The course of true love never did run smooth. ~ W. Shakespeare

Manwoldae

March 23rd 950 A.D.

How could she be gone? So sat on the floor gazing up at her portrait which hung above the jade urn holding her ashes. She was the only person who truly understood him; who made him feel human and he lost her. Hae Soo.

His Soo-ya died giving birth to their daughter. Her hoarse cries still haunted him. So had rushed past the royal physician to get to Hae Soo when told that the baby was positioned wrong and in danger of strangling on the birth cord. Soo held onto him as he whispered words of encouragement in her ear. Squeezing his hand, her reserves exhausted by time and pain, she used his strength to bring their daughter into the world. Luckily, the physician and midwife were able to save the baby, but Soo was too weak by blood loss and the stress to her heart to survive.

He struggled with the memory of holding her in his arms as she smiled up at him. "Is she beautiful?" Soo asked, her breathing shallow. She raised her hand up to touch his face and he caught it, kissing her palm. "She is, Soo. She will look just like her mother."

"I'm sorry, So-ya. I don't want to leave you." Soo weakly freighted, feeling afraid for the first time of dying, but she had to make him understand. "Promise me, So. Please promise me that you will take care of yourself, our daughter, and Princess Kyung Hwa."

He nodded against her head. "I will, Soo." Feeling tired, she closed her eyes. So panicked, shaking her body. "Hae Soo! Don't go!" She opened her eyes, leaning into him. "I love you. I always will love you. In this life and in the next." Gazing into the distance, she whispered. "I'm not dying. When I wake up from this dream, I will see your face and know you. I promise I will remember."

"I promise to remember too." So vowed to her as she took her last breath. "I'll find you, my Soo-ya." For a long time, he did not move. He could not remember growling at those who tried to take her from him as she grew cold in his arms. It seemed like forever, but the sound of sobbing caught his attention. So focused on the form of his first wife as she knelt on the floor sobbing. Baek Ah gently drew Kyung Hwa to her feet. Woo Hee hugged the crying girl, tears stained the older woman's cheeks.

The weeks that followed her death blurred into nothing. So shut his eyes the sunset outside, the light dimming within her bedchambers. "It's time for me to go. I must return to her." So frowned at the familiar deep masculine voice filtering into his head.

"And leave me alone without her by my side." So replied bitterly as the shadows widened within Soo's living quarters. He had not allowed any of the attendants to enter the room to light the candles. Lady Han had led the younger ladies out of So's way when he had stumbled in drunk and surly.

An apparition of a man appeared out of nowhere, facing him. So blinked as this other version of himself bent down to his his eye level. "At least this time you will have your daughter with you." He said with a tired bitterness. "I wasn't allowed that privilege." Sighing, he continued. "I've given you everything you need to keep her safe. Use the knowledge wisely."

The shadowy So turn his back on him and reached out to touch the urn. So got unsteadily to his feet, attempting to strike out at this vision. "Don't touch her, demon!"

A sardonic laugh fell from the other So before he disappeared. "If I'm a demon, so are you." With a shake of his head, So's eyes shot open. The vision sobered him up quickly. He blinked around the dimly lit room. The sun disappearing below the horizon. Slowly he climbed to his feet and wandered over to Soo's urn. He kissed the cold stone, then walked down the hall to the nursery.

So stared down at his newborn daughter as she fitfully slept, his heart melting despite the pain as this little bit of Hae Soo stubbornly tried to kick through her swaddling, her head turning as if searching for someone. Cautiously, he slipped his hands around her delicate body, amazed at how tiny she was in his large hands. He breathed a sigh of relief as she settled her fidgeting when he cradled her against his chest, her little head burrowed into the nape of his neck just like her mother used to do.

He felt at peace, holding her in his arms as he gazed at the stars outside the nursery. Court politics had kept him from her for the past two weeks. Some of the clans had experienced his barely controlled wrath after crossing him during his time of mourning. Blood would have been shed had Kyung Hwa not stepped in to proclaim herself his first Queen.

One of the ministers, Pak Chi Tae, had stepped forward challenging her. "How can you proclaim to be first Queen, when your marriage has not be consummated, Ongjunim? Were you not to take vows of a nun?"

So barely felt Kyung Hwa's fingers lacing with his as she stood next to his seated figure. She gracefully arched a brow at the minister. "And how do you know our marriage has not been consummated? Is there a lady, eunuch, or guard within this court or palace who dares to spy for you?"

Minister Pak faltered, nervous as he bowed before her, moving away from the throne. "No, your highness." Then his eyes moved to So's. "You must believe me, Pyeha, I have no such person here."

