Forbidden Love| [A Taemina Story]

Trapped

Taehyung stares at her with pity as her tears never stop flowing. He whispers, "Wait for me here." He heads out and comes back with two plates of cooked deer and a side of vegetables. Taehyung says, "You should eat and rest. It'll help recovery. Maybe I can find herbs to relieve the pain but it'll still hurt."

Mina eats the food with teary eyes as the stinging pain stays. He says, "You should be able to recover after 2-3 months." Mina's jaw drops as she says, "N-no. I can't be gone that long. My clan will be looking for me." Taehyung sighs and realizes that she's quite an important figure in her clan. He says, "Well, we can't tell them you're here. They'd think I kidnapped you and kill me. I can't tell my clan you're here too, they'll use you as a hostage to get what they want."

Mina asks, "S-so what do we do?" Taehyung looks at her with an apologetic frown, "We wait and pray." Mina sighs as her tears dry and Taehyung cleans the plates. He only has one bed in the cabin so he decides to lie on the floor next to the bed.

In the darkness of the night, Taehyung asks, "So how did the princess of the Pengu Clan end up half dead in a river in Tiga territory?" Mina smiles, "I was teaching these two adorable kids how to swim. One of them drifted onto a current which led to the rapids and I had to save her."

Taehyung stays quiet as he's quite impress by her act of bravery and kindness. He's grateful that the darkness is hiding his smile because it's the widest it's ever been in a while. Mina then asks, "How'd you find my body?"

Taehyung says, "I was teaching these 3 annoying brats how to hunt. One of them wandered off and found you. He thought you were an animal." Mina giggles, "Cute." He rolls his eyes, "How is that cute? I had to tell them that I brought you here to kill and eat you."

Mina stays quiet as she says, "I still don't like you." Taehyung replies after a moment of silence, "Why? I know our clans have been in war for hundreds of years now but why do you hate us?" Mina stays quiet and Taehyung assumes that she doesn't intend to answer.

He closes his eyes prepared to sleep but Mina spoke up, "They killed my mother. Your people killed my mother." Taehyung stays quiet trying not to be swayed by her stories but she keeps going.

"We were swimming in a nearby river. We didn't know it was Tiga territory and we didn't mean any harm. But they didn't care. I almost died that day but my mom hid me in a tree trunk. I stayed there for hours and hours. Not knowing whether my mom was alive. Not knowing if I was going to make it out alive. And not knowing if anyone was looking for me."

Taehyung hears the breaks and sobs in between her words and his heart starts to soften. She finishes, "My father found me almost a day later. He had to tell me that my mother died. He told me that your people killed her after she begged to live. Now you tell me that your people aren't barbaric. Tell me why I shouldn't hate your people."

Taehyung stays quiet and he hears Mina cry. He starts to feel bad for forcing her to say this. He didn't mean to bring up such a tragic memory he was just curious on why she didn't like him. Taehyung says, "I'm sorry."

Mina let's out a laugh and says, "What?" Taehyung says in a serious tone, "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm also apologizing for what my people have done to you. So, I'm sorry. But not all of us are like that. We have cute kids in our clan too and not everyone is as barbaric as you think they are. If I could show you I would."

Mina stays quiet and Taehyung asks, "Mina?"

No reply.

He suddenly sits up to look if she's fine. Taehyung sighs in relief as he notice she just fell asleep.

...

"What brings the great Warrior Jimin over to our lands?"

Jimin chuckles, "I didn't come alone."

Jin and Namjoon look behind him and are suddenly surprised seeing both Jungkook and Jihyo behind them.

Namjoon raises an eyebrow and Jin says "Welcome to the Tiga Lands. I wonder why you're here."

Jungkook and Jihyo keep that angered facial expression as Jin glances around a bit surprised. He asks, "And where is that beautiful princess of yours?"

Jungkook curses back, "We should be asking you that, old man." Jin's eyes widen, "O-old man?" He then nudges Namjoon and whispers, "Think of a comeback."

Namjoon speaks up, "Jihyo." She replies, "Namjoon." He then says, "We should speak, the two of us." Jihyo nods and the two leave Jin and Jungkook alone.

Jihyo says, "Mina's missing. The kids said that she drifted through a river and we followed it to your lands. We know you found her because we didn't. Now give her back."

Namjoon keeps his serious expression, "Such accusations. Are we also ignoring the fact that you roamed our territory without notice?" Jihyo grits her teeth, "Give our sister back." Namjoon sighs, "As great as it would be to have Mina in our custody, we don't. If we did, we would've approached you with demands."

Jihyo tears up, "You liar. Give her back, we have a bigger army. Your lies will cause the death of your clan." Namjoon replies, "Think Jihyo. We have a decent army too and it would end in a stalemate like it always does. And you know very well, I'm no liar. How do you know she's even alive? She could be dead by a tree or one our many predators in the jungle could be feasting on her right as we speak."

Jihyo stares into his emotionless eyes and greets his face with a heavy slap. Namjoon stumbles back as he blacked out for a few seconds and Jihyo leaves.

She notices Jungkook and Jin trying to intimidate each other with intense stares. Jihyo tells Jimin, "We're leaving." Jungkook looks at his sister worried, "They don't have her?" Jihyo curses, "They do but they're denying it. We need evidence and we can comeback."

Jungkook turns to Jimin and whispers, "Scan the river again secretly. Find anything that proves Mina is here."

The Pengu Clan rides away and Namjoon whispers to the guards, "Increase patrols and guards near any river connecting our lands to Pengu territory. Kill any Pengu Clan on sight."