"Words in Bold" another language
Italics flashbacks
Italics/Bold letters, dreams
Trapped in Time
Chapter 1
—1184, end of November; three miles from France's border—
Estrella Mendoza rode fast and hard through the forest, trying not to get hit by branches. She turned her head back to see eight horsemen riding not too far behind her, yelling her to stop. Turning back forward, Estrella gives out a cry as a branch hits her face but holds on tightly to her horse mane. Warm blood trickles down her left cheek but she does not take notice for she wanted to escape quickly.
Leaning forward on her honey brown stallion, Estrella urges him on, maneuvering around the trees to lose the men after her. Soon the sun began to sink to their left, the eight horsemen precious light fading by the minute. They were unskilled to chase a person in the dark, especially if the said person was able to disappear within the darkness of the night.
Noting this little factor, Estrella gave a small prayer thanks to God, hoping that she would out run the eight men until darkness takes over the world. And because she—as well as the men—knew this, arrows started to whiz by her form and her stallion, trying to bring her down enough to capture her. Estrella cursed under her breath, and maneuvering left and right to keep from getting hit and to get the men dizzy just from following her tactic.
Before they knew it the sun has completely gone down and Estrella had turned a sharp left to where the trees were a bit closer and larger together. She slowed her horse to a stop and whispered soothing words to him so as to calm his breathing. Leaning all the way forward so that she was practically lying on the stallions neck, she watched carefully the eight horsemen slowly passing her, trying desperately to find her.
Once Estrella knew that they were a good distance form her hiding, she silently dismounted her horse. Tightly closing the front of her cloak, the young woman began to lead her horse by the reins northward. It was only several miles to the French borders, which Estrella knew she would be protected until the news spread over to their side—if it hasn't yet already.
Keeping all of her sense on high alert, the young woman reflected back to the days that past; to when her fears and nightmares finally became reality in her view of the world.
A figure clad in black clothing silently crept into the large house of her mother's murder, her movement cat-like. They stuck to the shadows, listening to the eerie silence of the deserted hallways. Knowing perfectly well where they were going, the figure stood just outside a fairly good designed door just seven minutes after entering the house.
Looking around quickly, the figure slowly opened the door and slid inside. They closed the door and took hold of a chair nearby, placing it up against the door handle to lock anyone out. Turning towards the bed, the figure silently walked forward, taking out a dagger hiding within their breeches. The two sleeping figures on the bed did not as so much moved. But the male figure did begin to mumble in his sleep, breaking the eerie silence.
Still, this did not intimidate this intruder, who continued to walk to the male figure first. Standing to the side, the figure glares down at the male, hatred showing brightly in their hazel eyes. They leaned over the male, the dagger rising into the air. The male suddenly opened his eyes, feeling someone above them. His eyes widen in fear, trying to see who the shadow figure was.
"No!" He cried out before struggling to call for help.
The figure had thrust the dagger into the male's throat, blood squirting everywhere. The woman woke, startled at her husband's cry, and screamed at the sight she saw. The figure looked up from the man choking on his own blood to the still screaming woman. The woman scrambled out of bed, still screaming, irritating the figure. So the best way to shut her up was the figure throwing the dagger on to the woman's back. The woman fell to the floor, gasping for air, as the dagger had punctured her left lung.
Yelling and pounding from the door echoed in the large house and the figure took out their dagger, making their way over to the doors leading to the balcony. The figure was able to climb down the vein wall on the side and jump to the ground.
The door to the master bedroom busted opened, a large man wearing chain mil and the symbol of the King of Spain. His eyes widen in horror at the sight before him before running over to the balcony. He looked down at the ground in time for the still kneeling figure to look up, long dark hair coming out of their hood as piercing dark blue eyes glaring up at him.
—1184, early December—
Estrella was brought out of her thoughts by her stallion nudging her right shoulder. At the moment she was sitting on a rock near a river she found half an hour ago. It was two hours until dawn and the horsemen that still followed her had lost her track hours ago. Two hours after dusk to be more precise. But she did not fear them as she was now in French territory now. The news of her escaping into France had probably spread, making it unsafe for her.
"You well rested, Elligero?" Estrella whispered, petting the stallion's nose.
Elligero snorted, nodding his head. The woman chuckled softly, nodding her head.
"Okay, let us be in our way, then."
She mounted her trustworthy steed, not fearing for the worst. But unfortunately this was not her night as hooves upon the ground could be heard behind her. Estrella turned in fear and saw the eight horsemen riding towards her.
"No," She muttered, urging him to go even faster. "Faster, Elligero, we need to get somewhere safe!"
She told him with so much emotion and fear behind her voice that the stallion urged his own feet to go even faster then possible. The sun was rising, the woman noted, and knew if she couldn't get away she was to not going to see after her twenty-second birthday if she did not find a hiding place before dawn. Estrella cried out I pain, her right hand moving to her left shoulder, which an arrow has embedded from behind.
