ROYAL BLOODS AND SACRED BONES

Queen Seondeok walked down the aisle through her Courtiers and there mounting the stairs that led to her throne she faced them.

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

"At ease." Queen Seondeok said as she sat down while they all stood upright.

"I am sure that all of you are aware of the reason why I have called you here." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Courtiers replied in unison.

"I want to get straight to the point and I begin by clearing the rumours concerning my sickness and I am here and healthy before you all and secondly you must have heard of the water on the of the sea on the Eastern part which has turned to blood and the Rock on the South side of the mountain." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, at this rate it is quite difficult to calm down the people as rumours have travelled about the whole capital right now that these are signs from heaven portending the downfall of our Heavenly Kingdom." General Kim Seohyeon said.

"When the drought struck during the reigns of King Bopheung and King Jinheung what did the people say?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"It was the End of Shilla's age." Sangdaedeung Eulje replied.

"Contrary to the events that happened that time the lands that lie in the North were taken from Gorguryeo and consecrated as our own." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, what do we tell the people because to convince those that feel there is more to these bad omens is something that is difficult." General Kim Yongsu said.

"I understand your primary concerns as my aristocrats but carry with them news of good fortune and tell them that we shall pray to the heavens and in three months time when our absolution is complete then it's grace shall be above us once again." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Courtiers replied.

"I'd also wish to announce that from this day onwards, Bidam shall be the Vice Commander of the Royal troops." Queen Seondeok said.

Kim Yushin who was standing at a distance stared at the Queen quite surprised.

"This Assembly is dismissed." Queen Seondeok said as she stood up and she walked out of the throne room while the Courtiers followed her shortly after as they exited the throne room.

Queen Seondeok stood at a balcony as she faced the pond that was situated within the Palace.

There while gazing at the water she suddenly felt a presence behind herself.

"Are you here?" She asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." A familiar voice replied and she turned around to see Yushin Rang.

"Stand by my side." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Yushin Rang replied as he moved on to her right.

"Remember when we were very young what you told me in this place?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"That Your Majesty, with all my heart I would follow you for all the days of my life." Yushin Rang replied.

"Do you distrust me?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"No Your Majesty, you are the smartest woman that I have ever known." Yushin Rang replied.

"Do you have your doubts in me?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your actions have the best reasons and what you do is for our own good." Yushin Rang replied.

"At last my heart is not at ease and I need you Yushin because now more than ever you are one of the few people that I can trust in this world." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, my life is yours and yours is mine, if there is something there is that keeps you uneasy then you can confide in me anytime that you feel like." Yushin Rang said.

"Up to this time you have never spoken up your mind to me." Queen Seondeok said.

"Because I believe that in trusting in you, our desires our thoughts and our dreams are much alike there is nothing that I need not to say because you know it all and you know me much better than any other woman." Yushin said.

"You know me." Queen Seondeok said, "For a monarch I exploit without sincerity however much it hurts." Queen Seondeok said.

"I understand Your Majesty, for I am listening." Yushin Rang said.

"My enemies have risen once again they had been buying time these past couple of years and now I believe that the will of heaven is there's for the taking." Queen Seondeok said.

"If they could Your Majesty then so can we." Yushin Rang said.

"Watch after Bidam for me and he is your subordinate because I trust that above all things there is not a single thing that can escape your watchful eye." Queen Seondeok said.

"Like this I am convinced Your Majesty that you have so much faith in me." Yushin Rang said.

"Because you have never let me down before at this moment I can confirm you as the best person in Shilla for this task." Queen Seondeok replied.

"And I won't let you down this time again Your Majesty." Yushin Rang replied.

"How wonderful the sun set is today." Queen Seondeok said.

"If I can watch it right now with you Your Majesty then I am in deed graced." Yushin Rang said.

"Wonderful." Queen Seondeok remarked while Yushin staring at her from the side could feel the aura of sadness that was all over her face.

"It's getting late Your Majesty, shouldn't you go back inside?" Yushin Rang asked.

"You can go back and perhaps get your best people ready." Queen Seondeok said.

