Epilogue

Dust clouded around him thickly, and Shen struggled to breathe for a moment as the coughing almost overwhelmed him. He panicked. For a moment he couldn't see anything. Then, his eyes adjusted and he was aware of the thinnest sliver of light creeping in from between the cracks in a huge wall of fallen rocks. Memories resurfaced. He'd been running for safety, Odette in his arms.

The reminder set his heart racing as he suddenly looked all about, squinting in the darkness to try and see. He heard a small moan, and then his wing brushed the softest feathers. Instantly, he wrapped his wings around it and pulled Odette's form against him. He moved her into the crack of light. Her pristine white feathers were smeared with dirt, and the light in her eyes was fading. She looked as if she'd been sick for months, she was fighting to stay conscious. She gave a weak cough, as bothered by the dust as Shen had been, but lacking the strength to fight it.

They hadn't been fast enough to escape. The rocks had caved in on them, and it was all Shen could do to huddle down and pray. All of his work was now gone, his cannons, his plans, everything. And now the pair of them were stuck in a small alcove that had been made by the boulders falling at certain angles, creating a small pocket of air, barely larger than the pair of them. Was this to be how it ended? The rocks around them were not fully settled in their weight, the small cracking sounds foretold that any of them could shift at any moment. Shen and Odette could be crushed, or they may either suffocate or starve to death. Not that that mattered now, Shen realised. The weakness he'd seen in Odette all night – ever since he'd said such horrible words to her – was finally claiming her. As much as his bleeding heart refused to allow the possibility… he knew she was dying.

"Odette?" he murmured, shaking her, trying to keep her conscious. He prayed with everything he had that at least some of his wolves had made it out of the mine, that they could dig them out in time and they might get medical help for the swan. But what had the sorcerer said? A broken heart is a powerful thing… "Oh… what have I done to you? Forgive me, Odette. Forgive me…"

He pulled her close against him, burying his face in her feathers. Tears stung his eyes. He hadn't meant it when he'd told her he'd only kept her alive because he found her amusing. And if he'd known she was dying he wouldn't have been so obsessed in getting answers from her tonight. That tight feeling in his chest, the one she'd elicited from him since he'd first met her, it pained him greatly to see her like this. He couldn't allow her to die – he simply refused! His plans could've all waited, he would've made sure she was well enough. When Shen had Odette in his arms, laughing, smiling at him, telling him ow much she cared… it had evoked a warmth in his bones that dispelled the cold loneliness in him he hadn't known had infected him. But now she was leaving him, and it threatened to return all at once with a dreaded accomplice: despair.

The swan's body shifted ever so slightly, and he heard a thin voice whisper: "Sh-Shen?"

He immediately perked up, pulling back enough to stare at her with foolish hope. "Odette!"

"Shen," her eyes fluttered, tears blinking at the corner of her eyes. "I-I feel so weak… I think I'm…"

Panic wouldn't let him hear the words. He cradled her head in his hands, his thumb-feathers stroking away the tear that spilled on her cheeks. "No! You'll live, Odette. I swear it."

Her eyes, those wise, beautiful eyes, looked up at him, knowing exactly how futile his denial was. And then, her beak curved into a smile, a watery smile that still managed to make him catch his breath. "I f-forgive you, Shen… I'm n-not disappointed… In your heart, you're a g-good man…"

She trailed off and dissolved into a fit of coughing that left her trembling and almost completely limp. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Shen bit down on his lower-beak in an attempt to quell the urge to show distress. His heart felt renewed to think he wasn't a failure in her eyes. When she'd said how disappointed she was in him, he'd almost broken. His father's words had rung through his head. He'd fought almost all his adult life to rise above those words, but even now, they hurt him. If Odette had screamed and cursed him, shown him all her violent anger, he would've been able to take it without batting an eye. But the moment she said I'm disappointed, the wound cut deeper than any of his blades; he felt like he'd lost something he didn't even know he'd had. And to hear that she hadn't given up on him made him want to kiss her… but he also was no fool. He knew what she was doing, setting him free before she no longer had the breath with which to do it.

"Odette," he whispered with a shiver of breath. "I would do anything to stop this…"

"I know," weakly, she reached up, and brushed her feathers along his cheek.

