This has been in my drafts for forever 😅
Anyway, the inspiration for this came from a video called The Last Airbender Water Tribe Music & Ambience by Ambience Worlds on YouTube (linked above). Specifically from 22:22 to 31:18 and other sections similar. If you're able to, I'd recommend listening to the music as you read (screen in screen will work for this video) as it really sets the tone for the whole thing, and I would suggest starting a few seconds before 22 minutes as the music unintentionally matches up fairly well with the scenes.
Also, this isn't set in any specific time of place, just ancient Aisa type vibes, with the really old and really beautiful clothing and architecture and things of the like.
But without further ado, please enjoy.

...

A soft breeze rustles through the leaves of a quiet forest, the animals there at rest and at peace in the tranquil nature. The soil shifts as a girl takes careful steps, holding the skirts of her fancy dress to keep the ends from getting too dirty as she makes her way towards her favorite place. A small grove of cherry blossom trees that border and connect one kingdom to the next. The girl let's out a relaxed sigh when she makes it and settles next to the small stream that sits in the center of the grove. She's never more at peace than she is when she's here. She can relax here and just be herself. There's no reputation to uphold or image to maintain.

This girl is Y/n, the only daughter and beloved princess to Choi Seojun, ruler of the Kingdom to the West. She is loved by all for her kind nature and doted on by her father who swore to give her everything when her mother died of sickness. She wants to do good for her kingdom, and she loves her people, but being the only heir to the throne has a lot of responsibilities, a lot of them taxing and requiring to be stoic and refined a lot of the time. It's nice to just get away from it all for a while and to just be alone. But she wouldn't be for long.

Unbeknownst to her there was a boy making his way to the same spot for the same reasons. Namjoon is the second oldest son and knowledgable prince to Kim Minjun, the ruler of the Kingdom to the East. Much like Y/n Namjoon loves his people and wants to do what he can for them, but much like Y/n he likes to get away for a while, just to relax, read a book, and just be himself. He honestly never expected anyone came to this supposed secret spot, but when he heard a beautifully soft voice humming he found he didn't mind so much, especially when he saw the owner of the voice. An equally, if not more beautiful girl sat by the other side of the waters edge, watching as the pink petals floated peacefully on the stream.

His eyes widened a bit as he stared at her. She was so elegant and it almost seemed as if she was the only woman in the world for him at the moment. He had never been so awestruck by someone so fast in his life, it almost scared him. Almost. But he felt drawn to her and he unconsciously followed that pull. He didn't pay attention to where he was going and stumbled on a tree root, startling the beauty as he fell into veiw and she let out a small squeak of surprise. She didn't expect anyone to be there let alone anyone to fall right on the other side of the water.

"Are you okay?" She asked immediately.

He sighed and pushed himself to his knees, dusting the dirt from his slightly fancy attire, and nodded. "My ego's a little bruised, but other than that, I'm okay." She chuckled a bit and the sound brought a smile to his lips that he was able to elicit such a thing from her. "I'm surprised to see someone else out here, I don't think many people, if any at all, know about this little grove."

"I was just thinking the same. I think it's because of how close this place brings the two kingdoms. No one wants to trespass where they shouldn't and cause unnecessary trouble."

He nodded. "I think you may be right."

"It's a shame, though. This place is so beautiful. It should be seen by more people."

He nodded again. "That's very true. But then again, I'm kind of glad it isn't."

She tilted her head slightly. "Why is that?"

"Because if it was, I might not have had the good fortune to meet you."

She huffed a quiet laugh. "You don't even know me."

"That doesn't mean I wasn't lucky enough to meet one as beautiful as you."

She laughed out loud then. "You're too much." She covered her mouth with her long sleeve to hide her wide smile. He didn't bother to hide his, he enjoyed making her laugh. She looked up at the slowly darkening sky and sighed. "I think it's time I head home. My father will start to worry about me." She gingerly rose to her feet and he scrambled to copy her. When she turned to leave he had a slight moment of panic. What if he never saw her again?

