Less Than A Hundred Years

The Exhaustion of Waiting

Prompt: Week

Week One

The door to the Queen's most inner chamber slid quietly open, allowing the midmorning sun to filter through and warm the dark confines. By midmorning the quiet King Gongmin meant eight thirty, and after having heard about his wife's difficulties to stand from bed he decided to visit her and try to cheer her up. The servants were outside, as was customary in these private visits, waiting patiently for the King to reemerge from the quiet room. He smiled, and walked to the bed, where he was sure to find Queen Nogook, and to his surprise she wasn't there. About to shout out to the WooDalChi remnants around the palace to create a small squat to search for the missing royal the King turned, only to be blinded by the morning light. He covered his hand and frowning was able to make out the force of the missing royal, standing and opening the windows of her chambers wide, so the sun could filter and bathe the somber room. Her pale skin glowed with the light, her dark hair casting small rays of hope down her neck and shoulders, still loose from sleeping, and her gown was (although decent) still uncovered with her usual robes.

Nogook was surprised to find him there.

"Majesty?" She asked, tentatively, blinking in surprise. "Majesty why are you here? And without been announced?" Her words were full of little shame and lots of joy, her hands reaching to fold the cloth over her naked collarbone, while the man finally lowered his arm and smiled at her.

"I heard you were not feeling good this morning, Highness, and decided to see how you were doing."

"It was only my usual low blood pressure, Majesty, it's nothing to worry about."

But Gongmin wanted to worry about it, as a matter of fact he used it as an excuse to simply talk about the gorgeous Queen. He smiled, offering his hand to have her sit in the small sitting area, and watched her blush; glorious pinkish skin greeted him, and she took his hand, securing herself around his fingers. "I have made sure that the High Doctor returns to her previous position, and I'm sure she will be calling on you within the day."

"That is good to know."

His smile died a little, and brown eyes lowered, his hands pulled away and the Queen turned slightly, Gongmin wasn't the kind of person to pull so suddenly from her touch, not even at such quiet comfortable moment. "I feel as if I had done something terrible to the High Doctor by sending the general away."

The Queen nodded, and lowered her eyes as well. "It could not be helped."

"Still, there should have been another way."

"None, according to yourself, and the General left gladly. I'm sure he's more centered now that the High Doctor is here."

"True, true." They remained in comfortable silence for a few moments, until suddenly her hand found his, and squeezed the warm limb. The King looked up at his Queen and was surprised to find the warmth of her stare overwhelming; almost too painful to stare at.

"Majesty, before, five years ago, I promised to share something the High Doctor had taught me. Do you remember this?" He did, Gongmin remembered anything that concerned his Queen, so he nodded and felt his lips dry slightly. What sort of heavenly knowledge had the kind doctor showed his wife, such that it was necessary to be kept from him for such long years? "Is the King ready to know?"

"Yes." He said quickly, and swallowed hard even faster afterwards. She gave a bright smile, more so than the light wrapping around them, and blushed again, for no real reason…

"Saranghae."

He gave a quiet frown, a small smile in his lips.

"My love, is for the person before me."

What a silly little girl! He already knew this!

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Week Two

Eun Soo fixed the last of the wooden chests to be taken to her new house, while keeping the necessary items around; the WooDalChi that had either stayed or returned injured, that were helping her were happy to take the items away, while the maidens protecting her remained close by, not bothering her. Outside rain beat the ground hard and constantly, as if punishing the world for having existed; because of the rain she'd remained home, and had not even left to greet the King and Queen, but she was sure they would not mind her absence. She ate her meals at the right times, she went to sleep early and didn't stir much troubles, so when Choi Young returned he would be pleased with her behavior. Yet that was the Eun Soo, High Doctor, who many admired and hated, outside the house. Inside this room, that was their little nest, she was a distraught woman in love, separated from her husband at the infancy of their marriage.

And what hurt the must was that the moment he'd been sent away they had not been able to properly make love.

Since the moment after their first intimacy took place, she missed his body; he'd become imprinted into her subconscious and now more than ever his visit in dreams were constant. Maybe not all her dreams included a sensual encounter that left her breathless and awake with the tightness of her body, but to simply watch him, waltz into her dreams with the security of a predator and those almond colored eyes… Eun Soo was going nuts.

The only constant remained of his breathing living being were his letters, which she was still trying to decipher (she was happy to finally understand the word Imja among the hundreds of characters), studying diligently every day. Yet the month away from her beloved was starting to take its toll on her tired body. She knew he would return, but Eun Soo wasn't sure when he would return.

"Oh! I hate waiting, waiting!" She exclaimed, messing her hair, only to remember there was no one to comb it back right and scold of her mistreatment to the soft tresses. Yet waiting let to good things, right?

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Week Three

"Ommo! The Queen's health has improved much since I've been gone. Tell me, you follow some treatment or did another doctor take care of you?" Said Eun Soo happily, noting her findings on the small notebook she'd created out of the paper she'd found in the Medical Center, and smiling. The Queen took her hand from over the table, amazed at how much the High Doctor had learned.

"Deo Gi and Lady Choi have been very kind to me, and they have provided much care."

"I'm happy to hear that. Is there some discomfort you wish to tell me, anything at all?"

"No. I am feeling very well, lively now that you are here." The doctor smiled, and sighing closed the small notebook. As the doctor gathered her things, the Queen watched, turning slightly towards Lady Choi and smiling suddenly. "Unnie." She whispered, making the High Doctor turn to her. "I missed you."

