His soft lips moved in sync with mine. I could feel his love and passion in that kiss, and no matter how badly my brain asked me to pull away, my broken heart needed a distraction. It was as if Ethan felt this uncertainty in the kiss and pulled away looking at me with worry etched on his face.
"Are you okay?", I heard him ask.
"I am sorry for this sudden action. I-I didn't mean to just jump on you like that.", I apologised looking at the ground.
"It's okay Hyun, I don't mind being your distraction. Just don't keep all the pain locked inside of you.", he said with a soft smile.
"But you shouldn't go around kissing me like this here. You remember I am a king in this era, right?", he joked.
I looked at him and smiled at his happy face. But he was right, I just can't go around kissing him or talking to him anytime I want to. Our meaningless interactions could raise suspicion.
"Aiden is on their side now.", I told him.
"I know, but the real question is, you are on which side now?", Ethan asked. I looked at him confused.
"What is that supposed to mean?", I asked. "Obviously I am on your side.", I continued.
"But you can't be.", he said. "You are here as Aiden's healer, and not as someone who holds the power to choose sides.", he continued.
I looked at him horrified. I got so lost in this turmoil of feelings that I forgot why I was present in this era in the first place. I had no freedom to pick sides.
"So, you mean I have to leave this place and stay beside Aiden?" I asked and earned a painful nod from Ethan.
"What if he doesn't need me anymore?", I asked hopefully.
What a strange turnout of events. One moment I was begging to be on his side and now his presence makes me shake with fear. Ethan didn't answer and left as some soldiers approached us. I sat alone by the river wondering if Aiden will force me to be by his side.
The sun was setting, and the people were running around, doing last moment preparations. I could see them running with spears, bows, arrows, sharpening their sword's blades. The horses were being fed and the officials were in a meeting with Ethan. I was still busy sitting by the river and watching the sun go down, as the sky changed its colour to orange from blue.
"Hyun! They are here.", one of the soldiers called out for me.
I looked at him and he was sweating and completely out of breath.
"Who is here?", I panicked. I could feel my heartbeat race. I could feel his presence. Aiden was here.
"They have attacked! It happened suddenly and the arrows are coming from all directions.", he said.
I looked around to see all the soldiers running with swords and wearing their protective gear. The war has begun!
"Where is the king?", I asked scared for Ethan's safety.
"He is being protected in the last tent, as he is trying to come up with a new strategy.", he said.
Without a second thought, I ran towards the tent. I could hear the swords moving, I could hear the cheers and painful screams, I heard the horses running as their rider pulled their leash, but my eyes were focused on the tent in front of me. Without announcing my presence, I entered the tent. One thing I learned was, never to enter the king's place in such haste. I found five swords lined to my throat the moment I entered.
"It is me! Hyun!", I said trying to catch my breath.
"Put your swords down!", Ethan ordered, and I could finally breathe now.
"Are you okay?", Ethan walked towards me and asked. I nodded still trying to get some air.
"They attacked?", the words came out more of a question.
"They did and we have to fight back with a proper strategy or else we are doomed.", he said walking back towards the officials where they were discussing the new war strategy to follow.
I followed him. The officials were giving me a confused look. I realised they were confused about my presence and the ease with which Ethan had discussed all the plans with me.
"I am here as a special agent. I saw the head talking to the enemies and even kept an eye on the enemy borders. I can be of help if you all allow.", I said bowing in front of them.
They all looked at each other and then at Ethan who gave a slight nod. They all followed their king's lead and finally ignored my presence and focused back on building the new plan.
I preferred watching them from a distance and speaking only when asked to. I could see their plan was well built but the only problem I could see was- the ex-head of our army.
"We need to keep one-fourth of our army at the camp.", one of the officials said.
"I suggest we keep a small unit here. Then divide our army into four units and trap the enemy's army in the middle.", another official suggested. His plan seemed to grab the attention of the other officials as well.
"I don't think that will work.", I intervened finally.
All the eyes were on me now. I gulped lightly seeing some eyes hold a burning gaze. I took a small step ahead and my eyes looked at Ethan's, pleading to help make these stares disappear. But he was also immersed in this discussion to read my eyes.
"What do you know about wars kid.", the official who spoke about this strategy said.
"With all due respect, I don't know anything about wars, but I do know that this same strategy has been used by our army for a while now. We can't forget that our army's previous head is on the enemy's side now. He knows we will come up with this plan.", I placed my point.
The officials saw a valid argument and nodded in agreement.
"What do you suggest we do?", another official asked me.
"I am no master of planning war strategies, but I would say let's deceive them.", I answered.
"Deceive them? how?", another question raised.
"We need the lose this war. We will ask our soldiers to step back once the sun starts to go down, giving them a sign of our less power. They will fight only one-fourth of our best soldiers today and we need to make them think we have less manpower.", I explained.
"And what exactly will that lead to?", Ethan asked.
"Yes, our head always fought wars with only a number of soldiers he thought was enough to win the war. She is right. If we show them, we are less in number, he will cut down his men too.", one of the officials on my right said.
I nodded and the other people in the room also seemed to understand my strategy now.
"In the moment of emergency, I feel this is the plan we should go ahead with for now.", another official said.
"Those who agree with Hyun's plan, raise your hands.", Ethan said.
Five out of six officials raised their hands without any second thought. The only official who refused to agree was the one who gave the first strategy, official Hye. He was looking scared and not angry and without another word, he left the room.
"If the majority agrees with Hyun's plan, we need to start working on it. Divide the soldiers into units and plan which unit reveals themselves in which order. The soldiers fighting today will be the ones fighting but send an extra unit for their help. We need to keep our causalities minimum. These are our people, and we need to protect them.", Ethan ordered, and the officials left as soon as the king was done talking.
"Hyun, you did well today.", Ethan said once we were the only ones in the tent.
"He doesn't seem fine.", I said looking outside.
"Who?", he asked.
"Official Hye. He never gets mad or scared.", I said.
"He must be taken aback because his proposal was not accepted.", Ethan stated.
"No, I have known him since I was a kid. He is mature and knows how to act and manage his emotions. Something is not right.", I couldn't ignore this uneasy feeling.
"Should I send some people to follow him?", he asked.
"No, we already have fewer soldiers. I will follow him.", I answered.
To my surprise, Ethan nodded and didn't argue. He was tense about the outcome of the war. I took his hand in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze before leaving the tent.
"Hyun! Stay safe.", Ethan called.
"You too, stay safe.", I said giving him a small smile, unaware this might be the last smile we exchange with such ease.