Phrases written in bold; Arabic

Phrases written in italics; thoughts, memories, quotes

It had already darkened. Balian stood at his terrace about three hours after enjoying dinner there with Sibylla, witnessing how Balian's servants had returned from finding the lost sheep, only to bring back injured women and children. And Sofia… Had found her daughter.

Not long ago Balian had made a visit to the room her daughter had been placed in, and while at the door he hadn't heard anything from within. Not even crying, which could've been a good sign that meant the girl to have survived. But still that silence deeper than death made Balian a bit nervous as he'd eventually knocked lightly and entered, finding that Sofia and Zuleika were the only ones in the room with the girl, who now was sleeping in the bed. Indeed alive, but barely.

Darcy was there as well of course, at Sofia's feet and lifted his head as saw Balian enter. But instantly he then stood and growled at him. Surprising Balian and he eyed at the dog in puzzlement when Darcy next crouched, revealing his teeth as if to tell Balian to stay away. Apparently protecting Sofia and the girl in the bed who shared her scent. But Zuleika deterred him with a hard scowl.

"Stop it! It is only our lord!" she snapped angrily, Darcy gasping and he did stop. But that didn't prevent him from giving Balian a type of some glare which even animals mastered, now rounding the bed and jumped on it, laying next to the girl onto the covers. His muzzle on her stomach.

Zuleika looked up to Balian and bowed her head, but this usually so cheerful woman did not smile this time.

"My lord", she greeted, then returning her attention back to Sofia's skin she was finally cleaning from the blood. Sofia didn't move a single muscle to acknowledge her lord to have entered, which Balian noted in pity. She was clearly still in great shock, just sitting next to her daughter, staring at her with eyes which reflected nothing but fear and sadness.

Zuleika drenched the cloth in her hand once more and wiped Sofia's cheek clean, until was finished and dropped the rag back into the red colored bowl with a sigh. She then smoothing Sofia's jaw a little as smiled at her, though rather faintly. "It is alright to stay, but make sure you change your clothes", she said softly. "I'll have Ismael to bring a new dress from your room."

Balian saw Sofia to move for the first time by nodding, however not responding. Zuleika smiled once more until stood, bowing her head to Balian for the second time before lifted the bloodied water from the floor and left the room, sad expression on her face. Zuleika sighing again after she'd closed the door and gave it now only pitying look. Immediately after Sofia had arrived to the house with lord Balian, Zuleika had started to more and more consider the girl as a daughter she never had yet had. And as a mother herself, she could very well imagine how helpless and horrified Sofia probably felt at the moment. Anyone could see it by only looking into her eyes, which usually were but gentle and vivid with joy.

After Zuleika left the room was again completely silent. Balian could hear only the sound of night wind blowing in as warm as ever, but this time the room didn't smell like flowers but of blood, its coppery stench circling everywhere in the room. Balian examined Sofia who still didn't turn to him, but kept on staring at the small girl who seemed to drown into the huge bed. Him now walking forward and noticing the girl to have cloths wrapped around her neck and arms, another one peeking under the sheets, covering her tiny chest. Balian frowned for sorrow to see such a small child so badly hurt. Who could harm an innocent girl? He was disgusted.

"How is she?" he inquired, eventually breaking the silence, stopping behind Sofia who was smoothing the girl's curls. Her gaze now dropping and she let out a suppressed, broken breath. Closing her eyes.

"She has lost lot of blood", she started miserably, but still with voice which told Balian she had had time to come to accept this situation. But that didn't erase the sadness it brought for her. "And even she is alive her pulse is weak… I… don't know will she live…"

Sofia took in a hasty breath, blowing it out immediately, trying to stay calm and not to start to cry again. Balian gave both her and her daughter a sorry look as Sofia then sighed, again staring at the child in a reminiscent reverie.

"Are you wondering how can I know this child to be mine, after I told you my daughters were taken away from me right after birth?" Sofia then asked, Balian not answering, but she'd nevertheless hit a mark. Balian then pulled himself a chair and sat.

"How do you know?" he wondered. Sofia smiled sadly, then lifting the covers and moved some of the bandages away, to reveal a birthmark on the girl's chest, above the heart, to Balian.

"This mark was the first thing I saw when she was born", Sofia explained, despondent, smoothing the mark with the tip of her finger. "I would recognize it everywhere. Because it is just like mine. I have a birthmark like this on my chest."

Balian now examined the sleeping girl. She was very pale, and the hardly rising chest told of a very bad condition. And Balian could see the seriousness of the situation only by looking at Sofia. She hardly could stay calm. Her thinking a moment until released a sad laugh, gazing at the girl, an emotion in her eyes which Balian had seen as a glimpse once or twice. Love of a mother. And finally being able to name that unexplained sentiment, he turned sad himself.

"And don't they say that mother will always recognize her child no matter how long time has passed?" she questioned, smiling, but her voice failed her. She was everything but happy. Balian said nothing but simply listened as she spoke.

