3. Heavenly Musician

A soft knock resounded in the silent room.

Saehon was lying flat on the floor with puffy red eyes and cheeks stained with dried tears, staring at the ceiling. She didn't have any more tears to shed at that moment, so she let herself enter a state of dazed thoughtlessness.

For the last few days Saehon barely left her room. She cried quite a lot and woke up from nightmares every night. She didn't scream - she learned a long time ago not to, but that was something she never really got used to, despite how often terrifying night images came to her. She was in a whole new world, but she was still struggling with the old burden from her previous life  that would most likely never leave her. What she has seen was bound to stay with her for the rest of her life. However she was ready to start anew. She cleared her heart with tears, tears she didn't let out when her mother died and all the years prior.

She was rebuilding herself, but it was a very slow process. She knew that if someone spent too much time with her during that time, she would build him right into the core of her existence, she would make him a much bigger part of herself than anyone has ever been. So she kept a distance from her new father and all of the servants.

For that reason she didn't answer the door when she heard the knock. She hoped that this person would once again give up and leave. They always did that, but it seemed not to be the case today.

"Young lady..." her servant called softly. It was one of the twins, Nabi or Nari.

"Your father asks you to come to the courtyard. He invited the best musician in the country in hopes to cheer you up... You always wanted to hear his playing."

Saehon stayed silent.

"Lady, please come out. People even call him a Heavenly Musician. An occasion like this is very rare. I'll help you with makeup to cover your eyes..."

Finally Saehon sighed.

"Come in."

In fact she didn't care about her puffy eyes or her appearance whatsoever. It was the sincere concern in her servant's voice that convinced her. After all no one understood why she cried all the time. For all they knew she just lost her memories and got hurt - and the wound on her head was healing well. Nobody was aware of the memories that resurfaced now thanks to the new found safety, after she buried them deep within her heart so long ago.

"My lady!" The maid ran over and kneeled beside her. "Are you alright?"

Saehon stood up and noted that it was Nari, who had a small mole on her forehead.

"I'll be fine."

"Lady..." Deep concern and worry in the younger girl's voice brought Saehon back from her thoughts.

"Don't worry. I'll just get dressed and go."

Nari helped her put on a rather simple dress. She wanted Saehon to wear her best, but the minister's daughter didn't feel very glamorous at the moment. She didn't even agree to put makeup on or style her hair with accessories. She would just look like a clown with the amount of tapestry she would have to put on herself to cover the signs of crying.

She wore her white shoes when leaving the room. It was actually a small hut, like all rooms in the household. They all opened up on the pretty paths surrounded by flowers. Saehon was always amazed by the beauty of the place and often wondered what their hideout looked like in it's greatest time. It was a palace after all.

The young woman scolded herself for thinking of the past again. It was not the right time for that.

Finally she and her maid arrived at the courtyard where her father was talking to a very handsome man. While Wang Selgion was beautiful, the musician was most definitely handsome. His skin was more tanned, not as white as the physician's. His cheek bones were high, eyes narrow and lips thin. He had a sharper look in his eyes, his brows were the shape of swords. His hair was tied in a ponytail as it flowed down his back. He was taller than her, his shoulders wide and his back straight. He carried himself with pride and confidence, but also a certain easiness.

He turned his head to the side as if he felt her gaze on him and for a moment their eyes met. She felt a shiver when a slightly familiar feeling crossed her heart, but she couldn't recognize it. She looked away to her new father, who has just noticed her.

"Meijin!" He called and hurried to her side, looking worriedly at her red eyes. "How do you feel?"

"I'm alright." She smiled at him. "Though I could have been better." She added when she saw his doubtful expression. He looked worried again, but before he could say another word the musician cleared his throat.

"Oh! Right, come with me, come with me. Meet Song Danho, the Heavenly Musician. You always pestered me about how you wanted to listen to his music."

Saehon once again cast a curious glance at the young man. She noticed that he was looking at her as well. She smiled and bowed slightly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

He smiled and bowed back.

"Of course."

Saehon was lost for a moment. She may have been raised with war raging around, but she knew for sure that it was not the proper response. She frowned. Was he really THAT full of himself? However, she still smiled at him lightly while minister Yan cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Come, Meijin..." He led her to a seat shaded by a beautiful tree, while the artist sat opposite of her with his gayageum in front of him. Saehon looked at him expectantly. She wondered if he was really that great, or if he just thought too highly of himself.

He noticed her challenging gaze and smiled lightly. Then he concentrated on the redness of her eyes and after a second or two closed his own. For a moment silence fell, even the birds didn't utter a sound. And then his fingers flew across the strings as his eyelids shot up. His irises bore straight into her eyes and remained there as a song ran from his instrument. It was a storm on the sea with big, roaring waves and wind howling desperately. It was raw and wild in the most savage way, like only the merciless nature can be. It was sorrow, anger and desperation, it was destruction. It was everything Saehon felt deep inside. For days she tried to open the hidden door with soft tears, not knowing it needed a storm. She froze and looked at him wide eyed. Memories from her previous life flashed before her eyes. Blood, death, war. Everything terrible she has ever seen once again right in front of her allowing her to understand the last emotion this song awakened.

