THE LADY SOLDIERS

Galmunwang Baekban was still waiting outside for some news when one of the soldiers from the endangered party emerged from within the trees.

"Your Excellency." He said as he went down onto his knees.

"Was the ambush successful?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.

"I am afraid your Excellency that the ambush has failed, Chilsuk Rang is in trouble and Seokpum Rang has been captured by..." The man was still saying when an arrow struck him from the back and he fell onto the ground dead.

Galmunwang Baekban looked ahead and in a distance he caught sight of Seungman the white rider herself who with a bow at hand had made the shot and right behind her were wild soldiers that attacked the last dregs of them with all their full force.

"Seungman." Galmunwang Baekban thought to himself inwardly, "You have prevailed." He added while Seungman throwing away her now and arrow she unsheathed her family sword and raised it in the air.

"Today by my hands you shall be slain." Seungman thought to herself inwardly as well.

She charged on Ammal and with all her men spreading out from all directions surrounding Galmunwang Baekban's followers, the antagonistic parties clashed openly.

Seungman penetrated the with her stead as she swang her Sword side to side as she severed head from body they all fell down.

Galmunwang Baekban where he was he was surrounding by a couple of people as they pushed back while trying to penetrate their enemy forces.

Galmunwang Baekban was holding a sword and he exhibited so much confidence and skill with it and slowly by slowly widening the gap between both Seungman and himself the wrath of his forces charged towards Seungman in particular.

Haesul Rang, Junghwan Rang and Alcheon Rang positioned themselves right behind her while Princess Deokman stood on a hill and gazed down into the valley as she spectated the war.

Galmunwang Baekban raised his eyes up to the cliff that hang above them and there he saw another branch of the army watching them along with Princess Deokman while they flooded the valley with blood.

Seungman and her fellows were surrounded and Galmunwang Baekban's men all launched their attack towards the very nucleas where they had been nestled.

The Shilla soldiers that had Seungman's back weren't also bring forced back that easily as they broke the circle of the enemy they forced their own inside while one of them carried Seungman's banner.

The moment that it was laid into her hands she leaped with all the strength that she could find and launching herself off Ammal she landed in the enemy.

With only a single wave of her hand she swept them all onto the ground.

Her anger finally breaking free had provoked the deepest devil within her and with her mast she cleared the way while she made it towards Galmunwang Baekban.

Haesul Rang and Alcheon Rang took her left she right respectively and their fighting along a straight plane they repelled those that fought to get close to Seungman.

Damhyeong positioned himself right behind and fighting backwards the four had formed a cardinal attack.

Galmunwang Baekban's men were retreating only to cover up the gap between their master and his pursuer themselves as they through their own bodies onto the spot whether injured on the arm and the leg as they or orchestrated a retreat for him.

Before Galmunwang Baekban could go any further, another force approached him from behind and another group of soldiers collided with the ones that were already on the battlefield.

He was caught in between at that moment as those bearing the very long spears charged towards him.

A large mass if his defenders put their bodies in place and their they were struck guarding him while they tried to look for an open gap but they were being enclosed in a very thick circle with about twenty thousand soldiers against their only surviving hundreds.

Seungman still looked for the perfect aim as she cleared and their the archers that were surrounding Galmunwang Baekban put their arrows inside their bows and they aimed at Seungman.

A large number of foot soldiers with shields rushed to her aid as they formed an arrow formation around her she still charged within in and handing over her mast she unsheathed her Sword and then she began hitting the other arrows away.

There was a break as Galmunwang Baekban's archers prepared to strike again and at that moment it was Gopheung's turn to give the command to his archers as well to retaliate.

The soldiers about fifty in number pit their arrows in their bows and aiming them at Galmunwang Baekban they shot down his men slowly one by one their shield wall was crumbling it finally started to expose Galmunwang Baekban.

Out of the woods there was another horse that emerged and loudly neighing it charged onto the battlefield while Seungman and Princess Deokman's eyes shifted to see who it was.

In a distance Chilsuk had reappeared his entire body drenched with blood that was dripping from his clothes he had some mild wounds on him.

He started by penetrating the Shilla forces and there he set himself on the path that was headed for Seungman.

Seungman returning her sword to the scabbard picked up her mast as her shield disintegrated and moved around while she charged towards Chilsuk who was viciously riding on a red stead.

By the time the two were In a close range with one another Chilsuk Rang with his sword tightly in his grip he waved it with anger while Seungman rotated on her feet and the steed bypassing her she stripped it with her mast while Chilsuk only cut a piece of the hair that exceeded the veil of her helmet.

