A/N: I just wanted to let you guys know that I tried to get all of the history down, however it seems that I may have missed something about Spain. Thanks to La muse venale for bringing up this detail, I just want to apologize if anyone was offended/insulted by my mistake of Spain, aside from the movie, I do try to get all of the history. Again, I'm sorry.

"Words in Bold" = another language

Italics = flashbacks

Italics/Bold = letters, dreams

Trapped in Time

Chapter 9

"It was shouted in the streets that a woman killed a great lord of Syria."

At this Tiberias turns to see if the said woman was there and noted a hooded figure standing slightly behind Balian. Estrella looks around for any sort of enemy before pushing down her hood. Tiberias raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on it—at least for now.

"Saladin himself sent word that your fight did not breach the peace… that you had caused." Tiberias says, looking only at Estrella.

Estrella looks down somewhat ashamed that she had to kill that innocent man. But she had no choice, which she only understood. Hospitaler sat down, watching Tiberias staring the woman down.

"What know you of Saladin?" Tiberias ask the two younger adults.

Balian looks to Estrella then to Tiberias. "That he is King of the Saracens, and that he surrounds this kingdom."

"And that he wishes to return Jerusalem back to its rightful people." Estrella mutters, continuing to look down at the ground. "But with a good king like Baldwin IV, he believes that he can accept the terms of Jerusalem being under his control."

The men are quiet, wondering how the woman knew of this. Tiberias is the first to speak up, keeping a note of speaking with the woman after this.

"He has 200,000 men in Damascus alone." Tiberias tells him, pouring drinks for his guest. "He could win a war if he goes to war, and he's daily given cause for war by fanatics newly from Europe, by Templar bastards like Reynald de Chatillon."

Tiberias turns and hands Balian and Hospitaler drinks before turning to the small table and placing the goblet underneath Estrella's vision. She doesn't look up but merely takes the goblet, muttering a whispered thank you.

"Here, from this room, I keep the peace," Tiberias continues walking over to another chair but does not sit down. "So far as it can be kept. But Saladin and the King between them… would make a better world."

"If it lives only for a while, Tiberias, it still has lived." Hospitaler tells him.

"But wouldn't you want to fight for peace for longer than just a few years?" Estrella whispered, now looking out the window. "With no more bloodshed over a stupid land that many people believe in so much?"

With a roll of her eyes, Estrella downed her wine and walked over to the table, placing down the goblet. She walks over to the window and stared out to the many people still in the court yard, not caring for the six pairs of eyes on her back.

"All right." Tiberias mutters, looking to Balian and sitting down on the chair. "What did your father tell you of your… obligations?" Tiberias trails off, wanting to speak of the girl even more later on alone.

Estrella had thought this and kept her mouth shut. She only listened to them talk, all the while keeping her senses on alert.

"That I was to be a good knight." Balian tells him.

"I pray the world, and Jerusalem, can accommodate such a rarity… as a perfect knight." Tiberias mutters, staring at Balian.

Hospitaler looks at Tiberias then to Balian with a wondering mind. He looks down briefly in thought, then to Tiberias.

"Have you dined?" Tiberias suddenly asks, picking up his goblet.

Balian shakes his head, confused at the sudden question. Tiberias nods, holding his goblet with both his hands.

"Then, please, join us tonight as our honored guests." He then stands, looking over to the girl. "Now, if you may, I wish to speak with the woman alone."

Estrella turns around, seeing Balian look at her before turning his gaze to Tiberias. He opened his mouth to protest but Estrella beat him first.

"Go, I'll be fine."

Balian stares at her wirily before giving her a quick nod. He turns and walks out the way he came, Hospitaler going after him. Estrella stares at Tiberias, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her fear him. Tiberias motions her to sit, but Estrella merely shakes her head, walking to stand in front of the older crusader.

"What are your obligations?" Tiberias asks seriously. "How did you come to be with the son of Godfrey?"

"I was to be Godfrey son's protector until the day I die." Estrella tells him. "My obligations are to make sure he stays alive long enough to protect the King."

"And how did you come to be with Godfrey himself?" Tiberias asks again.

Estrella stares at him, wondering if Godfrey ever sent him word or not of her coming with them.

"Godfrey protected me from false accusations in Spain and I went along with them since I didn't have anywhere else to go. He was on his way to France to find his son. I was made crusader and protector just a few days before we found Balian. I've been with that man since then."

Tiberias regarded her for a while, taking in the information and trying to make sense of her strange way of talking. Nodding after several minutes, Tiberias stood and took a step forward, staring down the woman with intense eyes.

"What false accusations did Spain have on you, woman?" Tiberias asked.

"They say that a witness saw me outside a very important Lord's bedroom window with a bloody dagger. They believed that I have killed him." Estrella rubbed her forehead as an oncoming headache was forming. "It was in La Pobla de Lillet, Spain." She put down her hand, looking at the older crusader seriously. "But at the same time I was in Figueras with a family of three."

Tiberias raised a suspicious eyebrow at the woman. "And… why do they believe you killed this man, then?"

