Chapter 17: A visit from a messenger
I ran like a crazy woman into the castle hall, thinking to myself, What the hell is going on with me? As I ran, I'm so embarrassed!!
Then I was knocked over. "Oh milady! I am sorry, are you all right?" a familiar voice said, reaching out his hand to help me stand up.
"I'm fine," I say as I reach for Sir Roger's hand to help me stand.
"What happened to you?" he inquired, "did someone do this to you?" he added solemnly.
"Huh?" I exclaimed, inspecting my tea-stained dress and unruly hair. "No one bullied me... I just accidentally knocked over my breakfast and was returning to my room to fix myself," I explained.
He asked, "May I walk you to your chamber?"
"No..." I walked calmly, and he quickly followed, saying, "I just wanted to be friends and get to know you better."
"Why?" I inquired.
"Well...since you don't know anyone here, and I think I can be a good friend and guide...I can actually point out all of the secret exits that we have here in this castle, as well as where to take a good nap or stroll around."
"really.. castle exits?" I remarked sarcastically. "Where are you going? you seem to be a very busy young man?" I inquired.
"I was on my way to meet his Majesty for the morning assembly," he replied quickly.
"I see...I need to get going... and you wouldn't want to keep his majesty waiting... and thank you for the offer, but I'll think about it," I say as I walk on.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said. as I walk quickly
I returned to my bed chamber, tired and dizzy, to be greeted by Emma, who was horrified at how I looked. "Oh my dear! what happened to you?!" she exclaimed.
"Long story..." I said as I jumped into bed.
"I thought you were going to have breakfast with His Highness," she said.
"Yes..we did... and I did something stupid..." I said quietly, burying my face in the pillow.
"Oh dear... what happened?" she says as she sits beside me.
I told them about how I embarrassed myself in front of King Baldwin.
Abu began to laugh uncontrollably, and Emma tried to console me, saying, "hush now, Abu!, don't laugh at the lady."
"I'm sorry, My Lady, I was just surprised that you can act your age," he explained.
"How come?" I inquired.
"First and foremost, you are very mature for your age, considering you are only 17 and a year older than I am," he says.
"That is right, my lady," Emma added.
"Well, mature or not, I still run away from him out of embarrassment."
"Ohh... don't worry my child, I'm sure the king will understand, you don't have to worry, it's part of growing up... it happens for a reason," Emma says.
"Nevertheless, I still act immaturely in front of a king," I explained. "I will write an apology letter to his highness, and perhaps invite him to dinner."
"And, my lady, before I forget, the merchant delivered your glass earlier," Abu said.
"That's fantastic!" I exclaimed, "but where is it?"
"I put it in your workroom," he says.
"OK, will have to get back to work now," I said as I stood up and prepared to leave, but Emma blocked my path.
"Not so fast, my lady, you will not go out looking like that... you will have to change your dress," Emma said as she guided my hands to my closet. "You can go out now abu," she added.
Meanwhile, Aimery and King Baldwin are walking through the Castle Hall on their way to his Court Hall to meet his Vassals.
Aimery POV:
"Sire, I just wanted to ask what happened to you and Lady Philippa? Why did she storm out like that?" as I hand him his white robe
His Majesty's expression softened. "I wish I knew... maybe I did something that upset her," he sighed.
This is the first time I've seen him like this, I thought to myself, "Three envoys from Beqaa Valley (modern-day Lebanon) have arrived, sire under Saladin Command," I said as I handed his majesty the silver Mask.
" Envoys? Do you know why they came so suddenly?" he asks, carefully putting on his silver mask.
"Yes, sire... from what I've heard, they came here for peace and have an important message to deliver to your grace."
"I see..." he said coldly as I opened the chamber door.
As we entered the courtroom, we were greeted by the royal knights, King Vassals, and Beqaa Valley envoys, three tall mascular dark, sinister men wearing white turbans and red and gold robes.
"We come in peace, King of Jerusalem," one of the envoys said as the King marched to the centre hall of the Royal court.
"What pleasure do I owe you for this visit?" King Baldwin asked calmly as he sat on his throne.
"Rejoice, King of Jerusalem! We have come to bring you and your people good news!"
King Baldwin was composed as he stared at them.
"My name is Yasir, and I am the Envoy to Our Sultan, Saladin. Our Sultan desires peace, and he offers you and your people freedom if you submit to his power," he explained.
"Freedom? My people in Jerusalem already have freedom; there is no need to give what my people already have," King Baldwin chuckled.
"That is foolish! King of Jerusalem, you know that our kingdom can crush yours in just a short time, yet our sultan is a generous ruler that he chose to deliberate to rule over your kingdom, but he will still let you rule your people!"
"Deliberate?! yet you come here to threaten me and my people! let me remind you where you stand!" exclaims the King as he stands up.
"Remember, Jerusalem! We are envoys and messengers sent to you; if anything happens to us, our sultan will avenge us! If you don't, your little kingdom will burn to ashes."
"You are absolutely correct...I almost forgot you were just a messenger who belittled the King who stands in front of you, who defeated your master with this what you call a small Kingdom." As he was escorted by Sir Roger, King Baldwin said as he slowly approached the envoys.
Jerusalem will not submit to any other King than me, King Baldwin said in rage, "Tell your sultan, we will not obey, bow down to his desire!"
"You are as foolish as you are stupid, you Leprotic pig," exclaimed the Envoy.
Without a single warning, the King struck the envoy's neck with Sir Roger's sword, it happened so quickly that we didn't have time to react.
The envoy's head rolled across the floor towards his men, leaving a pool of blood on the ground as its body twitched after being decapitated.
As he returned the sword, there were blood stains on his highness's white robe and silver mask.
The King turned to the envoy's men and said coldly, "Listen... and listen carefully tell your master that Jerusalem will not submit... and do me a favour bring that foolish envoy's head back to him, tell him its a punishment that his envoy received for being disrespectful to a King."
"You will pay for this!" they exclaim as they pick up the envoy's bloodied head and stuff it in their sack as they flee for their lives.
"How many messengers can deliver a message?" the king inquires coldly.
Sir Roger replied, "one," before drawing his dagger and hurling it at one of the envoys in the back, leaving only one survivor to flee.
I've been King's Chamberlain for two years. Our leper king, King Baldwin IV, is an incredibly wise, Just, soft-spoken, sensitive, and peaceful man who has always had the best interests of others in mind.
He was well-liked by his men and sympathetic among his peers. He commands their utmost loyalty to the crown and to the kingdom.
He exudes a calm, friendly demeanour and always smiles when interacting with others. However, he remains somewhat mysterious due to the fact that his mask conceals the majority of his expression.
He was not above resorting to violence if necessary, however. He can be ruthless when provoked, especially when his people are at stake.
Even if he became as ruthless as the Devil, I will remain ever loyal and faithful to his majesty because I know that even if we face turmoil in the near future, our King will always prevail and will never abandon his people.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone