The inspiration of this story occurred when some friends and I watched the movie Timeline and Kingdom of Heaven. I thought to myself, what if a group of scientist travel back in time, to Jerusalem, during the rule of King Baldwin IV. Although I am basing the personalities and actions, of the historical characters, on the movie Kingdom of Heaven, I will include some historical fact, however, it will mostly be alternate history.

All characters, except those created by me, are historical, and belong to no one but themselves.

Italicized letter represents internal thoughts.

Altering History

Prologue:

In the Year of our Lord, 1225

It had been one month since the death of Baldwin IV, the great and godly king of Jerusalem. He had lived to the ripe old age of sixty-four, having lived a life full of struggle and strife, but also of friendship, love and family.

He had lived to see his children grown and his grandchildren born. Throughout his long life had stood his beloved and loved queen, a very unusual woman. She was strong in her opinions and beliefs, devoted first to her husband and family, and secondly to Jerusalem and all it's people, regardless of their station in life, or religion and often spoke in strange terms. Even more unusual, she was very learned in medicine. Strange medicine, which she claimed to have been taught in the land of her birth, a very far off, and unheard place. Only her husband, and a few trusted people, knew the truth. Despite all this, the people loved her, although a handful of the Templar knights and persons of powers did not. Those who hated her, hated for one thing only; her influence on the king and her family.

The king and queen kept their children close, and showered them with love. All were taught to be honorable, faithful and loyal. They were well educated, and taught to accept those of other religions, even if they believed differently from themselves; to uphold the laws of the land, and keep the peace with the Moslem kingdom, which had been born from the heart and mind of Saladin. They were raised to defend the weak, the powerless and defenseless. To rely on and trust each other. But most importantly, to remember, always, the dream of a Kingdom of Heaven that their father had built. The dream and hope he had fought , both within and without, and had been willing to sacrifice his life for, if necessary.

The dream continued, through his sons and daughters, but the man who had begun the dream, had passed on to a new world, a bright and wonderful world, that had history not been altered, he would have visited in the year of 1185, a young man of twenty-four years.

In the end…

Queen Larissa, sat alone on the palace balcony overlooking the inner ward. In the background, the sounds of birds could be heard. The cool early night air ruffled her long hair, once a dark auburn, but now a bright silver. Her dark green eyes, red from the crying she could not seem to stop. Her face covered in lines and wrinkles, each one earned.

As the night grew deeper, and turned cooler, she stood up, and pulled the heavy robe tighter around her, and walked into her now quiet bedroom. A month ago, there would have been another. Someone who could make her laugh and smile, or disagree and argue with her, but would always love her through it all. Now this person was gone.

She was alone.

Oh, but I still have my children and their children. They are my heart, but my soul has left me.

Once again the tears began.

You must stop this you silly old woman.

She walked over to the now empty bed, that no longer offered her the comfort of sleep and pulled back the covers. She slipped between the covers, and pulled them over her head, like a child hiding from someone.

You're too old for this; stop it! You're behaving like a foolish child!

Under the covers, she continued to cry; soft, silent tears, her eyes now more red and puffy than they were before. As she wiped her eyes, she felt a tingle in her left arm, and a shortness of breath. She was also nauseous and lightheaded; her chest tightened.

I've been having these symptoms for the past two weeks. They come and go, but each one is a little stronger, than the last.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and forced herself to relax. It took longer than ever before, for the pain to pass.

I know these symptoms and what they mean. Basic medical knowledge, 101. My heart is giving out. I don't think I have much longer to wait. Soon I will be with my love again. Most likely the next time.

She wiped her eyes, again, and blew her nose on the sleeve of her robe.

The old saying, the older you get, the more childlike you become, is really true for me, it seems.

She stretched out her arm, reaching for his side of the bed, now empty and cold.

I feel cold, my heart heavy, not just from what I know is coming, but from being broken. Maybe it is true that you can die of a broken heart. I know it is medically impossible, but it can quicken the process, I think.

I feel so alone. We raised our children to be strong and independent; to do the right thing, even if it's not necessarily the easiest path to take. They have their spouses and children to keep them going, to keep them strong with his death. With my death.

Her tears started again.

What a glorious funeral.

Many came to pay their respects to the great King of Jerusalem. Even the descendant of Saladin sent their ambassadors, paying their respects; and they were truly sadden by his passing.

You wore your most resplendent robes and head dressings. All a deep blue, with beautiful gold trimmed embroidery. Your right hand in a matching glove, and the other wrapped in bandages, dyed blue to match.

On your face was your silver mask, with the intricate designs that you only wore in battle or special occasions.

How I wish you did not have to wear that mask. You were beautiful; I only wished all could see your face and see beyond the damage left by the leprosy. But I understand why it was necessary; why it had to be. Even back home, in my world, you would need to. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

It became too warm under the covers, so she pulled the bedding back, exposing her face to the cool night air. She closed her eyes and let her skin cool, and then opened her eyes to blow out the candle that gave a soft glow near the bed.

As she turned to blow it out, she was startled to find a pair of bright blue eyes staring at her. Next to the bed stood her youngest granddaughter, Catherine, a precocious and inquisitive child. The daughter of her youngest son, Phillip and his wife. The eight year old was dressed for bed, but had obviously slipped her nurse's notice, to visit her grandmother.

