Chapter Text
Wiles of Fate
~ttk~
Chapter 1: Currant
The dragons waited outside the entrance to the temple Yona and Ik-soo had entered. Jae-ha tapping his feet, Shin-ah petting Ao, and Kija nursing his fingers. The divine barrier at the doorstep had scalded them the moment they tried to go inside. They longed to enter, to see the source of their powers, but their longing to enter was ruthlessly crushed by the stinging pain they felt in the small patches of burnt flesh. Jae-ha bit his tongue, trying think of something else, when he noticed Zeno standing at the balcony, staring at the sunset instead of the door like the rest of them. His back felt sad, gazing at the ruins of the castle...it was once his home during the first king’s reign.
The castle walls were covered with soot, but major areas of damage had been swiftly repaired by limestone and gravel under supervision of the remaining castle guards. The servant quarters and the king’s chambers were the only places that were still standing. Looking further in, one could see the maids collecting the rubble that was strewn across the campus. Jae-ha could still smell the stench of blood in the air if he tried, but he was used to it. He actually admired how quickly Hak had reoriented himself to the job of getting the palace to what it was. Was it because there was no one else to do the job? He didn’t know.
He just couldn’t understand how anyone could forget the devastating civil war that had engulfed the palace just three days ago. It would haunt him for a long, long time.
“How are they working so hard right after the war?” He walked to where Zeno was standing, still looking at the ant-like figures hurrying along the paths they had created between the debris.
“I am sure a lot of them lost someone they loved...” he continued, as if making an excuse for his question.
Zeno turned a little to glance at him, and then went back to watching the people.
“I think they are trying their best to forget, just like us.”
Jae-ha ran his hand across his hair. “I don’t think I’d have that in me.”
“Something I learned through all these years,” said Zeno, stretching his hands up in the air, “is that the closer to death humans are, the more resilient they can be.”
Before Jae-ha could ask if Zeno meant anything else, Kija exclaimed bitterly, “We never wanted any of this. She did not fight for the throne just to prevent this bloodshed. Why did that rat, that -”
“Kye-sook.” Shin-ah muttered, his head elsewhere.
“I don’t care what his name is!” Kija retorted. Both Zeno and Jae-ha turned towards him, surprised to see his outburst.
“Hey, calm down. No one could have prevented this, but if she...if they want to resolve this mess, we will follow them to hell – that’s what we swore, after all,” Jae-ha coaxed him. Losing temper wouldn’t help any of them.
Kija took a deep breath. He hated, loathed, detested that man for using his own subordinates as human shields. He could still feel their flesh on his claws as he cut them down. The floor soaked in blood, the wails, and the way their eyes lost their shine as their lifeless body fell. He shivered and closed his eyes, trying to forget it like a bad nightmare.
“I am sure miss and mister will ensure nothing like this ever happens again... The people in the palace wouldn’t be listening to mister if they didn’t trust him, despite... despite all we did.
The door creaked as if on cue, revealing Yona, with Ik-soo following her. She looked at them for a moment, then bit her lips, clenching a scroll in her hand.
“I am sorry it took so long,” said Ik-soo, closing the door behind him. The dragons tried peeking inside, but couldn’t make out anything.
“Is there some problem?” Jae-ha asked Yona, who had been staring at the ground.
“Now, now, don’t trouble the miss,” Zeno chimed in happily, a stark contrast to the frown he had been sporting a second ago. “Let us have some tea first. Wouldn’t you like that, miss? A hot cup of sweet tea?”
Yona dipped her head imperceptibly. “I will show you the way.”
Having settled down, each of them sipping a cup of tea the maid had handed them. Yona felt the sweet liquid down her parched throat and regained her strength enough to speak. She had to – despite fighting her urge to run, she couldn’t. Not now, not when Kouka is at the brink of anarchy.
“Should I call for Hak?” Jae-ha asked, sensing her unwillingness.
