LITTLE WOMEN

"Bring her in." King Jinpyeong ordered and the doors to the Throne room were opened as everyone's eyes turned to face in its direction.

There from amidst the sunlight that penetrated through it's windows a familiar Silhouette was present in a beautiful black and scarlet attire with gold and silver magnificently dressed.

Galmunwang Baekban and Ichan Seulbu were much more surprised by the King's gesture as Seungman made her way through the aisle which divided the Courtiers on both sides of the room while she eventually stopped right at the foot of the stairs that were beneath the King's Throne.

King Jinpyeong stood up as Seungman slowly turned and faced them all with a regal look on her face that still portrayed her warrior determination.

"Allow me with the grace of heaven to present to all you people of Shilla the daughter of my dear brother Galmunwang Gukban and Lady Wolmyeong that I have henceforth on this day created the once lost but now found Princess Seungman of Shilla." King Jinpyeong announced.

That alone served efficient to leave everyone puzzled as it came like a very heavy blow towards his heart while he looked up at the beautiful young woman.

"Your Majesty, what is this?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"We must all be grateful to heaven that this young woman has survived a series or ordeals which have brought her before us today." King Jinpyeong said.

"Your Majesty, for an incident that happened seventeen years ago, his sure can we be that she is the lost Princess?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.

"I know my daughter very well." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"It has been seventeen years, anything could have happened along the way, the real Princess could have died in infancy and all these are possible occurrences that we can not underestimate." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Perhaps you are right." Galmunwang Gukban said as he turned around and looked at the King.

"Seventeen years ago when your Majesty sent troops to Chopalhye Prefecture I had already been in an encounter with assassins that had threatened the life of all my family members your Majesty.

Along with them there were those that died in the nearby forest that was not so far from my residence because I knew they would come for me I took the liberty to set up animal traps that evening before my wife could give birth.

When the Assassins were about to close in on us I knew that it wasn't very safe and I decided to entrust the child into the care of my retainer Moo Mak who fled with her.

There were a lot of questions all of which asked why the two people vanished on the same day and there were no bodies so I had to take precautions and in a matter of time it was believable that the young Princess had perished when I alone knew that she was still alive.

I had before that child was sent away named her Kim Seungman and one would perhaps have said that there were many people who could carry this name but other than me and Moo Mak, there wasn't a single person who knew about the existence of my daughter even my wife.

As it is Your Majesty I have guarded her for seventeen years and in secret I looked after her until she returned to Seoraebeol that now I can finally tell you all with pride she is my daughter that the enemy failed to extinguish.

If that is not enough she possesses with her my very sword that was given to me by my father Crown Prince Bongryun and she possesses around her neck the Jade pendant that I gifted to her as a child." Galmunwang Gukban said.

The Courtiers looked at each other in surprise.

"There are witnesses to this and they can verify that Seungman is in deed the Lost Princess and a Seonggol Royal without any doubt and these are Alcheon Rang and Kim Yushin." Princess Deokman said with a smile on her face.

"Your Majesty, how could we dare let the Royal Princess of Shilla suffer such a disgrace?" Galmunwang Gukban asked.

"This issue doesn't need any further deliberation and I believe that you have all heard for yourself.

Lady Seungman who is standing before you is my niece and Princess Deokman's blood cousin and as you have all been told this news shall now be made public.

"Thank you your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban said as he bowed his head.

"The court is now adjourned." King Jinpyeong said and they all bowed their heads.

Galmunwang Baekban walked out in silence as a number of Courtiers around him were murmuring amongst themselves.

"Seventeen whole years, is this what Galmunwang Gukban was up to?" They asked themselves.

"He was too wise at a time like this to return the Royal Princess to the Palace and now that it stands he has a child she shall be his sole heiress to his wealth and fortune." Another remarked.

"That's true, even I was taken by surprise in there I could barely believe each and everything that was taking place, this least expected move he has orchestrated is something that perhaps Princess Deokman can use to her advantage." One said.