"Wait!" She turned to him in question. "What's your name?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." She lightly shook her head.

"Is it because you're a noble?"

Her eyebrows rose in mild shock. "How did you..." She glanced down at her clothes and mentally scolded herself. "Right, because of my dress. I can assume you're a noble too?" He nodded. "Then you understand why it might not be the best idea to give you my name."

"What if I told you mine?"

She pursed her lips in thought and came to a decision. "Alright, I'll tell you my name... If we meet again." She smiled.

"What if I never see you again?" He voiced his concerns.

"I come here fairly often. Maybe the Fates will align again for another meeting. For now, it was nice to meet you." She lightly curtsied and he followed with a respectful bow of his own, and then he watched until she disappeared behind the expanse of trees. A sudden sadness washed over him as she left. He had only just met her, yet he couldn't help but think of their next meeting, and prayed to the gods above that they would get a next meeting.

Every day for the next week he made it a point to slip away for a while to go to the cherry blossom grove, hoping that he'd see her again. He had had no such luck so far, until the 8th day. He was sitting under one of the trees by the water when rustling caught his attention. He looked up and was met once again by her beautiful visage, a gentle smile gracing her features. For some reason unknown to her, she had a feeling that he would be here. "It seems the Fates smile on me." He grinned as she settled down on the other side of the waters edge.

"It seems so. I have heard they favor the bold." She smiled.

"Do I get to learn your name now?"

She bites her lip as she falls silent. He thinks for a moment that she won't answer, until her sweet voice rings through again with the gift of her name. "Y/n."

"Y/n." He breathes, and the way he says it, almost as if it was a breath of new life for him, brought warmth to her cheeks. A pretty blush that rivals even the petals that flutter around her. Then the name sounds a bit familiar to him. "Y/n, like the princess Y/n?" Being the prince he had heard of the daughter of his father's rival, but had never seen what she looked like.

She hesitated for only a moment. "Yes. My mother liked the name." She didn't say she was the same Y/n he was referring to, but she also didn't say she wasn't. She doesn't really know why she didn't admit that they were one and the same. Maybe a part of her wanted to have a little piece of a normal life, if only for a moment in this grove with this stranger. "What's your name?" She wondered.

"Namjoon."

"Like the second Kim prince." Much like Namjoon she had only heard of the three Kim princes, never once being able to know what they look like because of her father's hatred towards King Minjun. She never knew why the two men couldn't stand each other, and she never asked, seeing how ill tempered her father would get at even just the littlest mention of the rival king.

He nodded. "My father liked the name." He mimicked her words making her chuckle. They spent a couple hours there, talking and getting to know the other better. When the sun started to get lower and she announced she had to leave, him reluctantly agreeing that he too should be going, they agreed to meet again at the same time the next day. The pair sending small smiles and one last lingering gaze before they departed. This is only the second meeting of many to come. They would continue to meet almost every day for months, their excuses to their families that they have taken to a nice walk through the forest when they can get the chance.

They spend their time together either talking or telling stories, sometimes reading or she would play an instrument for him, sometimes they would just sit in silence. No matter what they did they enjoyed their time together, the few stolen hours bringing them closer together each time. The growing feelings between them were hard to ignore yet it couldn't be fought either. She was nervous about it, though. It wasn't against any law that she couldn't love who she thought was a common nobel, but her father expected her to find a prince, for her to marry when she came of age. She didn't want to let her father down, yet she couldn't help but long for Namjoon when she was away from their secret spot. Whether he was a poor shepard or the richest ruler in the world, she couldn't deny that the man had become the new owner of her heart.

Namjoon didn't really quite share her fears. His father married for love and that's what he wanted for his sons as well, no matter if they were poor or rich, if the love was real, the Kim princes could marry whomever they wished. Namjoon had slowly begun to realize that his wish was smiling at him from across the stream and that she had already had his heart from the moment he had first met her gaze. He would stop time if it only meant that he could look at her forever.

