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

Chapter Fourteen

"Where hope fails, the courageous come to the front." –Unknown

For several days, the fever that had overtaken Balian raged through his body uncontrollably. The soldiers watching over him day and night threw each other fearful glances, worried that he may never recover his strength. John came in and out of camp several times, but each day he came, Balian only seemed to be getting worse. It seemed like there was no hope.

"It's no use, John," one of the soldiers said. "You might as well give up, he's going to die."

"Well, I haven't given up yet," John exclaimed stubbornly. "And I'm certainly giving up now."

"Have you figured out what you were going to do about Sibylla, John?" another soldier asked hopefully.

"No, but I am still working on it, trust me," John assured the man, but deep inside he knew that he wasn't even close, and it made him feel guilty to lie to the men that he had taken responsibility for. But there was no choice in the matter. It was a give and take kind of deal.

Standing at the edge of camp that night, John stared up at the stars thoughtfully. He remembered a similar night not too long ago when he sat under the stars with the man that he had just rescued. "You feel like you could go on forever, couldn't you?" John had asked at the time. Balian, whose face had been so dark and desperate had answered, "For some it might, for others, an endless sea of uncertainty—one of vast fears and obstacles." Looking back now, John could now understand the man's words that were so thought out. He now felt guilty for laughing off Balian's wisdom, but he couldn't change what he did now.

The pounding of feet pulled John out of reverie to turn to see who was in such a hurry at this time of the night. To his distress, it was the servant boy that he had posted with Balian in case anything happened. John couldn't help but feel that the worst had come over his dear friend.

"My lord John," the boy panted, "lord Balian awakes. He seems to have broken the fever. He's weak, but he wishes to talk with you, if you were available."

"Indeed I am," John stated, striding back into camp with the boy trotting as fast as he could behind him.

Coming into where Balian lay, John could see that the man was propped up against the lone tree that they had made camp around. When Balian saw John coming nearer, he broke into a weak smile. John couldn't help but smile back.

"Hello, John," Balian said.

John nodded toward Balian as he kneeled next to the man. "It's good to see you back among the living, friend."

"Was I that bad, my friend?" Balian asked.

"I'm afraid so, Balian. But you made it through, and that's all that matters," John said, thumping Balian's shoulder.

"Yeah…that's all that matters," Balian murmured, started to wander off into his own thoughts.

"I heard that you wanted to talk to me," John said, changing the subject.

Balian glanced back up at John and sighed. "Yes, I do. I wanted to know if you had any idea in what you were doing for Sibylla. I know she's still in there with Saladin, I can feel it. I don't want to leave her there to the mercies of that man."

John sighed and sat down all the way, crossing his legs in front. He knew that he was going to be here for a long time, no matter what.

"No, I'm afraid I don't. I was thinking of taking the whole lot of them by force, but that would take a while and God knows that Sibylla doesn't have that time. She only has a little over three months to claim a husband if she wants to stay on the throne," John said bitterly.

"Then we must think of something else," Balian stated firmly, "I'm not allowing her to be in there for a moment longer than necessary."

"That I understand, Balian, but what do you suggest we do? I've 'bout run out of ideas to help her," John exclaimed.

"We could set up a trap. One where we really do fight against the Moslems, but while we've got them occupied, someone on our side can somehow sneak into Jerusalem and take by Sibylla. Then as soon as both leaves at a safe distance, they send up some kind of signal and then our army retreats, but with victory because we have gotten Sibylla back," Balian exclaimed.

John frowned. It was a sensible idea enough, but for some reason he couldn't buy it at all.

John shook his head in disagreement. "I don't know, Balian. It's a good idea in theory, but how well do you think it would work in real life?"

"Anything's possible if you can put your mind to it," Balian said stubbornly.

"I don't think it'll work Balian," John exclaimed.

"You want to get Sibylla out as much as I do, John, I know it," Balian said.

"I know that I know that, but that would be too risky and knowing Saladin, he'd figure it out before the person going in and Sibylla can get out," John said.

"But if you loved her as much as I do, John, you'd try. For the good of everybody in the kingdom," Balian so fiercely that John that he was going to fall head over heels just sitting there.

You don't know how right you are, Balian, John thought, but didn't say aloud.

"Everybody loves her, but there's got to be another way—" John started.

"There IS no other way, John!" Balian shouted that the whole camp fell silent, wondering how the man who was so sick just this morning was now shouting like a crazy person. Maybe the sickness had finally taken its toll. "Don't you understand? It's do this or die trying. We have to get her out of there, I'm refusing to give up hope."

"I know, Balian, I know. I'm not giving up hope either. But we have to think of something more sensible," John pleaded.

"Saladin's not," Balian said bitterly.

"He's a smart man, but unfortunately he's on the other side, daring us to fight him," John said. "We just have to find a way around him."

"The answer's sitting right in front of your face, but you're not listening to it," Balian retorted.

"But I'm telling you, Balian, that's not going to—" John began.

"Oh, I'm tired of your hopelessness. Please leave me alone now, John, I have to rest, I feel tired," Balian said.

"But, Balian—"

"Please leave," Balian growled.

John got to his head and bowed his head once before leaving, neither of them saying another word to one another. Neither was going to admit to being wrong, but as John walked away, all he could hope was that two of them could come to an agreement before Sibylla's time ran out.