"Get on your feet woman!" Maria felt the toe of a boot knock against her side, "There are some important people waiting to see you, we don't want to keep them waiting."
She got to her feet slowly, her body suffering the effects of the past few days. She knew both men now standing in her cell and had no respect for either. They spent their free time either at the ale house or the brothel, a sure sign of weakness to Maria. It had been John who kicked her and spoke although the shorter of the two but what he lacked in height he more than made up for in girth; the man was enormous.
"So these are the tits that have all the Holy Land talking, give us a look then," a nasty lecherous grin on his face, he grabbed at her.
Days with minimal food and water had drained her physical strength but her tongue as usual, suffered no ill effects. "I would be loath to show them, after all yours are far more impressive than mine."
It took him a second to comprehend the insult then he reacted as idiots usually do. "You bitch!" his fist hit her face so hard she staggered and would have fallen had he not grabbed her, forcing her against the wall and holding her there with the weight of his body. Gripping her hair he pulled her head back, his mouth almost touching hers, spraying her face with spittle as he spoke. "I hope they don't kill you right away so I get to bring you back here. Then I'm going to show you what a real man has in his trousers, you won't be talking back then I promise you."
Even at her best she would have struggled to overcome this bullish man, she had to wait for the right moment to strike. One thing she was sure of, she would die in this room before she would let these men treat her like a common whore.
She fought the desire to turn her face from his; instead she lifted her head further, ignoring the painful pull of her hair.
"I'm staggered you can recall what a real man has in his trousers, surely it's been a good decade since you last saw yours."
He snorted then brought his mouth down upon hers, forcing his tongue past her teeth. He thrust his crotch against hers, grinding them together, moaning now. One hand frantically tugging at the waist band of her leggings trying to pull them down, the other still tangled in her short hair, his mouth now sucking at her neck. He loosened his belt, letting his trousers fall around his ankles, his filthy braies all that now covered his lower body.
"Save it for later John, we don't have time for this now." Dennis looked nervously at the open door, his friend was moaning loud enough for someone to hear.
"Close the door this won't take but a moment."
As he spoke he shifted his weight to move them both to the floor and Maria took her chance. She grabbed at his crotch and for a moment he actually believed she was joining in, at least until she began to apply pressure. She squeezed and twisted as far as she could make it go, her fingernails found purchase in the tender flesh of his testicles; she dug into the soft tissue with ease, his woollen undergarments fell apart under the assault.
"You would have to kill me first, do you understand that?"
Her words were lost on him, so complete was his agony. "Help me, oh God make her let it go!" His hands were round her throat, but it was his eyes that were bulging.
Dennis' fist caught her hard on the side of her head, causing her to let go, see stars and hear bells all at the same time. Another fist in her gut had her doubled over, gagging, saliva dripping from her mouth. Grabbing her, he held her upright, directing another blow at her face, this one catching her on the upper jaw and eye. Almost unconscious now, she fell to her knees swaying.
"I can't walk, that fucking bitch has ruptured me. I need a doctor." The pitiable tone of his voice made Dennis feel a fresh wave of sympathy for his friend the would-be rapist. Lifting her, he threw her towards the door, smashing her into the wall opposite her cell but she felt none of this, she was almost entirely senseless.
Calling another group of guards to escort her to De Montferrat, he stayed behind to attend to his weeping friend. The four carried her between them one limb apiece, until they reached a bucket of water in the courtyard. Placed on her knees in front of it they dumped her head unceremoniously into the cold water, shocking her back to spluttering, choking consciousness.
A small group of soldiers were loitering around the bottom of the stairs leading to Williams office and one of them approached her now, it was Warwick. "I'm sorry this is happening to you my dear, you being a woman doesn't change that you saved my life more than once. We spoke up for you but it won't make no difference. Only God can help you now."
She wanted to speak but words wouldn't come, he looked at her face, so swollen and bruised and yet in her eyes he saw what her voice couldn't say. He put his hand under her arm and lifted her off the ground, from the dirty water pooling at her knees. "Come on lass, we'll go in and get this foolishness over with." Another from the group took her other arm and together they lead her inside.
Robert De Sable watched this through the barred windows of Williams head quarters; his impartial expression giving no clue to his thoughts. His first emotion was disgust, that soldiers wearing the Templar uniform would treat a woman this way appalled him. Her somewhat slender frame was his only clue to her gender, her face, so battered and bloody could have been male or female. He sat forward in his chair watching her being brought toward them, noting her struggle to recover her senses.
Stephen was about to comment on her battered appearance but William spoke first.
"Maria Thorpe, there are many laws your offense has breached but to keep this matter brief we shall deal with the most heinous... treason. You have made a mockery of our army, our cause and our King. What say you?"
Robert watched her; she was looking skyward, perhaps hoping for divine intervention.
