Chapter Four

The King, Marshall, and Baron

Kingdom of Latin Jerusalem 1174

It had only been four days since King Almeric's funeral. It was a rare occasion to have his mother, sister, step-mother, and half-sister in the same town let alone the same room. It was an even rarer occasion that they were actually civil to each other. His mother had tried to assert her dominance over thirteen-year-old Baldwin, but Tiberius and Godfrey had quickly stepped into the fray, and put the old monarch in her place. Baldwin was more than grateful for their protection and confidence.

He, now, had to step forward, and take his rightful place as King of Latin Jerusalem. He had been moved from his old rooms to the King's suite-his suite, now- in the intervening four days. The things were mostly his, but the room was in the process of being redecorated, in light blue, gold, silver, and white- to fit more Baldwin's personality. He was still getting used to the semi-new surroundings- the room was at least twice as big as his previous suite.

He adjusted his formal tunic that bore the crest of Latin Jerusalem. He was nervous, and wanted someone to hold him. To hold him, and tell him that he had the courage and wisdom to lead a nation. It would never happen though.

No one ever touched him now. Not in four years. He was scorned. He was a leper. Even before a king. Four years since the diagnosis, the disease had yet to progress, and still no one touched him. The only sign of Leprosy was two large sores on his chest and back. He wanted to be held so bad, but those sores and numbness prevented it.

He felt tears threaten. Tears he could not afford to shed. He had to be strong. In a few short hours he would be king. The King of Latin Jerusalem did not cry. It was almost sacrilege. It was not calming to the people or the army. Kings can not cry.

Unbeknownst to him Tiberius had followed him to his room from the garden-where Baldwin had wandered earlier to think. He stepped forward from the shadows, now, and enveloped the boy in his arms. After all he was the prince's proxy, not to mention his friend.

God, he's a boy why put this on burden on him? Not just the kinghood-that he could and can handle-but a fatal disease too. God, let me have the strength, power, wisdom, and love this young king so desperately needs. Let it be my honor and task in life to protect him for all the days of my life. Let whatever grace that protects me-if any-be transferred to him. In Your great and gloriously merciful name I offer this hope and prayer.

Tiberius had come from the shadows quickly, and hugged Baldwin to him before the young soon-to-be king could protest. It was all the prompting that Baldwin needed. He gripped Tiberius, and let the tears and feelings flood out in a torrent. Tiberius held him, and simply waited for the flashflood of emotions to end.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"I fear for my kingdom, Tiberius. I fear for Jerusalem, and all of my people."

"Why, your Majesty?"

"Because, I may not be strong enough to rule and fight. They are already fighting over the throne. I haven't even been coronated yet, and still they act as though I am on my deathbed. I don't know if I can be a king, Tiberius."

"You already are a king, your Majesty. You are the strongest most courageous man I have ever known, Sire. I will defend you with my life."

"As will I, your Majesty." This statement very blunt and direct from Godfrey. He stepped out of the darkness that obscured the main door to Baldwwin's chambers. "You are young, highness, but that does not mean you're not smart, strong, or courageous enough to rule this kingdom. After all you are only thirteen. You are a young man. You have time to shape yourself and the kindom into what you want. You have a good heart, Baldwin, and that is worth more than anything you have ever been taught by anyone. Let that heart guide you, and I bet you that you won't fail in whatever you do."

The use of his name so plainly spoken-with no title- made the young man smile. He disingaged from Tiberius, wiped his eyes with a gloved hand, and nodded. He felt such warmth eminating from the two men he thought of as his fathers. They accepted him and protected him with fevor and passion without question. He realized that if they thought he could do it then he knew he could. Tiberius and Godfrey never had expected the impossible, but only the improbable. He would take the throne, but he would never be alone.

"It's time," Godfrey spoke in a near whisper giving this rare and much needed moment a few more seconds of life. Then Baldwin nodded. Tiberius and Godfrey each gave Baldwin a hug, and then started to help each other straighten out their coronation finery.

They walked silently down the halls toward the main hall. Baldwin felt light headed and his heart was racing, and he wished that he could be as calm as the two men that flanked him. If only he could have known the truth that Godfrey and Tiberius were not as brave as they let on. Their hearts pounded in their chests and both were wishing they could have faced down ten of Saladin's army then go through with the cermony. Baldwin and Tiberius left Baldwin outside the main doors of the hall with a squeeze of pressure on the shoulder for encouragement.

Baldwin had decided—against tradition—to have Tiberius walk him to the throne. Traditionally his mother or sister would have walked him. This being symbollic of his guidance to his destiny. Tiberius and Godfrey, however, had guided him to this moment far more than his parnets or siblings. Tiberius walked him because Godfrey was acting in another capacity.

Godfrey would crown him king. This was normall—or traditionally—done by His Lord Bishop of Jerusalem, but His Lord Bishop would not touch Baldwin. He was a afraid of contracting Leprosy. He would, however, bless the crown and Baldwin. So long as he didn't have to touch him. This arrangement worked for Baldwin as he thought it more approriate for Godfrey to place the mantle of kinghood on him—just as he had Leprosy.

The trumpets sounded. Baldwin took a deep breath, and let it out very slowly. The great doors opened. The room was crowded with people, and at the end of the room a hundred and fifty yards up the aisle was the throne of Latin Jerusalem.

He was met two yards in by Tiberius. They walked down the aisle together. Baldwin was the center of attention, and pretty uncomfortable in the position. He had been "hidden" for most of his life so no one would learn of his disease. It had worked, too, the majority of the court knew nothing of his disease. So that when Tiberius walked him down to the throne it shocked many people. Baldwin barely noticed them. He was focused solely on his breathing, and keeping eye contact with Godfrey—who awaited his boy king with the crown.

