A/N: Sorry for the wait, I've been trying to start up Shadow's Memories, but the words aren't coming to me. So I thought I update for you guys instead! Please reivew!
"Words in Bold" = another language
Italics = flashbacks
Italics/Bold = letters, dreams
Trapped in Time
Chapter 10
—France—
Sarah ran from La Pobla de Lillet during the night while she hid during the day. She was glad that she killed the old bastard. The first month was all right, but soon afterwards he was coming to her room, more and more. Not that she minded, however; Sarah was basically calling him… and his son. That's why she killed him. Because he threatened to kick her out of his humble home if she continued to seduce his son.
No one ever dared threaten her back home, and Sarah wasn't about to let these past bastards do so either. Unfortunately for her, she got caught sinking around.
Having been running for three full weeks, Sarah stumbled upon a group of Crusaders from France. She thought she was going to get killed, but the man leading the men helped her instead. Sarah rode with them for a few months around France before they returned to Jerusalem, which she didn't want to go.
They dropped her off at his home castle as his mistress and continued on his journey. The only thing he told her before he left was his name.
Sitting on her knees in nothing but a thin undergarment that you can see through upon the king size bed, Sarah thought of the man with a wicked smile on her lips. He had pleased her in more ways no other man ever did. And she liked it. She liked it a lot.
"Guy de Lusignan," Sarah whispered. "Why have I heard of you before?" She asked to no one in particular.
She then laughed manically, falling on to the bed and rolling on to her back.
—Jerusalem—
Baldwin sits at a table with a chess set ready to be played. Balian takes the seat across from the King, having the black pieces. Estrella stands behind Balian on his left, looking down at the chess set, already coming up with moves to beat the white pieces.
"When I was sixteen I won a great victory. I felt, in that moment, I would live to be one-hundred. Now I know I shall not see thirty."
"No one at that age should ever see a battle." Estrella thought out loud.
"Estrella," Balian started but was interrupted by chuckling.
"I do not mind, son of Godfrey; the woman only speaks the truth."
Estrella blushed but looked smug at Balian, who glared back at her.
"It was troublesome for me, but I somehow have gotten used to them." Baldwin added.
"But that is how the nightmares begin and never leave." Estrella said softly, her gaze distant.
The King watched the young woman carefully, seeing the same haunted look he had—and has seen in the younger men—when they've first killed another human being. Baldwin nods at the woman when she blinked to regain her eyesight once again. She smiles faintly, looking down at the chess set, continuing to listen to the conversation.
"But you see," Baldwin continues, looking at Balian. "None of us choose our end, really. A king may move a man." Baldwin moves a chess piece, Estrella studying the board even more. "A father may claim a son. But remember that even when those who move you be Kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God, you cannot say 'But I was told by others to do this' or that virtue was not convenient at. This will not suffice. Remember that."
Balian bows his head. "I will."
Baldwin nods softly. "Then go now to your father's house at Ibelin," Balian stands from his seat, Baldwin leaning back in his. "And from there protect the pilgrim road. Protect the helpless. And then perhaps one day, when I am helpless, you will come and protect me."
Balian smiles and bows his head in agreement. Baldwin looks to Estrella, whom suddenly moves the left black knight to the left side of the board.
"Do you know how to play?" Baldwin asks somewhat surprise.
Estrella smiles at the King, shrugging. "I've played once or twice."
"Perhaps we should play some time, see if you are any good?" Baldwin suggested.
Estrella smirked, nodding. "It's a promise, my Lord."
Baldwin smirks in return, behind his mask, bowing his head in recondition.
—Next day—
"Why won't you come with us?" Estrella asked Ja, Seifer, Hospitaler, and Philip.
"Because our place is here," Seifer said with a smile.
"Even if Balian is our new master," Ja continued.
Estrella pouted, crossed her arms, and stomped her right foot to the ground like a small child. The men laughed, each hugging the young woman and saying their goodbyes individually. With a sigh, Estrella turned to Elligero and mounted him.
"At least visit us in Ibelin some time?" She added.
"We shall try." Hospitaler told her honestly.
Estrella rode next to Balian, who smiled softly at her. Smiling sadly in return, the group of fifteen, including Balian and Estrella, started to ride out of the building. Estrella looked, the men that have become her family, her brothers and uncles, waved goodbye to her. She held up a hand to them, the crushing thought of never seeing them again making her want to cry.