One day he noticed she seemed to be a little sadder than normal when their time to leave came. She had a small frown on her pretty lips that he thought should only smile. "What's the matter?" He asked.

"I don't think I'll be able to come here for the next week."

"Why? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's nothing bad like that. It's just my birthday is soon, and my father likes to make a big deal of it. He tends to plan a lot of events leading up to the actual day."

"He must really care a lot for you." He can understand it, though. If he had the opportunity he would do the same.

She had a small smile. "He does. I'm his only daughter, and he wants to make sure I have anything and everything I could ever want or need, especially since my mother died when I was young."

"That must feel nice, though, doesn't it?"

She lightly shrugged. "It does, but sometimes it can all be just... A little much."

He nodded. "I think I can understand. My father likes to make a big event out of mine and my brothers birthdays as well." They're quiet for a moment. "I hope I can see you the day after your birthday so I can give you a present of my own, at least."

"Oh, you don't have to get me anything, really. Just being able to see you would be enough." She admitted with a shy smile.

"I assure you, getting to see you is a gift every time." She laughed then, covering her mouth as she often did when she thought she was smiling too wide, although he could still see it and he loved it.

"Still as bold as ever." She fondly shook her head. "I look forward to seeing you again, Namjoon." She said as she stood.

He followed the action. "I'll be counting the hours until that day." They gave a final longing smile before she left, not to be seen again for another week.

He had anxiously waited those seven long days, and had grown a tendancy to stare into space, his mind drifting back to the cherry blossoms and how heavenly she looked there. A sudden jab to his side made him hiss in pain and look to his older brother, Seokjin, who was smiling mischievously. "Did you hear anything I said?" The older asked. Namjoon looked away in slight embarrassment. "You spaced out again, didn't you?" But Seokjin didn't need him to answer. Namjoon had been distracted a lot lately and he could only guess as to why.

"I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"He was talking about the princess of the neighboring kingdom." Taehyung explained.

"More specifically I was talking about how it's her birthday tomorrow." Seokjin clarified.

"It is?" Namjoon asked. Tomorrow was also Y/n's birthday. Such a strange coincidence.

He nodded. "She's turning 20, marrying age. King Seojun is probably already looking for a suitor for her as we speak."

Taehyung shook his head at that. "I don't think so. You've heard the stories of how much he cares and dotes on her. She'll probably be an old maid before he finds someone he deems worthy of her."

"Unless she chooses to marry for love like father did."

He shook his head again. "I doubt it. Father's told us about how different Seojun is from him. He'll be expecting her to marry a prince."

"I wonder what she looks like." Namjoon mused. With all the talk of the princess his curiosity to her identity had been piqued.

"I saw a painting of her once." Seokjin admitted.

"What? How?" Taehyung asked astounded.

"It was during my travels. One of the travelers I came across had been selling novelties with her image in celebration of her birthday last year. If the art was anything to go by she's very beautiful with s/c skin, e/c eyes, and flowing h/c hair. But then again, they could be romanticizing her looks, so I'm not really sure."

Namjoon had stopped listening by then. He was caught up on his brother's description of the princess. It sounded exactly like his Y/n. It couldn't be a coincidence. The puzzle pieces clicked in his head. The woman he was falling for and the Princess Choi were the same Y/n. It made perfect sense now that he thought about it. The name and the clothes and her need to get away for a breath of fresh air. She was a princess. But not only that, she was the daughter of the man his father disliked. That's not to say Minjun would be upset if he knew Namjoon had been meeting with her, Minjun only disliked Seojun and didn't hold anything against anyone or anything around him. But Seojun was different. Seojun hates even the air that brushes against Minjun. Namjoon can't imagine how the neighboring king would react if he new that his daughter had been meeting with the son of his enemy.

