Fate's Prisoners

chapter 2

Luna

I walked down the dirt road alone at night with nothing but the clothes on my back and the things in my satchel. I had eaten a fruit I brought with me, but that was a while ago and I'm hungry again. I have been walking for a few hours to get to the palace. Unlike the town, the palace was quite far by foot it will take days. I'd be lucky if I made it there before that. In this time, I had the chance to think about what I wanted to do and how I intended to get what I wanted. If anything, I want to be a scholar, they make a better amount of money I'm also very capable of doing it. If that doesn't work, I can be a healer or a musician. Anything but a concubine and made good money will be good and will help my parents. I left my mother a note before I left that she will find when she wakes up. Hopefully, she will understand and let me be. More time passed and I was still on my feet, I intend to sit down in a few for a bit and nibble on something. My plan changed when I crossed a bridge to the next town, and I saw 3 men harassing an old man. I couldn't just walk by and let it happen, so I did something about it. "Hey! Leave him alone." I said getting closer to them unafraid. "Move along lady." One of them said. "No, you're hurting this man, what is your reason?" I asked stopping a few feet away. "None of your business now leave." He said. "Is that you are telling me you don't have a valid reason to be hurting him?" I asked. "Fine he has some nice things we want them, now leave before we don't let you go." He says. "Is that really a bad thing?" One of them asked with a very suggestive tone towards me but I rolled my eyes. " Just because he has something you want; doesn't mean you can just take it." I said and one chuckled loudly. "Sorry honey but in this world, you take what you want when you want it, or you'll never get it." The third one said. "You're wrong, in this world, you earn what you have or at least someone does. If you don't earn it, then you don't deserve it. Now let him go" I said not giving up. "I like you maybe you should just come with us, we can show you how to live the exciting way." The flirty one says. "Or you can leave now and live life the real way," I said crossing my arms. One of them walked over to me and places his arm around my shoulder but I pushed it off. "Come on you played with fire now you have to get burned." He said he went in to grab me by my waist, but I kneaded him in the face, and he stumbled back. " don't touch me!" I shouted angrily. "Oh, looks like we got ourselves a little strong girl?" The other flirt said before running at me but as soon as he got close enough, I moved. He was too close to turn with me and running too fast to stop. I stuck my foot out and tripped him to the ground. The other one grabbed my arm and pulled it behind my back, but I bent over and used my other arm to pull him down by his head making him fall over my shoulder. The guy who was on the ground grabbed me from behind but before he could fully grab me, I bent down causing him to fall forward and kicked him in the stomach on the way down. The other guy kicked his leg to come down on me, but I caught it and twisted it before pushing him away and getting back up. All 3 of them were in a different area circling me, at this time the old man had run away, and it was just us 4. "Is that all you got beautiful?" One asked. "You ask that, but you have all yet to land a hit on me." I fired back messing with their pride, this made the one behind me charge but I moved to make him run into the other guy and fall. The last one standing charged at me and we went back and forth fighting one-on-one without interruptions from the other two. He swung at me and tried to grab me, but I ducked and punched him in the stomach. While he held his stomach, I punched his chest knocking the wind out of him. By shorting his breath, he would not be able to last much longer in the fight, so he fell back. He and his friends were beaten up and tired after the fight. "Not bad, not bad at all. Just you wait we will be back." He said before they ran into the trees. "And by that time, I'll be long gone," I said aloud assuming no one was there to hear me. I was wrong because after I said that a voice sounded behind me. "Please let me escort you where you want to go." I turned around and saw the old man I thought ran away on a carriage. "Ah? You're still here? I thought you ran away." I said looking up at him. "No, I went to get my carriage is all." He said. "Why were you not riding it earlier? It would have made it harder for them to hurt you " I pointed out. "I know but it's hard for me to fight and if I lost this stuff, I didn't know what to do. So, I hid my precious things in here so if they took anything it would not be so bad." He explained and it was very smart. "But I got to keep all my things thanks to you, " he said making me shy but proud of myself for helping him. "It's nothing," I assured him. "Please I'm on my way to the western gate, let me thank you by taking you where you want to go." "It's okay you don't need to do that. A simple thank you is enough, not to mention where I'm going is nowhere near the western gate." I said bowing to thank him for his kind offer. "May I ask were that would be?" He asked. " the royal palace up north." I said pointing in the direction of north. "Oh, that is just a day and a half trip is all. Come in I can take you." He said taking my hand and ushering me to the cart. " but that would take you off your trail to get were you need to be." I complained worried. "Young lady had you not come along I may not have my life right now, please let me take you to the palace. It would be an honor to take my hero." He pleaded with his head low. I couldn't say no anymore. " alright thank you." I said as I took his hand to step into the carriage. Like that we set off in the direction of the palace in silent. A few moments passed and I was sleeping, and I was unaware of it until I woke up and it was daylight. Surprised, I sat up and saw we were not moving, and the old man was gone. I looked out the windows of the carriage and it looked like we stopped in a town, more specifically a town market area. I was confused about where I was and how long I had been sleeping. I opened the door to the carriage and stepped down by myself before closing it. I looked around and saw many things for sale. Beautiful clothes and accessories, delicious food, wonderful books, and much more. All things I cannot afford so I just looked at them. I looked around until I saw a familiar face, the old man was coming my way with something in hand. "I see you're awake, did you sleep well?" He asked greeting me with a small bow. "Yes, thank you and I'm sorry I fell asleep, I didn't know how tired I truly was." " that's alright dear it happens to the best of us." He says. "Can you tell me where we are?" I asked looking around as we walked once again. " we are in the town of Grease. Not too far from the palace just a few more hours rides." He says but I had zoned out hungrily watching at a food cart. I am very hungry, but I have no money to buy food like that. The most I can get is an apple at a time, at least where I come from. I don't know if stuff is more expensive here or not. I snapped back when I heard laughing from the old man. "Are you hungry?" well slightly embarrassed I nodded. " yes, but I don't have the money to buy food." I said sadly. "I see well I bought these while you were sleeping for you. He said handing me a bag. " oh, that's okay you didn't have to, I can't accept this. I'm already getting enough from your kindness." I said shaking my hands to refuse whatever he bought. " it's no trouble at all, eat up we have a while to go." He said placing the bag in my hands before leading the way for me. I had no choice, so I took the bag and opened it to see delicious buns. They were mouthwatering and I couldn't wait to eat them. When we arrived back at the carriage, he helped me in and took his place in the front. He said his command to the horse, and it began to move pulling the carriage behind it with me in it. I enjoyed the steamed buns but saved some for later in case either of us got hungry again. While watching out the window, a thought occurred. I looked out the front window and asked the old man. "Sir I never asked your name." he looked back at me and smiled " call me Mr. Han." He said turning back around. "I'm Luna Im, nice to officially meet you Mr. Han." I said resting my head on the window ledge. "You as well Luna." He says. We were quiet for a moment before he asked. "Ms. Luna may I ask why you are going to the palace?" He asked. "To work." I said with a sigh. " as a concubine or something?" He assumed. "No, never. I intend to be a scholar." "Well, that's wonderful, I hope that works out for you." He says with a surprised smile. " what made you want to work in the palace though?" He asked looking at me for a second before back at the road. " To tell the truth I'm going to the palace to save my family. My father has gotten in trouble and if I don't do something, we all will be in danger." I explained sadly. " I'm sorry to hear that if you don't want to talk about it, I understand." He said and I smiled." It's okay I plan to become a scholar at the palace to earn money to help them." I said happily. "Well, I hope you can good luck." He says and I was happy.
Hours later we arrived at the gates of the palace. " well this is as far as I can take you, dear. The rest is up to you." He says getting down and opening the door for me." Thank you so much Mr. Han." I shook his hand and climbed down. " no problem I hope you get what you need here, lord knows what happens behind these gates that we citizen don't know about." He wondered as he looked up at the golden gates with squinted eyes because the tall gates made you look in the direction of the sun to see how tall the gate truly was. "Thank you." " and if you're ever in the west gate look for me." He said with a smile. I nod my head as if I were a child." I will thank you again." I said before he got into his carriage and left me at the gate. I looked around until I found a palace guard standing there alone. He was cute and looked very innocent for a guard. "Excuse me, sir," he looked at me. " Hello, my name is Luna and I want to work at the palace," I said simply. He raised one of his eyebrows confused. " why?" He asked curiously. "I need work for personal reasons, is there anyone I can talk to here?" I asked. "I guess, follow me." He said leading me to the gates. January 6th is the day I entered the palace. While inside, I took in the view around me and admired the beauty of the palace.