A cruel and gurgled laugh echoed around them. Recognising it, Shen immediately held Odette closer. He spotted a black mass on the floor not far off. It took him a moment to realise it was… Rothbart! The sorcerer had transformed back into his human guise, and now lay upon the floor, the lower half of his body pinned and likely crushed beneath the boulders that lay atop him. His chest and torso remained mostly intact, so it was a slow death – but an inevitable one. Shen felt the realisation build another precarious level to his growing anxiety. One of Rothbart's eyes was completely gone, just a gore-filled hole. Blood coated his lips and teeth. Yet despite everything, he still managed to give a last rasping laugh. "Nothing you will do… will save her… she'd fading fast, little prince!"

"You would not risk losing her like this without a way to restore her!" Shen snarled viciously, clutching Odette against him as if to shield her from Rothbart's loathsome touch, not that he could reach her anyway. "Don't you dare let her die!"

"Both you and I will be gone soon," the human grinned with red teeth. "There's nothing you can do!"

Shen's mind raced through every piece of random information he'd come across since arriving here, hoping that his brilliance might save him once again. "The vow!" he squawked, "It has to be it!"

"You have never been selfless enough to love," Rothbart cackled cruelly. "But please, try! If you hurry little prince, I'll let you speak with her – one. Last. time!"

Shen turned away from the sorcerer, determined to ignore him. Odette had said her curse would be broken with a vow of everlasting love. That might undo the magic that was killing her, but would it also be enough to revive her? And what if Rothbart was right? What if Shen really didn't know anything about love?

He began to recall everything he'd had with Odette, analysing every word and movement to see if he could pinpoint the exact moment where he felt love. He remembered being in awe when he first saw her. Not just because she was beautiful. She'd come charging in to defend others without hesitation, with a selfless bravery he'd never seen before. When she'd met him the next day, she'd offered him comfort and warmth and friendship, with no strings attached or expectations of later payment. When he'd found out her secret, he wasn't able to bare seeing her upset, and had gone against his own instincts of self-preservation because he didn't want to be alone anymore. Yes, he'd told himself he'd been playing her, but it wasn't the truth. He'd stayed because Odette had the warmth of a sun in her heart, and he'd been living in winter for so long… For her, he felt like he could be a better man, a whole man. And he'd seen her when she was weak and lonely and verging on the brink of misery. And he'd done everything in his power to help her grow strong, he'd wanted to see her flourish. Then there had come the yearning. He'd wanted to hold her in his arms, he'd wanted to stay with her. It didn't matter what she was, her fortune and position mattered less and less to him every day, for all he'd wanted was her. And now, he knew without a doubt, that he'd do anything, give anything, just to have that piece of sunshine glow radiant once more.

He pressed his forehead against hers, and let the tears roll down his beak. "Forgive me. I only wanted to know what it was like to love you. I do love you, Odette. Since the moment I first saw you. I love how different you are, how feisty you can be. I love your secret wishes and your dreams of the future. You made me want to be part of this wonderful world you'd create. You healed the ache within me, with your kindness and courage… And so I, Lord Shen, vow to you… my love will always be everlasting, nothing in this world – or any other – will ever make me stop loving you."

There was no response. Misery threatened to make his own heart fail. Hesitantly, he brushed his beak alongside hers in a secret kiss, one last glimmer of affection, before that part of his life would die with her. He held her in his wings and buried his face in her neck, and waited for the end.

Moments slipped by, and then he felt her shift and move. Quietly, her voice confusedly asked: "Shen?"

It took him a second or two to register that she'd spoken, believing it to just be a trick of the mind. But when she sifted in his arms again, he couldn't mistake it. His eyes snapped wide open and he pulled back, shocked. The swan blinked her eyes open, colour and strength returning to her previously frail body in mere seconds. The peacock felt his heart drop into his stomach with shock. "Odette?!"

Seeming to comprehend what had happened, Odette's eyes grew wide as she stared up at him, her beak hanging open. She looked confused by her miraculous recovery, and perhaps overwhelmed. The depths of his feelings had been laid bare to her, and it had saved her. A spark ignited across one feather, and the pair jumped as if they might spontaneously catch fire. But then another sparkled on her shoulder. More on her stomach, a dozen cropping up over her head. A blaze of fiery light suddenly swept all across Odette's body, and though Shen feared for her, he could feel the now unmistakable tingle of magic. When it left, the swan was gone, and Odette was crouched on her knees in a tattered dress before him.

The princess looked at her own hands as if she'd never seen them before, her fingers swept across her cheeks, her hair, her dress. Finally, it sank in that she was free. She stared at Shen, her eyes filling with tears. Before Shen could wonder why she was upset, a smile broke across her face and she lunged for him. "Oh… Shen!"