"I've been singing to her", she said, letting out another sad laugh, which was more like a breath. "The song I sang when I hold her in my arms for the first time. But even if she would hear me, I reckon she would not remember… she was so small after all…"

Balian looked at Sofia compassionately as she now yet another broken breath left her lips, placing a hand over her lips momentarily, managing to hold the tears in as she then closed her eyes again, calming down a bit. But then there was a new knock on the door and Balian saw the said boy, Ismael walk in. Him bowing to his lord.

"My mother sent me to bring Sofia a change of clothes", Ismael said, Balian nodding upon seeing the clothes in his hands. Receiving them in Sofia's stead with this time a thankful nod and a brief smile.

"Thank you."

The boy left after bowing for the the second time, Balian now glancing at the dress before placed it on the bed, Sofia giving it a curt glance herself.

"I am sorry my lord but… I cannot come and help you tonight", she then said out of blue. "Zuleika has promised to take over my duties as long as… I can't leave her if at any moment she'll…"

Balian released a sigh as he watched Sofia's shoulders to fall, for a quiet sob possibly. But knowing himself it to be better to relieve Sofia from any further burden, he only looked at her in concur.

"I understand", Balian said, smiling a bit. "Of course you stay. It is alright."

Sofia nodded. "Thank you, my lord."

Again silence fell upon them, Sofia's attention moving back to her daughter. But after a few minutes of silence a certain question sprung into Balian's mind, the corners of his mouth rising slightly.

"What is her name?" he queried, surprising Sofia. But soon she smiled warmly, finally giving him a look.

"Kalilah", she answered. "That's the name I decided after she was born. But I don't know what she has been called these past two years…"

Balian nodded, then soon again smiling. "What does it mean?"

Sofia lifted her eyes. "Sweetheart. In Arabic."

"That's beautiful name."

Balian then took a moment to eye at Sofia's bloody dress, which once had been pure white but now had turned brownish due to all that dried blood. He wrinkled his brows at this, putting a hand on Sofia's left arm which rested on her lap.

"You should wash the rest of the blood off", he urged. "Go to your room and change after bathing."

"No", Sofia replied, her voice now rising a bit and she shook her head. "No, I won't leave her."

Balian frowned. "Sofia…"

"I will not leave her!" Sofia repeated decisively, exclaiming even, surprising Balian so much that he retreated away from her a little. Sofia then hesitating, until she sighed.

"Forgive me. But please, understand, my lord", she continued with normal voice this time, looking up to Balian. "If this is the last night I shall have with my daughter, then I will not waive it by leaving her. I cannot leave. Because if she dies and I am not here… then what kind of mother am I? No, I already abandoned her once. My heart cannot take it should I do it again."

Balian was staring into Sofia's so emotional eyes that it actually hurt him somehow. Her pain was so immense that… it made him think about his own child. He'd felt like this too. So he thought he understood, but still just frowned again in compassion.

"My lord…" Sofia said then quieter, briefly looking down. "Please. Leave me with my Kalilah. Please go and sleep yourself. My troubles should not keep you from resting and make you weary."

After saying that Sofia turned away, her eyes fixating onto small Kalilah, Balian not knowing what to say but he then simply sighed. Standing up, putting his hands briefly on Sofia's shoulders.

"Just tell me if you need anything", he prompted, Sofia nodding briskly. Balian then going to the door, sending one more look to Sofia before did as asked, leaving her alone with Kalilah.

But after he'd closed the door he could hear Sofia's voice start to hum a song, in Arabic, probably a lullaby. Noticing himself to start to listen to it even he couldn't understand a word. But as he leant on the wall and stood there for a few seconds, it didn't take long when Sofia's singing turned into sobs and then plain crying. Balian looking down, feeling pity, but regardless of the voice within him which urged him to offer his comfort he then just walked toward his own room. Until Zuleika happened to appear from the stairs at the same time and sent her lord a bit questionable gaze, interpreting from Balian's sad features that Sofia wasn't any better. She sighed.

"Make sure Sofia bathes and changes before she goes to sleep", Balian instructed the woman, who nodded but then sighed again.

"If that poor girl will even sleep this night…" she mumbled to herself. But however she nodded in consent and walked to the room of the girl, going inside.

With heavy heart Balian returned to his own rooms, ambling back to the balcony, staring over the rail as long as the first stars lit onto the black canvas above his head a couple of hours later. He decided to go check on Sofia again.

Balian went straight into the room this time, which was now illuminated with candles. And indeed he found Sofia now dressed into the clean dress, but she wasn't awake but had fallen asleep next to Kalilah. Balian examining the pair for a moment, then walking over to the bed and lifted the covers over Sofia. Now for the first time taking actual notice that small girl to be truly Sofia's daughter.

Though Kalilah was very young, Balian could see they shared the same dark, syrupy hair and long lashes of the same color. The curve of their upper lip was the same, but what differed was that the girl's hair was curly, as Sofia's was nearly straight despite of some occasional waves. And what Balian didn't know was did the child have the same colored eyes as her mother. So smiling a little to this thought he hoped that Kalilah would soon recover, making it possible for him to determine that.

