The Death of a Rose
Bryn opened the door of her cabin and slammed it shut. Tears were falling from her eyes. She felt as though her heart was snatched from her chest and was thrown into a lion’s den. She flung into her bunk, and clamped her hands over her ears.
“I love you Maeve…I promise you that…” his voice was echoing through her mind. Stop it, stop, stop, stop! Please! Her chest heaved with sobs. Oh please, just stop, please, please. Please…
She grabbed the pillow and slammed it at the back of her head. Her tears were still flowing. On and on it flowed…it wetted the white sheet that was covering her bed. So he loves another… why was I stupid enough to believe that he cared for me? I was just a member of his crew. nothing more. She stopped crying, but her heart feels as though it was breaking into a million pieces. Whoever the hell she is would pay for this, she vowed. Oh yes, she would pay…
And with that thought in mind she fell asleep.
She awoke to find that her head ached abominably. Her eyes were swollen from having cried so much. Sighing, she went out of her cabin and went topside. As Bryn opened the door she heard the voices of Sinbad and Doubar. They were talking, and laughing. It appears as though Sinbad had been totally cured of the fever that had affected him just days before. As soon as Sinbad saw her he nodded to Doubar and left him, walking towards her. The wind was dancing with his bronze tresses, making him look even more beautiful that ever before. Oh why did I ever fall for him…
“Hey.” Sinbad greeted, smiling that beautiful smile of his. “Slept well?”
Bryn shook her head. “Nope. Never got the chance to sleep that much.” She looked at him. He was wearing that happy expression she saw so rarely. “But you look as though you’ve never been infected by that fever at all. Pleasant dreams?” Idiot. Why remind him?
Sinbad’s smile grew. “Probably the best I’ve ever had this year, and probably the one that cured me.” He said. “Want to hear about it?”
Sure, and I love to feel my body being trampled upon by a thousand elephants. Bryn shook her head again.
“Sorry, captain, but I think I just developed a whale of a migraine. If you would excuse me…” she turned her back on him. She stopped when she heard him ask, “Bryn, are you okay? You look a little pale.” Such a gentle voice. Oh, Sinbad…She turned again. “I told you. I never slept that well last night. Maybe if I could take a nap I would feel better.”
Sinbad nodded. “Don’t worry about your duties today, Bryn. Just sleep well, okay?”
“Okay.” Bryn opened the door and went inside. But instead of going to her cabin, she went to the cabin, which Sinbad had forbidden anyone to get inside. She looked around her, making sure no one saw her snooping around. Then she opened the door and stepped inside. She gasped as she took in the sight before her. The cabin was clean, as though the occupant had just left to go to the deck and would be coming back soon. Some books were placed at the desk. She went to them, and opened it. “Spell books.” She muttered to herself. “And some powerful spells at that,” Then she heard footsteps from outside the room. Her heartbeat worked double-time as she looked for a hiding place. She saw that the space under the bed could occupy a person, so she snuck herself underneath it. As she quieted and willed herself to stay as still as possible, the door opened, and then closed. Bryn felt the weight of the bed increased, as though someone sat on it. She then heard someone whisper. “Maeve,” he said, “I wish you’d come back.” The weight decreased, and the door opened and closed again. Sighing with relief, she rolled out from under the bed and went outside the cabin. She quickly went inside hers. Her breathing was still abnormal and adrenaline was pumping through her veins. Your wish would come true, Sinbad, she thought, and so will my quest for revenge. She would pay for stealing you away from me, my love. Oh yes, she would pay with her life. Her eyes glowed a yellow gleam. She closed her eyes. Suddenly she saw a vision of the woman, her archenemy, her nemesis. She opened her eyes, her mouth set in a grim line, her face hard. “To hell with you Maeve.” She whispered.
The crew had stopped at a small town named Xarcis. It was well known for it’s food and oil, in which as of now, the crew was in dire need of. Sinbad and the others had separated so that they could buy the supplies in which they need. Since Sinbad was aware that Bryn was still not feeling well, he had not given he any chores. Instead, he told her to stay at the Nomad.
“Okay, Sinbad.” Bryn answered, nodding her head in the process.
“Good.” Sinbad said, before lightly touching her arm and going on his way.
“Rest well, Bryn.” Firouz said, smiling at her.
Bryn gave him a small smile and a little wave.
She had let about five minutes to pass before she went down the ship. She was not aware of what she was looking for, but she felt that it was drawing her to it. She walked and walked, until finally, she stopped in front of a small tent.
“Come in, little one.” An eerie voice floated and found its way to Bryn’s ears.
Bryn entered, feeling more and more confident. She stopped in front of a small lady, seated behind a large table that was covered with black cloth. Cards were placed on it. The woman was uncovering one of the cards when she looked straight at Bryn’s eyes.
“I…”
“You need not speak, little one.” The lady told her, cutting short anything that Bryn was about to say. “I know of your hunger and of your desire. You want your captain, aye?”