"But if it is as they said that someone was after Galmunwang Baekban's life and his family then he had no other choice and Perhaps whoever it is whether they are dead or alive today must have been the most ultimate defeat that they faced." They said as they descended from the stairs that led to the Throne room.

"All these years, was this the most grandiose day that you looked up to?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"To be honest this was also beyond my expectations, however should it be the will of heaven then it is in deed marvellous in our sight." Gukban replied.

"In deed the will of heaven is marvellous, seventeen whole years in what had seemed to be a war that you lost to your brother he was long defeated before he had even started fighting it." Ichan Seulbu said.

"I tried to keep my daughter away from Seoraebeol so that I would Protect her but when her identity was revealed I could send her away no more because something like this had it not been today was bound to happen some other time." Gukban said.

"You are right Your Excellency." Ichan Seulbu said, "Had it not been for today and if your attempts to keep her away from Seoraebeol have clearly failed and she found her way back home then it must be fate." he added.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Galmunwang Gukban asked.

"What exactly?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"My daughter and Her Highness are like sisters and both of them have become very close friends much more than I could have ever expected.

Seungman is brave while Deokman is wise and if these two women are to work hand in hand with one another then my loyalty to her Highness is guaranteed." Gukban said.

"You could say that but now that your daughter is a Seonggol there are things that are unavoidable." Ichan Seulbu said.

"Like what?" Gukban asked.

"If Her Highness Princess Deokman could be courageous enough to run and become Shilla's first female King, Seungman is similarly liable for the Royal throne so can't she be one as well?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

Gukban halted.

"The two like Mishil and Queen Sado can rely on each other to survive the political upheaval that has been laid ahead for them and now that my days are slowly coming to an end I might not witness it but could the both of them withstand that much opposition to achieve their unfeasible dreams?" Ichan Seulbu asked.

"If they are like fire and ice supplementing one another, like the sun and moon be it dryness or rain if Queen Sado and Mishil could stand within their generation so can they within ours." Gukban replied.

"I hope so too." Ichan Seulbu said, "All my life I have been a courtier that served from the time of King Jinheung my loyalty to three Sovereigns has been unwavering.

Above all though if not for my personal gain, my visage is clear when it is that of a Shilla that is bright like the glorious sun rises in the morning having truimphed over the darkness." He added.

Princess Deokman and Seungman were seated in the same room as they smiled at one another.

"Congratulations Your Highness." Princess Deokman said.

"Thank you." Seungman replied, "I couldn't have done it without you." She added.

"You deserved it." Princess Deokman said.

"I could see that everyone was overwhelmed with so much surprise." Seungman said.

"I could also tell." Princess Deokman said.

"So this is where the ordurous path we must walk begins." Seungman said.

"Now that you know our enemies shall become more and more in number." Princess Deokman said.

"It doesn't have to be that way though, for my worry now is Bidam." Seungman said.

"You don't have to worry anymore." Princess Deokman said.

"Why?" Seungman Asked.

"As it is you have laid off Galmunwang Baekban for a long time now I am not remorseful of the decision that you made, Bidam too has a sense of justice he has abandoned the sinking ship.

To put it in a simple way you were both the pillars of Galmunwang Baekban that he has placed amongst the Hwarang and I have claimed you upon this day so his plans and foundation in Shilla's primary force have clearly failed." Princess Deokman replied.

"However we can not be negligent when it comes to that fact." Seungman proposed.

"We won't." Princess Deokman said, "That gives us enough time to first and foremost handle his last string in the Royal family." Princess Deokman added.

"Her Highness the Queen?" Seungman asked.

"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.

"How?" Seungman asked.

"The Queen could be so conniving but she couldn't possibly be thinking that she is the only one that can manipulate the will of heaven because if that is the idea that is going through her mind then that is rather sad." Princess Deokman replied.

