The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 05 -

For two weeks now everyone at the Hwan's shop worked on finishing a big order by the Royal Palace. Making uniforms that would withstand a fight wasn't something they had done before. The outfit consisting out of red and black cloth as well as black leather was supposed to be the Hwarang's warrior robe and even though it took them multiple night shifts to finish, they managed to get them ready on time. Yeseul's mother had been very excited when her husband told her about the request by the Palace. She saw another opportunity to prove their abilities. For the past few days, she had annoyed Yeseul and the other seamstresses by constantly reviewing their work progress. To their luck it all had gone according to the time schedule.

Yeseul's mother now had assigned Yeseul to bring the order to the Hwarang House. The big entrance to their housing was impressive seeing it from up close as Yeseul stood right in front of it. She had two bundles in her hands and a big one on her back in which she transported the robes. They were heavy but the way wasn't too long. She went up to one of the guards.

»Hello, I'm from Hwan's Clothes. I'm supposed to deliver the new robes for the Hwarang.« The guard gave his colleague a sign and they opened the big gate. She was surprised how big the place was that was hiding behind these walls. A man came up to her.

»I'm delivering the new robes. I'm from Hwan's Clothes«, she told him.

»Alright, come with me.« He went ahead and Yeseul followed as told. The man lea her the way through the many paths between the many buildings. As she went down a staircase her eyes found Yeowool sitting under a pavilion with a fan in his hand. Their eyes met and the Hwarang greeted her with a joyous smile. As if by itself Yeseul's face lit up and a smile grew on her lips. She nodded as response before continuing to follow the man. Now that she had seen Yeowool she wasn't able to stop smiling. She thought about trying to find him later on her way out to talk to him again or at least see him for a moment. She wasn't sure whether or not she would be allowed to talk to him.

»Just store them on the shelves«, the man that had led her way told her and pointed into a building that seemed to be a storage. Then he left, leaving Yeseul alone. A little confused by that she went through the open doors and put the bundles on the ground. She was relieved to get rid of the weight on her shoulder and in her hands.

The storage only had small windows and was mainly lit by the sunlight coming through wooden panels and the open door. The sandy ground whirled up as dust. She began taking the new robes out of the bundles and putting them onto the shelves in front of her. Yeseul looked around the storage and spotted some bows and arrows as well as swords. Stacks of unwritten paper and a few of the purple Hwarang robes were on other shelves. She even spotted some horse gear. They really stored a variety of things in here.

Suddenly something came close to her eyes making her close them. She felt two hands holding her eyes closed.

»Hello«, she heard Yeowool's voice in her right ear. His voice was calm and Yeseul heard a smile in it. Her heart started beating faster contently and a smile formed on her lips again. The Hwarang took away his hands and she turned around him.

»You surprised me when I saw you here«, he said, »What are you doing at the Hwarang House?«

Yeseul took one of the robe batches and gave it to him.

»I'm delivering new robes for the Hwarang«, she explained.

»Oh, these look good. Did you make them?«, he ask curious and held the new robe in front of himself.

»A few.«

»I'm going to try it on«, he declared and started taking of his current purple Hwarang robe. Yeseul was startled for moment but continued her work to distract herself.

»So, what's going on around here?«, she asked as she continued to put the new robes on the shelves, while he changed. She kept her back to him. Yeseul had to take each of the bundles by itself otherwise the separate pieces would fall apart.

»We have a new assignment«, he answered, »We're supposed to do a performance for the festival. Some of us make music and some dance.«

»And what do you do?«

»I'm dancing. Together with Seonu, Jidwi, Suho, Banryu and Hanseong. We're doing a sword dance.«

»That sounds interesting.«

»Yes. I got closer to Hanseong recently. He's a good person. A little dreamy. He always asks a lot but that's alright since he is a little younger. You actually could be around the same age as him. I never asked, how old are you?«

Yeseul turned around to face Yeowool again as she answered. »I'm 20. You?«

»22.«

He took a step back and turned around himself to present the new robe. Yeseul smiled at his playfulness.

»It looks really good. Good work. Just one thing left. Could you help me with the belt?«, Yeowool asked. She nodded and went to him.

»Are you going to be at the festival?«, was his next question.

»I will try but we probably will be too far away from the stage«, she explained. She knew that it was planned to put a lot of benches in front of the stage. Someone at the market had talked about it. But of course, those benches would be behind the Queen and her officials. The benches were probably going to be reserved for the True Bones. The rest of the cities people will presumably stand and watch from afar.

»Can we meet before the performance?« This question brought Yeseul back from her thoughts, made her look up to the Hwarang and notice how close to each other they stood. »By the edge of the forest?« Mesmerised she looked into his brown eyes. The sun dipped his face in warm light accented them even more. They were so gentle, so calm and overflowing with joy at the same time.

»What's going on here?« Suddenly the man who had led Yeseul to the storage stood in the doorway. »What are you doing here, Hwarang Yeowool?« Yeseul and Yeowool each took a step back from each other. She didn't know what to do so she looked at the floor, submissively. After all, this presumably officer, had a much higher rank than her.

»I just wanted to take a look at the new robes«, Yeowool lied playing of the situation.

»Don't interrupt the servants doing their jobs. Especially when they're from outside. We don't want people from outside the Hwarang House walking around for too long«, the officer disciplined the Hwarang strictly.

»I am sorry. I won't do it again.« Yeowool bowed to him. »I will leave then.« The Hwarang gave Yeseul one last look before he left through the open door.

»And you, continue working and then leave quickly«, he ordered just as strict.

»Yes, I will!«, Yeseul answered obediently and bowed as he left the storage. Quickly she put the batches of robed that remained on the shelves before collecting her things and leaving the storage as well. She closed the door after herself.

As she walked back to leave the Hwarang House, she suddenly was pulled aside. It was Yeowool again. He looked around cautiously.

»So are we going to meet at the edge of the forest?«, he asked again. Yeseul nodded.

»Yes«, she answered, »I will try to find you«

»Alright« Yeowool smiled which in turn made Yeseul smile too.

»I'll have to go. I don't want to be caught still being here and they'll probably need me in the shop«, Yeseul bid a quick goodbye.

»Alright, goodbye then. See you at the festival«

Even though she would have loved to talk a bit longer, she didn't want to get screamed at by that officer and she knew her mother would get a little inpatient or worried if she didn't come back on time.

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Correction 02.02.2024