"Right away Your Majesty." Yushin Rang replied as he slowly walked away and left the Queen alone with some of her servants there at a distance.

Hardly had he left when at that very same instant, Eun Hye led Bidam right into the very spot where Yushin had been standing.

"Bidam." Queen Seondeok called.

"Yes Your Majesty?" Bidam replied.

"Stand beside me." Queen Seondeok said and Bidam complied as he stood by her left.

"In a very long while not even my sister Cheonmyeong or my cousins Seungman could show their concern over me and do what you did today." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, I understand how hard it must be for you and I know that the position with which I hold is not one in which I have the right to express my care and my concern but nevertheless for you I am most willing to do anything." Bidam said.

"Did you know that when you fell sick I was so moved by your devotion that I grieved within these walls of Wolseong?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"I had no idea Your Majesty." Bidam spoke sincerely.

"Well now you do." Queen Seondeok said, "Who can hold up a glorious empire and meet both the expectations of the people and the Courtiers, who can aim at the sun and not even reach it no matter how hard they jump.

Who can stand by me when I feel troubled and ease the tension that arises in my mind when crisis strikes and whose shoulder can I have to lean on for comfort when I am in tears which are my most precious treasures to shed in the public eye?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"No one Your Majesty, the life of a monarch must be lonely." Bidam said.

"With or without a spouse, male or female King, there is no comfort and only retribution, when you give with prudence to one side the other leaves your heart laden with remorse because of the feeling of desertion." Queen Seondeok said.

"Even birds have wings but they can never fly to reach the sun." Bidam said.

"We mortals have limits." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty if with you I can speak my mind, a couple of days ago given the rumours I knew that such isolation you must feel from the world there was nothing more for me to wait upon I was convicted to act rashly and perhaps disobey your commands." Bidam said.

"You are the first person to do so Bidam, others call me Your Majesty and they smile where they have to because they know it's what I want to see, none of them could value what I need and to be sincere the toll on my health is too much but for this Shilla that I love I have not to waver and fall short of my duties." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, in my eyes you are perfect and if you'd be willing then would you please grant me this chance to help you so that I can render everything to you as easy as possible." Bidam said.

"Your devotion gave me what I was looking for all these years." Queen Seondeok said.

"What Your Majesty?" Bidam asked, "Is it peace or someone with whom you share a common mind?" He added.

"Someone that I can trust." Queen Seondeok said, "Someone with whom I can share my devotion towards this nation and someone with whom I can stand and unite our people." She added.

"Your Majesty I am moved." Bidam said.

"Not much more than I am." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Whatever you say Your Majesty." Bidam said.

"I want you to begin by watching Yushin Rang for me." Queen Seondeok replied.

"I know that Yushin is someone that you can not bear to lose your Majesty and I shall at the assurance of you taking care of yourself." Bidam said.

"Thank you." Queen Seondeok replied.

"I'll take my leave now." Bidam said.

"It's getting late and I should probably go back inside as well." Queen Seondeok said as she turned around and she slowly started to walk away with her ladies in waiting while Bidam watched her vanishing in a distance.

He smiled with contentment while the Queen went deeper within the walls of the Palace before he turned around and looked at the saffron sky above his head.

He touched the left side of his chest and he could feel his heart beating much faster and faster.

He too was confused but what more would he say.

"Her Majesty trusts me." He thought to himself at the back of his head.

The Gorguryeo troops marched into the valley and it was in the wee hours of the morning as they were led with the attempt of orchestrating an ambush.

As they marched into it with their full force, not watching the mountains eventually there was a large number of archers that had surrounded them from above.

Kim Yushin standing on the left and Alcheon Rang standing on the right they gave the command to fire and without the slightest hesitation the archers rained down the fiery Arrows on their invaders.

It took about seven rounds for part of the Gorguryeo troops to flee but leaving behind on the battlefield close to give thousand dead victims another one thousand were injured.

At daybreak when the sun was already up in the blue firmament the corpses were already being surrounded by crows and and vultures and the enemy had been defeated.