The horse stumbled and fell down while Chilsuk was headed for the ground face first he'd only summersaulted.

Seungman set himself right behind one of her soldiers who placing the shield before him she stepped on it and pushing with all his might he was successful in launching her away that she tightly held at the end of her mast angrily while she made her descent on Chilsuk.

Chilsuk seeing the shadow above him in an attempt to orchestrate a move that could save his life reacted a little bit later when the top head of the past which possessed the white banner crushed his skull that he immediately started to bleed while he moved backwards.

Those that were around her were frightened.

Seungman charged forward while swinging her mast's head and Chilsuk in an attempt to guard with his sword he was repelled.

Seungman turned around and ceasing the head she pointed the base at him and without any hesitation like a spear she sent it flying it finally crushed through Chilsuk's abdomen and pushed him backwards as he collided with his other comrades.

Seungman then charged towards him with her fists as his fellows moved forward while she angrily punched them all they fell onto the ground and others she stubbed with their own swords and daggers she had finally reached Chilsuk who had dropped down his sword and was unable to move.

"Seungman?" He called as he raised his hand and Seungman unsheathing the sword that within her scabbard, with so much anger she looked at him.

"You were an Enemy of Shilla, you became an enemy of mine, here I shall end you and I shall in return for her soldiers whose lives you have taken quench the thirst of her soils with your blood." Seungman said as she waved her sword and sliced through his neck his head landed onto the ground for a moment everyone was surprised and they halted in fear.

Seungman turned around to look at Galmunwang Baekban and his last surviving followers and without hesitation she raised into the sky his head and showed it to them.

They had lost the morale to fight anymore.

Galmunwang Baekban out of so much fury he threw down his sword and picked up a bow and arrow from one of his fallen archers and there he faced the cliff that wasn't so high and far away and aimed the arrow at Princess Deokman.

She didn't move and she stood their the same while the other Soldiers that were behind her pulled out their bows and arrows as well and shot before he could let go just a few seconds later.

His arrow was not much for the large wave of hundreds that had been shot towards him and all this people being shot down while he spectated with so much humiliation he raised his hands up to the sky and closed his.

His arms and legs forced him to the ground injured and his head still surviving Seungman rushed through his last remaining guardians and cutting them all they fell down onto the ground eventually she halted in front of the man that she wanted unable move a muscle or hurt him she was in the centre of all the attention along with him.

"Seungman?" Galmunwang Baekban said.

She stretched out her word and pointed it at him.

"Are you not as ferocious as a lion?" Seungman asked.

"Your malice gas surpassed any of mine and that of any woman that I have ever seen." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"You must be happy, when everyone around you has fallen and I have singlehandedly orchestrated their deaths, this is a masterpiece that history itself shall forever remember." Seungman said.

"And when the historians put this in the records of the Kingdom for the future generations to come do you expect them to herald your demonization?" Baekban asked.

"This isn't something that they'll need to know, as long as Shilla can remember that I brought it prosperity, regardless of how I did it I wouldn't mind." Seungman replied.

"One is calm and wise, the other is strong and violent." Galmunwang Baekban remarked.

"Your time is slowly running out." Seungman said, "Could I have been more cruel than you ever were?" Seungman asked.

"Yes." Galmunwang Baekban said, "Perhaps you haven't yet evolved but judging from today one time you shall have a feel of what it really means to be cruel." Galmunwang Baekban added.

"That is a day I never wish to see come again like it has been today." Seungman said.

"For the path of a warrior that you have chosen I am afraid that there is no more redemption for you and the moment that you slit my throat killing will come natural to you as breathing already is." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"I have watched the people that you have killed, you went out of your way to posses this country not even by winning the hearts of people but piling dead bodies on top of one another and manipulating the will of heaven you defiled it much more than any man." Seungman said.

"I was so confident I would have tried to rule this country Seventeen years ago, had it not been for the thought of you coming or myself learning that you would be my bane I wouldn't have hesitated." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"To try and kill me, he the root cause that I was away from my family, you deprived me of my childhood, you deprived me of my name, you deprived me of my father and you deprived me of my compeers with whom we had sworn we would fight to the end to unite all the three kingdoms of the Samhan, because you were afraid of a young girl?" Seungman asked.

"Look what that young girl has become today." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"You made me this way because of what you did, your sins have been too many that in the place of heaven I was chosen to make you play for them this day." Seungman said.

