A new Path

The court hall fell silent as the king catechized me, "My, lady, why are you so determined to help me? that you are willing to give your life to prove you can heal me?"

"I truly believe that you are not what your illness is, having a leprosy my king is not a punishment from God or to your people, it is a disease that can be acquired and treated, it would be unfair to be treated indifferently just because you have it, that is why I wanted to help you because you my King is Jerusalem, your people need a good King like you and I do believe that I can help you," I said as I looked him in the eyes without hesitation.

As he looked at me, His Majesty took a deep breath and said, "Well, six months... I will give you six months to prove your claim."

"Thank you, your grace," I said, smiling and lowering my head.

"However, if you fail, you will be punished accordingly," he added.

"I understand, my King," I said. "And I promised you that I would do everything I could to help you," I added.

"Until you prove yourself, I will temporarily install you as a member of my royal court, and you will work with my chamberlain Aimery of Lusignan," he proposed.

"But, Your Highness, she is a woman, and she cannot be a member of your Royal Court!" protested the Bishop.

"Your Eminence, with all due respect, the King has spoken; it is best if we pay heed to and follow our King's decision," Lord Roger smiled at me. The Bishop was stunned by his remark, and I ignored Lord Roger's subtle flirting.

"Then let us move on to your two other requests," King Baldwin said.

"Yes, your Grace... the second request is that I not marry anyone for political reasons; instead, I will marry according to my own free will," I stated.

"hmm... understood," he replied.

" Finally, I will keep my people with me here in Jerusalem, you said I don't have anyone, and though I have my godfather looking after me, I cannot disturb him for tribal matters, so I would like to bring my personal maidservants with me," I requested.

"Very well... I accepted thy requests and welcome you to my royal court," he says as he approaches me and extends his left hand, which I reach for. "I'm absolutely delighted," I said.

"I am sorry, My Lady, if I am unable to show you around the castle; perhaps next time, but don't worry, I will let my attendants accompany you to your new residence," King Baldwin said.

"Don't worry, your majesty, I can manage from here," Lady Philippa say as she gracefully bow to his majesty.

Lady Philippa was escorted to her residence following the High Court trial, while King Baldwin went to meet his other vassal for the war meeting.

As she entered the castle hall, Lord Roger De Moulin greeted her. "Milady," Roger smiled and waved his hand as he approached Lady Philippa and kissed her hand as a curtsy, which Lady Philippa quickly removed her hand reluctantly because she was not used to that gesture, which Roger smiled at.

" I apologise for startling you.. Please allow me to formally introduce myself; my name is Roger De Moulin, Grand Master of the Knights of Hospitaller at your service." he says, bowing his head.

"Nice to meet you, Lord De Moulin... is there anything I can do for you?" Lady Philippa inquired.

"Nothing really... I just wanted to meet the infamous lady who defeated our lord commander in archery," he explained.

"Lord Commander? you mean Count Tripoli, I see... now that you've met me, is there anything I can do for you?" she asked coldly.

"You don't have to be wary around me my lady... I don't bite," Roger chuckled in response to the lady's cold response.

"Don't get me wrong, my lord, but I'm not afraid of you; I just don't like talking to strangers," she explained.

"Strangers? I am no stranger, milady... I actually did help you earlier in your trial, if you remember, and I also want to be your acquaintance," responds Roger.

"Help me? I beg your pardon my lord, but clearly I don't need anybody's help, I can take care of myself and I don't need a friend right now, if you excuse me," she said as she tried to walk away, but was stopped by Roger, who said, "but I insist, you can use a good friend since you are new here."

She rolled her eyes and locked her gaze on him. "Did you truly want to be my friend?" she asked. "m-milady o-ofcourse," he replied, looking Philippa in the eyes, as she looked him in the eyes and leaned her face close to Roger's, making him nervous and intrigued by the Lady's charm.

"You... you're really handsome," she said, her face close to Roger's, his heart racing as he felt her breath and smelled her sweet scent. "But you're not my type," she added as she took a step away from Lord Roger. "I'm not sure what you're planning, but your charm won't work on me; it's best if you find someone you can play with," she said coldly.

"w-what? " Roger inquired, perplexed.

"Please excuse me, my lord, but I really need to go now and I don't have time for this, cheerio," Lady Philippa said as she walked away with her attendant.

"c-cheerio?" said Roger, baffled and dismayed.

Meanwhile, at the King's court

"I can't believe you, your highness," William said, "that you allowed the little lady to join your royal court." "I don't understand it," William sighed. "How come you agreed to the lady's terms?" William inquired.

"I wanted to see how this turned out," Baldwin said calmly to the worried William. "It's the first time I've received that kind of request, and I'm curious about the outcome," the king said.

"You're curious?... how did Lady Philippa pique your interest?" William inquired.

"well.. its the first time that someone looked at me that way... straight in the eyes without any fear and without hesitation " he said " and somehow I can feel her sincerity " he added.

