Chapter 1: The King and His Guard

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters nor the original story

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"The way things are, we have two choices." The King of Goryeo, King Gong Min was sitting on a chair opposite his most trusted general Choi Young who was also the leader of his personal guards, the Wu Dal Chi. "One is that you give up your position and live with her somewhere far from here where no one would know who you are."

He searched Choi Young's eyes to make sure he understood his next words. "But she will have to make sure never to stand out. You must teach her the ways of a Goryeo woman and she must not heal anyone nor use any of her tools." He paused for emphasis. "If you were to be found out, even with your strength it is impossible to fight against the world, not without a position of power."

Choi Young contemplated the thought of living with Eun Soo on a small house near a river. He had dreams like that before. He still dreamed of it from time to time, especially when he remembers her smiling face. The thought brought on some painful memories. Like when Eun Soo and the former King Choong Jung had waved at him goodbye with their smiling faces filled with trust. He failed them that time.

I am sorry that I couldn't do anything when Gyung Chang was dying even if I am a doctor and that I made you do that with your own hands. And I'm also sorry that I stabbed you in front of heaven's door. But thank you for being alive. I know you protect me even if I bother you and complain about everything. I really appreciate that.

Her voice sounded clear in his ears as if she were just beside him. He almost turned his head to gaze at her. It had been like that in the four years that she was away. Every time he felt sad or burdened. Every time he blamed himself or felt incompetent, she would always whisper a chide or an apology or even sometimes yell at him in his mind. He couldn't tear her off his thoughts and so he continued living each day as if she were there.

And every time he strove to live on he would see her smile. He always believed she would come back. He had placed his faith in her, he could not afford not to.

At the moment he just wanted to go and see her again and live with her somewhere safe, away from everything. However, he couldn't contemplate changing a single thing about her. Eun Soo acting like a Goryeo woman? He almost snorted at the thought. And her not being able to use her skills would be torture for her, to her it would be like not living at all. There was once a time when he thought living only meant not dying. It was through her that he learned there was more to life than that. He stopped his musings and faced his King. "And the other option?"

"She can come back to the palace and become Eui Seon again." Choi Young's eyes narrowed at this. But the King continued. "I am no longer the weak King I was five years ago. And you can protect her easier inside the palace."

The King's lips curved into a little sad smile before he went on "And I know that despite the fact that you want to be with her, you don't really want to leave the kingdom in the midst of war. She will be free to be herself whilst being protected by the Kingdom. I can even make her position have an official seat of power. I owe her a lot. And I can make these things happen as the King of Goryeo."

Choi Young clenched his fist though his face showed nothing of what he was feeling. The King was right, it would not be the same as it was five years ago when the King just sat on the throne. At that time they needed Eun Soo as a symbol for the kingdom because the people had no faith in their new king. Eun Soo who came from the heavens had saved their Queen and Captain. It was a sign of blessing from the heavens. Although in reality Choi Young had kidnapped her and forced her to heal the Queen at sword point and it was this heavenly woman who actually stabbed him with his own sword.

But now that they have strengthened the kingdom and even managed to bring back their lost land, the people adored their king like no other. The palace would be the best place of protection for her. But there was a reason why it was the second option and not the first one and the two men facing each other knew this without saying.

"But like that, you may never be able to marry her." The King finally voiced it out with a sigh. "Everyone in the government is already jealous or wary of your power. If you marry the great doctor from the heavens I don't know what they will do." The King was quite frustrated with this as well.

"I may be able to take your side if they take things up officially but I cannot stop them from making trouble for you." The retainers always treat Choi Young with respect due to his authority and his achievements in taking back the lost lands of Goryeo. However, with the exception of a few, they watched his every move like a hawk and pounced on the smallest mistake that he made. He had too much influence on the king, they believed. So therefore he was dangerous.

This was all true of course, which made Choi Young's miserable position partly his fault. He trusted Choi Young like he trusted no other, maybe except for his Queen. However, he had worked hard to be self reliant and not too dependent on his general. He knew in some ways he succeeded. While before he had been like a little boy constantly depending on Choi Young for support, now he had become an equal partner. They would usually stay up nights talking about strategies of war and even sometimes on politics, although Choi Young still hated that part of his job. But there was no replacing him. And no matter how much he wished for his general's happiness he was loathe to let him go.

