AN: Sorry for the long wait, though this is my longest chapter yet. I think I rewrote the finally scene in this chapter at least 10 times in my head and 3 times on paper. Not sure if I've ever mentioned this in another authors note but I obviously do not intent to misrepresent any religion in this story. I, myself, am not religious and therefore my knowledge is limited to those parts of the religions I have researched for this story and my general knowledge.

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

9. Considerations

Balian knew he had to tell Kalare of Saladin's offer without delay. Yet it took him some time to broach the subject when they took to the garden the following day.
He had always been comforted by the thought that his daughters were safely at home and if no offer of marriage had ever come for any of his daughters, Balian would have been a happy man. As such, he had never given thought to how to begin such a conversation. In the end he started by telling Kalare of the promise he had made to her mother.
"I wish I had known this before," Kalare responded.
"What for? I am quite certain there were no men near you in the village who might hold your attention. Was I wrong?"
"No father. Though I might have spared them a second look," Kalare joked. "My memories of mother are few and for Serica and Sidra those memories are almost non-existent. Knowing that even in death she cares for us, it means more than you perhaps can imagine."
"Then I will make sure to tell your sisters when I see them again," Balian assured his daughter. He expected her to reply positively; instead he was met with silence until he looked into her eyes.
"When you see them, not when we see them?" Kalare questioned.
"I did not broach the subject of marriage without reason," Balian confessed. "There is an offer of marriage for you here, now. Whether you accept is completely your choice."
"A marriage offer here, in this place surrounded by sand?" Kalare replied, more shocked than anything else.
"Here, in the land of your mother," Balian answered calmly. Reminding Kalare again of her own history here, something she seemed to forget on a daily basis.
"Who is it?" Whose offer of marriage am I to consider?"
"The sultan wishes you to marry his nephew, Prince Emir. Who the sultan has chosen as his heir," Balian explained.
Kalare stammered in her attempt to find a reply, she had none in her mind.
"You have much to consider daughter. Do not haste your decision. Consider all sides," Balian said as they reached the end of their garden path.
"When must I decide?"
"The sultan has given me no deadline. Though I suggest you decide within seven days."
"Does prince Emir know of the offer and your promise?"
"I believe he too will learn of these things today. Though for him this will not be a choice. You must decide for him as well," Balian reminded her before leaving her side so she could think by herself.
Kalare watched her father walk away as she realised the importance of his parting words. Though it was almost time for her lesson with Amina, Kalare turned back to the gardens to walk alone with her thoughts. Her mind was full of questions. She missed Amina's lesson and dinner. Yet all the time she spend trying to find answers proofed useless as no answers came to Kalare that day.
The next day Kalare attempted to go back to her routine, however everyone she interacted with quickly noticed that she was distracted, though Amina was the first to address the issue.
"Do you wish to stop my lessons?" Amina asked.
Amina's voice brought Kalare out of her ponderings. "I am sorry Amina, I have been very distracted today," Kalare replied.
"Has this distraction any relation to you missing our lesson completely yesterday?"
"It does and I am sure you will learn of it soon enough. I cannot apologise enough for yesterday."
"Why do you not tell me what is on your mind? If I will be told soon enough anyway there can be no harm in telling me now."
"I am not sure if it is for me to tell," Kalare begged off.
"Why would it not be, if it concerns you?" Amina questioned.
"I wish I knew more of your customs. My mother would have known what to do," Kalare mused.
"I am no queen but I will answer any question I can," Amina offered.
"That would require me to tell you of the matter."
"If that proofs to be inappropriate I shall tell no one of it. Which is greater, your need for information or your desire to do what is right?"
Kalare remained quiet for some time as she pondered her options. She realised she had to confide to someone or she would never know which decision to make.
"You seem wise beyond your years today. Perhaps it is all the reading you have been doing," Kalare said smiling. "The matter which distracts me is marriage. I have received an offer of marriage."
"Why would our customs matter on the occasion of your marriage? Though I suppose this means you will be leaving soon," Amina replied puzzled by Kalare's explanation.
"The offer has not come from the Christian continent. The sultan wishes for me to marry your brother, Emir," Kalare explained further.
Amina's surprise was clearly displayed on her face as she considered Kalare's situation.
"Now you will surely understand why I have been distracted," Kalare spoke into the silence.
"I do," Amina said, regaining her composure. "And I believe we do not have customs for the marriage of a Christian woman."
"Nor we, for a man of Islam."
Soon Amina knew all there was to know of the matter. She held a very favourable opinion on the matter.
"You will be queen if you accept, like your mother before you," she said
"A queen to people who will hate me, while the Christians will call me traitor to their faith," Kalare replied.
"I do not believe that is what the sultan envisions."
"No, I suspect he sees a harmonious unity of the two faiths."
"That would be a noble cause. To have peace in Jerusalem after all these years of war," Amina replied.
"It is a dream, an unlikely one," Kalare countered.
"Yet not impossible," Amina smiled. "Do you now wish it was not for you to decide on this matter?"
"At some moments I do, though I would like to believe my father would have asked my opinion before deciding my fate," Kalare answered.
"I wonder what my brother thinks of the matter."
"I do not know if he is aware of the matter. Yet, I, too, wish to know his mind," Kalare admitted.