“No!” Yona responded immediately. “No – I, I will tell him later. For now, I need to read it out to you all.”
She glanced at Ik-soo, who nodded, urging her to speak up. “You don’t have to read it all. Just telling them a general gist is enough.”
Yona took a deep breath and continued. “I can take the throne immediately.”
The dragons visibly relaxed on hearing this – the worst was over. If she was the one to rule, the kingdom will calm down. The people will not fight anymore, at least not most of them.
“But I need to do something.”
“We will help you with everything, princess. You can trust us,” said Kija, who had cheered up a little seeing an end to the violence in sight. Shin-ah nodded.
“I have to – I have to lie... with all the four of you within a month of ascending the throne,” said Yona. Just speaking those words had taken a toll on her as as she felt her mouth dry.
Jae-ha was the first to comprehend exactly what she meant. He was covered with cold sweat by the time realization dawned upon everyone in the room.
“You mean...you mean we have to bed..” Jae-ha asked. Surely he had heard it wrong? It was ridiculous!
Yona handed the scroll across the table, and Kija read it first.
“It is impossible...it is not our place...” Kija sputtered, having read the contents. Jae-ha took the scroll from him. Having read the contents, he handed it to Zeno, who passed it along to Shin-ah without even glancing at it. Shin-ah bit his lips.
“Is this a cruel joke?” Jae-ha asked Ik-soo, who was now tying the scroll close.
“I was there with King Hiryuu when he had received the commandments,” Zeno answered, the frown back in its place.
Yona who had been silently looking at everyone’s reaction, hated the fact that he knew and he hid it. Something like this? He could have told her! But when? How?
“If,” Zeno tried to explain, “if there was no war, if Mister King had not died, miss didn’t need to know it. I...didn’t think she had to.”
A heavy silence fell across the room. They wanted to say something but they knew that it wasn’t Zeno’s fault, it wasn’t anyone’s fault – the second incarnation had to unite with each of the dragons in order to ascend the throne. Each of them had a lot to say, but they couldn’t. The situation outside was dire, and they knew what each of the would choose. Yona had been forced back into the palace after four years, just when she had learned to be content with nomad life.
“But... Hak.” Shin-ah said inaudibly – and the whole room stopped breathing. It felt like betraying a brother – there was no way to go around it.
Despite having romantic feelings for the former princess, Kija and Jae-ha had resolved to back away. Hak was family to them, and they were content with watching him blush and fumble around after her confession.
Yona finally spoke up. “I will...talk to him. He will understand.”
‘Yes, he will,’ thought Jae-ha. Everyone knew Hak would understand, but he shouldn’t have to. They couldn’t put him through something like that. As if he hadn’t suffered enough.
Their throats dry, and not being able to stomach any more tea – they sat there silently, not moving.
“I will leave now – Yoon has been handling the official documents on his own, I am sure he needs some help,” Yona said, and swiftly exited the room.
“I am sorry it has come to this, but I hope you don’t burden those two...” Ik-soo said, apologetically. He had spent his younger years fighting against premonitions, but you can’t. Nothing works.
Yona had taken her supper alone – forcing each and every morsel down. She couldn’t afford losing her strength. The coronation was tomorrow, but she needed to see Hak today. She couldn’t delay this – he had the right to know. She wanted him to know. With this thought, she ran out of her room.
The cold rough floor that would have once stung her delicate soles, felt a luxury compared to the forest grounds, the ravines, and the caves. The moonlight now felt foreign, as if something was not right. There were no crickets chirping around here, no fire crackling
Shin-ah and Kija putting up the tents. Jae-ha and Hak sorting the firewood. Yoon’s tiny snores that he would never admit to. Walking close enough to brush against Hak as she followed Zeno to the river in order to wash the dishes. Jae-ha whispering something funny to Hak and Hak -
She saw him standing near the trees below the veranda.
“The rebels have been contained to some rural patches, but they might get reinforcement from outside if the government is not in power soon,” the spy, she had assumed seeing the black silhouette and the mask, said.
