Less Than a Hundred Years
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Author's Ramblings: You all must have been worried about me not posting yesterday and I wish to apologize, real life reared its ugly head back and attempted to destroy my peace of mind. Anyway, this came out of nowhere, and I feel comforted by this piece. Though I'm usually comforted by our lovely Imja couple…
Prompt: What prompt?
It was past midnight. He could tell because he'd been counting the hours since Imja fell asleep after much difficulty. They had a fight, and he had perseverated over her opinion because reason was at his side, and she was angry at him and at herself, so the night was tense. Mind you it was nothing big, only a difference in opinions and it had been resolved, but still… The hours were slow, sleep evaded him and when he got to fall asleep, almost as he reached the deepest state, about to fall into that healing rest… The knock on the door came.
Of course a knock on the door came, they were attempting ot rest.
Eun Soo sat up, scared and surprised, while Choi Young sat up, annoyed. Again the knock on the door, and Choi Young parted the folds of his bed from over his body, angrily moving to the offending path to the hallway.
"What, What WHAT?!" He asked, opening the door wide and looking outside. He had expected a WooDalChi, not Do Chi standing in the hallway. He frowned at the King's aid and barked again. "What?" Not because he was the King's aid he should be forgiven for interrupting their sleep. Or lack of.
"General." Said the man, looking quite worried. "The King requires your presence at his office."
"What?" From the hallway a scuffle was heard, and suddenly Deok Man fell to the floor, been stomped over by Lady Choi, who wore a similar expression to Choi Young. "Lady Choi?" Asked Choi Young, frowning still.
"The High Doctor is required at the Queen's chamber." From behind Eun Soo appeared, hair wild, a mixture of annoyance and confusion evident in her face.
"Well, looks like we won't be sleeping tonight." She mentioned, defeated. Choi Young shook his head, not understanding what was happening.
"Fine, let us dress."
"I shall wait out here, sir."
"Please, High Doctor, hurry."
"What's the rush anyway?" Whispered Choi Young, closing the door annoyed.
.
.
Choi Young walked through the empty hallways, been greeted (as an odd visitor) by his men. He didn't mind them much, and simply followed Do Chi into the King's chamber; the heavy tension was palpable as he moved into the room, and he wanted to leave it right away, but unable to he simply sighed and turned to Do Chi, who urged him in. Choi Young nodded at the man, who simply shook his head and leaned to bow and took a step back.
"Is that you Do Chi?" Asked an angry voice, the King's voice, as the man advanced to view and Choi Young frowning turned to look at the King and gave a bow. "Ah, General, you have arrived."
"Majesty, I've come upon your summon."
"Do Chi, bring the drinks."
Drinks? What the…?
"Sir, what has made you call upon WooDalChi at this time?"
"Sit, General, this might take a while." Great, all he needed; listening to the King till the wee hours of the night. Or morning. The King sat, and Choi Young sighed quietly, sitting across from the man; the room was dark, the candles apparently too scared of lighting too much around them for fear of been blamed of something, and Choi Young fixed the upper layers of his hastily put on clothes. "Why do couples fight, General?"
Oh, lords, Choi Young didn't know why fools fell in love, what's with the subject?
"I'm afraid I am not understanding you sir."
"Why do husbands and wives fight so much?"
"Is this concerning the Queen?"
And the drinks were delivered, a drink served and the King drank, quickly, and slammed the cup down. "Yes!"
"You and the Queen had a fight?" Asked the General, amazed, turning to Do Chi, who nodded in acknowledgement. Now that was odd, in five or six years that he'd known the couple they had never had an argument that would require measures as the ones the King was adopting. Drinking? No, never. Choi Young thought the King abhorred alcohol. "I see."
This could be a very interesting night.
.
.
"So, you had a fight with the King?" Asked Eun Soo, as the Queen paced from side to side. She'd been left alone with the Queen, who had been cleaning her chamber in the dark of night, requesting wet clothes and a small bucket with water. It took a while to calm the woman down and when the doctor managed to have her sit down the bucket with water arrived. She took the bucket out of the Queen's reach and helped her sit down. "Did you?"
