“No!!!” Sinbad cried out as he watched the jet of cold blue light pierce Maeve’s heart he rushed to her side she gasped for breath as he held her in his arms “Sinbad…I feel so weak I think I’m going to…” her voice trailed off “No…you’ll be fine” he said tears began to stream down his face falling onto Maeve’s she smiled her last smile her eyes glazed over and she fell limp into Sinbad’s arm’s “I loved her” he said quietly “do you hear? I loved her and you took her away!” he screamed into the night “no need to shout..” a cold voice came from behind him he turned around his blue eyes filled with grief and hatred as he saw Turok standing calmly. Sinbad stood and made his way towards Turok “Don’t let her die” he said with an anger he had never felt before “Oooh is that a threat?” Turok sneered “don’t you dare let her die!” he said louder “Oooh it is a threat...”  Sinbad grabbed Turok and put his face an inch away from his “you’re the only one with the power. Now do it!”  Turok shoved Sinbad hard into the ground before he could do or say another thing Turok had disappeared.

 

 “Noooooo!!!” Sinbad awoke in his bed his hair drenched with sweat his face glistening in the moonlight that shone onto his face he was breathing hard he stepped onto the cool wooden floor and made his way to the galley for some water he stood at the table and drank slowly “Why do I keep having these strange dreams” he asked himself out loud “Tell me and then we’ll both know” said a sarcastic voice from behind him.

He turned to see Maeve enter the galley he shook his head slightly trying to get the image of the light piercing Maeve out of his mind.

“Never mind” he uttered finishing his drink Maeve sat down “why are you up?” she asked taking the opportunity to give her captain a sweet smile “I was uh…thirsty” he said quickly smiling back at Maeve “what’s your excuse? “Oh I needed some fresh air” she said “I’m going back to bed…goodnight captain” she stood up leaving Sinbad in the galley “goodnight my sorcerer’s apprentice” he said smiling and he to went back to bed and his dreams were filled with visions of Maeve dying.

The next morning he awoke bleary eyed from the restless nights sleep he quickly got dressed washed his face and headed above deck “morning crew!” he said as greeted his friends “morning” they all replied “have a good sleep? You don’t look too rested” said Maeve’s younger sister Kirah who had joined the crew recently “A few bad dreams that’s all” Sinbad assured her neglecting too mention that they all had too do with Maeve meeting a terrible fate. Kirah glanced at him curiously not totally assured that a bad dream was all it was she put it aside deciding to talk to him later and headed down to the galley to get some breakfast.

“Morning little brother!” Doubar greeted Sinbad at the tiller “Morning Doubar” Sinbad replied. They talked for awhile about their course and other things then Doubar went down to help Kirah make breakfast soon after he went below Kirah and Doubar heard yelling from above deck “they’re at it again” sighed doubar with a smile “they will never admit they like each other by themselves will they?” Kirah laughed “not a chance” she answered “hey you two get a room!!!!!!” she yelled to the ceiling and the arguing ceased immediately “that’s better” said Kirah with her green eyes gleaming with laughter. After breakfast they moored the Nomad in the nearest harbour and entered the little Village of Orean they walked up and down the streets gathering the supplies they needed Maeve and Kirah wandered off on there own and soon found themselves at the palace they were admiring the palace when they heard the sound of approaching horses, they saw that the prince was among the riders they bowed and stood up again “good day your highness” said Kirah “good day  to you young lady you are strangers in these parts no?” “Yes we are” said Maeve eyeing the prince cautiously “well then I hope you enjoy my kingdom farewell” and he entered the palace gates giving Maeve a strange look “I want that girl” he said to his advisor “it will be done” his advisor replied.

Later that day the crew were coming upon a forest “I don’t think we’ll get out alive” said Kirah “nonsense” said Sinbad “your only saying that because no-one else has come out alive” and he strode into the forest “why do we continue to say things like that when we know it’s going to encourage him?” Maeve wondered out loud.