Still, he couldn't even think to stay away from her. So he waited the last two days before he could see her again. He was anxious as he stood by the water, anxious just to see her again. He perked up when he heard rushed footsteps and then she came into view. He was nearly breathless seeing her again. She seemed to have gotten more beautiful, if that was even possible, as she beamed at him in her cherry blossom pink dress. It must have been new, a gift from her father maybe, but it was perfect on her, and coincidentally perfect for the gift he had gotten her.

"You look beautiful." He complimented.

Her cheeks dusted pink but she smiled nonetheless. "Thank you. I actually had this made for myself. You mentioned once that this color suited me, so I thought I'd put it to the test. You seem to have been right."

"You look magnificent in any color, but this one just enhances it tenfold." That made her laugh and he smiled with pride, but then he got a little serious. "Y/n, I have to tell you something."

That made the smile vanish. "Namjoon? Is something wrong?"

"I know who you are. You're the Princess of the Kingdom to the West and only daughter to the ruler Choi Seojun." Her eyes widened slightly in shock. "I understand why you didn't say who you really were. You wanted to have a bit of normalcy, right?" All she could do was nod. "I understand because... I did the same thing. My name is Kim Namjoon, prince and second son to the ruler Kim Minjun." She let out a small gasp and brought a hand to her mouth. All this time she was spending time with her father's enemy's son! "I know how your father feels about my family," he continued, "and it's understandable if you think of us the same, but before you decide to go, let me say one last thing. I love you. Since I first laid eyes on you I loved you. I knew that it must have been fate that I got to meet such an exquisite woman. Not only is your face heavenly, but your heart is divine, and I am honored I was blessed to come to know you. I used to look at cherry blossoms and think how pretty they were, but now I look at them and think how lovely you make them. If you leave here today and decide to leave me behind, all I ask is that you take this with you, and the knowledge that I will be yours forever." He reached into a pocket fold in his clothes and pulled out a finely made golden hair pin. It had delicate pink cherry blossoms and dainty pearls, with a few pink and white stones that hung from golden chains.

She was speechless. His confessions left her conflicted. Her father would be furious if he knew what was happening, but every fibre of her being was telling her to accept Namjoon, throw caution to the wind and confess her love for him as well. He patiently waited for her answer. He understood the mental battle she must be having with herself right now, the same one he had when he found out who she was, but ultimately decided that it was too late for him. He loved her too much to not say anything, to not let her know that he was devoted to her no matter what.

Standing on either side of the stream, the water dividing one kingdom from another, one love from another, the two royals stared at each other.

She seemed to come to a decision quickly though. And it's not what he was expecting. Water splashed as she rushed across the ankle deep liquid, not caring if her dress became soaked, before she threw herself into his arms, hers going around the back of his neck to hold herself close. His arms instinctively wrapped around her and they held each other for the first time, but it seemed as natural as breathing. They seemed to fit together like two perfect puzzle pieces. She let out a shuddering breath and her lungs felt light as a feather, like she had been holding her breath her whole life until this one moment, the moment she was finally in his arms.

She pulled away only enough to look at him and and lightly touched his cheek with her fingertips. "I love you." She breathed. And then they were pressing their lips together in a long awaited kiss. A gust of wind blew by, shaking the branches and picking up the flowers. The petals swirled around the two as if the very wind was rejoicing in their confession. When they pulled away they were beaming at each other. He looked down at his hand and she followed his gaze to see the beautiful accessory he had had crafted for her. He looked up at her in question and she nodded, tilting her head forward a bit to let him place it among the few other pins and decorations she wore. When he was done she gingerly reached up and ghosted her fingers over the metal. She knew that this was going to be her favorite thing in the whole world.

After that day the two tried to meet as often as they could, continuing to keep their rendezvous a secret. Nothing much had changed now that they knew who the other was and how they felt. They still talked and read books together, the only real difference is that now when they met one of them would cross the stream to be in each others arms again. They would share loving embraces and tender kisses, small and big actions that showed how much they loved each other and how that love was growing day by day. Everything was perfect. Except for her unease about what their families would do if they found out about them.

