Hey guys! So yeah, I know I said in another fic that I wouldn't post on this website anymore, but it turns out that I am. So I'm sorry if I mislead you! :( not my intent!
So, this story is on my Archive of Our Own page and on my LiveJournal page. On the other two sites it has a different name, "The Little Dragon's Lady". Of course there is another story that I am looking to continue on this site that has that name, so I came up with a new one, and that is "The Dragon and the Mare". This story contains Ma Yunlu, who is a character made by Koei. You can look her up on Google, but to summarize, she is Ma Chao's sister and Zhao Yun's wife.
I hope you enjoy, and please note that I still own nothing XP only my OCs! I'm back! 8D
The Dragon and the Mare: Chapter I
Ma Yunlu sighed forlornly once again, rubbing at her temples where a headache had started to form. Her brother, looking a bit nervous, was sitting across from her, waiting for her response to his question. The question was basically this: "Hey sis, yah wanna marry a guy you don't know?"
Well, ok, he didn't put it like that of course, but that was how Ma Yunlu translated it. Apparently the man that Lord Liu Bei and her brother were suggesting was an honorable one named Zhao Yun. She had heard of him, but really couldn't give a rat's ass about who he was and what he represented. She did not know him, never saw him in person, never even spoke to him. She refused to become one of those women who married a man for advantages and ending up miserable for the rest of her days.
So, in short, no matter how much Ma Chao talked up this Zhao Yun person, Ma Yunlu's answer was still the same.
"No."
Ma Chao rubbed a hand over his face. He had been expecting such an answer, and normally he would just tell whoever asked for his sister's hand that she politely declined (even though sometimes that was not the case). However, this suggestion came as a thinly-veiled order from their new retainer Lord Liu Bei. He could not just turn away the man when he had been so kind to what was left of the Ma family. And Zhao Yun was a good man, surviving Ma Chao's Over-Protective Big Brother Interrogation with flying colors, even though the renowned warrior seemed a bit unwilling and reluctant. Ma Chao guessed that he didn't want to marry this way as much as his sister. He just didn't show it, because he wanted to be a good soldier and follow orders (no matter how disguised they were).
If only Ma Yunlu followed orders outside of the battlefield like Zhao Yun did. This would be so much easier if that were the case. But of course, Yunlu was a Ma. Which meant she was stubborn to a fault.
This could take a while. "But, Sister, Zhao Yun is-"
"Honorable, benevolent, a talented warrior," Ma Yunlu recited dully, "Yes, you already said that. And so did the other suitors about themselves. I do not doubt that he is a great man, we have both heard the rumors after all. However I will not change my answer."
Ma Chao had his own headache now. "I am afraid you do not have a choice anymore."
Ma Yunlu's eyes narrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"
The nervousness crept back into Ma Chao's countenance. 'Cause another trait of the Ma family was a nasty temper, and although his sister was usually calm and composed, in this matter her patience was very short.
But he pressed on. If her patience was short, then he would make this shorter. "Lord Liu Bei himself suggested it. And you know as well as I do that when our commander 'suggests' something, it is not really a suggestion at all."
Ma Yunlu's teeth clenched, her eyes flashing dangerously. She remained silent, so Ma Chao took this as an opportunity to stand and walk out of the room, leaving with, "I am sorry, Yunlu. But you are marrying Zhao Yun and that is final."
The door shut with a finality that Ma Yunlu didn' t like. She buried her face in her hands with a loud groan. This could not be happening.
