Your P.O.V

Everyone gathers around me as we sit in the main room of the small cottage. I am embarrassed and unsure what to say, so I just sit with a blank expression staring off at the wall. "Have you lost your mind!" Someone shouts.

"Do you have a death wish?" Another cries.

"You kidnapped the bloody Queen of Kouka Kingdom, Soo-won's wife!" People continue to scream, but I am too dazed to place voices to faces. They all blend together. "The King will come for us and kill us all! It is probably a trap to have us all slaughtered in cold blood!" But, at this remark, my attention returns to the room and the chatter around me.

"Do not make such horrendous and vile accusations of me!" I shout in aggression. "I was unaware that Soo-won had the intention of imprisoning his old friends and when I found out the truth I acted immediately. I know King Soo-won murdered the late King Ill and that is why I am here." I spend the next few minutes explaining to the group the same information I gave to Mundok, Yona and Hak. I finish my address stating, "I asked Yona and Hak to bring me with them on their travels because I wish to save both this Kingdom and King Soo-won." The room falls on silence. Everyone is too taken aback to speak.

"If what you speak is the truth, than it seems we have found our purpose." Kija states as he looks over to Yona. It is obvious to everyone how much Soo-won means to the Princess. I am glad that I have managed to keep their trust and loyalty.

"We do not think any different of you, Lady Aeria. We wish to follow you and protect you all the same, so do not worry." Zeno approaches me and hugs me tightly. I feel at ease again, but I can't help but feel as if everyone is treating me differently now. Their balance shifts out of nervousness and an air of unrest and tension covers the room. They refuse to make eye contact and my heartaches.

"It's just Rin, call me Rin. I still desire to be your family and your equal. I do not want special treatment because in my eyes you are all incredibly brave and kind people. Treat me as you would treat any other friend. I am not a Queen anymore. I am your comrade and a soldier for the same cause as you." I reiterate with a sweet smile. I hold out my hand and I feel the faces around me light up. The tension is gone and is replaced with comfort and bliss. Everyone cheers and erupts in celebration. Jae-ha approaches me with a star struck expression on his face. He takes my hand and kisses the top of it.

"How am I to treat you as a friend when it seems I have already fallen for your immeasurable beauty?" He purrs. At the pronunciation of his last word, Hak grabs him by the collar and stares deeply into Jae-ha's eyes with a beastly stare. A tinge of jealously is visible due to the light blush across his cheeks. With a cheeky and condescending expression, Jae-ha replies,

"Okay… Okay… I get it! You've already claimed her for yourself." Hak lets go of Jae-ha and his eyes widen. "But, don't think I'll go down without a fight." Hak snickers and raises an eyebrow at Jae-ha. He crosses his arms then speaks,

"You can have her! Why would I have any interest in a weak, fragile, spoiled brat like that." He laughs at his snide comment. I feel my blood boil and a fiery aura surrounds me.

"And why would I ever take interest in a thick-skulled, primitive gorilla like you." I stomp away in frustration, my steps shaking the floor as I walk. I hear Kija giggle behind me.

"Primitive! Gorilla! Ha!" He begins to roll on the floor laughing. Annoyed, Hak retorts,

"Shut it, white snake!" Hak looks after me with regret in his eyes.

After I have calmed down a bit, I take a stroll outside. The sun has slipped below the clouds and touches the horizon. It is almost time to head to bed and I spot Yun sitting in the shade of a tree. He appears to be holding a box of sorts. Curiously, I approach him. "What are you doing out here this late?" I whisper. The light of an oil lamp flickers gently in the wind. At first he ignores me and continues staring at the strange block, but he closes it when I sit down beside him. "May I?" I ask reaching out my hand and removing the bandage over my eyes.

"Do not think that I will let you interrupt the privacy of MY life." He snaps back.

"I am sorry. I just wanted to get to know you better. I feel so distant from you when you act coldly towards me. I am truly sorry." I barely finish the sentence without choking on the sobs I try so desperately to hold back. I begin to stand and I feel Yun stir with regret. As I walk away I feel a hand grasp my wrist.

"Wait! I apologize for acting that way. I just don't like nosey people. It is my fault for mistaking you as that type of person. It's okay if you would like to see…" He responds, his thoughts trailing off. I turn around abruptly and, with his grasp still tightly positioned around my wrist, I look into his eyes. He gasps in amazement at my radiant brown orbs. Suddenly, an image erupts in front of me. I see a poor child suffering in a rundown village. Then, arrives Ik-su and the child gladly assists him. The child leaves with him and begins a life in a small cottage in the middle of the wilderness. I feel my heart warm at the images before me. A small smile crawls onto my face.

