Thanks God for small islands

by Torra

"I'm TELLING you, Sinbad, DON’T GO TO THAT ISLAND!" Maeve shouted from across the table.

"And I'm telling YOU, WE'RE GOING!" he shouted back.

Doubar, Rongar and Firouz sat back and watched, as they had been doing for the past hour or more.  The Nomad was a day away from the completion of their mission, a load of cargo to be dropped off in the Port of Bristten.  Just past mid-day, the wind had picked up and most of the crew not pulling their shifts had gone below decks to keep out of it.  Over the noon meal, Sinbad had pulled out some maps and he and Doubar had been going over them, double-checking theirs was the quickest way to their destination. Maeve had come out to eat after a long day of studying her spell books.  A moment after learning that Sinbad was planing on Going to the Port of Bristten she had begun to tell him to change course and go the other direction.  After that, the shouting between Maeve and Sinbad had been defining.

"You take us there and we WON'T be coming BACK!" Maeve told him, leaning across the table.

"Look, Maeve, I'm the Captain of this ship and we have a JOB to do!  What I say GOES, GOES, is that CLEAR!?!" he demanded, leaning across the table himself, to shout at her.

"Some captain YOU turned out to be!  You're willing to get us all KILLED just so you can get your PAY!"

"Now that's going to FAR, Maeve!  You’re a member of this crew and you'll do as I SAY--" he told her.

"NOT IF IT COSTS MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY FRIENDS!"

"I’M THE CAPTAIN!" he reasoned.

"YOU’RE A FOOL, that’s what YOU are!  You won't even listen to your own FRIENDS when they are trying to HELP you!"

"OH?  Is THAT what you call your self?  A FRIEND?  And here I was all ready to call you a MUTINEER!"

"Sinbad, that Island has EVIL on it!  YOU'LL GET US KILLED!" she went on, not showing how much his words hurt.

"Maeve, you ALWAYS sense Evil!  No matter WHERE we go!"

"And I'm always RIGHT TOO, Aren't I? And I'm telling you THAT ISLAND IS EVIL!  TURN THIS SHIP AROUND AND GET AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN!"

"I'll NOT have a member of my CREW telling ME what I SHOULD DO!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Then you'd better find your self a new mage, because I'll have NO part of that island!"

"Now, now, you two, this is getting out of hand!" Doubar interrupted.

Neither of them paid him any heed.

"FINE!  You can get off when we put to port!" he told her.

"NO!  I’LL GET OFF NOW!  I thought you a smarter man then this, Sinbad." She told him.

"And I thought you were smarter too!  YOU CANT GET OFF HERE!" he pointed to the map, "There's no land!"

Maeve looked at the map, after a moment she pointed to a small dot, "There, I'll get off there.  It's only two hours out of your way."

"Maeve, Sinbad, don’t you two think you're acting a little hastily?" Firouz asked.

"NO!" the both shouted.

"I don’t want any one on this ship who cant follow orders." Sinbad shouted at the scientist.

"I don’t want to be on a ship with a blubber-brained diabhal for a CAPTAIN!" Maeve shouted at the same time.

"The sooner SHE’S off the ship, the quicker we can get on with OUR JOBS!"

"Thank the Gods for small islands...the sooner I'M off this ship, the sooner I can get on with MY LIFE!" with that, Maeve turned and left the room for her private quarters.

"They were right you know!" Sinbad shouted after her, "WOMEN HAVE NO PLACE ON A SHIP!" turning back to the rest of the dumbfounded group he ordered Doubar to set the course change and left for his own quarters.
 

**********

It was a stony and silence trip to the island of Triptep.  Doubar, with a heavy heart, had changed course for the new island.  Word had traveled though the ship quickly that Maeve was leaving...no one seemed to want to make it to the islands shores.  Sailors were DESPERATE to make the trip as long as possible. Ropes became impossibly tangled, and needing be cut away.  A sail ripped, knots came undone, tar began to peal from the boards...Sinbad was at his wits end trying to head off each new problem, real or imagined, from happening...and was beginning to consider putting the crew on deck in shackles so he could keep an eye on the all.

