PETALS OF BLOOD

Galmunwang Gukban was seated with his wife Lady Wolmyeong at a table and the two were drinking some tea.

As usual Lady Wolmyeong still sombre was weaving a dress and as Gukban looked at it it brought back to him memories that he'd always desired to forget over the years.

"Look after this child and take care of her as if she were your own, nourish her and shelter her from every attack and even when she has trouble going to sleep, tuck her in and sing her the sweetest songs or tell her the best stories.

When she falls and gets a wound treat her as you would treat your own child and even when I think that I am asking for so much please, at least if you are not willing in your heart but on my behalf love this child just as I would have loved her." He recalled his last words to his retainer Moo Mak.

"Whatever happens ride and even if you hear any screams do not turn around, even if you see fire rising up into the skies do not slow down and even if someone comes in your pursuit do not halt at all.

Take that child as far away as possible and I do not care whether it's Paekche, Sui or Gorguryeo.

Make sure that whatever the case is whether good or bad or even if she becomes stubborn herself and you have to lock her up do it as long as she never comes close to Chopalhye and even worse, she never sets foot in Seoraebeol." He'd gone ahead to instruct him.

"It's all my fault." Gukban said.

"No." Lady Wolmyeong refused.

"Because of me you could never move on from our child." Gukban said.

"Aren't I supposed to be thankful that she went to a much better place?" Lady Wolmyeong said.

"Don't lie to yourself my dear, you know I can see beyond that pain and that grief, there more than a hundred dresses that you have personally seem for her all these years." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I was going to adorn her with every jewel, I would clothe her in the most beautiful dresses and I was going to make her live the life befitting for a Princess.

At least wherever she may be as a father you might be strong enough but as a mother I am most sentimental." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"In this life or the next I am content that when I am praying for her soul she's forever secure." She added.

"I am the reason that our child had to part with us, had it not been for the Hallowed bone that I failed to renounce, she would be with us today." Gukban said.

"I don't blame you my dear, because I know much better than anyone else that this is your retribution.

If I could fight just as much as you could have, I would have protected her just as much with my life.

I nearly lost you and the world itself is rude." Lady Wolmyeong said.

Hardly had she spoken when Damju walked in on the both of them.

"Your Excellency, Milady." He said as he bowed his head to the both of them.

"What's it?"Gukban asked.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen...." Damju replied.

"What's wrong with her?" Gukban asked.

"She is pregnant." Damju replied.

Gukban closed his eyes.

"Danger and Misfortune has befallen Shilla." He said.

"What more right now?" Lady Wolmyeong asked.

"The Palace is blooded." Gukban replied.

"The Country is going to be plunded into Civil war." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"We must be ready." Gukban said.

"You're with the Princess right now." Lady Wolmyeong said, "What does she plan to do?" she asked.

"She always has a plan for everything though for the time being you can never be too certain what it is that is going through her mind." Gukban replied.

"It can't be helped." Lady Wolmyeong said, "She must be uneasy now hearing the news of a Royal child." She added.

"We can't do so much right now except to wait until the child is born, prior to that the very least that Princess Deokman can do is to prepare for the very worst." Gukban said.

Queen Sungman woke up and she sat up in her bed.

Bora who was seated right next to her gave her a bowl of anti abortifacients.

"Congratulations Your Highness." Bora said as Queen Sungman sipped on it slowly.

"Don't be too quick to congratulate me yet." Queen Sungman said.

"You are now with His Majesty's child your Highness, your efforts preparing for this all these years have finally paid off." Bora said.

"You can never be too certain Bora." Queen Sungman said, "This child that I carry with me is an open declaration of war on the Princess." She added.

"I heard though that instead of being awful she even thanked Heaven when she heard that Your Highness was pregnant." Bora said.

"She had no choice but to pretend." Queen Sungman said, "Human beings are just so crafty you can never tell how dark a heart is once hidden on top of a very good looking and Virtuous appearance." She added.

"You should have seen how everyone was." Bora said.

"What was their expression?" Queen Sungman asked.

"Everyone including the King himself was just as surprised." Bora replied, "Heaven really is on your side." She added.

"Perhaps it is time." Queen Sungman said.

"What are you going to now do Your Highness?" Bora asked.

"Our first priority is to protect this child at the cost of our lives, with it I can begin to gain influence in the Inner Court and curry favour with other Royal relatives." Queen Sungman replied.

"Yes Your Highness, we must watch whatever you eat, drink and wear." Bora said.

"Let's pray that this child is a boy." Bora said.

"All these years I have been treading on thin ice, this child being a boy is the best thing that could happen and relieve me of the burden of feeling inadequate in the Royal House." Queen Sungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Bora said.