"Unnie, do you think I go overboard from time to time?"
"You were a bit impulsive yes, but only because you wanted to help."
"That's right, that's what I meant."
"What happened, tell Unnie."
"The King wants to have a small shrine built closer to the castle, so I don't have to walk too far when I wish to pray."
Eun Soo waited, then frowned slightly. "That's it?"
"Yes, I told him I enjoyed the walk to the temple, because it meant I could leave the castle and stroll around in peace." Eun Soo stared at her, not understanding. "He thought I meant I was trapped here, and that I was suffocating."
"Ah." Said Eun Soo, lifting her eyes towards Lady Choi, who simply shook her head in annoyance and tiredness. "What did you say?"
"I that I did not feel trapped by the castle, but more than by the people in it. Been the Queen is not easy, High Doctor."
"I know. I've seen it. I don't know how you do it, must be in your genes."
"I'm sorry?"
"What?" The Queen and Doctor stared at each other, and then gave a quiet smile, as sisters would when sharing a secret. "I didn't want him to believe he was the one trapping me, but I think that's what he understood. When I attempted to explain words got out of control and that person and I got angry and said very painful things." Eun Soo nodded, understanding what she meant; the same happened between herself and Choi Young, to a higher level because their relationship was somewhat unique in the time. "I think he must hate me now." And she looked down, sniffling and holding the tears at bay, Lady Choi reached forward but didn't dare touch the woman, so Eun Soo rolled her eyes and reached to hug the Queen, snuggling her close to her chest and rubbing softly her tense shoulders.
"You know, I had a fight with the General today too." The Queen attempted to ask what she meant but the tears wouldn't let her. "I wanted to teach him something called waltz, a dance from the heavens meant for couples, and he absolutely refused."
"Why?"
"Because he is not interested in things from Heavens." The queen leaned into the comfort of Eun Soo's arms, while the doctor continued. "He is a practical man, he doesn't need to know about dancing, so I said hurtful things to him, and he shot me right back with his own words; he was right of course, why would I need a waltz for when there's no music to dance to. But at the moment, like the one you are going on right now, the pain makes it so much bigger, and your eyes squint so you can't see anything else."
The Queen wasn't really capturing her meaning, so Eun Soo pulled her up so their eyes could meet.
"As human we misunderstand what the others say, because we can't understand what they mean, and the pain makes it harder for us to be understood, or to understand. Don't let the pain blind you, or pull you apart; remember you have less than a hundred years together." The Queen sniffled and nodded, making the lady in wait near her and rub her back lovingly. Eun Soo hugged her again, and kissed her hair aware that this woman didn't get as much affection as she deserved. "Aigoo! The first marital fight since my return! You guys leave a very honest living as a couple! I fight with the General every two days or so! We've gotten quite good at not fighting all the time." And she laughed, making the Queen laugh as well. "You should be giving me advice not all the way around, now be happy. Talk to him and let him know exactly what you meant."
It was an advice Eun Soo should take for herself.
"Lady Choi, why don't you order some candy for the Queen to cheer up, or sweet tea." And the maids outside hurried to fetch the order, worried for the Queen. "Highness, never go to be angry with your husband, it makes things so much more difficult. So take that tea, you yourself, and bring it to your husband, it will cheer both of you up."
"I should?"
"Of course! He must be aching to see you as you to see him."
.
.
Probably not aching, but real damn close.
Choi Young watched as the King nursed the small cup of wine in his hand, downcast and tired. "Majesty," he started, worried. "You should talk to your wife, sir."
"After all she's said what is left to be said?"
"You might be misunderstanding her sir."
"How? I have her trapped here, that I don't care she is asphyxiated by those around her, that I should let her go out and have her worrisome walks! Because she is not happy here!" As he spoke he grew agitated, his face red.