We arrived inside and he leads me somewhere with grand gates. When he opened them, I saw the empress mother sitting on her throne reading scriptures. Her attention turned to us and she waited for us to properly greet her. When we stopped, we both bowed to her majesty." may I help you?" She asked waiting for one of us to speak. "Your grace this woman has come seeking work." The guard told her making her eyebrow raised. "Work? Here? Why?" She asked taken aback. The guard moved and let me speak. "Your grace my name is Luna Im and I am 21 years old. I live in the town of Mill; many days walk from here and I come from a poor family." I began with my head low. Despite all of that I traveled here to become a scholar in the palace." I said she was surprised. "what are your intentions for working here?" She asked. " to be truthful I didn't intend to come here but my family is in danger due to the lack of money we make. I want to help them by earning money and saving them." I said with my head down. " and you say you want to be a scholar, why?" She asked. " because I am very bright and talented, I can offer you my mind in exchange for money to help my family. I bed of you please give me a chance " I said getting onto my knees before the empress mother. She pondered for a moment before she spoke. "You are very brave to come here and very noble to want to work so hard to protect your family. However, I cannot just give you the position of a scholar so easily. You must earn it by studying with our head scholars. I admire that you want a true challenge, most girls who have come to the palace came to sleep with my son." She says I was sad that I could not be a scholar yet at least." but while you are studying you can work as a lady in waiting for me. "She said my head flew up with surprise. "Thank you, your majesty, I promise I will be by your side when you need me," I said giving her a grand bow to thank her for her kindness. "You. What's your name?" She called the guard. "Lucas Will your majesty." He said bowing. "Lucas please show Luna around the palace and take her to her room in the scholar's tower when you finish." She ordered. I couldn't believe this I will be able to do this it will take a bit, but it will happen. While with Lucas, we talked freely about ourselves as he showed me around. We got to the area of the emperor's quitters and were about to around the corner when I bumped into someone making me fall to the ground