Disclaimer: I don't own anything KoH related; movie rights belong to 20th Century Fox and the great Sir Ridley Scott. Although I wish I owned Balian!
A great big thank you to all my loverly reviewers:
Red Cloud Phoenix: My ever faithful reviewer! Your wonderful comments are appreciated as always. Update yours soon!
Jellemegg: Yes the plot thickens… read on to find out what the bad news is!
ImmortalWizardPirateElfFan: Are you telepathic or something? Well I am following the structure of the movie, but still… Thanks for also reviewing my oneshot.
Staci: You are just beginning to see how evil I can be. Muahaha! I'm glad you like it.
Ravenstyles27, LadyExcalibur, and Smithy: I'm thrilled you enjoyed my Orlando/Balian decriptions and the love scenes. Believe me, I enjoyed writing them too! (he is so hot)
Hikira: You are so sweet! Believe me, I have a lot to learn. But thanks!
Doc M: Thanks for reviewing my oneshot, and for answering my leprosy question.
Ch. 9: Coronation
(Sibylla PoV)
"Sibylla, I'm afraid I have some bad news - we must return to Jerusalem immediately." I didn't miss the urgency in Balian's voice. My breath caught in my throat.
"Is it Baldwin?" I whispered, dreading the answer.
"Yes," he said, heavily. "I'm so sorry, my love."
"Oh God," I whimpered. "It's too soon; he was fine last week," I rationalized. We both knew that was a lie.
"If we hurry, we can reach the city in time for you to say goodbye." He gave me a quick hug and I was able to stifle a sob that threatened to escape. We hurriedly packed our things, ran to the stables, and mounted our horse. The knights lined their steeds behind us, and we departed at high speed.
Fear paralyzed my heart as we raced towards my ailing brother. Balian's warm presence behind me was a small comfort. Refusing to believe that I'd seen my brother for the last time, I prayed that we would not be too late. At last we reached the city and made our way through the crowded streets to the palace. Balian slowed our horse to a stop, and I jumped off and ran up the palace steps as fast as my legs could carry me. I tore through the corridors until I reached Baldwin's chambers and burst through the door. Several figures hovered over the bed, murmuring in soft tones. In the dim light, I could just make out Tiberias's features as he turned around to face me.
"Is he…" I trailed off in a shaky whisper. Tiberias shook his head.
"No, m'lady. But he is fading fast. It is good that you came as soon as you could. Is Balian with you?" Sitting at my brother's side, I answered him.
"He should be along shortly." Tiberias nodded, and ushered the others outside so I could be alone with my ailing brother. Slipping off his white glove, I took hold of his disfigured hand and gently massaged his fingers. At my touch, Baldwin blinked and opened his green eyes.
"My beautiful sister, so beautiful," he said, his voice muffled by the mask. "I'm so sorry I caused you to shorten your honeymoon." A few tears trickled down my face at that. My brother, on his deathbed, never failed to think of others.
"Don't be sorry, it was beginning to get boring spending every waking hour with Balian," I lightly joked.
"He has made you very happy." I nodded. "Good, that's good," he exhaled. "Sibylla, will you help me take this mask off? I have hidden behind it for far too long." I carefully removed the ornate silver mask and placed it on the bedside table. Turning back at him, I saw my brother's true face. The leprosy had twisted his once fair features into those of unfamiliar disfigurement. Half of his nose had rotted away, and his fresh was dotted with bulging red boils. Brother, what has this awful malady done to you! Although I tried to hide it, Baldwin noticed my surprised reaction.
"I disgust you," he stated softly.
"Never," I whispered, caressing his cheek. "You are still that beautiful person inside. Nothing shall ever change that."
"Please, don't remember me the way I am now. Remember me as I was, when I was young, before this wretched disease consumed me," he rasped. Lifting him up into a sitting position, I helped him sip a glass of water.
"I will," I told him sadly. "You were such a handsome boy." Footsteps could be heard, pounding down the hall towards us. Balian solemnly entered the room, and sat next to me. If he was surprised to see my brother without his mask, he gave no indication.
"It is good to see you, highness," my husband greeted him. "We came as soon as we could."
"And for that I thank you, for giving me the chance to see my sister one last time," Baldwin croaked. "Balian, promise me that when you are king, you will never surrender Jerusalem, and that you will keep the people safe. Promise me!" Balian looked him in the eyes and swore,
"I give you my word, not as a knight, but as a brother - that as long as I shall draw breath, I shall let neither our kingdom fall nor its people be harmed." My brother seemed satisfied with his answer.
