Seoul, S Korea

Spring 2016

"Don't touch her!" Dr. Hwang Gi So shot up in bed, sweat beading his forehead. He peered around the dark room attempting to gather his wits about him. The digital clock by the bed read 3AM. Slowly it dawned on him that he had arrived home late that night after the long hours of detainment at the 38 Parallel that served as a border between North and South Korea. The guards had searched every crate as well as himself. All his papers checked out and after the painstaking slow pace of the red-tape loving bureaucrats and gun toting guards, he was finally allowed to cross back into South Korea with the urn and paintings from the Manwoldae dig.

He remembered getting the call a month before from the program manager at Korean National Museum of Nature and Arts, Kim Yeon Na.

"The North Koreans are willing to partner with us at the Manwoldae dig." She explained her professional staccato. "I've made the arrangements for you to be met by Dr. Pak, head of the Archeology Department at the University on April 13th. The government is allowing us to bring only a minimum of artifacts they approve of back from the dig. Choose wisely. I'm looking forward to adding to our Goryeo wing."

Everything about that day had felt off. So had been on edge since arriving at the dig just below Mt. Songak. This shift to his axis had started the first day he had stepped from the jeep at the dig. A soft breeze carrying the subtle scent of peony and feminine laughter caressed his face. At first, he thought the laughter had come from one of the female interns, but the sound seemed too close, yet far away.

So frowned, mentally shaking off the sensation of deja vu that would not go away. When he closed his eyes, he could visualize the splendor of the palace with its ornate red and blue ridges of the rooftops that seemed to float. Tiles elaborately decorated with phoenixes, dragons, and devil masks carved into the stone work. And dogwood kousa trees lining the greenery edging the inner palace yard as well as gardens filled with peonies in bloom.

A young woman in an ancient hanbok of robin's egg blue with a white chima stood in the center of the courtyard, smiling at him. Her skin as fair as porcelain, full pouty lips as red as rosebuds, and huge, lively brown eyes filled with love and laughter. "Pyeha." Drifted on the wind around him.

"Dr. Hwang, what's wrong?" Dr. Pak inquired with concern for his colleague.

"It's nothing." So opened his eyes and gave the man a wry smile. "I'm just tired. It's been a long day and it's going to get longer so lead the way."

"Manwoldae Palace was built by Taejo. Construction began in 919 AD and it remained standing until the Red Turban Invasion in 1361. We have a rough idea of how the palace used to look like through manuscripts of Xian Yan, an envoy from the Song Dynasty who visited Manwoldae during the reign of Gwangjong in the early spring of 950 AD." Dr. Pak spoke as So followed him around the site. "Gwangjong was a very forward-thinking monarch and with the help from the Song Dynasty in curtailing Khitan's advances into Goryeo, he was able to maintain peace and stability during his long reign. It wasn't until the reign of Seongjong that Goryeo fell to Khitan in 993 AD."

"Yes, I've read the manuscript of Xian Yan." So said as tried to hide his irritation. He couldn't understand why he felt angry at the North Korean archeologist. His emotions didn't make sense to himself. He felt exposed and raw as he followed the man around the ruins. "I apologize. It's been a long day already. I'm very interested in the artifacts that have been excavated."

"I understand, Dr. Hwang." Pak smiled at So in understanding. "I can take you by the university tomorrow so you can view the mockup of the palace, if you like. First, let me show you National Treasure No. 87 found in Area 26. We've found some very interesting artifacts."

"That sounds good." So nodded as the men approached an air conditioned trailer. The pale jade urn had captured his attention the minute he stepped into the make-shift conservatory. He wanted to demand the interns stop touching the artifact. Their curiosity made his skin crawl. He held back the urge to growl at them.

Rubbing his forehead, So figured he was more tired than he thought. Distracted by the urn, he fought to pay attention to Dr. Pak as they moved around the small room. Later, he had dinner in his hotel room and passed out on the bed still in the clothes he had worn that morning. She was there in his dreams, haunting him. He felt her arms wrap around him, her eyes filled with love. "Yes, So-ya."

The next couple of months had been grueling, but satisfying. So had thanked Dr. Pak, checked the crates on the truck headed to the conservatory at Korean National Museum. As he entered Seoul, it struck him at how foreign the city lights appeared as he drove toward his condo downtown. Even though he knew his way around the city, everything around him felt new as though he was looking at the city through another person's eyes. Opening the door to his condo, he threw his keys in the ceramic bowl by the door and headed straight to his bathroom. He stripped out of his clothes, letting them lay on the floor, turned the water in the shower on as hot as he could stand it and stood under the Jetstream until it started to turn cold. Afterward, he toweled off and fell into bed exhausted from the day.

