Sweat slides down Hak's worked body and his messy dark hair is stuck against his skin as he returns to camp with the warriors in the evening. Light armor shifts in step on his over six feet of height and that deadly glaive rests casually over one shoulder. The Wind warriors look with admiration up at their lord, official or not. Even the Fire soldiers they'd practiced alongside that day have solidified their reverence for this Thunder Beast of many legends. No one was questioning the stories anymore. Not after today.
What a day it had been. All of them getting their asses kicked by this seemingly impenetrable man. All of them better for it by the time the sun fell low in the sky. Though they all questioned Hak's sanity to work this hard when he's about to be fighting in the war against Kai himself. Another great warrior might have opted to save his strength. But there was nothing selfish about this man out there. He was focused, intense... already fighting some war. And he only took a breath once, the same time they all did - when she walked by.
The princess was like a ray of light, her brilliant red mane flowing behind her in the breeze. Princess Yona was always unmistakable. Even today, dressed in a traditional Water Tribe gown, a teasing loose silhouette with a tie just above her bosom. And it was fantasies of that bosom that all the men, regardless of tribe, brought back with them to the tents where they de-armored...
"Which Wind warrior did she wave at? Lucky bastard!"
"Old friends," Han-Dae embellishes with flushed cheeks.
"Forget old friends, I'll be her new friend," a Fire warrior suggests with dirty thoughts clouding his eyes.
"Think she's a virgin?" now all the Fire warriors are speculating with increasing bravery and lewdness.
"Depends who had her all that time and where they went. That's all still a mystery, but what's for sure - that maidenhead is one valuable piece of ass."
"Can you imagine one night with her? I'd give a limb. I'm not joking. I would."
"Don't let this idiot make a deal with the devil - he'd end up trading his dick to get a night with the princess."
All the men are laughing now.
Well, not quite all. As Tae-Woo changes his clothes, his concern rises - his group can hear this and a certain someone is right there. Hak sets his weapons down with impressive care, his movements rigid, focused, but his face serene. Tae-Woo can tell - this guy is pissed. And yet, in control of it.
Hak would like to introduce these smartasses to the end of his glaive. If she was here, if she had heard of a word of it, he wouldn't have been able to control himself. There's no question - from the depths of his soul as a man he wants to protect her honor. But he's endured years of listening to idiot warriors talk about what they'd like to do with her. He understands too well the second a Wind fighter causes a ruckus with the Fire warriors, the day's unity will be jeopardized - and he knows she'd rather he be protecting that today than anything else. But that doesn't mean... a side grin creeps up...
"How dare you!" Tae-Jun is fuming red, incredulous, "To speak of Her Majesty this way," he's almost in tears at the thought of these vulgar statements about his precious Yona, "another word and I'll have you charged for treason!"
The Fire warriors under attack immediately shut the hell up because Tae-Jun is actually an important person. But across the room, other Fire warriors who missed the reprimanding are still at it-
"Think Li Hazara would trade for her? Seems like a good peace move. I'd stall a war to get her as a wife."
"What kind of countryman are you? You don't trade your only princess to a barbarian!"
Hak's eyes narrow as he removes his forearm padding and tries to ignore them.
"Naw, no way. King Soo-Won won't trade her. He'll want her for his own heir."
"Yeah, isn't she with him right now? He's probably working on that as we speak. Think about it… it's right before a war, they'll probably be married first thing back at Kuuto..."
"Damn, thinking about them right now is giving me a hard on. Think he's rough with her?"
Tae-Woo puts a calming hand on Hak, whose breathing has visibly quickened, and offers, "If you're worried, then I can go check on the person you're worried about..."
Hak keeps it together, in a low growl, "No. It's safer for that person if we keep our distance. And… I left her with someone I trust."
Tae-Woo watches Hak leave into the cold night air and thinks… he'll never be as strong as Lord Hak. He never imagined how deep that man's ability to suppress and sacrifice can go.
In his tent, Soo-Won moves figurines on a wooden war board, focusing on the strategy ahead. Keishuk sits in a nearby chair watching him, as always, when General Joo-Doh enters in a huff-
"She hasn't stayed in one place all day!"
Soo-Won smiles faintly, "Remind you of old times?"
"She's not six years old anymore," Keishuk snaps.
"Certainly not," Soo-Won surrenders, then, "Has she been near anyone in particular?"
"Just Lady Lili and that green-haired bodyguard."
Soo-Won's eyes flick up over the board to Joo-Doh with a specific concern, "None of the generals?"
"You're asking about the Thunder Beast, right?"
"I have reason to be particularly curious."
