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Jin, his family, and a couple of his friends from the village were present with Eunbyeol and the priest later that afternoon when they all assembled in a field of wildflowers for the ceremony.  It had been her only request.  That they marry out in the open near the blossoms whose bounty provided such healing for her patients.  Eunbyeol felt free in that meadow.  It was the one place in her life where she was unrestrained.  

No bloom had ever ostracized her.  No blade of grass had rejected her tender heart.  In this lea, with God’s bright cerulean sky stretching forever in all directions over her head and the fragrances of Heaven surrounding her at her feet, encompassed by all its colors in the vibrant blooms and verdant grasses she could find only in nature, Eunbyeol found the most peace in a life that had been far too lonely.  Except for the moments when Jin had suddenly appeared on her doorstep.  

But now he was about to pledge his entire life to her.  In front of a priest and witnesses.  Eunbyeol was blinking hard in an effort not to weep.  She had never truly dared to dream of this moment.  Not with any real faith in its possibility.  It had been to dear to her heart.  Too heartrending to consider it never happening.  

How Jin didn’t already know how much she adored him was a mystery to her.  Surely, she wore her feelings for him on her face.  And in her eyes.  She suspected her voice gave her away too.  But he had never noticed.  So preoccupied had he been with his own affairs.  Too tied up in his own feelings for several village lasses to ever really see the woman who had loved him her whole life long.

It wasn’t surprising.  She knew she was no grand beauty.  A lass of average looks, Eunbyeol could not compete with half the girls in the village for comeliness; though, she possessed a superior intellect.  She could outwit them all. 

And her heart was as wide as that dome glowing above their heads today.  Over fifteen years ago, she had given her precious heart, in all its beauty and scope, to Jin in this exact spot on a bright summer’s day much like the one they were experiencing today.  That was the real reason she wanted to marry him here.  For this field of wildflowers was where, as a six-year-old, she had lost her heart to Jin while he spun her around under a cheerful sun.  His face had been upturned to that radiant grace, his eyes closed in ecstasy, his mouth echoing with laughter as he’d picked up his tiny friend and twirled her around.  Eunbyeol had kept her own eyes open so she could see the incandescent face of her best friend.  Her eyes had slid over the curves of that beloved countenance, and she had known that she possessed a special love for this boy.  No one else would ever touch her heart as he had.  

Now she stood clothed in her grandmother’s hanbok, the one article of clothing she’d brought with her from her parents’ house that meant something special to her.  She was standing in her meadow with Jin.  In their meadow.  Preparing to marry the object of her greatest affection.  And she was wondering if he remembered that day under the sun so many years ago.

He turned his head suddenly and smiled at her, and the light of that grace lit up her whole heart along with his entire face.  She returned his joy with the curve of her own lips.  But it was the radiance spilling from her eyes of which Jin took note.  Eunbyeol looked happy to be marrying him.  He hoped she was.  

He was reliving a moment right now.  One he had forgotten until a few minutes ago when he’d stepped into this field of wildflowers.  He and Eunbyeol used to play here as children.  He’d suddenly forcefully recalled a day when they’d both been quite tiny.  They had come here to chase butterflies under a burning August sun.  Their mothers had been occupied making kimchi and had shooed them both out of the kitchen that hot afternoon.  

Jin grinned as he remembered that both he and Eunbyeol had initially been helping their eommas with the preparation of the spicy dish.  But they had grown weary and bored after a while.  Jin had begun to whine.  And Eunbyeol’s mother had turned to her and asked her to take Jin outside to enjoy the summer air.  Little boys needed to run, her eomma had informed her.  They required freedom.  Apparently, Eunbyeol had too, for she had left that home once and for all a few years ago.  To pursue her calling as a medicine woman. 

But that vibrant day from their childhood was returning to Jin with its cacophony of bright colors and luscious scents.  Jin had grabbed the hand of tiny Eunbyeol and tugged her out into the blooming meadow.  He’d caught sight of a black and blue butterfly and flown after it, dragging her behind him.  After several unsuccessful minutes of pursuing butterflies, Eunbyeol had pulled her hand free of his and stopped to stand still in the middle of that fragrant field.  Her glorious midnight hair unbound and flowing down to her waist, she had lifted her face to that burning sun and closed her eyes to breathe in the beauty of that day.  

Jin had stood transfixed for a few seconds as his eyes roamed over her pretty face.  He had recognized in that moment that she was his very best friend.  Even better than all the boys surrounding him.  He had realized that he wanted her to be a part of his life forever.  

He had wanted to paint a smile on her winsome countenance and plant some laughter in her tiny mouth.  So he’d reached out and slid his arms around her.  He had pulled her up tight against him, and then he’d begun to spin her around.  He’d closed his eyes and listened for her laughter.  