King Jinpyeong was seated in his Chambers when his Eunuch walked in.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.

"What's the matter?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Her Royal Highness Princess Deokman requests to have an audience with you." The eunuch replied.

"Let her in." King Jinpyeong said.

"Yes Your Majesty." He replied as he bowed his head and walked out.

A while later Princess Deokman walked in and she bowed her head.

"Your Majesty." Princess Deokman said.

"Sit down." King Jinpyeong said as he pointed to the seat on his right hand.

Princess Deokman complied.

"I'm sorry." King Jinpyeong said.

"You needn't Your Majesty." Princess Deokman said.

"I am your father." King Jinpyeong said.

"And I respect you as my sovereign." Princess Deokman said.

"Forgive me for my shortcomings but even I least expected that things would turn out this way." King Jinpyeong said.

"It's natural to know and not know father, I can not blame you for it is your duty to this Shilla but I shall blame as a father." Princess Deokman said.

"Nothing was intended, I wronged you because I couldn't be very cautious in the very beginning." King Jinpyeong said.

"Where is it that our relationship stands father? I am your daughter but you call me Princess you must treat me as one, you are my father but I call you Your Majesty and I must treat you as one.

It was always give and take, me against you, your will and mine father, putting all that aside perhaps I had to endure even when my mother parted because all the male seeds keep drying up and I thought that perhaps I could trust you.

It is sad right now, for you men your devotion is never eternal, as long as a flower is young it has your surpassing grace but as with age it starts to wither your graces die with it.

I am coerced by the fate that I chose to decide for myself not just my will and devotion to myself but also to the people in our heavenly Kingdom you must have realised right now the true intentions of the people around you." Princess Deokman said.

"I understand if you are angry, I understand if I am unworthy of your forgiveness, I understand if I have wronged your mother and I haven't lived to her expectations as a very good husband and I understand if I have put you in a tough position as the Crown Princess." King Jinpyeong said.

"Do you know why I wanted to be the King of Shilla father?" Princess Deokman asked.

King Jinpyeong looked down.

"Cheonmyeong chose to marry for love but she was unfortunate the man that married her wasn't the one in her heart, Seonhwa chose to marry King Mu of Paekche but even up to now an alliance of peace was never achieved and because of the blood that flows in their son's veins he'll desire more than anything to be the King of Shilla.

You, Mother, Aunt Manmyeong are all people that I cherished as well but you can only imagine when one day you are gone what would happen to those people if your new Queen became a regent.

She could dream of running this country but against Paekche and Gorguryeo when we are caught in between with the heavens giving us the mountains as shields and the terrain being rough across the borders that define it, wouldn't we be absorbed.

I never wished to tell this to you Father but do you desire to go down into history as the last King of our Heavenly kingdom or the last smart politician that doomed Shilla's fate?" Princess Deokman asked.

King Jinpyeong kept quiet.

"As long as Your Highness is still alive, you could serve as his regent given that he is your brother." He said.

"I do not wish to be his regent father, being a regnant is all I ever wanted." Princess Deokman said.

"Does it matter?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Father, I didn't intend to come here to reprimand you as it is that in terms of seniority you surpass me by far and you brought me into this world.

I also didn't come here to convince you to sympathise with me as your daughter or to show you how willing I am to submit to your own cause. didn't come to seek favour, no, I didn't come to coerce you to see how most competent I am to be Shilla's next ruler." Princess Deokman said.

"You came to level with me?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"I came to tell you that as I decided before it still stands now, as I promised I won't go back on my word and if in future I do not hear surrender from those against me I won't declare a truce either.

Even if it means to die father, I will do so but even then just as it was with Seju Mishil, in the face of death my will itself shall remain unbroken." Princess Deokman replied.

"My dear, you would rather be a rebel?" King Jinpyeong said.

"That's my devotion to Shilla Your Majesty, which one is yours?" Princess Deokman asked as she bowed her head and she stood up.

Slowly, she walked out of the room and left the King in his chair.

He was all alone to the silence of his Chambers and not even his eunuch was around to bear his burden with him.

"It's all my fault Maya." King Jinpyeong said, "Because of me even my daughter who was everything that I had left in this world has deserted me." He grieved.

Princess Deokman walked outside the King's Chambers and there she suddenly came face to face with the Queen.

"Your Highness." Queen Sungman said as she bowed her head.

"Congratulations." Princess Deokman said but it didn't look hearty.

"Thank you." Queen Sungman replied.

"In your condition shouldn't you be resting more than walking around the Palace?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I was suddenly concerned about your father, I needed to see him." Queen Sungman replied.

