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Title: The Errant Mouse
Series: 화랑/Hwarang - The Poet Warrior Youth
Characters: Sammaekjong/Kim Jidwi, Mumyeong/Kim Seonu, Kim Wehwa, mentions of Kim Aro, Queen Jiso
Summary: If Jidwi hadn't gone to Park Yeongshil's house that particular night, how will things inevitably change?
---------------------------------------
"I will introduce you to an ode today..."
Today's lesson from Master Wehwa... had been a lot harsher towards him than usual. As if he hadn't been beating himself up a lot ever since they've returned from Baekje. The insult he received back there... had been extremely painful. Not being able to reveal himself and protect those farmers that have been slain so unjustly; the memories of their blood splattering against his body... those things weren't something that he could forget so easily. How could he... when every recollection of those memories kept reinforcing the fact that he WAS a helpless and weak king? And just like in that ode about the big mouse, he was terrified at the thought of being abandoned by his own subjects.
Because if his subjects all left him, what else would he be? A king who was nothing but a king only in name, without a kingdom nor subjects to watch over.
Then what was the point of him existing then?
Jidwi looked up towards Sunwoo's direction since he was riding in front of him as the five of them were heading towards Wolseong Palace.
If he was more like Seonu, would he make a better king compared to now?
xxx
"If you pretended to be the King, keep on acting like one.
"I can do anything to protect Silla's throne. I have nothing to fear if my son can take the throne."
He hadn't been planning to eavesdrop on the conversation between Seonu and his mother while on his way towards his secret place in the palace, but since he noticed that the court ladies have left the corridors unattended he figured that he might as well take the chance to listen in on them. Even though he barely got much before a few of them came back to take their usual place.
So his mother planned to make use of Seonu as a decoy king. Why didn't that surprise him at all?
"Hey!"
Jidwi nearly jumped on his horse as Suho hastily grabbed on his horse's reins. The young man gave him a puzzled look as both Banryu and Aro stopped to check on him.
"Are you all right? You nearly led your horse towards the river bank!"
He hastily shook his head before leading his horse back towards the path towards Hwarangdo.
"It's nothing. I was just distracted."
Suho huffed at him. "And I thought I was the only one feeling dejected today..." muttered the young man before joining Banryu's side. Aro gave him a worried look as he waved the concerns away.
Jidwi carefully patted the horse statuette that he had stashed inside his clothes from earlier to make sure that the statuette hadn't fallen out by accident. He looked on in front of them towards Sookmyung who's been leading the group back towards Hwarangdo. He thought about the conversation the two of them have had at the palace...
"How long... have you been living like this?"
He sighed. He never thought that he'd be reacquainted with his own sister like that.
xxx
The night has fallen, and both Banryu and Suho have headed home. Since it was also the day off for the rest of the Hwarangs, everyone else had gone back home much earlier than the four of them. As usual, Hwarangdo was quiet as an abandoned village.
Seonu still hasn't returned to the dorm, but then again the guy had already left Wolseong Palace earlier without waiting for the rest of them. The guy has been avoiding him since Baekje... and that didn't sit well with him.
Jidwi went back to the lecture room to try to clear his head. Since he couldn't sleep anyway.
But instead of clearing his mind of the many troubling thoughts that has been harassing him as of late, the memories of Baekje and Seonu's voice proclaiming the things he wished he could've said instead kept resounding in his mind...
"Look who's here..."
Jidwi hastily wiped the tears that started welling in his eyes before turning around. Master Wehwa slowly walked towards his side.
"You are a huge mouse."
xxx
"Your Majesty. Endure it. Whatever it may be... whether it is a high place or low, dirty or beautiful and dangerous or safe; if it is something you must do as a King, please endure it all."
He was expecting Master Wehwa to continue scolding him for the outcomes in Baekje. Because the lessons yesterday did seem to be the chief instructor's way of reminding him that he shouldn't continue being a cowardly mouse. He wasn't expecting to receive a consoling reply from the wise elder.
