This takes place a few years after "Out There." Sinbad has been rescued by the Guardians and been
healed. He's been missing for about one year and six months at this time. Part 2 of a series.
A Simple Meeting or a Twist of Fate?
The Island of Joy
Sinbad was walking through the forest, marveling at the large, leafy trees that were above him. The
unusual flora and fauna of the island filled his senses. Then the silence was broken because there,
floating on the breeze, was one of the richest, truest alto voices Sinbad had ever heard. It struck a chord inside his soul. *Marvelous. I must find out where it's coming from. He followed the sound to a secluded area of the woods. There was a waterfall flowing into a pool, the flowers surrounding the pool were unlike any he'd ever seen. And then his eyes saw her, a lovely maiden with long, brown hair and the darkest eyes he'd even seen. He could tell she was unaware of his presence and he settled back, watching, listening to her voice.
"I lose my way
No one cares
The words I say
No one hears.
My life it seems
Is a world of dreams
Deep in the night
You'll find me
Dream and you're right
Behind me.
Stay, if you'll just stay
We'll dream the night away
Dreams to dream
In the dark of the night
When the world goes wrong
I can still make it right
I can see so far in my dreams
Somewhere in my dreams
I'll follow my dreams
Until they come true
There is a star
Waiting to guide us
Shining inside us
When we close our eyes
Come with me
You will see what I mean
There's a world inside
No one else ever sees
You will go
So far in my dreams
Somewhere in my dreams
Your dreams will come true
Don't let go
If you stay close to me
In my dreams tonight
You will see what I see
Dreams to dream
As near as can be
Inside you and me
They always come true."
She sighed and gracefully rose from the ground. Sinbad stood up as well and made his way slowly
towards her, "Hello. I'm…" She looked up, and fled like a startled deer. "Wait! Please wait, I'm not
going to hurt you." But she was gone as though she'd never been. *How odd. What could I have
done to elicit such a response? He looked into the calm water and saw himself, *No, I look the
same. Still have the blue eyes and fly away black hair. What's this? He bent down and picked up a
long white scarf, *Well, she'll be back for this sometime, I think I'll be back tomorrow. Sinbad
nodded and took the scarf with him, just in case.
Bryn practically flew through the forest to the safety of her room onboard. Her cheeks flushing,
*how embarrassing! Oh, to be caught singing by that strange young man! How will I be able to
explain to Al'tom why I was exploring when I was told to stay aboard the ship? She groaned and
buried her head in her arms. *But he was cute. Oh, what am I thinking? He's the first man I've ever
seen. Having lived twenty-one years aboard the Guardian's ship, she was resigned to the strangeness of her existence. Suddenly she sat straight up and looked around, *Oh, no! My scarf! I must have left it by the waterfall. Bryn was pulled from her thoughts by Al'tom's voice.
"My dear, it is time for your final exam." She sighed and went to meet her favorite teacher. He was a tall, thin man who wore a dark robe that covered him from head to toe.
Bryn decided to take the bull by the horn, "Al'tom, there's something I need to tell you. I went onto the island today." He turned to face her, those all seeing dark eyes unnerving her. "I didn't mean any harm, but I couldn't resist. I didn't think anyone would be there, we landed so I figured the island was deserted. But I was singing and a young man heard me. I ran away once I became aware of his presence, but I lost my scarf."
"What did the man look like?" Al'tom spoke calmly though inside he was worried, *Don't let all our
plans fall apart!
"I didn't get much of a look but he had dark hair and really blue eyes." *The kind of blue eyes that
could charm any woman out of all consciousness! "He had an awful redhead band on."
Al'tom relaxed and smiled, "Don't worry, he is a friend. We rescued him a while ago and will return
him as soon as we can. He will not remember anything. Now hurry along to your lessons." Bryn
went away, her mind considerably relieved knowing that he was friend not foe.
Al'tom went to find Winnie, their head leader. He found her relaxing in the sauna, "Madam, forgive
my intrusion but about Bryn and Sinbad?"
"Have they met?"
"Not exactly but…"
"You believe they will." It was not a question but a statement, "This is excellent, we can rely on him to keep her safe." The tall, angelic woman rose from her seat to address Al'tom fully. "There is still so much she has to learn, and much he has to prove. If we are to trust her into his care, we must know of a surety that he will not fail."
For the next few days Bryn avoided going outside the ship, even though Al'tom said that there was
nothing to fear, she stayed inside. Finally though the bright sunshine drew her out doors and she
gloried in the fresh air. Running carelessly through the forest, laughing freely as a child does. Sinbad saw her, *Finally. I was beginning to despair ever seeing her again. He watched as she danced to a tune only she could hear, until she couldn't hold it in any longer. She started humming the melody and the wind picked up on the tune and started playing along. Then one by one, the plants pitched in, some high and some low. He recognized the old Celtic tune from one he heard on his travels with Aiden, it was called "Catch the Moments as They Come". At the end of her dance she curtsied to her "audience" and Sinbad came up silently behind her. He grabbed her arm before she could move away. "Thank goodness you showed up, I was beginning to think I'd never see you again." She stared up in shock, he grinned. "You know, for a woman who has a gorgeous singing voice and
bursts into song and dance with the elements, you don't say much."