Her arms enfolded around him and pulled him against her in a fierce embrace. Shen was still a little gobsmacked by the sudden speed of events that he was still unable to respond fully. He felt her face buried in his shoulder, her smile pressed against him, her tears falling all around him. Slowly, awareness slowly filtered back to him, and he wrapped his wings around her back. Her golden hair brushed against his beak, and for a single moment he enjoyed the feel of it, something so foreign yet so wonderful to him. They both knew now. Odette knew how much Shen loved her, and Shen only had to feel how she held him, had to see the smile on her lips to know the truth.

Behind them, Rothbart growled out with anger. But the sound was taken over by a violent fit of hacking and gurgling coughs. The pair ignored him.

A choking sensation strangled Shen's throat and built up behind his nose. He could feel the sting of tears in his eyes, coming on so fast there was no way for him to stop them. So he hid them in Odette's hair, determined to savour just this one last moment. For now the tragedy of it all finally hit him: he knew that now, when she was his, truly his, he could not have her. There was so little time…

Dust rained down from above, and a fierce scrabbling sounded. Odette gasped and the pair of them looked up. The small sliver of light that had helped to illuminate their pocket was flickering. They saw hands, paws, claws, reach in and try to pull and scratch at the tiny opening. First one rock fell away, making the hole bigger, then another. A wolfish muzzle poked into the now half-a-foot-wide hole, barely big enough to fit the animal's head. The moment the boss wolf caught sight of his master, his ears drooped with relief. "We gotcha sir! Have ya out in a minute!"

A voice from beyond the hole called out to be heard over the cacophony of the wolves redoubling their digging efforts. "Odette?!"

"Derek!" she called back, eyes bright with hope.

Shen looked to the boulders that would take a little while longer to move. At least, without causing a collapse. He gazed back at the Sorcerer on the floor. Rothbart's movements were becoming less common, and his body was struggling to breathe.

A wave of dizziness came over Shen, and he stumbled. Arms caught and steadied him. Outside, he heard more than one wolf whine as if suffering the same affliction. Odette's voice sounded around him, worried. "Shen? What's wrong?"

He snorted, unable to help himself. The entire situation seemed almost laughable to him. For couldn't she see? He might as well be dying of love. Because, oh did love her. He loved her so, and loved her still, and that love was what would kill him. He glanced at the sorcerer and sighed. "It's almost time for me to take my leave…"

"Leave?" she echoed. So clever was she, that Shen did not need to explain things to her. She'd heard what Rothbart said about summoning Shen here, how his power kept him here. All she had to do was look at Rothbart, take into account Shen's sudden lightheaded-ness, and put two-and-two together. A look of grief came over her face, and once more she pulled him into her arms. And then, Shen felt a small pressure on his forehead, and realised with a jolt that she was kissing him!

He could've wept at her feet. She was so beautiful, so alive. She kissed him, voluntarily, out of some form of love for him. And she'd even let him kiss her, no matter how briefly. It was the first time he'd ever kissed a woman. She did not recoil from the touch of his lips!

Pulling away from her, their tears mingling on his beak, Shen held her back, not wanting to see the sorrow there. His ears were ringing and darkness threatened to consume his vision. Growling to himself, he forced himself to focus on the present. He was determined to remain for as long as he could. Reaching into the pocket of his robes, he pulled out a small golden locket, shaped like a heart, a swan engraved on the front. Safely it had been stored there since he'd received it. He pushed it into Odette's palm, her eyes going wide when she recognised the locket; he closed her fingers around it.

"There, take it," he murmured quietly. "It's for you and the boy. It shall be my wedding-present to you. I know you love that young man."

Coldness suddenly seized hold of Shen, and he lost his balance with another strike of dizziness. Arms caught him before he could hit the floor. Cradled, he was brought close against Odette. He could hear her softly crying, could feel her tears hit his feathers. Outside more wolves were moaning, and Shen knew they were all fading, just as he was. Despite the cold that made him shiver, the peacock clung to the woman who held him, desperate to hold on to the wonderful warmth of her sunshine.

"Shen, what do I do?!" Odette asked him through her tears.

"Nothing. I was a fool to think otherwise. A peacock was neve meant to dance with a swan."

Sniffing, Odette stroked the back of his head tenderly, and Shen marvelled at such a simple touch that brought him such comfort when he felt so cold and alone. She brought her lips beside his ear, and gently whispered: "I would always dance with the man I know you to be. Become that man, Shen. And find me in another life."