Bryn’s eyes widened. “How did you…”
The lady gave a hollow laugh. “I might be old, little one, but I am no fool. I can feel anyone’s desire for revenge.” A dark gleam appeared in her eyes. “You, for instance, want to see the captain’s beloved dead, am I correct?”
Bryn gulped, beads of sweat appearing on her brow despite the chilly temperature. “Yes,” she admitted.
“Then I could be of great help to you, little one. Come. Stop gawking at me and sit.” The lady said.
Bryn did took a seat. She watched as the woman shuffled the cards in front of her and laid them, facing down. She stopped, and looked at Bryn. “Are you sure that this is what you want?”
Bryn was about to respond when a little voice spoke inside of her. What are you doing? This is not right! It’s not like you to wish someone dead! This is evil! You must stop this! Bryn placed a hand on her head. She was getting confused. But then, another voice, a louder, more persistent one, said Fool! What are you waiting for? This is your chance to have Sinbad to yourself! Bryn took a deep breath and then met the woman’s eyes. “Positive.”
As the woman began to uncover the cards, Bryn’s hand reached out and touched her hand. “Wait,” she said. “Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?”
The woman smiled. “I want nothing from you, child. I just want to see your dreams coming true.” She said. She looked at Bryn’s hand locked around her own. Bryn took the hint and pulled away.
“First, we must see to it that the woman comes back to the ship.”
“What?” Bryn asked. “Why? Couldn’t you just kill her and be done with it?”
The woman shook her head. “We must let your captain see her die. Then he would be forced to abort his feelings for her and turn them to you.”
Bryn understood. “Please, do continue.”
“After that, you must place a wound on her.” The woman took a blade from beneath the desk. “This is very poisonous. A scratch is all you need and its effect would be evident after a few hours.” She fingered the blade, and then looked up. “She would die a very painful death.” She smiled evilly.
Bryn smiled. “That’s what I want.” That’s what she deserves.
“Then good.” The woman gave her the blade. “Go, child. I would cast a spell so that she would return to you.”
“Thank you,” Bryn said. “Thank you…”
“Rumina.” The woman smiled cruelly. “Just call me Rumina.”
********************************************************************************************
“Little brother!” Doubar called out as he neared Sinbad who was walking in front of him. Sinbad turned back and smiled. He raised a bag full of oil that he had bought. “Look, Doubar. I bought this whole bag for only a dinar!” he said proudly.
Doubar managed to caught up with him. “The prices in this town are really cheap, but they do lack some certain amenities. I’m sorry, brother, but I was not able to buy any candle. I looked and looked, but…”
Sinbad clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about that. I’m sure we could buy some on the next city.”
They walked in silence as they made their way for the ship. They were greeted with a very jovial Firouz along the way.
“Goodness, man!” Doubar exclaimed. “’You’re smiling as though you have managed to catch the Golden Fleece! What is it?”
“I just met this very important discovery!” Firouz said, excitedly. “I bought this coal for two dinars.” He held up a small, circular black object.
“Coal?” Sinbad asked. “What is that?”
Firouz had to drag away his eyes from the object to meet the inquisitive ones of his captain. “Sinbad, coal is one of the most precious composition found in the earth! It’s a small object, like this one, which is made up of ancient remains of archeological fossils that had been unearthed…” he was stopped when Rongar came running to them from the ship. He was signaling something.
“What do you mean there’s an intruder aboard?” Sinbad asked.
Rongar signaled, “I mean exactly what I said! Come, see it for yourselves!”
Silently, the four of them crept towards the ship.
“Where’s Bryn?” Firouz asked in a hushed voice.
Rongar signed “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Firouz demanded.
“Shhh!” Doubar said, putting a finger on his lips and looking sternly at Firouz.
By now they had crept to as far as the deck. As Sinbad was about to open the door leading to the lower deck, they heard a very distinct sound: footsteps leading to the upper deck, where they were at the very moment. Quickly, the four of them scattered all over the places: Sinbad had flattened himself to the place where the door would be once it opened, Doubar who hid behind the long boat that was hanging by the side, and Firouz and Rongar behind the barrels. They remained as still as possible.
Then, the door opened.
Sinbad suddenly lunged at the intruder, holding a knife to his neck and managing to have a firm grip around him.
The other three also appeared, but as they looked upon the intruder, amazement and wonder were evident in their expressions.
Sinbad looked bewildered as he looked at them, but managed to keep his grip around him all the while.
Or rather, on her.
“Sinbad,” the voice drawled, “Is this the way you treat your former crewmember?”
Sinbad stilled. He dropped the knife he was holding to her neck as shock rocked his very core. This gave her the opportunity to have a hand around his arm and flipped him to the ground. His breath was forced out of his lungs. He squinted at the bright rays of the sun, but it cannot conceal the fact that an angelic face was looking down at him, smiling.
“Hello, captain. Nice to see you again.” Maeve said. This was all she managed to squeeze out because at that moment, Doubar had grabbed her into a big bear hug.
