back into her clothes in the cavern had been the most difficult experience of his life, he ended up turning away while she donned her shirt, knowing that if he watched, they would never make it to the hot springs. Until that moment he never realized how exciting lacing up boots and belts could be. Now as he found himself unlacing her boots, he realized this was just as bad.

"Enjoying yourself, sailor?" she smirked as he finally was able to free her feet from her boots.

"Far too much, my sweet." Sinbad smiled and she rolled her eyes at his term of endearment. "I do believe the rest is up to you."

She sighed. "Come now, Sinbad, you aren’t getting shy on me are you?" If she was going to do this, she was going to do it now. She stepped towards him, reaching out for his shirt, pulling it and his vest over his head. She then moved her hands to his pants. His hands shot out to stop her.

"Maeve? What are you doing?"

"Asking you to join me." She said simply, as she pulled her dress from her body. She took his breath away. "Well, captain, what say you?"

Without taking his eyes off her, Sinbad led her over to the center pool, and lowered her in. Removing his boots and pants, he followed her into the warm waters. "Are you sure, Maeve? Absolutely positive?"

She laughed nervously. "That’s the second time today you’ve asked me that, Sinbad, and I am positive, dead positive." Her voice lowered as she reached her hand out for him. "We’ve waited a long time, sailor, but now the time has come."

Sinbad slowly slid over to her, threading his fingers into her hair, and drawing her down for a long, slow kiss. The time had indeed come.

End of Chapter Eight, Continued in Chapter Nine

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