What is the Purpose? What is the purpose ~ Part 1
By Noelerin

Author's note: This is part one-hour challenge and part sequel to my "Everything Has A Purpose". You do need to know that story to understand what is going on in this one. This story has definite pairings. Bryn being a miko (a medium) refers to something Tetsu once said of her.

Bryn sat out on the deck, flipping idly through a book, her mind not really there. It was deeply buried in a memory of the night before. They had stopped off in Rongar's village for his sister's wedding. It had been such a beautiful ceremony and she had been flattered when Zorah had asked her to be a bridesmaid. Then there was the party; she'd danced with the guys until she'd decided to go back to the Nomad. Sinbad had walked with her, she blushed as she remembered the walk. Ever since he'd come to terms with the past, he'd been different.

Life was good, she mused as she studied her family. A twinge of guilt hit her as she remembered that she still had something to tell them, something about her past. She sighed and whispered, "How am I going to tell them?"

"Tell us what?" A voice asked from her side. Bryn shaded her eyes as she looked up and saw Sinbad standing there, a teasing look in his deep blue eyes.

"Nothing, Sinbad." She lied, knowing that he wouldn't be able to see the truth in her eyes in the sunlight.

He sat down, studying her carefully. The captain finally said bluntly, holding her chin so that her eyes never left his. "That's a lie." Sinbad knew he'd hurt her but he didn't really care. He'd already lost someone he cared for because she'd been too stubborn to tell him the truth. He wasn't going to lose another. He held it for a moment longer before letting go and standing up. "If you want to talk, you know where to find me."

Bryn stayed where she was, watching him disappear below. "Am I really that transparent?"

"Only to Sinbad. But then, he's made a habit of studying you." Firouz answered her question as he passed by with Rongar.

Rongar stopped and signed that she should go talk to Sinbad before her secret backfired on her.

"Where are you guys going?" She asked, thinking over their words.

"Into town, I plan to stay with Rongar while he acts as Regent for Zorah." Firouz walked off.

"And the fact that Velda will be in town giving a lecture has nothing to do with it." Bryn chuckled.

Rongar smiled widely, turning to follow him. They quickly disappeared in the crowd working on the docks.

She sighed, putting the book down. "Guess I'd better go talk to him. I hope he doesn't wake Doubar up when he hears what I have to say." Taking the book with her, she made her way down the stairs. Halfway to the captain's room, she turned around and went into her own. She dropped the book on the desk, then lay down and stared up at the ceiling. "I just can't do it."

"You know, I never figured you for a coward." Sinbad watched in amusement when she sat up, eyes wide with shock. He came towards her slowly and sat on the bed, concern in his eyes. "It's not like you to let your guard down, Bryn."

She responded, rather defensively. "You're the one who said I'd find you."

"I got tired of waiting." He shrugged, hand reaching out to smooth back her hair.

"It's only been ten minutes." Was her tart reply.

"Actually, it's been two years." She remained silent, but he couldn't tell if it was an angry silence or not. He decided to take a chance. "Bryn, I know you know more than you are telling. It's in your eyes, the words you say, and don't forget the bracelets. They bind us." That got her attention, he could tell from the way her body tensed as his words sunk in.

"You don't know what you're talking about." Bryn glared at him. "I know…"

"What the bracelets mean." He interrupted. "So, tell me."

"They mean that we died." Her words were blunt. "We died and a power higher than us had to bring us back. They mean that we knew each other before we met on the island. We became comrades, preparing for a greater battle than any of the ones we've fought in before."

Sinbad nodded. "But what about the most important part."

She went still. "What do you mean?"

"The part where you tell me that you're Rumina's half-sister." His voice was calm and accepting.

"How did you know? Do you want me to leave?" Bryn's eyes were wide, but there was nothing in his expression that gave her reason to worry.

"How did I know, I'm not sure. The two of you have a similar look. And no two people could share such beautiful eyes. As for the other," He tugged her hand until she was sitting up and looking directly into his eyes. "You are not your sister and you aren't your father. You're Bryn and nothing like them. No, I don't want you to leave. You belong here, Bryn."

Her head nodded, then a thought occurred to her. "Sinbad, what about the others? Do they know?"

"They do, we talked about it one night. Doubar is a little wary about you but he'll come around." He quickly went on, seeing the worry in her eyes. "He will because he knows you. Hold on to that thought if you can, Bryn."

"I'll try, Sinbad." Bryn stopped and struggled to breathe. She fell back onto the bed, shaking as coughs began to tear through her.

