SWOOSH! Hak's glaive cuts through early morning fog. He's off alone in his exercise, trying to focus but caught in a blur of thoughts…

The intimacy of the night before. What lies ahead of his family today.

He twists around on the grass with swift movements...

A vision of Yona's breasts, soft curves and pink nipples bouncing atop him, her perfect buttocks cupped in his hands. Then memories of just months ago when she was bathing after their escape and afraid of the leeches. Her hollow eyes and beautiful body exposed to him like an empty shell. But last night... the freedom of her movements and fire in her eyes. Like a girl brought back to life. Last night...

Jae-Ha's fist. That look in his eyes. Void of understanding. Desperation. Fear. A thank you would have been preferred. Hak sighs.

FLASH! Lightning streaks across the sky. How fitting for it to storm today. Hak swings his glaive in a grand movement, clearing a perimeter of air. He stares into the nothingness.

Heh. This is one spectacular mess. They're going to join the king's camp at the border before nightfall. There's no telling how it will go. Regardless, he knows how it has to end.

Yona rouses, her eyes not yet ready to open. Oh mmm that scent from the night before. She instinctively ventures one of her small hands forward to - there he is. She burrows her face into the chest in front of her.

Jae-Ha doesn't move a muscle as he watches the object of his affection wrap an arm around him and make a sweet little snuggle-moan. I'm not him, my dear. He focuses his attention up toward the ceiling, trying not to enjoy this little mistake.

Because he's been thinking about Hak all night. And the whole time staring at their peacefully sleeping princess, imagining her heart breaking into a million irretrievable pieces. What wouldn't he do to stop that?

"I love you," Yona whispers blissfully as she plants a tender kiss against his chest.

Jae-Ha smiles with a sigh. I love you, too. He lifts an arm to move the crimson waves from over that pretty face. As his fingers brush her cheek, she smiles. That makes him smile, too. Then her hand is behind his head, pulling it down to kiss her. It all happens so fast, a mix of something Jae-Ha wants and knows he can't have, their mouths pressed together, his catatonic state, her drowsy lips parting his. He opens them in a breath, then puts a hand on her side and pushes her away.

"Dear."

Yona's eyes spring open in shock and she instantaneously falls away. Crawling backwards to the furthest wall, she stares with a bright flush, "Jae-Ha! I… I…"

"I know, Dear. Honest mistake. He and I have a similar physique… I'm just not as poorly tempered."

Easing, "I'm sorry, Jae-Ha. I haven't been thinking clearly these past couple days..." then hearing rain against the tent, "Is he waiting out there in this?"

Sadly, "I hope so."

Yona eyes him strangely. What an odd thing to say... "Is everything OK?"

Jae-Ha studies her. Could he tell her and stop him? ...yes, she could stop him. But... "Of course, Dear."

How much more danger would she be in then?

"They should be arriving today," Keishuk warns Soo-Won as they walk through the camp in cloaks against the rain, "Have you decided how to deal with this problem?"

"I don't expect complications. Negotiations moved peacefully with Xing. We have mutual goals."

Keishuk bristles.

"An offer of amends has been extended to him."

"Which was unacceptable to begin with and then… there's been no word that he's accepted it."

Soo-Won stops and observes a troop training. Ever so calmly, "He's the best warrior in the country. He's more valuable alive on our side than dead," then continues walking.

"He's going to come after your head."

"I have tens of thousands of men here loyal to me. He won't try anything before we fight Kai. Precedence lies with winning this war. He's going to help us do that."

They turn into Soo-Won's personal tents - elaborate compared to the others, with his armor, maps, and even Gulfan inside. As Keishuk removes his wet cloak, "Then on the very battlefield he helps you claim your victory, at the first opportunity: end him."

Soo-Won places his cloak over a chair, his eyes briefly catching the hairpin on the desk next to it, then with a light heart, "That would please General Joo-Doh, wouldn't it?"

Keishuk isn't pleased, "They were supposed to be dead. News of her survival is spreading beyond our control and I hear she's even amassed a small following. Deal with her."

As Soo-Won sits at his desk, he serenely reiterates, "The war takes precedence."

Keishuk presses on, "Either she stays in your keep or she stays with the tens of thousands of men outside who could be swayed to believe she has a claim to the throne… or at the very least wish to plant their seed between those royal thighs. Can you imagine if Li Hazara got his hands on her? There are decisions you need to make. Today."