Queen Seondeok was seated in the throne room with all the other Courtiers when Kim Yushin and Alcheon Rang walked with a small veiled trunk within their hands and there they bowed their heads to the Queen.

"Greetings Your Majesty." They said to her.

"We have waited Long enough." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, we carry in our possession the Prize for Shilla's victory." Yushin Rang said.

"Present it to us all." Queen Seondeok said and Alcheon Rang removing the veil the trunk was opened up and there inside it there was a head.

"Such a wonderful masterpiece." Queen Seondeok said.

"What we present with ourselves is the Head of the man who led the attack of the Mountain valley and the General of the Gorguryeo troops." Queen Seondeok said.

"Have his head hanged on the walls of Wolseong for the whole of Shilla to see and send a Diplomat to the Tang Emperor Taizong, please make sure to tell him that you send good news from the female Ruler of the Kingdom of Shilla." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Sangdaedeung Eulje replied.

"Tell him that under the rulership of a Female King, Shilla has truimphed over Gorguryeo and the state has seen not any grave calamity." She added.

"Yes Your Majesty." Sangdaedeung Eulje replied.

The head was hang up on the walls of the Palace and the common people gathered and there they rejoiced.

Seungman was in Ganglyeoghan Palace and she was pruning the flowers in the garden when Alcheon Rang walked up to her from the opposite direction.

Seeing that he was present she ceased in her footsteps and lowering the pruner down on the nearby platform she walked up to Alcheon Rang.

"You are back safely." Seungman said.

"Gorguryeo has been vanquished." Alcheon Rang said.

"I see." Seungman replied.

"Can I have a seat with you?" He asked.

"I'd prefer it if we walked." Seungman replied.

"Sure." Alcheon Rang agreed and the two of them started strolling around the gardens.

"I remember the days from our Hwarang." Seungman said.

"Contrary to you I recall the days when you saved my life." Alcheon Rang replied.

"How long has it been?" Seungman asked.

"Ten years." Alcheon Rang replied.

"Sadly in eight I forsook the sword." Seungman remarked.

"When I think about it it has been long since we were this calm together." Alcheon Rang said.

"It has been ages that I have thought about Shilla and it so happened that at the very same I thought about you." Seungman said.

"Not much more than miss those carefree moments before you'd realised that you were a Princess." Alcheon Rang said.

"Perhaps had I not been one I would have chosen to be married to you." Seungman said.

"I am grateful." Alcheon Rang said.

"And so am I." Seungman replied.

"I don't see you oftenly but I hear that you love taking care of the garden." Alcheon Rang said.

"Politics is my calling at the moment though before my time to act comes I prefer to keep a distance." Seungman said.

"It's like the world has forgotten about you." Alcheon Rang remarked.

"At times I also feel like I have forgotten about myself." Seungman replied.

"I dread that you are too lonely and to be sincere it hurts me so much that I can not be happy to see you." Alcheon Rang said.

"If you wish to help then please remind me that you'll never hate me or leave me for the path that I chose." Seungman said.

"How can I hate you?" Alcheon Rang asked, "At times when I feel sad I recall that both Yushin and myself have perhaps been doomed with love to never have the very women that we cherish in our hearts." He added.

"Fate is so cruel that I was unable to love all the men that loved me and now even I myself I can not have the one that I love." Seungman replied.

"Do you regret having met me?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"No, not at all." Seungman replied, "All I have to cherish when I stare at the very long list of responsibilities that lies ahead of me are the sweet times we cared less about the world that when I have been serious I start to smile." Seungman said as she halted in her footsteps and she turned and looked Alcheon in the eye.

Her's were already teary that she could barely hold on any more.

"I can never feel like a natural woman, this world is so lonely, I stretch out my foot to help Her Majesty and I hope for time to slow down as I am waiting but it is too much for me to take it anymore even I am hesitant.

For my sake you don't want history to call me selfish and for your sake I don't want history to call you disloyal." Seungman said.

"Perhaps all our hearts are heavy." Alcheon Rang said.