“Maeve!” Doubar said. He released her. “Welcome back.”
Maeve smiled at him. “It’s nice to be back. Although…”
Firouz stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek.
“We missed you, my dear.”
Maeve placed a hand on his cheek. “As I you, my good friend.” She turned to Rongar. Telepathically, she sent out “Hi, Rongar.” Rongar automatically swept out her hand and kissed it. “Always the gentleman, eh, Rongar?” she commented. Then she turned to Sinbad.
“Hey. You suddenly lost your tongue?” she teased him.
Sinbad blinked, trying to see if this was just an illusion, that his obsession for her to come back had become reality. But this was real. She was really back. “Maeve,” he whispered, before engulfing her in a fierce embrace.
Maeve thrilled at the touch of her beloved “friend”, though she felt slightly uncomfortable, not because she didn’t want this, but because they were doing this in front of the others. But no matter, she still loves the feeling of his warm hands around her. She pulled away, and looked deep in his blue eyes… “You’re not crying, are you?” she said.
But instead of giving her an answer that she was expecting, he gave her one that she wasn’t. He kissed her.
“Way to go, little brother!” Doubar said, grinning to the sides of his ears.
Maeve pulled away from his kiss, and looked wild-eyed at Sinbad. “Sinbad…”
Sinbad smiled lazily at her. “You looked surprised, Maeve.” He said. “I’m surprised. I didn’t think you would be after that night.”
Maeve’s eyes got even wider as she understood what he meant, though she had no idea what he was talking about. “What… what are you talking about?”
Sinbad didn’t get a chance to answer because at that point someone cleared her throat. They all looked at the owner, who turned out to be Bryn.
Maeve looked at Bryn, then at Sinbad, then at Bryn again. She smiled at her. “You must be the new crewmember!”
Bryn looked at Maeve, and then at Sinbad.
“Who…is…she?” Rumina’s spell couldn’t have gotten any better…
Sinbad smiled at Bryn. He walked to where she was standing. “Bryn, I’d like you to meet Maeve.” He looked at Maeve. “Actually, she’s also a crewmember before she…”
“Before I went headfirst underwater.” Maeve smiled again at Bryn. She walked towards her and extended her hand.
Bryn looked at Maeve and tried to hide her frown with the best smile she could produce. Too bad you didn’t stay there longer. “It’s a good thing you escaped.” She said all the while accepting the hand Maeve had offered.
Maeve shrugged. “Actually, Dimdim rescued me.” She said.
“Dimdim?” Firouz asked, dumbfounded. “You mean you actually saw him?”
Maeve nodded. “Yeah. He saved me, and from that moment on I stayed with him.”
“But wasn’t he imprisoned by Rumina?” Doubar asked. “I mean, we all saw him being grabbed by that huge monster.”
Maeve looked at him. “I know. I asked him that question, but I never got a straight answer out of him.”
“Rumina?” Bryn said. “But she…” But everyone ignored what she was about to say. Instead, they listened intently to what Maeve was saying.
“But Maeve,” Sinbad said, placing a hand on her arm, “why didn’t you appeared to anyone of us and tell us you’re okay? I mean, we worried about you!”
Maeve chuckled. “It builds up the suspense that way.” She said.
Bryn glared at Sinbad’s hand placed on Maeve’s arm. He never did touch me like that…
Suddenly, a screech pierced the sky. They looked up, and saw Dermott flying above them. Bryn raised her arm, but instead of flying towards it, Dermott glided towards Maeve. “Dermott!” Bryn exclaimed.
Dermott perched easily on Maeve’s arm. “It’s okay.” She said, looking at Bryn. “We know each other well, don’t we?” Maeve scratched Dermott’s head.
Firouz smiled at Bryn’s bewildered expression.
“Dermott is Maeve’s hawk, originally.” He explained.
Another arrow of hatred embedded itself deep within Bryn’s heart. First Sinbad, and now Dermott! She still hasn’t recovered from the embarrassment of Dermott not perching on her arm.
Rongar clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. He signed, “You must be hungry. Come, there’s still bread downstairs. Let’s eat.”
“Yeah!” Doubar exclaimed. “I feel hungry after all that emotion!” he winked at Sinbad.
“You never changed, have you Doubar?” Maeve teased.
Everyone, with the exception of Bryn, laughed.
At the table, they were having the time of their lives.
They talked about everything about Maeve. They talked about all the adventures the crew had shared with her, and as Bryn sat and became an unwilling witness to the affection the crew, especially Sinbad, was showering upon her nemesis, her wrath and fury was slowly intensifying, turning to a white-hot rage that needs to be released or else she would go insane.
She stood up, and then went closer to Maeve. “Um, Maeve, can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked.
Maeve looked at her, and then smiled. “Sure, Bryn.” She said. She dropped her bread and, without excusing herself, Maeve turned her back to the table and went with Bryn topside.
“What is it?” Maeve asked, once the door had been closed.