Endure. The word sounded as if it was an act that should be easy for him to do. But can he truly do this? Endure... all of the obstacles that may appear before him as he fought to reclaim the throne that he should be claiming?
He suddenly sensed someone approaching him from behind as he turned to see who it was. It was Seonu.
"Why are you here?" he asked the older Hwarang casually.
So Seonu didn't head home yesterday.
xxx
Endure.
Master Wehwa's words continued to repeat inside of his head during his conversation with Seonu at the balcony. Endure.
Yet for some reason, it was so hard for him to continue to endure the bulk of hatred and anger that he received from Seonu's words towards him. Those words that had been hurled towards him, were like blades of the many assassins that have tried to take his life throughout his whole life in hiding. Seonu's words... were like the blades of his many assassins, piercing his heart.
It hurts. His heart continued to hurt because it was Seonu who hurt him. No matter how hard he tried to tell him that he never wanted anyone to be killed because of him, Seonu wouldn't accept it. And he hated the thought of Seonu thinking of him as a selfish king who did not care about his subjects.
Which was why he ran out towards Aro. Because he didn't think that he'd be able to endure this.
"You can tell it in their eyes... if someone has given up."
But it seemed... Aro also was of the same mind as Master Wehwa. As had his wise counsellor, Aro also told him to endure. How could she know that he still hadn't given up on himself when he himself was unsure of his own convictions?
xxx
As usual, he couldn't sleep. But rather than the anxieties that kept him awake that appeared in the form of faceless assassins that will try to kill him, it was the thought of Seonu that plagued him.
His enemies would not stay silent for too long. Sooner or later Park Yeongshil should be attempting to kill him again to achieve his goal. And with his mother making Seonu the decoy king, those assassins would direct their sights towards Seonu.
There's no way he could allow that to happen!
He needed to do something about this. He couldn't let anyone harm Seonu. After letting Seonu's friend die because of him, how could he do the same thing to his one and only friend?
Jidwi quietly sat up to get changed... and then he noticed something odd.
In addition to Seonu, Banryu and Suho weren't sleeping on their beds either!
xxx
He barely changed into a black outfit before hurriedly hiding behind the double windows. And then Suho stormed in with Dansae, before rousing Yeowool from his sleep. And it was a while later before Jidwi himself could come out of his hiding place and grab his knife.
He frowned. Why were Suho and Dansae in such a hurry at this time of night?
xxx
Suho, Yeowool and Danse had left the dorm with their weapons at hand. So Jidwi had followed them silently behind to see what were they up to.
But then he arrived to see Seonu near the pond area trying to fight off a group of assassins! Jidwi bit his lips. He wasn't expecting that Park Yeongshil would act so quickly. But if his men were here... it should mean that Park Yeongshil's household should be unguarded right now. So he might still be able to—
Jidwi turned his attention back towards the assassins. By now both Suho and Yeowool had joined the fray and entered into a swordfight with the group of intruders. With the commotion they're making right now it won't be too long before the guards to come over. His friends should be all right until then, Jidwi told himself. Yet his heart continued to feel uneasy.
Despite the training they've had prior, both Suho and Yeowool were fighting the assassins haphazardly as the fight dragged on. And from the way the assassins fought, it was clear that the Hwarang youths were vastly outmatched. How could he just leave them to fend for themselves?
"There's no need! I'm the one they're after!"
Seonu was holding Suho by his side to keep the other from lunging recklessly towards the assassins. But something didn't feel right.
There's something wrong about Seonu. The way he was moving seemed much more erratic than usual. He kept swaying like a drunk man as Suho pushed Seonu away before parrying one of the blades that descended towards him.
Another assassin got quite close to Seonu and took the chance to kick him down while he was still disoriented.
"Dogbird!" Suho cried out without warning at Seonu.
And before he realized it, Jidwi unsheathed the knife he was carrying as he stood in front of Seonu; blocking the blade that was about to strike the fallen man.
"I can't... keep on... being the cowardly mouse!"