Giving the mother and daughter one more sympathetic look he soon left, with a worried mind going straight to bed himself.

Kalilah didn't die on the following day or the next, despite the fact that her wounds were very severe. But she didn't wake up either. For two weeks Sofia stayed with her daughter, sedulously treating her wounds, even during all the time she knew in some part of her mind that her efforts could be for no avail. But still she did this, maybe to occupy herself rather than give in to her fears and sorrow, which still haunted her through the days when she dreaded to lose her daughter immediately after God had given her back.

The following morning of the day Kalilah and the other victims of the attack had been brought to Ibelin, Balian indeed hadn't seen Sofia to arrive to his room to bring him the bathwater, which didn't surprise him after he'd witnessed the depth of her worry. But during those two weeks he hadn't seen her almost at all, only short glimpses from here and there. His life continuing to elapse in the same fashion as before, throughout the days him working outside at his lands, where on the evenings he usually kept company to Sibylla. Usually them eating dinner together, talking. But either then Balian ever saw Sofia. She didn't serve the food, or either Balian saw her with the other women as they watched the children or did laundry when the men worked at the fields.

Balian couldn't feel but worried about her. And so when three more days passed and he returned surprisingly early back to the manor, he did inquire from one of the maids had she seen Sofia. The woman's face had been but pitying.

"Sofia is with the girl, my lord", she'd said. "The girl was taken with fever this morning. Sofia has been there ever since, not coming out."

Balian had become even more worried because of this, but had let the issue be. If Kalilah was really in such weak condition that she needed her mother with her at all times, he wouldn't deny it. But he had to admit that he'd started to miss Sofia's presence in this house, even was it just a meal she'd prepared for dinner. Balian only wished her to have her daughter wake up healthy and unharmed. She'd suffered enough. And it would be too cruel even for God to first give Kalilah back to her mother and then in the following moment bereave her away.

It was the last morning of the third week as Balian was washing his face outside on the terrace, starting to listen to his Muslim servants' morning prayer. Sofia of course was not among them. Balian threw the towel on his bare shoulder after wiping his face with it, gazing at the bowing men in the twilight of the early morning, until Sibylla's voice broke his train of thought.

"They try to be one", she informed, Balian turning around slightly surprised and saw her to stand beside the table in her night gown. Bent over it, pouring wine into two cups. Balian instead now went to the table next to him to place the bowl he'd used to wash up on it, glancing at he woman.

"One heart, one morality… Their prophet says "submit". Jesus says "decide"", Sibylla continued, smiling at Balian who'd quickly taken his shirt from the chair and put it on, feeling quite uncomfortable to stand before her all shirtless.

"Sofia said something same once", he answered thoughtfully, remembering the moment in Messina when they'd been watching the praying Muslims. He received the cup Sibylla hold out to him as she lifted her brows.

"Did she? Well as my brother has informed me, she probably has some interesting views about religion", Sibylla replied, taking a sip from her wine. "I hear she is both a Muslim and a Christian."

Balian nodded, Sibylla quirking her eyebrows again. "She told us how Koran speaks of both Christianity and Islam", Balian continued, turning contemplative again, recalling the moment. "And I find her opinions quite accurate for me to agree…"

"Oh?" Sibylla stated, looking amused. "Well, maybe her thoughts would be essential in creating the kingdom of heaven my brother strives to build on this land… If everyone were both Muslims and Christians by both heart and mind, there would not be this war both sides call Holy."

Balian nodded again agreeably, drinking his wine as next gazed to the horizon. Until something came into his mind, waking his interest. "Did you decide on Guy?" he asked then, looking at Sibylla curiously. Seeing her bite her lower lip as it was her turn to look down, her shaking her head a little.

"Guy was chosen by my mother", Sibylla revealed. "My first husband died before our son was born. I was only 15."

Sibylla smiled and looked up to Balian, who returned her stare serene. But in his mind he once more felt compassion. For Sibylla to have been married in such a young age to a man she hadn't chosen or possibly wanted… She was like Sofia. She'd also been bought in a coeval age by a man she hadn't known or even wanted. But in both cases it had occurred nevertheless, either for practicality or enough money. So thinking this, once again Balian didn't see this world of God nothing but unfair. And cruel. But then he smiled.

"I've met your son", he said, Sibylla giving him a slight curious look, about to respond. But she lost her chance by the approaching steps nearing the terrace.

"My lord Balian?" servant's voice then interrupted, coming from the door and causing Balian to turn around. It was one of the maids, Azusa, and she was Zuleika's niece if he remembered correctly. Balian placed his cup on the table and walked to her, seeing her worried expression. But when he came she curtsied as was proper, smiling shyly.

"Yes?" he asked, Azusa now glancing at the princess and made another quick curtsey, until looked serious but worried at the same time.

"My aunt sent me here", Azusa told him. "But it is not only for her plead that I come, but everyone are concerned. Sofia hasn't come out of her daughter's room for days, my lord."

