Hi! Excuse my English, I'm Spanish. I had to use google translator for this. Hope you like the story and I hope your comments. A greeting to all.
Ayla of Caesarea watched from the window as his father spoke with that man. The girl dropped down on the cold ground and began to mourn without stopping. Today had condemned her forever. The man who spoke with his father, was neither more nor less than Raymond of Tripoli, the former ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He had come as a guest, Ayla's father, Ephrem of Caesarea, the lord of the city. At first, the girl thought it was only for an official visit, but he became aware of the trap that had prepared. And to think that before she wanted the best of the world for the king of Jerusalem, he wanted to recover and continue forward to the end. Now she hated him with all his soul. The reason: Raymond of Tripoli and Ephrem of Caesarea compromise her to King Baldwin IV, the leper king. Ayla was a beautiful girl with wavy brown hair that hung to her waist, with brown eyes that looked black and made men mad. With porcelain face, a slender figure, a narrow waist that everyone wanted, full and red lips all wanted kissing young gentlemen, was the most beautiful creature I had in the city. And now delivered just condemn a sick man. He had just realized that his father's attitude when he told the stories and achievements of the king. Why her? Nothing more, nothing less, because Ephrem was a powerful man with a huge army and the kingdom needed anything. The best way to achieve this was by marrying the daughter of seventeen to twenty-three leper king. What was your father and your mother able to deliver it to a man? They wanted their daughter to be queen and that's it. Not worried about what she felt. And taking an afternoon tea on the terrace, when they were all together, the lord of Caesarea stood up and broke the news that his daughter and King Baldwin recently engaged to be married in less than two weeks would be the ceremony. Ayla dropped the world over, jumped up, cranky by deception and ran to her room, still mourn and leaving everyone stunned by the news.
Raimundo now departed for Jerusalem to give the news and they were leaving in four days. In Jerusalem there were seven days of travel. They would arrive a day before the wedding. But Ayla did not want this day to come for the world. I was so devastated by what even considered suicide. The cheerful girl that everyone knew was completely gone, I walked the halls of the house looking down, not sleeping at night, she spent her days crying and praying to God not to let her through that torture. Many times was put to mourn his father begging him to break the marriage, without giving everyone just look at her. So did his mother.
At last count of Tripoli launched his horse. She wished the man reached his destination. At five minutes to go the Count, his mother came into the room to start collecting her things. Ayla stood up and stared running like a banshee.
"As soon left, that you begin to pick up my stuff." He asked his mother. "How could you do this, Mom? What have I done? "
Caesarea Catherine looked at her daughter and gave a smile. He approached the girl and touched her cheek to wipe the tears.
"We do it for your sake, Ayla. And for the sake of the kingdom. You'll be the queen of Jerusalem and the kingdom will the army much needed. What the wedding is not important. "
"I'm going to marry a man I do not love! I do not love! He is a leper! A loathsome leper! How do you let me marry this monstrosity?! Why condemn me to give myself to him? ". He started screaming with rage, tears rolled down his cheeks. But her mother calmed her giving him a slap.
"Do not talk like I let our king and lord, your future husband".
"You've always been jealous of me because I'm more beautiful than you and men look at me, and I want me and not you! This is your best way to let me pay ". His mother returned to give another slap, which made let out a cry of pain.
Catherine returned to duty, leaving his daughter sitting on the floor with her hand on his cheek in pain and tears coming from his eyes. She huddled in the corner, watching as the women gathered their things and reconsidering of what was going to happen now. She needed someone to comfort her, that someone gave reasons why she, that someone told you that would happen. Where was that someone?
As laid out in four days left for Jerusalem, leaving his whole life behind. Ayla wished that the trip would never end, or bandits attack them and kill them all. She did not care, all I wanted was to not marry this leper, however king out. I did not want an eyesore as the man to touch her or kiss her, could eventually pass it and then yes that would be lost. He rode on his horse, apart from around the world, with the head and face covered by a scarf. He was grateful to take that position, because then no one would mourn nor would more rumors.
They camped in the desert when night and rode the stores. The girl got into his tent and did not leave until dawn. Often refused to eat, hoping to die of malnutrition, but the stomach pain was so great that he could not stand and had to stick a bite of something to soothe that pain. When I got the news that in three days arrive at your destination, almost fainted. Cursed King Baldwin! How let marry him, knowing how he was? Leper selfish! All you care about your happiness! , She thought. As predicted, in three days and spotted the golden domes of the Holy City of Jerusalem. I got my order Ayla thought. He said that when someone could see those domes from the horizon, his body was filled with excitement, joy and peace. In Ayla was the opposite.
