Yaaaay, first chapters are always so fun! I'll try to actually follow through with this one! 8D
I don't own anything but my OCs in this story. I hope you like it! This is my first DW chapter story, so if I make any mistakes, like names or something, please correct me and I'll try and fix it as best I can!
Well, enjoy! Here it goes!
The Little Dragon's Lady
I came from a poorer family originally. My first name was Jie Jia. But my biological parents couldn't afford to keep me, as they already had two daughters and a son to take care of. And so they left me on the doorstep of the Huan residence. They were of middle class, with no children of their own. And so I became Huan Jia.
I am 23 years of age, more than old enough for a husband. My mother, Huan Ai, searched restlessly for one. But all of the men who were available one day had taken wives the next. All of my friends had husbands even; one was married to Ma Chao the Splendid! Her name was Feng Biyu, now it is Lady Ma. She allows her friends to still call her by name though.
Yet, it was no surprise that she caught Master Ma Chao's eye. Biyu was no ordinary woman. She was very beautiful, graceful, passionate, and very talented as well as knowledgeable. She also knew her manners very well and so she was the ideal housewife. Her father was one of the governors of the provinces here in Yi. After Lord Liu Bei took Cheng Du and Ma Chao joined, Biyu's father had attended a meeting. A celebration was called for, and that was where my friend met her love.
But I?
I have no man to call my own, no house to look after. I lived with a good family, but I could see the disappointment in their eyes whenever relatives asked about my marriage, getting the negative answer.
I could understand why no man would want me though. I am not the best housewife. I know my manners, but really my best skill is with a weapon. I don't see why it is looked down upon though! Lady Shang Xiang, Lord Liu Bei's wife, rides fearlessly into battle next to her husband, brandishing a bow and arrow with near-perfect aim!
"But you Jia are not Lady Shang Xiang," my mother tells me time and again, "You are not a princess, but a governor's daughter. And though a governor is of high rank, his region is the smallest of them all and so therefore is overlooked many a time."
I can only nod. It is true. My father is a very nice man and the people love him, but our section of Yi is very, very small compared to the others. If only, if only…
"Miss Jia!"
I jumped out of my thoughts. A little boy ran over to me. I recognize him as Tiang Ming, the tailor's son.
"Did yah hear, Miss Jia?" he asked with a huge smile, "Master Zhao Yun and Master Ma Chao are gonna come through here on horse! They're coming back from a big battle!"
My heart skipped a beat. Master Zhao Yun was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on. He was so kind and caring, loyal and brave. He even rescued the young Liu Chan from Wei's massive army because Liu Chan is Lord Liu Bei's only biological son. And Master Ma Chao was coming along as well! Oh, Biyu would be so excited! She had been visiting us while her husband was away.
"Thank you Ming," I smiled at the boy, "That's great news! Now run along and tell everyone else too, I'm sure they would love to hear it!"
Tiang Ming nodded eagerly and ran off. I ran myself to go and find my best friend.
I found her in her family's home, sipping tea and conversing with the women of her family, who had come to see her.
"Biyu, may I please speak to you for a moment?" I asked with a big smile. She could tell by my look that I had very good news about her husband. She excused herself and we went out front.
I told her the news of her husband returning. She gasped, her entire face lighting up. She had been worried sick for weeks, as Ma Chao liked to do reckless things in battle sometimes. She hugged me tightly with all of her strength and cheered loudly.
"Oh, I cannot wait to see him again!" Biyu squealed with joy, spinning around with her hands clasped, "How sorely I have missed him! Oh thank you so much Jia for telling me! I owe you one!"
"It was nothing really," I blushed. We hugged again.
"Meet me outside the gates. We must get the girls together and celebrate!" Biyu took my hands as she said this.
"As you wish Lady Ma," I laughed. She playfully swatted my arm and we separated.
A few moments later, all of my friends were together in the streets, going to shops and talking to local girls. We also couldn't resist talking about the officers coming through our humble streets.
Biyu smiled widely throughout it all. "Perhaps I should go back though! He'll most likely want me there!"
"No!" we pleaded with her.
"He can take you up on his horse and ride off into the sunset!" our friend Nuo Lan sighed dreamily. She always fantasized about fairy tale things. We wondered how her husband Nuo Luo could bear the talk of princes and lavish things sometimes. He was a carpenter, a very successful one. He lived near my family.
We laughed and joked around for hours. When it got dark out we all said goodbye and promised to meet in the main street together that morning so that we may see Biyue 'ride off into the sunset'.
The next day, I dressed and did my morning routine. I hurried out and saw my friends. I waved with a smile. They welcomed me over.
