Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur or any characters of the film. Jeong-Jun is an original character of my own imagination. I have tried to be as historically accurate as possible, but embellished some aspects for the sake of storytelling and fiction. No offense was intended when referring to any cultures or rulers of the time, including Hormizd of Persia. He might have been a very good king for all I know. I wasn't there.
Jun is from the nation of Goguryeo, which is now Korea. Inspiration for her came from the movie, War of the Arrows.
Respectful critics are always appreciated.
Enjoy!
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Chapter 1 – Revised*
The mission was to assassinate Arthur Castus, the new King of Britannia, his barbarian witch of a queen, and if possible, his Sarmatian Knights. Apparently, Rome did not like it when one of her finest officers retired from her service to become King of a land she had abandoned. A very high ranking Bishop by the name of Germanius contracted Jun, even though the assassin was a pagan foreigner. In this case, Jun did not care about the politics of her mission, only the upholding of her honor. But there was shadow assassin disguised amongst the merchants Germanius had paid off – a cad sent to kill her and tie up loose ends.
It did make sense that Germanius chose Jun, who was often mistaken for a Hun - enemy to Rome and Sarmatia. If a Hun murdered the King of Britain, and Rome then killed said assassin for the death of their beloved son, no one would think anything of it. The truth of things would never be known. But Jun's truth was a homeland even farther than the Huns – farther than Persia – farther than the Eastern Dynasties. Goguryeo was a small kingdom compared to the vast Roman Empire, but it was the birthplace of Gi-Jun. There, the battle-hardened men and women of Goguryeo were all fierce warriors, from fine nobles to humble farmers. Jun left at the age of ten to travel with Jeong-Hwa and took his name for he was the only "family" available at the time. From then on, Jeong-Hwa taught Jeong-Jun the way of a wandering warrior.
He had made it sound so honorable at the time, but now Jun understood the reality of it. Hwa had been a mercenary and raised her to be one as well since he knew nothing of raising little girls. In Goguryeo, children were taught the basics of archery as soon as they could hold a bow. Hwa expanded Jun's knowledge of warfare to include sword play, grappling, tactics, and caring for horses. Along their journeys, she studied the languages and histories of the many cultures they encountered. Over time, she could even read a little Latin and Farsi - speaking both fluently.
Now, a salty wind stung Jun's face and upon seeing the rocky shoreline of Britannia she made her way below deck. The sailors were already suspicious of their quiet passenger and it wouldn't help to be in their way while the ship was getting ready to dock. The time was better spent readying for the upcoming trials anyway.
The lowest deck of the ship held all the livestock and Dastan was the horse Shah Peroz of Persia gave to Jun after Jeong-Hwa's death. He was small, like all Arabian horses, compared to the other beasts in the stables of the Roman ship she rode. His jet black coat shone in even in the relative darkness. Large bright eyes met hers and Jun murmured apologies to the beast in Farsi, promising that their journey over water would soon be over and that they would likely never travel on a ship like this again.
There was nowhere to run. Rome would label Jun as an outlaw. Returning to the Empire would mean death. The Huns cast them out when Hwa insulted one of the higher Khans, and Persia was sure to be at war with the Huns now that Peroz ended his brother's reign and was new king. Jun almost felt guilty for leaving him, but not enough to stay and reveal herself as a woman. Even if she could make it back to Goguryeo without retracing her steps through the three empires, nothing was waiting for her there.
King Arthur was the only hope Jun had.
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Arthur's reign was strong, but still young. Many did not feel safe now that the Roman army's might no longer protected them from the Saxons. Some even fled the island, boarding ships with Roman families back to the Empire. Then there were still some Woads who objected to Merlin's decision of placing a former Roman officer on the throne; not even Guinevere's popularity with her people proved enough to sway them. A sense of apprehension waited beneath the smiles of villagers waving and saluting Tristan and Gawain as they rode through the southern port town.
A Roman ship was arriving today with gifts from Alecto – and supposedly that ass of a Bishop, Germanius, as well. Arthur chose two of his more discrete knights for the mission of retrieving them while inspecting the new fortifications of the southern border. British soldiers replaced the Roman ones after proper training. Their armor needed some work, as did their weapons, but there was pride in their demeanor. Both knights appreciated that.
The Romans were already unloading their goods by the time Gawain and Tristan arrived at the docks. Immediately, Tristan's eyes were drawn to one man. He was not a merchant; that much the scout could tell. The man stood off the side, securing a black pony – no, it was an Arabian horse – and ignored the other Romans altogether. Even from the distance, it was obvious that the man was shorter than most, wearing a dark blue Roman cloak over dark robes and pants that looked Persian. Black hair wound in a long braid fell to his waist. Subtle movements suggested that the man was armed, most likely with knives up his sleeves and a short sword at his back. Gawain noticed as well.
"A mercenary?"
"Possibly," Tristan shrugged without taking his eyes off the target of their suspicion. "Wouldn't put it past that Bishop."