So frowned at the man, then turned to the court. "Princess Kyung Hwa is the daughter of King Hyejong and she is my first wife. You have no right to question her." Without looking at Baek Ah, So announced. "Please prepare for the coronation of Princess Kyung Hwa as Queen, Baek Ah."

"Yes, Pyeha." His brother nodded as he scribed the proclamation.

He brushed a kiss across the nestling baby's brow as he hummed a song he fell in love with long ago. Closing his eyes, he felt a comforting presence behind him. "What do you plan on naming her?" Kyung Hwa inquired softly, her voice quiet so she would not wake the sleeping princess.

A memory flooded into his mind, images of a young Hae Soo that last night at Wook's residence. She had appeared suddenly after he had laid the last stone on the prayer tower he built at Wook's residence.

"What did you wish for?" She asked him, her curiosity aroused by him. "Do you need to know people's wishes now?" He groused back at her as he sat at the top of the stairs. Nosy girl! Sighing, he smiled with relief. "I'm leaving this place now. I'm going to live in the palace." Then he shot her a glance and quipped, "I won't be running into you so often anymore."

"Oh…I guess won't have to deliver rice to you anymore." Soo shot back up at him, then playfully stuck her nose up in the air. "That's great."

Scoffing, he replied. "You didn't do it that often. Stop trying to take credit."

Soo's mood changed to thoughtful as she leaned against the wall and lectured him. Caught off guard, he was irked at first by her words, then he blinked in wonder as her tone grew lighter. He couldn't remember the last time someone had cared if he ate his meals or had nightmares when he slept.

"What is it?" She turned to him, inquiring after his silent regard of her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh...I just remembered you aren't afraid of me." So smirked with a laugh. "How can you not be afraid of me?"

With a deep sigh, Soo spoke about fearing herself and where her heart was leading her more than fearing anything else. He listened intently to her words, studying her as she gazed up at the stars. She was an enigma. Suddenly, she laughed with delight as she looked around the sky. "Now that I'm in Goryeo, there are a lot of stars here."

"What do you mean there are a lot in Goryeo?" He asked, curious to know. "You don't believe you can only see stars in Goryeo, do you?" Teasing her, he sniggered. "Ji Mong would pass out if he knew."

Just as the words passed So's lips, he noticed the first flakes as they fell to the ground. Soo's face filled with awe. "It's snowing." She sighed with a smile, lifting up her hand to catch the snowflakes. "It's pretty." He couldn't help himself. She was more pretty than the snow. The glow of the lanterns, the moonlight, and the snow falling around her only enhanced her lively spirit. She seemed to glow from the inside out, taking his breath away.

Yet, as he held his infant daughter in his arms, a tear silently fell as he realized that over the years she had granted his wish in more ways than one. "Seol." His voice sounded low and guttural with fresh pain. "Her name is Hae Seol."

"She will grow up to be like her mother." Kyung Hwa stated as she watched So place the sleeping baby back in her crib.

"Are you sure you want to be queen?" So didn't move or turn around until he felt her hand touch his shoulder. Catching her hand, he stared down into her soulful eyes.

Firmly, she nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."

Seoul, S. Korea

2016

Physicist, Dr. Kang Jun So jerked awake, gasping as he sat up. He felt as though he had fallen from a thousand feet and landed very hard on the bed. Surprised by So's violent reaction, Jin immediately sat up in bed next to him. "So-ya, what just happened? Are you alright?" She frown at him in concern.

"I'm fine, Jin." He said as he flopped back down on the bed with a grin. The digital clock on the bedside table read 3AM. Whoa, one whole year in Goryeo and I've only been asleep for five hours. It had worked! He sighed as he peered up into his wife's quizzical sleepy face. "I had a dream."

"What was it about, So?" Jin asked as she snuggled into his arms, her face burrowed into his nape.

"It was nothing." So said as he kissed her brow, not wanting to bring up their past in Goryeo.

"Really, So-ya?" Jin whispered, her warm breath and heart beat causing him to shudder and pull her tighter into his embrace.

"Really." He quietly replied.

Jin smiled, then yawned as she settled down against his side, her hand resting over his heart. Something felt strange, but she was too tired to speculate on the change. "Okay. 'Night." Closing her eyes, she asked softly, her thoughts drifting to Goryeo. "Do you think everything will be alright?"

"Yes, love, I do." So breathed against her as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Meanwhile, in a different timeline another incarnation of So sat up in bed alone. Cold sweat glistened on his skin as he awakened from a nightmare. Her name falling from his lips. "Hae Soo."