"Doubar! Find Firouz or Velda!" He hollered, watching her struggle helplessly.

"MAEVE!" Bryn hollered, her voice cracking on the name as she slid into a coma. Deep gashes appeared all over her body, turning the sheets she lay upon dark red. Her skin turned blue and she shivered, frozen to the bone, though it was a warm, sunny day.

Doubar had run out at Sinbad's cry and found Velda, bringing her immediately to the Nomad. She stood in the doorway and heard Bryn cry out a name she hadn't heard in years. Her face paled before she forced herself to shake off the past and move forward. The bag she carried was placed on the floor by her cot as she sat down, the doctor took over, shoving aside her past.

Sinbad moved out of the way, gratefully. He stood by his brother, cradling his bracelet in his hands, willing his strength into Bryn. He wondered though why she had called out to Maeve, someone she didn't know, instead of him, a friend she'd had since they'd received the bracelets. Was there some connection between the two?

Doubar moved behind his brother, placing a hand on his shoulder. He was concerned for Bryn, though his heart quailed about her past, the girl had become very dear to him.

Maeve:

Maeve struggled through the storm, grasping the trees with her frozen hands as she tried to move forward while the winds beat her back. Dim-Dim had disappeared from sight hours earlier, right before she was attacked. At least, that's what she thought happened. The events were as blurry as the snow flurries that flew in her face, out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a light glowing. Forcing her legs to move, she pushed through the snow, falling not once but several times before she reached the clearing.

The blizzard raged around the Utgard as the inhabitants huddled inside the main hall in front of a roaring fire. Their Skald held court, telling the tale of Sven's honorable death in battle and the brave Maeve who'd saved them. He froze as his eyes glanced around and saw a flash of bright color in the snow. He walked over to the shutters and looked out, just to make sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him.

No, there it was again, that flash of red against the pure white of the snow. "What do you see out there my friend. A beautiful Valkyrie?" There was a lot of good-natured laughter among his people.

Eyolf shrugged off the feeling and turned away. "Possibly for only a Valkyrie could survive in weather like this." Whatever it was presented no threat to them. "We brought Maeve to him, knowing that somehow she would rescue us. For Odin had promised that he would send the one who could." BANG! The sound of something hitting the door brought the story to an abrupt halt. They looked at each other then at the door in surprise.

Eyolf shrugged his shoulders, walking to the door. He cautiously leaned against it to hold it steady in the breeze and peered out into the howling storm. The sound of the wind was deafening and he barely heard the tiny sound of a sigh. He looked down and went pale with shock. Maeve lay in the snow, her dress in tatters around her. She was bloody and torn, as though Loki's vicious wolf Fenris had attacked her.

Their healer, Magenta, leapt to her feet and quickly pulled the wounded woman into the room. Eyolf struggled to shut the door as they moved her nearer to the fire. Magenta barked out orders, which were instantly obeyed. "I need something warm to wrap her up in. This dress has will never be the same. It's a good thing she was in that blizzard." She mused as she cut the dress off and cleaned the wounds.

"Are you crazy! That storm could have killed her!" Eyolf exclaimed harshly as he got a large bearskin blanket and handed it to Magenta.

She took it from him. "It killed any possible infection and held her fever back. See," she held up to Maeve's fingers, "they aren't frostbitten. I don't have to worry about amputation." Magenta efficiently wrapped Maeve in the blanket.

Maeve felt very hot and tried to shrug out of the blanket, but Magenta firmly kept it in place. When Maeve felt that barrier she reluctantly relaxed. She heard voices all around and instinctively moved towards a familiar one. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to place the accent, but the pain was too much and she was finally overcome and slipped into a deep sleep.

The night wore on as all took turns warming Maeve. Eyolf kept the closest watch on her. Magenta sighed as the sun came up and went down in the evening, this wasn't good. Maeve hadn't stirred or woken, her breath was too slow and it was coming in painful gasps at times. She would jerk around restlessly at times, then be still for long stretches of time. She was too pale and the wounds wouldn't seal, nothing she tried did any good.

The townspeople knew of Maeve from his stories. She was as courageous and powerful as a Valkyrie. She had shown true strength in the face of incredible danger. Maeve had also saved Eyolf and the men as Odin had promised. Indeed, this was a rare woman for their Sklar cared deeply for her.

Eyolf approached Magenta. "She's not any better, is she?" The look in her eyes gave her answer, "What are you going to do? She saved our lives, I must do the same for her."

"I can't do anything, something inside her mind is killing her. She's not putting up a great deal of fighting."