“I’d like to show you something.” Bryn hid her smile as she took the dagger out from her pocket. The dagger was made out of an elephant’s husk, the handle dyed to a golden hue whereas the blade itself glinted under the sun’s bright rays. Gems of different sorts adorned the front and the back of the handle. This is it! My winning moment!
Maeve’s eyes widened. “Oh, wow.” She said. “It’s beautiful! Can I hold it?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, please.” She looked at Bryn. “I’ve never seen a dagger like this before!”
“Okay.” Bryn said. But as she placed it at Maeve’s hand, she “accidentally” cut her on the thumb.
“Owww!” Maeve said, bringing the bleeding finger on her lips and sucking out the blood.
“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry.” Bryn said, trying to soothe her. She tried to conceal her laughter at the picture Maeve made.
“It’s okay. It’s my fault anyway.” Maeve said. Suddenly, she felt nauseated. Her vision swirled.
“Bryn, please, call Sinbad…” she fell to the floor, unconscious.
Bryn stared with glee at the heap on her feet. “This is going great. Oh, so, so great.” She lightly kicked Maeve’s side with her foot, and then whispered, “Why, miss goody-two shoes is stupid enough to trust someone she barely knows! Wrong move, Maeve. This act of stupidness will definitely get you killed.” After a few minutes of just standing there, she went into her act. She took her time going downstairs, but she managed to look as though she had been hurrying herself. “Sinbad, quick!” she yelled.
Sinbad stood up, alarmed. “Bryn, what is it? What’s wrong?’ His blue eyes went wide.
Bryn made frantic gestures with her hands. “Maeve… she… topside… she fell unconscious…”
Sinbad wasted no time. He dashed upstairs, covering four steps at a time. The others did the same.
As soon as he opened the door, Sinbad ran to where Maeve was lying. He picked her up and brought her to her cabin. Firouz was close behind, and when Sinbad laid Maeve down on her bed, he was there to check and to see what was wrong. “Maeve, dear, are you okay?” Firouz asked as he opened her eyelids. But he didn’t get any answer.
Sinbad grabbed Bryn by the arm. “What happened to her?” he asked, sounding a little rough.
“I don’t know.” Bryn said, shrinking a little bit when she saw Sinbad’s eyes. “We were just talking there, and the next thing I know…”
“Sinbad!” Doubar said, opening the door to Maeve’s cabin. “Look what I found upstairs!” he raised the dagger.
Bryn watched, alarmed, as Doubar gave it to Sinbad. Sinbad released his hold on Bryn before he took it by the handle, and then he looked at Bryn. “Do you own this, Bryn?”
Bryn shook her head. “No,”
Sinbad was about to ask her something else when Maeve moaned. Instantly, he was at her side. “Maeve? Maeve?”
Maeve struggled to open her eyes, though it proved to be a difficult task. Every part of her body ached so much, but the part that ached the most was her hand.
“Sinbad…” she whispered, but then stopped. Even her voice is painful.
“Don’t waste your energy, Maeve. Just rest.” Firouz ordered her, and then ushered everyone outside.
“No! I will not leave her!” Sinbad said vehemently as the physician dared to push him outside of Maeve’s cabin.
“Sinbad, she needs to rest. I believe that she is in great pain and sleeping would help sedate the pain.” Firouz explained, hoping that Sinbad would understand it.
“But why is she in pain, Firouz?” Sinbad asked.
Firouz shook his head. “My examination proved to be inconclusive,” he admitted. “I see nothing on her, no bumps or bruises, though I saw a tiny wound on her thumb. Must be a prick wound, but aside from that, nothing.”
Sinbad closed his eyes and breathed aloud. He looked back at the figure on the bed. “Is she going to be all right?” he asked again.
“As I have said, my friend, I knew not for sure if she would be,” Firouz looked at Maeve and then back at Sinbad, “but I sure pray to the gods she would recover fast and easy.”
Sinbad placed a hand on Firouz’s shoulder. “Can’t you give her anything? Can’t you even help ease her pain?”
Firouz sighed. The burden was really on him now. “I don’t think anything I conjured would help, Sinbad. I’m sorry.”
Sinbad patted his shoulder. “It’s okay. You did your best, and it’s all that matters.” He dragged a chair from under the table and sat beside Maeve’s bed. He looked at Firouz. “Please, Firouz, leave us for a while.”
Firouz nodded, and then walked away, closing the door gently as he departed.
Sinbad picked up Maeve’s hand, tears falling down on his face without him even noticing it. “I can’t believe I found you, Maeve, but to lose you again…”
Suddenly, Maeve opened her eyes and coughed violently. She sat up, coughing, her hand placed on her mouth. She lay back, exhausted, and as she opened her hand Sinbad saw that it was laced with blood. Sinbad stared in horror at the mass of dark red liquid, and then glanced at her face. She was so pale, and a thin trace of blood was evident on one side of her mouth. Sinbad stood up and then tore a cloth from the bedding. He wiped away the blood from her hands and her face. Maeve looked at him.
