Fate | Baldwin IV

endings and beginnings

The late afternoon sun cast shadows across the narrow streets of Constantinople, its golden rays illuminating the bustling life of the city. The sounds of merchants calling out their wares, children playing, and scholars debating filled the air. I could see the harbor from the balcony of our villa nestled along the shores of the Golden Horn, where ships from distant lands docked, bringing with them tales of far-off places and exotic goods.

Inside the villa was as chaotic as the outside. My father paced the room, his face drawn with worry, while the portrait of my mom hung up high on the wall watched over us. It had been years since she was gone.

I turned around from the view to find my father desperately looking for something. I had thought it was an object of significance, but I now know it was words he was looking for. The words for the news he soon would have to break to me.

Parchments and scrolls lay scattered across his desk, remnants of urgent messages and diplomatic correspondence. It wasn't anything unusual for someone who worked in the court. But it was my father's unusual agitation that piqued my curiosity.

"Father, what troubles you?" I asked, my voice concerned.

He paused, looking at me with both sadness and resolve. "Y/n, there are matters we must discuss. Grave matters that concern our future."

"What is it?" I pressed, feeling a growing sense of unease.

He sighed deeply as he slowly walked towards me. He clasped his hands behind his back and set his gaze forward to the view of sunset on the balcony, avoiding my questioning eyes. "The political situation here in Constantinople has become dangerous. The court is full of intrigue and betrayal."

"Well, I know." I said, not understanding what he was getting at. Truth to be told, I had always known my father's work as a scholar and diplomat involved dealing with the complexities of court politics, but even then I had never seen him so visibly distressed.

"My dear," he took a deep breath before he continued. "Our family has fallen out of favor with a powerful faction."

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't even want to hear the rest.

He lowered his gaze to the floor as he struggled to continue. "It is no longer safe for us to remain here."

I stared at him in shock, trying to comprehend the magnitude of his words. "Father, what are you saying?"

He remained silent as he kept his head low. Neither he had the heart to repeat, nor I to hear.

"We must...leave?"

He nodded solemnly. "Yes, my dear. We must leave, and soon." He lifted his head to stare at the sea, beyond the horizon.

"But, where do we go?" A million questions appeared in my head. "For how long? What will be of our home?"

"This is no longer our home, my child." he said firmly and turned around to walk back into the room. I followed him from his side. "I have arranged for us to travel to Jerusalem, it will offer us the refuge and opportunities we need." He seemed to have taken the reasonable approach to the matter already.

"Jerusalem?" I repeated, trying to catch up to his pace.

"Yes. Jerusalem."

The name Jerusalem conjured images of ancient temples and Holy Lands. But it was also a place of conflict, far removed from the cosmopolitan life I had known in Constantinople.

"But why there? Surely there are other places we could go?" my voice echoed, filled with disbelief.

My father stopped in his tracks and turned to me, holding my shoulders with a gentle but firm expression. "Y/n, I understand your fear and hesitation. But Jerusalem is the only place my knowledge would be valued. More importantly, it is a place where we can start anew, free from the dangers that now threaten us here."