Their suspect turned, having finished securing the last of his things to the horse. His features reminded Tristan of the Eastern Huns he had seen as a child in Sarmatia, only finer. Round eyes met Tristan's gaze with a hard stare, then shifted to Gawain. The exchange was interrupted when the Romans finally noticed the Knights as well.
"Salutations, brave heroes of Rome!" the finest dressed man declared. Both knights rolled their eyes, dismounting quickly. Tristan let Gawain play diplomat. The blonde knight was better at hiding his disdain for the Romans anyway. Instead, the scout observed the other men amongst their guests. Only one other, a man dressed like the other two merchants but of too sturdy a build and with too precise of movements to be a simple trader, garnered suspicion.
"Ghanis and th-the other are to accompany these gifts to see that they get to your King safely."
"What's that?" Tristan glared at the lead merchant before them. The silk swaddled Roman's lower lip quivered.
"It is as my lords insisted, as a show of good faith."
"Our King gives his thanks," Gawain cut off his companion before a skirmish broke out. "You will wait a week here for their return?"
"Alas," the Roman swallowed deeply, but was able to continue, "We only remain here for two nights. There are passengers eager to return to the Empire. Another vessel will arrive in two week's time – before the season turns, I assure you – for them."
Tristan ignored them after that. Ghanis approached with a cart, but the scout paid him no mind. He kept his eyes trained on the even gaze of the yet unnamed man. He had not moved from beside his steed except to mount it. After a while, Gawain had finally settled the details with the Roman and Ghanis called for the stranger to join their party so that they might get on the road before night fell.
"A mute, I think," Ghanis joked, but only Gawain gave any sign of acknowledgement to him. This only seemed to make the man go on, out of nervousness. "Three months aboard the same vessel and he's not spoke a word to anyone – except maybe that dog he believes a horse!"
As the mute in question came nearer, Tristan began to have even more suspicions upon getting a better look at his features. He and Gawain mounted their steeds as well. "We'll ride until sunset and start again at dawn," the fairer knight explained. "That will get us to Fort Badon by evening."
"Your name?" It wasn't so much a question as a command on Tristan's part. The Eastern man nodded.
"I am called Jun."
An exaggerated gasp came from Ghanis. "He can speak!" This went ignored.
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That night, Tristan left camp to scout and keep first watch from afar while the others prepared a fire. Ayn perched herself on his shoulder, looking this way and that for anything out of the ordinary. Occasionally she would preen her feathers. Upon his return trip, the knight came across Jun sitting by a tree quite a distance from camp. Immediately, knight and hawk were on edge.
"Why are you out here?"
The foreigner shrugged. "You have questions. I am willing to be truthful."
Tristan appreciated the straightforwardness of this man. He almost smiled. "Who hired you?"
"The Bishop, Germanius."
"To spy?"
Jun shook his head grimly and withdrew a large pouch from his robes. It jingled in the air and fell open to reveal gold. "Half now, in good faith – the other half if I return to Rome after Artorius and his bride are dead. There would be a bonus for every Sarmatian Knight I kill as well."
Now Tristan was tempted to laugh. "That Roman really didn't like us, did he?"
The mercenary snorted. "Romans do not care for anyone but themselves. The fool is to kill me and take my payment as his."
"A shadow…" Tristan thought on it, but was still suspicious. "It is a fine story. You will have to tell it to my King. I'm sure he'll find it entertaining."
Jun nodded in ascent and stood to walk beside Tristan's mare as they made their way back to camp. "I have no intention of fulfilling my mission. Honor among assassins is very little, but I do not tolerate an employer's betrayal. Still, if your King deems me his enemy, I will fight." Jun paused. Her hand ghosted over the mare's mane in admiration. "If I am killed, you will see to it that my horse is granted to someone worthy."
In Sarmatia, horses were revered. Tristan agreed to the warrior's request without a second thought. "I'll kill you myself when I get the chance."
The foreigner smiled at this. It was odd to Tristan.
Back at camp, Gawain's fists were bruised and Ghanis was bloody and tied up. At the sight of an unbound Jun, the blonde knight tensed with his hand ready on his sword. "This one," he gestured to Ghanis, "claims to be sent from the Bishop and that the other was sent by the Huns."
Tristan tossed his comrade the bag of coins. "Roman gold for a Roman assassin."
"You dog! His Eminence would never-!"
"Then why didn't you kill him aboard the ship if you weren't waiting for him to finish his job first? Eh?" Gawain glared at the Roman. "Now shut up before I silence you forever! And you," he rounded on Jun. "You'll drive the cart tomorrow. Make one wrong move and you're dead."
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Jun was used to being the smallest person in the room. Still, these knights and their king were intimidating figures to behold. The shortest of them was a burly bald man, called Bors, who grumbled a lot and Jun was barely eye level with his chin. Not only that, but all seven men stared down with heavy suspicion on the mercenary, making her feel even smaller somehow. Ghanis was already in prison awaiting his own punishment. Arthur was still deliberating when a woman, who could only be Guinevere, glided into the room.