Finally, the small island port came into view.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK!" someone shouted.

Sinbad watched from the tiller amazed as each and every member of his crew filled up on deck, lining up, to see Maeve off.

A moment after everyone was in place, Maeve came up on deck, a bag of her clothing and books slung over one shoulder.  Walking to the gangplank, she paused.  She set down her bag and walked over to Rongar, she spoke loud enough for her voice to carry to all the crew, "Rongar, my faithful friend, I shall miss you...the Gods only know how many times you've saved my life."  Rongar made a sign with his hands Sinbad couldn't see, Maeve smiled, "Aye, I do suppose were even then...oh, I'll miss you." Maeve and Rongar pulled each other into a tight embrace.  Pulling away, she walked over a few steps to Firouz.

Maeve smiled, though Sinbad knew there were tears in her eyes as she spoke, "Furious...when I first met you, I asked Dim-Dim why I had to sail on board ship with a mad man who didn’t believe in magic, but instead in his inventions...by the third day in our journeys together, I asked my self, how I ever lived with out your inventions.  You're anything but mad...you’re a genus!"

"Oh, I'm no such thing...it's just that beauty inspires me!" he grinned.  Without pausing to wipe away his tears he pulled her into a hug.  It was some moments before either of them managed to let go.

With a sigh, Maeve turned to Doubar.  They stood in front of each other for a moment.  Neither said a word before they both were in each other's arms, crying, and not caring.

"I'll miss you so much, Doubar...you've been like a brother to me.  Like the family I've missed for so long."

"Aye, lass...aye..."

Pulling away, Maeve sparred Sinbad only a glance, she leaned forward to Doubar, "Take care of him...he's still a child at heart."

Doubar nodded, he didn’t even need to ask whom she was talking about.

Sighing, Maeve walked over to the rail and looked up, Dermott was on one of the yardarms.  Maeve took out her leather gauntlet and put it on.  With a cry, Dermott tooled off from his perch, but before landing on her arm, he swerved and landed on the tiller beside Sinbad.

Sinbad looked at the hawk for a moment before his mind was filled with the images of his travels with Dermott and Maeve.  His mind filled with the image of looking up and seeing Maeve for the first time, her sword at his throat because she thought he had been attacking Dermott.  He remembered helping the Norseman save her after they had tried to sacrifice her to a malevolent being in return for free passage of their ship.  He remembered her splitting the mast in half from one of her spells.  The memory of there first...and only...kiss after he gad vanquished the Vorgon.  He even remembered being three inches tall and arguing with her, "Like an old married couple".  That last memory brought him out of his near trance.

Looking over at Dermott he ruffled the birds breast feathers, "Now you stop that!  Go on," he grinned, but it was a sad grin, "Go on...your mistress is waiting."

With a scream, Dermott launched himself off and flew over to Maeve, landing softly on her arm.  Maeve looked up at him once, before turning her back and walking down the plank to the dock.
 

**********
 

The crew of The Nomad spent the better part of an hour repairing some of the damage to the ship.  But, even so, night was quickly approaching and they needed a few supplies.

"Sinbad, we NEED supplies!" Firouz told Sinbad.

Sinbad sighed, "What do we need?"

"Some new tar, more heavy duty thread to repair the rent in the sail, ropes, fresh water, Ma--"  Firouz cut his words off quickly.

Sinbad look up at him from his position holding the tiller, "What else do we need?" he asked slowly.

"It was a slip of the tongue!  I mean, she was a member of this crew for a LONG TIME, Sinbad, its  going to take some getting used to, ya know?"

"Maeve." Sinbad sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sinbad.  It won't happen again." Firouz cast his eyes down and walked away.

"Firouz!" Sinbad called after him, "Fine, we have at least another hour of light, tell the crew to do  what repairs the can.  At first light we'll go on shore and get what supplies we need."