"No, she hasn't met with or spoken to him. Just one of the Fire nobles, I forget which. She hugged him... it was almost painful to watch the way he gushed over her."
Soo-Won raises his eyebrows, then returns to his pieces, "Tae-Jun's always had an interest in her."
"Things like that are what I have been warning you about," Keishuk grumbles.
Soo-Won sighs, "Where is she now?"
"The medic tents."
Of course she is, Soo-won thinks, "And where has Hak been all day?"
"Training Wind and Fire warriors. I watched him - he's everything he's ever been. It's concerning. The troops look up to him. They follow him-"
"Enough." Soo-Won cuts Joo-Doh off as he meets eyes with a seething Keishuk. Damnit.
"Where are you going?" Both Joo-Doh and Keishuk are watching Soo-Won head to the door.
As Soo-Won pulls on his cloak, "To get the princess. She'll stay with me tonight."
"After your back was slashed at the onsen, I asked to learn how to do this stuff. I was so terrified that night," Lili is changing a young man's bandage in the medic tent while Yona supports her and Jae-Ha watches from the perimeter, "I can't imagine losing someone important because I don't know a simple skill like this," she blushes up at Yona.
"You're being modest, this is hard work," Yona admits, feeling a little lightheaded as she hands Lili a small bone needle and horse hair for stitches.
As Lili begins closing the wound, she braves a hunch, "Do you do this sort of thing for Hak?"
Hak. Yona is dizzy from the blood smell in the tent mixed with her anxiousness about him. She's been thinking about him all day. To the point of being overwhelmed by it. Overly-distracted. She's felt like throwing up for hours and really just wants it to stop.
"No…"
"What are you asking about?" Jae-Ha moves an arm around to steady Yona as he takes over the conversation, "Yona dear hasn't been together with him in a long time."
Lili continues working, looking down down at the stitching so she can ask bold questions, "Then what happened… I thought…," her eyes flit up to Jae-Ha as she considers, then down to Yona who just looks tired. She decides to go for it, "I thought you had feelings for him and seeing you two this afternoon-"
ACHOO! Jae-Ha sneezes flamboyantly and turns to get a glimpse around the room to make note of who could possibly be listening.
"Jae-Ha," Yona lifts a hand to his cheek to bring his attention back, then quietly comforts, "I think I need to go lay down anyway. Give Lili and I a minute, OK?"
He lifts her into his arms, "Of course."
Lili watches this, Yona now in this man's arms, and she wonders why it bothers her so much.
Once they're back to their tent, Jae-Ha sits Yona on the edge of the bed and agrees to wait outside while the girls change.
"You feel sick, huh?"
"Actually, I think it was the blood. Just being back here resting, I'm starting to feel better already. And I think a distraction would be nice. Talking to you helps me feel better."
"Here," Lili helps Yona get her dress off and then pulls hers off, too, before heading to a chest to grab clean sleeping garments, "Also, I have this," she lifts a lavender essential oil, "it'll help if you feel nauseous."
"Wow, it's been so long since I've had access to nice remedies like that. It's crazy to think I used to use those every day."
Lili sets the clothes down next to the bed and gestures for Yona to lay down, "I guess you won't be on the road much anymore. It'll be like it was before… or will it?"
Yona starts to feel dizzy again, "OK, I would really like that lavender," and rolls onto her stomach for Lili to rub it onto her back, "Today, being here… it's all a lot harder than I expected."
"Really? I would have thought it'd be easier," Lili pulls Yona's undergarments down to expose her naked back so she can massage the oil on, "I really missed you while you were traveling. Never knowing where you were or if you were OK."
"I missed you, too," having the oil pressed into her back feels incredible. She hasn't been massaged like this in so long, she could fall asleep right now, "Mmmm…"
"Be honest with me… why do you keep saying you're separated from Hak?"
"I guess... I wanted something else," Yona lies.
Yona lifts up on her elbows to look at Lili, then suddenly feels nauseous again. Lili sees, "Just lay back down, don't push yourself," Yona rolls onto her back as she catches her breath, an arm over her chest to cover her nipples. Lili's eyes notice the exposed bits of her curves, her waist, her bellybutton. Yona is pale and beautiful. Delicate and womanly. Tense.
"Relax," Lili crawls on top of Yona, straddling her, and puts her oil-covered hands on both sides of her waist. She begins caressing up and down her sides to create warmth, "Something really has you stressed. ...is it the king?"
Yona's breathing quickens as a clear answer.
"Shhh…," Lili tries to calm her, "It's OK. Please relax."