"Perhaps he would do well enough to see you, after all he is the father of your child." Princess Deokman said.

"You are right." Queen Sungman said, "He is the father of my child." She added.

"I see." Princess Deokman said, "Perhaps my relationship with you was always predestined and there is nothing much that we can both do to change it." She said.

"Heaven is on my side, I can't help but ask myself why it had to be me to take on the responsibility of protecting this Shilla?" Queen Sungman temporarily boasted and Princess Deokman smiled.

"The will of heaven is indefinite, you never know when you gain it and similarly when it is that you lose it." Princess Deokman said.

"What can we human beings do if we can not control it?" Queen Sungman asked.

"The answer is simple." Princess Deokman said.

"What is it?" Queen Sungman asked.

"You must possess it." Princess Deokman replied.

She bowed her head and she walked past her stepmother as she vanished from her sight.

"Her intentions are very clear Your Highness." Bora said.

"Let's show her as well that we also bite and let us see how she possesses the will of heaven in her hand?" Queen Sungman said as she smiled and walked on towards the King's Chambers.

Princess Deokman walked into her Chambers and there she found Yushin Rang and Alcheon Rang seated and waiting for her.

"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads and Princess Deokman sat down with the portrait of Mishil hanging on the wall behind her.

"Your Highness." Yushin Rang said as he looked behind her.

"Mishil?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Yes." Yushin Rang said as he nodded his head.

Princess Deokman smiled.

"Why Princess?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Let's all be reminded." Princess Deokman said.

"What about Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.

"That's the path that we are taking from this day." Princess Deokman replied, "Whether History deems us to be rebels or Patriots that has all been set aside, we must show our competence that even in it's pages where some dislike us others shall accord us with respect for having been brave and strong.

From today we are going to decide whether our names shall grace the foundation for the unification of three Kingdoms of Samhan and before we can tread it it is important to know that this for us is a path without return." Princess Deokman said.

"My Loyalty Your Highness is with you, I can not forsake Gaya because I wish to entrust all it's people to you. Neither can I forsake you because aside from fighting for myself I chose to devote all my life to fighting for you." Yushin Rang said.

"I have known Your Highness since young, I embraced you as you were and I chose to follow you because just as you were devoted to Shilla so was I, if this is for the common dream we all have, we were a league before you even came to us.

If we are standing against the whole world in your name, then for Shilla we shall still fight because it wasn't Shilla that gave us everything but you." Alcheon Rang said.

"I am moved and today I am your sworn sister for life." Princess Deokman said.

"Give Your Order Your Highness, we are listening." Yushin Rang said.

"Go out to the world and gather my people, bring those that cherish me and recruit them to my service, give me Seungman and also train my warriors.

The future that is ahead of us is dark and the path that we are going to tread is blooded so I wish to draw the final distinction and you'll help me determine, who are my foes and who are my allies, I do not want anyone in between." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang and Alcheon said in unison.

"The lowly scholars that I have given power, the Generals whose names were accorded to the Samguk Yusa because of me.

The farmers and administrators that I have given lands and those that owe me it is high time that they returned the favour." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang and Alcheon said in unison.

"Every step is as important and nothing must be delayed, even when the situation remains calm in the future we mustn't relax and settle for any less." Princess Deokman said.

The deposed Queen Maya was kneeling in Buddha's hall and there she recited her prayers.

It was quiet and cold and lifeless but she wasn't alone as she had a few other nuns that were in her company.

After she had concluded her prayers, she stood up and as she walked outside in the temple courtyard she caught on a conversation between a few other nuns.

"Have you heard it all?" One of the nuns asked.

"Heard what?" Another said.

"The King's new Queen is pregnant with child." The other replied.

"It hasn't even been a year since the old Queen was deposed he is already with another woman expecting." One said.

"I heard that she was fair and young with good figure, she must have been capable if she got pregnant in less than two months after their matrimonial union." Another said.

"But what about Her Highness?" One asked.

"I heard that Princess Deokman was still determining a choice of a husband to rule along with her." One said.

"She competed with Kim Yongsu and she triumphed so people thought it was Kim Alcheon." One murmured.

"Enough." Someone suddenly yelled and the women turned around and they looked at another senior nun.

"How could you even dare in your own speak ill and gossip behind the Royal family, go and recite the sutras now." She scolded them.

"Yes Master." They replied and bowing their heads they walked away.

She walked up to Maya who still stood there startled as she recalled her husband's promise.

"Don't let them bother you." The Senior nun said as she held her on the shoulder.

"Is it true?" Maya asked.

