Characters/Ship: itzy chaeryeong/ryujin Tags: sageuk au, korean shamanism, allusions to planned animal sacrifice, mention of blood sacrifice, many liberties taken with factual and historical accuracy, ambiguous relationship Permission to Remix: Yes -
ryujin tracks her down in the room of imperial records, checking between the stacks until she locates the source of the sniffling.
"your highness?" she crouches down and gently pulls chaeryeong into her arms, paying no mind to how it crinkles the heavy fabric of her ceremonial hanbok. chaeryeong doesn't say a word but clings to her all the same. just like she always has. "it's alright. your imperial father changed his mind and called off the rites today. your dogs are back in your rooms."
chaeryeong doesn't move. ryujin continues to coax and pat her back until the tension seeps away and she finally raises her head slowly, like a fern unfurling at dawn.
fear and grief linger in chaeryeong's eyes. this is a reprieve, not a pardon, though neither of them says it aloud.
"were they scared?" her voice comes out wobbly and makes ryujin chuckle even as she shakes her head gently.
"i think all the fuss and music excited them." ryujin pulls out a handkerchief and chaeryeong turns her face up obligingly so ryujin can dab at the streaks left by her tears. "they'll probably be asleep by the time you get back. can you stand? here, lean on me. i've got you."
ryujin can never have her. not the cherished second princess of the kingdom with her sweet smiles and sharp tongue, the princess already engaged to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. but as she helps chaeryeong to her feet, holding on tighter than she needs to in this moment, ryujin can pretend.
***
only the emperor and his imperial bloodline have heralds. chaeryeong doesn't need one to know when ryujin arrives in the garden to answer her summons - the heavy scent of ceremonial incense arrives on the wind long before ryujin appears in her sight.
"your highness," she greets with a bow. although ryujin isn't wearing her shaman robes today, chaeryeong's new maid is staring at her with what can only be called awed fascination. ryujin smiles at her when she catches her eye, and the girl's cheeks instantly turn pink.
"leave us," chaeryeong snaps, her good mood dissipating in an instant. her staff are banished with an impatient wave of her hand. and to ryujin: "walk with me."
ryujin follows behind her as befitting of her status. it has to be enough. if ryujin were a man, chaeryeong would never get to walk with her at dusk without a chaperone at all.
"have you recovered fully?" walking ahead, chaeryeong can't see if ryujin's steps still pain her. shamans of the imperial court serve at the emperor's mercy, long live his majesty. if a sword dance ceremony is what the spirits demand to ensure his longevity, then so be it. if the youngest of the shamans must submit to having her back sliced open with a sword to appease a malicious spirit, then so be it.
"i am well."
always the same soft answer. chaeryeong would still choose this over silence.
"walk with me." chaeryeong leads the way deeper into the gardens where the chirp of crickets hides her quickening breath, just as the long shadows conceal the color on her cheeks. later when night falls, she can claim fear of stumbling in the dark to explain why she holds ryujin's hand, just as the cold will give her reason to walk close side-by-side.
next month, she'll leave home to travel to the palace of her new husband in a procession with all the court to send her off. but tonight there are only the stars to bear witness to chaeryeong shyly curling her fingers around ryujin's hand. only the mugunghwa blossoms hear what ryujin says in return.
[fill] until the moon can't be seen in the night sky (that's when i'll meet you)
Tags: sageuk au, korean shamanism, allusions to planned animal sacrifice, mention of blood sacrifice, many liberties taken with factual and historical accuracy, ambiguous relationship
Permission to Remix: Yes
-
ryujin tracks her down in the room of imperial records, checking between the stacks until she locates the source of the sniffling.
"your highness?" she crouches down and gently pulls chaeryeong into her arms, paying no mind to how it crinkles the heavy fabric of her ceremonial hanbok. chaeryeong doesn't say a word but clings to her all the same. just like she always has. "it's alright. your imperial father changed his mind and called off the rites today. your dogs are back in your rooms."
chaeryeong doesn't move. ryujin continues to coax and pat her back until the tension seeps away and she finally raises her head slowly, like a fern unfurling at dawn.
fear and grief linger in chaeryeong's eyes. this is a reprieve, not a pardon, though neither of them says it aloud.
"were they scared?" her voice comes out wobbly and makes ryujin chuckle even as she shakes her head gently.
"i think all the fuss and music excited them." ryujin pulls out a handkerchief and chaeryeong turns her face up obligingly so ryujin can dab at the streaks left by her tears. "they'll probably be asleep by the time you get back. can you stand? here, lean on me. i've got you."
ryujin can never have her. not the cherished second princess of the kingdom with her sweet smiles and sharp tongue, the princess already engaged to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. but as she helps chaeryeong to her feet, holding on tighter than she needs to in this moment, ryujin can pretend.
***
only the emperor and his imperial bloodline have heralds. chaeryeong doesn't need one to know when ryujin arrives in the garden to answer her summons - the heavy scent of ceremonial incense arrives on the wind long before ryujin appears in her sight.
"your highness," she greets with a bow. although ryujin isn't wearing her shaman robes today, chaeryeong's new maid is staring at her with what can only be called awed fascination. ryujin smiles at her when she catches her eye, and the girl's cheeks instantly turn pink.
"leave us," chaeryeong snaps, her good mood dissipating in an instant. her staff are banished with an impatient wave of her hand. and to ryujin: "walk with me."
ryujin follows behind her as befitting of her status. it has to be enough. if ryujin were a man, chaeryeong would never get to walk with her at dusk without a chaperone at all.
"have you recovered fully?" walking ahead, chaeryeong can't see if ryujin's steps still pain her. shamans of the imperial court serve at the emperor's mercy, long live his majesty. if a sword dance ceremony is what the spirits demand to ensure his longevity, then so be it. if the youngest of the shamans must submit to having her back sliced open with a sword to appease a malicious spirit, then so be it.
"i am well."
always the same soft answer. chaeryeong would still choose this over silence.
"walk with me." chaeryeong leads the way deeper into the gardens where the chirp of crickets hides her quickening breath, just as the long shadows conceal the color on her cheeks. later when night falls, she can claim fear of stumbling in the dark to explain why she holds ryujin's hand, just as the cold will give her reason to walk close side-by-side.
next month, she'll leave home to travel to the palace of her new husband in a procession with all the court to send her off. but tonight there are only the stars to bear witness to chaeryeong shyly curling her fingers around ryujin's hand. only the mugunghwa blossoms hear what ryujin says in return.