Maria wasn't looking at the sky; she was looking at the huge tower looming high above them. The first time she had been lucky enough to be posted up there she was alone, she recalled the feeling of absolute isolation, of not being a part of anything else, it was as close as she had ever come to feeling inner peace. She wished she could be up there now, would crawl on her hands and knees if necessary, to be there and feel secure and not have anything from this world touch her life.
"I asked you a question, if you have nothing to say in your defense then so be it." William was walking toward her, his face slick with sweat.
Robert interjected, "One moment please William. I am eager to hear her reasons, if not for her defense then to satisfy my curiosity." For the first time he addressed Maria directly," What makes you so different from other woman, that you forsake marriage and motherhood for soldiery?"
Maria was immediately taken by how he carried himself. He dominated the whole room and it wasn't just his considerable physical presence. She sensed he was the sort of man people had long looked to for leadership and guidance. His head, which was completely bald, bore an ugly scar reaching his forehead, she felt this suited him... the warrior.
She decided to give him an honest answer and damn the consequences. If they killed her so be it, better than having to return to her cell and face the wrath of the men she had just angered.
"I cannot speak for other women my Lord, as to why they would be a mother or wife; you would have to ask them of our differences. As for myself; I tried to be a wife to a good and noble man whom my father chose for me but I could never take to it. As a result no heirs were provided and the marriage ended by mutual consent. My reasons for being here I would hazard are much the same as your own. I don't want to read tales of other people's adventures or glory I want to live them."
Stephen, who had remained seated, now joined the two men standing before her, "And now that your adventure has likely cost you your life...?"
Maria was glad to see the young knight who had shown her such kindness; although he was here to judge her she took comfort from his presence, "I have no regrets Sir. Other women, better women have died for less."
"Your new injuries tell their own story, the soldiers are offended by your actions does this cause you no shame?"
"The shame is theirs; there are men here I fought alongside. They betrayed me and abandoned me as I would never have abandoned them."
Loud offended shouts and boos greeted her words but she was past caring. She had served with honest intention and in her own mind had done no wrong.
William was smiling, a cold smile that reminded her of her father. "The shame is theirs eh? Yet it is you who is to be punished, what does that tell you?"
"It tells me that men like you and them out there are..."
"You are clearly a woman of breeding and nobility. Your manner and speech indicate this; as such it would be unfair to treat you as we would any common soldier." Robert interrupted her, he had a feeling she was about to say something which would render what he was now planning impossible.
He knew he was looking at a woman on the edge of the abyss, devoid of all hope. If he were the one to restore her hope indeed her life, he would have the most valuable thing any leader can have... a servant of unquestionable loyalty. Besides which, young Stephen had been right about her, she was brave, a trait Robert greatly admired. Now if he could just make her stay her sharp tongue long enough to get this over and done with...
He stood directly in front of her; she had to look up to make eye contact. Her eyes –despite being blood shot and battered – were beautiful. He hadn't expected this and it took him a few seconds to re-focus his mind.
"Maria, it is time to display that nobility and accept your guilt. Surely you were aware that once uncovered your subterfuge would cause outrage."
Maria was utterly confused; his words didn't match the gentle almost intimate look in his eyes. He wanted her to admit her guilt, but his eyes were doing their best to charm her.
'You catch more flies with honey...' yet despite this thought she found herself submitting to his coaxing.
"I can hardly deny my sex but I do take issue with the claim I dishonoured the order. I served with a pure heart and good intention."
Robert's face lit up, he was going to have his way. He knew William wasn't going to like it but he could reason with him. They were about to embark on a mission of incredible importance, perhaps the greatest mankind has ever known, they would need people of courage and strength. Even William would have to admit she had an abundance of these qualities.
"I find no malice in your actions, misguided as they were. We cannot deny that your serving with men would not be salutary for either party so what I suggest is this..." turning now made a gesture to William seeking his approval to continue, William's face was now utterly red but he nodded his assent. "If the Liege of Acre is agreeable, from this day on you will be in my service."
A combination of his thick French accent and sheer disbelief had Maria doubting what she had just heard. She, like all English nobility had been raised speaking French and she addressed him in his native tongue now.
"Mon Seigneur,si je vous comprends bien,serai-je épargnée?"
His smile in response to her question was both warm and kind, something she would never have thought possible for a man like him. "Oui,Maria,vous comprenez ne prétenderez plus être un homme,à partir d'aujourd'hui vous serez vous-même et je pense que vous brillerez."
De Montferrat bristled, to be disregarded like this and before his own men was unacceptable but Robert sensing his wounded pride took him aside to address him. The conversation was charged with emotion but spoken in low tones; Maria couldn't hear what was being said but gradually William's wild hand gestures eased, he was being placated. Robert patted the stocky Italian's shoulder, an agreement it seemed had been reached.
