::-:: Hours before Hak's arrival ::-::
Back to when Yona and Soo-Won are face to face in front of the troops. Soo-Won has just offered Yona to come with him to where she'll be staying under his protection.
"I think you'll find, Your Majesty, when it comes to people who need protected here: I'm not one of them."
Keishuk's eyes flash, General Joo-Doh cocks his head in surprise, but Soo-Won takes her warning to heart, searching deep into Princess Yona's eyes. A woman now. With a tongue that cuts.
"Of course, I remember your friend from Awa," Soo-Won eyes flit up to Jae-Ha and he smiles brightly.
A corner of Jae-Ha's mouth lifts and his eyes twinkle back. Two can play this game of amiability and charm. Oh and shall they play - because they both know that he is not what she was referencing. Take heed of that bow on her back. Or the blade she's packing. He may look like her bodyguard, but separate them and just try to put her in danger - you'll still find yourself at the end of a blade.
Jae-Ha feels a squeeze of his hand. Oh, right, the king just addressed me.
"It's good to see you well, King Soo-Won," Jae-Ha lifts Yona's hand to his lips as the sting of his meaning invisibly reaches Soo-Won - Jae-Ha, who once saved him from certain death by Hak's bare and bloodied hands, is now fully aware of who he is and why things went down the way they did that day. Jae-Ha tenderly pecks the princess' hand, then lowers it back down in a possessive grip. As the men watching on the sidelines wonder who this man is who would touch the princess like that in front of the king... "We've all been through quite a lot since Awa, haven't we? But here we are, still smiling. Let's do good work together."
"Indeed," Soo-Won speaks calmly, unmoved, but Yona can feel the weight in the air between these two masters of facade.
"Well then," Yona's eyes widen as she realizes she just said that phrase exactly the way Hak always does - careful! - then quickly proceeds, "Let's go where we may make preparations."
"Follow me," the way Soo-Won speaks to her is even, but someone watching closely would be able to catch the hint of tenderness.
As Yona and Jae-Ha follow the powerful men through the camp, they pass by dozens upon dozens of tents. Some fulls of weapons, others medic setups, there's food, and, of course, there are cramped sleeping spaces to protect the troops from the weather.
Both men and women stop what they are doing to catch a glimpse of the esteemed party as they go by. It's been so long since Yona has experienced this - her heart drops a little. Traveling in disguise with her new family, they could pop in anywhere and hear the people's stories, go undercover to get to the bottom of an awful operation - but what now? If she's the princess in everyone's eyes again… was that time on the road just… the most unexpected of stolen happinesses… a borrowed life she walked through like a season in passing? Her heart screams with nostalgia, I want to go back!
Yona watches Soo-Won's back as they walk forward. Her heart still races at the sight of him. But it's not excitement. It's like a punch in the gut. Like she wants to fall to her knees and cry in rending sobs. PTSD. It was the worst the first couple times she unexpectedly encountered him. Back then, even knowing she was in the same tribe lands was enough to send her into a daze - the kind of stupor that Hak could always spot and would draw her back out of without her even noticing how. Idiot. And with that thought, Yona finds herself, just a little, actually smiling. Even in this moment. How did it come to be that when I look at Soo-Won, instead of feeling that soul-crushing pain... all I can think about is how much I love Hak?
Out of the corner of his eye, Soo-Won sees it - Yona is smiling? He faces forward again as they walk. Who is this girl? Each time he's encountered her since the night everything was set in motion, literally every single time there's been something new in her eyes. And each time it's become more definite, harder to ignore, concerning. She had wanted to kill him before… perhaps… at least her hand was on his sword that day in Awa when he hid her within his robes. But each meeting thereafter up until their powerful and effective peace negotiations with Xing, her focus has shifted. It's clear she has her own goals now. But… what is it that you want, Yona?
As General Joo-Doh moves aside the cloth flap of a tent and beckons them all in, Soo-Won no longer leads but enters side by side with Yona, and for a split second a different, forbidden reality plays across his mind - even if this were them just a year before, this could have been a possibility… they walking next to one another as friends. With affection between them. She looking up to him with admiration and that light only she had… to him. It's not to say he expected her confession the night she said she loved him. But rather, all confusing feelings aside, that she had always been a special person in some capacity. Yes, Yona was always special.
"Yona!-" the joy in Lili's voice is palpable as she springs to her feet and pulls a stunned Yona into her embrace.