"Yes." The Senior nun replied.

Maya smiled.

"At least he is happy." She said.

"Does it put you at ease?" The Senior nun asked.

"Yes." Maya replied.

"I hope so." the Senior nun said.

"I used to worry about him so much." Maya said.

"You still do." The Senior nun said.

"Yes." Maya agreed.

"Nothing is eternal." The Senior nun said.

"That's why we pursue Nirvana." Maya said.

"Lady Mano was just like you." The Senior nun said.

"Now I understand her." Maya said.

"You can not make everything go according to your plan but the best that you can do is to forget all that is secular and live carefree." The Senior nun said.

"After all if I don't pray for him who will?" Maya asked.

"Yes." The Senior nun said, "Who will?" She added as she patted the deposed Queen on her shoulder and then turning around she walked away while Maya bowed her head.

"This is your ordurous cause Deokman, I'll pray for you to be led through it." Maya thought to herself as she looked up at the sky.

The Hwarang had gathered in the arena and Princess Deokman was present at the ceremony where the five contestants were supposed to present what it was that they had come to learn.

Bidam Rang stepped out first.

"Bidam Rang?" Princess Deokman called.

"Yes Your Highness?" he replied and he bowed his head.

"According to the Song of the Hwarang, who are the Hwarang of Shilla?" Princess Deokman asked.

"The Hwarang of Shilla are it's bravest knights, men devoted to fighting for it and regardless of the cause we are the primary frontier of Shilla's growth.

We are sworn brothers and Filial sons, guardians of the people and the servants of the throne, Loyalty is our utmost calling and devotion our master in every aspect of life, the Hwarang of Shilla are it's very protectors." Bidam Rang replied.

"Thank you." Princess Deokman said and right next to him Junghwan Rang stepped to The front.

"Junghwan Rang?" Princess Deokman called.

"Yes Your Highness." Junghwan replied.

"Which five aspects does the song of the Hwarang teach us?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Loyalty to one's Lord and in this case Shilla is our overall Lord, Love and respect towards our parents that are the very people of this our Heavenly kingdom.

The trust amongst me and my friends that are my sworn compeers for life not retreating in battle knowing that if I should die then it should be in the honorary service of my country.

At last never to take a life without a just cause, if administering death as a punishment it should be to traitors, rebels and invaders from Paekche and Gorguryeo, assassins and those who threaten the stability of the country and the comfort of it's citizens." Junghwan Rang replied.

"Thank you." Princess Deokman said as Junghwan Rang stepped back and Haesul Rang moved forward.

"Haesul Rang?" Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Haesul replied as he bowed his head.

"What according to the Song of the Hwarang is Shilla?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Not the Fortresses and not the Palaces, not the mountains the hills and the valleys along with the borders that mark out this vast expanse of land.

Shilla is the sun, the brightest star of Samhan that can never be shot from the sky and retains her glory every time.

Shilla is the Hwarang, the troops and sworn compeers for life with whom we share a common devotion and a common aspiration.

Shilla is the blood of our Kings and forefathers, the people we do cherish and hold very dear in each and everyone of our hearts.

Shilla is the spirit of union that binds us all to a common dream that has become our Everlasting desire as she was and is and will forever be the Unifier of The Samhan." Haesul replied.

The Phoenix Corps immediately applauded him and Princess Deokman smiled at him as well.

"Thank you." She gracefully said as Haesul withdrew from her sight and Jaejung Rang stepped up.

"Jaejung Rang?" Princess Deokman called.

"Yes Your Highness." Jaejung Rang replied.

"According to the Song of the Hwarang would you tell me why the Sword is brandished and why it is the Hwarang's bossom friend?" Princess Deokman asked.

"The Sword is compliant with the will of its master and the fight to protect the Kingdom and bring about the dawn of one unified Empire isn't an easy one to begin with.

A warrior is never ready for a war only prepared, yet as he is haunted and his life threatened in the end only his sword can give him protection and only it alone it shares the weight of the blood on his hands.

The sword slays the warrior's demons, the sword becomes the warrior's Guardian, it knows better than anyone else how many lives the warrior slays and even better it gives no objection but serves the purpose the warrior uses it for.

The sword in the end is the life of the warrior's loved ones and like him it cherished them all and makes them its own just as it saves at the expense of others.

The warrior brandishes it so that he can use it to fulfill his will and as he fulfills his will with it he uses it longer and as he uses it longer in the end only it can learn to understand him that he needs to take care of it." Jaejung Rang replied.

"Thank you." Princess Deokman said as he was applauded and he stepped back.

Seungman walked up and replaced him.