The hundred and fifty yards he walked to the throne felt like the distance between Jerusalem and France. Finally, though, he stood before the throne—before his destiny. He watched the Lord Bishop bless the crown. Tiberius then took his gloved hand and helped him into the throne. As he knelt at his king's feet.

Baldwin quietly and almost imperceptably settled into the seat. His back straight. His head erect. This was the moment. He heard His Lord Bishop intone the Latin verses, and sensed Godfrey raise the crown above his head. Then, despite the fact he knew it was coming, the sudden weight of the crown of Jerusalem rested on his head.

Now, both Tiberius and Godfrey both knelt before him. They led the assembly in three cheers of "long live the king." All Baldwin hoped was that he outwardly held his composure. When the assembly finished he raised his hand for silence. It was hardly needed though. You could have heard a pin drop as Baldwin raised from his seat.

King Baldwin IV motioned for Tiberius to rise. Tiberius did so. He turned to face the crowd. He felt relatively calm as Baldwin announced. "I choose for my regent, until such time-two years hence- in the eyes of God I am ruler of His kingdom, Tiberius Lord of Tripoli. Lord Tiberius shall hold the office of Marshall of the kingdom of Jerusalem until such time as he becomes unable- through illness, injury, or death. Through the grace of God may he always consider the greater good, and bring peace to Christians, Muslims, Jews, and the kingdom of God."

Tiberius rose as Baldwin and Godfrey led the assembly in a triple cheer of "Huzzah." This was technically the end of the ceremony. All three men were tired, but stayed were they were at. Baldwin and Tiberius stayed to receive the pledge of the knights, and Godfrey, because he would not leave his King or best friend unattended. They were at a great risk, their guards were lowered for the festive occasion, and danger would come if he didn't prevent it. Amazingly, Godfrey did not fear the Muslims in the crowd attacking. The threat was far more internal and dangerous. He feared the Templar bastards Reynald de Chatillon and Guy de Lusignan. They would gladly sacrifice his King—a boy he regarded as the son he left behind in France—and his best friend to further their own ambitions.

The hour and a half pasted without incedent. Godfrey and Tiberius escorted Baldwin back to his chambers. They left him to be helped into more comfortable attire by his servant Omar, and went for the same treatment themselves in their own rooms. They met a half hour later to escort the King to the gala dinner. Their King seemed more relaxed, but only to the untrained eye. Those being the ones that didn't know him best. He was a ball of nerves. His breathing was slightly heavier and shallower. His eyes darted around like he was a caged animal. Tiberius led Godfrey and Baldwin into one of the many guest quarters available at the place.

It was time to off-load some heavy emotions-if there was anymore to off-load. One look at his King told him that there was. He might be king, but in the end he was still a boy, too. No one said anything at this abrubt detour. King Baldwin, Lord Tiberius, and Baron Godfrey simply sat on the couch together-flanking their young king.

This is were Baldwin felt safest—between his "fathers." He sighed knowing that they would wait until he spoke—not because he was King, but because that was the the way it had always been between them. It was time to say what he knew he couldn't except here in the privacy of this room. Time to fess up that he was human, and thought only human thoughts.

"I'm not sure were to begin."

"At the beginning is always the best place I have found, Sire," Godfrey said this with a smile in his voice. When King Baldwin looked at him and Tiberius in turn they both bore smiles on their faces, and nodded for him to continue.

"It started when my father died. I watched, and felt nothing—nothing. Moreover, I fear for my life. I am afraid to go out there, and sit in such an open and exposed place. I fear most of all Reynald de Chatillon and Guy de Lusignan, and don't tell me that you don't godfrey. I know that is why you stayed after the coronation to protect Tiberius and I."

Godfrey was anything but surprised. His king thought himself a heartless, emotionally-bereft, poor excuse for a son. He also thought of himself as a cowered, because he feared two of the most ruthless men Godfrey or Tiberius had ever had the displeasure of meeting. Godfrey had to lay aside this emotional turmoil for the boy. Time for the moment of truth, and admit to his King that he was just as human.

"Sire,…"

"Godfrey, Tiberius, please don't use such formalities in private. It's stiffling enough."

"Baldwin, the truth of the matter is that your father was only that in name. He never contributed to your emotional well-being. He was never much of a father, and I think all three of us can agree to that. As far as de Chatillion and Lusignan I have a secret for you." They all leaned in together in a conspiratoral fashion. Godfrey lowered his voice to a whisper- even though they would not be overheard. "I am afraid of them, too." Baldwin looked at Godfrey incredulously. He nodded. Baldwin looked to Tiberius for some help, only to get.

"Me, too."

Godfrey continued in the whisper. "You know what frightens me most about them? Their loud mouths and fighting skills. They control both about as well as babe in swaddling cloth." At this everyone broke into laughter. After a moment though Godfrey sobered up again. "If it will make you feel safer, Baldwin, Tiberius and I will sit on either side of you, and keep our eyes peeled for the two to do anything suspicious."

"It would relieve much of my anxiety. I do, however, have a command for you as a friend and as your King."

Simulatiously they both say; "Sire."

"The two of you enjoy yourselves tonight. Because if you will I am just about gaurenteed to."

Again, simultaneously they both smile and say; "Yes, Sire. As you wish."

With that they quickly make their way to the dining patio. The trumpets sound at their arrival, and as Baldwin is announced as King of Jerusalem a cheer goes up. They take their seats; King Baldwin at the head, and his "fathers" flanking him. As they look out over the food and wine out before them they realize just how sumptious a meal this will be, and they planned to enjoy every moment of it.