"It wasn't an accident."

The water is still today. And here now, the chests are rising and falling in almost sync.

Ik-Soo and Soo-Won sit side by side at the meditating pond deep in the woods behind Kija's village.

Soo-Won doesn't rush Ik-Soo to elaborate. He waits. It's Ik-Soo who finally speaks-

"You've completed seven trials in seven days and yet you've asked for nothing. Tell me, what's been on your mind if not the quest for the rest of what I promised to reveal to you?"

Soo-Won stares at that still pond, knowing exactly what's been at the forefront of his every thought this week, "The dragons… I've been thinking about whether they've reached her yet."

Ik-Soo isn't surprised, but fascinated, "When they reach her, what do you imagine will happen?"

"If you're curious…," Soo-Won continues to sit peacefully, "Tell me what wasn't an accident. In return, I'll answer you."

Ik-Soo smiles - there it is. Soo-Won is never "off." No matter how things may look. He's nothing if not perpetually cunning.

Ik-Soo concedes, "Yona's mother's death. Everyone was led to believe it was accidental. But in truth, it was far more tragic than that."

Something disturbs the water. Soo-Won keeps his breathing steady, but it does nothing to stop him from feeling the stabbing pain in his chest.

Each step he takes closer to the truth, the more he desperately needs to speak to her.

"When they reach her," Soo-Won keeps his voice even, "I imagine... Yona will come here to me."

"The Thunder Beast is going to sire the next generation of our royal line? This is amazing - Kouka's gonna be invincible!"

"Princess Yona, too, though… she's breathtakingly gorgeous. And I heard she learned to fight from him."

"It's true, it's so romantic! And our country's royalty will be restored with such vigor… what news today!"

Cups have been clinking in high frequency this evening with excited murmurs filling the palace dining hall. Yona requested the truth about Hak be spread immediately - as well as news that their marriage is official.

Yona smiles from her table with her happy, hungry bunch as she watches Hak retreat back to the side of the great hall again. Though he's often gotten attention in his life for his skills and position, it's never been quite like this.

What the hell. Whiplash... Hak shakes his head from his temporary hiding spot. Palace life with Yona had always been "make a move on the princess and it's over." Now, well...

SMACK! Geun-Tae thumps Hak on the back with a thrilled grin at the day's events.

"I've been meaning raise a glass with you!"

"Not drinking tonight. But thank you. I appreciate it."

"Ahh, I see. Well, you do have a big job ahead," and it's clear Geun-Tae isn't referencing becoming king in the near future, "Everyone will be clamoring for this heir. And a herd more. Rebuilding the royal line…," the warrior gives Hak a nostalgic look then shakes his head in admiration.

As Geun-Tae heads away, Hak returns to his mental bewilderment… Now, it's more like, "bed the princess - get her as pregnant as you can - and we'll all throw you a party." Hak's not complaining, but the conversations are… weird. He could do without everyone cheering on his sex life.

Hak notices Yona giggling at him from the distance. He playfully narrows his eyes at her and walks over.

As he slips down beside her, "It's not funny. And it's easy to laugh when everyone's too well-mannered to say anything to you about it."

Yona gives his thigh a squeeze under the table, "If only they knew how skilled you are at that, too. The first try and…"

Color rises up Hak's cheeks. They were pretty efficient in that particular effort...

"What isn't funny?" Jae-Ha, the most joyous spreader of the epic romance of Princess Yona and her devoted warrior Hak news, presses with a mischevious smile.

"What exactly have you been telling people, Droopy Eyes," Hak glares.

"What?" Jae-Ha innocently takes another swig of alcohol.

"People keep telling Hak to get me pregnant," Yona states matter-of-factly, not entirely hiding her amusement.

"BAHahahaha," Jae-Ha nearly falls over from hysteria, "that is... ," pulling himself together, "Listen, Little Brother, that was going to happen regardless of anything I or anyone else said. You're both too lovable and gorgeous. And Yona's the last royal. Even I'm more excited than seems logical."

"I'm... " Hak searches for the words, "I'm surprised there hasn't been any… hesitation."

"About what?" Both Yona and Jae-Ha are sincerely curious.

It's almost under his breath and he looks neither in the eye, "... my lineage."

Yona slides a hand over Hak's under the table, looking up at him with worried eyes, "Hak…"

"Why?" Jae-Ha isn't having any of that, "Look at you. There's nothing more to do - you're incredibly good-looking, powerful, respected. Great with people, a leader, devoted as hell."

"Just reinforcing that he's taken, Jae-Ha," Yona teases protectively.

Jae-Ha smiles sportively, then continues, "The focus is really on Yona Dear's lineage and continuing that. Someone as incredible as you being the father is really just bonus."

Yona glances up at Hak's face as all this continues to settle in. There's something poignant about these positive reactions that's clearly hitting him, she just wishes she knew what it was… But he's always so good at protecting her privacy. She'd be remiss not to give him his.

Hak feels like an idiot. But an idiot with a massive, lifetime's worth of weight somehow beginning to lift off his back. It's not that he wants to give Keishuk any validation for his words on the battlefield that day at Kai, that he'd hit a nerve or something when he'd accused Hak of mixing his dirty blood with the royal line… but he can't deny that he's always felt… less than.

