Home of Wang Wook

Shaken, Yeonhwa clenched her fist as she returned home. She barely swallowed back the scream building up in her chest. Pregnant! Tears stung her eyes as she forced herself to remain calm. She had to think. Determined, she walked into Wang Wook's study to find him at his desk.

"Oraboni, I need your help." Placing her hand over his, she beseeched. "We need to remove Hae Soo from the palace. Pyeha must turn against her. It is the only way."

Wook's tired eyes refused to meet his sister's desperate gaze. "She's with his child. What would you have me do?"

"Tell the truth." She gave him a beguiling smile. "Just tell Pyeha the truth about you and Hae Soo."

Damiwon

The court ladies bowed deep as their king strode past them, entering the room where Lady Hae rested. Soo reclined on a bed as the royal physician checked her pulse, then her heart rate.

"How is she?" So demanded, his voice rough with suppressed anger. The physician inclined his head at him.

"She's had a mild shock, Pyeha. She should rest." He explained as he finished his examination. "I cannot give her a tonic while she's pregnant. Resting will sooth her heart and body." Bowing, he left the room as So sat on the edge of the bed.

"Pyeha." Soo said, giving him a calm smile while reaching her hand out to him, attempting to sit up. "I'm fine. I didn't want to worry you."

"Don't even think about getting out of this bed, Hae Soo." So locked eyes with her, brooking no argument. With a sigh of resignation, Soo settled back against the pillow. "Yea, Pyeha." She grumbled.

"What did she say to cause you to collapse?" So asked as he linked his hand in hers, the other smoothing back her hair then pulling the blanket up to her shoulder. She wrapped both hands around his, a shadow clouding her eyes as she frowned.

"It's not safe to tell you here." Soo shook her head against the silk under her cheek, she glanced up into his face. "There is no place safe to tell you."

So scooted her over then lay beside her, tucking her close against him. Kissing her forehead, he whispered. "I think I know of a place, but you must rest, Soo-ya." Soo snuggled into his heat, closing her eyes and relaxing in his arms, safe for the time being.

Lake Dongji

Soo's eyes widened at the sight of So dressed comfortably in a cerulean blue jaogori, a silver belt about his trim waist. His hair tied up in a top knot, falling down his back. He looked so much like he did that day three years ago, that it made her heart skip a beat.

"The boat?" Soo inquired, incredulously as they came upon the small dinghy. So grinned at her, cocking his head. "Today, I want to be with you, doing what I love."

She smiled brightly at him, taking his hand as he helped her to sit down on a pelt covered seat. "I'm glad you didn't give it up." He swaddled her in the fur to make sure she stayed warm then pushed the boat into the water.

Soo watched So, committing to memory every movement, the way he tilted his head when he smiled at her, the curve of his jaw and the way his hair fell over his shoulder, even the flex of his muscles, how his hands gripped the oars with every dip into the water. Somehow, he had become essential to her so much so that she barely knew who she was without him.

Lost in her thoughts, Soo blinked when she realized that So had placed the oars in the boat, allowing it to float in the middle of the lake. "Hae Soo, it is just the two of us now. There are no prying ears here." He said as he reassured her of their safety. "You can tell me what happened between you and Princess Yeonhwa."

Soo licked her lips, focusing on the water. "I saw her death." Barely managing to get the words out. "I heard the cry of an infant and saw her death." She reiterated, the horror pressing on her. She searched So's eyes for an answer as he remained silent. Shaking her head, she continued. "I don't want to be the cause of her death, So. I know I will not become your queen. I accept that. I don't know why but I feel that our fate will allow us to go only so far here."

"I promise you, Hae Soo, that if anything happens to her, it will not be because of something you did." So assured her, taking her hands in his as he slowly knelt before her. "Soo-ya, I know you are like Ji Mong. Please let me share your burden." His gaze serious, he pressed her to open up to him. "I want to know everything."

Soo released her breath in a shuddering sigh. Go Ha Jin. That life was so long ago, it felt like a dream, yet she felt it creeping into her life as Hae Soo. She gripped his hands tighter. "You will think me mad if I told you all of it."

"No, I promise I wouldn't." So replied, almost pleading. "Soo, we promised not to lie to each other. Please. You wrote it all down in the book that Queen Hwangbo returned to me. I need to fully understand. Trust me."

