I apologise for getting the name of the port wrong, I might go back at a later date and change it.
Anorlas: Thanks for your helpful and great review. Got to have been one of the longest I've ever had! I really appreciate your compliments on my descriptions on the followers of Godfrey and I'm glad you like the premise of this story. Sorry about the port name, you're not the only one who pointed that out and I might come back to change it at a later date. Also thank you so much for all the information on the Hospitalier, it's really useful. Hope you like this chapter.
Red Cloud Phoenix: Thanks for your review! I'm glad about the carving, thanks for telling me! Although I didn't mean the German knight, that's still really helpful coz I didn't know his name either!
LateBloomer04: I'm glad you like the main idea of this story (Balian's sister), and I'm really happy that you think this story has potential! Thanks! Sorry about the port name, I might change it at a later date.
Blacksand: Thanks for reviewing! Glad that you like the premise of the story, with Balian having a sister, and hope you like what's to come in future chapters.
Heloise struggled to sleep that night; the house seemed so bare and unfeeling. No longer did she hear the familiar sound of her brother and his wife laughing together by the fire, or the innocent cooing of her infant nephew. Balian still had not returned from the forge and she was deeply concerned. He was a private man, and very rarely did he share his thoughts and emotions, which certainly was not healthy during a period of mourning over one so loved. Without her he would truly be alone, and yet it was all she could do to make him say the odd sentence. Especially today. Something had changed in him, drastically, since the crusaders had arrived in their village. She had a suspicion that it was to do with Sir Godfrey and his offer of passage to the Holy Lands. However she was still confused. Why would a knight offer passage to her brother, a blacksmith, of all people?
A knock on the door of their home brought her out of her musings abruptly. Wrapping a shawl tight around her shoulders to ward off the cold, Heloise opened it. To her despair it was the priest.
'Good eve father,' she greeted stiffly. 'What can I do for you at this hour.' He ignored her and looked past her into the darkness of the cottage.
'Balian is still at the forge?'
'Yes father,' she replied in irritation. 'That is why the fire still burns.' The priest didn't even have the decency to appear sheepish for disturbing her when the forge was surrounded by an orange glow, noticeable for all. He turned on his heel after sending her an unreadable look and disappeared into the building opposite to find Balian. Unable to contain her curiosity, Heloise hurriedly dressed and ran across to the forge to eavesdrop on the conversation.
'If you take the crusade you maybe be able to save your wife from hell,' the priest said finally and Balian looked up his face blank. Heloise watched from the doorway holding baited breath. Her brother? A crusader? The priest stepped closer to Balian, a vindictive look upon his face. 'Though God knows what she does there without a head.' Heloise clamped a hand over her mouth in horror. Balian's back stiffened and he reached out for his wife's crucifix hanging carelessly from the priest's next before taking up the red-hot sword he was working on and plunging it straight into the man's stomach. With a terrible roar and Heloise's scream, the priest fell into the fire, writhing and moaning as the flames slowly consumed him. Regardless of his safety, Balian grabbed the cross; removing burnt flesh alongside it and the priest fell unmoving to the floor, his body setting the building on fire.
Balian felt numb; he had committed murder, and killed a servant of God nonetheless! Despite what he had done, he had enough sense to realise that now was not the time to mourn for his soul as the building erupted in flames. He untied his horse and pulled the frightened creature from the forge. Outside as he mounted and tried to pacify the horse he saw Heloise standing open-mouthed, watching the flames licking at the building that had been his livelihood and continued to, ignoring his anxious pleas to come away from the danger.
'Heloise please!' When she remained unmoving Balian reached down and lifted her slight form up to sit infront of him.
'You murdered the priest?' She asked in disbelief. Balian shifted in his seat, the significance of his actions becoming alarmingly clear.
'Yes.'
'And you are to go with Sir Godfrey to Jerusalem?'
'Yes.' To his utter surprise, Heloise turned and smiled up at him in anticipation.
'Then all is right with the world.' She seized the reins from him and guided the horse to move before urging it into a gallop whilst he sat back, lost in his own thoughts.
They rode for the better part of the night and early morning in the direction most frequently used by crusaders in the hopes that they would catch up with Sir Godfrey and his party. Heloise had fallen into a deep slumber from sheer exhaustion and Balian had taken control of the horse whilst holding her firmly in his arms, grateful that he was not alone in these dark times. He studied her features; she was stunning, her innocence prominently displayed on her sleeping face. In many ways she was mature for her sixteen years, yet she was still full of purity. And he intended to keep it that way. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to bring her on a journey full of older men.
Finally Balian caught sight of the knights as they rode through an almost silent forest, the sunlight making dappled patterns on the leaf-covered ground. A knight at the rear of the pattern saw him and spurred his horse forward to alert Sir Godfrey, who abruptly turned his own horse and rode to meet him. As Sir Godfrey reached him, there was an unmistakable glimmer of hope in his eyes as he paused, waiting for the younger man to speak first. Balian took a deep breath.
'Is it true that in the Holy Land I can erase my sins and those of my wife?' Sir Godfrey, his father, looked on in gentle sympathy.
'Let's find out together.' Balian nodded stiffly and Sir Godfrey turned his attention to Heloise.
'This is my sister, you were not introduced.'
'Ah yes I remember,' replied the older man looking at her affectionately. 'Alas no girl this beautiful could be mine.' He laughed heartily and gestured for Balian to follow him back to his companions, Heloise still in a deep slumber.