Chapter 1; At the end of a bottle
A fire crackled in the centre of a forest clearing with the smell of wild rabbit and goose wafting through the dry, icy air.
"Mulan?" Hood nudged the young woman.
"Maybe it's time you woke up."
Hoods voice hovered above Mulan in the dark and dull morning.
"What hour of the day is it?" She slurred from her alcohol smothered breath.
"Almost nightfall. You slept a whole day." Hood replied bending down to help her sit up.
She sat still, stunned and confused as life poured itself back into her body. She felt her damp face. "A day? Did it rain at any point?"
"No that would be some water I told Roland to throw on you. You were shaking violently so I told him to wake you for dinner." Robin held out his hand to help mulan to her feet. She stumbled a bit before holding her head in pain.
"I feel like I've been kicked in the head by a giant!"
"Captain Peppers finest Ale will do that to you."
"Drink? When was I drinking?"
"Don't worry, we've all been there at some part of our life. Also the question should be "When aren't you drinking?" You've spent most of the past nights with a bottle in your hand."
"That probably explains the headache, I guess, although I've never had a drink before. When I joined the army it was an absolute sin to drink while in possession of weapons. I've never felt a need to drink anyway"
"We'll you've had your fair share since you joined us. You must feel like there is a need for the stuff now. Look…I don't like to stick my nose where it ought not to be but something is clearly upsetting you. I am a much better listener than a bottle of ale and I am more than happy to offer an open ear if you need it." Hood opened a small flash of water with Iroven oil. He handed it to Mulan.
"As I said, we've all been there. It's just some water with Iroven oil which should help with the headache."
"I'm sorry; I've probably been more of a burden that you bargained for. Don't get me wrong though I do like it here with your men. You've created your own little family. It's comforting."
"Do you have a family or is that the reason you're here...escaping from a life you did not want?"
"I wish it was a life I did not want but it is more like a life I cannot have. I did have a family though, my father was the reason I became a soldier. When he passed away I took his place in the army. I miss my parents very much but that was a long time ago and I know that time does help numb the empty void left behind a bit."
"So you have a fresh wound, and you cannot wait for time to numb it.
"You should exchange your arrows for some medical books, Doctor Hood."
He chuckled humbly before returning to his concerned form.
"I can see it in your eyes as I have seen it in myself when I lost Marion. Love yields the greatest weapons and cuts the deepest wounds, Am I wrong?"
"Love? Is it so obvious, I should be more careful. It will be my weakness if I face an opponent as clever as you."
"So did your love pass on or did he leave? Was it Baelfire?"
"No. I am lucky to say the one I find my heart aching for is still alive, but unfortunately with another."
"Does he know about your feelings?"
"I tried to tell them, I just couldn't do it."
"Are you sure he does not feel the same way, feelings are often the most kept treasures. I should know a thing or two about that. I never would have known how Marion felt about me if I hadn't been persistent. She said it was my most appealing flaw. I like to think my soul had found its mate and wasn't going to give up until they were joined...as one."
"True love sounds like a life I have not or will never know."
"There is always hope. He is alive, you are alive and love is very much alive."
"Yes and so is their child. They are having a child with the person they are with and they couldn't be happier. That is why I couldn't tell them how I felt, it would have created havoc".
"Well I do know that a child can bring the greatest of joys but so does true love. I think you should find your love and kiss him. Then you will truly know if he is your true love. I don't know how to really explain when you will know but you will. All I do know is that you are never going to find your soul mate at the end of a bottle, unless he's a genie."
Mulan chuckled silently, ignoring the throbbing in her head for a moment.
"I sacrificed my happiness so they could raise their child. Would it not be selfish of me to ask them to sacrifice their happiness for mine?"
"A child can be a joy and a blessing but it will never create the bond of true love between its parents. If you keep trying to ignore it, it will eat into you and eventually after rejecting love so much; it will all dissipate into hate. It's unfortunate but one of true loves oldest laws is that it should not be ignored even when you find it in the most unusual of places."
"Since you say that, I should mention that I am not in love with a man. I love… a woman, a princess. Her name is Aurora."
"The name rings a bell. There was talk of a princess, by that name, under a sleeping spell but everyone called her the "Sleeping Beauty". Is she truly as beautiful as her name?"
"Yes. She is more beautiful than any name she could have been given. She is prettier than her prince could've ever described her and I think she stole by breath when I first saw her. I tried to ignore this and at first it was a bit easy. I thought that if I protected her for Phillip it would make up for the guilt I was feeling by loving her. She wasn't mine to love. As we spent more time together though I found I was falling more and more in love with her. Every time she smiled my heart got a little warmer. I couldn't sleep until I knew for sure she was safe. When I slept she was the only occupant of my dreams where I could protect her. Even the music of birds in the morning was no match for her laugh. I still do hear it when I sleep and it brings both comfort and pain knowing I won't hear it again. Although she may have been stubborn at times I still found my heart pushing forward to protect her whenever she was drawn towards danger. Being so far away feels like a part of my heart is missing and I wish I told her sooner about my feelings but how could I when her heart belonged to another? She was woken by true loves kiss but it wasn't mine. And it will never be so."
"I know what it is to love a beautiful woman and that is love, what you describe sounds strong enough to be true love too. Who is to say thatAurora does not feel the same way as you? Just because her prince woke her with a kiss does not mean she is not your true love. What is his name?"
"Phillip. Prince Phillip."
"This Phillip clearly loves Aurora as you no doubt do but his kiss broke the curse because his love for Aurora is undying. The strength of his love woke up your princess; Aurora doesn't have to love Phillip back for the kiss to wake her. True loves kiss can break any spell or curse if one would be willing to sacrifice their life for another. If Phillip were to be Aurora's true love then she would have to be willing to sacrifice her life for him as well. The question is, would she?"
"If there was any chance of her loving me I think it disappeared when she decided to carry his child."
"I may be over stepping my place but is that not expected of a princess? They have to have an heir to the throne and raise them to be the next king or queen. Maybe she is only doing what is expected of her."
"Even so I do not have enough courage to go back to that castle and I cannot declare my overwhelming love for her in a chance that she may feel the same way. If Phillips love is as strong as you say then he will not let her leave him without a fight, even if it is to the death."
"You are one of the strongest fighters in my band of Merry men, don't let love be your toughest opponent."
"You are right. I'm being a coward and I have faced far greater enemies than fear of rejection. It is settled, I shall leave for their castle tomorrow morning. On foot it should take me about three nights to reach the edge of their kingdom. I am sorry to part after being with your men for only two full moons. If you are near by and I'm still alive you should plan a visit with your son. I'm sure he would love to see a princess' castle." Mulan began to walk towards her shelter to pack.
"Don't think you are getting away from us that easily Mulan. We will escort you to Aurora's castle. Anyway we are due to pull up our roots and move on. Staying in one spot for too long can make you prey, especially in our line of work. And as you said I'm sure Rowland would like to see a castle."
"That is too kind of you, I must reimburse you but how? What will cover my debt?"
"You know how to search for medicinal plants and herbs which is extremely valuable. You also know plants such as the blacky purple seeds that can put one into a deep sleep. If I provide you with the materials, would you write out all your knowledge of such plants with some illustrations to help those of my men who cannot read?"
"Yes I can make a start after dinner if you'd like."