“That will be alright. Once the ceremony tomorrow is completed, I will be visiting the disturbed areas, so let the village heads know.”
The man nodded and disappeared back into the shadow. Hak turned around.
“You are here, princess? Aren’t you cold?” He asked, and noticing her tired, heavy breaths, continued. “Is something wrong?”
With a jerk, she was brought back to the reality – reminding her of the ruins, the war, the scroll, and his departure. No one knew for how long he would be gone...it could take weeks, or months?
“Hak, would you follow me to my chambers?” She said.
Hak, sensing the urgency in her voice, did as she requested. As soon as he had closed the door behind them, she threw her hands around his neck and embraced him tightly. Hak buried his head on her shoulder, taking in a deep breath. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Seems like you have grown taller, princess.”
She didn’t reply, and just squeezed him tighter. He felt something amiss. “Is something bothering you?”
She gently let go of him, placing her hands on his chest, and leaned against his palms. Her eyes had turned red from holding back tears.
“Hak…” She met his eyes.
“Please sleep with me,” she said. It was the first thing that came in her mind – everything aside, she wasn’t the queen right now. She could love and lie with whosoever she wanted, and no one could object. She cannot leave this chance.
Hak bit his lips – those words had an intense effect on him, despite the fact that it had been years since her confession.
“But we decided we wouldn’t do that until the we-”
“Things have changed, Hak,” Yona interjected, waving at the scroll kept on the bedside table.
“I want you now.”
Hak, now perplexed, lowered her so her heels touched the ground and relaxed his grip. “Should I read it?”
Yona nodded, not meeting his eyes – feeling guilty for something she had no control over. It was tough to see Hak unfurling it carelessly, and then clenching the paper tightly as soon he read those words. The words she hated. If she could burn the scroll, she would. He turned towards her, opening his mouth but words failing him.
“I am sorry,” she whispered, and not able to take it anymore, she rushed towards him to hug him once more.
“I am sorry,” she cried, again and again. Hak did not know what to feel. Was he angry at the gods? Ik-soo? Soo won? That bastard Kye-sook? Yona? He couldn’t. He hated this – this, whatever it was, this dastardly game the gods seem to play on them, and that is all it was.
Yona’s sobs rang in his ears, and he threw the parchment with disgust on the floor. She hated it as much as he did, but he couldn’t even comfort her – how should he tell her he was okay with it? He wasn’t. He knew she wasn’t. Her tears now soaked his robe…his chest, his shoulders, his arms...or was it sweat?
‘Lets just run away. Elope. Leave everything.’
He wanted to tell her, but he couldn’t. Kouka was up in flames. How could his desire to monopolize the love of his life stand against the blood on the walls? It couldn’t.
He tightly held her. He couldn’t find it in himself to console her. After she had calmed down, Hak laid her down on the bed and sat next to her, still holding her hand.
“You should rest,” he said. “Tomorrow is a long day.”
She shook her head. “You’ll leave tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?” She was hesitant.
“I don’t know.”
“Hak...please sleep with me,” she pleaded. “I am scared… and if you are away, I don’t know how I will be able to handle all this.”
“The first time can hurt a little, princess…we can’t do that when you have so much to do tomorrow,” he said, trying to pry away his fingers
“I don’t care, not as long as it is you. Do you really not want to?”
Her eyes were not teary, and her bottom lip was quivering. He had been watching her for so long, and he still couldn’t stomach her tears. Hak bent down and blew the candles, immediately engulfing them in darkness. He unraveled their fingers.
“How could I not?” He whispered next to her ears and kissed her, his familiar taste spreading in her mouth as she reciprocated, exploring his mouth. She etched everything about him to her memory, as if it was the last time she would see him.
For once, she promised herself, for once she’ll stop thinking about everything else.
