Jerusalem fell. All the townspeople, women and men, left the city in search of a new home. The queen could not leave her city, her home, her kingdom of Heaven, even if she understood that Saladin's soldiers would not leave her alive. She lost her son and brother, resigned to her fate, accepting it with dignity

Saladin's army entered the city, threw down the Christian flags and hung up the Muslim ones; captured the royal palace. They searched everything, taking weapons and gold. Saladin was told that the queen of Jerusalem was in her chambers. She was still there. She did not escape, even though the general allowed all the inhabitants to leave the city for their own good

The heavy door to the chambers opened. The bedroom was dark. Saladin's heavy gaze fell on the woman. The queen sat in a chair by the window, watching everything. Her thin hands clutched the hem of her dress