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“Achoo!” Ban Ryu released another violent sneeze.

And Soo Yeon frowned at him.  “Oh, Ban Ryu!  Are you all right?”

“I told you.  I’m fine.  Go help Jung Sook with the wedding preparations.”

“But you’ve been sneezing all day.  And your nose is clearly stuffed up.  Oh, this is all my fault!”

“Yes, well, you’ve learned your lesson, I’m sure.  The next time I ask you to marry me, you will accept immediately and whisk me inside to safety instead of abandoning me to the cruel weather.”

She pierced him with a frustrated glare.  But then she furrowed her brow.  “When did you find your tongue, Ban Ryu?”

Quizzically, that gentleman stared at her.  “What?”

“You never used to say anything.  But I find that you have quite a lot to say in my presence.”

He shrugged.  “I guess you just bring out the best in me, my dear.”

She grinned beautifully.  “Why, Ban Ryu, what a sweet thing to say!”

“And to think that you considered refusing my suit for even one minute!”

She giggled.  “Yes, I was being quite silly, wasn’t I?”

“Quite,” he murmured seriously.  But his eyes were brimming with laughter now.

“I do love your laughter, Ban Ryu.  I have never heard you laugh outside of my circle.  Am I the only one who amuses you?”

“Well, you are quite amusing,” he mused with a twinkle in his eye.

“You mean that I’m quite ridiculous, don’t you?”

“That too,” he muttered teasingly.

“Ban Ryu!” she rebuked him.

“Go now,” he inhaled sharply and then released another mighty sneeze.

She pierced him with a motherly glower.  “You need to take a nap, sir.  After you eat some more porridge.”

That worthy gentleman wailed, “Not more porridge!  I am sick of porridge, my love.  Cannot I have some steak?”

“Absolutely not.  You know that porridge is quite restorative.”

“Ah, but do I really wish to be restored?”

“Not if it means drinking more porridge,” Soo Ho opined as he breezed through the doorway. 

“Ah, my friend!  You have come to my rescue.  This fair lady is trying to shove yet another bowl of porridge down my throat.  And she knows that I much prefer steak!”

“Don’t we both?” Soo Ho grinned.  “Shall I go see if the cook has any?”

Ban Ryu’s excited “Yes, please” dueled with Soo Yeon’s stern “Absolutely not!  What he needs is more porridge.”

“Hmm,” Soo Ho wondered, “do you think the cook could make some steak porridge?”

“Oh, that sounds quite delightful,” Ban Ryu murmured as his eyes slid towards Soo Yeon’s indignant face.

“Ban Ryu!” she whined.

“Don’t you worry, dear sister.  I shall take excellent care of your beau.  Now please go help my lovely Jung Sook prepare to marry me in just a few days.”

She huffed a loud sigh.  “Fine!  But if he is sick at your wedding, don’t blame me!”

“Speaking of weddings,” her brother murmured as he turned sly eyes towards Ban Ryu, “when are the two of you tying the knot?”

Ban Ryu sighed.  “I do not know.  I should probably recover fully first.”

“From the cold?” Soo Ho queried.

Ban Ryu pierced him with a disbelieving gaze.  “From the tip of the sword,” he intoned dryly.

“Ah, yes.  There is that.”  Soo Ho glanced down at his leg.  Hidden underneath the blanket.  “But aren’t you pretty much recovered?  I mean, maybe not enough to fence with me.  But, surely, enough to marry my sister.”

Ban Ryu frowned.  “What are you getting at, Soo Ho?”

“Well, I was thinking…wouldn’t it be delightful if we spoke our vows on the same day?  And my eomma would only have to prepare everything once.  We’d be saving her a lot of trouble.”

Ban Ryu’s eyebrows nearly hit his headband.  “I suppose that’s not a bad idea….”

Soo Ho grinned knowingly.  “Would you like to claim your bride in five days?”

“Indeed, I would.”  A calculating smile curved the young man’s face.  “Perhaps.  I shall have to speak with Soo Yeon, of course.”

“Of course.”  Soo Ho bit back a smile.

“And your appa.”

Soo Ho’s smile died a quick death.  “Right.”

Ban Ryu was watching him closely.  “You don’t need to act so sober.  You know, your appa likes me now.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Wouldn’t you?  I did save his son’s life, you know.  And he’s taken me on as his son now.”  He leaned forward and spoke conspiratorially, “You have some competition now, don’t you?  For his affection?  And he’s letting me marry your sister.”

Soo Ho chuckled.  “I’m not worried.  You’ll never be his favorite.  Though, I will give you the point about allowing you to marry my sister.  I never thought that would happen.”

“It’s just proof, you know.”

“Of what?” Soo Ho quirked one dark eyebrow questioningly.

“Miracles do happen.”

Soo Ho glanced down at his arm.  “Quite often, apparently.”  Then he caught his friend’s gaze.  “I will be eternally grateful for the day that you and I ceased to be enemies, Ban Ryu.”

“I will be eternally perplexed about the day that you and I became friends.  It is one of life’s great mysteries.”

“Another thing for which I am eternally grateful.”  Soo Ho smiled at the man who had become his very best friend.  And was soon to be his brother-in-law too.  He looked down at the board in his hand.  “Are you ready to play?”

Ban Ryu retorted with, “That depends.  Are you ready to lose?”

“Lose?  Ha!  I never lose.  The only thing you ever beat me at is soccer.”

“And swordplay.”

Their eyes met again, and they both grinned, a knowing look passing between them.