Eventually, it had shown itself in a breathless fashion as she’d begged him to stop because she was getting dizzy.  He hadn’t realized that he had also begun to suffer from the same affliction.  When he’d opened his eyes and stopped spinning, they’d both fallen to the ground to lie on verdant grasses while they stared into each other’s eyes and giggled.

Now Jin smiled at that pretty girl in that fragrant field of flowers.  That lovely girl had grown up in the space of fifteen intervening years.  Today she was a beautiful woman.  And she was about to become his.  Forever.  He swallowed as he turned his attention toward the priest who was preparing to have them speak their vows to each other.

—

Eunbyeol was his wife.  They had spoken their vows two hours ago.  Then they’d shared in a wedding feast that his miracle of a mother had thrown together with very little notice.  It had been an excellent meal, as her delicacies always were.  

She’d lamented the absence of any kind of sweet to celebrate the auspicious day.  But she’d not been given sufficient notice to create the rice cakes she loved to make.  However, she had promised her new daughter-in-law that she would make them both one and bring it over as soon as it was ready.  Eunbyeol had assured her that such attention was unnecessary.  She’d gone on to apologize for putting his whole family out with so little notice.  To which Jin’s eomma had replied with alacrity that she always had time for family and that today had been an absolute joy just as Eunbyeol was.

Eunbyeol had blinked.  Unable to absorb the notion that Jin’s eomma found her to be a joy.  

But then his mother had bent to whisper into the girl’s ear, “I always hoped Jin would marry you.  He wasted so much time chasing those silly girls in the village.  When all along a true woman was waiting in the wings for him.  You know, your eomma was my very best friend for most of our lives.”

Eunbyeol had frowned.  “Isn’t she still?”

“No,” the sympathetic woman had sighed, “we had a falling out about five years ago now.  I haven’t talked to her since.”

Horrified, Eunbyeol had gaped at her.  For she’d been absolutely certain in that moment that their argument had been over her.  She had left her family at that same time to pursue her destiny as a healer.  Eunbyeol had gone to live with a woman gifted in the healing arts.  She had provided Eunbyeol with an apprenticeship and taught her everything she knew.  Much to her mother’s shame.  Her eomma hadn’t spoken to her since.

But Jin’s mother hadn’t been finished speaking.  She had reached out to capture Eunbyeol’s cheeks between both of her small, soft hands.  Then she had gazed deeply into her eyes before declaring emphatically, “I am so proud of the woman you’ve become.  You have more courage in your little finger than most women do in their entire bodies.  I know you have chosen to walk a very difficult path, but we need you to do the thing God has called you to.  The women of this village need your gift.  Thank you for finding the courage to embrace who you are.  Even when others haven’t understood it or accepted it.  

“I know you’ve suffered rejection at the hands of your family.  But now you are part of a whole new family.  You will always be one of us.  I am so delighted that Jin picked you.  You two are going to be so happy together.”

Eunbyeol had stood there, trapped between those two loving hands and within that sweet woman’s affectionate gaze, as tears streamed down her face.  That was how Jin had found his wife a moment later.  Now over an hour and a half later, he was still wondering what his mother had said to his bride.

Jin had just walked Eunbyeol back to her house.  Which was now his house too.  Its previous owner had been the old medicine woman.  The one who had taught Eunbyeol everything she knew about doctoring.  That kind woman had passed away a year ago.  Leaving behind a grief-stricken and lonely Eunbyeol.  

Jin had begun to seek out her company shortly thereafter.  Checking in on her often.  Attempting to bring a smile to her face again as he once had in a field of wildflowers when they were tiny children.  Over the past year, their friendship had blossomed into a thing of beauty.  And now she was his wife.

As they entered the house, he headed for their bedroom to store the trunk of belongings he’d brought with him from his parents’ house where their wedding feast had just been enjoyed.  Eunbyeol followed him.  She wanted to take off the hanbok.  She had been suffering its heat for the past two hours. Coupled with the dull ache radiating down the back of her head, she was feeling quite ill now.  

Quickly, she opened the hanbok and stripped it off.  Then she took off the shirt she’d been wearing beneath it.  Jin turned around and stared at her.  She was still quite covered, but he wasn’t used to seeing her in her undershirt.  He gulped.  Eunie was so beautiful.

But he was distracted from his reaction to her loveliness by the frown creasing her brow.  He strode forward with concern echoing in his voice.

“Eunie, what’s wrong?  Are you feeling ill?”

“Yes,” she whispered.  “My head aches something terrible, and I got overheated.  I’m going to lie down after I take a tonic for this headache.”

She turned to walk back into her medicine room.  He followed her and asked her to show him how to prepare the medicine for her.  After she’d downed it, he escorted her back to their room.  She lay down on their bed and closed her eyes.  She smiled ruefully up at him.

