Chapter 3- The Matchmaker

Mulan was late. Both her Grandmother the other he guessed was her Mother, had left complaining and had the neighbour take them into town for the preparations. Almost twenty minutes after they had left Mulan came running into the yard her hair filled with sprigs of straw. Running so late she didn't have enough time to saddle her horse so she climbed up and spurred him on. Jiminy sprang after them and shouted after her. She remembered as she reached the doors and grounded to a halt.

'Jiminy! Are you still here?' Her voice shook with nerves more so than yesterday and he jumped into the cage that she held out.

'I'm here. Don't worry Mulan everything is going to be fine. Wait what is that on your arm?' He used his umbrella to point at some inky markings that had smudged on the inside of her arm.

'Oh those?' She attempted to pull down her sleeve to cover them but she just made it worse. 'Those are just some notes in case I forget something…'

'Isn't that cheating?' Jiminy asked, not being a big fan of such things. He had always tried to steer people towards the right path but this couldn't be helped he didn't think.

'Not if no one notices they're there.' She quipped and once again the horse galloped off into the distance toward the town. With no cart the ride wasn't as bad and they made it to the town in no time. Mulan saw where her Mother and Grandmother were waiting and skidded to a stop jumping off the horse with rehearsed ease.

'I'm here!' Mulan announced, holding up her arms. Jiminy guessed she was desperately trying to hide those nerves of hers from her family as he looked on.

'Mulan. You're late. I was right I should have prayed to the ancestors for luck.' Her Mother stated with a firm but loving voice.

'What good will they be? They're dead.' Her Grandma said but they didn't take any notice. 'Did you bring that cricket child? You'll have no hope what so ever otherwise.'

'Mother!' Mulan's mother complained and the Fa family's daughter held Jiminy up to show that she did. 'Crickets aren't lucky Mother why on earth are you making Mulan take one in with her?' She questioned folding her arms against her. Jiminy noticed that it wasn't just Mulan that was nervous about today.

'Of course they are watch!' The old woman grabbed Jiminy and pulled her headband sash over her eyes. 'This is a chance to prove yourself.' She whispered to him before she set off to cross the road completely blindfolded. The road was alive with carts and horses neighing and scrambling over the path to get the best of the morning produce. Jiminy hopped and struggled against the wooden bars hoping that he would survive. One horse would be all it would take to crush both of them. He heard the protests and Mulan pushed past several people to try and reach them but she had already started to cross. Carts and horses both swerved and swayed just in time to avoid them and when she eventually crossed the street unscathed she whooped and danced. Jiminy collapsed to the floor, his head between his shaking legs to stop him from fainting.

'Yup I was right this cricket is a lucky one!' She crossed safely back and both Mulan and her Mother disappeared to get ready. When Mulan re-emerged she was visually beautiful as would a queen. Her face powdered white and lips full and red; she was a vision of rose and violet. Her mother unfolded a silk handkerchief to reveal a pearly green comb decorated with a tranquil lily. She placed it into her sculpted hair and held her hands gently.

'There you're ready.' She said softly. Mulan didn't look so sure but she certainly was beautiful.

'Not yet!' Grandma yelled. She lifted her beads from around her neck and flourished them around Mulan. 'Beads of jade for beauty which you Mulan should proudly show.' She held Jiminy and put the small cage under her sash. 'Add a cricket just for luck and even you can't blow it.'

'You'll bring honour to us all Mulan.' Her Mother said as a farewell and Mulan went to join the several other girls who had come to be evaluated by the matchmaker. Jiminy could physically feel Mulan shaking with nerves as she walked.

'Deep breaths, you're going to be fine. I know you are.' He soothed to try and ease her anxiety. He felt as nervous as her.

'That's easy for you to say Jiminy. I can't breathe with this sash so tight. I've already forgotten the recital.' The other girls he guessed were around the same age as Mulan but none seemed to be as scared as her. They arrived outside the Matchmaker's hut and waited for her. Minutes later when Jiminy begun to get tiresome a broad harsh looking woman stepped out of the hut with a clipboard. She surveyed the girls and then with a deep and strict voice called.