Robert spoke loudly now, so those nearby could hear, "A crime has been committed and we must ensure you do not profit from your wrong doing. You are to serve me in a household position, no military rank or pay will be afforded to you. You will work twice as hard as any soldier but will not be addressed as such. Do we have terms or would you prefer to remain here to continue your court martial?"
Maria answered in a heartbeat, "We have an agreement My Lord and I thank you for your generous offer." She turned now addressing herself to William, "My Liege, I thank you also. I know that without your mercy and understanding I would be doomed."
William merely gave her a cursory glance and grunted.
Stephen had been watching these events unfold with some surprise, he knew Robert had something planned just not that something. He signaled now for Robert's servant to come forward and take Maria to their quarters, he wanted to get her out of her before William changed his mind.
She allowed herself to be ushered away, almost afraid to believe what had just happened. What on earth could she have done to deserve this good fortune? At the foot of the stairs she looked back at Robert the new Grand master of the Knights Templar, he was standing in the middle of the room and from her perspective he seemed to be framed by her beloved tower. She didn't know it then but that would be the image of him she would hold in her heart for the rest of her life.
Maria finished talking; of course she gave only the details, omitting most of the "flavour" from her tale. She would never tell anyone how frightened she had been in the torture chamber, how vulnerable she felt when the soldiers had stripped off her tunic. They sat in silence watching the fishermen hauling in what would be their last nets of the day, tomorrow they would be in Acre and she could hardly wait to step onto dry land.
Altair listened to her without interruption and although he had questions he knew from her expression how much recalling these incidents had cost her, his curiosity could wait. He wondered if her experiences had altered her as profoundly as his own had altered him. The more he learned about her the more he understood his desire to spend time with her.
She could be foul mouthed and bad tempered -on occasion she reminded him of a spoilt child- but most of the time these things amused him, secretly of course, if he ever laughed at one of her outbursts the woman would likely burst into flames! On the very rare occasion she had allowed him to glimpse what he felt was the real Maria she had been intelligent, thoughtful and surprisingly soft hearted. Considering what she had suffered he was amazed her humanity had not been decimated.
He was accustomed to men dominating women he had witnessed it many times, including physical abuse, sadly it was the way of the world but Maria's tale had given him a new perspective. He now very much regretted their earlier confrontation, or at least grabbing her, trying to physically control her.
"I see the crew are preparing to eat, shall we join them?" He offered her his hand.
"No I really can't face eating fish again; we are going to stink of it for weeks to come." She took the hand offered and got to her feet. "I think I'll just try to settle down before the cold sets in."
Her face looked somehow younger, softer. It was her eyes... their beauty was no surprise to him; since Jerusalem he had known they were striking, it was something else, something new. She was looking at him without a trace of malice or contempt, perhaps for the first time she was looking at him seeing the man and not the killer.
Maria was freezing; she was huddled into a tiny ball trying to keep as warm as possible. She had been listening to the ocean, allowing the waves to lull her senses, drifting off to sleep.
"One of the crew had a spare blanket and a little bread and cheese."
"I'm sorry, what?"
In reply he draped the blanket over her shoulder and put the plate in her hand.
"I can't take his food."
"If you refuse you will offend him. He said the bread is a little stale but still good enough to eat." With a nod of his head he gestured to a burly fisherman standing watching their exchange.
Maria got the message, "Thank you very much Sir, this is most kind of you."
Although her Arabic wasn't perfect he understood her well enough, bowing his acknowledgement.
"Did you ask him to give me these things?"
Altair lowered himself onto the deck beside her, "No, it was his own idea. Perhaps we Arabs are not all as bad as you think."
She chuckled, "Hmmm it is possible... but unlikely."
She ate her meal with gusto, surprised at what a treat simple bread and cheese were to her pallet.
"Will you be writing into the wee hours again?"
"I think we should both try to sleep, tomorrow is likely to be busy." His mind was no longer on this boat; he was already planning his return to Acre, visiting the bureau being his first order of business. Malik will doubtless have received his communication informing him of his decision to travel for a time, he was certain the ramifications would be considerable.
French bits : Big thank you to Wyaline for fixing my admittedly horrible French
"Mon Seigneur,si je vous comprends bien,serai-je épargnée?": My Lord, Do I understand you correctly, am I to be spared?
Oui, Maria vous comprends parfaitement. "Oui,Maria,vous comprenez ne prétenderez plus être un homme,à partir d'aujourd'hui vous serez vous-même et je pense que vous brillerez.": Yes, Maria you understand perfectly. No more pretending to be a man, from today you will be yourself and I believe you will shine.
A/N Last update for a while, off to dip my toes in the Med. Probably a good thing, I've lost track and the story has suffered for it. Hopefully get it back together at some point.