“How are you feeling?” Sinbad asked.
Maeve smiled slightly, but then coughed again. After that she whispered, “Pain… so much pain…”
Sinbad used his index finger and traced her face, trying to soothe her. “Do you want me to get you anything?”
Maeve shook her head. “No… don’t leave…stay…”
“Of course.” Sinbad said to her. “I would not leave your side, Maeve. Don’t worry about that.”
Maeve nodded and then drifted back to sleep.
After a few days…
“Doubar, why are you the one holding the steer? Where is Sinbad?” Bryn queried.
Doubar looked at her. “He’s down there with Maeve.” He said quietly.
“Again?” Bryn said. “He’s been there for a week!”
“I know. But I believe he would even stay there a little longer, just to be with Maeve.”
Suddenly, a very worn-looking Firouz entered.
“So how is she?” Doubar asked.
Firouz sighed. “Not good.” He looked at Doubar, and then at Bryn. “She’s very sick. Whatever has gotten into her system had worked its way up on her so well that she is so weak at the moment.” He took a deep breath, and then exhaled. He looked at Doubar with tears shining from his eyes. “I don’t think she’s going to make it another day.” He whispered, before hanging his head. Never before had he felt so useless, so pathetic. Before, he was the only one who could do almost the impossible, but now he had failed in the one task of saving a dear friend’s life. He is worthless, as a friend, and most definitely as a physician.
Doubar turned his eyes away from his friend and focused on the sea. He was afraid to speak, for if he did then the others will know that he is on the verge of tears. Maeve had been a little sister to him. She is the one woman who had changed his thoughts about women, and he loved her dearly because she had shown much affection to his brother Sinbad, and because she is such a real firebrand. He loved her for her spirit. All of them do.
Bryn looked from Doubar and then to Firouz. “But what about Sinbad?” she managed to ask. Why are you all concerned about that witch? Don’t you know you would all be better when only one sorceress is around? When only I am around?
Firouz spoke up. “He’s ill himself. He had neither eaten nor slept during the times he was by her side. I think this whole ordeal is taking a toll upon himself.” He stated sadly.
Bryn clutched her chest, fear slowly encircling her heart. “What…what do you mean…?” Are you telling me he’s wasting his life whilst staying at her side?
“Sinbad… he loves her, lass.” Doubar said. “He could not bear to see her suffer like that. No one among us could.”
“But he managed it well when she was gone!” she defended. And don’t you dare tell that stupidness in my face!
“Gone, Bryn, but not dying.” Firouz said. “Doubar is right. Sinbad feels as though he could do something for her, but he couldn’t. no one could do anything to help her. He could not bear to see her in so much pain. He feels useless, worthless.”
“But what if… what if she dies?” Bryn asked. And she definitely will, eventually.
Both men stiffened. They could not even think of that possible truth. “Then he would die with her.” Firouz said.
“He’s dying already.” Doubar whispered only to himself.
Bryn shook her head. This is not what was supposed to happen! She must only be the one to die! Not Sinbad! With a gasp she ran out to the deck.
Sinbad stared dully at Maeve’s form. She was so weak, he could tell from the veins that had protruded from her face and neck. She had become so thin, since she could not move at all without bearing that unbearable pain, and thus, she could not eat properly. Sinbad clutched at her hand tighter. Sometimes he wished he was the one suffering, not her. She had done nothing wrong to deserve this kind of fate. A tear found its way on Sinbad’s cheek. He hastily wiped it away with the back of his hand.. He had wanted her to come back, because he wanted her to be with him for the rest of his life. But if she does come back only to suffer like this, then he wished she had never come back at all. Sinbad hung his head. He knew he would give his own life in exchange for Maeve’s. he was willing to share her pain, if this could help her condition at all.
Suddenly a ball of dark light appeared on top of Maeve. Sinbad looked at it as it took shape, becoming smaller and smaller. With his free hand he touched it. Then, he felt a very eerie feeling creep over him. He saw a vision. it was of Bryn, on that day Maeve had returned. Bryn taking a dagger from a woman, Bryn wounding Maeve on the thumb, Bryn laughing slightly at Maeve’s unconscious form. Sinbad’s eyes turned ice cold. Bryn was the culprit behind all this. He gently laid back Maeve’s hand, and silently walked out of her cabin. With large strides he was up at the deck in a very short period of time. He saw Bryn standing over the railing.
“Bryn!” He yelled, while walking towards her.
Bryn looked at him, smiling. But then, she frowned as she noticed the look of pure wrath on his face. Suddenly she felt afraid. “What’s wrong, Sinbad?” she queried cautiously.
Sinbad could hardly contain his anger, but instead of hurting her, he just shouted at her. “You’re the ‘what’s wrong’!” he thundered.
The others appeared because they have heard Sinbad shouting. They watched in shock as Sinbad confronted a very confused-looking Bryn.