Choi Young suddenly stood up and gave the king a brief bow. "I will think about it more and come back with a decision later your majesty." Then he turned to go.

The Kings eyes followed him. "The news will spread soon no matter how hard you try to hide her as her manners make her stand out too much, so you better decide quickly."

That seemed to annoy the general a bit because there was a flicker of anger in his eyes as he turned to look back at the king. "This is about her life, it is not a decision I alone can make." And with that he strode out and left.

The king stared at the doorway deep in thought. That the general actually wanted the doctor's thoughts about the decision spoke volumes about their relationship. One corner of his lips curved into a lopsided smile. Be it a King or a warrior stained in battle, love chooses no victim. Sarang (Korean word for "love" which didn't seem to be used during the Goryeo period). That was a word he learned from his wife who in turn had learned the word from the doctor.

"The Queen has come to see you your highness."

The King's smile spread to both corners of his lips as he heard the announcement. It was as if his thoughts had summoned her to him.

"I will go see him alone." He heard her command her guards before she walked through the door. The King was alone in his room as well having been speaking with Choi Young in private.

The Queen who was usually calm and poised was gazing at him with excitement as soon as the doors were closed. "When is Eui Seon coming back to the palace? I met Choi Young on my way here but I couldn't ask him in front of everyone."

The King gazed lovingly at his beautiful wife. "Come sit." He gestured at the chair Choi Young had been sitting on.

Queen No Guk blushed as she realized she had just lost her composure. She walked slowly to the chair and sat down. Then she looked straight at her husband. "She is coming back to us right?"

"I don't know." The King said in all honesty. "But it seems the word has spread already." He continued now with a worried frown. "I was right to warn him to make a decision fast."

"Lady Choi was the one who told me." The Queen explained. "Eui Seon had asked for her to let me know." She was still looking straight at the King whose face has now registered surprise. "She didn't tell her why and from what I can get by Lady Choi's tone, Choi Young had seemed reluctant about the request. Still, doesn't this mean she has plans to see us?"

The King was now lost in thought. It seemed to him that Eui Seon making such a request meant she was preparing to ask the Queen for a favor. But why did Choi Young make no mention of it? When he came to see the King, it didn't seem like that he had already talked it over with Eui Seon. As far as he can gather, after they traveled back he had left her with the Su Li Bang and came to see him.

"What did Choi Young have to say?" He was brought back from his thoughts by his wife's question. He wanted to sigh.

"If it were up to him, he would have probably run away with her somewhere far from all this." He gestured his surroundings. "Sometimes I wish I could just take your hand and run away too." He said wryly.

The Queen's smile was the sweetest he'd ever seen and he felt his heart skip a bit. "I wish there was more I could do for them." He said instead, changing the subject before the simple comment could turn into longing. "The both of them, they have done so much for us. They have saved our lives countless of times. And all I've ever done really was force Choi Young to serve the Palace and stop the doctor from going home. I have given them so much trouble."

The Queen reached out to grasp his left hand that he hadn't noticed was clenching the edge of the table. "They are together now because you made her stay." She was looking at him earnestly. "I remember I said before that the Heavens must be punishing her for being here. However, now I know this is where she wants to be. Here is where Choi Young needs her to be. So maybe, just maybe this is where she was supposed to be all this time and the Heavens have used us to bring her here."

His wife always knew what to say to make him feel better. If Choi Young felt half the love he felt for his wife at this moment, then his mistake might have saved Choi Young after all.

...

As always she was busy. He had rushed back worried about her but he should have known she'd gotten comfortable with everyone already. Eun Soo was sitting on a chair facing a table talking animatedly surrounded by about ten Su Li Bang members, some sitting opposite her, beside her and the rest standing around the corners of the table.

Choi Young stood at the door entrance to where Eun Soo and her crowd was. He stood completely undetected as they all had their attention focused on her. Choi Young frowned at that. He could have massacred everyone in the room by now.

"With just a flip of her wand the fairy godmother turned the pumpkin into a carriage and the little mice into white horses." She had everyone's attention and everyone's eyes had widened either in disbelief or awe. "And then she transformed Cinderella's ragged clothes into a beautiful and shimmering blue gown, and on her feet were glass slippers."

"Can everyone in heaven do that?" One of the younger members who was sitting beside her asked, his eyes filled with wonder. "Turn mice into horses, I mean?"