"hmm... I can't believe what she did today.." William sighed heavily. "She reminds me of her father, daring and unafraid of anything."

"Yes, she is a very strong and confident lady," Baldwin stated. "The lady Philippa of House Antioch is amusing, and I don't know what she's thinking," Baldwin chuckled.

"That is why, my king," William pleaded, "this old man asked you a favour."

"What is it, teacher?" he inquired.

"Please take care of her... protect her from any danger that she may encounter within the palace walls as she will serve you as one of your royal court members and I know how royal families and noble families work, she is still a defenceless child and you know how the world has always looked down on any women," William said.

Baldwin assured William, "I will... that is a promise."

"Thank you.. my King.. I will be forever more loyal to you," William says as he bows.

Meanwhile...

When I arrived at my new residence, I was greeted by a new attendant, the head maid Bathilda. She was a tall, thin, and slender woman in her early 60's with a crooked high nose and grey sharp eyes. "Greetings, my Lady, I am Bathilda, the head maid of the king's palace," she says as she bows to greet me.

"Greetings, Bathilda," I said.

"Welcome to your new residence, the King personally selected this chamber for you, my lady," she said as she walked around the room.

The bedroom was nothing like my old room at the Kerak castle; it was very spacious, with two large windows and a balcony, a queen-size bed covered in fresh white linen, and a powder table with a life-size mirror adjacent to the bed.

"I also heard you wanted an extra room for your study," Bathilda explained. as she shows me a room where I can continue my herb study. It was clean and spacious, and it was fully equipped with everything I needed.

"I hope it was to your liking, my lady?" Bathilda inquired.

"Yes... it's very beautiful," I say.

"That's good to hear, and my lady, I'd like to ask who they are?" Bathilda inquired, pointing to my personal servants.

"Oh... yes... these are my personal servants from House Antioch, whom I have requested from His Highness to always be with me; this is Emma, my handmaid, Abu, my helper, and Sara, my other helper," I respond.

"This child? an helper?" she asked, intrigued.

as Sara cowered in fear behind my skirt in the face of Bathilda's stern gaze. "Yes, she is," I say.

"Well, my lady, Lord William has informed me that I am to assist you in all your needs, and if there is anything I can do for you, please ring the house bell," she said.

"Thank you, and may I ask you a question, Bathilda?"

"Yes, my lady," she says.

"Where is the King's Chamber, and is it near this room?" I inquired.

Yes, my lady, the King's Quarter is just above your chamber; may I enquire as to why?" she replied.

"Nothing... I just wanted to know because I'm going to be in charge of preparing his medication," I replied quickly.

"Oh.. well, if you need help getting to his chamber, just call me," she said.

"Thank you," I replied.

"Then I'll be on my way.. please enjoy your stay," Bathilda says as she exits the room.

"What is your next move, my lady?" inquired Abu.

"Well, we need to get to work," I said.

I was preoccupied with my work with Abu for the entire noon; we were so focused on what we were doing that we lost track of time and were reminded by Emma that it was already late afternoon.

"Oh, time flies," I exclaimed.

"Flies? The time has no wings, my lady," Abu remarked.

"No, silly, it's a metaphor, it means that time seems to fly by, especially when you're having fun," I explained.

"Oh... now I get it," he said.

"Well, we'll need to check with the king royal physician first before we can see his royal highness for his treatment," I explained.

"Yes, my lady," Abu replied.

"Emma, please go see Bathilda and inform her that I will need to meet with the king's royal physician before we visit his highness," I said.

"Yes, my lady, right away," Emma replied as she exited the room.

As soon as Emma walks out, a tall, young man with an average lean physique, ash brown wavy messy hair, and Mojave eyes walks into my work area. " Greetings, my lady. I apologise for barging in, but I really need to see you."

Who are you?" I enquire.

" I am Aimery of Lusignan, his Royal Highness' chamberlain, and I believe we will be working together," he says.

"yes.. a pleasure to meet you.." I offer my hand for a handshake, but he misinterprets it and pulls my hand for a hand kiss instead.

"Oh... I wasn't expecting that," I mumbled as I removed my hand.

"The rumours are true... you are truly lovely, my lady," he stated.

"T-thank you," I said.

"I would like to personally welcome you to his majesty's royal court," he said with a smile.

"My pleasure," I replied.

"You will be working under my supervision, and I will provide your task," he explained.

"Alright... I'm listening," I said.

"I understand you want to help his majesty by curing his illness, and I will place you in his majesty's royal physician workplace."

"Oh, I was about to go meet with his royal physician." I said

"really.. that is a good start.. well, I could actually accompany you to him, he is quite an eccentric and stoic man, but he does his job with passion," he explained.

"That's useful to know." I respond

"Shall we go now? I'll accompany you to his work chamber," he said, extending his hand to guide me.

"Thank you, my lord, but I am fine on my own," I say as I ignore his hand and walk out, and he quickly follows.