Balian was surprised. For days? She'd stayed in that room that long? He frowned as Azusa continued.

"She has hardly eaten or come out to bathe", Azusa explained. "And my mother said that as she trusts you the most, my lord, you could go and talk her out of that room. We fear if she stays there much longer, it is she who will become ill instead of small Kalilah", she said, but then hastily bowed her head in respect. "Only if it is alright, my lord! But we ask you to go and talk to her. We worry, my lord."

Balian sighed, thinking a moment until nodded. Truly, Sofia was impossible.

"I will go", he promised. "Has she been brought food yet?"

"No. She has said that if she wishes to eat, she'll go to the kitchen herself not to cause trouble for the others", Azusa answered, bowing again. And upon hearing that Balian now only shook his head in slight irritation.

"Sure she will…" he muttered, in fact saying his thoughts out loud, Azusa eyeing at him a bit oddly but Balian then nodded again. "Do not worry. I'll talk to her. Tell your mother to prepare something small for Sofia to eat."

Azusa nodded in consent herself and departed, walking out of the room.

"Is something wrong with Sofia?" Sibylla questioned, coming closer to Balian, whose gaze fell onto the paving of the terrace.

"She hasn't come out of her room for days", he replied, truthfully.

"Is she feeling unwell?"

"Yes. She is."

Balian knocked on the door of the improvised sanatorium and entered for the first time after three weeks of absence. He was holding a small plate which Zuleika had prepared according to his request, him closing the door after himself before saw Sofia to be sitting on exactly the same spot than weeks ago. Balian noting that for one she'd been changing clothes instead of just sitting still, staring at her daughter doing nothing. So at least the situation wasn't as bad as before.

Sofia gasped as heard the door close, her turning on her seat startled, only to see Balian stand there. He saw surprise on her face.

"My lord?" she asked, Balian now walking closer. He took notice that even hearing her call him so respectably didn't sound odd at all after such a long time of not talking to her himself. He shook his head slightly.

Balian approached the bed. But was stopped by who else than Darcy, who maybe either hadn't left the room since three weeks ago, and now dashed in the open from the other side of the bed. Growling at him as if he were a threat. Balian lifted his brows at this, not realizing why this dog suddenly seemed to hate him so much. But Darcy's hostility was swiftly stifled by the wave of Sofia's hand.

"Darcy yield!" she commanded, though softly, the dog obeying as always and only snorted. Walking to lie at the end of the bed, Sofia sighing at him until smiled at Balian apologetically.

"I am sorry my lord. He's become really protective over Kalilah for some reason", Sofia told him, Balian returning her smile, before then gave the spaniel one more wary look. Walking toward the bed.

"It is fine. I already know he hates me", he answered amused, looking over at Darcy who snorted again. Balian smiled as did Sofia, but then he turned to examine her.

Azusa had been right to be concerned, as Sofia truly looked weary. Her usually glowing, tanned skin seemed pale and she had shadows under her eyes. Maybe for staying up several nights beside her daughter to observe her condition, or just for worry which burdened her heart and mind. Balian gave her yet another compassionate look, but then gazed at the still sleeping child.

"Hasn't she opened her eyes yet?" he inquired. Sofia shook her head, now reaching her hand and took the warmed rag from Kalilah's brow and pushed it into the bowl full of recently replaced cold water.

"No. Her fever isn't subsiding, which makes her so tired that she doesn't have the needed strength to wake up", Sofia replied, now much more calmer than on the night three weeks ago, squeezing the rag from extra water and placed it back on the girl's forehead. Sofia sighed now, pulling the covers better on the patient.

"Sofia, you should eat", Balian urged then, sitting again on the same spot as before while looking at Sofia seriously, placing the plate on the side of the bed as well. She looked at it, but shook her head again.

"My lord, you don't need to take care of me", she remarked, meeting Balian's eyes. "I am fine."

Sofia was confused by Balian's rather hard expression as he gazed at her now, clearly not agreeing.

"Do not lie to me, Sofia", he said as seriously. "You are not fine. I am not the only one who's worried when you just sit here day after day. You will get sick yourself if you don't leave this room and eat, have some fresh air."

Sofia looked away, her eyes then eventually finding their way back to Kalilah. Balian saw this and his own softened.

"I understand you are worried", he said. "But Kalilah is recovered enough for you to be able to leave by her side. She isn't on the verge of death any longer and will not die."

Sofia looked at Balian and understood that to be true, but she just looked helpless as smoothed Kalilah's hair away from her face. Hesitating.

"I know", she agreed. "But I was so startled three weeks ago that… I'm afraid. She nearly died right after I found her again, and now I feel that if I leave… she'll vanish."

Sofia gave the girl one more motherly smile, which brought warmth in Balian's heart when she continued. "This must sound unbelievable coming from a mouth of a woman who hasn't been in her daughter's life even a day since her birth, but… I love her so much. She's everything I have."