Before she could comprehend what was happening or even take the arrow out, Elligero had skidded to a stop and reared up on his hind legs. The woman cried out as she fell from her saddle, turning her body so that she was able to land on her right side. Believing that the men had set up a trap, Estrella stood and took out her sword to defend herself. She looked up and saw six men standing before her.
Gripping the hilt of her sword, Estrella observed the men, her breathing irregular. One of the men, the oldest one it seems, slowly walked forward, his hands slightly up in a friendly gesture.
"Do no fear us, my lady; we are not to harm you." He said in French.
Estrella's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the old man before her. She had seen him over and over in theaters and when the movie had came out. Estrella sheathed her sword, knowing that she could trust these men.
"Please, you must help me!" She pleaded in French.
Before any of them could say anything, cries of triumphant was heard behind the woman, who turned in fear. The horsemen had spotted her and were too close for Estrella to flee. She stumbled back as a small whimper left her, the horsemen dismounting before her. If it wasn't for the young man holding Elligero's reins, the stallion would have gone over to his master to protect her.
"I thank you, my Lords, for capturing this murderous whore," the leader, Enrique, said in Spanish.
He had said the word 'whore' in dislike, looking at the woman at the same time with a sneer. He reached out to grab her but the old man she spoke to quickly pushed her behind him. He walked forward, staring the man down.
"You should not be taking her," he said in fluently Spanish. "For you are in French territory, and whatever she did in Spain is not of our concern." He told them.
The leader glared the man down, sneering at him. "That whore you are protecting is a murderer! She killed a noble Lord, important to the court of the Spaniard King." He said all this by pointing at Estrella.
The woman was shaking her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No! It was not me! It was not me!" She cried, wishing for someone to believe her.
"Have we not all down murder once in our life time?" The old man asked. "You would not be taking this woman. To do so, you would have to fight us all." He said with his arms up and backing away.
The Spaniards laughed, as they noted the French men were short by two men. But one of them suddenly had the look of horror and turned to Enrique, speaking quickly to him in a low voice.
"They are Crusaders, my Lord! We cannot harm them no matter how much we try. They are far more skillful then we are." He told him fearfully. "And Alejandro will surely have our heads if we hurt them"
Hearing this, the other six Spaniards all grew in fear, taking a step back. Enrique growled but knew not to mess with these men as they would surely be killed by their lord if they survive themselves. Enrique turned and mounted his horse, his men following hurriedly. He turned his horse sideways, glaring down at the old man.
"I warn you now: This whore will murder you all in your sleep or place her witchery upon you to do her betting!" And they galloped away, muttering of how Alejandro was going to have his head.
The old man watched them for a second before turning to the crying woman, who fell to the floor on her knees. She did not hear the words spoken to her from the old man who was kind to her to keep her safe. But she looked up at him teary eyed as he placed a hand on her right shoulder, sensing someone coming up behind her.
"My lady, we are going to need to pull that arrow out." He told her softly in Spanish.
Estrella nodded, tightly closing her eyes. The old man went on his knees and firmly took hold of her arms, Estrella grabbing his forearms as well. The old man nodded to the guy behind the young woman. He nodded back and looked down at the arrow, placing his right hand on the woman's back and firmly taking hold of the arrow with his left.
In one swift movement the man behind her pulled it out quickly. Estrella held back a sob as her hands tighten her hold on the old man's arms, making him grunt in pain. She leaned forward into the man's chest, crying against his shirt. Her sobs were muffled, her ears deaf for that one moment, not able to deal with the pain. The old man sighed and circled his arms about her, careful not to touch her wound.
The person behind her took off her cloak and pulled her tunic upwards to take a look at the wound. Estrella continued to cry silently, flinching every once in a while when the person behind her placed some medicine to the wound.
"You are very brave when it comes to wounds, my lady." The man behind her said in broken Spanish. But the woman understood well. "Not many women can handle the stinging of medicine upon open flesh."
"Not many women get wounds such as these, Hospitaler." The old man said with a glare.
After Hospitaler had finished bandaging her wound, Estrella was now panting for breath, her eyes growing heavy with tiredness from the past couple of days with no food and from loss of blood.
"Thank you… my Lords…" She whispered, struggling to stand.
Both men helped her stand, Estrella taking back her cloak from Hospitaler as she wobbly walked towards Elligero. The stallion, noting the tiredness of his master, went on all fours to help her sit on the saddle. Once she was seated, Elligero stood and snorted to the young man holding the reins. He quickly let them go, Elligero nickering in amusement.
The group of men looked to one another at this but did not comment. They watched as Elligero turned to the right and begun continued northward as his master planned. But he stopped and glared at the African and the German crusader blocking his path. Estrella looked up at them tiredly, wondering what they wanted now.
"We do not think it is wise you should continue on your own, my Lady." The old man told her truthfully, walking over to her.
She turns to him and inhales sharply, struggling to stay awake. "I am not supposed… to be here… Godfrey of Ibelin…" She said in English, surprising everyone.