"It brings me great comfort to know that you and my sister will support each other during the difficult times ahead." Baldwin took Balian's hand and placed it in my own. He let out a small sigh. "Now I can rest in peace." I leant down and gently kissed my brother's marred forehead.
"I love you, Baldwin," I choked out. He gave my hand a tiny squeeze.
"I love you too, dear Sibylla," he whispered. His hand grew limp and his chest ceased to rise. I covered my mouth in horror. Now I am the only one in my family who still lives. A teary eyed Balian pulled me into a tight embrace and I cried into his shoulder for what seemed like eternity.
That evening, church bells tolled the death of the king. People openly wept in the streets, as they had loved and respected Baldwin's just rule. I can't recall much about the funeral. The church was packed with mourners. The hospitaler prayed over my brother's coffin. Let us pray for those who have died, especially your servant Baldwin. May he have a place in your eternal kingdom… Tiberias gave a heartwarming speech about his happier days. After the church had emptied, Balian stayed with me as I knelt down and rested my head on the coffin.
Eventually, I allowed him to lead me back to our room. Numb from grief, I allowed Balian to undress me for bed. He hung my black velvet dress and veil in our closet and removed his own dark clothes. Pulling back the comforter, he helped me slide into the bed onto the satin sheets. Balian did his best to console me.
"We're going to get through this together. I'm not going anywhere, alright?" I just snuggled closer, needing the warmth of skin on skin. He kissed my neck and wrapped his strong arms around my waist. "Let's try and get some sleep; the coronation is tomorrow morning."
Meanwhile that night…
"I knew the leper wouldn't last much longer!" Reynald crowed. He, Guy, and the three templars were perhaps the only ones in the city who rejoiced at King Baldwin's death.
"You three shall put the plan into action tomorrow. Reynald and I will be waiting for you with fresh horses near the back of the palace, and we'll leave the city the same way we got in," said Guy. "And Lucien, by God, be gentle!"
"It will be done my lord," Lucien answered. "Thank you for giving me this task…I believe I shall rather enjoy it."
"But Lord Guy, I don't wanna kill anyone no more. Every time one of us does, we seems to get in trouble," Gerard protested. Henri vigorously nodded his head in agreement. Guy was at a loss of words. If those two knights didn't carry out their part, the plan was lost. Reynald decided to take the situation into his own meaty hands.
"Gerard, Henri," he started. "Your father died in battle, did he not?" They nodded. "I'm not sure if you knew this, but he could've been saved. But his friend chose to save himself, instead of going back to help your father. That man was Godfrey – the father of the man you are to kill today." The knights' expressions changed from reluctance to fury as they digested those words.
"We won't let you down my lord," promised Henri, with an angry glint in his eyes.
"We'll kill him if it's the last thing we do!" Gerard vowed. "Vengeance shall be ours!"
"Excellent, gentlemen. Now be on your way, you mustn't be late for the coronation," Reynald said. As the knights rode away, Guy asked,
"That's not really true about Godfrey, is it?" Reynald scoffed at the notion.
"Of course it isn't. I made it up on the spot."
"You are a very dangerous man, Reynald," Guy commented in awe as the three knights rode off towards the palace. Reynald shrugged his shoulders in an attempt at modesty.
"Someone has to be."
"Do you really expect them to win the fight?" Guy asked.
"Of course not. They need only to serve as a distraction." The two ex-nobles shared an evil smirk at the genius of their plan. In mere weeks, Jerusalem would be theirs.
(Balian PoV)
Dealing with the trauma of Baldwin's death, I'd barely given my coronation a second thought. However, during breakfast, it dawned on me. I was about to become king of the holy city and the sole protector of those who lived there. What are you doing, Balian? You don't understand all of the customs of the east, or the politics that goes on here. Can you truly handle this enormous responsibility? When I walked with Sibylla back to our room to change for the crowning ceremony, I couldn't keep my nervousness bottled up inside any longer.
"Sibylla, I don't think I'm ready to do this…" I muttered under my breath. We reached our rooms and began dressing in our finery for the occasion.
"You'll be a wonderful king; everyone says so…" she said. "And you have plenty of advisors, like Tiberias who will help you rule justly. Plus you have me." I smiled at that. No doubt my wife could guide me in the ways of nobles and politics, as she had been exposed to it her whole life.