"I am looking at you but I can not hug you, I think about you but to have you by my side is a lot more difficult than going up against the world, for you I can defy any law but the problem that we both share in common is that we can not betray our devotion to Shilla." Seungman said.

"For you there is not a man that I shall not bury, for you there is not an army that shall cause me to be afraid, I want to stand by you and hope that I am the one that can make things for you very easy and I want to remember that together we reached so much prosperity.

I want to one day be there to help you gain Shilla and I want to be by your side to rule it as well, for if this life can not permit while you are headstrong and I am rather caught onto vows and promises, I don't want to lose both you and Shilla and I don't have to do so because I know that we can still redeem ourselves." Alcheon Rang said.

"Thank you." Seungman replied, "For you I am most grateful." She added.

At that point Damhyeong walked up to the two.

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

"What is it?" Seungman asked.

"Someone is here and they are requesting an audience with you." Damhyeong replied.

"I'll be there in a while." Seungman replied.

"Yes." Damhyeong said as he bowed his head and he trotted away.

"I must go." Seungman said to Alcheon.

"It's alright." Alcheon replied with a smile on his face.

"Seungman walked away in the direction that Damhyeong had taken and there Alcheon looked at her while she vanished before he turned around himself and walked towards the exit if the Palace.

The words that Seungman had said to him kept on lingering at the back of his head as he thought so deeply about them.

Seungman entered into her study and there she saw a woman who was facing the other side and wearing a veil.

She was dressed in a simple cream dress with purple and brown.

"I was told that you wanted to see me." Seungman said and at once the woman turned around and lifted the veil that was covering her face Seungman was quite surprised.

"Your Majesty." She said.

"Sssh." Queen Seondeok muttered with her lips.

"Please have a seat." Seungman said as she pointed at the nearby table where the Queen sat down.

"I wasn't expecting you." She said.

"I figured that it would be very good if I took the initiative to congratulate you in person and also thank you as well." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, it is nothing." Seungman replied.

"However I am concerned about why you keep running some of the state affairs behind the curtain." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, it isn't yet time for you to declare me as your successor and we are still caught up in a very bloody strife." Seungman said.

"We have an advantage this time around." Queen Seondeok said.

"I believe too Your Majesty." Seungman replied.

"However I am still caught up in wonder I don't seem to see anyone who is suspicious." Queen Seondeok said.

"Whoever it is Your Majesty that rounded up those children of the failed Rebellion they must be someone who is very strong." Seungman Said.

"They are not many people and my attempts to weaken the aristocracy are rather crumbling." Queen Seondeok said.

"At first all we needed was a weak aristocracy to ensure that there is no threat to the rule of the throne but if I think about it someone must have tapped into our plan of giving power back to the people." Seungman replied.

"Regardless of the effort the image of the Female Ruler Jin is still prominent in the people's minds." Queen Seondeok said.

"Gorguryeo might have been defeated this time around but Paekche has had about enough time to prepare for war." Seungman said.

"How long can the supplies that have been preserved take us?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"We are only a quarter away Your Majesty, if we can estimate the storages and the plantations in the country, if we must withstand a war then it can take us up to fifteen years but even during that process I fear that we shall still be unable to sustain the army along with our population which is growing because at the time when our army will be much larger we'll need a lot more to finance it." Seungman replied.

"I see." Queen Seondeok said.

"In my humble opinion Your Majesty, I believe that as it is let's prepare to withstand impact." Seungman said.

"Very well." Queen Seondeok said.

"Thank you." Seungman replied.

"One more thing." Queen Seondeok said.

"What is it Your Majesty?" Seungman asked.

"Your father is already very old and quite sickly I heard." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes." Seungman replied.

"If it is alright since you don't wish to engage in the public eye for the time being why don't you take over his duties and all he'll have to worry about is his presentation." Queen Seondeok said.

"I will Your Majesty." Seungman replied.

"Once in a while at least turn up at the Hwarang Arena as their Wonhwa and encourage motivation amongst them." Queen Seondeok said.