 
**********
 

The port was a small one, consisting mostly of fisher ships, and a few trading supplies such as the ones the crew of The Nomad were looking for.

The first ship they encountered had the tar and ropes they needed, but they would have to go further into town for the water and threads.

As the crew neared the center of the town they could hear a ruckus coming from the main square.

"Someone! GET A DOCTOR!!!" was shouted from the large group.

Without hesitating, Firouz ran forward, closely followed by Sinbad, Rongar and Doubar.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!  I’M A PHYSICIAN!!  I CAN HELP!" he called as he ran.

As he got nearer the mass of people parted enough to let him though.  In the center propped against the town well, was an old man who was bleeding from a large wound in his side.

Firouz was at his side in moments, cutting way the robes around the wound, "Someone, get me water!  And some clean cloths!"

As Sinbad stood back and let Firouz work, he took a closer look at the man.  Upon closer inspection, he was not as old as he had first appeared...in fact, he looked little older then Sinbad did himself.  It was simply the pail skin and shock of white hair that had made him look so much older.

"Is there any place we can take this man to let him rest?  I'll need to examine him further." Firouz asked.

"You can come with me." A tall man spoke up, "I run a shop on the other side of the square, I have rooms in the back where you can tend to him."

Firouz nodded his thanks, then to Doubar he asked, "Can you carry him without jarring his injures badly?"

"Aye." Reaching down, Dauber's gentle nature belittled his size, as he was oh so careful in raising the man with out hurting him further.

"This way." The shopkeeper instructed as the others turned to him.

It only took a few moments to get to the man's shop and he quickly showed them to a room with a cot in the back.  Firouz lost no time in finishing his examination of the unconscious man.

Sinbad held back with the shopkeeper, "Thank you my fiend."

"No, it is I who should thank you.  If you and your fiends had not come when you had, we most likely would have lost Seton there.  He's the best mage this island has seen in years...we would have been hard placed to find someone to take over his duties."

"You say he is a mage, sir..." it struck Sinbad that he didn’t even know this mans name.

The man grinned, "Keplo, just simple tailor Keplo.  And yes, he is mage.  We hired him sometime ago to speak to the king who owns this land.  We had no diplomatic experience, most of us here, were just farmers, fishermen, and shopkeepers, like myself.  We know nothing of a king's court...but Seton, his mother was from the king's court; he knew how to speak to lords and ladies.  He represented our islands out at this reach." He explained.

"SINBAD!  He's waking up!" Firouz called.

Sinbad dashed over to kneel beside the head of the injured mage, "What happened?" he asked.

Coughing the man tried to speak, "Mad man...he...he tried to kill the king with magic....he...set up a spell....it killed most things magic with in moments....the king....he barley survived the attack....
he...he was not warring his broach at the time...he lives...but...the others.....the other mages and.....we lost the princess..." the man tried to go on, but his coughing became worse and he had to lay back and try and regain his strength.

"What?  Kill the king?  Lost the princess...broach...?  Keplo, what is he talking about?" Sinbad asked.

Keplo sighed, running his fingers though his hair, "Our king has a magic broach, his wife made it for him when he became king.  His wife, Queen Maclenn, was a powerful sorceress, she made it so he would be protected from any magic attacks.  She died giving birth to her second child, our Prince, Het.  But the first child, Sylent, she inherited the Queen's magic...."

"But the king was not warring the broach, he said...so how did he survive....and what killed the princess?"

"The spell...."Seton tried to explain from his spot on the cot, "It was designed to destroy anything magic or using magic...to make them explode....so when the broach exploded...."

"It would kill the King in its wake." Firouz finished.

"And because the princess was a mage....it kill her...."

"Aye...and it would have killed me too...had I been...closer to the king when it went off...as it was...I only received part of the blast....that's how...I got this wound..." Seton touched his bloody side
which Firouz had bound in clean cloths to stop the bleeding.

"But how did you get here so quickly?" Doubar asked.

"I gated..."

"You what?" Sinbad and Doubar both asked.