“What a pitiful excuse for a bride I am, Jin!  I should be entertaining you tonight.  Instead I’m lying here sick!”

“Hey!  You were attacked last night.  Your head cut open.  Of course, you need to rest.  But later,” he teased, “when you’re feeling better, I’d be very interested to see the multitude of ways you’ve planned to entertain me.”

Her eyes popped open and grew wide.  “Jin!” she rebuked him.

“What?” his voice cracked as it rose an octave.  “I am your husband.  And you are my wife.”  His voice was now a caress.

A caress that slipped deep down inside of her to wrap itself around her and flood her being with warmth.  And her cheeks too.  She could feel them flushing.

What was Jin saying?  Was he hoping she’d lie down in this bed with him and show him all the ways she could delight him?  

She swallowed.  She wanted all those things.  But she was suddenly feeling very shy.  And her head still hurt.  So she didn’t respond.  She simply let her eyes flutter shut, and she allowed her body to relax.

“Sleep now, darling,” Jin breathed.  

He was standing above her gazing down at her with concern.  He dearly hoped he hadn’t pushed her too hard today.  Getting married had been more bother than he had anticipated.  It was no wonder she was wiped out.  

“Are you still hot?  I could fan you.”

Her eyes opened again.  “Oh!  Would you, Jin?  That would be lovely.  Just until I cool down,” she was quick to add.

“Certainly!  You do have a fan, don’t you?”

“Over there.  On top of the wardrobe.”

He fetched it and lowered himself down onto his side of their bed.  He lay down next to her.  He turned towards her and began to wave the fan back and forth.  He watched as a pleased smile curved her lips a few moments later.  Then an expression of relief began to invade her countenance as peace descended upon her in cooling currents.

“Thank you, Jin,” she breathed, her eyes still closed.  “I do adore you.”

He stared down at her.  “Do you really, Eunie?” 

His voice sounded oddly vulnerable.  Surprising her.  Was that a strange tenderness she detected there?  Her eyes opened to find his.

“I do.  I always have.  Ever since we were little kids playing in our field of wildflowers.”

“The field we married in?” he asked in surprise.

Her lips curved into a wide smile.  “That exact one.”

“Where we chased butterflies after making kimchi?” His eyebrows rose.

“Yes.  You remembered,” her smile widened as her pleasure bled into her voice.

“Is that why you chose it?” he queried as he wondered why his heart was suddenly racing.

“It was,” she answered, not giving much away.  Her eyes closed again.

Jin just gaped down at her.  Was Eunie trying to tell him that she was in love with him?  She had remembered their meadow.  The butterflies.  The kimchi.  The twirling?  The falling down to lie next to each other like they were now sharing the same bed?  The laughter he’d planted in her mouth?  The smile that he’d teased into curving her lips?

He glanced at those beloved lips.  That smile had returned.  It was beckoning him now.  He wondered what it tasted of.

“Eunie?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you feel better?  Are you cool enough?” He stopped waving the fan to test it.

After a moment, she responded, “Yes.  It’s enough.”

“Good.”

The odd tone in his voice caused her eyes to spring open.  They swiveled towards him.  The expression in his gaze unleashed a bevy of butterflies to dance in her stomach.

“Jin?” she whispered.

His eyes fell to her lips.  And all those twirling creatures in her stomach flew into her mouth.  Then his chocolate gaze met hers again.  As though he were begging permission.  She gave it to him when her own gaze slid to embrace his lips.  A moment later, those lips were making their way slowly towards hers.

She swallowed as Jin closed the distance between them.  His arm slid around her waist, his hand coming to cup her back.  He drew nearer still as he hovered over her.  She could feel his breath slipping over her lips.  His eyes collided with hers again, and she felt the lightning of their touch.  Jin experienced it too.  All the way to his toes.  It shocked him.

They hadn’t kissed at their wedding.  His lips had never embraced hers.  But they were itching to do so now.  No.  It was worse than that.  They were on fire.  Waiting for the brush of her own.

He bent and slid the tip of his nose along the blade of hers.  She gasped, and her eyes fluttered shut.  Her heart had begun to race.  How many times had she dreamt this moment she was now living?

As Jin lingered there, the skin of his nose slipping over the soft surface of her own, she whispered four words that changed his life.

“I love you, Jin.”

Her voice was just a breath.  Momentarily, he wondered if he had imagined it and the message it had conveyed.  But as he drew back to gaze down at her, he acknowledged the great vulnerability clouding her countenance.

“Eunie,” he breathed.

He waited until her eyes opened.  At the first flash of those glorious orbs, he sealed her lips with his kiss.  And those eyes closed again.  His mouth moved gently over hers.  Sparks of fire were exploding inside of her.  Kissing Jin was all she’d imagined for years.  And something more.  So much more.