"Grandmamma, were you crying, 'cause you miss grandpapa?", she asked.

"Yes, little one. I miss your grandpapa very much. Very, very much."

"Grandpapa is in heaven, with the angels and God now. I know he is watching us, and making sure we are good, and say our prayers!"

Queen Larissa reached out and pulled gently on one of the little girls black curls and chuckled.

"Yes he is; so you must be very good," and tapped her on the nose, which made the little girl giggle, "and always say your prayers."

The little girl's unexpected visit was bringing a small bit of peace to her.

A part of me doesn't want to leave them, I love them so much; but a bigger part of me wants to go, to be with my soul mate. My passing will cause them great pain, especially so soon after their father and grandfather, but I know they will survive both of our passing.

"Grandmamma, you loved him a whole lot, didn't you? You miss grandpapa even more?". The little girl reached out and patted her grandmother's cheek. "I miss him too. He would hold me tight and tell me silly stories, about people flying in big metal birds, and visiting the moon."

The queen laughed, and pulled the little girl on the bed with her, pulling her into a deep embrace, and cuddling here close.

"Did he now?", the queen asked, "But did he tell you that I told him those silly stories?"

"You did!", Catherine's eyes grew wide. "Who told you those stories?"

"Well….", but the answer went unspoken, for there was a quick knock upon the bedchamber door; just before the door opened a crack, and a face could be seen.

"Mother, is Catherine in here with you?" A young women asked.

Catherine ducked quickly under the covers, attempting to hide from her mother. However, her giggles could be heard.

"Oh mother, I am sorry that Catherine disturbed your sleep." the young woman said, as she walked into the room. "I cannot fathom how she does it. She can sneak out of bed, and pass all the knights, and servants, without anyone noticing her at all."

The queen motioned for the young woman to come closer. "She is a handful, but I expect she gets that from her father, Akilah."

Her youngest son had stunned all of the kingdom, when he married a woman of Arab descent. He had received the blessings of both his parents, even though many were not pleased with it. No demand was made upon her to convert to Christianity; although to keep the peace, she did participate in some of the practices, if only out of respect to her new family.

Because her husband was the youngest of six children, the people were willing to accept his transgression of marrying a barbarian. He could only inherit the throne, if something happened to all his siblings, and their many offspring.

The queen and king found Akilah to be a perfect match for their youngest child, and were pleased to welcome her into the family. The had insisted she call them mother and father.

"Catherine, your mama is here to take you to bed. You must promise me to stay there, and have happy dreams." The queen asked, as she pulled down the bed coverings, exposing her granddaughter's hiding place.

"But I'm not sleepy," she said as she took a deep yawn, " and I don't want to go to bed."

She tried to hide under the covers again, but by now her mother had walked up and pulled her into her arms.

"But mama," she said again, "I'm not tired." She yawned again.

The queen and Akilah laughed at the little girl's behavior; looking each other in the eyes, with the knowledge that only the mother of daughters can know.

"Your grandmother needs her rest." Akilah told the little girl.

Catherine pouted, but said nothing as here mother rubbed her back. Catherine yawned again.

"Not tired….", she said, as her eyes began to close. But like all children, she fought the coming of sleep.

Akilah gave her mother a thoughtful look. "You are not well. I can see it in your eyes, but you are hiding it from us. Why?"

The queen smiled, "It is my burden; and mine alone. Why place more burden on my family, so soon after this great loss." She took a deep breath.

"But we are family, is it not expected for us to help you carry your burden?"

"Yes, but not now. Not yet. Please don't tell anyone, please."

Akilah nodded, "Yes mother, I promise."

"Thank you."

As Akilah moved away, Catherine began to become restless, and still only half asleep, said, "But, grandmamma, you were going to tell me about the silly stories…"

"Perhaps I will, but not now. I'll have to think about it. Like all good stories, they always begin with, a long time ago, in a land far, far away; or in a galaxy far, far away, but I think Lucas owns that catch phrase."

Catherine and Akilah laughed, along with the queen, at what she had just said.

"I do not know of half of what you have just said, and I have no knowledge of this Lucas. Is he perchance a knight?"

A knight, well, he did create the Jedi knights.

"No, not a knight, not someone I knew. Just an old woman rambling about her past. Please ignore it."

"Never silly mother." Akilah said, and she turned to go, and allow the queen to some sleep.

Just as she stepped through the door, Akilah turned back to the queen. "Mother, you must tell me one day how you met father. How you both came to know each other, and where you are from."

"Some stories are not meant to be told, some are secrets, meant to be kept, for the safety of all." The queen smiled.

"You speak true, and your secrets are yours, to tell or to keep. Good night mother, and please know that father is with both our Gods. I think he waits for you."

Just as Akilah left, leaving the queen alone once again, in the empty room, in the big lonely bed, she heard a little girl's voice. "Night, grandmamma, but I still want to know the story."

As the door closed, the queen snuggled into her bed, and finally fell into a deep sleep. But before she surrendered to the darkness, she thought to herself; Oh the story I could tell, of how a doctor from the U.S., with a team of explorers traveled back in time, and how I finally found where I belonged…

End of Prologue