"Whatever you say Your Highness, I am listening." Seungman replied.

"Let us all begin by killing the Female Ruler Jin." Princess Deokman replied.

Galmunwang Baekban was seated in his Chambers as he recalled everything that had happened in the Courtroom.

"Allow me with the grace of heaven to present to all you people of Shilla the daughter of my dear brother Galmunwang Gukban and Lady Wolmyeong that I have henceforth on this day created the once lost but now found Princess Seungman of Shilla." King Jinpyeong had announced.

"When the Assassins were about to close in on us I knew that it wasn't very safe and I decided to entrust the child into the care of my retainer Moo Mak who fled with her." He recalled his brother's explanation.

Haek Ga walked in on him.

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

"You must have heard how everything went down." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied.

"I always thought that I had laid the very best foundation and I thought that I had set every piece in motion the past seventeen years.

I fostered suspicion between the King and my brother and in a nick of time before my own eyes it was all cleared.

Princess Deokman has become more powerful on one end and the root that I had placed amongst the Hwarang and nurtured in a moment she has possesed for herself.

I had Bidam and Soseok Rang convince the masses to have her made the holder of the Union banner this time around and they succeeded but in one move Princess Deokman has robbed me of nearly everything." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Your Excellency, you mustn't lose hope." Haek Ga said. "There is the Queen still." He added.

"The Queen for me was supposed to be a temporary pone in this game but Seungman was supposed to be a rook that I couldn't give up because of her remarkable talent.

To sow discord between her and Princess Deokman us close to Impossible because given everything that has happened myself having deprived her of her childhood she'd bear more resentment towards me." Haek Ga said.

"This was beyond my every expectation but now I can only look to Kim Chunchu who by now should feel himself to be more distant from the throne with the Presence of another able Seonggol woman but he too is probable and should the worst come to the worst then we shall take up the last resort." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied.

Queen Sungman entered her quarters and she sat down at her table.

"All this time Seungman was a lost Princess?" She said.

"It seems so Your Highness." Bora replied.

"This can only spell out trouble for us because to begin with an alliance between both herself and Princess Deokman is bound to make those two the most powerful women in Shilla." Queen Sungman said.

"The tide is rather unfavourable Your Highness because if what I am thinking is right and Seungman is convinced that the person that tore her family apart was Galmunwang Baekban then that shall be the end of their alliance and the beginning of her resistance towards him has already been heralded." Bora said.

"On whom can we lean now?" Queen Sungman asked.

"Your Highness I don't know, as it is right now we are worried then Her Highness must be up to something " Bora said.

"Those two are invincible together so they can't just turn into foes that easily the only that we can save ourselves is if we are willing enough eliminate one of our rivals." Queen Sungman said.

"Your Highness, to kill those two is something that isn't that easy." Bora said.

"We don't necessarily have to give up just yet as we have only until this child is born so go into the city and spread the rumors that THE FEMALE RULER JIN HAS EMERGED FROM THE NORTH AND MISHIL HAS RESURRECTED IN THE SOUTH, AT THE CENTRE OF IT ALL WHERE THE TWO COLLIDE, SEORAEBEOL IS UNDER TENSION AND SHILLA IS FORCED TO SCATTER." Queen Sungman ordered.

"Yes Your Highness." Bora replied.

All the people from across the city stood at the posters that had been spread throughout the various points in the Kingdom.

The streets were wach filled with the announcements that King Jinpyeong had put up and the people gathered at the sight of the news that had already captivated nearly all the people of Seoraebeol.

In every street it had already become the topic as the murmurs of the people were all talking about the strange Lost Princess that the people themselves had not known.

In the streets of Handasa County in one of the streets there happened to be a bus stander when the official put up the notice and the moment that the people started to gather there he himself he was drawn closer to see what really were the contents of the message.

There written boldly was a long passage which he read and as his eyes descended he was further surprised.