Bryn paled. “I don’t think I know what you mean…”
Sinbad walked away from her slightly; he needed to release his anger, he need to channel it out. So he punched and nearly broke one of the posts that held the sail.
Bryn visibly jumped at his display of violence. Doubar marched his way onto his brother. “Control yourself, man! What is it?”
Sinbad raked his hand on his hair, and then pointed at Bryn. “She is the cause of everything. She’s the reason why Maeve is suffering!” he shouted again.
Firouz went to comfort Bryn, who was now crying openly. He glared at Sinbad. “Sinbad, you’re frustrated, I understand that, but what I don’t understand is why you’re lashing out your anger at Bryn! She’s innocent!” he said.
Sinbad looked at Firouz. “If you knew what she did, I don’t think you’ll call her that again, Firouz.” He said. He glared at Bryn. “Bryn! Tell them what you did! Tell them!”
Bryn shook her head, and then took two steps back.
“No…” she moaned, tears falling incessantly from her eyes. One look at him and she can tell he already knows what she had done. But how could he have possibly known?
Sinbad stomped to where Bryn was, but Firouz only held him back. “I will tell all of you what she did. She poisoned Maeve!” he said.
Doubar looked at Sinbad, his eyes wide. “What do you mean, brother?”
Sinbad looked back at Doubar. “You saw the dagger, right? Apparently, that dagger belongs to Bryn, only she denied it. As it turned out, that dagger was laced with poison. And she,” he pointed at Bryn again, “deliberately wounded Maeve on the thumb, and that explains the prick wound you saw there, Firouz! She planned to kill Maeve! She wanted Maeve to suffer like hell, and now Maeve is indeed suffering like it!”
Firouz stared at Bryn. “Is that true?” he asked quietly.
Bryn stared at him. “I…”
“Answer him, witch!” Doubar yelled. “Tell him the truth, for you have deceived us long enough.”
Bryn gaped at Doubar. She had never heard him yell to anyone before. He had always been so gentle, so nice to her. But now…
“No point in denying it, Bryn!” Sinbad said. “We know the truth. You might as well tell us the whole story.”
Bryn gazed at Sinbad with teary eyes. “Yes, it’s true!” she yelled. “I did it! I did it!”
Firouz stepped away from Bryn. “Why?”
“Why? WHY?’ Bryn repeated. “It’s because of you!” She pointed at Sinbad.
“Remember the jasmines, Sinbad? They were from me, not from her! Apparently you were dreaming one night, when I sneaked in to put it in your room. You have dreamed that Maeve was the one placing the flowers there, when in fact, I was the one!” Bryn ranted. She continued on like a mad woman. “I don’t think you have figured it out, but I love you, Sinbad! I LOVE YOU! I don’t want her here because I know that it is she you love, not me! It is she that you want to spend your life with! That’s why I want her gone! That’s why I want her…”
“Dead?” Sinbad added coldly. “Is that it?”
“Yes!” Bryn admitted. “Yes! I want her dead!”
“Is that the way you repay us for doing everything for you, Bryn? Is this your payment for our help, for adopting you, for treating you as a member of this crew? Killing our precious friend?” Doubar asked coldly.
Bryn sniffed. She looked at Sinbad. She pleaded with her eyes. “Please understand, Sinbad. I did it because I love you! I did it because I thought if she was out of your life for good then you would love me!”
Sinbad’s face was hard. He looked at Bryn with disgust. “Do you think now that I know of what you had done, I could possibly love you?” he asked.
“Sinbad…” Bryn’s face was contorted with grief.
“How could I possibly love a woman like you, Bryn? You are worse than Rumina.” He uttered her name as though he was saying a sworn enemy’s name instead.
“But Sinbad…”
Bryn never got the chance to finish what she had wanted to say because at that moment, Rongar appeared. He signed out something about Maeve’s condition. Sinbad paled, but nodded at him. He looked back at Bryn. “If anything goes wrong with Maeve, I better not see you in here. Otherwise, I may have no control of what I would do to you.” He said in a cold, hard voice. Then he walked downstairs, followed closely by Doubar, who first threw at her a look of pure hate.
Firouz stood there for a moment, looking at Bryn with unbelieving eyes. Was everything he had heard about her true? Did she really intentionally tried to kill Maeve? How could this kind, warm-hearted woman conceal such an ugly behavior? He shook his head, and then followed Sinbad downstairs.
Bryn fell in a graceful heap on the floor. Now everything was really hopeless. The man she loved hated her, her friends loathed her, despised her. How could she make everything correct when she had really messed up this time? And what was worse was that an innocent was suffering because of her. Bryn sniffed again. Yes, Maeve was innocent. She did not deserve the fate Bryn had inflicted on her. She had shown her affection on the first time they met and what did Bryn do? She caused her to slowly die a torturous death. How could she do this? How could she?
“Oh Sinbad.” She said. Then she cried and cried and cried till no tear came to her eye.