"Don't worry Your Majesty, I won't let you down and I'll keep that in mind." Seungman replied as she bowed her head and then she stood up from. where she was seated.

"I have said all that I had to." Queen Seondeok said.

"I appreciate that you thought about me." Seungman replied.

"I'll take my leave." The Queen added as she slowly walked past Seungman and vanished through the doors.

"Your Excellency." Yeomjong said.

"Why do you seem to be on edge?" Bidam asked.

"How can you not be bothered at this moment after Yushin Rang has registered another Military Victory?" Yeomjong asked.

"Should I be jealous?" Bidam asked.

"You Excellency, I am only concerned that you might be taking things a bit too lightly." Yeomjong replied.

"I can see your sincerity but I have my own ways." Bidam replied.

"Are you certain that Her Majesty trusts you?" Yeomjong asked.

"It's been seven months already, there is a task that I must first complete." Bidam replied.

"Which one?" Yeomjong asked.

"Up to now have you found any dirt on those Officials?" Bidam asked.

"No Your Excellency." Yeomjong replied.

"Then it is your fault that I am delaying in my actions." Bidam said.

"Your Excellency, if you can't find any dirt on them then why not create your own dirt?" Yeomjong Asked.

"If you think that it is that easy then why don't you do it?" Bidam asked. "Think about this of we fabricate an allegation that is much deniable we shall have exposed our true intentions and that woild already be declaring war on another.

I have supporters but those men are just as powerful and if there is something that I can not afford to arouse at this moment then it is Her Majesty's suspicion." Bidam added.

"Then are you suggesting that we become sitting ducks?" Yeomjong asked.

"If you can not chase down your prey then the best way that you can have it is by luring it out of hiding." Bidam replied.

"Your Excellency, have you thought about something?" Yeomjong asked.

"I have thought about many things." Bidam replied.

"Is there anything that I can do Your Excellency?" Yeomjong asked.

"I prefer to know the types of things that Her Majesty talks to Sangdaedeung Eulje about." Bidam replied.

Yeomjong smiled.

"Why didn't you say so Your Excellency?" He asked.

"To set ears around the Palace isn't that easy and just so that you know it we are taking a very high risk if being exposed." Bidam replied.

"I didn't think about it Your Excellency." Yeomjong said.

"How is Grandmaster Sal Su?" Bidam asked.

"Still the same." Yeomjong replied.

"He still has a purpose to serve." Bidam said.

"Right now?" Yeomjong Asked.

"Not yet." Bidam replied as he smiled ghastly.

Seungman walked out to the balcony and there ahe stood for a while when she noticed that there was a carrier pigeon that was flying high in the sky.

It descended right where she was and at that moment walking up to it she removed the small paper that was tied to it's left leg.

Opening it she read one word that was written on it.

"SOUTH." She mention and at that moment her eyes were wide open.

She quickly rushed inside and their she caught a blank piece of paper and wrote a letter that she folded and put into an envelope.

"Haesul Rang." She called and at once Haesul Rang walked into the room.

"Yes Your Highness?" Haesul replied.

"Have this letter quickly delivered to the Palace and given to the Queen as soon as possible in secret." Seungman replied.

"Your Highness, is there something that is wrong?" Haesul asked.

"I don't have that much time to explain either." Seungman replied as Haesul Rang took the letter from her hands and bowing his head he walked out of the room.

Seungman picked another small chit and she wrote two characters on it.

'Shilla and One.' and folding it she quickly tied it to the carrier pigeon that was outside.

Throwing it into the air the pigeons flew Southwards while her heart only raced faster and much faster.

Queen Seondeok was seated in her Chambers when Boyeong walked in.

"Your Majesty." She said.

"What is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"It's a letter." Boyeong replied.

"From who?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Her Highness." Boyeong replied as she handed over the envelope to the Queen.

The Queen opened it and her eyes perusing through the letter she placed it at the table.

"Are you sure that this came from Her Highness?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty, without a doubt." Boyeong replied, "Haesul himself delivered it and other than both Your Highness and you I don't think that he knows it's contents as well." She added.