This thought had especially plagued her one day. Namjoon had noticed that as he leaned against a tree, her sat in the space between his legs with her back to his chest, she was quieter than usual, and he worried about her. "What's on your mind." He asked.

"I'm just worried. What will your father do if he finds out about us?" She doesn't know much about her lover's father, but if he was anything like hers, there would be hell to pay.

"My father only has issues with yours. He has nothing against you."

"But what will my father do if he finds out?" She worried.

"He'd probably kill me." He joked and she frowned at him.

"Don't joke like that. It's not funny."

He sighed and pecked her lightly on the lips in apology. "You're right. I'm sorry. Everything will be okay, though. You'll see."

"I hope so. I just want to be with you without worrying about what anyone will do."

A little idea suddenly came to him. "What if you came with me?"

"What?"

"What if you came to my kingdom? Lived with me, my father and my brothers. They would accept you with open arms, I know it."

She sighed with a little shake of her head. "My father would go insane. If I disappear and suddenly show up in your kingdom he would assume I'd been taken against my will and take it as an act of aggression. He would declare war. I can't do that to my people or to yours. But if I could, I would love to." He pressed a kiss to her temple and held her closer. But the gears in his head had started to turn.

It took a while, and days of combing through laws and records of both kingdoms, but he thinks he found a solution. He rushed to their next meeting with the news. "Marry me." He asked as soon as had her in his arms.

"What?" She looked at him with wide eyes.

"Marry me."

"In a heartbeat. But why the sudden proposal? What happened?"

"I researched for days. When two nobles from different kingdoms marry they can choose which kingdom they want to stay in, no one can go against their decision, not even a king."

Her eyes widened. "You mean... This could work?"

"I believe so." She laughed in joy and jumped into his arms. Her feet lifted from the ground as he spun her around and they shared a hopeful kiss. Hope for the future, their future. Together.

They spent the next week preparing for their secret wedding. They each had to bring a witness to their union and they needed someone who would marry them. When the time came Namjoon brought his older brother Seokjin, and Y/n brought her old nurse maid, the woman who helped care for her in place of her mother, and one of the temple priests, all whom the lovers trusted and shared their secret with.

In the dead of night the two groups made their way through the copse of trees and to the little grove with the aid of the full moon who shone down her silvery light to guide their way. Y/n wore her cherry blossom dress and the hair pin Namjoon gave her, the delicate piece had become something she wore daily. Namjoon was speechless when he saw her. She was always beautiful, but each time he saw her was like the first. Even though she knew that he told his brother she was still a little shocked to actually see the oldest prince there. Seokjin bowed respectfully across the water to her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, your Highness."

She smiled and curtsied back. "Likewise. Thank you for being here."

He smiled as well. "I wouldn't have wanted to miss it."

Namjoon and Y/n stood in front of each other in the water, the priest by their side and their witnesses just behind them. They couldn't really keep their eyes off of each other and the priests words were almost nonexistent as they got lost in each other. The priest held his hand out and she took a pale pink ribbon from her dress and handed it to him before he took both of their hands and put them together, wrapping the ribbon around them to bind them together as they made their promises. Namjoon had already made his big confession before, and now it was her turn.

"I love you so much that it almost hurts. But it's a good pain. The best kind, because I know you'll be there to soothe every ache that comes with it, just as I would yours. I pray that if you leave you will take me with you, for where you go, that is where I want to be. Along the widest valleys, over the tallest mountains, through the thickest forests, in the deepest oceans, I will always follow you. You are my heart. I will love and cherish you through all time."