Some time later they emerged on the other side they saw the prince approaching “why hello ladies” he said with a charming smile “I hope you are enjoying my kingdom” Sinbad stepped protectively in front of the women “yes we are” Maeve replied “that’s good since you will be remaining here as my wife” he gestured towards Maeve then he looked at Sinbad “it would be wise to surrender her without fuss” he said “I would rather die” he said in a challenging tone” “surrender her” the Prince said in a more forceful voice “Death first!” Sinbad yelled Maeve could see that they were out numbered “will you promise not to hurt them!” she cried suddenly “what?” said Sinbad and the prince at the same time “if I return with you will you promise to return them to their ship?” she said “very well” said the prince he looked over to his advisor “take them and throw them into the torture pit” he whispered “it will be done” said the advisor “I am not going to let you die…not when I can save you” Maeve said to the crew just before she got onto the horse with the prince Sinbad whispered in her ear “I will always come for you”

Kirah watched helplessly as Maeve mounted the horse then she glared at the prince and stepped forward “We’ll be seeing you again” she said menacingly brandishing her sword at the prince the prince laughed and rode off Maeve looked back and seeing Doubar and Kirah crying she began to cry too as soon as they were out of sight the guards knocked them out and took them to the torture pit.

Maeve spent the next couple of days being treated like a queen a couple of weeks ago she would have died to be living like this but now all she wanted was to be with her family on the Nomad watching the waves lap the side of the ship and playfully teasing Sinbad she even missed the way Kirah used to continually nag her about her feelings for Sinbad although she would never admit it she did love the Captain that night in bed she had a strange dream

 

The crowd was hushed the Prince stood before his people “citizens tonight I wed…..would you like to meet your Princess??” the crowd cheered I”I present to you princess Maeve” Maeve stepped before them all they all bowed except a young child barely older then 7 “love” the child said “what did you say” Maeve asked stepping closer “your true love and your family lives and you marry another” the child said more clearly “they would have killed them all if I hadn’t agreed” Maeve said “you know what you are?” asked the child “what am I?” Maeve said “you’re the princess of garbage so go to your trashy Palace!!” the girl yelled Maeve then recognised the voice the temper and the flaming red hair, the girl…it was her.

 

Maeve awoke with a start her nightmares were growing steadily worse she got up and walked to the princes chamber she knew exactly where she was meant to be and it wasn’t at the palace.

She opened the door “Cancel the wedding” she said without greeting the prince “look my home is on the Nomad and if you insist I marry you than believe me I will be dead by the rising of the sun” “I would not say such things if I were you” the Prince answered shortly “why? You’re a coward. And when I say that it’s because you’re the slimiest weakling ever to exist!” she said more confidently than she felt.

“I would not say such things If I were you!” the prince grabbed Maeve and threw her into a nearby room locking the door then he ran down to the torture pit which was below the dungeon he approached Sinbad who was tied to a device which generated electricity the others were chained to the wall he put his face close to Sinbad’s “you truly care for each other? So you might have been truly happy not one couple in a century has that chance you will suffer greatly” and without hesitation he pushed the bar that controlled the amount of electricity that was generated right to the top Sinbad screamed as no one had screamed before.

 Kirah and the others closed there eyes shut tight Kirah was saying a prayer under her breath.

When the screaming stopped they saw immediately that Sinbad the great Captain of the Nomad…was dead “Little brother!!!!!!!” Doubar cried “shush Doubar I’m trying to concentrate” he looked over at Kirah who was muttering to herself he suddenly felt the chains loosen then vanish they all rushed to Sinbad’s side Kirah put her head to Sinbad’s chest “good” she said “good!” Exclaimed Firouz

