/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Nine

Balian stood restlessly by the front gates of the land. Fifteen minutes ago a messenger brought up word from Sibylla to meet her there and fifteen minutes later, here he was, doing at the lady bid. He was still contemplating on where Sibylla could possibly want to go when she came up the walk with John as her escort and two stable boys leading two horses with packs on. That could only mean one thing and Balian didn't like it all.

"Lord Balian," Sibylla exclaimed, curtsying slightly.

Balian bowed slightly to show respect. "Lady Sibylla."

Sibylla smiled happily, showing that she was pleased with Balian's curtsy. Balian wished he couldn't have cared less at her pleasure, but deep inside he felt a twinge of happiness that he had pleased the woman. He immediately felt guilty, knowing the vow that he made not so long ago.

"Are you ready then, Balian?" Sibylla asked.

"As ready as you are, my lady Sibylla. If I may be so bold, why are there packs on the horses?" Balian asked.

"Oh, that," Sibylla gestured carelessly, "I feel so restless that I'll need a day away from it without worrying about coming back, so we're not coming back until the morning."

Balian shifted nervously. "But my lady, who's going to run the farm while I'm gone and do what needs to be done?"

"Hasn't run quite swell in the past year without you here, lord Balian?" Sibylla asked and walked over to the first horse, allowing the stable boy to help her swing over the top of the horse.

Balian looked at her reproachfully, but climbed on when Sibylla stared back and nodded to the other horse as if to say "don't keep me waiting". After Balian sat himself comfortably on top the black stallion, Sibylla looked down to John.

"Don't expect us until about midday tomorrow, John. I'm sure you know what to do if I don't come back by then," Sibylla exclaimed.

John nodded. "Yes, my lady. How could someone forget a lady as beautiful as you so easily?"

Sibylla said nothing but Balian caught a twinkle in her eye before spurring her horse onward with a wave of her hand to John and the stable boys. Balian sighed and followed after her. It would do no good to protest, she already made up her mind.

Several hours later after plodding along silently, Sibylla finally reined her horse in by a stream with Balian stopping wearily beside her.

Sliding off the horse, Balian flopped exhaustedly under the tree followed by Sibylla. He could sense that she was watching him, studying his every move, but Balian made no move or gesture that he noticed. It was the mark of a good man, or so they said back home.

"What are you thinking, Balian?" Sibylla asked finally, "what's going through that head of yours?"

"My thoughts are my own, my lady," Balian said simply.

"But surely you must be thinking something," Sibylla insisted.

I am, but I'm not going to be telling them to you, Balian thought.

"You know, I'm really sorry about everything, Balian," Sibylla said.

"You don't have to be sorry about anything, Sibylla."

"I know, but I just dragged you all the way from France against your will and then asked you right up front that I wanted you to marry me because of my circumstances and that you'd make a good king and didn't allow you to gather your thoughts about anything. I should've handled it differently. I'm sorry," Sibylla exclaimed, eyes brimming with tears.

All of a sudden, the wall that Balian had been building around him since traveling here crumbled to the ground. He felt like a total idiot and wished he hadn't acted as such. Gathering her in his arms, Balian pulled Sibylla close as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"It's alright love, don't fret," he whispered softly, "it's not all your fault. Part of the blame is mine. Most of it if you wish to put the burden on my shoulders. Please don't cry."

Sibylla continued to sob. "B—but Balian, you don't understand. When they told me that I had six months or I'd be cast into shame, I began to panic a—and all I could think of was you and that you'd be my knight in shining armor and that I had to go and fetch for you as fast as I could and marry you. I—I wish I could handle it differently so that you wouldn't have hated me now."

"Oh, Sibylla." Balian pulled her away gently and brushed the hair tears away from her eyes. "I don't hate you. I just had too much emotion built up inside me is all and you asking me to marry you just kind of exploded the whole thing. But I do love you Sibylla and I don't think I could live without you anymore. I don't want to lose another person I love in my life."

Sibylla smiled and gave a small laugh through her tears. "You're too sweet."

Balian smiled back. "I try my best."

Suddenly Sibylla stiffened and Balian looked at her curiously. Now what is it? Balian thought desperately, Now what did I do?

"Sibylla?" Balian asked, "What's the matter?"

Sibylla just shook her head and pointed at something behind his shoulder. Balian turned and when he saw what it was, he stood up quickly.

"Having a little rendezvous there, young man?" a husky voice said.

Balian opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly he felt someone clamp their hand on his mouth.

"Say goodbye," another voice said and Balian felt something hard collide with the back of his head.

Balian heard Sibylla scream, but as he fell to the ground, he thought desperately that he had to save her—and then knew no more.