"Who knows how to read?" The people asked.

"Me." The man replied and removing his veil he turned out to be Damhyeong.

He walked through as the people paved way for him until he had eventually stopped to stare at the notice right in front of them all.

"Read it hurry up." The people yelled at him.

"Silence." He commanded at once and the people were quick to give him their ears that he himself he couldn't believe that they were that desperate to know what the notice said.

He gulped before he could strain his voice a little to speak to the Majority.

"THE ROYAL HOUSE OF INPYEONG WOULD LIKE TO GIVE GLORY TO HEAVEN AND THANK THE GODS WHO UPON THIS DAY HAVE GIVEN US THE RETURN OF THE LOST PRINCESS KIM SEUNGMAN DAUGHTER OF GALMUNWANG GUKBAN AND LADY WOLMYEONG.

FOR THE MERCIES THAT ARE ENDLESS AND FOR THE GOOD OF SHILLA SHE IS CREATED WONHWA OF THE HWARANG AND HEIRESS TO THE HOUSE OF KIM." he read.

"A lost Princess?" the people asked themselves.

"Are you sure that you have read it well young man?" They asked him but Immediately he had finished Damhyeong had already made his way through the people as he ran away and negotiated a nearby corner.

Throughout the streets he went raising ba thick cloud of dust behind him as he leaped over chickens and cart wheels while he came to the path which was filled with a lot of haystacks.

He mounted them and was headed in front where two men who happened to be carrying a ladder were and he swiftly jumped over them while he landed gracefully on his feet.

After a short while he reached a small cottage and there he found Moo Mak who was seated right outside a small local restaurant and he was eating a bowl of rice.

"Master, Master , Master." He called as he halted right in front of him and he bowed his head.

"What is it Damhyeong and why are you acting like a mad man?" He asked.

"I did it master Moo Mak." Damhyeong said proudly.

"What did you do?" Moo Mak asked as he continued to eat his bowl of rice.

"I found her." Damhyeong replied and at once Moo Mak halted. "I found Seungman." Damhyeong added.

"Where?" Moo Mak said as he stood up from where he was seated.

"She is in Seoraebeol." Damhyeong replied.

"Seoraebeol?" Moo Mak said uncertainly.

"Yes." Damhyeong confirmed.

"Where did you learn about this?" Moo Mak asked.

"Her name is on the notice board." Damhyeong replied.

"Even after all these years I guess no matter how hard I tried to keep her from Seoraebeol I suppose that it was her destiny to go back one day." Moo Mak said.

"Do you know that Seungman was a lost Princess all this time?" Damhyeong asked.

"I knew all her life." Moo Mak replied.

"Then why didn't you tell her?" Damhyeong said.

"Do you think it is that easy?" Moo Mak asked.

"She had a right to know." Damhyeong said.

"That her father asked me to keep her away from him?" Moo Mak said.

Damhyeong kept quiet.

"For Seungman to be sent away in the first place it was for her own safety given that there were many people out there that wanted her dead.

Now that she could be a grown up that fact alone doesn't change and with her identity made known to the world right now it doesn't matter any more because she is still no longer safe and yet as her father I swore to protect her with my life." Moo Mak said.

"Master, if you go to Seoraebeol then I am coming with you because Seungman just as she is your daughter you knew for seventeen years she is also the only friend that I have ever known." Damhyeong said.

"Very well then, hurry up now and pack all our belongings because we are leaving for Seoraebeol immediately." Moo Mak ordered.

"Yes Master." Damhyeong replied as the two walked away from the restaurant together.

Princess Deokman was seated in her Chambers when Yushin Rang walked in a while later.

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

"Yushin Rang." Princess Deokman called him while she pointed at the seat by her side and there Yushin sat down.

"Your Highness, you look happy today." Yushin remarked.

"How can I not be?" Princess Deokman asked, "At last now that I have Seungman recognised as a Princess I am at ease for all those times that I felt so close to her I can now believe that it was all for a good reason." She added.