Maeve screamed. "NO, NOT AGAIN!" and started struggling furiously. Eyolf and Magenta grabbed her arms and legs, trying to soothe her. "DON'T MAKE ME GO THROUGH THIS! I CAN'T, I WON'T!" She jerked upright, though her eyes remained closed.

As Magenta touched her forehead, the pain she felt within the fevered mind struck her. She gasped, Eyolf looked at her in concern. "I'm fine. Stop her from hurting herself even more. He held Maeve and rocked her against his chest, murmuring soothing nonsense.

Maeve cried with gut wrenching sorrow, hitting his chest in frustration. "I'm so sorry, Bryn. I didn't mean for this to happen. It should've been me." As she settled down, Eyolf moved to put her on the bed but her hands gabbed his shirt and she murmured incoherently. She stirred restlessly, trying not to remember. Eyolf's hand softly brushed her hair and caressed her face. Maeve sighed softly, allowing the inevitable to happen.

"I'll be right here, Maeve." The Viking soothed, stroking her back, then he settled her more securely in his arms. Mag got a wet cloth and wiped Maeve's face. She pulled the lifeless red hair back into a loose braid.

Maeve stirred restlessly in Eyolf's arms until she felt something gentle wrap itself around her soul. It was familiar and healing, she relaxed under its influence. As the morning wore on, they were relieved that her fever was broken and freed her from the heavy robe. She settled down again after they had bathed and wrapped a lighter robe around her.

Magenta checked her wounds and smiled in satisfaction, they were finally healing properly. Eyolf caught that look and breathed a sigh of relief. "It shouldn't take long now." He nodded in understanding, then settled back down. "She's a lot stronger than you give her credit for."

"I know that." Eyolf looked at the bundle in his arms, relieved to see her sleeping more naturally. He began to pull away and she tensed, holding onto as much of him as she could. He sighed, sliding back down and pulling her into the curve of his body. "I'm right here. I won't be going anywhere anytime soon."

Mag hid a grin behind her hand and Eyolf glared at her. "I think she's rather attached to you, my boy." She teased gently, then yawned, rubbing her eyes.

"Not funny." Eyolf grumbled half-heartedly. Maeve was calm, content and resting peacefully in his arms and for that, he was grateful. "Good night, Mag."

"Night? It the middle of the day." She objected.

He smiled, tiredly. "But good night sounds better when you're planning to go to sleep."

"True." She murmured and went up to bed, calling down to him. "I pray that you and your friend will have a most restful night."

Peri:

Peri sat on the sand, watching the sky. Her dusky brow was wrinkled in confusion. The alignment of the stars was all wrong, and she felt something odd in the air. Plus, something that had been missing was returning to them. She stood, dusting off her ceremonial robe. "Time to go." Walking slowly, gracefully, she disappeared into the deepening night, leaving no trace of her presence behind.

Rumina:

Rumina shivered as she moved through the wreckage of her home, she felt so cold. A coldness that penetrated her to her very soul. On her arms, were faint bruises and scratches that she wasn't sure about. Nothing in the cave would do that, even with all this damage. She wondered how long she had been unconscious.

"I wonder how much time has passed?" She murmured and vaguely recalled an explosion, then there was nothing save the hallow emptiness inside her body. Something was missing, but she couldn't figure out what it was.

"You've finally rejoined us." Her father said, walking into their home. He was dressed in a dark robe, much like the ones he used to wear.

"How long..." She stopped, spitting out dried blood. Her eyes widened with in horror.

Turok moved towards her, helping her to the bed. He handed her a cup with some elixir in it. "This will help."

She drank it, gratefully. "How long was I out?"

"A little more than a year." He told her gently, easing her down and under the covers. He whispered, smoothing back her hair. "Sleep, my little one. Dream of nothing and everything."

"I saw Bryn, daddy." She mumbled. "She was alive."

Turok said nothing as he stared out over her head at the wall, a strange light in his eyes. The gentle visage of Turok dissolved, reveling one who'd been long dead. "Not for long. Soon, you will all know nothing. Starting with my slut of a daughter."

Nomad: Bryn stirred once during the night, sending out her power to the one who sought its help. But there was another person, crying in the night for her aid. Tentatively, she reached out and was rebuffed by some other force. * Rumina, my dear, beloved sister. What have you been doing to yourself?

Sinbad stroked her cheek, shivering as the coldness of her skin spread to his hand. "What do you see while you are so far away?" He got up and paced the room after a while, the nervous energy within forcing him into action. As he watched the sun rise in the sky, there was a sound and he turned, seeing Velda. The scene that followed froze him in his tracks.