She had been pregnant, he thought with a start when he awoke. Who was she? He didn't want to think as he rubbed his face. It felt as though he was living another person's life for a while now.

He knew going back to sleep was not a possibility so he climbed out of bed and threw on sweats. An early morning run by Han River might clear his head. The stars were still high overhead when he began a slow trot along the trail. After an hour of EXO blasting through his ear buds, the first hints of the sun were just starting to invade the night with pale blue and orange hues reflecting off the surface of the river. He slowed his pace and headed back to his car. He gulped down a bottle of water and glanced at the time.

Her voice still filled his ears despite his best efforts to use Baek-hyun's best vocals to drown her out. Shutting off his iPod, he pulled out his cell phone and pulled up his contact list.

"Baek ah, are you up yet?" So asked before his best friend could get a word out in greeting.

Chief Conservator Baek Hyun Ki chuckled at the question. "I've been up, hyung-nim. I'm still at the museum inventorying and inspecting the artifacts you sent from the Manwoldae site. There are very interesting items here. Especially the urn."

The excitement in Baek ah's voice triggered So's sense of urgency. "I'll be right in."

"Don't forget to bring coffee and doughnuts." Baek ah called out before So hung up on him.

Korean National Museum of Nature and Arts

The sunlight spilling through the dome skylights reflected off of the white tiles as employees of the museum began their day. So opened the glass doors and strode through the spacious oval foyer then turned down a corridor leading past the Goryeo exhibit. The lighting was softer on the dark mahogany wood as he stopped before a portrait of Taejo.

"Pyeha." So greeted the ancient monarch with mixed feelings. He smirked with amusement and shook his head in bewilderment at this odd habit he had obtained whenever he passed the portrait of the king. Turning he continued through the exhibit and down another hall into the office of the chief conservator. Sitting the coffee and doughnuts on Baek ah's desk, he badged his way into the conservatory.

"Good morning, hyung-nim." Baek ah glanced up from the iPad at So. "Are the North Korean's getting lazy? I've had the remains of the urn sent to be analyzed. I feel the findings might be more than we expect. The paintings have been sent for clean up and restoration."

Paling, a part of So screamed out at the violation of her urn. He wanted to strike out at Baek ah and protect her, their secret, but he tamped it down. This is protocol, it must be done, he firmly told himself. Get ahold of yourself.

"What's wrong?" Baek ah asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "You don't look too good."

"I'm fine." So said as he leaned back on table behind Baek ah. "I guess I haven't eaten anything since yesterday before I left Songak."

"Go grab a doughnut before you pass out on me." Baek ah grinned at So as he followed him out of the room. He flopped down in his chair behind his desk, picking up his coffee. "Ahhh, nothing like a traditional American breakfast."

So laughed as he sat down opposite of Baek ah. Both men put their feet up on the desk, enjoying the morning. "I've put a call into the History Department at the Seoul University to Kim Yeon Na's brother. He's a professor who is the leading expert on Goryeo. If we have what I think we have, then North Korea might demand we send the urn back."

"Do you think its really her?" So asked softly.

"Gwangjong's lost queen?" Baek ah sighed. "I have a good feeling it is."

"And if it is, what else do you hope to find?" Restless, So stood up, walking back to the glass door to stare at the pale green jade urn sitting on the table. His finger tips tingled, itching to touch the cool smooth surface. He closed his eyes as a lost memory of leaning his forehead against the coolness, his lips pressing a kiss against the peony carved into the stone brought tears to his eyes. Her name like a benediction, Soo-ya. "Hae Soo."

So had not realized he was clenching his fist until he turned around as silence filled the room. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought." He sighed at Baek ah. "Let me know what you find. I'm going to head back to my place and get some sleep."

"Yeah, hyung-nim." Baek ah frowned at So, knowing his best friend was not behaving like himself. He was usually more fired up and focused after returning from a dig. However, he had not been himself since the car accident in January when his SUV had slid on ice and plowed into a snow bank. Luckily, he had come out of it with some bruises and a concussion. Well, the doctor did say it would take at least two years for a concussion to heal, Baek ah thought, writing off the strange behavior. "I'll give you a call once I hear something. Go get some rest."

So nodded as he headed out of Baek ah's office and back down the Goryeo wing past Taejo's portrait...