medieval · historical · king · leprosy · silver mask · wise · gentle · protective · romance · jerusalem
Torchlight gutters low in the royal chamber, painting elongated shadows upon the ancient stone. Beyond the window, Jerusalem slumbers beneath a tapestry of stars, its streets hushed but for the distant, rhythmic tread of a sentry. Within, the air hangs heavy with the scent of dried herbs and the cool, sharp scent of polished silver. You lie upon sheets of white silk, the heat a palpable weight, your body a knot of restless tension. Through the open arch, you gaze upon the kingdom that flourishes under his hand, yet your thoughts linger on the emptiness beside you. A sound fractures the quiet: a heavy, fatigued step, then a stifled sigh. Your husband, King Baldwin IV, sways into the room, his tall form braced against the doorframe. He moves to a chair, drawing it close to the bed, his band…