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

Chapter Ten

Waking slowly, Balian felt dizzy and distorted. Trying to get up, he only fell back down from the bindings and the sickness that suddenly swept across his whole body. Groaning, Balian rolled onto his side and nearly vomited from the pain in his head.

Looking wearily up, Balian noticed that a figure in the shadows was standing there, watching the prisoner quietly. Suddenly Balian felt a surge of anger. How dare they tie him up like this—like some animal, for God's sake!

The man in the shadows laughed heartily and kicked Balian in the stomach, making Balian roll on his back, curled up in pain. If only it could stop, he'd be all right…

"I see you are awake, I am pleased," the man said gruffly, "welcome back to the world of the living."

"Where am I? Where is Sibylla?" Balians growled, struggling to get up to no avail, "answer me!"

"All in good time, sir, all in good time," the man said.

"There is no good time about it at all! I want to know now!" Balian shouted and the man laughed heartily. "Don't you know who I am?"

"Why, yes, I know you quite well. And I think you should know me well, too. We met last year, as a matter of fact," the man said.

"Oh, yeah? Then show yourself so I can see you!" Balian exclaimed.

For a moment, Balian thought that the man hadn't heard what he said. Then, finally, the man stepped out of the shadows and Balian gasped in horror when he saw whom it was. It was the Moslem king, Saladin.

"You!" Balian growled.

Saladin smiled softly. "Yes, it's me."

Balian struggled hopelessly against his bindings for a few moments before lying back on the ground, lifeless. He had no hope now if he was in the Moslems' control. What would become of him, of Sibylla, of Israel? It would all come to ruin, if he continued to lie here like an imbecile.

"Ah, I forgot my manners. Let me undo your bindings," Saladin exclaimed.

Turning to the guard at the door of the room, Saladin spoke something in a language that Balian couldn't understand. Nodding slowly, the guard walked over to the Balian and roughly pulling him to his knees, the guard cut Balian's bindings from his feet and hands. As soon as he was free, Balian roared and ran towards Saladin as fast as he could, but the guard held him back profusely.

"Now, now. I just showed you courtesy and what do you show me in return?" Saladin asked.

"Where's Sibylla?" Balian growled.

"Sibylla is safe, though I dare say she'll probably die from the lack of boredom—I don't think being locked up in a room twenty-four hours a day is too pleasant, what do you think?" Saladin exclaimed.

Balian stopped in his tracks. It horrified him that Sibylla was locked up somewhere, but if she was locked up bored with nothing to do by now, how long had he been unconscious?

As if reading his mind, Saladin laughed and said, "You're probably wondering how long you've been here."

Balian nodded silently, trying not to give the man the satisfaction of answering. There was too much at risk right now and Balian was at Saladin's mercy. No use doing or saying something that could cause tragedy accidentally.

Saladin nodded profoundly. "Quite understandably. You've been unconscious for five days now."

Five days? Balian thought. If Sibylla and I were gone that long, surely someone from home would notice and start searching for us?

"And…where am I?" Balian asked warily.

"You are in Jerusalem. It's quite amazing how some people can travel so far in such a short amount of time," Saladin said, taking a seat in that was in the corner of the dim room.

"What do you want from me?" Balian asked, "From Sibylla, also."

Saladin twirled his dark moustache. Balian took the time to study the man who was his captor. Quite funny how he and his kind dress, really. He'd never seen such a thing and was sure that Saladin was thinking the same thing about Balian's own guard.

"When I heard that you had come back into Israel, I instantly knew that you would be a threat to my people and I. After all, you showed ruthlessness and courage the last you were here. I knew that if you came back and stayed long enough, you would get the notion to try and retake Jerusalem again. Of course, others have tried after you, but I knew that after your little crusade last year, I would fail miserably and let down my people. I'd be in ruin, you know that in your own kind, Balian, I too, have to live up to the code of chivalry. And then I found about Sibylla's predicament and I knew that would be an utter disaster if the two of you married. And so here we are," Saladin explained.

Balian shook his head. "That still doesn't explain why I'm here, Saladin. Why would taking Sibylla and I captive prevent us from marrying and becoming king and queen?"

"Obviously you don't remember the whole of Sibylla predicament," Saladin said.

Suddenly it dawned on Balian. All this man had to do was keep him and Sibylla locked up for six months and Sibylla would be kicked off the throne, shamed for life. A new, possibly weaker person would be put on the throne and eventually Saladin would be able to throat the Christian armies.

Saladin grinned and stood up. "Well, I best go, I have many other matters to attend to. Have a nice day, if you can call it one."

"But, wait—" Balian exclaimed, starting towards Saladin menacingly.

But before Balian could reach the man, Saladin smiled and left the room, the guard leaving behind him and slamming and locking the door firmly. Pounding the door loudly for several moments and yelling, Balian sunk to the ground, his back leaning against the door, hope draining from every crevice of his body. He was in trouble and he didn't have any way to help it.

Notes:

Code of Chivalry: During the Middle Ages, the knights were required to live up to the code of chivalry which consisted of courage, loyalty to the king, a strong faith in his beliefs, nobility, defense of the land and kingdom, and justice.