People were watching the streets. I had heard that the future queen of Jerusalem was coming that day and went to see her. All watched with joy, as if he wished the best in the world and feel joy for her. Idiots. Not know what awaits me said again in his mind. Finally spotted the four towers of Mont-Royal palace. Ayla was impressed with the beauty of the palace. Actually, I was impressed by the beauty of the entire city, was beautiful.
"My daughter, this will be yours in a few days." He told his father with a smile from ear to ear, trying to provoke another in the girl, but this one was immune. So quiet Ephrem left.
The servants ran out to greet them. Among the servants Raymond of Tripoli was with other nobles. This came to greet and shake hands with the lord of Caesarea. Ayla glared at him, wishing him the worst in the world for having condemned that way.
"How are you, my lady?". He asked the count, but only received a sarcastic smile from her. "Go inside with the maidens, will take you to your room and help with luggage. Tonight we will see you at dinner. "
Ayla fell behind inside the palace maids. He began to see what was to be his new home. The truth is that it was a beautiful place, with that charm of the city of Jerusalem with Turkish lamps hanging from the walls, with huge arches that opened onto courtyards or large gardens. With full walls and floor tile made of the best marble. They walked for a long time, until you reach a hallway filled rooms everywhere. They reached the bottom of that corridor, I thought I would enter the front door was, but one of the maids stood in front of her to stop her.
"No, my lady, these are the places of his majesty. Yours are here. "This woman opened the door to the next wall.
So I put the chambers right near him lamented inside. They went inside and was impressed with everything. The chambers had a small courtyard with a fountain in the center. I had a single room for your stay, bathroom and an amazing bedroom with a huge bed. The maids started to put everything in place while examining the place Ayla. He began to walk around her room, she saw that there was a door in the wall on the left did not know where it led.
"You need anything else, my lady?". Asked one of the maids, to finish their work.
"No, thank you." Ayla said, diverting his attention from that door. "Go away. Do not bother me to dinner. "
Both maids made a small bow and left. It was then when he wanted to find out where that door led. When he opened it, he found a hallway filled with torches. To the left was another door leading but drove right into another corridor. So I chose the second option. He walked slowly along this corridor watching everything around her, until the end of the hall he found another door. I was not sure whether to come or go back, but made it a hunch push the door and enter. The landscape in which it was found was much nicer. That door led to a lookout, full vault facing overlooking the gardens and part of the city. Everything seemed beautiful. When he looked to his left, he found a huge bow and a curtain that you could not see what was on the other side. He went there and drew the curtain a little to see what was there. He found another bedroom. One much nicer than hers, with a huge bed with white curtains transparent and Turkish lamps for almost all sides. He wanted to go but heard voices approaching. He stood still to listen.
"It's amazing that I've won again." Said a voice to older man, very serious. "Before it was the best playing chess, but now ... God ... I have not seen better win."
Ayla looked a little more and watched two people entered. One looked like a monk. The other was dressed all in white, with a scarf of the same color on the head, without showing his face.
"I guess my lonely times have helped me to be the best at this." Said the other voice. A voice that captivated Ayla. A stunning, sweet and harmonious voice that permeated the body you and wanted to hear again.
"I still remember when you were a kid and wanted to teach you chess tucos". He spoke on the voice, which laughed. "You did not want us to get up from the table to have won."
"I'm not someone who gives up easily, Guillermo, you know. I am very stubborn. "Ayla was curious to know who it was that beautiful voice.
"Well, do not think I'll miss this you know? I want a rematch when I return from Tyre. "
"How? Already you go? I thought you'd be a long season. I had plans for us. I was looking at things in the library that the explicaras wanted me. "
"I will leave after the coronation of the new queen. I can not leave my duties, Archbishop of Tyre be not easy. I can not devote as much time as before, when I was your tutor. "
"Yet you still are, William. You've always been my most trusted man, my teacher, my friend, my mentor and even you have become a father to me. "
"I wish we could go back to that time. But your questions I can always be solved by letter ".
"Yeah ... But it is not the same as when you're ahead." Ayla wanted to see the face of the man dressed in white. He had drawn much curiosity. Who would? I wanted to wait to tell his name. "I hope to see you soon, William".