"I do trust you." She gave a soft laugh. "So-ya." So caught his breath at the familiarity of his name falling from her lips. "My name is Go Ha Jin and I was born in the summer of 1991. At least, that was my last life until I drowned and emerged from the water in the Damiwon. In the body of Hae Soo."

"Ha Jin." So carefully said her name. His eyes narrowed as his sight dimmed then he felt his lungs squeeze, crying out for air as he pushed himself harder to reach her. She was just within reach as the watery eclipse moved away from the sun. I've got her! Elation swept through him as he caught her wrist.

Letting go of Soo's hands, So jerked back and Soo landed on the bottom of the boat in his arms. He stayed still until the boat stopped swaying, holding her close to him. Tears gathered in her eyes as he wiped them away. Fate might let them go so far here but fate was not finished with them yet, he realized he had been there.

"Pyeha, what is wrong?" She touched his pale face as he grinned up at her concerned gaze. "Nothing, Soo-ya. Please tell me more." He entreated as she snuggled back down against him.

"It took me a long time to figure out why I was sent here. I denied it, but deep in my heart I knew it was because of you all along. I cannot say when my heart began to lead me here, to you, maybe it was from the start." Soo explained as she watched the puffy clouds drift overhead as they floated in their own world.

"Every day you became more important to me. I was relieved when you left for Jin because I was scared you would be more than just a friend or even a lover. I knew you would become my reason for being. I would either drown in you or you would leave me wrecked." She turned to face him, gazing into his shining eyes.

"Jin-a." So breathed in wonder. She placed her fingers against his lips before continuing, "Now, I know that no matter if you are a wolf-dog, slave, prince, or king, I want to be by your side whether it is now or a thousand years from now. I will always be your person."

Awestruck, So gazed in wonder at the woman in his arms. What had he done in this life or the last to be so blessed? He barely remembered the man he was before she appeared in his life. Hae Soo had taken the pain away; had made him want to be a better man, all for her. He smiled against her fingertips, capturing her hand, he softly brushed a kiss over her palm before gently bringing her hand down. Settling her next to him, he carefully rested her head on his shoulder.

"So, does that mean I'm the one who you hold in your heart?" So inquired, grinning as the boat lazily drifted under the willow branches.

"Do you have to ask?" Soo sighed, lightly cuffing his chest. "You are the father of my child."

His hand slid down to rest over the slight bump. So's breath hitched as he noticed the subtle changes in her body. Life! She held life he created with her within her body. This woman never ceased to amaze him. "Thank you, Soo..Jin-a."

"I am fine with the name Hae Soo." Soo replied, placing her hand over the hand caressing her belly. "In this life, it is my name." She snuggled closer into his warmth. "And you are most welcome, Pyeha." She murmured as she placed a kiss on his jawline. "I would have said yes that day by the prayer tower." She added as So moved to lean over her, peering down into her eyes. "I loved you then, and that has never changed. I still love you."

"Would you say yes now?" He asked suddenly, an expectant gleam in his eyes.

Soo closed her eyes, the need to accept his proposal becoming a physical necessity that she felt the sting of tears. She opened her eyes after taking a shaky breath, ready to respond when So sat back on his haunches. "No, don't say it yet. I have some place I need to take you first."

"Here, let me help you up." He reached down to help her up. Settling her gingerly back onto the opposite seat, So sat down and began to row. Soo clutched the fur about her shoulders for warmth as she, finding it hard to take her eyes off him. Shaking her head to clear it, she gasped as they moved into a smaller section of the lake.

"We've never come this far before." Soo smiled at So as they passed by the evergreens and pines shedding their leaves. White stone walls appeared around the bend, leading to a palace gate. "What is this place?" She glanced around in wonder.

So grinned, she was still as curious as a cat. "This pond is called Wolji and it leads to a palace called Manwoldae."

"Manwoldae?" Soo inquired, her eyes returning to his, then peering over his shoulder to take in the beauty of the landscape.

"It means Moon Tower." So said, feeling at peace for the first time since becoming king. "This palace was built for a queen, but Taejo never allowed any of his wives to live here. He had it built before he married my mother. I heard that he abandoned Manwoldae after he married my mother."