"You really are a lot kinder than you make yourself out to be. The charity you have shown so many people is irreplaceable. Altruism is a gift, along with your many other talents. Without you, this group of brutes would have a lot of trouble surviving." I chuckle. It amazes me that such a delicate boy has the most maturity out of the group. I freeze when I see warmth rise in Yun's complexion. Is he embarrassed at my words? Yun looks away and pouts slightly. I can't help but laugh.

"So cute!" He gets angry and begins to chase me around the tree with his fists flying. We get tired and sit down with our backs against the tree. "I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Thank you." I lean my head against Yun's shoulder as he picks up the strange block and continues what he was previously doing. I stare at him in wonder.

"It's a book. Haven't you seen one before?" he questions and I respond by shaking my head 'no'. "Well it is the written form of speech. I'm reading." My face brightens with excitement.

"That is incredible! You're so talented!" I shriek in excitement.

"I could teach you if you would like?" He asks, handing me the book. I decline his offer by pushing the book away.

"I can't." I respond shyly.

"Of course you can! Anyone can read if they just try! it's easy!" But Yun stops his prodding when he sees the despair written across my face.

"It's not that I do not wish to try, I can't read because I cannot see. My power has taken away my eyesight. I have been blind since I was born." I hold back my tears. I see Yun's face contort in shock. "But, it's okay! I have excellent spatial sense. I have fine-tuned my spatial sense so that I know everything that is around me! I can sense shadows, general shapes and even emotions! It's like I was never blind at all!" I give Yun a reassuring smile and after a few moments he understands. He calms himself and regains his peaceful composure. "Promise me you'll teach me to read when I am able to see someday?" He quickly looks over at me. He smiles softly and whispers.

"I promise."

Hak's P.O.V

I feel awful for what I said to Rin earlier, so I follow her outside to apologize. I freeze when I see her approach Yun. I wait behind a tree just outside of the cottage and listen to their conversation. It hurts me even more, the longer that I listen. I feel a stinging in my chest. It pains me that she wished to see Yun's past and it makes my head throb at the nice things she said to him. I can't be jealous, it's not possible. I barely know her. Then, she says she's blind. The words echo but I cannot hear them. I refuse to. I drop to my knees. All this time she acts as though her life has been joyous, plentiful and easy. She puts on this front of confidence, strength and naivety. But, under the surface she is dying, slowly. She has learnt to adapt to her environment. It's hard to learn the lesson that life isn't fair from the moment you are born. Everyday I am reminded that I am wrong about her. It drives me crazy.

Suddenly, a familiar voice shocks me out of my thoughts. "Do you still believe she is weak, fragile and clumsy now. She has struggled more than you have ever known. Never seeing a sunset or the ruffling of trees in the wind or even… the stars." Ik-su softly remarks. Wait. The stars, then what about the other night? After we swam in the cove, we watched the stars. If she couldn't see them, why was she so mesmerized? My brow furrows in deep thought. "She finds her happiness in the company of others. She is unable to capture the same experiences as us through vision so she finds joy in the happiness of others. Her happiness and her smile is formed when she feels the bliss of those around her. She cannot see the world around her, but she can feel it. Whatever memory you shared with her, she was smiling because of you. " Ik-su rests his hand on my shoulder and whispers in my ear. He then walks away, leaving me in astonishment. I blush a heavy crimson. I was completely wrong. I frown at my own foolishness and ignorance. She is an incredibly strong girl.

I look up and see Rin walk past me. She stops and looks over in my direction, but is unfazed and keeps walking. I run after her and grab her by the arm causing her to halt in her steps. I can see her teeth cringe and her mouth is contorted into a frustrated state. "What's wrong? Talk to me." I say as I force her to look at me even though her eyes are covered and she is unable to see. Her tone is monotonous.

"You heard everything didn't you?" I nod 'yes' in response. She brings her hands to her face and buries her head in my chest. She sobs, choking in between breaths. I just hold her tightly and rest my head on top of hers. I'll let her cry as long as she needs, ill continue to hold her. After a few moments the sobs slow and turn to hiccups, then she is able to catch her breath. "I am so sick of always getting my hopes up, just to have reality crush them under my feet. Wanting to read? Have I lost my mind? I will never be able to do anything like that because I will never regain my sight." I pull her away from me. Each of my hands wrapped firmly around her shoulders. I cringe and sigh in agitation. I realize now what I have to do and what path I have to take in my life. I now understand what Ik-su meant. No matter what, I will end this girl's suffering and bring her the happiness that she deserves. Not because it is my duty, but because it is what I desire.

"Don't talk like that ever again. Nothing is impossible. I promise that I won't stop until you and I can go watch the stars together." I shout with tears beginning to form in my eyes. The world around us halts and a warm brilliance fills the air. The fireflies sparkle in a dance of admiration. She has found happiness in me.