As the sun began to crest the horizon, Bryn opened her eyes and saw Velda in the doorway. "Coral." She said, her voice was gentle and full of love for her old friend. The miko was unprepared for the tears that fell down the woman's cheeks and the urgency in her words of abject apology. She held out her arms to Velda, nearly falling off the bed at the force of the hug. "What's this all about?"

Velda/Coral couldn't think of anything to say, just kept babbling. Soon though, the magic that was Bryn's to give began to work its soothing way on her troubled heart. The young woman pulled away finally and looked at her. "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault that you died. If I hadn't been so stupid and listened to him, you wouldn't have survived. When we met in Scroff and you didn't know me, I knew that it was my punishment for killing you."

"Coral, you didn't do anything wrong. You were starving for your father's love. Believe me, I know that feeling." Bryn smiled, brushing away the tears.

"How can you? You had two fathers." Coral asked, resting her head on Bryn's shoulder.

She laughed, a little bitterly. "Ah, yes. One who loved me but favored my brothers. The other didn't even know I existed until I was born but didn't want me enough to come and get me? Yeah, they were great." Her tone was dry.

"But at least you know what its like not to have your father try to kill you." She whispered. "You just had a friend do it."

"The first part certainly is true. The second is not." There was a hint of steel in her words that was seldom, if ever, heard from her. She forced Coral to look at her. "You didn't kill me. I won't allow you to continue believing such garbage. You are no more responsible than I am. What happened was meant to be."

"You always were more level headed than you had any reason to be." A sultry voice commented. "This is a most welcome sight. Where have you been, girl?"

"Peri!" The two women squealed, then Bryn said with a large grin. "Get your butt over here, you lovely sight for my weary eyes."

"Oh, forgotten how to be a lady already?" She asked, doing as she was told to with an answering smile on her face. Her eyes were twinkling as she stood, looking down at them.

Bryn snorted, grabbing her arm and hauling her down onto the bed to join them. "I've never been lady. Everyone knows that."

"True. You've always been a glory hog." She teased.

"Oh, yeah. Give the credit to the one who deserves it." Bryn smirked.

Coral piped up. "Okay, where's our illustrious leader Maeve?"

The miko gasped in mock indignation, before her eyes fell as she remembered what she had seen. "She's in trouble, that's why I had all those wounds. I still have a connection with her and Rumina."

"What kind of trouble?" Peri asked, resting on Bryn's other shoulder.

"I don't really know, all I saw was a bunch of snow." Bryn shrugged. "There was a large man with her, but he wasn't the one who was threatening her. He seemed to be helping her. I just don't understand why she'd need the help, her magic is strong enough to help her avoid such danger."

There was a long pause before Coral ventured a suggestion. "Maybe her power is bound."

"No way that would happen, she'd have to give up her control. And that wouldn't happen unless..." Bryn's eyes narrowed and she stared at both of her friends, "she also believes that she is responsible for my death."

"Yes, Bryn. She does." Peri said, her eyes were calm belying the turmoil she felt inside as she watched Bryn's eyes flare.

"I see." Her voice was quiet but sharp like a sword edge. "Is there anyone else who thinks that they are Allah?"

"I don't understand." Peri was watching her, wary.

"Oh, I think you do." Bryn moved them gently aside and stood up. "For some ridiculous reason, Maeve and Coral both think that they have the power to decide who gets to live and who dies. That's Allah's domain, not ours. People don't die unless it is their time. At least, that's what we have learned. So, I just have to wonder, who else thinks that they can make these decisions."

"Rumina." Coral whispered.

"My half-sister. Why doesn't that surprise me." She muttered, her hand ran through her hair. "What is wrong with this picture? No wonder it took them so long to heal me, Peri was the only one of you who kept our bond open. I'd still be in that coma if Sinbad hadn't been bored and spent his time visiting me. And this has nothing to do with our current situation, we have find Maeve."

"Bryn..." Coral stopped at the glare she received. She shrank back into the pillows, trying to hide behind Peri-who was not helping her out.

She approached the girl and held her steady with hands and eyes. "Don't say it. You have * nothing * to be sorry for. Do you understand that?"

The physician slowly examined herself, knowing that Bryn wouldn't accept any half measures. She didn't know what she expected to find but the lack of guilt wasn't it. Her eyes went wide with a trace of doubt in them as they met Bryn's open ones. "Did you do something to me?"