And maybe it wasn't less than just anyone. He certainly didn't feel that way about Tae-Jun. Puh! It was just less than... one someone. Soo-Won. A man who had royal lineage. And who she had loved since forever.

He feels Yona squeeze his hand under the table and that warmth goes straight to his heart. All those needless insecurities. Here she is at his side - their love real, child growing, and coronation imminent. He should just let the past go now. And focus on their future.

"So when do I get to hear about this secret mission?" Hak calls over to the oddly quiet Kija and Zeno at the table.

All four dragons turn their attention to Yona in question. Yun looks slightly annoyed to also be out of the loop on this one, but then returns to the soup he didn't have to cook today - he's zen enough from pampered palace life right now he doesn't feel the necessity to make a snide remark. This time.

Earlier, the moment Zeno and Kija had arrived, Yona had thrown her arms around them in welcome and whispered not to say a word. Jae-Ha and Shin-Ah, who were also aware this whole time of what this secret mission was most likely about, were also kept in the loop that this was most sensitive and she needed some time with Hak.

"Patience," Yona reminds her husband, "I'm going to tell you everything tonight. Promise."

FWIP. FWIP. One bottleneck. Two hands. One tan and worn. The other soft porcelain.

"Oh!"

Lili and Tae-Woo had both gone to the table of alcohol up front and grabbed the same bottle.

Lili's hand on top of his, she lets go.

Fumbling to be polite, Tae-Woo reaches for a different bottle.

"It's you…" Lili utters unintentionally, gawking at him curiously.

Then an awkwardness descends on them both, not knowing each other or what to say…

"Hi…"

"So... you're part of Hak's family…"

"Yeah."

"...that's... cool. He saved my life before. In Sei."

"I saw. I was there, actually."

"Oh…" Lili stares at this new face to her. Why doesn't she know anything about this person? "I'm sorry, I should have known that. Thank you for fighting that time."

Tae-Woo softly smiles, seeing she's as nervous as he is, "Don't worry about it. You were… pretty tied up."

Lili smiles back, "Yeah, that's a nice way to put that."

They're both holding their separate alcohol bottles, ready to go back to their tables. But the conversation doesn't feel closed. They stand there looking at the ground. Then they both look up at the same time and speak simultaneously-

"See you tomorrow." "I'm glad it worked out."

"Huh?" "Oh. Yeah."

Lili meets Tae-Woo's eyes straight on, "Glad what worked out?"

Damnit. Tae-Woo doesn't know why those words came out of his mouth, but he started it so he's stuck finishing now..."Hak saving you."

A corner of Lili's lips rises and her eyebrows raise inward. What an innocent, sweet thing to say?

"See you tomorrow," Tae-Woo echos as he quickly turns, returning to his table. There're joyous cheers when he arrives with the alcohol.

Lili catches herself watching after him, feeling a weird sting from his departure and subsequent popularity. There was sorta a feeling of calm talking to him. Now he's not here anymore, there feels like... an empty space. And it wasn't there before.

Tomorrow. Lili focuses. She braces herself. It'll be her first day of training.

"He's alive…" Yona takes deep breaths. This information hurts her with every word and yet she's desperate to know more, "How… is he?"

Zeno, Kija, Shin-Ah, Jae-Ha, Ao, and Yun are in their bedroom with Yona - the former two recounting details. While none of the dragons are surprised by this revelation, and Ao is distracted by a nut, Yun is right there with Yona in shock.

"How did this happen?!" Yun asks as though someone really messed up this time.

"I asked them to…" Yona admits, eyes cast downward because she ever more has reason to question her decision.

"And you didn't tell Hak?!" Yun throws a hand over his mouth - he's being insensitive. But honestly. Some things must be shouted in outrage.

"I never got a chance to be alone with him!"

"Oh come on…" Yun happens to be very aware of otherwise.

Yona continues her defense, "Whenever we were alone together… Yun, I'm pregnant."

Yun's eyes about pop out of his head at that leap in explanation.

Jae-Ha pats him on the back, "Go order some room service. You'll feel better."

"He's well," Kija cuts in as Yun rises in a stupor to find a servant to bring him something, "He's been staying as a guest of my village with Ik-Soo keeping close watch."

"And he's been amenable to… staying?"

"Not at first, Little Miss," Zeno laughs, still eating some meat on a stick he took with him from dinner while he remembers a thing or two about those early days with Soo-Won, "but he's calmed down a lot."

"He did ask for us to deliver an urgent message to you," Kija explains.

Yona's heart skips a beat. Breathing becomes more difficult, "What does he want?"

"He said you're in danger... is that true, Princess?"

Yona takes a labored, deep breath, "What did he say about that?" -her tone says it all.

"He said the details absolutely had to be expressed in person. By him. And so he… he asked you to come to him. Urgently. In order to save both you and Hak's lives."

"Come to him?" Yona stares as she tries to regain her breath. Why is it that nothing affects her like Soo-Won?

"Are you OK, Dear?" Jae-Ha puts an arm around Yona to calm her shaking.

"No," she tries to keep the tears at bay, "Jae-Ha… I need to be with Hak right now."

Jae-Ha helps Yona walk out into the hall - and there Hak waits for her.

The moment he sees that pale look on her face and the pain in her eyes, his chest tightens in a way it has few times before. His hands itch for a firm grip.

This familiar feeling he never wanted to feel again.