Lady Oh. Soo bit her lip as she thought about the Head Court Lady who trained her. The second important woman who helped guide her through the pit falls of the palace and life in Goryeo. "Do you think?" She hesitated to ask, but the question still slipped out.

So cocked his head at her query. "It is possible, but we will never know." He docked the boat, climbing out to tie it off. Then he smiled down at her. "Give me your hand, Soo-ya." He reached down to help her step onto the pier. Lacing his fingers in hers, he guided her through the gate.

Soo held tight to So as they walked along the path leading to the stairs. She caught her breath as the sun shone off the white cobble stones, her eyes taking in the elaborate carving of a dragon winding up side. Vines dry from the onset of winter had crept along the edges of the pillars, Soo noticed the guards standing at the base of each column.

As they entered the courtyards, the court ladies and servants bowed to the royal couple. Soo let go of his hand, placing her hand over her mouth in awe. "Oh, it's so beautiful." She tilted her head back to better see the ornate red and blue ridges of the rooftops that seemed to float above her. The tiles elaborately decorated with phoenixes, dragons, and devil masks. Dogwood kousa trees lined the greenery edging the inner palace yard.

"I know how much you love peonies." So said bashfully as he watched her wander around the courtyard as she happily smiled at the servants who stopped to greet her then wonder about in biting her lips in suppressed joy. "I will have the gardener plant pink peonies and golden chrysanthemums so they will bloom when the spring comes."

"Pyeha?" Soo looked at So her eyes going wide as she turned around to face him. So grinned at her, taking her hand in his to lead her to the interior of the palace. The blend of burnt orange against pale jade green trimming caught her eyes as they moved along the hallway. Soo gasped as he opened the door to a room with walls painted teal, elegant golden dragons lined the doorway. The room was filled with rows of books sitting on polished teak shelves. Two desks of black and gold sat in the center of the room.

"I know you've been bored, Soo-ya." So leaned against the doorway as she ran her hands over every surface, thumbing through books.

"I can't just sit around and gestate." She grumped with a playful pout then turned toward a staircase that led to an airy balcony. "What's up there?" Curiosity getting the better of her she headed for the stairs, So following behind her.

A cry of delight fell from her lips at the landing as she realized the balcony was built as a tearoom. The wide windows opened to overlook peach trees that would bloom and perfume the air. "Do you love it, Soo?"

Soo smiled brightly at him. "I love it!" she declared, then furrowed her brow. "Are you...?"

"Be my wife, Soo." So closed the distance between them to take her hands in his. "You are the only queen in my heart. I love you, Soo-ya."

Tears filled her eyes as she wrapped her arms tight about his waist, her face buried against his chest. I know I might not make it but I don't want to lose this opportunity, she thought with a bittersweet pang. Raising her head, she nodded then with a trembling voice said, "Yes, So-ya." With a hiccup sigh, she sniffled then laughed. "Don't make me wait this long again!"

So grinned down at her as he wiped away her tears. "I promise I won't make you wait ever again." Pulling her close against him, he gently kissed her lips, slowly deepening the kiss. Soo opened her mouth as his tongue teased her inner lip causing heat to rise up in her lower belly. With a soft groan, he ended the exchange, still holding her in his arms. Soo gave a disappointed mewl, wanting more.

Giving a shaky sigh, she stubbornly frowned at him. "Pyeha, would this mean I would live separately from you?" Dread filling her at the thought of not being near him. "I don't want to do that. I want to stay where you are."

Laughing, So replied, "You won't. I plan on moving some of my court activities here. Also, I will use this library often. Ji Mong wants me to read Analects and The Meng Tzu. You can write down everything you know and have learned as a Senior Court Lady over the Damiwon."

Soo nodded, her eyes going to the double desks. "I remember you promised me. I love the idea. Thank you." She stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips, then grinned. "Will you sleep here? Or, will you return to Cheondeokjeon at night?"

"You are worse than the court ministers." He chuckled. "Of course, I will remain here at night."

"Speaking of ministers." Soo said as she released him and lean against the table. "When will they allow us to marry?"

"After the baby is born." He informed her as he moved to stand beside her, both looking out the window as the sun became overcast with snow clouds. "Do you mind waiting, Soo-ya?"

"Not at all." She entwined her fingers in his.