"Words in Bold" = another language

Italics = flashbacks

Italics/Bold = letters, dreams

Trapped in Time

Chapter 8

After calming down, Estrella pulls back, wiping her tears. She smiles embarrassingly at Balian, looking down at her left hand. Balian wraps an arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. Estrella merely close her eyes, calming her beating heart—and not from the nightmare either. Opening her eyes, Estrella smiles, looking up at Balian.

"I hope I didn't wake you." She whispered.

Balian smiled back, shaking his head. "I was already awake."

Ramiro, who happened to be passing by, came to an abrupt halt outside Estrella's door. He stared at the scene before him, jealously and pain swelling up inside. Even when Estrella told him that she only saw him as a friend, it still hurt for Ramiro to see the woman he fell in love in the arms of another man. Not wanting to see them together any longer, the crusader continues on his way.

Estrella clears her throat, looking over her and Balian's shoulder to the window. The sun seemed to be up around nine or so and Sibylla should be there soon.

"Why don't you go downstairs?" Estrella started, turning back to Balian. "I'll quickly change and catch up with you."

"I will wait for you outside," Balian told her, getting up. "Just hurry and change, I am hungry as a horse."

He chuckled, Estrella shaking her head at her charge. She quickly pulled the sheets back and stretched out her limbs, a few bones cracking here and there. With a soft groan of content, Estrella stood and walked over to the table holding the pitcher of water and basin. After washing her face and brushing the knots out of her hair, Estrella changed into black pants and a red tunic.

She walked over to the door after strapping a few daggers behind her pants, the tunic covering it, and inside her boots. She took hold of a leather band from the top of her bed on her way and opened the door. Balian turned to her, smiling.

"Let's get something to eat." Estrella said.

At that moment both Balian's and her stomach growled at the same time. The duo laughed, walking down to their left. They were silent—except for the continuous giggling and whispering of the women servants following them—but the duo were comfortable and did not mind so much. As they walked down the stairs to the main area of the home, Balian stops for a moment, not able to believe that this was his as well as his knights when in Jerusalem.

He continues down the stairs, looking to the servant men in the corner before the stairs.

"Salaam alaikum," one of them had said before they all stopped what they were doing and bowed to Balian.

"Alaikum salaam," Estrella answered back looking to Balian when he just stared at them.

She smiles at him innocently, Balian rolling his eyes and bows his head to the men before turning away from the stairs. Estrella looks out of the left corner of her eye to see Balian watching the three men trying to control a dark brown stallion in concern.

"Stop," he tells them, quickly walking forward. "You're hurting him." He explains further.

Estrella smiles and walks over after him, standing by the water barrel. It's a wonder how Balian was able to calm a horse after just telling these men to stop. It was a miracle all in it's own… though he was a blacksmith.

"Whoa. Whoa," Balian sooths, holding up his right hand.

Estrella looks around to see everyone—especially the women who followed them and standing by the stairs—surprise to see that this man, their new Lord, had calmed a horse quickly. She watches memorized as Balian moves along the horse, stroking him at the same time. She takes hold of her hair and puts it up in a high pony tail. Balian kneels slightly to check his back right leg when he suddenly looks up. Estrella turns in time to see a couple of dogs running in, followed by two riders seconds later.

A woman clad in orange silk moves her stallion around, looking at the people in the court yard, before stopping her horse before Estrella. The woman—Sibylla, Estrella knew—looked at her briefly in confusion before looking behind her over towards Balian. Hating being ignored—and not from the fact that Estrella hates Sibylla from the first time she'd seen her character—spoke up before the princess could address Balian.

"My I help you, My Lady?"

Sibylla tore her gaze from Balian to Estrella, who wore no expression on her face whatsoever. Sibylla was taken back but did not comment on it.

"Where's your master?" The princess asks, returning her gaze to Balian.

"You're staring at him."