A sniffle made everyone look to the maid, but she just shook her head with an amused smile and gestured to behind Namjoon. Seokjin had tried to discreetely wipe away a tear, but his shiny eyes gave him away. "I'm not crying. The pollen from the flowers is making my eyes water. Just ignore me, carry on." Everyone chuckled but did as told. The priest made his final blessings and then declared the lovers bound for the rest of their lives. Y/n couldn't contain herself as she excitedly jumped into Namjoon's arms and kissed him, sealing their union. The wind picked up the petals and they swirled around the couple. The moon was congratulating the lovers in her light.

Even though they were now married, Y/n couldn't leave right away. Namjoon had to tell his father what's happened and make preperations for her to come to their kingdom. During that time she tried to spend a little more time with her father before she left. She hoped he would forgive her for what she's done and she hoped against hope that maybe, just maybe, that because of this union her father might finally decide to let go of his anger and they could live in piece. Only time would tell.

As Namjoon thought his father and brothers were more than happy to welcome Y/n to their kingdom, especially with how in love Namjoon looked when he talked about her. They made the necessary arrengments and they decided that Namjoon would meet her at the grove in three days and soon after Minjun would send two servants to escort them back to the palace. Y/n couldn't believe that this was happening. She was excited and nervous and scared all at the same time. She was leaving everything she knew, but wherever Namjoon went, she would follow without hesitation.

Y/n spent as much time with her father as she could. She didn't know when she would be able to see him again after she left, assuming he would ever want to see her again after he found out. Seojun loved his daughter, he spent so long making sure she had everything, attending to anything she might need, that he couldn't help but notice something different about her. He had become fairly busy in recent months, but she made sure she would be able to spend time with him. He normally wouldn't mind, but something about her made him think there was a reason behind it. He pushed aside the thoughts for the day, deciding to only enjoy his time with his beloved daughter.

On the second day is when he became a bit suspiscious. The two had been having dinner together when she suddenly put her hand on his and gave him a smile. "Father, you know I love you, right?"

Her face was as gentle as always but there was a seriousness behind her eyes that gave him pause. "Of course, my dear. I know. I love you as well." She smiled and nodded, seeming satisfied with his answer and they continued to eat. On the third day was when his suspiscions hit a peak. She spent all morning with him before she said that she felt like taking her usual walk. She had given him a smile, hugged him and told him she loved him, before she said goodbye and left the room. Something about her goodbye felt final, like she didn't know if she would see him again. With this he decided to have someone follow her to make sure she was okay. The servant didn't really want to, but she was the beloved princess, everyone who she came into contact with couldn't help but love her. She was kind, and gentle, and cared for every single person in her kingdom, it was hard not to love the princess. The servant rationalized it with himself that he was just going to make sure she was alright, to protect her.

Today was the day. Y/n had said her final goodbyes to those closest to her and made her way through the forest and to the small grove of trees where she knew he was waiting for her. "Namjoon!" She excitedly called and ran across the stream to him where he swept her up and kissed her. Y/n had been so preoccupied with the thoughts of her future with the man she loved that she wasn't as careful as she had been before when going to meet him. The servant her father sent had seen everything.

Namjoon had smiled at her when he set her down. "They won't be coming for at least an hour. We can just relax for a while until they do." She nodded. She didn't mind the wait, as long as she was with him. They settled down onto the ground, using one of the trees to prop themselves against as they waited for the two servants to arrive. They talked like normal, how their day went so far, small things that always mattered to them. They were so occupied they didn't notice the footsteps nearing their secret place until it was too late.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" An enraged voice bellowed, startling the couple into standing and looking across the water where they saw a fuming Seojun staring at them. Y/n had never seen her father so angered and, even though she knew her father would never hurt her, it scared her none the less making her take a half step closer to Namjoon and taking his hand in hers for comfort. Seojun's eyes followed the action and he seemed to get even angrier as he glared at the man next to his daughter. Seojun knew who he was for he was the spitting image of Minjun, it was enough to make him seeth with anger for the king. "Do you have any idea who you stand next to, Y/n?" He hoped it was just an unfortunate mistake on her part that the despicable Kim had tricked her somehow.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and stood tall like the princess she was raised to be. "I do. He is Prince Kim Namjoon, son of King Minjun of the Kingdom to the East."