The doctor was touched, for the Queen to still remember such words. "I miss you too, Majesty."

"Many of the ladies here are wondering if you are making some more of the soaps you gave us. Could you?"

"I would be glad too. Tell me, did it work or not? Did the King gave you more love?" Blushing, but not ashamed, even while Lady Choi stared surprised at the doctor, the Queen fixed her sleeves.

"The King often complimented my skin, yes."

"I'm happy to hear that!" The Doctor stood, and smiling gathered her bag. "I will go now, I have to make some rounds with the WooDalChis and the medical office, but as soon as I can I will be making that soap and bringing you some."

"Thank you, Unnie."

"Ommo! You are so sweet I could just eat you up!" The doctor hugged the Queen, unable to help herself and laughing the Queen returned the gesture, then after their arms unwrapped from their sisterly hug, the doctor left. Lady Choi stared at the departing woman, amazed at how she could be so cheerful and inappropriate, and how the Queen didn't seem to mind.

"I wonder how her heart really is. This separation from the General must not be easy for her to bear."

"The High Doctor is ready for such instances; she is after all, the wife of a warrior."

"But still, a month and a half away is too cruel a joke from destiny."

"She has kept busy; between work and sleep and now soap making she is very busy to contemplate such things. And as I have understood she has not moved to the house yet. The High Doctor chose to wait in the WooDalChi barracks for her husband." The Queen nodded and smiled to the lady in wait. "And she is also learning, very diligently, to read Chinese characters." The Queen gave her a questioning look. "Her husband has written several letters to her, but alas she cannot understand them."

And that made the 1ueen laugh. "Lady Choi, be sure to teach her well, so she can read those letters."

"I have done my best."

"Have you read the letters?"

"No, she won't let me even see them." More laughter from the Queen's side. The Lady might know everything in the castle, but this couple was smart enough to elude her tight web of knowledge.

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Week Four
~Full Moon~

She woke up because of the shaking. Her eyes opened lazily and her hands fisted in surprise at the woman over her; the maiden usually protecting her stared down at her with large worried eyes, as if afraid.

"High Doctor, please wake up, there is an emergency at the clinic and your presence is required." She said softly, not wishing to bother her further, making Eun Soo sit up as the words sank.

"What is it?"

"Do Chi's child is sick, and they can't figure out what it is." Her eyes widened slightly and she ordered the girl to find her white robes, quickly putting them on. The rain on the grounds was still heavy and she got totally wet from walking for two seconds under it. She complained little as she entered the small medical center and saw Do Chi, standing by the bed, his wife holding the little body and sitting over the bed. The child was no older than three or four years, and was still in her mother's embrace

"Tell me everything that happened to the child today." And she listened, the girl had been playing very little, she ate very little, and her fever started before sunset. She'd been quiet most of the day, and when asked if somewhere hurt she touched her stomach. She vomited once and had refused to eat anything afterwards. "We need to make sure she takes water, to keep her hydrated. And her fever must be due to some virus."

Such things in these times were dangerous, and worried Eun Soo searched about the room for the required items; a mixture of serum she'd created to keep people hydrated, a bit of fever reducer… Anxious Do Chi followed around, asking if the baby would be saved. Eun Soo turned, and placed her hand over his shoulders: "Do Chi, go to your child and trust me. But do as your wife is doing, and also pray, alright?"

The baby was unconscious for two hours, what worried Eun Soo; if the fever was too high she could have convulsions or brain damage. The young mother was crying, holding their baby's hand while making sure the girl was warm, while at the other side of the bed Do Chi prayed to whatever it was he believed for the quick recovery of the child. Eun Soo made sure to keep the child hydrated, the fever reducer administrated when necessary and the clean towels for the mother to cool down the child's forehead. In one of her trips to the water well, she sighed and with aches in her neck, lifted her hand up and rubbed her shoulder… only to notice the full moon.

Full moons always reminded her of Choi Young, be it before or now, and this one was more painful to bear than usual. It was the reason she'd gone to bed early for the last two days, it was the reason her body seemed to trembled with coldness and it was the reason her heart ached so badly. It might sound selfish of her, and been a doctor in these times it was even bad and mean of her, but she was supposed to be consummating her marriage not healing people. Here, now in this full moon, she was supposed to be a woman again, been cradled by her husband…

A gasp of pain tore from her, and holding the tears at bay Eun Soo hurried to gather some water and hide from the beams of light the silver moon shot her way, covering the grounds as if midday.

When she returned, the little girl had opened her almond colored eyes (they were so similar to her husband's) and stared up at her sleepy mother, Eun Soo smiled, settled the water bucket down, and shook the mother awake. A little sob of relief was released and the woman pulled the girl into a tight embrace.

"Do Chi." She whispered to the man, making him rise from the slumped/fetal position he'd fallen against one of the tables. "She's awake." He shot up quickly searching for the child, watching her little hand rise to grasp her mother's robe tightly. "You can stay here and continue to care for her, or you can take her home. The rain has eased but she can't get wet or cold, alright?"

"Thank you High Doctor! Thank you!" Said the woman still carrying her child and taking hold of the Doctor's wide sleeve. Eun Soo shook her head, and simply smiled at her.

Would she have these simple moments with her husband too?