Estrella smirked ghostly when Sibylla narrowed her eyes at her. A tinge of red is seen when she brings down her scarf that covered her mouth and nose.

"Give me some water." The princess orders.

Knowing Balian should be doing this, Estrella does so. No matter how much she detests this character, Estrella follows the plot of the movie.

"Tell me, Ramiro, can she speak my language?" Estrella asks loudly to Ramiro when she saw him out of the corner of her right eye.

She handed the princess the ladle full of water, smiling sweetly when Sibylla stared at her in complete confusion. The princess takes hold of the ladle and begins to drink the cool liquid.

"No, only her brother; but that is because he needs to speak with his allies." Ramiro tells her, walking further out of the shadows.

"Thank God," Estrella tells him, taking the ladle back from the princess. "I can talk bad about this… Princess."

"Thank you for the drink." Sibylla says a bit stiffly.

Estrella forced her smile, bowing her head. "Any time," she mutters.

"If you happen to see Balian, the son of Godfrey…" Sibylla tells them, looking back at Balian. "Tell him that Sibylla called." She then turns her horse, "Let us return." She tells her servants in Arabic.

The duo rides out, Balian confused as to why this Sibylla would want to see him. Estrella only glares after her, shaking her head.

"I really hate that witch—princess or not, Hospitaler." Estrella says, turning to the right.

Balian frowns and also turns, surprise to see Hospitaler standing there, eating an apple. Hospitaler bows his head slightly, smiling at Balian, who smiles back, scoffing quietly. Hospitaler looks over to Estrella, who was scolding like a child caught being misbehaving.

"Behave, Trella; I mean it." He warned her before motioning the both of them to follow him.

Estrella sighs with a roll of her eyes and walks after the older man, Balian walking slightly behind her in confusion. Peter also walked behind him, Ramiro walking along side him.

"Can we at least get some damn food?" Estrella whined.


—Another room—

After eating breakfast (which Estrella took the time to tell Balian who the mysterious woman looking for him was), Balian was led by Peter to another room to change into the clothing of a crusader. Hospitaler told them that Tiberias, the Marshal of Jerusalem and the King's advisor, wanted to speak with Balian and herself. Hospitaler, Peter, and Estrella were already in the office that once belonged to Godfrey when Balian walked in with two Muslim servants.

Balian took a seat facing Hospitaler, Peter to his right and Estrella to his left. A servant woman then entered with a bowl of some kind of liquid and fruits. Estrella guessed the liquid was honey or something sweet.

"So, how find you Jerusalem?" Hospitaler asks as he dips the fruit into the liquid.

"God does not speak to me." Balian whispered with an inaudible sigh. "Not even on the hill…" Balian stands and walks forward, the two Muslim servants that were in the room quickly standing. "Where Christ died. I am outside God's grace."

"I have not heard that." Hospitaler comments quietly.

He watches the servants strap Balian's belt and sword upon his waist, getting him ready to meet the Marshal.

"At any rate, it seems," Balian starts, obvious to the servants. "I have lost my religion."

Hospitaler nods, understanding somewhat the young man was talking about. He leans forward, staring straight into his new lord, keeping a steady eye contact.

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion,' I've seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the Will of God."

Balian frowns as he tries to understand Hospitaler's words and the meaning behind them. But at the moment, the older man only seems to be talking in riddles.

"Holiness," Hospitaler continues, "is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. And goodness—" Hospitaler stands as the servants have finished, and walked towards Balian. "What God desires—is here," he points, slightly touching, Balian's head then to his heart, chewing his food at the same time. "And here. But what you decided to do every day, you will be a good man." Hospitaler nods, smiling. "Or not." He continues to smile, nodding his head to the left. "Come."

"Why don't you talk after chewing your food!" Estrella muttered, following behind them.

Hospitaler merely turned to her and opened his mouth to let the woman see the chewed up food in his mouth.

"Ugh!" Estrella cried, turning her head to the side. "That's disgusting!"