Estrella shook her head. "Because it was really my twin sister who killed that man, for what reason, I do not know." Tiberias looked incredulously at her. "My sister—as much as I hate and love her—is a woman who is far more evil then I know. The only way to tell us apart is that I have green eyes and my sister has dark blue eyes. Her true name is Sarah, but I don't put it past her to be using an alias."

Tiberias narrowed his eyes at her, crossing his arms. "Exactly who are you, woman? What do you want really?"

Estrella considered him, wondering if she could truly trust him. "My name is Estrella Mendoza, sir, and I want nothing but to protect this man. I have made an oath to his father, and as long as I breathe I'll be damned that any vile man touches Balian."

"Or woman." Tiberias jested, smiling.

Estella blushed lightly, narrowing her eyes at him. "I do not know what you mean."

Tiberias laughed, shaking his head. "Princess Sibylla told me of a woman glaring at her when she was speaking to Balian."

Estrella scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "She was speaking to me, not Balian."

Tiberias sighed tiredly—glad that he had no wife—and walked next to the woman. "Come, let us go eat."


—Courtyard—

Estrella was seated on Balian's right side since Tiberias sat to his left. Hospitaler sat on the other side, two seats to the left of Estrella. The group of lord's were all talking, exchanging stories of Godfrey. Estrella stayed quiet, looking deeply into her goblet of water while Balian listened intently as he hardly knew his father.

Estrella looked over to the hallway when she heard quiet steps. She grimaced at the sight of Guy but grinned when she knew that he would be surprise to see her there, as well as Sibylla. Though, she felt a bit bad of the way she acted towards the Princess earlier that day. But Estrella hated being ignored and Sibylla's character never warmed her heart in the movie.

"The Princess Sibylla of Jerusalem, and her husband Guy de Lusignan," the servant announced loudly.

The conversations quickly came to a halt as everyone stood up. From the corner of her left eye, Estrella saw that Balian was looking at Sibylla surprised, not that she can blame him. As Guy let's his wife sit down, he moves to the chair available in front of Tiberias to sit himself. Sibylla smiles at Balian's surprise, but when she looks to Estrella the Princess was taken back to see her and not as surprise.

Estrella only raised an eyebrow at her and looked away, sitting down with the rest of the lords. But Tiberias goes right into a conversation with Guy, while others either talked quietly or listened on.

"So, how many knights did you find in France?"

"Fifty." Guy says bored-ly, pouring some wine into his goblet.

"They've sworn allegiance to the King?" Tiberias asked with narrowed eyes.

Guy looks at the Marshall. "Of course, Tiberias… Obviously." He said as though offended, taking a drink of his wine.

"Liar," Estrella whispers with a roll of her eyes.

Guy looks up to Tiberias but his gaze turns to Balian. He was eating his dinner and minding his own business. Guy puts down his goblet, narrowing his eyes at Godfrey's son.

"You sit at my table?" Guy says annoyed.

"Is it not the King's table?" Balian tells him unaffected by the authority in Guy's voice, looking up at him.

Guy raises an eyebrow. "Is it? I have not seen a king at it for some years." He says, looking up and down the table. "I cannot eat. I-I am finicky about company." He tells Tiberias. "In France this could not inherit. But here there are no civilized rules."

Guy stands up and is about to say something more when Estrella instead speaks up, annoyed of this man's attitude.

"Then why don't you just go back to France?"

Everyone turns to the woman, Guy glaring down at the woman. But his eyebrows rise up as recognition lights up his eyes.

"Savanna Rios," Guy turns to Tiberias, as he and Balian frown in confusion. "You, Tiberias, are holding a fugitive. This," Guy turned his glare to Estrella. But she saw something else—lust, was within his eyes. "Woman is sought out for execution in Spainfor killing a lord that was second in command to the King's army! It is my obligation that I take her to Spain at once!"

Tiberias raised an eyebrow at the man before him. "This is not Savanna Rios that you seek, Guy; she's been in France for four years of her life with Godfrey. Besides, the woman Savanna Rios has shorter hair with dark blue eyes." Tiberias and Guy turned to Estrella, who continued to look at Guy. "Miss Mendoza has longer hair and pale green eyes. She is not the one you seek."

Guy narrowed his eyes in hatred. "Then she has done witchcraft to deceive us all!"

Estrella was about to stand up as anger rose within her but Balian was quick enough to take hold of her wrist. He held on tightly, keeping her calm and in control.

"Weren't you just leaving?" Estrella growled out instead.

Guy's jaw was set angrily. "Yes… I have business in the East." He says, walking behind his wife. "My wife does not lament my absences. That is either the best of wives or the very, very worst." He kissed her cheek before walking away.

But Guy only took two steps when Tiberias spoke up.

"Do you go to meet Reynald?"

"Yes," Estrella mutters.

Guy turns to him, mock offense written in his face. "No, my lord. He is in disfavor. I am a member of this court. Why should I make league with that…" Guy takes a quick drink before he answers. "Troublemaker?"

"Because you are allied with him." Estrella muttered darkly.

Guy downs his wine and throws the cup to a servant as he walks away. Tiberias turns to Sibylla, as Hospitaler looks to Estrella with narrowed eyes.