Sofia examined Kalilah's face, taking in every detail and feature which resembled her. She didn't look much like her father which was a miracle. Also Balian was observing the little girl for awhile, until next reached out his hand and placed it on Sofia's. She turned to him, new surprise in her eyes. Balian smiled.

"Go. I'll stay", he promised, surprising Sofia even more.

"My lord..." she started, but Balian cut her off with another smile.

"Go Sofia. Go eat something more filling than this and go outside. I don't want you to get sick right after your daughter recovers from her fever."

Balian had beckoned to the small portion of fruits and bread on the plate and Sofia also glanced at it, until lifted her eyes back to Balian's.

"But my lord, what about the state and the work to be done on the fields?" Sofia asked. "It is already bad enough for me to have neglected my duties for so long, but you cannot possibly stay here and do nothing!"

Balian looked now rather mischievous, smiling. "Who is the lord of these lands?" he questioned, actually silencing Sofia's following objections. "And who says I will stay to do nothing? Taking care of your daughter is as important as my lands. After all… If I won't take care of her like I promised to take care of you… what kind of man would I be? Almaric can handle the matters today in my place."

Sofia stared at Balian for a moment and he saw her eyes to fill with gratitude. And gentleness, new smile spreading on her lips.

"Thank you", she said, completely sincerely, smiling even wider. "Thank you, my lord."

They exchanged a short smile, until Sofia then let out a final sigh and turned, reaching down and placed a light kiss on Kalilah's feverish cheek.

"Wake up soon, mother's sweetheart", she whispered in Arabic, Balian smiling wistfully as he'd this time understood her words.

Sofia stood then, giving her lord one more smile until left, her hand sliding away from Balian's. Balian turning to follow her walk to the door, maybe a bit teetering, causing him at first to consider should he have escorted her down. But instead he then let Sofia close the door behind herself without him saying anything.

Balian took Sofia's place on the bed, examining the sick child for a while until remembered the plate. Him then directing a look toward the feet of the bed.

"Hey", he called, Darcy's irritated face coming in sight behind the bed, until Balian saw his ears to rise when he instead lifted the plate. Immediately Darcy standing and hurrying next to him, sitting and waving his tail, abruptly offering Balian some puppy eyes. Balian chuckled as lifted his brows.

"Didn't you hate me?" he inquired, Darcy turning his head to the sides and Balian could imagine him thinking "are you talking about me?". Balian chuckled again and then eyed at the dog remarkably, finally placing the plate on the floor slowly. The dog following the movement extremely attentively as licked his lips.

"This is a sign of a truce, agreed?" Balian stated and nodded toward the plate, Darcy turning his head in a puppy like manner. Balian now looking at Kalilah and nodded toward her in turn.

"I am no threat", Balian reassured. "I will not harm this girl. Nor will I harm Sofia either. You don't have to protect them from me."

Darcy seemed to ponder for a moment, glancing down at the plate as if deciding should he take the bait or not for Balian's amusement. But he then tilted his head he second time and barked, starting to wag his tail again, giving Balian a look of concur. Balian inclined his head as well.

"Good that we have that settled", he stated, suddenly realizing how odd it was for him to be actually talking with a dog, him then straightening his posture, sighing. "Now, let us treat Kalilah so that she'll open her eyes by the time her mother gets back."

Darcy barked and instead of starting to eat he now rounded the bed, jumping on Kalilah's right side and placed his muzzle on the girl's stomach. Balian instead took the cloth from her forehead and dropped it into the bowl, moistening it and then pulled Kalilah's covers away, lifting her small arms and started to wipe them with the cloth. Hoping to help the fever to lower.

Balian didn't know how long he sat there, but was only glad the more time passed. Sofia truly had listened to him by going out of this room, and staying out of it. If she would ever do something like this again, Balian would drag her out himself. No matter was someone dying or not. He if anyone knew what sorrow could make of a person if it was given the best of them.

Balian drenched the cloth again and now squeezed some of the water over the girl's face and chest, then spreading it around on her skin. His eyes stopped to examine the birthmark Sofia had mentioned to have been inherited from her, him finding it to be rather large. The shape of a crescent moon dropped upside down. Balian thought a moment, until lifted his measuring eyes higher to examine the girl's features. Yes, she was just like her mother. No doubt about it.

Balian wondered was there anything in this child which had been inherited from her father… But then he stopped himself. Balian didn't want to think about those men who had once… owned Sofia like she'd been nothing but an object, purchased to be used however they'd desired. Like he owned these lands his father had left him. And this little girl was also a result of such… ownership…

But as Balian gazed at the girl who was the most adorable while sleeping, the curly long hair spread on the pillow, he then sighed. Wiping her forehead again. It wasn't this girl's fault how she'd come to be, or either was it Sofia's. But every time he strayed to think about that sincere and gentle young woman he'd learnt to know to have been humiliated and used like that… Truthfully it made him angry. But that rather confused him. Why should he be angry of any of it? After all, Sofia wasn't his property, no matter what she said herself.