Hospitaler only chuckles, looking forward and swallowing his food. Balian only shakes his head, continue to repeat the man's words in his head. Estrella looks to Balian and sighs, knowing that he was troubled. But just like back at the hill, she stayed quiet; it wasn't her business and shouldn't say anything until her charge wanted to talk to her about it.

"Exactly what does the Marshal want to speak with me about?" Balian asked Hospitaler curiously.

"Ahh, that is for you to find out." Hospitaler said mysteriously.

Estrella smiled, nodding to the servants as they entered the stables. She walked over to her honey brown stallion and stroked his nose, whispering soothing words to him. She unlatched the stall door and took hold of the cheek strap, bringing him out.

"You know, Elligero, I'm glad you're with me." She whispered. "I don't know if I can face her any time soon."

Sighing, the woman walked to the open stall door and lifted the saddle off. She turned to see Ja holding Elligero by the reins, which he put on, and turned on his side. Smiling her thanks, Estrella placed on the saddle, quickly fastening it on tightly.

"All will be righted, little one." Ja whispered. "Your twin will get what is coming her way."

Estrella frowned at Ja, wondering how he knew of her twin. The only person who ever knew was Godfrey but he wouldn't have told anyone.

Ja smiles at her. "I see and hear all, my friend." He said simply.

"So it seems." Estrella mutters a bit uncomfortable, slightly smirking.

Ja chuckles, still holding on to Elligero as the woman mounts. With a sigh, Estrella leans down and takes hold of the reins from her friend. She licks her partial dried lips, before looking at Ja directly in the eyes with much fear and worry.

"I had a dream, Ja…" She whispered. "Although I loathe my sister, I dreamt that I have killed her in battle some way."

Ja stepped forward and placed a hand on her cheek. "Perhaps it was just a dream or a vision of what is to come. But if it comes to that, think back on the dream and know clearly with your heart of what you are truly to do with this situation."

Nodding to the woman, Ja brought down his hand and stepped back, looking over to Hospitaler and Balian out in the courtyard, waiting for Estrella. Estrella clicks her tongue, digging her heels into Elligero's side. The group walked slowly out of the home and down the street towards the palace which the Marshall is located.


—Courtyard of the palace—

As they entered the courtyard to the Marshall's office, a bell could be heard over the yelling angry crowd that was mixed with different races; mostly of angry Arabic's. Estrella follows slowly and carefully in between Balian and Hospitaler, the crusaders pushing the crowd to the side wall to make room for them. She keeps her eyes away from the men that were to be hung in matter of seconds.

They ride over to the back of the wall with less people and dismount. The trio gives the reins to the stable hands and walked into the hallway, the men turning towards the hanging, Estrella keeping her back towards them.

"The King has made a peace with Saladin these past six years." Hospitaler tells Balian when he stared question-ly at the crusaders being ready to get hung.

Both men take off their gloves, not noticing the uneasiness Estrella was having with the hanging.

"He holds Jerusalem as a place for prayer for all faiths, as the Muslims did before we came. These men," Hospitaler nods to the men who are about to be hang. "Are Templars. They killed Arabs." He explains further.

Hospitaler and Balian take off their helmets, while at the same time the Templars are pushed off the edge. Estrella, who was still looking at the wall, made a quiet noise in her throat when she heard the crowd cheering. She slightly turns her head and walks after the two men slightly ahead.

"So they're dying… for what the Pope would command them to do?" Balian responses confusingly.

Hospitaler holds out his left hand to stop the two younger adults. He, along with Balian, look to the last man to be pushed off as Estrella answers Balian, continuing to look away.

"Yes, Balian. But not Christ, nor this King."

The men looked at the woman, seeing her cringe when the crowd cheers once more.

"Do we really have to see this?" She asked, looking at the men with pleading eyes.