"I...I created a portal....it let me travel from one place to another place...the King has portals to each of his islands for his officers and diplomats to use...."

"Oh yes, I remember now.  Maeve used one to...." Firouz started, the paused, "Oh...sorry Sinbad...I said I wouldn’t...."

"No, it's okay, I understand." Sinbad smiled at Firouz, then serious again he turned to Keplo, "If the king was under attack, then he may need help...supplies...were is the King's Plaice?  We can bring word to others to help..."

"Of course, Sinbad, the King lives just inside the city limits of Bristten, not to far from the port."

"...Bristten..." Sinbad asked, paling.

"Aye, the Port of Bristten is quite large, and on one of the largest islands that he rules..."

"Bristten..." Sinbad asked again.

"Little brother...are you thinking what I'm thinking..." Doubar asked.

"Aye...I think I owe Maeve a BIG apology..."

Doubar, Firouz and Rongar all nodded.

Sighing and running his fingers though his hair Sinbad took charge again, "Okay, Doubar, you go back to the ship and tell the crew to finish up with there repairs.  Rongar, you finish gathering the supplies.  Will you help him Keplo?" Sinbad asked

As Keplo nodded Sinbad went on, "Good, Rongar, when you're finished, drop the stuff off at the ship then come back and get Firouz.  As soon as I get back we set sail." Sinbad patted Keplo on the back and headed towards the front of the shop.

"Wait!  Little brother!  Where will you be?" Doubar asked.

"Where do you think...Trying to find Maeve..." Sinbad grinned.

"Sinbad!  Wait, I just thought of something..." Firouz called just before Sinbad dashed out the door.  Sighing, Sinbad came back, "Sinbad...Seton said that the spell destroyed all things magic or that
used magic, right?" Everyone nodded, trying to see what he was getting at. "And Maeve uses magic..."

"Yes, Firouz, what's your point." Doubar snapped.  He hated how the scientist always rambled on building up to his real point.

Sighing, "And isn't that bracelet on Sinbad's wrist MAGIC too?" he finally finished.

Everyone was silent for a moment.

Sinbad raised his left wrist to look at the rainbow band, "Maeve...saved MY life....again...not just
hers..."

"She did say, she wouldn’t risk her life AND those of her friends, Sinbad." Firouz pointed out.

Sinbad closed his eyes, "Just before I accused her of mutiny."

Firouz nodded.

"Doubar, Rongar, Firouz, you know what to do....I HAVE to find Maeve..."

"Maeve?" Keplo asked.

"She was a member of our crew, a Mage, we had a fight, she left us yesterday." Doubar explained.

"Oh!  You mean that Beautiful Celt girl, the one with Hawk?"

Sinbad was back in the shop in a second, "You know her?" he asked.

"Oh yes, she came in here yesterday, bought up all my heavy duty thread...said something about...showing someone something? No...that's not it...'that'll show him?'...Ah!  That'll TEACH him!  That is what she said!"

Sinbad sighed again, "She didn’t....no...she would...if she really didn’t want us to get there...or just to bug me....she would...."

"Well, she was willing to jump ship to avoid that island..." Doubar pointed out, "Makes sense that she would go out of her way to make sure WE didn’t get there, either..."

"I know, Doubar...I know....I have to find her!" with that, Sinbad bolted out the front door before someone could say anything else to delay him in his quest to find Maeve.
 

***********
 

It was pretty easy to find out where Maeve had gone.  The village didn’t often meet people like Maeve, and they all remembered the fiery beauty with her hawk.  She had taken a room at The Fire Rose Inn in town and asked around about ships off the island.  None had been going out at the time, but there was another port on the other side of the island.  It was reported that she had headed that way to get a ship off Triptep.

Sinbad was only ten minutes of the village when he spotted her.  She was walking slowly, staring up at the sky for a moment and then looking back to Dermott who was perched on her arm.

"MAEVE!" He shouted.