He lost himself there in the embrace of her lips.  And found the something special he’d been searching the faces of several other lasses for years trying to find.  All this time it had been here, safely held within Eunie’s luscious lips.  

She forgot her aching head.  And her tired body.  Her fatigued limbs seemed to grow in weakness though.  As Jin’s kiss overtook all her senses.  She melted into that thin mattress.  And her arms found their way around his neck.  So she could cling to him for strength.  He seemed to possess it in heaps. 

They were just coming to the end of that first – and amazing – kiss, his lips sliding off of hers so he could gaze into her captivating eyes once more, when a loud knock sounded on their front door.  It startled them both, waking them from their dream embrace.

“I’ll go see who that is,” Jin murmured reluctantly.

“Okay,” Eunbyeol responded shyly.

Jin noticed her flushed cheeks then and smiled with satisfaction.  He’d made Eunie blush.  She was definitely not immune to his touch.  And she’d confessed her love for him.  He pondered that as he approached the door.  And wondered how long she’d felt that way.

A moment later, he opened the door.  A young woman stood before its threshold.  She was holding a limp toddler in her arms.  

“Is the medicine woman here?” she asked in a panicked gasp.

Jin wanted to refuse her, but the desperation in her eyes coupled with the languid glaze filling the child’s gaze caused him to open the door wide and invite her in.

“Ajun!” his wife’s mellow voice was raised in concern behind him.  “What’s wrong?”

He turned to see Eunbyeol rushing forward, her arms held out towards the little girl.

“I don’t know.  She’s been listless all day long.  And she’s burning up.  I can’t get her to take any water.  That’s why I’m here.  She hasn’t had anything to drink since this morning.”

Eunbyeol gathered the tiny tot in her arms and carried her over to a chair.  She sat in it and began to speak in a soft, sweet voice to the child as she examined her.  Her own brow was puckering in a disconcerting way with which Jin was all too familiar.

Eunbyeol glanced up at the mother.  “The most important thing you can do is to keep her hydrated.  I’m going to give you some straws I created by hallowing out bamboo shoots.  Jin,” she looked at him, “can you bring me a cup of water – fill it to the top – and one of the straws in that drawer there?” she pointed at the bottom drawer of her medicine cabinet.

He did her bidding.  She took the straw and placed it in the water in the cup as she instructed the young woman, “Push the straw into the water.  Then place the tip of your finger over the top end to seal it.  The water will become trapped in the bottom of the straw.  Then slide it into her mouth and slowly release it.  Just a little at a time.  So she doesn’t choke on it.”  

The doctor demonstrated.  And the child effectively drank a little water.  

“Keep this up all day long, a little at a time, until she’s recovered enough to drink on her own.  Has anyone else been sick?”

“No, miss.”

“Has she been around anyone else in the last five days?”

The girl nodded.  “Her cousins.”

“Find everyone who has been exposed to her and tell them to quarantine.”

“Miss?” The girl’s eyes grew wide.  Her gaze flew to her daughter.  “Is it bad?  Is she going to die?”

Jin heard a tremor in her voice.

“It’s contagious.  I believe she is going to be fine.  Just do your best to keep her hydrated.  Quarantine in your home for the next week.  Do you see this rash?” Eunbyeol pointed at the tiny red dots covering the child’s cheeks.

The mother nodded.

“Do you remember having a rash like this one about twelve years ago?  You would have been sick for about a week.”

The mother’s face lit up with recognition.  “Yes, I do!  I did!”

“Good.  That means you can’t get sick.  Tell anyone who’s been around your family during the last week to quarantine.  The children, especially.  If they have questions, send them to me.  Hydration is the key to overcoming this.  I’ll be here if you need anything more.  If she worsens, bring her back to me.”

“Thank you, miss.”  She gathered her daughter in her arms and received the straws before heading out the door.

Eunbyeol met her husband’s eyes.  “Jin.  We’re going to be very busy over the next month.  You have friends in the palace, do you not?”

“Yes.  Why?”

“You need to go there at once.  Tell them a grave illness has struck the village.  They need to quarantine themselves lest the royal family be struck down.”

“What?”

“It’s the red epidemic, Jin.”

He gasped.  “Hongyeok?”  

He recalled it sweeping their village when they’d been children.  He’d been laid up for a week with those irritating red bumps, a cough, and a fever.  

“We both had it, right?” he asked with concern.

“Yes, Jin, I did too.  When we were nine years old.”

He grimaced.  “Several of the younger children died.”

Her eyes held his.  “Yes.”

“Tiny ones like the toddler who just left.”

She nodded.  “We’ll do our best not to lose a single one,” she whispered.  

But he could see the worry in her eyes.