'Fa Mulan.'

'Present.' Mulan answered politely, Jiminy pleased that her nerves didn't show in her voice.

'Speaking without permission.' The Matchmaker noted on her clipboard. Jiminy concluded within the first few seconds of meeting this woman that he didn't like her. She reminded him of his parents. Demanding, manipulative and condescending. He knew that before Mulan entered the hut that this wasn't going to go well. The Matchmaker would make sure of that. They went inside and she slammed the doors behind them the last thing Jiminy saw was the anxious face of Mulan's mother.

The Matchmaker studied Mulan as if you would a fine crafted table and then she zipped a measuring tape from her sleeve and measured her waist. She tutted at the result and added more notes to her clipboard.

'Too skinny.' She muttered. 'Not good enough for bearing sons.' Jiminy raged at that and hopped with anger this time managing to break off the roof and both he and the cage fell to the floor. Mulan jumped and the Matchmaker scrutinised her taking in every detail. As the Matchmaker analysed behind her Mulan mouthed his name but he took no notice and tried to scramble back to his position hiding in her sash. He had just reached there when the Matchmaker whipped off the sash and Jiminy went flying through the air. He was careful not to shout or scream in case of ruining Mulan's test and landed without a sound into a nearby teacup. He watched from behind the china as the ghastly woman measured the sash and then asked Mulan to recite something and she walked around her scribbling away.

'Fulfill your duties calmly and ree…' Mulan peeked at the smudged notes that still remained on her arm. 'spectfully. And reflect before you act. This will bring you honour and glory.' She breathed a sigh of relief as she finished and so did Jiminy. He was glad that things were going seemingly well. That was until the Matchmaker grasped Mulan's arm and blotted her hands full of the ink from her notes. Mulan in an anxious daze watched as the woman unknowingly rubbed ink all over her face. It was terribly hard for Jiminy to stifle his laugh but he did. However, when he looked at Mulan he fidgeted with nerves. She was so fixed on her now moustached face that she didn't notice Jiminy in the teacup.

'Now, pour the tea.' The beastly broad announced and Mulan without even looking down at him poured scolding hot tea into his cup. His hands covered his mouth to stop his cries and Mulan only noticed he was there when the Matchmaker lifted the cup to her mouth.

'Pardon me.' Mulan protested quietly as Jiminy squirmed to get out of the tea but his wings were too wet to fly.

'One must learn the art of silence!' She yelled at her and that was then she saw him. She screamed and sent the cup of tea dashing all over her. Unfortunately for Jiminy he landed on the woman's head. The Matchmaker now both tea stained and ink stained slipped off her chair and into a searing furnace of coals that had boiled the water. Jiminy looked on in horror as her draping robes set alight and she frantically screamed and slapped herself.

'Aaaaahhhhh! Put it out, put it out, put it out!' She screeched and Mulan grabbed a fan that hung on a rack and fanned the flames which just made it worse.

'The tea Mulan! The tea!' He called to her dangling onto the woman's bun that had started to undo. He used his umbrella to hold on so that he swung like a monkey across her back. Mulan distressed chucked the rest of the tea onto the flames and they went out with a hiss. The Matchmaker turned to face her fuming and utterly disgraced.

'You might look like a bride but you will never bring your family honour!' She screamed and Mulan tears now running down her white cheeks ran from the room.

'Mulan!' Jiminy cried but she had gone. He heard the Matchmaker screaming once again. Probably at him being able to speak. His wings now dry after the heat blast from her behind, he fluttered so he was right in her face. 'You,' He said pointing the umbrella to her nose. 'You should be ashamed at yourself at the way you treat young girls. I happen to be friends with some of the most influential people of this kingdom and many others they wouldn't like to hear of this disgrace.' Without even waiting for her reply Jiminy exited through the chimney and his heart broke when he saw the Mulan's Mother with her head in her hands as her daughter rode away.