Fear.

Mindless fear caused by helplessness and no way out. The source of the worst of human's deeds. Saehon felt fire of fear and anger and sorrow burn inside her, but it became smaller still as the melody quieted down slowly, remaining sad. Now it was like a cold rain, dark clouds covering the crying sky. It played on the loneliness and longing of the girl's soul. Saehon didn't even notice when tears flowed down her face once once again. She cried along with the melody that reached her deepest emotions and the part of her heart she wanted to hide from others forever. In fact she wanted to hide it from herself even more. She missed her real father, she missed her mother... But she missed her boyfriend too. Even though he was a traitor who brought death to so many people she knew, she missed him. His smile, his eyes, his jokes and his teasing. She missed all of him. He was with her since they were little always ready to help and support her. He was her pillar on which she relied. So when he broke down, her whole world followed. The musician must have taken pity on her, as the melody brightened. It stopped crying and slowly warmth like a mother's hug embraced her. She calmed her breath as she was told that it'll be all right, it'll get better. She can do it. The notes became more confident. That's right, she was strong. She'll get through this. She was strong. Stronger than most. She raised her head higher, her gaze hardening. She met the musician's piercing stare, as if he didn't look at her, but right through her. She noticed that his cheeks were also strained with tears. Why?

When curiosity entered the song his fingers froze breaking it. The last note lingered for a while longer before it died away as the two people stared at each other, his sight once again concentrating on her. All around them was quiet until her father cleared his throat tearing them from their trance. Saehon slowly shifted her sight to him, slightly annoyed that he broke the magical moment. Song Danho chuckled at that and got to his feet drying his face without shame. Saehon raised as well to walk a few steps in his direction. She bowed deeply with great gratitude.

"Thank you." Her voice was grateful, but a note of strength sounded deep within it. He bowed back looking at her very curiously. He has never seen a young lady with emotions like that hidden inside. They were strong and not at all childish or immature. Some of them he has seen in war veterans who had nothing to lose, some in mourning orphaned children. But the most peculiar was that strength in her heart that pushed her forward. He suddenly found himself wanting to know more about her.

"If you'd like I can come over and play for you again someday."

Saehon looked at him surprised, but smiled warmly.

"I don't know how to express my gratitude."

It was her father who spoke. He looked at the musician expectantly and a little fearfully. The girl furrowed her brows, but then she understood. Bringing the best musician in the country to play for her must have been in no way cheap or easy. Now the king's adviser worried about the price of the next visit. She looked over to the young man who stood there pondering over the question.

"Don't worry. That is for your daughter to think about." He met her gaze and smiled. She heard her father draw air hastily and giggled. She had to admit, the young artist was rude, but he had skills backing up the rudeness. She looked at her father again, he seemed torn. The truth is he was worried about what the musician could ask his daughter for, but on the other side this was the first time she laughed or even smiled without restraints since the incident. Her eyes were still slightly red, but they were shining with sun now. Somehow this sad and angry music cheered her up. Finally after a few seconds of inner fighting his shoulders fell and he grumbled something under his nose. That was some sort of an agreement.

The teenage girl frowned.

"I don't see what I could offer you that my father can't. All the treasures in the house belong to him. I don't have any talents so I won't be able to do anything for you in return. At least none that I remember."

Song Danho laughed quietly.

"Oh don't worry, I won't ask for much. Just... tell me your story."

Her eyes shot wide open at that sentence, her body tensing before she ordered her muscles to ease up.

"My story?" She furrowed her eyebrows once again in a pretended confusion. "I don't even remember it. A few days ago I hit my head on the rock and lost my memory. Even my name seems new to me." She smiled apologetically at him, he returned her gaze.

"I understand."

She shivered at his response. She knew he meant more than what she just said. He understood. He understood that she lied and he partially understood why. Saehon wondered how and why, but didn't let anything show, bowing at him ever-so-slightly instead.

He sensed her uneasiness and turned to her father.

"I'm afraid I can't stay for tea." He said, reminding him at the same time, that he didn't even propose it before the performance. The older man felt really bad because of that.

"O-of course. I'll walk you outside. Come over any time."

Saehon laughed inwardly as they started walking towards the entrance and turned to her maid who stood quietly on the side the entire time.

"Nari, could you please bring some jasmine tea to my room?"

Not waiting for a response she walked quickly and shut the door behind her upon entering. She didn't feel like lying down and crying anymore. Instead, she walked in circles around her room, deep in thought.

That man saw right through her heart and soul releasing her emotions through his song. That man realized that there was more to her than just a girl who lost her memory. That man knew she was hiding a secret.

That man was dangerous.