Disclaimer: I do not own CCS
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Chapter 4: Changes
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Feimei fell into her own thoughts when Fuutie broke the silence that ensued after Meiling's words. Fuutie talked about what was going on in the courts but none of that mattered to Feimei. It was all confusing. She knew that Silaway was a very free sort of nation. Women could do what their hearts desired. Feimei was sure that Meiling was free to do anything she wanted, she could ride a horse, and she could fight like a man if she wanted to. She could speak and be heard; she could dance with whoever she wanted to. She could even marry the person she wanted.
Feimei excused herself from their presence; her father would say that these thoughts would be tainting her. She needed to get away from her cousin, though she hated to do so. Feimei found herself standing on a balcony her hands on the smooth stone railing. The wind played with a stray strand of hair.
"All that negativity needs a break from, don't you think?"
"Excuse me?" Feimei often found it hard to decipher Mary Bella's accent.
"I said isn't it nice to get a break from all that negativity?"
"I guess," said Feimei. Mary Bella came to stand next to Feimei and breathed in the spring air.
"I can't believe your cousin is so disapproving of our traditions," she said somewhat snobbishly.
"What traditions?" asked Feimei. As far as she knew Mary Bella was not yet married into the family.
"Well for instance, woman's purpose in life is to make a comfortable home for her family, whoever she may marry. She is not meant to meddle in the affairs of men, politics are definitely their era. Our main job is fashion, everyone needs it. We set the standard, and truthfully I think that there is nothing better, don't you?" Feimei nodded but she felt sick. Everything Mary Bella said was everything Feimei either despised or wanted. "And we get to ride in Carriages, no riding stinking horses. I must say I detest the smell of your brother after he has been riding horses."
"Mary Bella I need some air. I'll talk with you some other time." Feimei hurried away from Mary Bella as fast as she could, she did not want to see Mary Bella's angry face when it occured to her. Though not entirely out of earshot she heard Mary Bella called after Feimei, "But we're outside already!"
As the week whittled away Feimei noticed that Meiling settled into Kigastian way of life quite well, though she seemed a little out of sorts. She attended breakfast with the women of the family, she sat and discussed meaningless things with the other noble women of the palace and Feimei did not see her once do anything that spoke of Silawanian. Feimei only saw Meiling once in Kigastian style of dress, but it was gone by the afternoon. Feimei wondered why she did so but it soon came apparent as the weather became unusually hot for this time of year. Several ladies had collapsed with the heat, and the suffocating restraints their corsets had on them. Feimei found herself sometimes envying Meiling of her light dress and cool hair style.
One morning Feimei woke up with her mind set and there was no changing it. Fuutie had tried to alter Feimei's thoughts toward the other way, but she was determined. Feimei had to make her own decisions. She realized that she was a lot like Meiling, she wanted to please her heart's desire more than her father's potential embarrassment of her actions.
Feimei moved through the palace that morning with her mind set. The weather was unbearable and she had had a close call the other day as it was. There were two guards outside Meilings door, where the other six were, she didn't know. She knocked on Meilings door and received a "Come in" in reply. She walked in closing the door behind her. Meiling was sitting on a window seat her right side toward the window and using her knees as a writing board for her pamphlet that she was writing on and she had not looked up when Feimei entered the room. Feimei walked over and sat down on the window in front of Meiling. "What are you writing?"
Meiling smiled looking up, "You haven't spoken to me in a week. Is something wrong?"
"Well the weather has been pretty bad…."
"Yes it is very strange, quite unusual," replied Meiling.
"I was wondering if…"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if I could try on one of your dresses?" asked Feimei. She could feel the color rising in her cheeks as she said it.
"Oh! Of course! You can have several if you want," Meiling put aside her writings and gestured for Feimei to follow and they headed back into Meilings dressing room.
"First, you'll need to get out of that dress," both chuckled at the obviousness of the statement. Meiling helped Feimei take off the, what seemed like a million layers, and soon Feimei was standing on a small circular platform in just a shift.
"Uh . . . Meiling? How are you supported?" asked Feimei confused and turning a beet red.
"Calm down, Feimei!" said Meiling laughing. Meiling showed Feimei a different sort of shift with a support structure built in. Once Feimei was in the shift, Meiling helped her step into a pretty Jade dress that she picked out. Feimei's blushing had gone down a bit but she was still pretty rosy. Feimei admired herself in the long mirror.
"It is very pretty, but I feel so strange exposing so much of myself. And won't this dress fall down?" asked Feimei. Meiling showed her invisible straps to go across the shoulders so she wouldn't feel so insecure. While Feimei fiddled with the straps to her liking, Meiling set about picking out the perfect accessories to go with the dress. When Feimei was ready Meiling sat her at the dresser. Meiling reapplied Feimei's makeup so that it wasn't so thick, and she clasped a simple necklace around Feimei's neck. Meiling redid Feimei's hair so that it was clipped at the back of the head in a pretty but lose bun with no veil over the hair. Meiling finally showed Feimei the simplistic sandals that were comfortable and flat heeled compared to the high heels and knee high socks Feimei was used to wearing. When all was said and done the effect of the Silawaynian style of dress was quite lovely on Feimei.
"What would father say if he saw me?" she asked looking at herself in the long mirror.
"Don't worry about him Feimei," said Meiling.
"Oh I'm not too worried, I guess," replied Feimei, "I'm just afraid that if he sees me like this he'll suspend me from balls or from even walking the corridors."
"He'll do no such thing while you are with me. Why don't you spend the day with me?" said Meiling, "No one will question me, and they'll think you're trying something new, ok?"
"Yes, that sounds nice."
"Come let's take a strole, hmm?" Meiling smiled and led Feimei out of the room and through the corridors of the castle followed by more of her guards. Many people stared at them, but Meiling kept Feimei's attention on her so that she didn't notice anyone else. Feimei was so wrapped up in the fantastic stories of Silaway from Meiling, she could not even remember having gotten from Meiling's room to the gardens on the other side of the castle.
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Later that night at dinner Syaoran noticed his sister come in with Meiling. They were dressed similar and Feimei looked happier than he could ever have remembered seeing her. They took seats across from Syaoran and Mary Bella, still conversing about Silaway.
"So let me get this strait," said Feimei, "Silawanians believe in one god, the Mother of all Natures? And she only asks that you pay homage to her in return for the leisure's to live as you see fit, which allows for woman to have so many liberties?"
"Correct," replied Meiling, "She hears all prayers, large or small. In the Palace where resides the King and the Queen and their daughter there is the most beautiful temple. It's so pretty! Over 1000 years ago, the people built the temple in gratitude for saving them from poverty and hunger."
"Oh it must be beautiful!"
"Feimei, you believe in His Lordship you cannot visit their temple, it would be sacrilegious!" said Mary Bella. Feimei moved to say a retort, when Meiling touched her hand to get her attention. She shook her head as if to say 'she's not worth it.' Syaoran observed that the two had gotten close today, more so than ever. Entrees were brought out and food was served moments later, and Syaoran merely listened as Meiling continued her explanation of the Mother of all Natures. Feimei seemed more and more intrigued by the Godess. Syaoran thought mildly that Feimei would soon be begging their father to let her return to Silaway with Meiling. Was that a bad thing? Feimei was old enough to have suitors aplenty, but the ones she chose were not the ones their father wanted. In Silaway she would be free from those restraints, she'd be able to do what she wanted. Did Feimei really have these thoughts? Syaoran thought he knew his sister, but her actions spoke louder than words. Maybe he really did not know his sister as he thought he did. What else had he misjudged?
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To Be Continued . . .
AN: Please Review!
Thanks,
Evern