"He couldn't be in the know of such vital information, this was a secret that was between Her Highness alone me." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Your Majesty, why is there worry all over your face?" Boyeong asked.

"Nothing." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Do you not trust the authenticity of the letter?" Boyeong asked.

"To mistrust it's authenticity is impossible and I am much more afraid that if I meet Her Highness then someone else will see her." Queen Seondeok Said.

"Your Majesty, I think I have an idea how the both of you could meet." Boyeong said.

"No, it's too risky." Queen Seondeok said.

"Nevertheless Your Majesty, as it seems that whatever is going on is a very serious matter then I believe that at this time around to risk being noticed isn't something that we should be worried about." Boyeong said.

"Then I won't hide." Queen Seondeok said, "Have my ladies in waiting sent to Ganglyeoghan to bring me some ginseng tea." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Yes Your Majesty." Boyeong replied as she bowed her head.

Kim Chunchu stood in the courtyard and there at the balcony he caught sight of a white carrier pigeon which descended right where he was standing.

He took the small pigeon in his hands and pulled out the message that had been tied to it's feet and there he went into his Chambers with the both of them as he made sure that there was no one watching him.

Unfolding the paper, he read through it's contents and at that very moment his eyes widened.

Geumyang walked into the room and there he found a look of surprise on Kim Chunchu's face.

"Your Highness." He called and Kim Chunchu hearing him he turned around and looked at him.

"What's the matter and why do you look so worried?" Geumyang asked and at that moment Chunchu took the piece of paper that was in his possession and he unfolded it to read it's contents.

As his eyes widened he was shocked as well.

"Impossible." Geumyang said.

"It is very true." Kim Chunchu replied.

"No Your Highness, who sent you this?" Geumyang asked.

"Whoever sent it to me it doesn't matter." Kim Chunchu said, "what matters is what it says." He added.

"No." Geumyang said.

"Now that I think about it I realise that all this time we were negligent." Kim Chunchu said.

"What are we going to do now?" Geumyang asked.

"We need to see Her Majesty." Kim Chunchu replied.

Boyeong and the Queen's ladies in waiting entered into the Queen's Palace as they approached her Chambers.

They halted when Gopheung Rang stood right in front of them and bowing their heads, they greeted as Eun Hye and Boyeong spoke on their behalf.

"You're back?" Gopheung Rang asked.

"To procure the tea wasn't that easy but you can rest assured that Her Majesty the Queen is fine." Boyeong replied.

"Very well then, go ahead." Gopheung said as they exceeded the barricade of Royal soldiers as they mounted the stairs that led to the Queen's Chambers.

Standing there, they opened the doors and three of them walked in leaving the others behind.

Queen Seondeok was pacing around her room when the three approached her.

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

"Did you succeed?" Queen Seondeok asked Boyeong and Boyeong stopped aside with Eun Hye as the third raising her head turned out to be Seungman in disguise.

"Your Majesty." She whispered under her breath as she bowed her head.

"Sit down." Queen Seondeok said and Seungman complied while the Queen took the letter that she had read from earlier and handed it over to Seungman who read it.

"Your Highness, did you send this letter to me?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." Seungman replied as she placed the paper on the table.

"Tell me, are the contents true?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty, everything that you have seem I have received from the spies and I am uncertain whether the Courtiers are aware of this but there is another justified contender for the throne that had justified himself and perhaps we have overlooked the situation in the first place." Seungman replied.

"A male successor, why wait until now?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"After the symbols the word has gone around the entire Paekche and it originated from the capital of Sabi itself." Seungman replied.

"Upon this ground Paekche could gain support from the Tang Court which could jeopardize us." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, an invasion that could be a coup." Seungman replied. "It is currently being alleged that His Highness the Crown Prince of Paekche through your sister Princess Seonhwa is King Jinpyeong's blood grandson and that makes you his aunt and if possible in the eyes of the Tang Emperor Taizong being a man that you are not, he would be recognized as the legitimate heir to the throne of Shilla and it's true King by him and not Yourself Your Majesty." She added.