"And you willingly take company in the son of my enemy?"

"I do. He's not like what you think, Father."

"I would never hurt Y/n, Your Majesty." Namjoon spoke making Seojun's burning gaze turn to him once more.

"You stay out of this, boy." He seethed.

"Father! Namjoon is kind, and gentle, and has been nothing but good to me. He's not your enemy."

"All of the Kim's are my enemy." He declared.

"Then, I believe that means I am now your enemy as well."

"What are you talking about?" He squinted his eyes in confusion. His daughter could never be his enemy.

Through their joined hands Namjoon could feel her tremble, so he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He was there for her, now and forever. His warmth beside her gave her the courage to square her shoulders and face her father. "Namjoon and I have been married."

Seojun couldn't believe his ears. His beloved daughter consorting with the son of the man he hates most. This must be some sort of trick, some horrible nightmare, something! This cannot be reality. "You married a Kim?"

"I'm sorry, Father. I promise, I never meant for this to happen. I didn't know who he was when I first met him, but by the time I realized, it was too late. He owned my heart from the first moment I saw him. I love him, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm leaving to live with him and his family."

"I swear to the gods that I will never do anything to hurt her. I will love and cherish her until my last breath and I will protect her from harm." Namjoon vowed, hoping that his promise might be enough to ease the anger of the king. But his words fell on deaf ears.

The news that Y/n was going to run away with this man and into the house of the Kim's left Seojun shocked, appalled, and above all, furious. His eyes moved to Namjoon when he heard his voice, his eyes dark and threatening. All he saw was red as he suddenly drew the sword from his hip, yelling in rage as he charged across the water and aimed a deadly blow to the prince.

"No!" Y/n screamed. Seojun felt his sword plunge through the body of his enemy, but it's not who he was aiming for. His vision cleared rapidily and he saw the back of his daughter's head. He looked down at his hands that held the hilt of his sword flush against her back. She threw herself in the path of her father's fury, throwing her arms around her lover to try and protect him, but the weapon went through the both of them instead. In shock Seojun pulled the sword from their bodies, crimson blood now staining the once pristine silver sheen of the metal.

Namjoon wrapped his arms around Y/n, his back pressing into the tree as they crumpled to the ground. Seojun watched with horrified eyes as Y/n coughed and blood instantly stained her paling lips. With a trembling hand the sword fell from his grip as he dropped to his knees.

Namjoon looked down at Y/n and raised a weak hand to lightly trail a finger over her cheek. "Why?" He rasped out.

"Where you g-go, that is w-where I want to be. I will always f-follow you." Her voice is faint, but the words are filled with the same amount of love as when she spoke them the night they were married. She loved him so much she would even follow him in death.

She slowly lifted a hand to rest on his cheek and he turned into her ever colder touch. His own skin was growing colder as their blood mixed together on their clothes. He held her in his arms, made sure that she would stay up when he started to lose strength, and they just stared at each other, spending their last moments lost in the others eyes. Seojun looked up when he heard a soft exhale and watched as Y/n's eyes closed and her hand fell limp. Namjoon closed his eyes and pressed a kiss to her forehead before leaning his head on hers. He stopped moving after that.

Seojun's heart was seized with grief. He lost his beloved daughter, and it was by his own hand. He couldn't stand to see her still any longer and so he stood and rushed from that place back to his palace, the palace that would be darker without her in it. It was only a few minutes more until the two servants arrived, but instead of finding the two royals, happy and in love, they found them cold and unmoving. They found King Choi's sword, tainted with blood, and it was easy to figure out what happened. One rushed back to the Kim palace while the other stood watch over the scene. The servant burst into the throne room, panting and panicked. He explained the awful situation to the shocked king and princes. Minjun immediatly sent for their bodies to be collected.

