[M4F] The European Knight and The African Princess

The sudden exposure to the oppressive midday sun invading the little isolation cell of the bimārestān ripped the injured knight from his nightmares. The man woke to an overwhelming combination of strange sensations; the ferrous smell of blood in the air mixed with the strong scent of foreign herbs and healing ointments was accompanied by repeated incantations and the gentle, incessant tinkling sound of dripping water.

He found himself in a comfortable enough straw bed, dressed in loose linen garments that were not his and once the warrior reached beneath them, he discovered that his wounds which he firmly believed were destined to prove lethal were clean and bandaged. His head rung with the metallic clatter of swords and armour meeting one another, the memories of the battle slowly returning; the spearhead penetrating his chainmail, a volley of arrows raining down on him and his fellow men, his loyal steed bucking him off and his maimed, unconscious body landing in the mud.

Frankly, Heinrich was surprised to even be alive and additionally with all his limbs and appendages still attached. For a moment, he believed to have risen up to Heaven but this notion was quickly dismissed at hearing the language spoken around him.

Mustering his entire strength, the knight sat up and glanced around to get his bearings. It was a simple room; rough masonry, undecorated walls, cold adobe floor and a small high window. Through the narrow gated hatch in the otherwise heavy door, Heinrich managed to make out the dark, stoic bearded face of what he assumed to be the guard in charge of overseeing him. It was only now that the knight noticed his ankles to be shackled with iron manacles that were anchored in the clay wall.

\---

Hey everybody! Recently, I have been in love with historical roleplays, especially with stories involving romance between characters from different cultural backgrounds. I believe there's a lot of potential there to explore interesting and fun results of these contrasts and therefore I'd like to write a story about a European knight who finds himself far south from his home. Some options for where would be the Malian, Ethiopian or Kanem Empire, Makurian Kingdom.

Thematically this would revolve around courtly love, duty, religion and the struggle our characters would definitely face.

Hope to hear from you!