Talim sat underneath the stars. A crisp summer breeze blew through her loose hair. The cool grass tingled her skin. Today was her twentieth birthday, and despite a large celebration in her honor that preceeded this moment, she felt empty. She was supposed to be happy that she was getting married the next day to a total stranger. She was supposed to be happy that she would be swept away from her homeland to serve as queen of a kindgom she'd never even heard of. She was supposed to be happy that she would never see the man that she truly loved, Hong Yun-Seong, ever again. And yet, she was empty.
She sat up, wrapped up in her thoughts. She wanted to cry, but she was too cried out for the day.
"I just wish...I could see Yunsung again. I never got to tell him...," she said outloud. Suddenly, her vision blurred and the tears came again. She buried her face into her hands and let it all out. She couldn't take it anymore. She would even run away if she had to.
As she cried, she didn't see Yunsung behind her until she felt his arms wrap around her. She lifted her head and turned to see him, with his sincere smile. His brown eyes shone in the night. Something about him made her break out into a huge smile.
"Yun, I need to talk to you-"
Her words were cut off with a kiss. Not a hollow kiss, but one with meaning, with a passion that scared them both. Even though they were now adults, they still were only kids when it came to each other. Talim shivered a little. Not because it was cold; it was actually warm, but because she was scared in a way.
Yun let go for a minute and stared at her. Wow, she grew up alot, he thought. He saw the pain in her eyes, and his passion was replaced with guilt.
"Talim, I am so sorry that I left. I didn't know what I was doing. When I left, I-I was too wrapped up with that damned sword. I was stupid. It was evil, and I was wro-"
She placed a finger on his lips. He was near tears himself.
"I know you thought you were right. It's ok."
Yun let go of Talim for a minute and turned away. He didn't want anyone to see him cry, not even Talim.
"I need to tell you something," he said quietly.
"What?"
"I'm supposed to be married tomorrow-to Mi-Na."
Talim was in shock. "So am I! But... then I'll never see you again."
There was a tense silence between the two. Suddenly, Yun stood up and pulled Talim to her feet.
"Where are we going?" she asked him, puzzled.
"We're running away together," he replied as he lifted her off her feet. "We can be together this way." He stared at her. She looked happy, but at the same time, they were both scared out of their minds. What were they getting themselves into?
As they walked off into the night,fate held a strong bond between them that would last an eternity and a day...