As Soo-Won watches the scene, barring any and all emotion from his face under the gazes of Keishuk and General Joo-Doh, he erases the scene of his fantasy in his mind and comes back to this scene of reality in the physical world. Of which he cannot be a participant. Ever since the night of his sin, a cold, iron line was drawn between those two worlds for him. Only one thing can play out now. And those once-nostalgic moments of peace he shared with his precious friend Yona… were just from a borrowed life, a time long ago left behind.
Yona hadn't been expecting this. LILI?! Here?! Amazing. A little frightening given the circumstances, but something that plastered a permanent smile on Yona's face for the afternoon. Soo-Won, Keishuk, and General Joo-Doh left shortly after dropping she and Jae-Ha off there. They'd meet later to discuss Li Hazara and the timing of the war. But for now, Yona was asked to please rest, change into fresh clothes, eat, and stay put.
"That had to've sucked!" Lili looks Yona's dirt-splattered, still-drying travelwear up and down, "It was pouring out there earlier. Did you ride all the way here?" Lili's eyes go wide at the thought of Yona horseback riding across the countryside like a badass princess.
Yona blushes a little and looks up at Jae-Ha - naw, she flew. But maybe they wouldn't get into that just yet and - wait, why is Jae-Ha scowling?
"What exactly are you saying? Even traveling between two tribes in two days, Yona Dear is still the most splendid woman across both lands. No matter the weather."
Oh, sass. Lili wasn't quite expecting that - she hadn't spoken much with Jae-Ha before, but apparently he was feeling rather confident in his relationship with her close friend and idol, "Yona is beautiful," she smiles at her, then, "And she'll look even more beautiful in my clothes. They are clean and dry. And mine."
Ohhhhh. Jae-Ha smiles with both annoyance and intrigue. Who the hell does this girl think she is? "It'll be your clothes' honor. My dear..." Jae-Ha moves his arms around Yona's shoulders from behind and slowly undoes her cloak's tie and begins to take it off, all the while watching Lili watch him.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Lili doesn't do pretense.
Yona finds herself blushing between the two of them, "Lili… Jae-Ha… you're both precious friends to me and I may not have many here... please try to get along," she grabs Lili's folded dress from the table and heads to behind a pretty flower-design changing panel.
Lili sits staring up curiously, angrily at Yona's new cocky, jealous bodyguard (?) Jae-Ha. She attracts a type, doesn't she? Jae-Ha stands looking down at this foul-mouthed, bullheaded, over-possessive noble girl. Yona dear could be more selective in her "precious" friends.
Lili does her best… "I miss Hak. Where is he?"
"Well then," Hak slides off his steed and casually rests his glaive staff behind his neck, "This should be interesting."
The Wind Tribe army and Happy Hungry Bunch dismount behind him, Tae-Woo stands at his side, "Are we meeting with the king?"
"I didn't tell him I was coming."
Tae-Woo narrows his eyes at two figures approaching with a good stride, "Then who…" and then he recognizes them from his many meetings at the palace - Kyo-Ga and Tae-Jun. Then immediately like a reflex, "You hate him."
"I said it would be interesting."
"You told them you were coming but not the king?"
"We were just in Saika. It worked out."
That registers for Tae-Woo. The timing plus why he's aware Hak hates Tae-Jun in the first place, "...he and the princess?"
"Not another word," Hak warns.
Tae-Woo gulps as the brothers appear before them, "You've arrived - welcome," Kyo-Ga gestures an arm at the expanse of the camp, "I'm looking forward to winning this war together."
Tae-Woo registers the brilliance of what Lord Hak just arranged… if the Fire and Wind tribe armies win alongside each other in this… all the tension and scandal from the river blockage a few months ago would be washed away. It's no wonder Lord Hak has always been his idol… although he does now better understand the sad contempt in his eyes when he looks at Tae-Jun. It's too bad… how unfair life has been to Lord Hak… but if she ends up pregnant with his child, with things as they are, it will only get more unfair for the both of them...
Yona didn't get her opportunity to meet with Soo-Won that night. Something else - some sort of emergency - got in the way. So she slept in a rather overly-complicated arrangement between Lili and Jae-Ha. All three of them squished into a single bed - because Lili thought it imprudent for Yona to be sleeping with Jae-Ha and Jae-Ha refused to let Yona sleep alone with someone who could be a wolf in sheep's clothing, on Soo-Won's side all along.
"With that mouth, you're more like a wolf in wolf's clothing," Jae-Ha complains to Lili as they sneak out the back of the tent. All three of them were tired of being cooped up in there when the new day had broken.
After throwing unimpressed eyes up at Jae-Ha, "Ah, finally! The sun! They've kept me inside those tents the entire time! And before that, they wouldn't let me leave the castle! And before that, my father kept me trapped as a punishment, too - remember that, Yona?"