She'd said that the moment hey met her body and soul had becomes his as they were God's… But Balian didn't see it like this. Even Sofia was treated like the main female servant and Balian himself called her as one now, he however didn't consider her as one. But she was more importantly a companion to him rather than a servant. Yes, she'd pledged her loyalty to him, but the things they'd experienced together after leaving France close to five months ago made Balian think that Sofia definitely was not a mere servant to him.

Balian then gasped for surprise as suddenly Kalilah let out a sleepy moan. And as he lifted the cloth and watched the girl he saw her move, stretch under the sheets until stopped, Balian then seeing her eyelids quiver. Balian straightened and Darcy lifted his ears, now also noticing the girl move and he stood up. He reached out to the girl's face and licked her cheek, then her nose, Kalilah still moaning sleepily until the clearest laugh Balian had ever heard erupted form her lips and the girl twitched, escaping from the tickling, licking dog tongue.

Balian followed as Darcy then retreated and whimpered, wagging his tail as Kalilah finally opened her eyes after weeks of time and glanced around, confused, her gaze first fixating onto the orange canopy above her, before the big round eyes turned to see Balian.

Balian froze for some reason, staring into Sofia's daughter's eyes. Yes, she was Sofia's daughter. Because Balian found himself gazing into same kind of vivid, emotional eyes which gaze was wise. But unlike like her mother's, Kalilah's eyes were bright blue, not dark. Balian felt himself start to smile as the girl then spoke, with also drowsy and a bit hard to understand mutter usual to that age.

"Who are you?" she asked, staring at Balian in awe but curious. "Does Kalilah know you?"

Balian let out a laugh, smiling the most gently he'd never anticipated to be able to smile after his wife's death. "No. But I know your mother."

The girl was baffled again, until her eyes lit up for excitement. For longing.

"Momma?"

Sofia sighed as she walked along the corridors of Ibelin residence. Her lord had been right to chase her out of the room, in which she'd mostly spent the past week, not leaving even once. She felt herself so much better after a bath and change of clothes, before the delicious small meal Zuleika had been kind enough to prepare for her. Though she'd seemed to do it just because she was so happy to see Sofia out of that "God forsaken" room, as she'd pointed out to Sofia after a motherly rant of the same topic, which Balian had also taken into discussion. And eventually Zuleika had just embraced her and prayed to God and Allah to heal Kalilah.

Sofia started to smile. The kindness her lord had showed to her was so great that it made her happy. So happy that she couldn't describe it. That he'd sacrificed his work just to stay with her daughter... Sofia could never thank him so that it would be enough. For her lord to express such benevolence to her invariably, which didn't necessarily even belong to her, only proved what Sofia already knew. Her lord was a wonderful person.

Almaric happened to step in from the front door just as Sofia came down from upstairs, and he seemed surprised to see her. But soon he wore a grin on his lips.

"Amira!" he exclaimed, causing Sofia to stiffen and she eyed at the man oddly, suspiciously.

"Excuse me?" she questioned, meeting the man's gaze as he came to her, Almaric inclining his head.

"Haven't you heard? They are calling you that in this house", he stated smiling, and Sofia saw him glance at her painted lips quite remarkably.

"Yes, yes I know that", Sofia answered nonchalantly. Almaric looked mischievous.

"I personally have come to think that that name means much more than it sounds, when it comes to you Amira."

Sofia gasped and she examined this crusader in suspicion, in disbelief, until she suddenly realized him to have learnt the truth about her from somewhere. Her eyes widening.

"How do you… know?" she inquired but lowered her voice, giving the man sharper gaze. Almaric shrugged.

"Word goes around", he stated. "One of the servants saw your tattoo and ever since they have been calling you Amira. Only those who know what the tattoo means of course. Others just follow along not knowing where the nickname truly comes."

"And you know what it means? My tattoo?" Sofia asked. Almaric didn't reply but his expression told the young woman the answer. He grinned at her expression.

"Have you not been wondering why everyone in this house treats you with such utmost respect?" he queried, Sofia snorting and looking to the side.

"I was hoping it was because I treat them as politely and friendly…." she half muttered, until turned her more serious eyes back to the crusader. "So everyone knows?" she demanded, now a bit nervously. "Truly knows?"

"Like I said, only those who know the significance of your tattoo. And the ones who truly know, are not going to reveal your secret to anyone."

Sofia sighed now a bit nervously too. "How can you know this?" she asked. "It isn't at all new that someone slips and the word spreads again…"

"I know this to be true…" Almaric responded, now a bit more seriously himself. "Because lord Balian made sure that word of you being Saladin's daughter and princess would not leave this house. He himself explained what it would mean to you if anyone found out. And possibly what it would mean to little Kalilah..."

Sofia stared at this man in awe, blinking, looking amazed. "My lord…?" she questioned, Almaric nodding in consent. But soon he smiled again, now hugging the young woman.

"It's great to see you, Amira Sofia! Good that lord Balian finally got you out of that room!" the man continued. Sofia smiled back at him.