Sinbad rushed to Maeve’s cabin. He opened the door, and his eyes fell on the bed. And then, he knew. He knew it. Oh god, it was too late. He hurried to her bed, and grasped her hand. It was stiff and starting to get cold. Her breathing had stopped. Sinbad closed his eyes as if it could shield him from the truth. Maeve was dead. Sinbad let out a broken breath as he traced her face. He felt tears form in his eyes and he let them fall from his eyes into the bed, into Maeve’s hand, and into her face as he bent to kiss her lips. Sinbad felt as though his heart was breaking; his soul was shattering. His breath became haggard, it was too difficult to breathe, as though his lungs were unable to take in air properly. Sinbad felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Doubar, tears in his own eyes as well. “I’m sorry, brother,” he said, his voice hoarse, his face contorted with misery and grief. Sinbad nodded, and then looked back at Maeve. Her mouth was slightly open, slightly moist because of his kiss. Her eyes were closed, never to open forever. Her face was pale, as well as her neck, her arm, her hand that he held. Sinbad sobbed. There was nothing else to do but grieve of her untimely passing. “Oh, Maeve, Maeve…” he whispered. “Why? Why were you taken away from me? Why did you leave me again?” he said, kissing her hand. Sinbad choked with unshed tears.
Firouz came in, only to see the teary faces of Rongar and Doubar, who were already mourning. He looked at Maeve. In two steps he was at her side. Firouz’s eyes filled with tears as he realized that Maeve was already gone. his heart was filled with guilt for he knew he had done nothing to save his friend.
The only sound audible from the room was of Sinbad’s crying. His eyes were already red and swollen, but still he cried. How could he ever live for tomorrow? How could he possibly breathe if the reason for his existence is already gone? Suddenly everything had lost it’s meaning. Suddenly everything lost its sense. He stared at Maeve’s face, though it was causing him to slowly die inside. He could never see her smile at him, or glare at him. He could never see the fire in her warm brown eyes, the only eyes that he could drown himself into. He could never hear her greet him, or argue with him, or yell at him like she used to. He could never feel her warmth, her kindness, her love. She simply was not with him anymore. She was gone, forever, never to come back, no matter and wherever he tried to search for her. Suddenly his heart hammered a different tune. Anger. Hate. Guilt. Anger and hate he felt for Bryn, for she was responsible for all of this. Guilt he felt for himself, for he had done nothing to save her. Sinbad rose, his eyes flashing. He grabbed the dagger that was at the bedside.
Doubar knew what his brother was thinking when he picked up that knife. No matter how much he wanted Bryn to suffer because of what she had done to Maeve, he knew that it would not bring Maeve back from the dead. He stepped in front of his brother in an attempt to put some sense into his mind.
“Let me go, Doubar.” Sinbad said, his voice low with undisguised emotion.
“And what would you do, Sinbad?” Doubar asked.
“I’ll inflict pain on her, the same way she did to Maeve.”
“And what good will that bring?” Firouz stepped in. “Will it bring justice to Maeve?”
“Yes! Yes it will!” Sinbad shouted.
“No it won’t, brother, and we both know it.” Doubar had to swallow hard before he continued. “Maeve is already dead, brother. Do you think her soul would be in peace if she knew what you have done? Listen to yourself, man! You are not thinking clearly! Your grief had obviously clogged up your reasoning!”
Sinbad turned, out of Doubar’s grasp. Then he faced them again. “Look at her, Doubar. Look at her! She died a very horrible death. She died a very painful death! A death that only a murderer like Bryn deserves! Do you think I would be able to live another day knowing that the person who killed Maeve is free? That she walks in my ship, unscathed, unharmed, unpunished for what she had done? I maybe a compassionate man, but I cannot let this simply pass!”
“We know that, little brother.” Doubar said. “But please, examine what you are saying. You are saying that you want to kill Bryn. Is that the solution? Is that the way things should be handled?” Doubar grabbed Sinbad by the arm. “Brother, let us handle things in the proper way. We would head to the nearest town, then hand Bryn to the authorities. Surely, they will know what to do with that woman.”
Sinbad shook his head. He darted a glance at Maeve’s body, and his hatred towards Bryn doubled. “I can’t believe my own brother would say such things.” He muttered low. “You are saying that we will give her to the authorities? And what if the judgment they pass unto her is only imprisonment? We would be lucky if its enslavement. No, that’s not enough, it will never be enough!” He clenched his fists. “She deserves the death Maeve had gone through. No, she deserves worse than that! A hundred times worse!”
“Brother…” Doubar tried again, but stopped as he saw Sinbad’s hand shot up in front of him.
“Okay, Doubar.” Sinbad said, slumping in the ground. His knees simply couldn’t keep him upright anymore.
“Just leave me here. Please, I beg of you brother. Just leave me with Maeve for a moment.”
“Alright, brother, alright.” Doubar said. He glanced at Firouz and Rongar, silently telling them to follow him outside of Maeve’s cabin. Rongar patted Sinbad on the shoulder, and Ferrous did the same, but they got no response from their friend. Defeated, they went outside and closed the door gently.