“He’s dead! How is that good?” “He’s only mostly dead” she said quickly “huh?” said Firouz “there’s no such thing as mostly dead” “on the contrary my friend there’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead with mostly dead they are slightly alive with all dead…well there’s only one thing to do” “what’s that?” said Doubar “go through their clothes and look for loose change” she said. Kirah was now taking bottles for the herb shelf where they kept there medicinal herbs and within a couple of minutes she had a potion that would revive Sinbad they opened his mouth and poured a small amount of liquid into it then suddenly his eyes shot open but he couldn’t move “where’s Maeve?” he asked “and why can’t I move?” “let me explain” said Doubar “No too long…let me sum up the prince is marrying Maeve in little less then half an hour, we have to get into the palace rescue Maeve defeat the prince and sail off” “that doesn’t leave much time for dilly- dallying” he replied “how many men guard the doors of the dungeon” Rongar went and showed 10 fingers then another five “fifteen” said Sinbad Rongar nodded in reply “that should be easy” said Doubar “yes if my calculations are correct we should each have to knock three each” said Firouz then he remember that Sinbad couldn’t walk let alone use a sword “Sinbad broke in “Kirah, me and you will stay here the others will handle the guards then you guys signal us and Rongar and Doubar can help me get up to the palace” “excellent plan” said Doubar so he Firouz and Rongar went to take care of the guards.

After five minutes of clashing swords and falling bodies all was silent they heard the others approaching Rongar put one of Sinbad’s arms around her shoulder Doubar took the other and they helped him up the stairs when they got to the top they blinked in the bright sun Sinbad surveyed their surroundings “take me into that room” he said they obeyed him and soon he was lying on the bed “I’ll need a sword” he said “you can’t lift one” said Firouz “that’s hardly common knowledge is it?” he replied they handed him a sword from the nearby table “now heres our plan” he said “all I need you too do is lure the prince in here “aye Captain” said Kirah giving him a mischievous grin “and I know just how too do that” everyone except Sinbad walked out the door.

A minute later Maeve walked in she didn’t notice Sinbad she reached for a knife and held it too her throat “If you do that we won’ be able to argue anymore” She turned and saw Sinbad she rushed too his side “Sinbad!” and on the spur of the moment she held his face and kissed him deeply “I didn’t want to marry him I promise but I have how could I have been so…” Sinbad broke in “did you say I do?” he asked “no…uh we kind of skipped that part “never happened then. if you didn’t say it you didn’t do it isn’t that right your highness Maeve turned to see the prince” “a technicality that will shortly be remedied” the prince said coldly “too the death!”  “no!” exclaimed Sinbad “too the pain” the prince looked confused “I don’t think I’ve heard that phrase before” he said “then I’ll explain and I’ll be sure to use small words” “to the pain means I leave you in anguish wallowing in misery for the rest of your life first you lose your hands at the wrists, then your feet above the ankles, then your eyes” “then my ears I get it now lets finish this” the prince said “wrong!” said Sinbad sarcastically “your ears you keep so that every cry of every person you have hurt will echo in your perfect ears that is what to the pain means” “I think your bluffing” said the prince “it’s possible pig I only lie here because I don’t have the strength to stand” he paused “or perhaps I do have the strength” he slowly rose of the bed and raised his sabre “drop your sword” he growled the prince immediately dropped his sword “have a seat” Sinbad gestured to a chair the prince sat down “you can do the honour of tying him up” said Sinbad smiling at Maeve “make it as tight as you like” just then the rest of the crew came through the door “Maeve!” they cried she hugged all of them then she saw Sinbad stumble “help him” said Kirah Doubar and Rongar helped him up “Why does he need help?” “Long story we’ll explain back on the ship” said Firouz they left the prince tied up and walked to the Nomad a family once again.

Later that evening Kirah approached Sinbad “you enjoyed kissing Maeve didn’t you?” she asked since Maeve had accidentally let it slip “it was nothing she was just happy to see me” said Sinbad with a secret grin “Oh come on why don’t you just admit it?” said Kirah “I did not” “did too” “did not” “did too” “did not” “did too” “You definitely are like your sister” said Sinbad Kirah laughed “yeah but she’s the one you enjoyed kissing” Kirah replied “I did not” “did too” did not” “did too” “oh forget it!!” said Sinbad.