Godfrey frowned, wondering who this woman was. But before any word could be exchange, Estrella passed out, sliding to the side. The young man, who had walked up behind the horse, caught her before she could hit the ground. He looked to the woman then over to Godfrey with a curious expression.
—Next day—
The group of crusaders continued on, Hospitaler holding on to an unconscious Estrella. Elligero, despite the younger man's protest, was walking along side his master, keeping a close eye on the crusader. It was later that night did Estrella wake up in the camp the crusaders set up. With her eyes still closed, she pondered on what had woken her and where she was. Then male voices pushed through her thoughts, Estrella listening intently.
"If you do not know this woman, then how does she know you?" A young male's voice said in English.
'So they're not French?' Estrella thought confused.
"I do not know! Perhaps she has heard of me in the time I spent in Spain." An older, irritated voice said.
"My lord, what shall we do with her now?" Another voice asked.
Before any one of them could answer, Estrella decided to speak up for herself. Besides, it was her own fate of what she should do or not.
"I shall continue riding north," she told them, sitting up painfully in her makeshift bed.
She looked up at the surprise faces of Godfrey, Hospitaler, and a young man who Estrella did not know. It has been four years since Estrella entered a world she knew once existed, but the plot line and most of the characters should not be real… right? Or could it be that the movie was actually based on the past life; of love and war that was held but left out from history books?
Four years and yet, Estrella does not have a single answer to ease her curious mind.
"I will ease your burden of me and continue on alone." Estrella continued.
She knew if she went along with them the story line would be corrupted, and she couldn't have that. She went to stand but the younger man glared at the two other men before kneeling down next to her and pushing her down gently.
"No, you are still healing. You need more rest for your energy to return." He told her in concern.
Estrella looked at him, shaking her head. "No, I must go on. I cannot go along with you all."
Godfrey sighed, kneeling next to the young man. "If you are worried about those Spaniards returning for you, we will keep you safe."
Estrella sighed, shaking her head. "That is not what worries me, my lord. It is the trouble that seems to follow me to no end." She told them sincerely.
'And that is called Sarah…' Estrella thought bitterly.
She went to stand once again but the young man pushed her back down. Though, she wouldn't call him a young man seeing as he's about nine years older then her. But he was younger then the other men.
"Please," Estrella begun to plead. "I beg of you to let me go on."
Hospitaler shook his head, walking up behind the other two men. "Not with the way you have been traveling, my lady."
Estrella frowned at him, wondering what he meant. He merely smirked at her as though he knew all her secrets.
"You have not eaten nor rested for nearly three weeks." He told her.
Estrella blushed, looking down at her hands ashamed of being caught. "It is not like I had a choice, my lord. I am on the run from those men and could not stop anywhere in Spain of fear being caught."
Godfrey glared at Hospitaler, who shrugged innocently. "I am merely telling the truth." He told him.
"A truth that holds so much pain and suffering," Estrella replied in a low whisper.
But because of the quiet camp the three men still heard her words. They looked to one another, wondering what kind of past this mysterious woman has. It must've been as terrible as she claims, seeing as the eight Spaniard horsemen wanted her dead.
"What is your name, my lady?" Godfrey asked in a fatherly way.
Estrella looked up at him, having heard her father's voice. Mentally shaking her head, she blinked several times, looking over to the fire on her left. She noted the other crusaders were asleep around the fire to keep warm from the cold night.
"Estrella Mendoza, my lord." She looked back at them.
Godfrey nodded, smiling. "See, now that was not so bad."
Estrella laughed quietly, smiling. Godfrey inhaled softly, looking from the two men to the young woman.
"Estrella… how do you know me?" He asked softly, slightly confused.
Estrella looks at him, biting her lower lip before answering him. "I have heard stories of your bravery and battles around Spain. The family that took me in, their son, was very admired by you and your men." Estrella smiled, remembering back to Sebastian. "He wanted to become a crusader and join you and your men to the Holy Land."
"Where is he now?" Godfrey asked softly.
The twenty-one year old shook her head. "I do not know. I had to leave him behind in the town market when those horsemen thought I had killed their master." Before any of them could ask, Estrella said, "Please, I do not wish to discuss it. It is still painful of the person who did this to me, even though I should have known better."
Seeing that she was indeed telling them the truth, the two men stood and walked away to get much needed rest. The younger man, however, stayed behind, sitting down on the ground.
"My name is Ramiro," he said a bit shyly. "It means Supreme Judge in Portuguese."
Estrella smiled mysteriously, Ramiro blushing a bit.
"It is a pleasure, Lord Ramiro."
"Please, just Ramiro." He told her.
Estrella bowed her head. "As you wish… Ramiro,"
The two smiled before Ramiro cleared his throat, standing once more.
"Why not rest? We have a long day ahead of us and we do not stop so often."
Estrella only nodded and lied back down on the makeshift bed. She snuggled into the warm covers and closed her eyes. She felt darkness taking over and let it, nightmares of the past coming back to haunt her.
A/N: Review, please!