"To the very best of wives." Tiberias says loudly.

Sibylla smiles and picks up her cup. "God bless Jerusalem." She says in Arabic.

"Have you seen what you accused of Guy, Trella?" Hospitaler asks questioningly.

Estrella shoves a piece of chicken meat in her mouth angrily, nodding her head. She swallows after taking a sip of her water before responding to Hospitaler. At the same time a servant has walked over to Tiberias, whispering into his ear.

"Yes, and much more." She tells him.

Tiberias turns to Sibylla. "The King would see Godfrey's son and protector." He tells her, moving to stand.

But Sibylla stops him, standing herself. "I'll take them." She said, somewhat surprise as she looks to Estrella.

The said woman merely smiles smugly, she and Balian standing. Estrella turns to Hospitaler, who looks at her pointing-ly, telling her to behave. Estrella only shrugs, looking innocently. The two newcomers walked after the princess, walking through the semi dark hallways.

Estrella fell in step behind in between Sibylla and Balian, looking only straight ahead. She wanted to stay out of the conversation and avoid any questions the Princess might have for her about her position alongside Balian. Estrella held her breath when she noted Sibylla opening her mouth, about to turn to look at her. Luckily Balian spoke up first, and quickly.

"This morning I spoke without knowing who you were." Balian looked over to Estrella, smiling. "Until Trella told me who you were."

Sibylla raised an eyebrow, looking back at the woman. "And exactly how did you know me?"

Estrella turned to her. "Godfrey." Was all the woman told the Princess.

The group stops in the middle of a hallway before Sibylla's room. The Princess opened her mouth to say something further but Estrella spoke up, asking a question of her own instead.

"Do you fear me, Princess?"

Sibylla narrowed her eyes at the younger woman by one year. "Nay," she said before turning to look at Balian. "Do you?"

Balian turned from Estrella to Sibylla. "No," he said quietly. "And yes." He said as an after thought.

Sibylla chuckles, Estrella rolling her eyes. "A woman in my place has two faces; one for the world, and one which she wears in private. With you I'll be only Sibylla."

Before Balian could comment on it, a creaking noise was heard by the entrance of the other hallway. Balian and Sibylla looked over as Estrella looked at the other two doors, which were bigger, down the hall before her. Balian frowned to the woman, wondering why she was so calm.

"Tiberias doesn't trust Sibylla," Estrella answers him, turning her gaze away from the door to Balian. "Because he finds her unpredictable," she turned to the Princess. "Am I right?"

Sibylla stared at her before turning to Balian, smiling at him "I am unpredictable." She tells him.

The Princess goes to the door behind her and opens it. Balian moves to follow but Estrella takes hold of him, shaking her head when Balian looks at her confusingly.

"That is her room; the King's is down this way." Estrella motioned her head to the left.

Sibylla narrowed her eyes at the woman. "Yes, that is true. Good night." And she closed the door.

Estrella lets Balian go and walks along side him, nodding to the two guards and a man in a black outfit before the door. The man in the black outfit bowed it's head and turned, the guards opening the door. Balian and Estrella followed the man down an open hallway, the light from the sunset making the view against the buildings surrounding the palace even more beautiful.

The man in the black outfit then stops before an entrance with white cloths hanging from the side. He turns to the two young adults and motions them to continue on, which they obey. Estrella bows her head slightly in thanks before she looks around at the many magnificent items in the King's room; the King himself sitting at a table with his back to them.

"Come forward." Baldwin says softly, but loudly without turning around.

Balian walks forward, a bit surprise that the King noticed them there without looking.

"I am glad to meet Godfrey's son, and protector." Baldwin tells them, continuing to write down on to a parchment. "He was one of my greatest teachers. He was there when, playing with the other boys, my arm was cut. And it was he, not my father's physicians, who noticed that I felt no pain."

He suddenly stands up after scribbling something quickly. He faced the two, and though they could not see it, Estrella knew that the King was smiling at them. She saw it in his startling blue eyes.

"He wept when he gave my father the news…" Baldwin lifts the white hood back to let them see the mask he wears to hide his disfigure face. "That I am a leper."

Balian holds his head up high, understanding now why the King was not at the dinner table earlier. The others were afraid of contracting the leper disease.

"The Saracens say that this disease is God's vengeance against the vanity of our kingdom." He explains, walking forward. "As wretched as I am, these Arabs believe that the chastisement that awaits me in hell is far more severe and lasting. If that's true, I call it unfair."

Baldwin stares at Balian as he pauses, looking for some kind of reaction or fear. But all he saw was sincere and acceptance for what he was. The King then gazes to Estrella, who smiles at him instead. He also saw no fear within her eyes, but what confused him was that he saw sadness—not sympathy like others, but true sadness as if she knew something that was to come that he did not.

"Come. Sit." Baldwin tells them, turning to the right.

The two younger adults follow, Estrella inhaling and exhaling slowly to keep from crying. She liked the character Baldwin and couldn't accept the death in the movie. It would be a wonder how she would except his death in person.

A/N: Please Review!