Medicine | King Baldwin

1

She ran as fast as she could, but what felt like minutes of running was just a few meters before she tripped over a rock, falling into the dirty grass, messing her nightgown up with mud and dried grass. Her heart was pounding aggressively in her chest, trying to stand up but something kept her down in the grass, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get up.

"Isabel!" The voice. The menace, threatening voice ranged closer and closer to her as she tried her best to escape, but the overwhelming darkness began consuming her even more. As she heard the footsteps of her father in the grass, she gripped into it, hoping it would give her a solace or stop him from dragging her with him.

"No! No, please no!" She screamed in horror as her father grabbed her ankles, begin to drag her back to the cottage.With every harsh step, her fragile body slammed against the ground, leaving bruises all over her. She babbled loudly, waiting for a miracle, or just for a single word; You'll get through this. But nothing could be heard.

Suddenly, everything began shaking, if like an earthquake, shaking the ground wildly.

"Isabel." She heard her name. It was faint, but she heard it.

"Isabel!" The voice ranged through her head, now louder and clearer than before.

Jurian was jolted awake by the sound of Isabel's distressed cries piercing the silence of the dawn. With a sense of urgency, he hurried to her bedside, his heart pounding with concern. Gently shaking her shoulder, he whispered her name, his voice a soothing balm against the terror of her nightmare.

"Isabel, wake up!" he murmured, his touch light as a feather. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, still clouded with remnants of fear. Jurian enveloped her in his arms, holding her close as she trembled against him, seeking solace in his embrace.

"It's alright." he murmured, his words a whispered promise of safety. "You're safe now. It was just a bad dream."

Isabel clung to him, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to shake off the lingering horrors of her nightmare. With Jurian by her side, she felt the suffocating grip of fear begin to loosen its hold, replaced by the comforting warmth.

"Again?" Jurian asked when he released her from his arms. Isabel nodded, rubbing her wet eyes.

"Try to sleep. I'm right here." He offered, but Isabel stubbornly refused the offer, getting out of the uncomfortable cushion of the bed.

After many weeks of wandering, they arrived in the center of Jerusalem, leaving behind their grim past. They found refuge with one of Jurian's distant relatives, where they focused on preparing medicines to alleviate the suffering of those living in the slums.

Isabel and Jurian spent their days walking the streets, carrying their wares and visiting people in need. They also took turns selling their wares on the streets, which both nobles and poor alike visited. Jurian diligently worked on the medicines, while Isabel tended to the sick, listening to their complaints and comforting them. Sometimes they changed roles, Isabel made the medicine while Jurian tended the sick.

As they walked the narrow streets of the slum, they often encountered those who had no choice but to rely on hope and relentless struggle for survival. Isabel and Jurian did everything in their power to help these people, whether it was a simple headache or a life-threatening illness.

"Where are you going?" Jurian asked questioningly, watching as his friend hurriedly putting on her sandals, and then in the room designated as a side room, she changed her nightgown into a slightly dirty, plain white and green dress that hung down to her ankles.

"For a walk." Isabel glanced out of the window, pulling her belt tighter as the first twilights of dawn grew stronger. Silence permeated the small cottage, only her breaths audible in the stillness.

"Isabel, what on earth could be your destination at this early hour?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry. Isabel raised an eyebrow, questioning his parenting over her.

"I just crave a bit of fresh air, Jurian. Nothing out of the ordinary." He sighed as he glanced out the small window.

"You know well I don't support such risky ventures. The streets can be dangerous for a woman, especially at dawn." He added.

"Don't father over me. I'm not a child. You think I can't protect myself?" She asked, slightly annoyed that her friend didn't trust her actions.

"That's not what I meant." Jurian said as he stood up and picked up the basket lying on the floor.

"It sounded like you meant just that." Isabel rolled her eyes, hooking off her satchel from the wall.

"I'm just worried about you, I'm sorry." The boy answered honestly, then handed the basket to the girl. "Take this, too. Take herbs, please. We're running low on supplies." She said nothing but nodded, turning around to leave.

As she pushed open the poorly constructed door of the modest cottage, the first rays of the sun pierced through the early morning haze, greeting her with a warm embrace. Isabel squinted against the golden light, her heart lifting with anticipation. With a determined step, she ventured out onto the cobblestone streets, the sounds of the awakening city echoing around her.

Jerusalem's poor quarter was a bustling maze of narrow alleyways and crowded market stalls, where traders from far and wide converged to peddle their wares. Isabel navigated the chaotic streets with a mix of caution and curiosity, her senses assaulted by the sights, sounds, and smells of the vibrant marketplace.

The air was thick with the scent of spices and sweat, mingling with other smells which she couldn't name. Colorful fabrics fluttered in the breeze, their vibrant hues contrasting sharply with the dusty cobblestones beneath Isabel's feet. As she made her way through the throngs of people, Isabel's eyes were drawn to the eclectic array of goods on display – exotic silks from the east, intricate jewelry crafted from precious metals and gemstones.

Despite the poverty that hung heavy in the air, there was an undeniable energy and resilience among the traders and shoppers alike. Isabel couldn't help but admire their tenacity in the face of adversity, their determination to eke out a living in a city torn apart by religious and political strife.

As Isabel slowly left the bustling streets behind, she felt like stepping into another world. In the rural outskirts, the noise and bustle suddenly gave way to silence, replaced by the sweet chirping of birds and the whispering of trees. Here, beyond the city walls, nature enveloped her, and Isabel felt like she had finally found a place to stop thingking about bad things, even if just for a short time.

As she walked through abandoned pathways and fields, Isabel keenly observed the herbs hiding beneath the ground and among the trees. Time slowly slipped away as Isabel delved deeper into the embrace of nature. She gathered chamomile flowers in the soft grass, savored the scent of thyme in the depths of the forest, and carefully plucked the fragrant blossoms of lavender in the warmth of the sun.

Throughout it all, Isabel's heart grew lighter, and the anxiety and tension that had gripped her slowly melted away.

She found herself ensnared in the grip of recurring nightmares, haunting visions that refused to release her from their torment. These dreams were a cruel legacy of her father's deeds, the scars of which ran deep within her psyche.

Night after night, Isabel would find herself transported back to the horrors of her past, reliving the moments of fear and anguish that her father's actions had inflicted upon her. She would awaken in a cold sweat, her heart pounding in her chest, unable to shake the suffocating grip of terror that clung to her even in the waking world. No matter how hard she tried to escape, the nightmares followed her like a relentless shadow, a constant reminder of the pain and suffering she had endured. They were a cruel manifestation of the wounds that had been carved into her soul, wounds that refused to heal no matter how much time passed.

Isabel longed for respite, for a reprieve from the torment that plagued her every night. But no matter how desperately she sought solace, the nightmares continued to torment her, a grim reminder of the darkness that lurked within her own mind.

First chapter, I hope you all like it my loves. English is NOT my native language so if you find any misspells, feel free to inform me.

I would appreciate it if you could leave a comment and a vote.

xoxo: Carol