She giggled. "You can let go of me. I'm not going anywhere."
"That's better, I was beginning to think I had only imagined your beautiful voice. And I don't intend to let you go because I'm afraid you'll disappear into the mist as you did before. Oh, I almost forgot." With an elaborate bow, he handed her scarf over. Up close Sinbad saw that she was about as tall as he was and seemed to be his age. Her hair was not as long as he had thought, and more chocolate, than muddy water, brown. "Now, tell me something about yourself."
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
"There isn't much to tell, really. I was born in the village of Ballyloughlan, it's in the Eire. My mother fled there after leaving my father, the evil sorcerer Turok. She had the power of white magic flowing within her veins and should have seen through his deception. But love has a way of blinding eyes. After Rumina was born mother realized the true extent of father's evil. She didn't expect to get pregnant again, so she was very surprised when she found out that she was with child two years after Rumina's birth. It was an odd thing. Anyway, she fled to the Eire and I was born. About three months later, a terrible storm destroyed Ballyloughlan. That's when the Guardians picked me up, I've been with them for twenty-one years."
"That's quite a story. How do you feel about it all?"
"Trapped. I know that they are only trying to keep me safe until I've mastered my natural magic, but
I feel so useless. Enough about me, who are you?"
"I'm Sinbad. And you would be?"
"Bryn."
"My story is very simple compared to yours. My father was a merchant, he and mother died at sea. I was lucky, my older brother Doubar rescued me. Master Dim-Dim raised us. I had an interesting
childhood, travelling with Dim-Dim. It was on one of our stays on the island on Manti that I met Lea, my first love." Sinbad didn't question why he was sharing all this with Bryn, he just knew that he was comfortable with her. More at peace than he'd been in a long time. He smiled down at her, watching as the breeze lifted her hair and blew it around. "She had an accident and was killed. After that, I buried myself in studying the sea, trying to master her. But after my stay with Aiden and the Adventurers, I realized that to master the sea was to love life and adventure. I let go of my control and just enjoyed life and the company of friends. There was an accident and I awoke here, I didn't know what was going on. Then I heard your song, it comforted me. Would you sing again for me?"
She looked at him, "I don't know. I don't usually sing for others."
"Why ever not?" He drew closer and stopped her hands from fidgeting.
"I feel silly, and sometimes what I sing are sad songs. Basically, I sing whatever pops into my head." Bryn heard Al'tom call her. "I've got to go."
"But I will see you again, right?"
"If I can get away, but don't get your hopes up."
Al'tom called more urgently, "Bryn! My child, where are you?"
"Coming!" She got up, Sinbad put his hand on her shoulder.
Bryn turned to face him, "Tomorrow afternoon. Meet me here."
"I'll try." She smiled, then ran away.
"Until tomorrow, my love." Sinbad softly called after her fleeing figure.
The months passed swiftly in this manner, Bryn and Sinbad became very good friends. On a clear
morning, Bryn waited for Sinbad. *He's leaving today. I'll miss him. Sinbad saw her sitting on the clean sand, patiently waiting for him and he smiled. *I'm going to miss seeing her, I wish there was someway to prolong my stay. Sinbad walked over and paused when he heard her singing softly,
"Love is real
Real is love
Love is feeling
Feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved
Love is touch
Touch is love
Love is reaching
Reaching love
Love is asking to be loved
Love is you
You and me
Love is knowing
You can be
Love is free
Free is love
Love is living
Living love
Love is wanting to be free
Love is knowing
We will be."
"You've felt it to." Bryn started at his voice, right behind her. She jumped up and his arms encircled her waist, turning her towards him. He gently bent his head and tenderly kissed her. "Oh, my Bryn. I've wanted to do this ever since I first heard you."
"Because of my voice?" She impishly asked.
"Because you are you and I love you."
"I love you, too. I don't know how or why it happened, it just did."
Sinbad took her left hand in his, "Palm to palm, heart to heart, we are one and always will be." He
softly quoted the ancient vow. A soft light formed around Sinbad, separating him from Bryn. He
looked into her questioning eyes, "You are mine and I will find you." He disappeared from the island and Bryn was alone once more.
"All is ready, madam." Al'tom said as he observed their parting.
"Good. Bring her to me, I will finish her training."
"Was it wise to let them fall in love?"
"Yes, they were made and meant for each other."
The End.
"Love" is from Kenny Loggins' "Return To Pooh Corner" c.d. Lifestyles Celtic River provided the
song, "Catch the Moments as They Come." "Dreams to Dream" is from "An American Tale: Fievel Goes West."