Sinbad sat there, quiet, motionless. He looked upon an empty space, thinking of Maeve, of her face, her eyes, her smile, and on how he would never see her again. It would be only in his dreams will he be able to see her alive again. What he would give to see her, to join her, to be with her. Then his eyes fell on the dagger. His mind whirled. No longer thinking logically, he reached for the dagger, and slit his wrist open. Blood poured out from the wound, and Sinbad stared at it, oblivious to the pain that was now racking through his body, but on the thought that he will now join Maeve.
Before he lost his consciousness, and probably his life as well, Sinbad thought he heard a woman cry
“No!”
Doubar was concerned for his brother. It was now a whole day after they left him inside Maeve’s cabin, so that he could grieve alone. Doubar himself grieved, and so did everyone else aboard the Nomad, of Maeve’s death. But this sailor knows that no one took it more than Sinbad himself. Sinbad, who had changed so much when Maeve left. But now that Maeve was dead, he feared of what would become of his brother.
Doubar also noticed that the witch has not been around lately, which was rather good, for Doubar does not know what he would do to her. He may not control his feelings and might commit a murder that he will definitely not feel guilty of.
He let another half an hour pass, and when Sinbad did not appear still, he decided to go there himself. It was now time for Maeve’s burial in the sea. He pounded on the door.
“Brother,” he called. When he got no answer, he pounded, a little heavier this time.
“Sinbad!” when he still got no response, he went topside and asked Rongar for the keys. Rongar went down to his cabin to retrieve the keys, and when they did, they went to Maeve’s cabin, where Firouz was already waiting. Rongar inserted the keys to the lock, and they turned the knob.
The scene that unfolded before their eyes shocked them, almost bringing their hearts to a full halt altogether. There lay their beloved captain, brother to Doubar, a friend to both Rongar and Firouz, dead.Blood from the wound on his wrist had formed a small pool around him. His eyes were open, though it cannot see anymore. Doubar took small steps towards the corpse of his brother. Tears flowed from his eyes ashe looked at Sinbad. The brother he had raised, the brother he had protected, the brother that was his sole family, was now gone. A moan escaped from Doubar’s lips as he closed Sinbad’s eyelids with his hand. He grabbed Sinbad’s corpse and hugged it tight, unmindful of the blood that splashed on his shirt.
“Sinbad, Sinbad, what have you done?” he whispered to his unhearing ear. Tears fell on Sinbad’s tresses.
Rongar, who was silently watching the scene, began to cry. Sinbad had been a great friend to them all. So was Maeve. Now they were both gone never again to set foot on the Nomad. Rongar beated his chest with his fist, a sign of deep mourning.
Firouz closed his eyes, and then sobbed. He had never thought that the pain of losing Maeve would make Sinbad take his own life. He had never thought that Sinbad was capable of such a thing, Sinbad who was so vibrant of life, Sinbad who loved life more than anything. Apparently, Sinbad’s love for Maeve was so great that it caused him to willingly join her on the other side.
Doubar rocked his brother’s body back and forth. “Oh Sinbad, Sinbad,” he whispered still. “Why did you leave?”
Bryn sulked at the corner, her knees in front of her, her arms engulfing them. She had known what had happened to Sinbad, that he was now dead, that he had taken his life with the dagger that was only meant to kill Maeve. Now, two people are dead, and it was because of her. Never before had she felt so much anguish, self-loathe and guilt inside her heart. Never before had she felt this evil, this wickedness, this selfishness, as she was able to have her hands stained with blood of the two people who had done nothing wrong but love each other truthfully. Bryn could no longer cry, because she had no more tears to cry. She had spilt them all when she had heard Sinbad utter, “I may have no control of what I would do to you.”
Now how could she make things right? How could she possibly bring things back the way they were? How could she resurrect two people? Suddenly a gleam appeared in her eyes. She stood up. Bryn thought, Since my powers are drawn from nature, I can use my life force and drain this body of energy, and send it to Sinbad and Maeve! She walked back and forth, thinking of nothing but doing what she could to atone for her sins. I may die, that’s for sure, but it’s the least I could offer for what I have done. Bryn raised her hands above her head, looked up to the ceiling of her room, and then shouted, “To thee I ascend my soul, to nature I return the essence of my being! Let the heavens destroy this body, so that the two I have wronged may receive my energy!” A swirling gust of wind engulfed her. Though the power that enveloped her is obviously strong, Bryn never felt afraid. May your souls forgive me for what I have done. The wind swallowed her, and Bryn disappeared, both body and soul. What remains of her is her essence, small bright halos that disappeared and then reappeared at Maeve’s cabin. These halos separated into twos, the half going to Sinbad’s body, the other going into Maeve’s.
Bryn is no longer when her essence was swallowed by both Sinbad and Maeve. She was now dead.
But still, so were Maeve and Sinbad.
Her sacrifice had been in vain.
The End….?