The End
Back to The Captain's Log
"Maeve? Are you all right?" Sinbad asked the pacing woman.
"Yes," Maeve answered. "Why do you ask?"
"You've been pacing the ship end-to-end since you woke up this morning. I was just wondering if you wanted to talk or something."
"I'm fine. Just a little…nervous…I guess."
"Nervous?" Sinbad asked looking at Maeve with a concerned look on his face. "Nervous about what?"
"I don't know. Look, I'll be fine. I'm just going to go below," Maeve said, turning to go below. "Oh, and Sinbad?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for caring," and with that, she went to her cabin.
The truth was that she wasn't feeling all right at all. Maeve was pacing the deck trying to analyze a dream that she had had the night before.
It was the most romantic dream that she had ever had. She and Sinbad were on a beautiful and secluded island having a picnic together. Just the two of them. They had been talking about everything from the weather to their adventures, when Sinbad suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. When they parted Sinbad told Maeve how much he loved her and vice versa. Then she woke up, confused as ever about what was happening between her and Sinbad.
Now, nine hours later, she was still as confused as she was that morning.
*Do I really love Sinbad?* Maeve asked herself. She thought back to earlier that morning when Sinbad asked if she was all right. She had never been as happy as she had been at that moment when he was concerned over her. *Why was I so happy? There is something between us. There has been ever since we met.* Her thoughts were cut off as she heard a movement in her cabin. Dermott was perched on the back of the chair that was in front of the desk that was in her cabin.
*What's wrong?* Dermott asked her in mind-voice.
*Nothing. Dermott? Can I ask you a question?*
*Sure. What is it?*
*Do you think that there is anything between Sinbad and me?*
*What kind of question is this? What brought it on?*
*I was just…curious.*
*Sure. Like I believe that. Are you finally realizing your feelings for him?*
*What feelings?*
*Maeve! Stop acting. You know what I mean. You love him.*
*I do not! Do I?*
*Go ask him about your dream. See what he has to say.*
*All right…Hey! How do you know about it? I didn't tell you!!!!*
*I was here longer than you noticed I was,* Dermott answered as he flew out the door that Maeve had just opened when she realized that Dermott knew about the dream.
*I'll get for this, you little sneak.*
"Sinbad, she'll be all right. Stop worrying," Firouz said to the captain as he helped to secure the sails and get the ship in general ready for the storm that was heading for them.
"What are you talking about?" Sinbad answered him, pretending not to know what the scientist was talking about.
"We all know that you're worried about Maeve, little brother," Doubar said as he walked up to the duo with Rongar behind him.
"I am not!" Sinbad exclaimed walking away. *Man! They are so annoying!*
Just then the wind started to become violent and it started to rain, hard.
"What do you want me to do?" a familiar voice asked from behind him.
"Maeve, I want you to go below and stay there!" he ordered.
"No! I want to help."
"You would be a greater help if you were down below!" Sinbad tried to reason with her.
"Yeah right! What should I do? I'm not going to break!" Maeve yelled back, just as the mast swung around and hit her in the head.
"Maeve!" Sinbad bent down, pulled the sorceress into his arms and started to rock her back and forth.
"Sinbad! What happened?" Firouz asked as he made his way over to the captain.
"The mast swung around and hit her in the head. Firouz, do something!" Sinbad pleaded, tears running down his face.
"Let's take her below, before this storm gets any worse."
On their way below deck, they passed by Doubar. "Take command, big brother. I'm going to stay with Maeve," Sinbad said quickly, leaving before Doubar had time to question what had happened.
When Maeve awoke, she was in a large four-poster canopy bed with white blankets and sheets. She stretched, trying to remember how she got here.
The last thing that she remembered was arguing with Sinbad when she was hit by something. *Sinbad better not have hit me in order to get me below,* she thought, trying to get up. She was too exhausted to even move, so Maeve closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep.
She had just succeeded in doing so, when a bright light filled the room.
"What you doin' still in bed, Miss Maeve?" a pretty dark-skinned young woman asked her.
"Who are you?" Maeve asked her.
"Stop playin' games now, y'hear? Yore daddy's not too happy 'bout you sleepin' this late. He sent me up to fetch ya downstairs this minute!"
"I'm not playing around, I really don't know who you are. And what do you mean, my father?" Maeve asked, feeling more confused than ever. "And where's Sinbad?"
"I mean yore step-daddy! Now quit playin' and get out of that bed right now! Get dressed!" the other girl ordered, pulling Maeve out of bed. "And why you askin' 'bout Sinbad? You know yore daddy won't let you see him!"
"Why not?"
"Cuz he's fightin' for the North."
"What do you mean?"
"Tenisha!" a deep voice yelled out. "Is she up yet?"
"Yes sir. She's getting' dressed now!" Tenisha answered.
"So that's…what's this?" Maeve asked, pulling out a piece of clothing.
"That's a petticoat! Now stop messin' 'round. Yore daddy's gonna tan yore hide if'n you don't get down there soon!!"