"She like yourself is devoted towards Shilla and also like yourself she is very courageous and smart." Yushin said.

"I'd thought that there couldn't be another like me and that I was cursed to be lonely for all my life but thanks to Seungman that girl I can eventually start to breathe and fill some peace." Princess Deokman said.

"I agree Your Highness, all my life I had always seen Seungman in a rather different light but now as it is I feel rather grateful that she saved Alcheon Rang's life in the first place and she came to Seoraebeol." Yushin Rang said.

"Yes." Princess Deokman said, "Who would have thought that Shilla of all the three Kingdoms of the Samhan would be graced this much with the presence of two strong women at the same time?" Princess Deokman added.

"Heaven has its way Your Highness, the Palace has it's own life, all the years that I fought so hard by your side as both your General and your friend this is one of those rare opportunities that I have had to see you smiling heartily on your face." Kim Yushin said.

"You are right." Princess Deokman said, "I feel this time that rather than someone being responsible for my life I am responsible for another as well." Princess Deokman said.

"Is there a day that comes Your Highness that you do not think of other people and you think of only yourself?" Yushin Rang asked.

"I am afraid not Yushin." Princess Deokman replied, "You know much better than anyone else there is that there is no one to think of me other than you, as the Ruler that I have chose to fight to become for Shilla I don't think that I am in the position of affording that luxury." She added.

"Isn't Seungman doomed as well to be like you?" Yushin Rang asked.

"No." Princess Deokman replied, "This is not doing for us." She added.

"I see." Yushin Rang replied

"For us both we have given ourselves to Shilla and all our hearts and souls have gone along with it, it is you our people that we have to lean on and you the men that we love and cherish that we are fighting so hard to protect.

When we reflect upon you in every battle that we are caught in against the world, you become a reason that we have to keep fighting to the end even if it has to destroy us all." Princess Deokman said.

"Your Highness, we never asked for that much." Yushin said.

"It is all that we can give Yushin." Princess Deokman said, "For your children are our own and your descendants are our grandsons and daughters, we'll give them the wealth of those nations and the beauties of the land as a reward of the fealty and loyalty along with the blood that you shed for us." She added.

"When I listen to your Highness I find my rythm to right." Yushin said.

"Tomorrow is going to be a very big day." Princess Deokman said, "At last before we can go to war we must consolidate that major victory for ourselves." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang replied.

"Good." Princess Deokman said, "You have always been so Young despite having grown old enough and now you are starting to slowly mature." She added.

"Your Highness, if I must see reason in life and the purpose to fluorish and fulfill your dream then it is because I have followed you for nearly all the earliest days of my life." Yushin said.

"Like the stars, the moon and the sun in the sky Yushin Rang, we can never be parted and neither can we surrender to the cause of others other than that of a Unified Shilla." Princess Deokman replied.

Kim Chunchu was seated in his Chambers when Geumyang walked in.

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

"What is it?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"It's a letter from Galmunwang Baekban." Geumyang replied.

"Put it down there." Kim Chunchu said.

"Yes Your Highness." Geumyang replied as he placed the small envelope on the table in front of his master.

Kim Chunchu was thinking about the words that he had been told and what King Jinpyeong had said in the Court.

"Allow me with the grace of heaven to present to all you people of Shilla the daughter of my dear brother Galmunwang Gukban and Lady Wolmyeong that I have henceforth on this day created the once lost but now found Princess Seungman of Shilla." He'd said that Chunchu smiled.

"The grace of heaven?" He said so lightly as he looked down at the envelope on the table.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Geumyang asked.

"Geumyang?" Kim Chunchu called.

"Yes?" Geumyang replied.

"Am I cursed to forever spend my days lingering around the Throne?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Your Highness, please don't say that." Geumyang replied.