As Lili's hands move up and down Yona's sides, it's a strange sensation for Yona. It feels wonderful. This gloriously-scented physical contact and comfort from a close friend. And Lili's soothing words are putting her in a zen state, too. But there's something about how Lili's hands move closer and closer to her breasts that tighten something in her core. Like it's forbidden but Lili is getting closer and closer to that forbidden thing... but Yona isn't sure. It feels good though.
Lili moves Yona's arm down to her side, now both of her breasts openly exposed, and Yona's ring necklace resting delicately between them. As Yona worries about this being exposed...
Lili starts to massage again - delicately, carefully, finding herself entranced by Yona. This feels good. She's beautiful. Maybe this feeling she's had these past few days... weeks... maybe Yona parting from Hak... possibly? She sees Yona's eyes searching hers for something... should she?
Lili leans froward and kisses Yona on the lips. Whoa. Yona has a moment of shock, then feels Lili's hands suddenly over her breasts. Wait, what? Yona begins to pull away and wiggle beneath her-
"Ha-" Yona swallows his name before she can finish it as an explanation - she's supposed to be hiding her relationship with him. Lili pulls back, watching Yona...
"Yona?"
"No... I'm sorry... I didn't mean for..." this entire experience has been out of nowhere and Hak is the only person she wants to touch her this way. Even though she may have just accidentally led Lili down a path to think very different than that.
Lili quickly moves her hands, then closes her eyes, realizing she was stupidly forward just now, caught up in her own lust - a terribly embarrassing mistake. She opens her eyes to see Yona, an arm back across her chest and as red as a tulip. Lili whips around to see both Jae-Ha and Soo-Won standing frozen with the cloth tent flap open, a mix of surprise and confusion on their faces. And who are we fooling - a little intrigue on Jae-Ha's, as well.
Jae-Ha yanks Soo-Won back outside, a little shocked but still playing along with it, "As I said, the ladies need a moment."
Soo-Won silently nods, then stands facing away from the tent, wide-eyed and collecting his thoughts about what he just witnessed.
A few moments later, Yona stumbles outside in her night garments, "...Your Majesty?"
Jae-Ha smiles softly at her in encouragement. His sweet, innocent, Dear. How scandalous.
Yona and Soo-Won stand across from one another trying desperately to be serious, but the air has suddenly changed.
Lili pops out of the tent. Both the men turn in unison, "No. Go back inside."
Lili looks at Yona to get a read.
"It's OK, Lili."
Lili nods and heads back into the tent while side-eyeing both of the guys.
Soo-Won is off-balance but, "I'd like you to come with me. Just you."
Yona is also kinda out of it still. Did he just...? Oh no. Her breathing becomes labored. The moment she feared is now?
"I can't allow that," Jae-Ha is firm.
"My understanding is that only she can allow or not allow... when it comes to you," Soo-Won states matter-of-factly.
There are few times light-hearted Jae-Ha has ever been truly pissed. This is one of them.
Yona clutches onto Jae-Ha's arm as she stands defiant against Soo-Won's request, "Where I go, he goes."
Soo-Won looks at where she clings onto him, then gives the parting blow, "I'd like to discuss Kai. However, I am only willing to discuss it with you. Alone."
"No," Jae-Ha is adamant.
No. Yona can hear Hak's voice in her head, begging her not to go. As a husband, commanding her not to. And yet… this is the entire reason they all are here. This one thing. She knows she won't be able to negotiate out here - this is her chance, possibly the only one. So she closes her eyes in a prayer, Forgive me, Hak, then opens them to look up at Jae-Ha in apology, "I need you to stay, Jae-Ha."
Jae-Ha's face morphs into such a sadness as the dragon's blood irons him to obey. He didn't know that he'd ever want to act against her will… and not be able to.
Yona sees what she's done and it cuts something deep inside her. Her Jae-Ha. Her promise. His. She takes his hands in hers, not caring if Soo-Won is right there, and yanks Jae-Ha down so she can wrap her arms around his neck and kiss his cheek, trying to relieve some tension in his agonized forehead, "Please forgive me one day."
Soo-Won who has been facing away from the display, turns back when she's at his side. He begins walking and she follows.
All the while as they walk, Soo-Won is off-balance questioning everything he's come to think about this girl. Polyamorous? No...
Finally they reach Soo-Won's tents. As Soo-Won has Yona enter, General Joo-Doh stops him at the door with an update… "Arrangements have been made with the other generals. We'll meet in the morning to finalize strategy."
It's just the two men outside and General Joo-Doh is both surprised and impressed at having just seen the princess enter.
Soo-Won waits for something more.
General Joo-Doh knows what the king is interested in… "He'll be there, too."
In the tent, Yona stands facing Soo-Won's bed, heart racing and head in a fog, truly wondering what she's just gotten herself into.