"You remind me so much of Mishil." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Mishil failed all her life but where she was inadequate I have proven to be more than sufficient to give Shilla a name, to give her pride and to also bestow upon her honour.

"You are in deed much more than Shilla has ever asked." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"And here the fruits of your harvest and your efforts have entirely fallen in vain." Seungman said.

"Not at all." Galmunwang Baekban said, "In my place there shall be more people that shall rise in resistance to you women, you bring about revolution but I only wish to tell you that it is sad that fate can't be changed and your legacy at one point shall spell out the very doom for this country." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"I went against all odds to become a warrior despite a woman, I am also the very woman that is going to bury you." Seungman said.

"Because that was all your fate." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"We men are straight and forget just as much, you women are sentimental that it is very hard for you to act when your feelings command, you can never bring order like Shao and Yun, where you exist there can only be catastrophe and bloodshed.

Women turn men against men, brothers against brothers, sons against father's, all in all the blood that you pour us much more solemn than the blood of the nations that lie defeated." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"When bring unity, women give love, women give birth to life and women continue lineages that men fight so hard to sustain, we persevere and it makes us stronger, we must prove men wrong all our lives it makes us villains, however when we are determined to forever be the first of our kind, we set an example for people like you to be ashamed and we make your predecessors learn from your mistakes and be much more competent to secure their place.

Today you made me realize that it wasn't just my father that I cherished dearly, you made me possess the most grandiose dreams for this country and you slowed me the immense love that I bear for it." Seungman said.

"Rule, it was the only thing that turned you against me." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"It was the very thing that showed me redemption and gave me the spirit for this nation." Seungman said.

"Are you satisfied?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.

"No." Seungman replied, "Perhaps I'll never be after this day." She added.

"And that hunger of uncontrolled shall drive you to your success that you'll exceed all the good things eventually it'll end you in it's excess yet still when you try to withhold it you'll notice sooner or later that without it you'll go nowhere." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"As long as I am content then I won't stop and when I cease it shall be when my death is knocking at my door." Seungman said.

"Just as you have crucified me to this ground I'm not the last of your enemies you'll have them throughout your lifetime." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"I know that." Seungman replied, "But today I am acting both at my heart's will and the Royal decree of His Majesty the King." Seungman said.

"At last my brother showed the type of person that he really is." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"The flowers that you watered have not bloomed it must be a rather sad end." Seungman said.

"I did not surrender and I fought to the very end, I made you the most fierce creation that I can boast in your own face." Galmunwang Baekban said.

"Allow me to slit your throat and rid Shilla of you now and forever." Seungman said.

"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." Galmunwang Baekban muttered closing his eyes as Seungman ran her sword through his neck eventually she threw it down.

Everyone was silent and all that was present was the wind which mildly howled and raised some dust from the place into the air.

Seungman turned around and looked at Princess Deokman where she was standing.

"The Rebel and enemy of Shilla along with his army has been defeated." Seungman said and the rest of the soldiers raising their swords into the sky they cried out with excitement upon their Victory.

"Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.

"Oh what turbulent nights lie ahead for that little girl!" Princess Deokman exclaimed.

"If she didn't kill him today, someone else would have." Yushin Rang replied.

"To take that burden upon herself to redeem another I can see that not only a string political acumen but a compassionate heart within her brings out the best for a ruler." Princess Deokman said.

"What do you mean Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.

"What is the difference between Seungman and myself?" Princess Deokman asked.

"You are two different people and you can't compare yourself to her." Yushin Rang said.

"We are all Seonggols, we are all ambitious women, we are both smart and unlike the men of our age we are daring enough to replace tradition with revolution while loving Shilla just as much." Princess Deokman replied.

"Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.

"There is more to Seungman than your eyes can see and you know that but it is a fact that you try to force yourself to ignore.

If you would take your time to master the courage and embrace it when the time comes and you must follow her like you are following me then do so without any hesitation because like myself she can also elevate you to reaching a lot of greater things." Princess Deokman said.

"All my life I never wanted greater things, I only wanted you." Yushin Rang said.

"In wanting me you must guard what my heart desires the most and even when by any chance do I go on before you, I wish that you could still do the same for me." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.

"The earth has been purified and the time has come back for us to return victorious to Seoraebeol, I only hope that at least this time around some peace should settle amongst us." Princess Deokman remarked as she smiled while she turned around and walked away.

Yushin Rang looked at Seungman who was walking towards the rest of the soldiers deep down in the valley.