They had been kissing continuously, hardly stopping for a second when they ran out of breath. Hak climbed on top of her, as she felt his knees brushing her thigh. She felt the weight of his firm chest against her fingers. She slid her fingers down to his sash, as she untied the knot hastily. As soon as cold air hit his chest, Hak broke the kiss.
“Too hasty today, aren’t we, princess?” He teased, still breathless.
Till now, she had been desperate – to feel him – his chest, his lips, his hair – but when she saw bare-chested Hak sitting on top of her, and heard his playful voice she had learned to hate and to love, she could feel all her worries dissolving. She blushed, deeply embarrassed. What was she doing? She was looking at the man she loved. She was kissing him. She was untying his robe. There was nothing to hold them back anymore.
She chuckled, smiling after a long, long while.
He pulled off the robe and asked lovingly. “Isn’t it your turn now?”
He tugged her sash a little but she caught his fingers and took his hand to her lips. She kissed it and said in a low voice, “Come here, Hak.”
He bent down again, and she clasped her arms around his neck.
In between kisses, she spoke, “I love you so much.”
And she repeated, “I love you.”
Entwining their fingers, he finally slid his lips down to her nape. Yona shivered when he bit her neck.
Her robe had come undone. He bit at the string holding her brassiere, from her left shoulder and then the right, as the clothing slid down her waist. Her nipples perked in cold air, and she felt Hak’s rough fingers lightly brushing against them while he kissed her shoulders.
He proceeded to knead them gently, his touch no longer foreign to her. He lowered himself and kissed her breasts, massaging one while sucking on the other, soaking in her taste. Her hands now free, she took them out of her robe and freed herself – twisting beneath him at each flick of his tongue.
“Ha-” she mewled when he bit her breasts, one at a time. “Hak,” she repeated, gasping for breath.
“Hmmm?”
She pulled him back up and kissed him. After another small peck, he slid her underwear down and rubbed her with his fingers, slowly, at the top and then at the entrance. She slid her lips to his neck and bit him, as he played with her.
She tightened her legs and brought them together, trapping his hand between her legs. She searched for his pants and undid them with her fingers, as she felt his member, standing upright in her hands. He slid his arms beneath her, and she felt his fingers running down her back, up to her hips.
She ran her fingers down the length and felt Hak’s muscles tense.
“Is it alright?” She asked.
He explored her more, rubbing her, now feeling each of her thighs. He slipped his fingers in, moving downwards to find her opening. Finding it wet, he whispered, “May I?”
“Yes,” she purred, and kissed him again – she could not get enough of his kisses tonight.
She brought her hands back to his neck, and let him push her legs apart. He now had both his hands clutching her hips.
“This can hurt,” he said, quietly. “I don’t think it should, now. Let me know if it does.”
She nodded, and he entered her slowly.
“Go ahead,” she said, and he pushed further, until she grimaced. He struggled to stop himself.
“Does it hurt?”
She clenched him tightly, and said, “It...is uncomfortable, but not too much.”
He understood, and her until his whole length had entered her. He slowly increased his speed, breathing heavily with each thrust. Yona struggled to keep her wits about her as each time he pushed inside. She felt a wave of feelings overcoming her – her shame forgotten, she moaned.
“Yona-” he called out, his eyes clouded with desire, gazing into hers, and with one final gasp, he released the tension. She melted in pleasure with another thrust.
Hak rolled to her side, watching her as her heavy breathing slowed. He covered her in a blanket, snuggling into her.
The next morning, Yona, who was still half-asleep, rolled across the bed, trying to avoid the sun. She felt something hard, and blinked her eyes, forcing herself awake.
“Good morning, princess,” Hak greeted her, with a characteristic smirk.
His voice brought the memories of last night back to her and she buried herself further into his chest.
“What is the time?” She asked after some time.
“You still have an hour before you need to wake up.”
She kissed his chest in reply.
“Want to have another go? We can make it I think,” Hak muttered playfully.
“No,” she replied. “Just stay like this.”