"Yes, but I shall have enemies as well. Not all approved of Baldwin's peace agreement between Christian and Muslim." Sibylla pointed out that no ruler has ever been supported by all of his subjects.
"Just do that best that you can. That is all we ask." I hugged her gently, as not to muss her hair or dress. My wife wore her hair in an up-do, giving her a regal look to match her fitting black gown, with silk sleeves. She looked ever inch the queen that she was. However, when I looked in the mirror, I saw a blacksmith wearing a king's lavish robes. I offered her my arm and we walked towards the church where we were married. This time, the circumstances were much more intimidating. All who were present rose to their feet as we entered the church.
"All hail Queen Sibylla!" Their voices resounded as we processed to our thrones in front of the altar. My palms started to sweat, but then I thought of my father. I was going to make him proud today. With that thought, I calmed down a bit. Soon the ceremony came to a close and the hospitaler came bearing the crown of the Christian kings of old. He carefully gave it to my love, who promptly rose from her throne. It is time. Kneeling before her, I tried to gather the finer points of my first speech.
"I Sibylla, bestow this crown upon my husband, Balian of Ibelin. May he fulfill his duty as King of all Jerusalem to the best of his ability." After she adorned my head with the jeweled crown, I rose as King Balian the first. I turned to face my subjects and began to address them for the first time.
"I sincerely accept this kingship, and shall rule without haste, prejudice, or greed. Our dear departed King Baldwin has been a prime example of a ruler which I wish to become. Therefore I shall renew the peace agreement between Christian and Muslim. As before, all are welcome in our fair city. If any person violates this decree, they shall receive the most severe punishment." I paused for breath. "But on lighter note, I share this crown with all of you. May all who live here prosper and…."
Before anyone knew what had transpired, two knights in the front of the crowd had rushed forward with their swords drawn, pointed directly at me. Out of instinct, I too had drawn my gilded sword that I wore for the ceremony. Tiberias and my guards started to rush forward, but I held up my hand in reservation. If I let my guards come, the people will think their king is a coward. Besides, I can handle these goons. I frowned at the men.
"Why do you threaten me?" They both glowered, leaving me extremely confused.
"Are you the son of the knight Godfrey?" the portly one demanded. I nodded, wondering where this was going.
"Your father left our wounded father on the battlefield, and saved himself," the other growled. "We shall have revenge on his bastard son, right here, right now." I inwardly flinched, but kept my calm composure.
"What can you possibly hope to gain? This is your chance to stand down."
"Never!" they shouted. "Fight us, or can the legendary Balian not take on two men at once?" They each took one side, and I watched them warily. I didn't expect to swordfight during my first few moments as King. Screaming insults, they simultaneously attacked. After the first few blows I could tell these were not expert swordsmen, but their anger made them dangerous. I slashed the shoulder of the chubby one, and parried a blow from the other. Luckily, Chubby was down for good, rolling on the marble floor in pain. However, the other assassin showed no signs of tiring, fueled by his rage. The fight continued for awhile; the entire court had gone silent. The only sounds I could hear were the clashes of our swords. I had to end this, and fast.
Trying a different tactic, I pretended to tire, half-heartedly defending off my opponent's blows. I saw his eyes light up in satisfaction, believing he almost had me beat. As soon as he eased up on me, I took advantage of his overconfidence. I attacked with a new vigor, driving him towards a wall, until he had no more room to move.
"Do you yield," I asked, narrowing my eyes at the traitorous knight. His eyes flashed dangerously but nonetheless he dropped his sword. The guards rushed over to them and held them so they could not escape. "Why would you do a foolish thing like that?" I questioned, wandering what on earth had possessed them to do so. "You have accomplished nothing."
"Oh no, my king," smirked the knight I had just defeated. "We couldn't manage to kill you now, but that will be remedied in time. Your father took away someone we dearly loved, so we thought we would return the favor."
"Get them out of my sight," Tiberias ordered, shaking his head in disgust. As they were lead away to the dungeon, I uneasily pondered what the criminal had said.
"Tiberias, what do you think the man meant by that?" The war veteran shrugged.
"An empty threat, pay it no mind. Well, you can't say your coronation day was boring eh?" I nodded, my eyes searching the room. The crowd was really starting to thin out. She was not among the people still gathered in groups discussing the latest events. She would never leave me at a time like this, unless… Oh no. How could I have not seen this? My heart thumping in my chest, I turned back to Tiberias and asked,
"Where is Sibylla?"
End. Ch 9