Eun Soo faced him and gave one of her brilliant smiles. "Of course not." She then faced everyone with a serious expression. "This fairy godmother was very powerful, you cannot find anyone quite like her. She was special because she could do what most other people could not."

"She's like you then?" One of the other guys standing in the corner eagerly added. "I heard you can cure any disease, tell the future, and even raise the dead." He sounded as if he was in awe of her and that he believed she can really do all those things.

Eun Soo didn't even bat an eye at the statement, as if she had heard this countless of times before. "Well as I said, that rumor is actually quite exaggerated. I do know some things that will happen in the future and I have knowledge of medicine that most doctors don't have…"

That was it. Before she finished speaking Choi Young strode forward towards Eun Soo, annoyance clearly etched on his face. It was the twins who was sitting opposite where Eun Soo was who noticed him first. They quickly stood up in alarm. "She was just telling us a story about Cin... Cindre…"

"Cinderella." Eun Soo confirmed as they seem to have a hard time remembering the name. But everyone's attention had now shifted to Choi Young, and Eun Soo was the last to turn around to face him.

It was all she could do not to rush into his arms. She had missed him so much. All this time she was regaling the Su Li Bang with stories trying to take him off her mind but she never really completely succeeded.

Suddenly everyone had somewhere to go and something to do. And then they were alone. However instead of a cheerful greeting, Choi Young was staring down at her with annoyance. "I thought we have agreed to keep your identity a secret. Is your idea of a secret proclaiming to everyone that you can tell the future?"

Eun Soo understood his concern. However, didn't the Su Li Bang already know who she was? Wasn't it him who decided that they could trust them? It was not as if she had gone out into the streets to proclaim her knowledge.

But Choi Young was filled with frustration. He had just gotten two completely awful options on how he could go about making her stay and then he had found her happily surrounded by men. Her telling them about her skills was the last straw. But he was trying to reign in his anger. He moved his sword from his right hand to the left as he leaned down with his right hand on the table so his face was almost in level to Eun Soo's. "I agreed to alerting the Queen about your presence wherein I have to let my aunt know about you as well when the King would have eventually told her, simply because you insisted it was important. But it doesn't seem like you know what is important at all."

With that Eun Soo stood up uncaring that half of his body was blocking her from doing so. Her head would have banged against his if he had not been quick to move back into standing position. But she knew he would, and so they were now standing facing each other. Her fiery eyes stared back into his in defiance but when she spoke it was in a really calm voice. "I know what I am doing. I have a plan."

But instead of calming him, her steady voice sent him deeper into the edge. How could she be so calm when he felt like a bomb ready to explode. "Then tell me about this plan of yours because it seems to have many flaws." He just finished speaking when the Man Bo Siblings showed up by the door as it was still open. Although Choi Young had his back towards the entryway he immediately noticed their presence and grabbed Eun Soo's left wrist with his right hand before she could reply. He dragged her past the siblings to the room provided for her. He then forcibly sat her on the bed by holding both her shoulders down. Then he released any contact with her and slammed the door close with his foot.

But the walk on the way to the room had calmed him down a bit. In fact he actually felt a bit ashamed about his behavior. She was having such a lovely time until he went and spoiled it all for her. It was not what he actually had in mind as he was trying to get back to her in haste. He stood there facing her but he could not meet her eyes anymore.

Eun Soo's heart ached. It ached for herself and it ached for him. Although he had done nothing but yell at her since he came back all she wanted to do was hold him and tell him everything would be okay. She knew he was worried about her which is why he was able to say all those things. But she wasn't sure how to appease him and at the same time not give up on her decision.

"Imja I…" Suddenly Choi Young didn't know what to say. As his anger dissipated so had his reasons. He could not remember why he had been so angry. She was merely with the Su Li Bang and they all already knew about her identity. The fact that he hadn't come up with any good ideas to keep her safe in this world was also not her fault.

"So how did the meeting with the King go?" She saved him by asking.

Choi Young sighed and Eun Soo patted the space on the bed beside her. Choi Young sat beside her without a word of complaint, putting down his sword beside him. "It seems we have two choices." He said without looking at her. "We can either run far away from here and live ordinary lives under disguise, or you can become Eui Seon again. It's way easier but we might have problems being together that way."

"Let's go for the second option." Eun Soo said without second thoughts. In fact she was relieved that the option was still there.

