Short chapter but I updated in thanks to PushingLeePace'sDaisies for being my first reviewer. Thank you :) and I hope you like this chapter. The POV switches to Balian's after that line thingy. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom of Heaven.

Chapter 3: The Camp

They heard the sound of hooves before they saw the actual horse.

"Wait here," Godfrey said as he rode off towards the noise. Asha followed along with Hospitaller. They approached the rider, only to see it was Balian. "Have you come to kill me? Even these days, it is not easy." He waited for a response and when none came he said, "Well?" Balian moved towards him, a dark look in his eyes.

"I have done...murder." Was all that Balian said. Hospitaller and Asha glanced at each other, both already knowing who he had killed.

"Haven't we all?" was Godfrey's response.

"Is it true that in Jerusalem I can erase my sins and those of my wife?" Balian asked and Hospitaller noticed that Asha looked surprised but hid it quickly. He supposed that she did not know that his wife was a suicide and she was wondering what sins she had committed. "Is it true?"

"We can find out together." Godfrey said, a slight smile on his face. "Show me your hand." Balian wouldn't look him in the eye as he held up his bandaged palm. "Gabriel will look at it once we make camp." Godfrey said. Asha gave him a look. Why not Hospitaller? He was the medic. Godfrey had his reasons though. He wanted Asha to get used to Balian. If Balian had killed who they thought he had then people would be coming after him very soon and who knows who would get out of it alive?


"May I?" the man, Gabriel, asked holding out his hand. Balian nodded and showed him his burned palm. "That doesn't look too good." Gabriel commented.

Out of everyone in the group Balian was most curious about him. He had a small build for a man and he was thinner than he should've been but Balian could see that he was not weak. He had wiry muscle in his arms and legs. His hands were smooth, unlike the other men's and his fingers were long and clever. He wore a scarf around his head so only his eyes could be seen. Balian wondered what the scarf was for. It was arranged in such a way that it did not look to be for any sort of religion and it wouldn't do much against the cold. The man's pale skin and name would've indicated that he was from England or France but his accent was strange (although it sounded similar to the ones of the British) and his voice sounded a bit odd. His hazel eyes puzzled Balian most. They look old, all knowing but at the same time they seemed too young to be a knight. He seemed cunning and quiet, this being the first time he had spoken to Balian but there was a sort of fire in his eyes that made him think that he did not want to get on this man's bad side. He carried two knives with him instead of the regular sword used by the knights. He had a sword, that much Balian could see, but he left it strapped to his horse. Maybe it was too heavy for him, Balian reasoned.

"I'm going to clean the wound and disinfect it. Then I'll bandage it again." Gabriel told him. Balian nodded, though he wasn't quite sure what "disinfect it" meant.

Gabriel began by rubbing a wet cloth across his hand, cleaning away the grime and blood. Next he stood up and asked if anyone had any alcohol. Nearly every man offered some and he just shook his head before taking some from the German fellow.

"This might sting," Gabriel warned before spilling ale all over his hand. Balian hissed and an odd look passed across Gabriel's eyes. Balian didn't have time to figure out what it was since it was gone almost as fast as it came. "Alright, come with me." Balian followed Gabriel to the river and upon his instruction he placed his hand in it. "Ok, take it out." Balian wasn't sure what "OK" meant but he did as he was told. Gabriel examined his hand once more before bandaging it with a clean piece of fabric. "There." Gabriel said. "All done."

"Thank you." Balian said. The man nodded and turned to leave before stopping and looking back at him.

"What did you mean when you said your wife's sins?" Balian looked down.

"She was a suicide."

"Why?" Balian looked up at this, surprised. Usually people just expressed their sympathies and left him to grieve in peace.

"Because our child died and she was overcome with grief and killed herself. Now she is in Hell and the only way she can get out is if I go to Jerusalem and erase both our sins." Balian explained. It was painful for him to say those things.

"What a load of hogwash." Gabriel said, shaking his head.

"What?" Balian was puzzled by his response.

"I do not believe she is in Hell," Gabriel replied simply.

"Suicide is a sin," Balian told him.

"Well that's foolish." Gabriel said. "I do not believe it. Grief is not a sin and that is why she committed suicide, is it not?" Balian had never thought of it like that. Gabriel turned away once more but this time it was Balian who stopped him.

"Do you believe in God?" Gabriel turned back to him and Balian was surprised by the haunted look in his eyes.

"When you've been through everything I have, you begin to lose your faith."

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~Liliana