Ten minutes later, Maeve was up and dressed. She was wearing lavender, scoop- necked dress with full sleeves.
"It took you long enough. Sit!" the deep voice that Maeve had heard earlier ordered.
Maeve looked at who had issued the order and collapsed on the chair that he had pointed to. *Turok!!!* her mind screamed. *It can't be! He's dead!* Maeve's eyes continued to roam across the table. Right across from her was Rumina, next to her Firouz. And next to Maeve, herself, was Dermott. Talia sat across from Turok. *What a twisted family!*
"I asked you a question. Now answer me!" Turok said.
"Excuse me? I'm afraid I didn't hear the question," Maeve asked politely, trying to keep her cool.
"I asked what took you so long?"
Maeve tried to come up with good reason, but ended up blurting out the first thing that came to mind; "I couldn't decide what to wear."
Dermott tried to suppress a laugh, and Turok rolled his eyes and rang a bell. A familiar figure walked into the room and bowed, waiting for an order.
"Rongar, you can bring in the meal now!" Turok said. At the end of breakfast, he told Maeve, "You must stop acting foolishly and start accepting suitors, and get married to an acceptable man, like Rumina did with Firouz. I'm not going to give in and let you marry Sinbad. He's trying to put us out of business!"
"What do you mean?"
"He means that Sinbad is fighting with the north to free the slaves, which work on our plantation and if they go, so goes our wealth!" Rumina answered, getting up, leaving Maeve alone with Turok.
"But slavery is bad!" Maeve exclaimed.
"What?" Turok growled as he slapped her across the face.
"Nothing!" Maeve said, shocked.
"Good!" he replied as he left the room.
A few minutes later, Tenisha walked in carrying a letter with her.
"Miss Maeve? This came for you just now. Someone rang the bell and left this on the doorstep. It's addressed to you," she said, handing the letter to Maeve.
Maeve opened it and read:
I have finally gained a week's leave from my commander and came to visit you, though I know that I am probably not allowed to because of my fighting for the North. I would love to see you and am waiting in the center of the garden for you, so please come to me as fast as you possibly can.
Forever yours,
Sinbad
"If father asks, please tell him that I went for a walk. All right?"
"Yes Miss," Tenisha answered, leaving the room.
Maeve walked out of the front door and walked around the side of the house and straight toward the garden. Ten minutes later, she made it to the center of the garden where she saw the familiar bronze-colored hair.
"Sinbad?"
"Maeve!" he answered as he ran to her and pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
"Is it really you?"
"Of course it is. I've missed you so much. I thought that the time would never come when I could see you again!"
"Same here! How are you? Are you doing okay? How's Doubar? Is he all right?"
"Yes, I am. And so is Doubar. How about you?"
"I'm not so good," Maeve answered.
"Why? What's wrong, my love?" Sinbad asked, his face showing his concern.
"If I tell you, you'll think that I'm crazy!"
"No I won't. I promise."
"All right. I woke up this morning and I don't know where I am."
"You're at your father's plantation," Sinbad answered simply.
"I don't mean like that! The last thing that I remember is arguing with you before I got hit in the head with something. Then I woke up and wasn't able to move. Then there was a bright light and Tenisha was urging me to get out of bed and down to breakfast so I did. There I saw Turok married to Talia, Rumina married to Firouz, Dermott in human form, and Rongar as a slave. Then Turok started to talk to me about letting go of you and finding myself a husband, because you're "putting us out of business." Then I mentioned that slavery is a terrible thing, and Turok slapped me then Tenisha brought in your letter and here I am!" Maeve said, taking a deep breath.
"I don't think that you're crazy. You just had a very realistic dream and you still believe it to be true," Sinbad answered, pulling the redhead closer to him.
"I don't know. Could you tell me something about what's going on?"
"Sure. It's 1864, and there is a war going on between the Union and the Confederacy, because the Confederacy, or the South, wants to secede from the rest of the United States and create it's own country, so they could have their own rules and have slavery, which people are trying to abolish. Especially the president."
"The president?"
"Yes, Abraham Lincoln."
"Okay. Can we talk about something else now? Anything else? Would you tell me about my family, please?" Maeve asked, feeling more confused than ever. *1864? The United States? President? I really need to take a nap!*
"You are the daughter of Jay and Marie Sass. They first had Dermott, and five years later you were born. Jay died shortly after you were born. He was seriously hurt when he fell off the horse that he was riding. Marie married Turok when you were five. Turok was a widower with a child of his own. Rumina. Then, about six years ago, Marie passed on. Then, five years ago, Turok married Talia. Then Turok chose Firouz to be Rumina's husband. I think that that is about all."
"Thank you," Maeve said quietly, feeling stunned.
"Sure. Maeve, my love, may I ask you a question?"
"Yes, you may," Maeve answered suspiciously.