Her head shook angrily, thought her response was loving. "Our unspoken cardinal rule, never use magic against one of your own if you can help it. All I did was give you my forgiveness, though I never thought to blame you for anything."

"Well, now that that's settled, shall we go?" Peri asked, standing up and moving out the door. "I can make our travel arrangements."

"Do you think we should consult Sinbad?" Coral asked.

Bryn weighed the situation in her mind carefully. "Sinbad has a right to know since he will be taking us." Her hand rose to silence their protests. "Something is going to occur, that's why this convention is happening now. All those who have a bracelet are being gathered together to set out. We have time, Coral here still has her presentation to make and I doubt that Maeve will be going anywhere anytime soon."

"Good point. Then I'll see what I can do to find your friends." She gestured to the bracelets. Coral left the room with a hurried good-bye. Peri turned to Bryn, waiting until the other woman had gone. "Do you think this has something to do with our failure?"

"What failure? Oh, you mean Donestk? He's dead but not totally." She sighed, unbuttoning her borrowed shirt, wincing in pain. "Glad Firouz invented these things, makes dressing and undressing easier. Someone used the goose egg to defeat her, not knowing the extent of its power and well, sent Rumina's birthright into someone else. It might have gone into her father-she did make a deal with Scratch to help him if he brought Turok back, but I doubt it was him."

Peri let out a gusty sigh. "That is not very comforting."

"Sorry, I didn't know you were looking for comfort." Bryn watched her go, closing the door behind her. "Oh, what a farce this is turning into." She began to pull off the shirt when she heard someone clear a throat and turned around, quickly finding him by the window. She whipped her shirt closed and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Sinbad!"

He held up his hands and moved out of the corner, his look was contrite. "Peace. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but the situation escalated before I could announce my presence."

Bryn laughed at his chagrined expression. "Just try to act surprised when we tell you what's going on."

"Not going to be a problem since I don't understand what is going on." He chuckled, then he smiled suggestively. "I'll leave you to get changed now, unless you want to finish our discussion from earlier."

She pushed him towards the door. "Out!" She ordered, blushing from head to toe.

"I get the feeling that I'm not wanted." He teased, stopping at the door to look down at her. She was looking better, the color was back even though he could still see fever and pain in her eyes.

"Oh, you're wanted, just not in here." She quipped, hiding behind her hair.

His hand ran down the line of her cheek, brushing away her hair with a smile. "I think I'll have to do something about that one of these days."

"But not today." Bryn scolded gently. Words that were swallowed up in a sudden, fierce kiss. Her hand left the doorknob, dropping to her side as her body swayed towards his. He reached out and held her, being careful to avoid touching her wounds. The door closed softly, aided by Sinbad's kick. She jumped at the sound, closing the distance between them, and deepening their kiss.

He felt her hand move hesitantly to his chest, one of his hands caught it and gently placed it on his shoulder, encouraging her to touch him. It fluttered for a moment, unsure of what to do before stroking his neck and curling into his hair. There was a pause when they pulled away to catch their breath, his hands caressed her as he watched her, trying to gauge her reaction. She pulled him back down, aching for more.

There was a sharp rap on the door. "Bryn? Are you all right?" Peri's cool, concerned voice cut through the heat of their rising passion.

"Yes. I'm fine." Bryn's voice was shaky as she jerked back. Sinbad was not swayed and turned loving attention towards her throat, lingering softly on her wounds. She swallowed a moan and pushed him, he reluctantly gave ground.

Peri knew that there was something wrong. "What was that loud crash?"

"I shut the door with more force than was necessary. Sorry." Her voice was stronger, calmer.

"Well, if you say so. I couldn't find Sinbad, why don't you help me search for him." Peri said, changing the subject.

Sinbad stifled a chuckle and she hit his chest. "Sure. I'll be out in a few minutes." They heard her walk away, then Bryn turned on him. "I'll bet you think you're so cute."

"I've been told so. Now, I better go get lost, so that you can find me." He quickly kissed her, before disappearing down the hall.

"What makes you think I'd want to find you after your shameless behavior?" She asked his retreating back.

A sensual laugh floated down the hall and she shivered. "What makes you so sure you don't want to?"

"Jerk." She muttered, closing the door and changing into a loose shirt and pair of pants. The hair on the back rose as something strange filled her senses.

"Hello, Bryn. Long time no see." A long feared voice swirled in the room.

Her eyes blinked, searching the room. A hand involuntarily rose to her throat when she saw the dark form standing in her cabin. "Donestk." Disbelief colored her tone, strength deserted her. It was too soon, the wounds were too fresh for this confrontation.

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