My heartbeat falters.

With her hands together, Chin-Hwa then says, as if she's bestowing upon him a great honor: "Then let me introduce you, this is my dear friend: Yeong Ji-Eun, she is from Yuleob, have you heard of it?"

I see him swallow difficultly upon hearing my name, yet his face remains stoic. "I believe I have, my lady."

"You have? How wonderful, you must accompany us back to the house and tell us all about it. Ji-Eun-eonni can't tell me much, for she can't remember."

His eyes flash my way and back again and silently he bows his head again. "Permit me to inform my officer, then I will do as you bid me."

As soon as he is out of hearing distance, I grab onto Chin-Hwa's arm and beg: "Please, lets not bother him anymore. We have a guard, he clearly wants to remain here and practice more."

Chin-Hwa, unperturbed by my desperate plea, pats my hand and begins to walk back to the litter. "Don't worry yourself, Ji-Eun-eonni, every one of those men are dying to be chosen to accompany us back to the house. And see", she waves in the direction of the field, "they are clearly finished already."

She's right. The swords are sheathed and the remaining men have formed straight lines. While Gi-Kyong trots our way, the others take off in the opposite direction.

All the way back to the gama I keep my head down, very aware of the extra set of footsteps behind us. It's as if I can feel his gaze on my back. His eyes bore holes in the fabric of my white jeogory. What is he thinking right now? Does he think I'm here voluntarily? Oh how I wish I could talk to him in private.

We step into the litter and I feel nausea rising when the servants pick it up. Chin-Hwa opens the little sliding window, so we can see Gi-Kyong walking next to us. I'm glad she sits between us and doesn't see my face while she asks him questions about Yuleob. I nearly choke when I hear him telling her about the hundreds of little houses stacked on top of each other.

When it's obvious he can't tell us much more than that, Chin-Hwa is a little disappointed and leans back. I inhale and dare a glance to the side. My heart is working overtime when I see the precious lines of his face. His jaw is set and his lips tightly pressed together, but it's him and since I'd given up all hope of ever looking in his eyes again, this feels like heaven to me.

We reach the house way too soon and I have to watch him bow and walk away with a bleary vision. Chin-Hwa, again misunderstanding me, pats me on the arm again and whispers: "Don't worry, I will make sure you'll see him again. He's very handsome, isn't he. A little too pretty for my taste, I like them a bit sturdier, but I can understand what you see in him. Just make sure my father doesn't find out we were at the practice grounds."

Oh, I can promise her that. I will never do anything that might jeopardize Gi-Kyong. He changed his name, I mustn't forget that, he called himself On Min-Woo. Probably to protect his parents. I like the meaning of the names he chose: clever, sharp, and protection, divine intervention; it sure feels that way.

We're just in time for dinner. Servants, as always, prepared an elaborate meal consisting of more bowls than I've seen together at the Ho family's. Chin-Hwa's mother passed away when she was born, and her older brother died a few years back defending the king. So it's been just the two of them for a long time. Mr. Kim dotes on his daughter and even though it's a strict household, she can mostly get away with about anything. I think it's the only reason I'm still here: because she wants me to.

For his daughters sake he has given me a room inside the house, to keep up the ruse. He knows, as well as I do, that his daughter cannot be friends with a mere commoner and so far I haven't seen any other noblewoman in the neighborhood.

The room I'd been given explained why my kidnappers talked about a collection. It was filled with objects from China, Japan and even some from far away places. It was indeed the perfect place for me: another rare possession.

However, when Chin-Hwa claimed me as her newfound friend, she urged her father to relocate his collection, arguing it was not right to burden me with all that clutter. It didn't endear me to him, but he did as his daughter bade.

In the beginning there had been a guard at my door each night, even though I couldn't walk yet. Another one was posted at my window. After a few weeks, when I'd proven not to be a runner, the guard outside left. It doesn't matter much if I would climb out my window, there is still a high wall to scale and there's no way I can manage that in a dress.

---

After dinner, I feel my heart has settled enough to be able to quietly talk like we do every night and because Chin-Hwa wants to talk about boys, we take a stroll in the courtyard. The ever watching eyes of the guard trail us, but he keeps his distance. Perhaps he too thinks I've settled for this life. After all, I have it pretty good. I'm treated by everyone as if I'm royalty, only three people know I'm not and I'm pretty sure the elderly woman values her tongue.

I learn a lot about Chin-Hwa's personal taste in men that evening, she barely needs any encouragement to chatter and it's no difference with this topic. She giggles and blushes and tells about friends of her father with sons. I get the feeling Mr. Kim isn't ready to part with his daughter so soon, something she's currently fine with. The ideal situation, she tells me, would be a wealthy second son, who can become heir to her father, so she can stay with him.