Minjun was deeply saddened, not only for his son, but for the daughter he didn't get to meet. He had heard of her good deeds and kind heart towards her people. He knew she would have been a great queen one day, in either kingdom, and a wonderful addition to the family. When his son spoke of her he already excepted her as his daughter, so he treated her as such.

Word spread quickly in the Kingdoms to the East and to the West about the fate of the prince and princess. To say everyone was heartbroken was an understatement. The kingdoms gathered together for the first time to mourn the loss of the two. To lose such young lovers over such a thing as an old rivalry seemed so tragic to everyone. Seojun quickly became an outcast to his own people, no one respected his authority as king anymore, and he wallowed in his own sorrow in the days leading to the funeral. That sorrow slowly turned to anger once again and his grief stricken mind led him across the border and to the house of the opposed king.

When he barged into the room the guards immediatly pointed their weapons at the man, but Minjun waved them off. He could see from Seojun's dishevled state that he wasn't in his right mind and didn't have any weapon on him. Seojun pointed an accusing finger at Minjun and demanded they settle their rivalry then and there, he demanded that Minjun fight him. Minjun refused.

"Why won't you fight me?" Seojun yelled.

Minjun sighed tiredly. "I don't want to fight you, Seojun. I'm mourning my son and the woman he loved, who I would have called daughter, and I want to see them laid to rest." Minjun walked past Seojun, and Seojun let him. The reminder of his daughter's death drained him of what little energy he had left.

Both kingdoms gathered for the funeral of the prince and princess. Their bodies were prepared with the utmost respect, dressed in his finest and her favorite cherry blossom dress. They were carefully carried through the kingdom and down to their favorite place, the cherry blossom grove, where they were buried right next to each other to rest together, forever. Everyone silently wept for the two, for their future unlived and life unspent. The people prayed together, that the gods may show pity and give the lovers a second chance for life. A warm wind howled through the branches and picked up the petals from the ground to swirl them over the graves and up into the air.

A soft breeze rustles through the leaves of the trees in a quiet college campus, the students milling about, walking together in the sunshine, reading on the grass, laughing at benches. A girl leans against one of the many cherry blossom trees as she spends some of her free time reading a book. She reaches up to her hair, making sure the cherry blossom hair pin stayed in place. It was her favorite thing in the whole world. She found it in an antique shop and couldn't help but to buy it. It almost seemed to call to her it was so beautiful.

A sudden rustle of papers and a frustrated groan drew her attention upwards. A boy a couple yards away had dropped a folder of papers which he was now trying to gather again. One of the papers fluttered on a breeze and landed right by her along with a couple of cherry blossom petals. She glanced at the boy again before she stopped the paper from blowing any farther. She noticed him looking around for something and figured that something was now in her hand.

"I think you dropped this." She called. He looked up and froze at the girl sitting across from him with a gentle smile on her face. She was probably the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. When she let out a small chuckle he realized he had been staring and quickly shook himself out of his stupor to go over and take the paper she offered.

"Uh, yeah. Thank you very much."

"It's no problem." She smiled up at him. They just stared at each other for a moment. He couldn't help but admire the way she looked with the pin in her hair and the petals slowly falling around her. "My name is Y/n, by the way." She introduced.

"I'm Namjoon. It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too." They lapsed into a silence, but it was comfortable, natural even. Almost familiar.

He stared a bit longer. She didn't mind really, she was staring just as much. There was something about him that made her feel... Comfortable. "I'm sorry for staring." He apologized. "It's just that you seem really familiar."

"I was thinking the same thing! Have we met before?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Because I would definitely remember someone as beautiful as you." He wasn't sure where that comment came from, but when she laughed and covered her mouth with her hand to hide her wide smile that he could still see, he didn't think much on it and just went with it.

"You're really something." She managed to say after a moment.

"This is kind of out of the blue, but would you maybe want to go get a coffee or something with me?"

"A coffee sounds really nice." She agreed with a nod.

"Perfect." He beamed and she returned the smile just as brightly.