Startled, she spun, her free hand going to the sword on her back.  When she saw whom it was she relaxed and turned her back to him and kept walking, "I have nothing to say to you, Sinbad.  Please, just leave."

"Maeve!  Please!  Wait...PLEASE!"  He shouted, trying to get her to stop.  She just ignored him.  "MAEVE!!!  PLEASE!!!  MAEVE!  PLEASE!" he shouted, running after her.  Sighing, he stopped running and stood in the middle of the road and shouted to the sky above him as loud as he could, "I'M SORRY!!!!"

Maeve jumped, startled, and spun, "What?"

He sighed and started walking towards her, "I'm sorry, Maeve.  You were right about the island.  If we had gone there, it would have killed us.  You, Me, Dermott...anything magic or that used magic.  Maeve, you’re the reason I'm still alive to apologize.  You were right...I'm sorry."

"What...what happened...on the island...?" she asked.

"There was an insane sorcerer...he tried to kill the king by creating a spell that would kill anything magic, or that used magic.  It killed the Princess, a lot of mages...and if you hadn't made us come here, it would have killed us to.  The bracelet I ware...it's magic...you’re a mage...Dermott...I don’t know why, but he IS magic...none of us would have survived." He was finely beside her.  As he stood in front of her, he was able to see how red her eyes were from crying.

"Oh Maeve, I'm so sorry....for not trusting you, not believing you...I'm so sorry...what I said, back on the ship...I didn't mean it.  I'm so sorry." Sinbad reached out to brush the tears off her cheeks with his fingertips, ignoring the tears coursing down his own face.

"Oh Sinbad..." as Dermott launched himself off of her arm and into the air, Sinbad pulled Maeve into his arms, holding onto her tightly, not ever wanting to let go.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...you were right...I'm so sorry. " He kept repeating.

"No, I should have explained, it's not your fault.  I shouldn't have picked a fight with you." She explained.

"No, It's my fault.  I should have trusted you..."

"No, I should have--"

Sinbad pulled back far enough to kiss her lightly on the lips.  Startled she looked at him.

He grinned, "Look at us...we cant even apologize after a fight without fighting."

Maeve smiled and laughed, "Aye, a fine pair we are."

Turning serious again, Sinbad looked into her eyes.  Leaning forward slowly he paused, his lips just above hers as he whispered, "I'm sorry Maeve..."

"Sinbad..." she whispered back, just as softly.

"Yes?"

"Shut up." With that, Maeve closed the distance between them, pulling him into one of the most passionate kisses Sinbad had ever experienced.

When they both had to pull away for air, they were smiling.  It was Sinbad who spoke first.

"Come back to the ship, Maeve?  Please...come back with me."

She smiled, "All you had to do was ask."

Leaning forward, they kissed a few more times before pulling back and turning to head towards the village and The Nomad.

Pausing, Maeve reached into her bag still over her shoulder, "I almost forgot...you wont be getting anywhere with out some of this..."  Sheepishly, she handed Sinbad a spool of the heavy thread they used to repair the sails on the ship.

Laughing, Sinbad pulled her back into his arms, and they headed back towards their friends on The Nomad....their friends....and their future.
 

  The end 

Author note: Okay, It's here, the first of my FINISHED AoS fan fics.  Now, I HAVE to thank a few people here.  Trisha, you got me back into the magic of AoS, and for that, I'll NEVER forget you.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  You also introduced me to WBS Sinbad_Chat...another thing I owe you thanks for.  But, the BIGGEST thanks here, goes to my Cyber-Sister, Selynne.  Selynne, if not for you, and your 3:00 am suggestions, this story would still be nameless and off battling some evil king with NO plot....THANK YOU!!!!!!  Selynne, this story, and especially this ENDING, is detected to you!!!  THANK YOU!!!  And thanks to ALL of my AoS friends!  Your all the greatest bunch out there! ::blows kisses to all::

PS
    Another extra thanks goes out to Gabi who took the time to go though and SPELL CHECK this story and send it to me!  Thanks Gabi!  It was very considerate of you to do that!