"Your Highness." a group of soldiers called as they rushed towards her.

"What is it?" Seungman asked.

"We have lost Achan Seokpum." The other guard replied, "he has fled most probably to Paekche." He added.

"Let it be." Seungman said. "I need some time alone." She added as she further went ahead and descended to the small stream that was nearby.

Their she washed her face and then looking at her reflection in the water she remembered some of the last words that Galmunwang Baekban had spoken to her.

"I was so confident I would have tried to rule this country Seventeen years ago, had it not been for the thought of you coming or myself learning that you would ney bane I wouldn't have hesitated." He'd said.

"His band?" She asked herself.

"In my place there shall be more people that shall rise in resistance to you women, you bring about revolution but I only wish to tell you that it is sad that fate can't be changed and your legacy at one point shall spell out the very doom for this country." He'd warned her.

"There is something that he was trying to say perhaps." Seungman thought to herself as she recalled his very last words.

"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." Galmunwang Baekban had cautioned.

"Am I the female Ruler Jin?" She asked herself.

"No." Someone else replied and at that moment she turned around to see who it was and it was Haesul who was standing right behind her.

"You?" She said barely expecting him while he walked to her side dressed in a similar suit of armor like she was.

"Yes." Haesul replied.

"I thought I wanted to be alone but I have realized that perhaps it's not something that I am very good at." Seungman said.

"Because perhaps you spent most of your time growing up around people." Haesul said.

"Then maybe you who hasn't would understand that." Seungman said.

"What's on your mind?" Haesul asked.

"Right now everyone must think that I am heartless, tough and fierce and they might even think that I am bloody and cold-hearted one way or another." Seungman replied.

"Regardless of what their eyes can see they can not deny the fact that you are a heroine and you saved Shilla today." Haesul said.

"Is this what heroes feel like?" Seungman asked.

"King Jinheung was a warlord, do you think that he felt any different?" Haesul asked.

"Perhaps he did not." Seungman replied.

"Because despite his cruelty to the enemies he loved and cherished his people and of all the people that he was able to slay each of those names that went onto his sword brought glory to our Heavenly Kingdom." Haesul said.

"Heavenly?" Seungman asked.

"You can think of it this way." Haesul said, "if you were in King Jinheung's shoes wouldn't you have done the same?" He asked.

"He was a man." Seungman replied.

"Yours was a Royal order either way." Haesul replied.

"Before he died he still mentioned that prophecy." Seungman said.

"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN?" Haesul Rang asked.

"Yes." Seungman affirmed.

"You are also afraid of fate like that?" Haesul asked.

"The thought itself is unbearable." Seungman replied.

"I once told you how much I loved you and this might sound selfish of me but to know that there can never be any other man to marry you puts me at ease." Haesul said.

"Because I won't belong to anyone?" Seungman asked.

"Because marriage isn't belonging to someone and also because that means instead of being for Alcheon Rang in the end you are for us all." Haesul replied.

"So you all benefit from me but I lose to you all?" Seungman asked.

"You don't lose, you never do so, you have us to lean on and for you perhaps all of us could be your most loyal servants or friends or family.

Regardless of the situation for me I can get the chance to see you, I can not clothe you and neither can I comb your hair but at least I feel that I am always right there to protect you.

I can always choose to die for you and in the end when you are exhausted I feel that virtually I can ease the weight of the crown that is on your head." Haesul replied.

"Perhaps I love Shilla so much if I could I would in deed become like Princess Deokman it's female King." Seungman said.

"And there where your heart is, there where you notice that you feel alive the most and there where you can take this country to greatness and protect it against invaders, it's all your calling and not something that you can run away from.

The Female Ruler Jin is a condition that can only guide the present Generations and even set a standard for the both of you, but just because it is a prophecy it doesn't mean that it can be a result as well.

Even if there was a female Ruler Jin who would doom the nation when I look at your strength and your love and everything that you have done for Shilla so far, I can proudly say this with my own tongue that the female Ruler Jin is not you." Haesul Rang replied.

"Thank you." Seungman said.

"There is no need to thank me because you already have Shilla and everything that is in it and when the time comes of I can still fight by your side, should you posses any claim to rule it as your calling mine shall be to assist you to mount onto your goal." Haesul Rang said.

"Yes." Seungman said as she stood up.

"It's time for us to go." Haesul Rang said and the both of them got up and they walked away.

Bidam Rang stood by in the nearby trees and there he gazed at the both of them as they walked away.

"Female Ruler Jin." He muttered as he shook his head.