"So, when do you think they will be coming?" I asked.
"I just received a message last night," Biyu smiled, "He knows that I am here. He had guessed it. He said that he would bring a horse along with him so that I may ride back too. My things are all packed. Thankfully I only brought a small bag!" she held up what was indeed a small silk bag that held only some clothes and toiletries.
"Well, do not forget about us!" Ru Qi hugged her. She was the youngest of us, only 17. She was the wife of a soldier too, but his home was here, and so she lived in the house. At the moment he was at home, but would be called upon any day now he said.
"How could I ever?" Biyu hugged her back.
We did the same as the previous day. I got myself a new necklace with a green dragon on it. I dubbed it my lucky charm Zilong. Of course, this opted my friends to joke around and make fun of me, but I stuck by it. After all, the necklace was a little dragon.
As morning turned into afternoon, my friends and I went back to the same place we had that morning, talking about the things we bought and what we would use them for.
Suddenly, someone called, "The heroes are here!"
Our gazes snapped to the edge of the town. Indeed, a big group of troops marched down the street. In front of them were Masters Zhao Yun Zilong and Ma Chao Mengqui. Biyu smiled widely at the sight of her husband.
"You lucky woman!" I whispered to her, "He is very handsome!" I had never had the privilege of seeing Master Ma Chao before, only Master Zhao Yun, whom I had seen in an artist's likeness.
When the two generals got to us, Master Ma Chao stopped. He smiled to Biyu, who smiled back and bowed,
"Master Ma Chao, I am so happy to know that you are safe and victorious. Congratulations to both you and Master Zhao Yun."
We bowed too.
Master Ma Chao chuckled and gestured to the brown horse he had by the reigns, "If you are so happy, then you wouldn't mind accompanying me home, my lady?"
Biyu shook her head, "Not at all." She climbed onto the horse, her blue eyes shining like diamonds. She smiled once again to us and waved, "I shall see you soon I hope."
"We hope so too, Lady Ma," we chorused. She giggled and joined her husband and his fellow comrades on the way back to their home.
Nuo Lan sighed dreamily, and we giggled quietly. It was no sunset, but it was very romantic seeing Biyu and Master Ma Chao smile at each other so lovingly and conversing in low tones. Master Zhao Yun casted a knowing smile of his own in their direction and steered his horse a little more away from them. How considerate he was.
I fingered my necklace. If only Zilong were that man on the horse. Then he would be mine too. I admitted to myself that I did desire him. He was everything I could ever want and more in a man, in a human being.
"MISS JIA, LOOK OUT!"
I blinked and looked just in time to see a ball head straight for my face. I caught it just in time before it hit me square in the nose.
"Are you alright my friend?" Biyu called to me. I nodded quickly, throwing the ball back to two boys who were playing with it when the soldiers had been more than a foot away. They bowed deeply and apologized. I only smiled and laughed it off. No one had been hurt, and they were just having an innocent game of catch. Fa Mang had quite an arm too.
After that had been resolved, I felt eyes on me. I turned.
Master Zhao Yun was looking at me with intrigue. I blushed and bowed. What else could I do?
WITH THE GENERALS
Biyu looked back at her friend, then to Zhao Yun.
"That is my friend, Miss Huan Jia," she whispered to the Little Dragon, "She is the governor's daughter. Do not tell her I told you, but you are her idol, Master Zhao Yun."
"I-I am?" Zhao Yun gulped. Such a beautiful woman idolized him of all people?
"Oh yes. That necklace she is wearing, she named it after you," Biyu giggled, "She calls it her lucky charm."
Ma Chao smirked, "It seems Zilong has an admirer!"
Zhao Yun stole a glance back at the black haired woman. She was talking and laughing with her friends. She seemed to have a good way with people, and from the way she caught that ball, had great reflexes, not to mention that she was very forgiving. Zhao Yun knew more than enough women who would have ruined that ball and had those boys punished.
His eyes wondered to her necklace. It was a small green dragon.
"Oi, eyes on the road lover boy!" Ma Chao gave him a small shake, laughing as Zhao Yun jumped and stuttered nonsense.
Biyu laughed along with her husband. She took one last look of her friends and the town, most of all Jia. Perhaps she would be seeing her best friend a lot more soon.
Did you guys like it? If you did, I'll update as soon as I can! But in order to update I need a review or two! So please don't be shy and share your thoughts, because I love to hear them! But NO FLAMES ONLY CONSTRUCTIVE CRIT! I even read those constructive crit, I promise you! 8D see you next chapter!
