Hakyona Tears prompt day 3
Letting Go
It occurred to Yona, that she'd never properly mourned her father's death. There'd been so little time between fighting for their lives and surviving since the moment they'd fled Hiryuu Castle, but now…. Why would she torture herself like this? The scene that she'd stepped into. Her cousin running the blade into her father…. For a moment there'd been a buzzing in her ears, like thousands of droning crickets. As she stood in the doorway of her father's old room, that night swept over her mind like a tidal wave of reckless abandon. Was it the sound of soldiers coming that broke the spell? She couldn't quite remember the full sequence of events, only the running, and the pain. The feeling of her heart shattering like a vase upon the stone floor. Her only remaining parent dead. Betrayed by the man she thought she loved, and the soldiers meant to protect the royal family.
She leans against the frame, staring into the empty room and the spot where her father had fallen. Soo-won had this room cleaned and abandoned but she could still see it like yesterday. The blood-red color of her imagination burned into memory as it'd leached into the wooden floorboards. It was probably there if she were to crack through the floor, the evidence of a crime well hidden. And yet the tears still refused to come.
Why couldn't she weep for her slain father?
Maybe she had mourned him and never realized it, accepting the loss and moved on. The old Yona of that night would be in tears but she wasn't the same girl she was back then. Her life had changed the moment she'd chosen to pick up a sword, to nock and fire an arrow, and to kill if necessary. "I'm sorry father," Yona whispers to the wind, "please forgive me, but I had to do it. I had to protect the people of this country and sometimes that requires a violent act." She sighs and closes her eyes. "Hak taught me well, even you would be amazed at what I can do now…. Even I'm amazed."
A new era for their kingdom was about to bloom. They'd negotiated peaceful alliances with their neighbors. The Four tribes were all under her command, with the governorships of the dragons. Hak had re-vamped the Sky Tribe once they'd whittled out the treasonous members and sent them to prison. All that was left was making their relationship official.
"Sometimes," Yona continues, "I wish you were here because I miss you. But…. as tough as this all has been, I love my life now. I got to see the Kingdom, make many new friends along the way. And finally find the love I'd been looking for." She blushes at the thought. "Now that things have settled, our wedding is set for the following week. I'm excited to marry Hak, but I think you knew all along that it would end up this way, didn't you?" Yona chuckles. "I hope I've made you proud, father."
She turns to leave and is startled by Hak standing behind her. "What are…" Yona tilts her head when she realizes he's wiping at his eyes, "are you crying?"
"No, it's dust…" Hak moves his hands away from his eyes, pretending to brush hairs away from his forehead. "The generals have assembled, and I'm here to fetch you."
It was clear as day that the big strong man had been tearing up, considering his eyes were still a little glassy. Had he been standing there listening? Yona narrows a grinning glare, "you're a terrible liar, I can see you were crying."
"I should call the doctor to check your vision because you're seeing things now."
"Hmph!"
Hak chuckles at the pout on Yona's face. She may be their queen now, but it was moments like this that reminded him she was still young. "We should go, before they start to think other things are keeping us from the meeting."
"Other things?"
"Other," Hak leans down lifting her chin and placing a deep, lingering kiss, "things," he wiggles his eyebrows.
"Other… oh!" Yona smacks his arm, "perve! But yes, let's hurry." She takes one last glance at the room before taking the hand Hak has extended to her. A calming energy washes over her and somehow, somewhere, she knew her father approved.