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

Chapter Sixteen

As the days went by, Balian watched the activity passing in and out of camp. Each day he felt more and more hopeless that nobody was ever going to help Sibylla. It didn't even help that Sibylla's time to find a husband was running out ever so slowly day-by-day.

On countless occasions Balian had tried sneaking out of camp, but to no avail. John had told everyone in the camp that if they see Balian leaving to make sure that he didn't leave. Balian had even tried pleading with John several times, but it didn't work. Everybody just thought he was too weak to do anything worthy.

Balian wandered around camp, not really seeing anything, not really caring, either. As he passed one soldier after another, he heard them calling out to him to remember not to wander out of camp. It was as if they thought he wasn't going to remember. Too bad for them that his memory was working perfectly.

"Balian!" Balian turned around and saw John come running towards him in full sprint. Balian sighed and stopped where he was, feeling extremely irritated. Now what did he do?

"What is it, John?" Balian asked as the man skidded to a stop.

John shrugged. "I was just wondered where you were going, was all."

Now Balian was really irritated. "Look, John, I'm not some child that needs be looked over every single minute of the day. I can take care of myself."

"I know that, Balian, but you've been sick for the past week and a half and I don't want you to get any worse than you already are," John confronted.

"Well, you can stop your worrying, now, ok? I've been feeling loads better and I've been beginning to get my strength back. I can take care of myself now," Balian reassured John.

John was doubtful when he saw Balian wobble slightly, nearly falling but catching himself again. The man was so stubborn, yet so determined. John wished he had half that much that Balian carried around everywhere.

"I'm still not so sure, Balian. You need your rest," John stated.

"Sibylla doesn't get rest, does she? Nobody does in the hands of those men," Balian retorted angrily.

"Balian, we've already been through all of this. No matter how hard you try, you're not going to be strong enough to fight in the battle with us. Nor try to sneak in and save Sibylla. It will be the death of you," John said.

"Won't it be the death of all of us?" Balian asked. "What about all those great warriors of the past? They didn't get nowhere by staying at home because they thought it'd be the death of them. No, they continued on."

"But this isn't the past, Balian, nor are we the warriors from it," John exclaimed. "As much as we want to believe it, it will never be."

"Ye of so little faith," Balian growled under his breath, but didn't say anything louder for John's benefit.

After several moments of silence, John finally turned back towards the center of camp. All these men depended on him to make the right decision. But what was the right decision? There seemed to be no easy answer anywhere.

"If I take your suggestion, Balian, who would be strong enough, or bold enough to be able to go in there and save Sibylla? It's a fool's run, and not everybody will be willing to take it, or risk it for that matter," John finally said.

"I would, John. I would do anything for Sibylla's sake," Balian stated.

John didn't say anything, just stared gloomily on. "Don't I know that well? I wish helping her would be so simple, yet it is not. What am I to do?"

Balian walked over to John and placed a hand on his shoulder. "If you take my advice, there might still be some more hope."

John gave a weary smile. "You are so full of hope and determination, Balian d'Ibelen. I wish I had at least half of what you have."

"You already do. You just have to look deep within yourself. And anyways, I think you are already using it, though you might not know it," Balian said simply.

"Easy for you to say," John muttered to himself. Glancing over to Balian, John smiled. "Thanks Balian."

"For what?" Balian asked.

John shrugged. "For everything. For inspiring me, for showing determination to help save Sibylla. I think you've given me inspiration."

Balian shook his head in embarrassment. "Oh, I don't think so. I'm just a simple blacksmith trying to save the woman he loves."

"Oh, I think you're more than that, Balian," John said, "you are the knight in shining armor to save everyone within sight. But alas, I have stayed too long and said too much. I am needed elsewhere. Please forgive me, Balian, for leaving you right now."

Balian shook his head. "I am not at a loss. Please, go ahead, I've taken up too much of your time as it is. I have my own things to tend to."

The two of them said goodbye to each and each went their separate ways. Balian smiled to himself as he went back to his own little spot in camp, feeling fully satisfied. Finally, he was getting somewhere with John. Maybe there was hope for Sibylla after all.