Under tree cover, Yona is sitting with her dragons and Yun around a fire eating breakfast when Hak returns.

It's like Yona wasn't even breathing until now - him back in her sight. And she hates that. But today is a concerning today, especially when it comes to Hak.

The soaked warrior meets his wife's eyes and is immediately at her side warming her hands.

"You come in from the rain and start warming me up?"

"You were cold."

Yona watches Hak's hands rub hers. He calls over to Jae-Ha, "She shouldn't ride in this. Can you take her there?"

They all sit in a terrible silence. Zeno offers, "Little Miss will be fine."

Hak's carefully thought through every scenario. He knows she will be. Too many will see her. Too many know she's alive.

"Don't let Droopy Eyes leave your side for a second," Hak instructs the princess, "I'm gonna have to keep my distance when we're there. But I will be there. Yun, the dragons, me... we'll all be with the Wind Tribe."

Yona's eyes widen. She didn't realize, "But Soo-Won hadn't called the Wind Tribe yet…"

"Tae-Woo caught up with me yesterday mor-" Hak stops that sentence and rephrases, "I got word."

Yona nods that in, "Then it sounds like Kouka will win quickly."

Hak folds a hand into hers and gives it a squeeze, "Promise me, no matter what, don't let that guy leave your side," he nods at Jae-Ha who sits there like he's holding a scream inside.

When Yona and Jae-Ha go to leave, she wraps her arms around Hak's neck and they kiss like it's their wedding day all over again. Theoretically it'll just be a couple days near but apart as usual. But something pulls at Yona's heart. When they pause kissing to breathe...

"This is worse than that time we parted at Ogi's in Kuuto."

Hak remembers to his dread, "Min-Soo's message… damn it. If Soo-Won seems on to anything," he turns to look at Jae-Ha, then back to Yona, "Then make him question it."

Yona nods understanding, then, "I'll keep my promise, but I need one from you, too."

Hak watches her seriously. Nods agreement.

"Tell me the truth. You're going to have to fight alongside him. Can you really do that?"

Yona and Jae-Ha land just outside the camp at the border of Kai. The rain has stopped, so they pull down their hoods. No more hiding. It's time to arrive. Exactly how Hak asked them to.

Once one warrior notices the red-haired princess and her green-haired companion approaching on foot, dozens upon dozens of others take notice, too. Soon there are hundreds of men standing at the perimeter of the camp watching.

General Joo-Doh pushes through the commotion with His Majesty and Keishuk directly behind him.

There are murmurs all around, "Is that the princess?" "She's beautiful." "She really survived!" "Is she staying here?" "Will she be with the king for now on?" "Look at her hair!" "Gorgeous."

Keishuk watches the princess with narrow eyes. Here walks Kouka's most forbidden fruit. How many of these foolish men are already mesmerized by her?

Even the sky general is concerned. This is no place for the princess - the king needs to make clear she's not to be touched.

Yona stands before Soo-Won, her head held high. The king heeds her, then his eyeline flows from Jae-Ha's hand on her shoulder up to his face - a companion whose smile holds a warning. Where is Hak?

"Princess Yona."

"Your Highness."

There is a strange distance Soo-Won keeps between himself and Yona. Is it respect for her boundaries? Or fear for what she might do?

"We were expecting a larger party..."

"We parted ways after Xing."

General Joo-Doh and Keishuk also hear this and watch Jae-Ha carefully. Both considering the value of separating the princess from this companion. Getting her away from all these eyes and alone with the king. One thinking the king could then simplify his politics by taking her into his bed. The other thinking the king could then simplify his scandal by ending her life.

"If you come this way, we'll bring you to your quarters. I hope you don't mind - to ensure your safety, you'll be staying with me."

It's many hours later in the deep evening when an intimidating silhouette approaches the camp. An army rides behind him.

If the men noticing arrivals on the periphery experienced excitement at the sight of the princess, on the contrary, now they experience tremors of fear. Despite the fact they are men about to fight a war. Despite the fact they are warriors by trade.

The murmurs begin, whispers of awe, "The Thunder Beast has come."

Where Yona sits, she clings to the words she so desperately needed to hear from Hak earlier. His response about Soo-Won. His promise.

"I'll cooperate."