Choi Young turned to face her in surprise. Her immediate answer was so unexpected that the surprise came in blindingly first before the pain started to pierce into his heart. He immediately schooled his expression to remain impassive while his heart rebelled that she could just coolly choose to not be with him.

But Eun Soo took his left hand and held it in between hers as she looked at him with a loving smile. "The one year it took for me to find my way back to you, everyday I would promise that when I would finally find my way back to you, I would make sure not to make you suffer from choosing between love and duty."

When Choi Young opened his mouth to speak she shushed him by pressing her left index finger softly against his lips. "I cannot make you leave the Palace, as such the first option is not viable. This is the fifth year of King Gong Min's reign. The wars has just started. The King needs you, the Kingdom needs you. If I take you away, Goryeo will fall. And when it falls it will also take a huge part of yourself along with it."

She withdraw the finger that was pressed on his lips as her hand moved to cup his right cheek. "I cannot allow that."

Choi Young had gone speechless with her words. As he didn't like the first option for her sake, her reasons were all for his. He remembered when they had the talk of being partners. 'We will protect each other.' She had said and he had laughed at the notion. He was a warrior, it was his duty to protect her, he didn't need protection. But he was wrong. Not only did she protect him from harm, she had also protected his heart and his soul. And now she was doing it again.

But Eun Soo was not done talking. She had withdrawn the hand that was on his cheek but her right had was still holding his. "I thought and thought about it, and I finally realized that the only way for you not to choose between me and the King is if I and the King were one."

Choi Young didn't like the sound of that but he let her finish talking. "I plan to not just become the Eui Seon I was before. I will become an entity that will serve as a pillar for the King. I will become that no one in Goryeo will want to separate me from the Kingdom. And when you protect me, you protect the Kingdom."

Her plan was actually quite reasonable. But it didn't help him at all. The more the Kingdom needed her, the more he can never be with her. But instead of voicing out his worries he focused on the much simpler question. "If you had this plan from the start, why have you not shared it with me?"

There was no accusation in his eyes as he asked. He simply wanted to know. Eun Soo gave a wry smile. "I wasn't so sure the King still wanted me to be Eui Seon."

"Ah. So that's why you wanted the Queen to know." Choi Young mused. "Did you want the Queen to convince the King of it? Did you by any chance send a secret message along with telling her that you're back? I did meet the Queen coming to see the King as soon as I was done speaking with him."

Eun Soo laughed. "No, nothing like that." A secret message? Wow, did he think she was some spy on a covert mission? "I just thought that if the Queen knew I was back then she would want to see me as I want to see her. And since the King likes making his wife happy, the idea might come to him even though it would not actually be what she wants."

She was smart, he gave her that. "Is this one of those tricks you got from watching movies in heaven?" He still didn't really understand what she meant by watching movies, but she had always given that as the basis for her plans.

"Partly, I guess."

"Well, it was not really needed as the King does wants you to be Eui Seon again without needing the Queen's encouragement." This time it was Choi Young's hands that held Eun Soo's right hand between his. He looked straight into her eyes, willing for her to understand. "Imja, if you do this I might be able to fight for you and the King, but the only person you will be allowed to marry would be the King. You would be too important to become anyone else's wife."

He thought she would at least be a bit worried about it, but she just smiled into his eyes. "I also have a plan for that." Her eyes were shining with excitement as she continued. "I will not just be the Eui Seon that the Kingdom needs. I will also be the Eui Seon that everyone fears to go against. Before I made the travel here, I brought some stuff that might help me. And I also realized that since you actually have lightning powers, you might be able to recharge them for me. If they believe my words are the words of the future then who can dispute me when I tell them that for the future of Goryeo I have to be your bride?"

Choi Young was astounded. Some of the things she said about her stuff and charging with his lightning powers he didn't really understand. But he got the full gist of what she was aiming for. She was going to trick the whole country of Goryeo that she had powers worthy to be feared so she could command them to accept their marriage. He had fallen in love with one hell of a woman.

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NEXT Chapter 2: The Healer from the Heavens – Will Eun Soo's plan to control the retainers give the lovers a chance to be together or will it back fire and put hers and Choi Young's life in danger? And who is this dashing and mysterious leader of the Red Turban Troops who seem to know that Eun Soo is from the future and not the heavens?

Author's Notes: I know in the series Eun Soo seemed to have entered the portal immediately as soon as she got back to the present. But to make my story work, let's say she didn't. I need some of the future stuff.