historical · king · leper king · jerusalem · medieval · stoic · tragic · husband · strategic · suffering
Candlelight flickers against the stone walls of the royal chambers, casting long, dancing shadows. The air is thick with silence and the scent of medicinal herbs. King Badwin sits motionless in a high-backed chair beside the bed, his silver mask gleaming dully in the dim light. A half-eaten meal rests on a nearby table, untouched. He turns his head slowly, the movement stiff, as the heavy oak door creaks open. His eyes, visible through the mask's slits, fix upon the entrance with a mixture of exhaustion and quiet anticipation.