The people of Seoraebeol lined the streets as they heralded the soldiers that had returned from the strife.

Victoriously Seungman rode with the others behind Princess Deokman's Palanquin amidst the cheers as she smiled at all the women that looked up to her.

Deokman had entered Ilsan Palace when her sister Cheonmyeong hugged her.

"You're back?" She said.

"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.

"Finally, you were victorious." Princess Cheonmyeong said.

"I couldn't have done it without everyone especially Seungman." Princess Deokman said.

"Where is Seungman?" Princess Cheonmyeong asked.

"Earlier her father who raised her perished while saving her biological father, by now she must be mourning at her foster father's residence." Princess Deokman replied.

"It's sad." Princess Cheonmyeong asked.

"How is father?" Princess Deokman asked.

"He hasn't yet regained consciousness and he is still in a Coma." Princess Cheonmyeong replied.

"What about Queen Sungman?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Her Highness bears a very deep grudge that she is out of her senses right now and she could do anything and even kill anyone.

Lady Wolmyeong and Manmyeong made preparations and she was sent out of the Palace to at least recuperate elsewhere all the days of her life." Princess Cheonmyeong said.

"It was her son who perished and our brother as well, at the time being it is important that we also arrange a proper funeral befitting of a Prince for him." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes." Princess Cheonmyeong replied, "What about Galmunwang Baekban's household, shall they all be executed as well?" She asked.

"No." Princess Deokman replied. "There has already been too much killing for today and most of those that were involved in the rebellion were killed , they are innocent and I don't believe that they should pay the price for his mistakes after all the rebellion was known as Chilsuk and Seokpum Rang's rebellion." Princess Deokman replied.

"Alright." Princess Cheonmyeong replied.

It was very early in the morning and Seungman was at the Kim Manor for the first time for her father's funeral.

Princess Deokman on the other side and a few other members of the Royal household were also holding a funeral in the Courtyard of Ilsan Palace for the dead Prince born by Queen Sungman at the same time.

Seungman got a Group of incense sticks and then she placed them in the small pot which was stationed in front of a golden plaque with black inscriptions on it.

There the words were written

"IN LOVING MEMORY OF KIM MOO MAK, A LOVING FATHER, BROTHER, SON AND FRIEND."

Seungman standing right in front of it she went onto her knees amidst some tears and bowed her head three times before kneeling their to look at it.

The table on which it stood was filled with flowers, offerings and a few talismans and there looking closely she was lost in a series of thoughts as she recalled the memories that she had had with him since she was young.

From the first time that she asked to learn from him how to fight to the first time that she carried those buckets of water uphill, the times that she watched the stars with him and the moon and the times that she loved to play with him in the fields.

All those nights that he covered him filled her mind as the memories that she cherished only made her shed more and more remorseful tears while still mastering some little courage she had she was in the position to hold back a few and maintain her composure.

"I did it father." She said to herself, "At last I avenged you and killed all those men that deprived you of your life." She added.

"I am grateful that I had you in my life and there is nothing that could ever change the fact that you are the father that I loved and the father that I cherished with all my heart.

The father that raised me and the father that thought me to be strong you made in me the bravest warrior of a woman and thr most beautiful daughter that I could ever be." She said before she stood up.

Replacing her Galmunwang Gukban picked up a group of incense sticks and he placed them in the pot that was right in front of him.

There he knelt down abd bowed his head three times before raising it and looking at the plaque as well.

"Moo Mak?" He said as some silence followed.

"I am grateful that you came into my life, grateful that you raised for me a caring and a string loving Daughter and grateful that rather than remorse you felt happiness in each and everything that I ever gave you.

I thought that having you for a bossom friend was enough but you graduated from that and you became much more than a brother, you took care of me and protected me with you I didn't feel like a stranger or a master but someone very valuable.

You took every burden that should have been mine and bore it on your shoulders that now I recall since young we were inseparables we barely quarreled and at the same time we laughed much more than ordinary people.

We had a small world but we were free, we ran around the Palace and we were stubborn, even in the end regardless of my imperfections you still chose to die for me, at last I am convinced that you are the best friend that anyone could ever have and all my life I have been more than lucky to have you.

If there really is another life, I want you to be my brother this time by blood, trusting that you have gone to a much better place I'll take care of this daughter if yours that you loved knowing that I can't replace you in her heart but with all your foes and the people that ended you vanquished, I trust that your heart is at peace at last." Galmunwang Gukban said as he bowed his head once again in tears.