Sinbad moved to kneel on one knee, and he pulled a small box out of his pocket and held it out to Maeve. "Dearest, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"
Maeve could hardly breathe as her eyes started to tear up. "Yes!" she whispered, nodding her head. "I will!"
Sinbad slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her in for a hug.
Over the following week, Sinbad and Maeve spent every spare moment that they could together, until Sinbad had to go to back to the army. They had a tearful good bye, then Sinbad left, promising to come back home soon.
Maeve tried to keep busy and thoughts of Sinbad out of her mind. But that was hard to do.
A week after Sinbad left, the newspaper that was left on the table caught her attention. It was opened to the Casualties and Deaths page about the latest battle that was fought for the war.
Maeve decided to check and see if Sinbad was all right. His name wasn't on the casualties' list, and Maeve breathed a sigh of relief and was about to put the paper down when she saw her love's name in the death list.
"He can't be dead!" she whispered, as she fell into unconsciousness.
Sinbad sat by Maeve's bed in her cabin, holding her hand and waiting for Firouz to finish examining her.
"Sinbad, I'm afraid that the news is not good," Firouz said.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Sinbad, she's been out for two weeks and if she doesn't wake up soon, she might never wake up again. I'm sorry," Firouz said as he left Sinbad alone with Maeve.
Sinbad moved from the chair in which he was sitting, to the bed and gathered Maeve into his arms.
"Maeve, please don't die. You can't die. There is so much that we haven't said to each other. We need that chance," Sinbad said, crying. "You are my life. I couldn't stand it if you died. Especially since it's my fault. If I had let you stay up on deck without arguing with you about it, you'd be all right now."
Sinbad continued to cry, but caught his breath as the body that he was holding shifted. He laid the sorceress back down and looked at her face as her eyes fluttered open.
"Sinbad?" Maeve whispered, as her eyes were able to focus on the person in front of her.
"Yes Maeve, it's me," he answered, smiling.
"You're not dead?" she asked, confused.
"No. Why would I be dead?"
"Because it said you died in the war! The paper was wrong! I'm so glad. Now we can get married and live together happily and have children," she answered.
"What war? What are you talking about?"
"The war between the Union and the Confederacy because the President wants to eat seeds fed to him by the South that belongs to the slaves," Maeve answered, confusing Sinbad even further.
"Don't you remember proposing to me, my love?"
"Aye, I do," Sinbad decided to humor her.
"I love you, Sinbad."
"I love you too Maeve."
"Sinbad, love, will you stay with me?" Maeve asked sleepily.
"Yes I will. But first let me go get Firouz and have him check you over."
"Good luck!" Maeve snorted.
"What do you mean by that?" Sinbad asked.
"As if you are ever going to get his wife off of his arm."
"Who's his wife?"
"Rumina," Maeve answered incredulously.
"Rumina?"
"Yes. Our father, Turok, and our stepmother, Talia, picked him out for her. Neither Dermott or I think that they're good for each other," she said.
"All right. Just lay right down, and I'll go get Firouz," Sinbad said to her, as e walked to her cabin door and opened it.
Firouz was sitting with Doubar and Rongar talking about the condition that Maeve was in. Doubar was the first to notice Sinbad enter the room.
"How are you doing, Little Brother?" he asked.
"Much better. Maeve's awake, but she's confused. She keeps talking about a war over some seeds," Sinbad answered, noticing the looks on the faces around him at the last statement. "I know, I don't understand it either."
"Let's go check on her," Firouz said, getting up.
Back in Maeve's cabin, Sinbad went immediately to her side.
"Sinbad?"
"Aye, it's me. And I brought Firouz, Doubar and Rongar with me," Sinbad answered.
"Okay Maeve. Let's take a look at you," Firouz said moving to her other side.
"Firouz? Where's you wife?"
"What wife?" Firouz asked, confused.
"Rumina. Don't you remember your wedding? Turok choosing you for his son-in- law? Inheriting the plantation?"
Firouz looked at Sinbad, as did the others. Sinbad only mouthed, humor her!
"Aye, I do. Do you hurt anywhere?"
"As a matter of fact yes. My head is killing me. Did I hit it after I read Sinbad's name on the death list?"
"No, the mast struck you upside the head," Firouz said, not noticing that he hadn't been humoring her as she fell back asleep with a smile on her face.
"Will she be all right?" Sinbad asked.
"Aye, she will. As soon as she gets enough sleep and her wound fully heals," Firouz answered. "Are you coming with us?"
"No. I promised Maeve that I'd stay in here with her."
"Okay. Come on guys," Firouz answered as he left with Rongar and Doubar, shutting the door quietly behind them. Before the door fully closed, Firouz popped his head in, "Oh, and Sinbad? Try to get some sleep, okay? You haven't been sleeping well and you know it."
"Sure, Firouz."
Sinbad took off his boots and quietly climbed into bed beside Maeve and pulled her to him so that her head was resting on his chest.
"Good night, my love," Sinbad whispered as he kissed the top of her head and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.