So far no suitable suitor has made an offer and I guess I should be grateful. It will be the end of my leisure-life if Chin-Hwa gets married.

My head feels like it's got pins and needles in it by the time it's time for bed. I wash, dress for the night and lay down on top of the soft colorful mattress, that's covered by a beautiful quilt. Just like this place, there was a heating system beneath the floor of the Ho family's house, which made me wonder if Gi-Kyong's parents might be a little less low-borne than I thought.

Laying on the floor, with the quilt pulled up to my chin, I finally allow my mind to sort through the events of the past day. Immediately the fluttering starts and when I remember the moments at Gi-Kyong's home: the kisses; watching him chop wood in his bear chest, I'm soon so warm I push the quilt away again. Here, in the relative safety of the room that is sort of, but not quite mine, I can dream about him. Here, I can allow hope in my heart once more, hope that he hasn't forgotten me, hope that he will find a way to take me away with him. This night only I can feel all the repressed emotions, for tomorrow I have to hide them deep down, so no one, and especially not Kim Dae-Hyun, can ever guess how much I love him.

---

I am woken from my sleep by a cool hand that covers my mouth. The last time that happened I was taken away and sold. Immediately I start thrashing, until an urgent voice hisses near my ear: "Shh, Ji-Eun-ah, it's me, it's me."

My eyes widen and in the pale moonlight that shines through the window I see the lines of his face. Lines that I will always recognize, everywhere.

I sob: "Gi-Kyong", and throw myself in his arms. The moment his hands press me close to his chest, I hide my face against his shoulder to absorb the cries. I can't contain myself and cling to him for dear life.

He comforts me with sweet little nothings and even if we should be discovered and killed right now, I'd die happy, knowing Gi-Kyong still loves me.

After a while, when I have my emotions back under control, he gently pushes me back. He kisses me once, twice, wipes the tears from my eyes and finally says: "I've been searching for you everywhere."

I heave a very deep sigh and ask, making fists in his coat to keep him from leaving me: "How did you find me?"

He sits down more comfortably and pulls me on his lap. He hides his nose in my curls and whispers: "At first I thought you had been taken by another Fixer, but then I found your sandal and evidence of a struggle. I searched everywhere until I finally heard about this new noblewoman that lived at the magistrate's house. They said she had hair like the summer-sun and eyes like the ocean. I knew it had to be you. I joined Kim Dea-Hyun-sado's army as soon as I could."

"You never gave up on me?" I softly wail, thankful beyond words for his perseverance.

He takes my face in both hands, kisses me thoroughly and says: "I will never, néver give up on you."

After a while he asks me: "What happened?" And so I tell him about the two men, about the storage place of stone, about my pitiful attempts to break free and finally how I was sold to the magistrate to become a companion to his daughter. The more I say, the darker his expression turns.

"Chin-Hwa-agassi doesn't know, her father will kill me if I ever tell."

Gi-Kyong turns his face away and I see how hard he tries to compose himself. Cautiously I touch his shoulder and then his face. After a few moments he leans against my palm.

"I'm alright", I softly say with a fragile smile. "They treat me well and Chin-Hwa is a wonderful person, even though she's a bit too outspoken sometimes."

Gi-Kyong chuckles under his breath. "Tell me about it, when I saw you at the field I thought for sure I was going to lose it. And when she called me to you I had to bite my cheek so hard I could taste blood." He shakes his head. "If it had been only the guard, I would have killed him right there and taken you home."

Home, the word is like music to my ears.

"Gi-Kyong-ah, how is it that you're such a good soldier? You've only joined recently, but you stood there like you've been doing it for years."

A little abashed, he lowers his chin, before he admits: "I should have told you sooner. We've been practicing a lot, my friends and I, we were about to try and join a private army that day." He balls his fist, but before his anger can rise again I quickly place my hand over it.

"Don't think about it, don't blame yourself for not being there, I don't. I love you."

I blurt out the words before I realize it's the first time either one of us had truly expressed their feelings. It helps, though, his anger is washed away like dust in summer rain and when he smiles, my world lights up.

He takes my hands in his and his look becomes serious when he says: "Hide your feelings. Until I've found a way to get you out of here safely, you must never show anyone you care for me."

That might be a problem. Chin-Hwa is already convinced I've fallen for the handsome soldier. She doesn't know how true that is. I know why he says it, though. It's dangerous for him as well as for me. Private armies often consists of commoners and commoners and nobility don't mix. It's an immediate death sentence for him if anyone found out about our relationship.

I solemnly nod and close my eyes when he pulls my face towards him again. One last time he kisses me and then he leaves as he came; quietly into the night. I cry until the first light dawns.