That evening at dinner the marriage offer was not discussed, nor was Kalare's absence the previous evening mentioned. This informed Kalare that perhaps not all were aware of the matter and she hoped she had not made a mistake in confiding in Amina. Only when Kalare excused herself did the normal evening routine change.
"Prince Emir, will you escort my daughter to her room? I have another matter to discuss with lord Imad," Balian asked.
Though seemingly surprised, Emir rose quickly from his seat. "I would be honoured to, lord Balian," he replied. "If my lords will excuse me. My lady," Emir said as he offered Kalare his hand as he had done on that first day in lord Kadir's house.
As they made their way through the labyrinthian building an awkward silence grew between the pair.
"The last time a silence like this fell between us, my lady disapproved of my choices. If this has occurred once more, I hope the lady will give voice to my faults," Emir said as they neared Kalare's chamber.
"My apologies, my lord. It is through no fault of yours that I am silent," Kalare replied.
"Someone else has wronged you?" Emir enquired.
"No, my lord. It is a lack of knowledge which holds me silent at the moment."
"If you believe me capable of imparting the knowledge you seek I hope you will request it from me," Emir offered.
Again faced with the dilemma Kalare had come across with Amina, Kalare again choose knowledge over propriety. "Have you been made aware of the offer that has been presented to me?" she asked.
"I have", Emir replied curtly as he realised how wrongly he had interpreted Kalare's silence.
"Do you remain willing to impart your knowledge to me now that you are aware of the subject of my inquires?" Kalare asked as she noted Emir sudden guarded posture.
"What knowledge could I provide you with on that subject?"
"I would wish for your thoughts on the matter. As my decision will impact both our lives, I would value your opinion greatly."
"As the matter is out of my hands, I have attempted not to form an opinion," Emir replied.
"Your words suggest you have been unsuccessful in your attempts, my lord."
"To an extent that is true. Though my opinions are not fully formed either, as it appeared my opinions would not impact events," Emir explained. "As such, I believe this is not the time to present them to you."
"Of course, my lord. Yet, would I perhaps find you willing to present them to me at another time? As heir to the sultan, your opinion is valuable."
"You will find me so at my earliest opportunity," Emir replied as they reached Kalare's room. "Good night, my lady," he said as he hastily left Kalare's side.

The next morning Emir did something he had never done before. His conversation with Kalare the previous evening had not been completely honest on his side. Though his father had told him of the sultan's choice of bride for him, Emir had been caught off guard when Kalare called him Saladin's heir. Thus, he had decided to request more information on the matter from Saladin himself, sidestepping his father and his uncle's advisors.
He found Saladin in the smallest library, which held lord Kadir's most ancient texts.
"My king," Emir greeted as he entered the room.
"Nephew," Saladin said, acknowledging Emir's presence, though he continued to study the text in front of him. However, as he did not hear Emir move from the doorway, he looked up from his text. "Your countenance suggests indecision."
"I freely admit to it," Emir said, stepping further into the room. "For I am unsure whether I am just in my actions. I have come to seek your council, my king," Emir rushed as he suddenly wished he was on his horse in the middle of a battle, for at least there he would be certain of his actions.
"Sit with me nephew, I shall advice you as well as I can," Saladin replied. "On which matter do you require my council."
"Some days ago, father informed me of your choice of bride for me, the lady Kalare," Emir started.
"You question my choice?" Saladin asked surprised.
"No, my king, never. She is sharp of mind, skilled with sword and beautiful. She is unlike any other woman," Emir replied vehemently.
"It appears you need no council on the matter," Saladin smiled, pleased with Emir's assessment of Kalare.
"No, my king, not on the lady. However, as I escorted the lady to her chambers last night, she hinted at information which she presumed I had; information which would drastically impact a marriage."
"What information is this?"
"The lady indicated two things, "Emir continued. "Firstly that it is she and not lord Balian who will accept or decline the offer."
"This is true, though it is of little concern to either of us," Saladin replied.
"She has asked for my opinion before she decides," Emir offered.
"Then, perhaps, you shall have as much say in the matter as she does."
"I believe she wishes for my opinion because of the second matter she hinted at," Emir said. "Lady Kalare called me your heir."
"This then is the matter you wish to discuss with me," Saladin replied.
"In a way, yes. I cannot help but wonder why the lady would know something of such importance before myself, unless she is mistaken," Emir stated.
"I fear only lord Kadir can explain this odd event, as the lady is correct. Why lord Kadir has refrained from informing you, I cannot tell," Saladin smiled at the actions of his brother in law. Lord Kadir was the greatest student of history Saladin had ever come across. As such he had been a great husband to his inquisitive sister Sittah.
As Saladin's words settled in Emir's consciousness one more question came to him. "Is your choice dependent on lady Kalare's decision?"
"It is not. Any of my sons would keep our people at war. Of all those who I could choose, I believe you are the most capable and willing to find peace between those who covet the Holy land," Saladin explained.
"I am honoured by your faith in me, my king."