Series: 화랑/Hwarang - The Poet Warrior Youth
Characters: Sammaekjong/Kim Jidwi, Mumyeong/Kim Seonu, Kim Wehwa, mentions of Kim Aro, Queen Jiso
Summary: If Jidwi hadn't gone to Park Yeongshil's house that particular night, how will things inevitably change?
---------------------------------------
"I will introduce you to an ode today..."
Today's lesson from Master Wehwa... had been a lot harsher towards him than usual. As if he hadn't been beating himself up a lot ever since they've returned from Baekje. The insult he received back there... had been extremely painful. Not being able to reveal himself and protect those farmers that have been slain so unjustly; the memories of their blood splattering against his body... those things weren't something that he could forget so easily. How could he... when every recollection of those memories kept reinforcing the fact that he WAS a helpless and weak king? And just like in that ode about the big mouse, he was terrified at the thought of being abandoned by his own subjects.
Because if his subjects all left him, what else would he be? A king who was nothing but a king only in name, without a kingdom nor subjects to watch over.
Then what was the point of him existing then?
Jidwi looked up towards Sunwoo's direction since he was riding in front of him as the five of them were heading towards Wolseong Palace.
If he was more like Seonu, would he make a better king compared to now?
xxx
"If you pretended to be the King, keep on acting like one.
"I can do anything to protect Silla's throne. I have nothing to fear if my son can take the throne."
He hadn't been planning to eavesdrop on the conversation between Seonu and his mother while on his way towards his secret place in the palace, but since he noticed that the court ladies have left the corridors unattended he figured that he might as well take the chance to listen in on them. Even though he barely got much before a few of them came back to take their usual place.
So his mother planned to make use of Seonu as a decoy king. Why didn't that surprise him at all?
"Hey!"
Jidwi nearly jumped on his horse as Suho hastily grabbed on his horse's reins. The young man gave him a puzzled look as both Banryu and Aro stopped to check on him.
"Are you all right? You nearly led your horse towards the river bank!"
He hastily shook his head before leading his horse back towards the path towards Hwarangdo.
"It's nothing. I was just distracted."
Suho huffed at him. "And I thought I was the only one feeling dejected today..." muttered the young man before joining Banryu's side. Aro gave him a worried look as he waved the concerns away.
Jidwi carefully patted the horse statuette that he had stashed inside his clothes from earlier to make sure that the statuette hadn't fallen out by accident. He looked on in front of them towards Sookmyung who's been leading the group back towards Hwarangdo. He thought about the conversation the two of them have had at the palace...
"How long... have you been living like this?"
He sighed. He never thought that he'd be reacquainted with his own sister like that.
xxx
The night has fallen, and both Banryu and Suho have headed home. Since it was also the day off for the rest of the Hwarangs, everyone else had gone back home much earlier than the four of them. As usual, Hwarangdo was quiet as an abandoned village.
Seonu still hasn't returned to the dorm, but then again the guy had already left Wolseong Palace earlier without waiting for the rest of them. The guy has been avoiding him since Baekje... and that didn't sit well with him.
Jidwi went back to the lecture room to try to clear his head. Since he couldn't sleep anyway.
But instead of clearing his mind of the many troubling thoughts that has been harassing him as of late, the memories of Baekje and Seonu's voice proclaiming the things he wished he could've said instead kept resounding in his mind...
"Look who's here..."
Jidwi hastily wiped the tears that started welling in his eyes before turning around. Master Wehwa slowly walked towards his side.
"You are a huge mouse."
xxx
"Your Majesty. Endure it. Whatever it may be... whether it is a high place or low, dirty or beautiful and dangerous or safe; if it is something you must do as a King, please endure it all."
He was expecting Master Wehwa to continue scolding him for the outcomes in Baekje. Because the lessons yesterday did seem to be the chief instructor's way of reminding him that he shouldn't continue being a cowardly mouse. He wasn't expecting to receive a consoling reply from the wise elder.
