I woke up to the sound of birds happily chirping outside my window. I pulled the covers off me and sleepily staggered towards my balcony. I stood outside and embraced the soft winter breeze. It wasn't majorly cold in Jerusalem during the winter, it was just cool and windy and the sky was always grey. I turned away from the balcony and headed back into my room. I opened the wardrobe that sat next to my bed and rummaged through it until I found something I'd want to wear. A pair of brown trousers and a white tunic. The usual. The tunic reached down to my thighs so I would either tuck it into my trousers or put a belt on. Today I decided to just put on a belt. I put on my shoes and made my way out into the hall. It must've been early because I noticed that the servants who we're usually out at this time we're nowhere to be found. I searched the halls for someone who might be up at the same time as me. But I was the only person there. I shrugged and walked into the gathering hall. That's where everyone was. My father sat on his throne resting his head in his hands with an annoyed look on his face. I noticed that the men who we're standing among my father we're shouting.
"SILENCE!" My father yelled. Startled by this, I jumped back a little. The men did in fact go silent, not.
"I understand that you fine men believe the Saracens are a threat, but we made peace with them and I believe that there is nothing to worry about. If they show signs that they are becoming dangerous, then we fight. But as of now, we stay put!" Father loudly explained.
"My lord, wouldn't there be a way f-" one man was cut off by anothers shouting.
"An army of Jesus Christ in which bears his holy cross shall not be beaten, we must have war, God wills it!!,"
Men began shouting and chanting, "God wills it!"
I looked at my father who was visibly mad. His advisors stood next to him with the same stone cold expressions.
"SILENCE!" Tiberius, one of the advisors yelled.
"We are not to go to war! We do not want it, and we may not win it!" Tiberius shouted.
The men continued their bickering and fighting, completely ignoring Tiberius's words. I pushed through the crowds of arguing men and approached my father's throne. There we're three other chairs that sat in the corner, one of which I decided to sit in. My father looked at me and shook his head with disappointment, as if to tell me that he hated being king. I was next in line, and quite nervous. I knew it would be quite a long time before my father passed away and the crown would be handed over to me, but something inside me was anxious. I stared at the floor for a bit, deep in thought, when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around to see my tutor: William of Tyre. I smiled up at him and he returned the gesture. He was kind and I knew he looked out for me, he was very wise and I hoped to be like him someday.
"Your grace, your father wants me to take you outside to play with the other boys so that you can get away from this commotion," He said to me. It sounded like a good idea, I'd rather be doing something fun than sitting around a bun of angry old men who looked like they would rip my heart out. I stood up from my chair and followed Sir William outside into the courtyard. There were four walk ways that all lead to different doors and met in the middle of the courtyard. Where they met in the middle stood a large fountain, I often came here to read since it was very peaceful and calming. I smiled and noticed that a couple of my friends we're running around chasing each other with sticks. I looked at the ground for any twigs I could use so that I could join in. I picked up a large one and charged towards my friend Clement. He noticed me running to him, and he did the same. We ran into each other and we poked one another with our sticks. We fought like we we're fighting for our lives in a dual. I knocked Clement's 'sword' out of his hands and pretended to shove mine into his side. He fell to the ground and played dead, horribly. He started laughing and I said to him,
"Dead people aren't supposed to laugh,"
"This one does," he said, smiling from ear to ear. Clement got up and brushed the dirt off of his dark blue tunic. His blonde hair was messy and full of leaves, twigs, and grass. The knees of his trousers were stained, and so we're the elbows of his tunic.
"Hey, Baldwin!" I heard a familiar voice shout from behind me. I whipped around and saw one of my other friends: Lucius. He ran over to me and pinched my arm.
"you're it!!!" He yelled.
I ran towards a group of boys who made very poor attempts to hide behind the trees that stood firm in the courtyard. I pinched one of them and he yelled in pain.
"You're it!!" I shouted.
After a few more minutes of playing I was called over by Sir William. I thought for sure that I was in trouble and my mind began to panic a little.
"Baldwin, I have a question for you," he said kneeling down in front of me.
"What is it?" I asked, confused.
He hesitated for a moment before responding with, "The other boys showed signs that the pinching hurt, but you did not, why is that?"
"This arm is numb, it has been for a while," I told him, holding up my right arm.
His eyes widened and his fave turned pale. He covered his mouth with his hand. I was confused and didn't know why he seemed so scared.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Wait here," he instructed me. He got up and rushed back into the palace. I stood there not knowing what to think. Surely I was fine, I don't know what could be wrong with my arm. I felt fine. A few moments later Sir William arrived with my father. He frantically explained everything that I had told him about my arm. My father had the same reaction that Sir William did. My father crouched down and put a hand on my shoulder. He looked into my eyes with visable worry and angst.
"Baldwin, is what Sir William told me true?" He asked.
"Yes,"
"Can you feel this?" He asked as he pinched my right arm.
"No," I told him. He looked up at William and then back to me.
"What's going on??" I cried.
"We will explain it later, for now, I want you to come with me," father said.
YOU ARE READING
Chronically King
Non-FictionA young prince, the heir to his father's throne, is diagnosed with a horrific disease. When his father dies unexpectedly he is to lead his new kingdom while battling through his sickness.
