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

Chapter Eighteen

"True love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." –Jason Jordan

After what seemed like hours, Sibylla finally stopped pounding and screaming at her door and slid to the floor, feeling that all hope was lost for the time being. Now what was she to do? She didn't really want to wait for everybody to save her. But what to do, she didn't know and it didn't look like she could do anything about it.

Sidling to the window, Sibylla watched army up on the wall and down below, some pacing some leaning against trees and buildings. It was like they were half bored. Suddenly Sibylla heard a yell and immediately recognized the voice to be John. They had finally come.

"John, John!" Sibylla screamed through the window and some of the soldiers near her window sniggered. The door behind her opened as the guard rushed over and clamped a hand over Sibylla's mouth.

"You dare scream out in such a fashion," the man growled. "You'll be the death of us, you will, and I'll not have it, you filth."

Sibylla squirmed fitfully. The man was clutching her so tight that she couldn't breath. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, the man dropped Sibylla to the ground and Sibylla gasped in surprise.

"Keep that hole in your mouth shut," the man said and went back out, slamming the door behind him.

Sibylla continued to stay where the soldier had thrown her, too shocked to do anything. She couldn't have expected anything less, but she still couldn't believe that a man would hurt a woman like that. Sibylla had heart stories where women were beaten to the ground and left there to die and worse tales, but she never really paid attention to them. She had never had to face such horrors in her every day life and now she understood why so many people went to churches and sanctuaries to protect themselves from their abusive husbands. They had no other choice to help keep their lives.

John stood warily as Saladin came foreword with his man of guards about him. This was the moment that John had been waiting for, to negotiate with Sibylla's captor and to be glorified forever. He wouldn't have to fight ever again after this.

Saladin stopped in front of John and nodded in acknowledgement. "So it's finally come down to this, has it? I was afraid that this might happen."

"Let Sibylla go and you'll never have to be plagued by me ever again," John said firmly.

"Oh, I don't believe it," Saladin stated, "you Christians will continue to come and fight for Jerusalem while both sides will lose countless numbers every day. And I'm afraid I can't let Sibylla go. She has already made a commitment to me to become my wife."

"She would never do that willingly," John said angrily. "She loves another already."

Saladin smiled. "I know she does. Have I not already worked that part out? You see, my plan is already well under way."

"Not unless you die first," John growled.

"So noble. It's too bad they'll only remember you in legends, John," Saladin exclaimed, "and I'll be remembered as the greatest man who ever lived to be able to bring peace to both the Moslems and Christians."

"That will never happen, not while I still have breath within me," John said.

"Well, it looks like I'll have no other choice. We will fight, as you wish, John, but do not expect mercy. Let it begin," Saladin said and headed back within Jerusalem.

John headed back to his own troops, who were standing, waiting for John patiently to bring back news and to tell them what to do. Stopping in front of the army, John let his gaze sweep across the silent men. So many of them were so young, yet here they were, ready to do what they believed was right.

"Some of you," John began, "will never see the light of another day after today. Some of you will have wounds so great that you'll never be able to move freely again forever. But let you remember that today will be a day that you—and many others will remember forever. A woman of whom we all love is trapped within these here walls, unable to free herself because of the kind of people who run this holy city. We are here to help her, for now and for all time. For Christianity, for all time. Let us go now!"

"For all time!" the men shouted.

"Let us move foreword!" John shouted and turning, led the army toward the walls of Jerusalem, for battle.

Squinting through the hot desert sand, Balian could just make out the shimmering walls of Jerusalem. Feeling a sense of emotion rising within him, Balian began to hurry ahead with Eamon following behind him.

"We're almost there," Balian exclaimed excitedly. "By God, we're almost there."

"Balian—I think the battle has already begun," Eamon stated and Balian came to a stop, allowing them so rest.

Looking at where Eamon was pointing, Balian could just make out a huge mass of people. They had indeed started the battle already. Breathing deeply, Balian turned to Eamon.

"Well, we'll just have to go around. We'll be less noticed that way," Balian stated.

"But if we go straight into the battle, we'll be less noticed as they'll think we're just part of the army," Eamon pointed out.

"Yeah, but we cannot risk ourselves being killed in the battle before we even reach the walls. We'll have to go around until we find another side to get it. The other parts of the city will be less guarded that way—less likely to be noticed. Understand?" Balian exclaimed.

Eamon shrugged. "As you wish."

Balian nodded. "Good. That's settled then. Let's be on our way."

The two of them continued on their way, avoiding the main battle. Finally coming to the side of the wall that wrapped around Jerusalem, Balian and Eamon leaned against the wall wearily, panting and breathing hard.

Glancing over at Balian, Eamon said, "Now what do we do?"

Listening to the battle cries on the other side, Balian stood thinking. Such a lot of effort for one small woman. But to Balian, it was all worth the effort. Looking to his right, Balian noticed a small door; one that looked like was used for the servants. Balian nodded toward the door.

"We go in through that door," Balian stated.

Eamon nodded and the two of them crept quietly toward the door. Assured that no one was in the room, the two of them quickly went in and found themselves in the kitchens.

"Now where do we go?" Eamon asked.

"Just follow me and keep quiet and do what I say," Balian said, feeling slightly weak from the excursion of just nearly running through the desert this whole time.

Finding the door out of the kitchens, Balian headed towards the bedchambers. All places of high nobility were built the same and if his assumptions were correct, they were never going a quicker path.

Dozing by the window with the sounds of fighting outside, Sibylla awoke suddenly, yet she didn't know why. Something or someone was just below her window. Glancing out the window, though, Sibylla couldn't see anyone.

"Whoever it is out there, show yourself!" Sibylla called out, feeling a little scared.

"Sh, Sibylla, it's me. I'm trying to save you and I can't risk you compromising me," a voice said directly under her window.

Glancing downward, Sibylla's heart gave a leap. It was Balian and he had come to save her life.