She was tall and pale with dark hair that flowed like a river. Her voice was just as calm and assertive as her appearance. Jun admired her for it. "Is this one of them?"
A knight – they named him Lancelot - with dark curls and mischievous eyes smirked. "The Bishop sends his regards to our Barbarian Witch Queen." The other knights chuckled and even Arthur grinned.
"Careful there Lancelot or I'll cast a curse to render you impotent. I'm sure the townswomen will feel relieved of your constant hounding," the Guinevere joked back. Arthur cut in, wearing a fond expression, before a battle of wits ensued.
"We were deliberating, My Lady, what is to be done about current threats on your life."
"Oh?" the queen faced Jun, who sat cross legged on the floor with hands tied behind the back. "And just how much is my head worth?"
"Sixty gold for you and the king, thirty now and the rest if I made it back to Rome, with a bonus of ten silver for every Sarmatian Knight I killed." Jun paused and observed the men around her with a neutral expression. She knew that she probably should have been more nervous, but times like this were what Jeong-Hwa had told her about - prepared her for. The enemy will look for signs of fear, lies and insincerity. They will not trust anything said in defense. All one can do is stay calm, answer honestly with straightforward assuredness, and conduct oneself honorably.
Bors laughed outright. "A little bint like you's gunna kill all of us? I don't know what's more insulting: that our price was so little or that His Holy Arse thought this little shit could take us!" The other Knights laughed as well, though not as loudly. Guinevere seemed to ignore them, however. She kept her eyes on Jun, looking the mercenary up and down thoroughly.
Finally, the Queen spoke and all else fell silent. "In Britain, women fight alongside the men without shame. I can imagine that your homeland might find such a practice distasteful."
Jun met the woman's gaze evenly, still giving nothing away. "You are mistaken, Your Highness. I come from Goguryeo, a kingdom far to the east that remains unconquered by others because the men and the women are expected to defend it."
"Then why do you hide your true nature?"
"I left Goguryeo as a child many years ago. Since then, I have lived amongst many peoples and this was more practical."
"You've got to be shitting me," the bald one grumbled. Tristan smirked silently now that his suspicions had proven correct. Perhaps he should have placed a bet with Gawain… The youngest of the knights - Galahad - seemed perplexed, but another – Dagonet - voiced the subject at hand for him.
"You are a woman." It wasn't a question, but Jun nodded to the tallest knight all the same. Then it seemed that not even King Arthur knew what to do with this information. So his queen carried on.
"Why did you accept Rome's proposal? What reason could you have for hating my King so much that you would kill him? What would you gain from bringing chaos to my country?"
This caught Jun off guard. "I have no reason to hate your King or your land. My reputation had preceded me to Rome. I took this mission because it was too good to pass over, and Germanius was quite persistent. I feared refusing it."
"And what reputation was that exactly?" Lancelot posed.
"King Killer."
The knight known as Gawain drew forward menacingly. "You expect us to believe that you are that strong?"
"What ya do? Get him drunk and in yer bed before ya slit some poor fool's throat?" Bors sneered. It made Jun's composure slip and before she could control herself she snapped back at him.
"Hormizd was an evil man! He was a shame to the Sassanid Kings of Persia before him and deserved the death I served him in battle after the horrors he committed upon his own people!" Jun looked down quickly, trying valiantly to regain the calm she once owned. Breathing deeply but without looking up, she continued. "My master and I fought alongside his brother, Peroz. He was a good man, loved by his people. I did not know that he sent a recommendation ahead of me when I left Persia for Rome."
"And where is this master you mentioned?" Guinevere asked, drawing Jun's attention back to the queen standing before her. The mercenary swallowed a wave of grief before answering.
"Jeong-Hwa died in that battle. I left Persia soon after." Saying this aloud made it easier for Jun, almost as if she found clarity in the words.
Guinevere seemed to understand as well. "I see. You came here expecting to die." The men shifted uncomfortably in their places with this revelation. The Queen stood beside her King and looked to him earnestly. His expression gave no indication of his feelings on the matter, but two rulers held a tacit discussion. Finally, a decision was made and Arthur nodded.
Britain's warrior queen gazed down upon the foreign woman bound and kneeling on the floor. "This time, I will make it a question. Jun of Goguryeo, did you come to my land expecting to die?"
Jun looked up to meet her fate with honor. "We all have to die someday, Your Highness. It is the destiny of man."
"Man's destiny is to live as well, wouldn't you agree?" Guinevere went on when Jun didn't respond. "Britain is a free country. If your master was as honorable a man as you suggest him to have been, then I doubt he would approve your giving up an opportunity to live among us and protect that freedom."
Arthur spoke now. "You will be watched, of course, and any sign of betrayal will be your death." He asked of his knights if they still had the gold from Germanius. Tristan laid the heavy leather pouch on the table for him. "It seems the price of a life these days is thirty gold," the King smirked slightly. "I have just bought yours from Rome and hereby give it back to you."
Jun bowed low until her brow kissed the ground. "Many thanks, my King. I vow serve you and your Queen honorably."