"Seungman Rang?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Your Highness." She replied as she bowed her head.

"According to the song of the Hwarang tell us all what is the essence of its own presence in our hearts?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Everything there is that we do is the Hwarang it is for Shilla, devotion, love and worship, praise honour and everything we have to protect.

Our service in it's own whether through the most peaceful times to the very moments when chaos and havoc have been wrecked and even in the face of death.

Honour, bravery, loyalty and faithfulness that we can find in all our hearts to give and standing to fight even when the war tides are not in our favour, the farewell we bid uncertain if our return is something that is unquestionable and assured.

In every last breath and every drop of sweat, tears and blood that we shed, every sword, spear, shield, arrow and bow that we wield and we make, every effort there is and energy that we try so hard to invest and every battle we choose to win or fight in the face of defeat and surrender as well.

All of it that is a part of us that we can not turn down and a calling that none of us can resist, your Highness be it pain and torture or the joy and celebration, sorrow and perseverance that we face, beyond us all it is for Shilla and it shall always be." Seungman replied.

"Thank you." Princess Deokman said as she withdrew from the front and stood with the others as well.

"All candidates that are standing in front of us are diligent, all of them that are in front of us are very smart.

The panel itself shall decide and see, who amongst them all are worthy to be the winners of this round." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." The Hwarang said in unison as they all bowed their heads.

King Jinpyeong was seated inside his quarters still alone and it had been a number of days already but he was still thinking about the words that his daughter had told him.

"I came to tell you that as I decided before it still stands now, as I promised I won't go back on my word and if in future I do not hear surrender from those against me I won't declare a truce either.

Even if it means to die father, I will do so but even then just as it was with Seju Mishil, in the face of death my will itself shall remain unbroken." Princess Deokman had said to him.

"It is sad right now, for you men your devotion is never eternal, as long as a flower is young it has your surpassing grace but as with age it starts to wither your graces die with it." She'd gone ahead to say.

"No." King Jinpyeong said.

"I never wished to tell this to you Father but do you desire to go down into history as the last King of our Heavenly kingdom or the last smart politician that doomed Shilla's fate?" It still lingered in his ears.

"That's my devotion to Shilla Your Majesty, which one is yours?" Princess Deokman had said.

"What is my devotion to Shilla." King Jinpyeong asked himself.

He stood up and slowly he walked to the very side of his bed.

Right behind it he got out a small flat box which he opened and pulled out an empty Royal Edict that was already stamped with the Royal seal itself.

He walked with it and he placed it on the table that was right in front of him.

"I have risked all these years keeping you but you mustn't land into the wrong hands so I must decide right now what I must do." King Jinpyeong said.

He got out his brush and there he dipped it in ink and he readied himself.

"I won't go down in History as the King who doomed his people but I'll go down in it as the King who left behind a bright legacy which laid a foundation to the unification of the three Kingdoms of the Samhan and brought about the presence of a new light in Shilla." He whispered to himself as he slowly wrote down onto the golden scroll.

Princess Deokman stepped up in front of the Hwarang and there maintaining their silence they awaited to hear from her.

"All you brave knights and warriors of Shilla have done exceedingly and on this day, we have decided the final four to advance to the fifth stage of the Hwarang games." Princess Deokman said.

Everyone braced themselves as a few of the team members held hands.

"In the fourth position of this round we have Jaejung Rang representing the Sun Corps." Princess Deokman announced and Jaejung Rang stepped forward while the Sun Corps applauded him.

"In the third position we Seungman Rang from the Nameless sect." Princess Deokman announced and Seungman Rang stepped forward while the silence for her was already prevalent Alcheon Rang at least smiled at her pleased.

"In the second position we have Junghwan Rang of the dragon corps." Princess Deokman announced and Junghwan Rang stepped out with a loud applause coming from his teammates he joined the other three.

Bidam and Haesul Rang were left there and they stared at one another while Seungman also took a glance of Bidam as he seemed to recall the very words that she had told him about progressing to the final stage first.

"In the first position we have....." Princess Deokman halted and all the Knight Corps and the Phoenix Corps were on edge as they waited for the winner to be announced.

"In the first position we have Haesul Rang of the Phoenix Corps." Princess Deokman said and the Phoenix Corps exploded with so much joy Bidam didn't look at all surprised by this as Haesul Rang stepped up and joined the other three.

The four Candidates that are standing right here in front of me after a weak shall meet for another again challenge that shall decide those who shall advance to the sixth stage of the Games." Princess Deokman said.

Seungman turned around and looked at Bidam again and he could see that from the serious expression that was written in his eyes there was more to his sudden loss at the fourth stage.