"That is not it, Majesty. That is never it. Her Highness is quite happy here, and because of her weak disposition you have taken good care of her, but sir; is it wise to deny her a simple pleasure of a walk outside the castle. She has been well taken care of…"
"What of that kidnapping incident? I worry for that incident!"
"Your enemies had not dared attack the castle, or the Queen's good name since you started pushing at the borders of Yuan sir, and she is well cared for by the Maidens and the WooDalChi, even the Suribang, sir. But most specially by you."
"That day she was taken… it makes my skin crawl in pain." Admitted the King, making Do Chi nod, closing their eyes.
"Majesty, no matter where the lady goes, she will always come back to you." Choi Young wasn't looking at him, and when the King turned, realizing what the general meant, his mind snapped into place. What was he doing to this man? "She might fight you, she might worry you, she might leave and be gone… But Majesty, when the feelings are pure, she will find herself in your arms again, and again."
"General, forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive Highness. Then remember always, that when your heart aches is because something is left unsaid, and it must be said quickly so it doesn't bind around the heart and hurts it. I have learned this through experience; and that you should never go to be angry with your bride."
"I've been married longer than you and here you are, giving me advice in my marriage."
"It's because his Majesty leads such a perfect marriage, Imja and I well, our marriage is quite bizarre, don't you think so?"
Both Do Chi and the King agreed.
A knock was heard at the door, and then Lady Choi's voice was heard. "Majesty, the Queen is here to see you." At that Choi Young stood, drank the bit of wine the King had served him, it would be disrespectful for him to leave it, and smiled.
"Do not fight," he whispered, "Allow her to talk, and talk your heart then. You might have more in common in your opinion that you really believe." And with a bow, he walked to the door. Do Chi open the door and both bowed to the Queen, allowing her entrance, and then left. Imja was standing behind Lady Choi; he took her hand and dragged her out of the hallway.
.
.
Choi Young dragged his bride through the hallways, been watched and cheered on by the men guarding the King's palace, and ignoring her quiet struggles. They reached the garden, went down the stairs and finally reached their pagoda. "What is wrong with you?" She murmured, angrily. "Everyone is watching, let me go!" And once inside he did release her, watching her eyes defy him.
"Teach me." He said quickly, still staring at her.
"What?"
"Tech me that dance you wanted me to learn."
"What for? There's no music or need for it." And she attempted to leave, annoyed, but he took her wrist again, and dragged her towards him, attempting to use the little bit of information she had given him earlier.
"Like this?"
"No, let me go." And she huffed his hold away, frowning at him. "Why do you want to learn now?!"
His eyes lowered, and he remained quiet for a second, making her frown and press her lips in a thin line. She turned to leave, and Choi Young knew he would have to apply the advice he gave the King. "I don't want you to be home sick." She turned to him, frowning, but he didn't lift his gaze. "You said you used to waltz with your father, then I wouldn't want you to get sad or homesick because you can't do this dance, or anything else, with him." He paused, he might be pouting in the darkness Eun Soo could not tell. "I don't want you to think of Heaven, I want you to think of this Goryeo because I can't allow you to go to Heavens. I can't. Won't you miss the wonderful things there? I ask myself if you do, doing things you did in Heaven will only make you remember how precious the things were there, and you might want to return."
So this was about not losing her. "I can't let you go back to heaven." He finished, quietly, slightly broken.
Eun Soo felt tears of gratitude in her eyes, and swallowed hard. He looked as a little lost child there, about to crumble, fists closed and his right one trembling slightly; he always trembled when something didn't go his way, or was taken from him, that something been her. "It's true; there were many precious things in Heaven I do miss."
And finally his eyes lifted, flooded with tears that were been kept at bay.
"But the most precious one is here, in this Goryeo." And she walked to him, pulling his head down for a kiss to be delivered to his quiet lips, they trembles as she pressed her warmth to them, and it made her eyes close. Again they kissed and his arms wrapped around her waist. "There's nothing in Heaven that can tempt me back."
And together they swayed to the rhythm of their heartbeats.