Hospitaler shakes his head amusingly and continues walking. Balian smiles, wrapping his left arm over Estrella's shoulders as he follows after the older crusader. They are led across another courtyard, Estrella smiling to the passing servants as lords from across Jerusalem argue of the matters on these raids.

Before they entered the Marshall's office, Estrella moves out of Balian's grasp and placed her hood on. Balian looks at her confusingly, Estrella smiling at him, winking. Her charge merely shakes his head and looks after the woman jogging up ahead of them. He sees her stopping just outside the entrance, keeping to the left side.

"Who says I raid?" A man whom Estrella knew as Reynald de Chatillon cries out angrily.

An older looking man wearing a blue tunic belonging to that of Tiberias sat behind his desk. He glared at Reynald before looking past him, motioning his hand towards an Arabic sitting at the back.

"That witness," Tiberias says, Reynald turning around to see who. "All of Jerusalem, holy God and me."

Reynald looks back at the Marshall angrily, pointing at the sitting Arabic.

"That witness, if you call him that, is a Saracen. He lies!"

Estrella stepped forward, a hand to the hilt of her sword. But she stops, knowing that she wasn't meant to hear this conversation. Reynald looks to her questioningly and curiously when he saw the movement. But all he could see were Estrella's narrowed light green eyes that only darken angrily. Though, the ill man looks back to the Marshall when he begins to speak once more.

"There will come a day, Reynald de Chatillon," Tiberias starts, not noticing Estrella.

He stands and walks around to be closer to the vile man who's as evil as Guy. But the Marshall—still—has yet to notice Estrella, which the woman liked very much. She wanted to be as dark as the shadow as she possibly could for her and Balian's sake.

"When you are not protected by your title." Tiberias hisses.

"Oh? When will that be?" Reynald challenges threateningly. "Alert me, Tiberias, when men are equal, and the kingdom of heaven has arrived."

Tiberias narrows his eyes at the man then points out of the window. "Those Templars have been hung for a raid that I know you commanded."

Reynald smirks ghostly. "Prove it." He challenges further.

"I will wait at Kerak until you do." Tiberias snarled. "The King will take your castle of Kerak, Reynald."

"Try to take it, Tiberias." Reynald mocks. "I'll be there."

Reynald then leaves, glaring at the witness. When he turns to look forward, he sees Estrella continuing to glare at him, still holding the hilt of her sword beneath her cloak. She looks back inside to see Tiberias looking at her curiously.

"Attend the witness, my lord; I am waiting for two of my companions." She tells him, not really wanting to mess with the plot line any further.

The man nods and walks towards the Arabic, motioning him into his other office. Balian and Hospitaler walk on either side of the woman, whom walks with them inside the office.

"What did you do, woman?" Hospitaler whispers.

"Nothing," she tells them innocently but still seething from the conversation she heard.

Hospitaler only shakes his head and looks to the man sitting behind a small desk near the entrance.

"My lord Tiberias."

The man motions to the other office, Hospitaler walking towards it. Balian walks forward to a table with a model of Jerusalem, Estrella staying near the entrance. She watches Balian pick up one of the wooden objects, looking it over before putting it down when footsteps are heard. The trio looked to the side door to see Tiberias coming towards them.

"My lord," Hospitaler says with a bow of his head.

Tiberias stops next to Hospitaler, nodding his head towards Balian. He didn't notice Estrella, whom took a step forward inside.

"It's true." Tiberias says before walking closer to Balian. "You're your father's son. He was my friend." Tiberias stops before the young man. "I am yours. Godfrey dead." He says mostly to himself, turning his head before walking to the left. "It couldn't have come at a better time. Come."

Balian sighs inaudibly, looking to Hospitaler then to Estrella before they all walked after the man. This was a conversation that Estrella would not be able to ignore, but hoped it would go well in her part.

A/N: Sorry for not updating sooner, my house burnt down last December and I just got a hard drive containing all my files. Will, please review!