"And why shouldn't I?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Patience is a virtue." Geumyang remarked.

"Only when something is certain and not when it's like a liability that constantly wears thin." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Your Highness, when life throws a test at you you must endure because at the end of it all you shall finally get everything that you wished for." Geumyang said.

"Galmunwang Baekban was patient all these years and despite a bone privilege that he has which was deprived of me how far has he come?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"He is but another sinking ship Your Highness which is why he is looking for a sail that can help him through the storm and in the end of it all, it shall be replaced." Geumyang said.

"How certain are you about that?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"If he acted rashly in the first place perhaps he wouldn't have lived this long, if he had also been very successful in his venture in the first place then none of this would have happened." Geumyang said.

"I grow weary everyday." Kim Chunchu said.

"It's a price that you must pay." Geumyang replied.

"Seungman like Princess Deokman is just as ambitious and I believe that it is much clear in her eyes that she is going to demand a right to the throne one day like Her Highness and she will surely inherit it." Kim Chunchu said.

"There is nothing too certain Your Highness however if you wished to rebel now then even the smallest chance that you would have had shall have been lost." Geumyang replied.

"Must you take caution on my behalf this much?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"You are master and should you fall then I shall fall as well, for now rather than reading that letter I am most certain that you can tell what it's contents are so forget it." Geumyang said.

"But can I afford to do that?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Geumyang replied.

It was very early in the morning and there were people that were drawing water from a well that stood on the Eastern part of the city.

The first threw the bucked down and then he slowly pulled it out as he anticipated for the water to turn up on top but what he saw surprised him and he let go of the bucket that it fell back inside while the attention of all the other people was attracted to him.

They drew closer in groups while he turned around and ran away and the others who were curious drew water from the wall and pulled out the bucket to see it's contents.

The water was entirely red and thick like blood that it smelled so much like blood itself and the stench rather bothering it had caused the people to run away.

King Jinpyeong was seated in his throne room with the Courtiers when Ichan Seulbu his Sangdaedeung spoke up.

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

"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Your Majesty, this is chaos." Ichan Seulbu said, all the water points within the city have gushed out nothing but blood and there is a bothersome stench that is filling the air." Ichan Seulbu said in reply.

"Blood?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." Ichan Seulbu confirmed.

"Your Majesty, some believe that all these signs are pertaining to the advent of the Female Ruler Jin and across the whole of Seoraebeol she is being called the mother of all Shilla's calamity." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"There is even a rumour Your Majesty that has been travelling around recently about it." Kim Yongsu said.

"What does it say?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"THE FEMALE RULER JIN HAS EMERGED FROM THE NORTH AND MISHIL HAS RESURRECTED IN THE SOUTH, AT THE CENTRE OF IT ALL WHERE THE TWO COLLIDE, SEORAEBEOL IS UNDER TENSION AND SHILLA IS FORCED TO SCATTER." Kim Yongsu replied.

"And what is the cause of this calamity?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"None of us knows Your Majesty but people widely believe that this is a sign that is pertaining to the fall of our state." Galmunwang Baekban said.

Hardly had he spoken when King Jinpyeong's Eunuch walked up to His Majesty and he bowed his head.

"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Your Majesty, Princess Deokman and Lady Seungman believe that they can do something about the matter and they are standing outside and requesting to have an audience with you." The Eunuch replied.

"Please let them in." King Jinpyeong said.

"Yes Your Majesty." His Eunuch replied as the doors of the throne room were flung open and the two women walked in and they stopped right in front of King Jinpyeong.

"Your Majesty." They said as they bowed their heads.

"What is it that you have to say?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"There is chaos all over the city as the people have gone thirsty, the water turning into blood could be a sign of heaven and we are here to ask Your Majesty to resort to divination." Princess Deokman said as the two bowed their heads.

"Divination you say?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." The two replied in unison as the Courtiers murmured at themselves in disbelief while the two seemed rather firm in their claim.