Forever, You Are My Star

Chapter 8: The Promise and the Smile

The sun began to sink behind the sea leaving a fade of purple to yellow in the sky as the unamed ship pulled into the harbor at Barranor. Mey stood at the bow of the ship looking on at the place she was taken from just over two weeks ago. The aftermath of the attack still visible as houses, barns, shop and more were being slowly rebuilt, and the docks half standing. She looked on with sadness and worry not knowing how many people were now buried in the cemetary not far from the castle.

    "I'm sorry about all of this." A quiet yet calm Yunho now stood beside Mey looking out towards Barrnor. Mey looked up at him and saw the sadness in his eyes. Even his voice when he spoke was sad, like he wanted to do something but didn't know what.

    "It is not your fault, Yunho." Mey replied looking back towards her home.

    "Your home is now ruined because of us. If I didn't bring you aboard, you wouldn't be suffering right now. If I would have stood on my own two feet..." Yunho's rambling stopped when a slightly cold finger touched his lips. He didn't remember when he closed his eyes to stop the tears that wanted to flow, but they were now wide open and looking down at a gently Mey who was trying to give him an encouraging smile.

    "Yunho, none of this was your fault. None of it ever will be. You did everything you could to keep me safe from taking my necklace and hiding it to helping keep me hidden from Yang and the rest." Mey them gently cupped his face watching as his eyes glistened in the setting light. "Do not blame yourself for something you cannot control. That is something my mother taught me when I was very young, and I never forgot it. Blaming yourself only makes things worse. So if I hear you blame yourself one more time, I'll throw you off the ship myself." Yunho took her hands in his giving her the first genuine smile he's smiled in years.

    "I'd like to see you try." Mey smiled back at him.

    "Anything is possible when you put your mind to it." Both chuckled at their comments which was the first time Mey ever heard him laugh which made her happy. Not once did Yunho smile or laugh since she was brought on the ship. And judging by how he was treated, this must be the first time in years he's actually felt happy. Until they dropped anchor at port, Yunho did not leave Mey's side always having her hand in his. Once the gangplank was lowered, Hongjoong, Yeosang, and Seonghwa left the ship to give money to dock, but when they saw no one was at their station, they came back slightly confused.

    "Something wrong, hyung?" Wooyoung's asked sitting on the rail next to where Mey was standing.

    "No one is at the desk. There's not even a guard posted." Hongjoong replied. That was unusual. Two guards were posted every night no matter what. It wasn't like the officers to neglect their duties especially with the attack just recently. 

    "Hongjoong, I know where the keeper lives. If you give me the money, I could leave it at his house." Hongjoong nodded reaching into his pocket and bringing out the correct amount. He then walked up to Mey and handed it to her.

    "That should be all of it." Mey placed the money in her pocket before looking at Hongjoong and the others that now had saddened looks in their eyes. "Be safe, alright?" Mey let go of Yunho's hand and brought Hongjoong into a hug.

    "I promise." Hongjoong let her go to hug the others, each of them giving a smile.

    "You'll have to change the bandages tomorrow once you wake up. Wash them with warm water before putting new ones on." Seonghwa said. Mey smiled up at him removing a piece of black hair from his eyes.

    "I will." San was the last one to say goodbye to, but once she walked up to him, he gently took her hand in his.

    "I will go with you. It would make me feel better knowing you arrived home safely." Mey nodded leaving the ship with San then turning to the others and wave a final goodbye. San and Mey quietly went through the streets with Mey's hand still firmly in San's. Once in awhile she would look over at San and just take in all his features. His black hair that was part down the middle and landed perfectly just over his eyes, his chiseled jawline that would always stand out with his side profile, his muscles that were hidden by his torn long-sleeve blouse but could still be seen, his black eyes that had seen too much in life yet he was still so young; everything about him screamed that she knew him, like she had met him before but could not remember where. But there was something about San that made her feel safe; made her feel home. Looking over to her right and seeing the book keepers house snapped her back to her senses, and she pulled San along with her since he refused to let go of her hand. She took the money out of her pocket and placed it under the door. When she stood back to her feet, San gave her a knowing nod then began to take her the rest of the way home. The closer the castle came into view, the more nervous Mey felt. Not for herself, but for San and the others. Once the guards found out that the princess was home safe by the hand of pirates, they would all be hung. As they approached a small house near the gates, Mey stopped causing San to look back at her.