"Be careful." She whispered to them just as they turned from sight.
—Three days later, Pilgrim road—
"How much further is it?" Estrella complained to Peter.
It's been three days since they left Jerusalem and Estrella was beginning to get tired of seeing nothing but desert and sand all around her.
"Not much, 'bout an hour or so," he told her, looking over his shoulder.
Estrella sighed, shaking her head. She looked to her left, watching the sand move across the hills as the wind blew from the northwest. Sighing once more, Estrella looks forward and frowns as she sees several dark figures a few miles before them. It wasn't the first time that she seen these figures but as she looks to Balian and Peter before her, they had their eyebrows furrowing together.
"Please tell me that I'm not the only one who's seeing those dark figures." Estrella mutters.
Peter shakes his head. "You're not. Richard, go find out if they're friend or foe."
"No," Estrella tells them, her heart thumping widely. "I'll go."
Before any of them could object, Estrella galloped forward, trying not to let panic rise inside her. She had hoped it wasn't the person that she was thinking at that moment.
Estrella slows her horse when she sees a Muslim family of four, who have stopped and looking at her warily. Her heart had slowed to it's normal pace, the panic now gone. The two men, one older and the other younger, had moved in front of a little girl and a woman, wanting to protect them from any sort of danger.
"Salaam alaikum," the older man says cautiously, bowing his head.
"Alaikum salaam," Estrella says back, bowing her own head at them. "Um, do any of you speak English by any chance?" She asked shyly.
"I do, my lady." The seven year old girl said timidly.
Estrella smiles softly at her. "If it is all right, may I ask what you are doing out here in the desert? Where are you heading?"
The girl looked at the woman before turning to the older man, speaking in Arabic. He and another man who was younger version of the older man responded back, looking up at the woman. The seven year old also looked back.
"We were chased out of Kerak Castle, the home of Reynald de Chatillon, by his men. I do not know the reason and my father nor my brother will tell me why." She said sadly. "So now we are heading towards Jerusalem to find another home or a lord to take us in."
Estrella set her jaw, shaking her head as she looked to her left. Reynald was as evil as Guy was and hated them both with everything Estrella owned.
"That son of a bitch!" Estrella muttered. "I never did like that asshole!"
The seven year old girl blushed at the choice of words Estrella used, never heard a woman say such things in public. Estrella turned her heated eyes towards the seven year old only to quickly soften them. But before she could say something, an idea popped into a head and looked behind her towards the group of men still riding towards them. She smiled, looking back at the Muslim family, who were looking at her strangely.
"I have a better idea, instead of going all the way to Jerusalem, why not I ask my lord if you can come with us? It is only an hour away and I am sure he will not turn back a family in need." Estrella told her. "I am sure you will all be able to ride a horse rather than walk."
The girl turned her family and spoke to them. The men nodded, giving the girl an answer before looking up at Estrella.
"If you can, we would forever be in your debt, my lady!" The girl cried happily.
Estrella smiled, nodding. "I'll be back. Wait here."
She galloped towards the oncoming group, meeting them half-way. She was smiling like a madwoman, but did not care. Balian eyed her suspiciously, almost afraid to ask what was on her mind.
"Are they friend or foe?" Peter asked.
"Friend," Estrella told him quickly, adverting her eyes from Peter to Balian. "How about I make a proposition for you?"
"What kind of proposition?" Balian asked slowly and cautiously.
"The son of a bitch Reynald de Chatillon chased out a family of four from his home and they are on their way to Jerusalem." Balian looked at the woman point-ly, telling her to get to her point. "Instead of making them walk all the way to Jerusalem, which would be at least a week on foot, why not have them come with us to Ibelin?"
Balian inhaled, not knowing what to make of this. Estrella stared at him, pleading him with her eyes.
"They have walked over a hundred miles from Kerak's Castle already, Balian; don't make them walk another hundred miles to Jerusalem just to find another lord to take them in!" Estrella tried.
Balian looked at Estrella, knowing that she was good at judging people better then him. Sighing, Balian nodded, Estrella smiling, almost jumping up and down on her horse.
"Great! I'll go meet you over there." And she galloped back towards the family.
The Muslims were a bit hesitant, not really knowing what to expect from this woman or her master's answer. Estrella smiled, dismounting Elligero.
"You may come with us." She told them.