That afternoon Emir interrupted Amina's reading lesson, knowing that Kalare unattended at that time.
"Brother, have you come to aid lady Kalare in teaching me?" Amina asked, feigning ignorance.
"I do not believe the lady needs aid on that matter," Emir replied.
"I agree," Amina smiled.
"And I am glad you are both quite convinced of my ability to teach. Though an eager student needs little teaching," Kalare voiced.
"Amina, would you excuse the lady from today's lesson? I wish to lay claim to some of her time today."
"As you are largely responsible for the existence of these lessons, I shall concede to your request."
"I thank you sister. My lady, would you care for a walk through the gardens?"
"I would, my lord," Kalare replied, rising from her seat and placing her hand on his.

"May I assume you have fully formed your opinion and are now willing and able to share it with me?" Kalare asked as they entered the gardens unattended.
"You may, my lady," Emir replied, as he guided her down a path which would lead to a clearing with a seating area. "Is there a particular part of the matter on which you would request my opinion?"
"Is it not one single matter?"
"The whole matter is a sum of several parts. I found it almost impossible to form a singular opinion on the whole matter. The parts were simpler to consider," Emir explained.
"Yet, must I not decide on the whole?" Kalare questioned.
"That would be one way to look at it, yet all you were asked to decide on was marriage."
"You speak as if it is a little matter of little consequence. Yet it concerns a marriage to the Muslim crown prince," Kalare pointed out.
"It is your choice whether to include those factors in your decision."
"Those factors would influence a marriage substantially. How can I not include them in my decision?" Kalare asked, as Emir halted them beside a bench in the shade.
"If those factors did not exist, if I were a mere Christian man, would you know your answer?" Is character not more important than religion and position?" Emir replied with a question of his own.
"Of course, character is more important. Yet, religion and position are not unimportant. They matter."
"What are your specific concerns for those factors? Perhaps I may alleviate your concerns," Emir offered.
"My lord, you ask for my thoughts, as I asked for yours. Yet you have not presented them," Kalare observed.
"That is true," Emir admitted.
Silence grew between them as each pondered their position and the trust they would have to bestow on the other to be fully open with each other.
"It was easier on the road, was it not? To speak honestly and openly with each other," Emir finally said.
"I did not know who you were then. Our only worry was to travel swiftly. Now the fate of the world rests on my decision," Kalare replied.
"Not the entire world, my lady. I will be king no matter your decision. I will attempt to bring peace to Jerusalem whether you are my wife or not. The manner in which I might achieve peace will depend on your decision," Emir reasoned. "When you learned who I was, you berated yourself for treating me as an equal. I now ask you to treat me thusly again and allow me the same privilege. As my wife and equal, together we can bring peace to our people."
"Even if I were queen, I could never be your equal, lord Emir," Kalare countered. "You will not only be king of Jerusalem. You will be sultan of an empire spanning from the Egyptian Pyramids to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon."
"Within the Holy land we shall rule as equals, if you so choose. Together we shall write its laws, based on what is right, not on our religious beliefs. You must see how this will bring peace to our people," Emir replied passionately.
"And you must see that not all will accept such a peace. Those that do not shall wish us dead. If I decide to marry you, there will be either a tentative peace or a painful death in our futures," Kalare replied with vigour, laying aside all decorum as she voiced her fears. "And what of our children, for they are expected after marriage especially for a king. How shall they be raised, as Christian or Muslim?" Kalare continued, having warmed to her subject. "You realise that I will remain a Christian woman and I would never accept my husband to have other wives as long as I live. Whether his beliefs allow him to or not. And what of my family? Shall I ever see my sisters again? My decision will affect their future. For what Christian man will have them when their brother in law is a Saracen? My decision might not impact the whole world, my lord, but it will impact my whole world and everyone who is connected to me. This offer of marriage has more consequences that ought to be considered than any other my father could have presented to me."
"Your doubts and fears are many, my lady," Emir replied calmly, not wishing to upset Kalare any further. "They suggest you have made your decision."
"They are, my lord. Yet I have not," Kalare answered. "As you know, my father refused a king once. His refusal cost thousands their lives. How can I do the same when acceptance may save many lives? Who would I be if I did not attempt to make the world better?"