"My," to everyone's surprise, including his own, it is Jae-Ha her answers as they walk between a long row of tents, "It is disgusting that anyone ever did that to you."
Lili looks up at him, shocked, "You think so, too?"
"Though it does explain your temperament."
Lili frowns disgust, yep - this guy is still this guy, and strides ahead in front of them.
Jae-Ha watches after, "We all should be free. Or the suffering is unbearable."
They reach the training fields and see over a thousand warriors, men and even some kickass women, getting both mentally and physically prepared for the fight ahead. Jae-Ha watches Yona watching - of course, her eyes are scanning all those fighting. Because some of them are following the orders of leaders working them through drills. There is one leader he knows she's looking for.
Another 20 minutes of walking and Yona sees Han-Dae - who sees her, too. And Jae-Ha. He waves at them both, then gets back to sparring with his partner. Yona's heart quickens unbelievably at this revelation that the Wind Tribe is here. He said he'd be with the Wind Tribe. Yun and the rest of the dragons, too. Are they here?
Lili notices how tense Yona is, like she's been searching, reaching for something she wants more than anything and it's almost - there. Lili follows her eyeline and sees Hak right there with over a hundred men following his orders. They are coming at him one by one and he deflects each while commenting on their wrong move.
Last night they had said that they'd parted ways with him - but seeing Yona see him now. Bullshit.
Across the field, Hak tries to focus. They need to win this war and if he has his way it will be with as few casualties as possible. These men are not as in shape as he desperately hoped they would be. How many will he be able to protect, save? That's why he's got to be hard on them now.
But he saw Han-Dae wave, saw the way his face lit up at whatever it was he was waving at. No random other soldier would have caused that. And Tae-Woo is right over here so… he doesn't want to look and yet the desire is slowly taking over his entire mind. He's going to start making mistakes. Which means he's going to be less effective in saving these warriors' lives. Should he look? But if he sees her, will he be able to conceal what it will do to him? He closes his eyes, takes a breath, then knocks over one more warrior, "Wait a beat on that swing - too soon and I can knock you down," then turns…
The second his eyes land on hers it's like a tidal wave. The wind is knocked out of Yona and she straight up moves a hand to her heart.
A relief washes over Hak that he didn't even know he was longing for that entire time. Wound so tightly in worry about her. Tae-Jun said she was fine, but he's been lucky to have the object of his affection in his sight almost constantly for years… she's become his oxygen. And when you breathe for the first time in 24 hours, you can't help but…
Yona sees Hak smile, that serious guy, this - just for her. Then surely catching himself, he turns around. But Yona is left dumbfounded. In love. Alive. She remembers… Every time you see me out there… I'm dreaming about being back here with you. She bites her lower lip as she watches him take out man after man, realizing that he most definitely, truly, really is dreaming about being back in that little room in Fuuga together right now. She is, too.
Those two are definitely at it… Lili watches the scene in amazement. No. Words. Necessary.
Jae-Ha watches Lili watch and realizes they're gonna need to have a private conversation. Asap. They're way too close to Soo-Won for Lili to have any casual thoughts on this topic and she gets rather hostile whenever he displays his affection for Yona to try to cause distraction.
Hak spins his glaive around his neck and moves gracefully across the grounds as he continues to prepare the warriors. Like the old days training at the palace. But he's not thinking about that. He's dreaming about that room in Fuuga. But, damnit, he knows he's got to stop. Focus. It's a distraction he wasn't ever supposed to be allowed to have.
Everything in his life… his grandfather, his family - the Wind Tribe, his time with her at the palace, the dragons and Yun, her touch, her vow, her hand, her body, her love… none of it was ever his to have, he can never let go of the fact that he's just an orphan who was impossibly lucky, blessed beyond belief, and he made a promise to a man who lost his life because he wasn't there to protect him, that he was going to protect his daughter… if he gives in and takes that which was never his to begin with, for any longer than he already has, he's at risk of betraying that promise… because it only gets more dangerous from here… this brief joy, beyond what he understands or what his heart even knows how to handle, this all-consuming happiness that makes him smile even when he's trying not to, is his weakness. He couldn't turn it away. Couldn't deny his feelings or say no or keep his hands off her. Because he became selfish. He couldn't control how badly he wanted her. An imperfect, mortal man who loves her too much. Beyond reason and strength.
But at the end of the day, some things can't be denied… and that is that this is just a borrowed, no - stolen life, that he got to live longer than he ever deserved, and that, by the will of the gods or cruelty of the world, he will one day need to return.