The seven year old smiled and told her family quickly. The others smiled and thank the woman in Arabic, the girl translating. The older man stepped forward and took hold of Estrella's hands, kissing them and speaking in Arabic.
"He says thank you for what you are doing for my family. We are forever in your debt, and well be gladly be your slave." The girl translated.
Estrella smiled warmly and took out her right hand from the old man's hold and placed it on top of his right.
"Tell him that none of you owe me anything, all of you are free, not slaves."
As the girl translated, the old man shook his head, speaking over the girl's translation.
"He says that God will look down at you with a smile, and give you a good fortune for what you have done today. And no matter what you say, we are in your debt and yours to control and use in any way." The girl said with a wide smile.
The family all bowed their heads, Estrella shaking her head but smiling in recognition that she understood.
"Come, you may strap your things on to the saddle. Two of you may ride him." She told the family. "And I won't take a no for an answer!" She told them sternly.
As soon as the other's caught up, Liela, the seven year old girl, introduce herself and her family before Balian arranged the riding pair. Liela sat upon Elligero with Estrella, Taifa, the girl's older brother, rode along with Richard, Lukman, the father, rode with Bernard, and the girl's aunt (Lukman's sister), Anisa, rode with Sebastian. The rest of the ride was Liela explaining to everyone else what exactly happened back at Reynald's castle.
To say the least, everyone who knew Reynald hated the man even more. But as for Balian, he was only livid for the man kicking out a family without a very good reason.
By two in the afternoon, the fort that belonged to Godfrey was not but a few miles away. Peter, who was still riding with Balian, nodded to the fort and the people moving about as they worked.
"There my lord. Ibelin."
Balian, however, doesn't really seem impressed by it. Rather, he felt as though something was wrong with this picture. The group galloped, wanting to rest, eat, and bathe after their three day journey.
Upon entering the main courtyard, the many slaves Godfrey kept all stopped what they were doing and stared at the arrivals, as children ran forward to see these newcomers. Latif ran from the main house and to the courtyard as everyone dismounted. Estrella helped the girl down from Elligero and walked behind Balian, who was fallowing Latif to see the rest of his land, speaking in Arabic.
Balian leans on the railing, staring at the dry patch that was now his in wonder. Peter walks from behind them, looking out the rows of palm trees.
"Your father was important. His lands were not." Peter tells him.
"That will suit me." Balian nearly whispers, smiling ghostly.
Estrella smiles and turns to Latif, who was standing to the left side, waiting patiently to be ordered to do something.
"Do you speak English by any chance?" She asks him.
Startled Latif looks to her and nods. "Yes my lady."
"Estrella, please. Show Balian to his room so he may bathe, eat, and rest. Than show the family that came with us to spare rooms and give them tasks to work around here. They will be staying with us for a while."
Latif bows her head but looks to Balian to confirm this. Balian looks over his left shoulder and gives a curt nod.
"She is my bodyguard, you will respect and listen to her as though she were me; understand?" Balian tells him.
Bowing fully, Latif motions Balian to follow before walking away. Peter looks to Estrella, who in turn raises an eyebrow at him.
"I will show you to your room," he tells her before walking back towards the way they came.
Estrella walks after him and smiles to the family as they follow another servant to their rooms. Liela was holding her father's hand, looking around the fort that she and her family would now be living in. Turning, the girl smiled and waved at Estrella, whom smiled back and gave a small wave. Looking forward, Estrella continues to follow Peter, who explains to her where things are in the house.
Peter, knowing Estrella wanted to be close to Balian just in case, gave her the room across from his. After letting her in, he walked away to get some rest himself. Estrella noted that all her packs were on the bed and a large, deep, tub in front of her bed with soaps, cloths, and towels on a table on the left side of the tub. Smiling widely, Estrella began to take off her clothing, walking at the same time towards the tub.
Once nude, the woman got into the tub and slid in, groaning in content. The water was hot and soothed all her aches from her body. Giggling, Estrella lowered her whole body into the water, soaking her hair in the process.
At the door, Balian smiles at the way his body guard was acting with a simple bath. But he knew that she was just glad to be cleaned once again. Even if she dressed, acted, and fought like a man, Estrella was still a woman. Thinking best to leave her and let her bathe, Balian silently closed the door and walked back to his room, wanting to follow Estrella's example on the bath. He will speak with her later when they're both cleaned and rested.
A/N: Please Review!