"Same here, boy." Boy . There should be greater thought it, and was glad for it. "See you later."
The monk Ayla went and stayed for a while longer waiting for him to turn around to see her face. But inadvertently moved the curtain, causing the man put on alert. She hid and when he heard steps coming towards her, began to run so they would not get caught. When he finally entered her bedroom collapsed on the bed. He could not get the voice of the head. When he heard it was like being in a dream. He wanted to hear it again, knowing who his owner.
A few hours later, the maidens returned to dress for dinner. After that the led was a courtyard where everyone was sitting around a table. She sat next to their parents, while all addressed a glance and bowed. A central chairs were empty.
"Your Highness, Princess Sibylla of Jerusalem and her husband, Guy de Lusignan". Announced a guard. All rose to greet the gentlemen. Before them were a married couple. He, a serious man with beard, some handsome and she is a beautiful woman, dressed in a beautiful silk dress, with black curly hair collected, and beautiful blue eyes. Both occupied two empty chairs, leaving only one to occupy. Ayla stared at the woman. She was beautiful, truly was a princess. Sybil looked at him the girl, sadness exactly, bowed his head and gave a smile as if to give him encouragement. How such a beautiful woman can be the sister of a leper? , She thought.
Raymond of Tripoli rose and everyone set his sights on him.
"I'm sorry to inform you that tonight we will have the presence of the king." He could hear a "as always" very softly by Guy de Lusignan. "His Majesty is indisposed." Raimundo looked at Ayla. "However, King Baldwin welcomes you to your new home and want to make your stay here a pleasant one. Welcome to Jerusalem, Caesarea Ayla. Raise our glasses to toast our new queen. " Everyone raised their glasses and said, "Long live the queen!". I dedicate Sybil raised a toast when the girl stared.
So her husband would not know until tomorrow at the marriage ceremony. Above that. He decided to stop thinking about this topic and dinner devoted to find a man dressed in white and with a voice of an angel, but found none. Who would?
"Have you seen how beautiful is the sister of the king?". He asked his daughter Catherine.
"Yes, very beautiful." She replied.
"You see that blonde woman that is there at the end? Is Agnes of Courtenay, the king's mother, your mother. It is also very beautiful for her age. " Ayla was surprised by the beauty of that blonde woman. "They say the king is like her. She inherited her blond hair and her beauty. "
"A leper can not be handsome, Mom. Although it was before. "
"Ssshhh ... it down, you do not hear the king say so." He scolded Catherine.
They spent the evening, hearing songs of minstrels, toasting the new queen and king. Hearing stories and uncontrolled laughter. Seeing as the men drank and talked among them women. Everyone was happy but the star of the night. When he saw the time, pulled away with the excuse that he had to rest for tomorrow, for the wedding. When I walked the halls, face to his room, he heard footsteps from behind. He turned around and found the figure of Princess Sibylla.
"Hello, Ayla." He greeted. "How are you feeling?" The girl could only make a small smile and lowered his head sadly. "You know? ... I understand. I also had to surrender two men to whom I neither knew nor loved. But at least they were healthy, not like my brother. "Ayla was surprised with that statement. "Do not be angry with my brother. He has not been at fault. We also have a ruse like you. "
"With all due respect, my lady, the king has done nothing to remedy this."
"You do not know the cause of that Baldwin accepted stopped hating him when you know him. My brother is a good person, he never let anything bad happen to you. "
A girl just gave those words. No one would do to stop hating the king, or stop feeling disgusted by it. But thanked the spirits of the princess.
"Rest, Ayla. Tomorrow I expect a tough day. I hope we become good sisters. "
"Thank you, Highness. I also wish "
"You're very pretty. More than what I was told. " She smiled at him. "Too bad Baldwin can not enjoy this beauty."
Sybil opened the front door had Ayla's chamber. The latter put his head to the side trying to see inside the rooms.
"These are my quarters. If you need anything, you know where I am. "
"Thank you, my lady." She curtsied.
"Within hours I who will call you 'my lady' and bow to you. Good night. "
"Good night". He replied, before the princess closed the door.
Ayla walked into his room and into his bedroom and maids were to help her dress for sleep. She put on her gown and lay on the bed. It was all so strange to her. Homesick. Now all he could tell were the hours you were to lose your freedom and turn your life into a conviction. And counting those hours could sleep with her.