He no longer had the tongue with which to answer her. Trembling, he held up his wing, and even as his vision swam, he could see himself turning see-through as he faded away piece by piece. Above them, Derek and the other animals were carrying on the work to dig them out where all the wolves were incapacitated. In this small cave, Shen abruptly was reminded of a passage from a book he'd read long ago:

My heart foreseeing your condemnation, into this tomb I made my way, and here, far from every human gaze, in your arms I wished to die.

How apt, he told himself, as with Rothbart's last heartbeat, the darkness consumed him, and he was sent tumbling into thin air.

Time has a way of changing things, from appearances, to the very way one thinks about the world. Odette stood on a small stone bridge that arced over the pond in the castle grounds. It was so hard to believe that it had been a year ago today… a year ago, she'd thought her life-long love with Derek had come to an end, her father had been taken from her, and she'd been cursed… Now, all of that was behind her. So much had changed, she'd changed.

In the time that had come and gone since her curse had been lifted, Odette had been brought back to her own kingdom, and knew the work she had to do. For months nobles had squabbled over governance with her father's death and her absence. It actually took some fighting for her to convince anyone that she was the rightful ruler of her own kingdom. But she had dealt with a Lord that would've put all these ungrateful pigs to shame. Some were more stubborn than others, but eventually she had them all supporting her claim, and she was crowned Queen. Then there had been the events that needed to be done in order to solidify her authority, but Odette had best all previous conceptions of her ability, mostly by adhering to the needs of the poor, and earning the unanimous love of the common folk. Now, if any lord was overheard even whispering malcontent about her rulership, they faced gossip spreading and a riot of protestors on his doorstep. The people were fiercely devoted to their queen. Once this was done, Odette sent money and manpower to help Derek with the rebuilding of his mother's castle. She felt partially responsible, after all, for Shen had destroyed it for love of her.

The Queen sighed, the still waters below her rippling when a breeze disturbed them. Though physical wounds could be patched up, and holes in walls could be rebuilt, a heart was not so easily healed. Odette still suffered on occasion from a bout where her heart would pain her, she supposed it was some residue of magic left over from nearly dying due to Rothbart's curse. She shivered – she still sometimes had nightmares of that. Of being captured once again. But the thought of the loathsome man now lying dead in an unmarked grave, forgotten along with those monstrous machines of Shen's… the world was better off now.

The thought of Shen was drove most of her unrest. The way he'd slipped away through her hands… the look of finality in his eyes, as if this was the end… it still made her cry to think about it.

A hand touched her elbow, and Odette had to keep a tight control on herself not to show any outwards sign of being startled by it. She pushed a smile onto her face. She'd known Derek would come and find her here. He was visiting, officially on 'royal-business'. The pair of them wanted to keep their kingdoms closely linked, after all. Her head-of-the-household had told her he'd arrived this morning, it should have been obvious that he would find her eventually.

"Odette," Derek whispered reverently in greeting, and bent down to kiss her hand. Odette smiled. The moment he stood, she stepped into his arms for a hug. They'd grown up together, so she saw no reason for them not to act in a familiar fashion. When they parted, the prince's brows puckered and he solemnly asked her: "Are you well?"

Ah, Derek. He always asked that every time they saw each other. Perhaps it was because he knew how close she had come to dying, and feared that it would have some serious repercussion on her.

"The nobility is united behind me, kingdom is stable, trade is flowing, and both of our people are doing well," she said. "I'm exhausted from it all, but I'm glad we made it."

A look of guilt passed over his face. "We might not have… if it weren't for me…"

"Why you?" she asked, confused.

"Odette, I–" he knew he had to say the words, for they had never spoken about that night, but it needed to be said. "I know I failed you. I hesitated where I should not have. And for that you have my deepest apologies."

She reached up to stroke his cheek softly. "You know I do not hold you responsible."

"But I could've broken the curse sooner if I'd just–"

"But it was broken. It doesn't matter who by."

Derek pursed his lips, and hesitantly, he asked… "You said the man you love must make an everlasting vow to break the spell. So… did you… love Shen?"