There was a very understandable reason for their much closer relationship. Ever since it had been Sofia who'd treated him about a month ago after he' d gotten a pneumonia, who knows how in that drought, and healed him Almaric had treated her much more warmly. And Sofia only was happy about this, as she found Almaric dependable and most trustworthy of her lord's men.

"Yes, it feels good to be able to breathe again", Sofia admitted, Almaric nodding.

"Isn't it? Well then, wouldn't you come to a small stroll with me or is Zuleika already drowning you with tasks?"

Sofia shook her head, returning his smile. "I am sorry, but I cannot. I have to go check on Kalilah."

Almaric gave her a measuring look until crossed his arms on his chest, lifting his brows. "You are not telling me you to be going back to that room after a week, Amira? Lord Balian is right, you are impossible to handle!"

Sofia was surprised again. "I am?"

"You are. And our lord should know, as he has known you longest from all of us", Almaric responded. Sofia sighed.

"I am not to stay there for another week! But I have to go bring our lord something to bite into", she answered matter-of-factly. But Almaric froze, again eyeing this young woman with measuring eyes, until lifted his eyebrows one more time.

"Dinner to our lord?" he asked innocently, though he could guess where this conversation was going. Sofia noticed his expression and gave him a bit scolding stare.

"Yes. Our lord was kind enough to stay with Kalilah while I went to bathe", Sofia answered as well nonchalantly, though her heart was instantly filled with gratitude. Almaric nodded as his brows rose the third time, him trying his hardest to cover his smile.

"So that is why our lord has seen fit to leave all the work to me today…." he remarked, still smirking briefly. Sofia noted his course of mind and sighed, but smiled shaking her head again.

"How is the little one doing?" Almaric then inquired, serious again. Sofia's own smile faltered and she looked down.

"She's feverish. Has been for days and it doesn't seem to come down", Sofia told him. Almaric nodded, taking Sofia's small hands into his big ones, squeezing them.

"I pray that your Kalilah will be with us soon", he said, but then his lips twitched for another smile. "I can't wait to meet the daughter of our Amira. She must be as stunning as you!"

Sofia narrowed her eyes a little. Yes, among that great kindness he as well had started to show her, with it had also come immeasurable innocent flirting. She sighed once more, however what else than smiling.

"She is", Sofia agreed. "If not even more stunning."

Almaric smiled. But then he abruptly took notice of the size difference of their hands and actually looked amazed, examining Sofia's palms, turning them around a bit. "God forbid how small hands you have", he noted, glancing at Sofia. "Do you even work with such princess' hands as these?"

Sofia now made the final, deepest sigh as pulled her hands back gently from the man who was once again smiling at her, this time teasingly.

"Do you not have the work my lord has left you?" Sofia inquired, about to walk past Almaric. But his next question stopped her.

"I do regrettably… But tell me, Sofia, you have as well known our lord the longest of us all, and you seem more close than mere servant and lord", he stated, then looking interested. "Then why haven't I heard you call him by his name even once?"

Sofia indeed froze momentarily, but soon smiled. "Because he is my lord", she said. "I have no reason to call him anything else than my lord."

Almaric looked surprised in turn. But he then sighed, shaking his head. "Do you not really?" he mused to himself, so quietly that Sofia didn't hear him so she only frowned at him in confusion. But Almaric then nodded.

"Very well then. Go take some food to our lord who is working hard upstairs…" he urged, directing amused glance at the roof before then turned, going toward the entrance. "Good day to you, Amira!"

Sofia smiled after the man and immediately went to the kitchen, to fetch the food Zuleika had prepared according to her request. And together they arranged the small meal for one on the tray, until with a thankful smile Sofia took it, carrying it out of the kitchen and all the way to upstairs. Zuleika accompanying her as she was about to go change the sheets in their lord's bedroom. But as Sofia then halted to open the door to Kalilah's room, she heard a giggle. Her stiffening a hand on the handle, listening. Yes she… heard giggling from inside the room Kalilah slept in. Her heart leapt then and without wasting another second Sofia immediately swung the door open, rushing in.

Sofia almost dropped the tray due to the sight which awaited her inside. She saw Kalilah, her own Kalilah playing around in the bed with Darcy, who was barking and swarming around the small girl. Balian following them from the same spot she'd sat these past weeks, eyeing at the two a smile on his lips. But now all three turned to look at awestruck Sofia, who just stared, then letting out a breath as felt her eyes turn moist as she gazed at her now awoken daughter. And saw her gaze back at her in confusion, Kalilah now turning to Balian.

"Who is this lady and why she looks like Kalilah?" she asked, her eyes round for awe, as she stared at the entered young woman who looked so much like her. Turning her head between her mother and the man she'd seen first after waking up. Balian glanced at Sofia until leant forward, smoothing Kalilah's hair.

"This is the woman I told you of", Balian answered gently, now turning to look at Sofia. "She is the one who loves you more than anything and who stayed by your side the whole time."

Kalilah was baffled by his words. But then her irises started to sparkle for realization and she turned to Sofia, delighted.