Endure. The word sounded as if it was an act that should be easy for him to do. But can he truly do this? Endure... all of the obstacles that may appear before him as he fought to reclaim the throne that he should be claiming?
He suddenly sensed someone approaching him from behind as he turned to see who it was. It was Seonu.
"Why are you here?" he asked the older Hwarang casually.
So Seonu didn't head home yesterday.
xxx
Endure.
Master Wehwa's words continued to repeat inside of his head during his conversation with Seonu at the balcony. Endure.
Yet for some reason, it was so hard for him to continue to endure the bulk of hatred and anger that he received from Seonu's words towards him. Those words that had been hurled towards him, were like blades of the many assassins that have tried to take his life throughout his whole life in hiding. Seonu's words... were like the blades of his many assassins, piercing his heart.
It hurts. His heart continued to hurt because it was Seonu who hurt him. No matter how hard he tried to tell him that he never wanted anyone to be killed because of him, Seonu wouldn't accept it. And he hated the thought of Seonu thinking of him as a selfish king who did not care about his subjects.
Which was why he ran out towards Aro. Because he didn't think that he'd be able to endure this.
"You can tell it in their eyes... if someone has given up."
But it seemed... Aro also was of the same mind as Master Wehwa. As had his wise counsellor, Aro also told him to endure. How could she know that he still hadn't given up on himself when he himself was unsure of his own convictions?
xxx
As usual, he couldn't sleep. But rather than the anxieties that kept him awake that appeared in the form of faceless assassins that will try to kill him, it was the thought of Seonu that plagued him.
His enemies would not stay silent for too long. Sooner or later Park Yeongshil should be attempting to kill him again to achieve his goal. And with his mother making Seonu the decoy king, those assassins would direct their sights towards Seonu.
There's no way he could allow that to happen!
He needed to do something about this. He couldn't let anyone harm Seonu. After letting Seonu's friend die because of him, how could he do the same thing to his one and only friend?
Jidwi quietly sat up to get changed... and then he noticed something odd.
In addition to Seonu, Banryu and Suho weren't sleeping on their beds either!
xxx
He barely changed into a black outfit before hurriedly hiding behind the double windows. And then Suho stormed in with Dansae, before rousing Yeowool from his sleep. And it was a while later before Jidwi himself could come out of his hiding place and grab his knife.
He frowned. Why were Suho and Dansae in such a hurry at this time of night?
xxx
Suho, Yeowool and Danse had left the dorm with their weapons at hand. So Jidwi had followed them silently behind to see what were they up to.
But then he arrived to see Seonu near the pond area trying to fight off a group of assassins! Jidwi bit his lips. He wasn't expecting that Park Yeongshil would act so quickly. But if his men were here... it should mean that Park Yeongshil's household should be unguarded right now. So he might still be able to—
Jidwi turned his attention back towards the assassins. By now both Suho and Yeowool had joined the fray and entered into a swordfight with the group of intruders. With the commotion they're making right now it won't be too long before the guards to come over. His friends should be all right until then, Jidwi told himself. Yet his heart continued to feel uneasy.
Despite the training they've had prior, both Suho and Yeowool were fighting the assassins haphazardly as the fight dragged on. And from the way the assassins fought, it was clear that the Hwarang youths were vastly outmatched. How could he just leave them to fend for themselves?
"There's no need! I'm the one they're after!"
Seonu was holding Suho by his side to keep the other from lunging recklessly towards the assassins. But something didn't feel right.
There's something wrong about Seonu. The way he was moving seemed much more erratic than usual. He kept swaying like a drunk man as Suho pushed Seonu away before parrying one of the blades that descended towards him.
Another assassin got quite close to Seonu and took the chance to kick him down while he was still disoriented.
"Dogbird!" Suho cried out without warning at Seonu.
And before he realized it, Jidwi unsheathed the knife he was carrying as he stood in front of Seonu; blocking the blade that was about to strike the fallen man.
"I can't... keep on... being the cowardly mouse!"
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