"Momma?" she called, her voice now reflecting but excitement, but also a start of a cry. Sofia releasing a breath as she put the tray away, walking to Kalilah, kneeling before her. She said nothing. Just examined this little girl who did the same, then lifting her hands and touched Sofia's face, her hair, Sofia's eyes blinking due to the forming tears.

"Are you my momma?" Kalilah inquired innocently, Balian watching as Sofia let out a new breath and nodded, smiling now overjoyed.

"Yes… Yes little Kalilah I am your mother", Sofia confirmed, now smoothing the little girl's hair behind her ear until stood up, seizing the girl into her arms.

"Momma!"

Balian's smile widened as Kalilah squeezed Sofia as tightly as she embraced her daughter, who didn't seem to be at all shy toward Sofia. She knew that she was her mother, as certainly as she knew Kalilah was her daughter. Sofia rocked Kalilah slightly in her arms as pressed light kisses in her hair, Kalilah pressing her tiny head against Sofia's neck and started to cry. Gripping to Sofia's clothes.

"Momma… momma…" she cried, Sofia hushing her and rocked her more to calm her.

"Yes. Yes mother's here. I am now here", Sofia answered quietly, giving the girl another kiss. "And I never ever go away again. You understand? Never is mother going to leave you again…"

Sofia now lifted Kalilah a little away from herself and looked into her teary eyes, until then pressed her head against the girl's. "Never. Never will mother leave you again. Remember that…" she said softly. Kalilah sobbed.

"But Kalilah didn't have mommy…" she said. "Other girls like Kalilah had a momma… But Kalilah did not…"

Both Sofia and Balian frowned at this remark, but Sofia then smiled. Placing the girl on the bed, sitting next to her and moving her hair out of her face.

"Now you do. You have a mother, Kalilah. You've always had", Sofia said, reassuringly.

She then touched Kalilah's birthmark, the girl looking down at it, until then her blue eyes rose to see as Sofia removed her scarf and pulled down her dress, showing the similar mark to the child. Sofia smiled again, smoothing Kalilah's head with her right hand.

"I am your mother, Kalilah. Because you got that mark from me. There is no one else who could've given that to you", Sofia explained, meeting the girl's gaze. "No one else than you mother. And I gave you your name, Kalilah. My Kalilah."

Kalilah now understood and new tears came down her cheeks as she hugged Sofia again, her closing the girl into her arms.

"Momma! I've got my momma!" she cried against Sofia's chest, clasping to her as tightly. Not wanting to let go ever again.

Sofia smiled and nodded, one more tear falling down her cheek as she placed her head on Kalilah's, feeling her scent which she could only faintly remember from the moment she'd been born and Sofia had hold her in her arms for a moment. But now she knew she couldn't have mistaken it. This was her child. Her daughter. Her Kalilah.

Sofia let Kalilah cry, smoothing her hair consolingly, smiling endlessly. How could she have again become so happy in a blink of an eye? She was so happy she could've burst, and she didn't remember any other time she'd felt like this. Now, she felt like everything in her life was in place and she had everything she needed…

Sofia's eyes moved to Balian, who was still beholding the mother daughter moment quietly from his seat, that somehow longing smile on his lips. He was wondering would it have been like this with his own child if they would've been born. Could it have been him smiling down a small two year old like that, such warmness and happiness in his eyes? Probably. Except that Kalilah from the very first moment she'd opened her eyes and smiled at him, had made him feel like that inside. The wounds in his soul and heart felt like healing. And witnessing Sofia's joy after seeing her fear and sorrow over the thought of her daughter's death, made him smile as well.

As Balian noticed Sofia's gaze he returned it and smiled. Sofia now lifting her head, giving him sincerely grateful look deep into his eyes.

"Thank you", she said again, but now she was the most serious. Thankful beyond measure. "You woke my little girl. I can never pay you back, my lord."

Balian shook his head. "You don't have to."

Sofia answered his gaze for a moment thoughtful until sighed, now placing Kalilah on the bed better before rushed to the door, opening it.

"Zuleika!" she shouted excitedly, the older woman soon dashing as well inside, however instantly halting at the doorway as she saw the small child to be suddenly awake. Sofia was smiling widely and glanced between Zuleika and her daughter, until then the older woman broke into a bright smile too and started to sweet talk to the girl in Arabic, approaching.

But then she noticed Balian and was frightened, looking at her lord who was apparently sitting on the chair next her.

"My lord?" she stated questionably as lifted Kalilah higher, measuring the young man. "What are you doing here, my lord? I thought Sofia brought your supper to the terrace for you to join with lady Sibylla for company…"

Balian stood, nodding. "I looked after Kalilah when Sofia was taking a break", he answered honestly. Zuleika made a slow nod, now eyeing at Balian and Sofia in turns until nodded again, believing that she understood.

"Well, the main thing is that this little princess finally woke up!" Zuleika remarked smiling and lifted the girl into the air. "My, you are a clear picture of your mother! No one can make a mistake with those eyes!"