Odette hesitated. She knew this question must've been bothering Derek for some time for him to ask it in such a delicate way. She did not want to hurt his feelings, but she also had to tell the truth. "I think… Yes. Some part of me must have loved him, in some way. Though, I think not in the exact kind that he wanted. And I do miss him, Derek, sometimes more than I can bare. Even though I know now what he was, it doesn't erase the true friendship I felt with him at the Lake. For you see, he saw me in a way that I don't think anyone else ever has, or does even now."

And his vow… Odette could still hear it some night, echoing in her mind… her heart always ached to realise how deeply he must've loved her.

"I'm so sorry, Odette," Derek said, looking so retched as he took both her hands in his and pressed them to his chest, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. "I was a stupid, arrogant, bloody moron to have said such a thing to you last year. There's so much more to you than your beauty. You've always been so determined, so strong to work for what you want, and you only have the most pure and selfless motivations. I've loved you since I was boy, simply because… you're you! Even when you annoyed me, when you followed me to the tree-house, or you beat at nearly every game we ever played, you never did it to be nasty, or to hold it over me. It was always with a smile. It's your kindness that I love." Then, slowly, he knelt down to one knee, pulling her hands down with him to hold them firmly. "And it is because of that love, Odette, that I ask for your hand in marriage. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. Not because our parents wanted us to, not for the sake of our kingdoms, not even for superficial beauty. Just simply because I love you."

There was a time, not so long ago, when Odette would've thrown her arms around Derek's neck and screamed to the heavens her answer. Even now, her heart soared with happiness to hear him say the words. It took all of her willpower to pull him up to his feet and lightly press her lips to the corner of his mouth in a blissful kiss.

"Maybe someday, Derek, I will most definitely marry you." And she meant it. He was the boy she'd loved nearly all her life. But she was a woman now, and he needed time to really grow to be a man. Odette knew exactly what love was now, and she knew that it was something that waited. "For now, I'm going to be the Queen and the woman that I want to be."

Shen had feared they would wash up in the ocean when they were brought back to China. However, it seemed that the distance he'd travelled in Odette's world was relative to the distance travelled in China. When Shen had awoken from unconsciousness, a fearsome headache in tow, he found himself on dry land, in the middle of a gigantic mountain range. It had taken sometime for the wolves to fully recover from the ordeal and be brought up to speed with everything that had happened – for Shen had somewhat neglected to mention to all of them that magic had been involved in their first transportation. Then had come the trouble of finding out exactly where they were. Shen had had to wait a week for a scouting party of wolves to climb up the mountain to get a good vantage point to map out where they were and then make the return trip to their temporary 'camp'. The news they'd brought was troubling. Apparently, the wolves and Shen had been transported to the south-western mountains of China.

This had not pleased Shen at all. He'd wanted to get out of China when he'd left, to find allies and materials. Now, he was returned but he had nothing. No plans, no cannons, no coin… and no Odette.

The peacock refused to think of the swan princess. He tried to block her out of his mind, because his heart hurt far too much with every stray thought or fleeting memory of her. The experiences he'd suffered still bothered him like a festering wound. And Shen didn't know how he was supposed to deal with this grieving ache in his chest all the time. He couldn't even sleep without his dreams being haunted! So, he did the only thing he knew, he threw himself into his work.

His brilliant brain tried to recall every inch of his previous plans, to recreate his research from memory, to continue on with his work. His revenge was his only focus. He'd lost the only piece of light in his dark world, so he wanted retribution now more than ever, thinking that unnecessary violence would be the only thing to quell his melancholy. He was twice as hard on the wolves, bullying them relentlessly to find ore-deposits or scout out a suitable hideout, even to find some civilisation beyond this huge forest. His sparing matches were filled with more savagery, for he wanted, he needed, to hurt something, to stop feeling the same hurt inside.

And then Odette's words would echo in his head: Be the man I know you to be. But he scoffed at such a thing. What man was that? He was no saint, he did not possess a decent bone in his body. There was no room for kindness, for weakness. All he had left was his revenge on the world. How could the ghost of her memory that haunted him dare to ask that he give that up! Couldn't she see that he would have nothing left if he did? But the thought of those beautiful blue eyes, hurt and disappointed by his actions, always cut him to the core. The thought of letting her down, even when she was a world away, tore him to shreds and left him a blubbering wreck. And then the loneliness would hit him again and he had no choice but to throw himself into his work again, because he saw no alternative. And the vicious cycle carried on and on.

Eventually, he had to get out. He was driving himself to insanity with all of this circling in his head like baying vultures. So one morning, he exited his make-shift 'tent', picked up his Guan Dao, and stalked into the forest. He did not tell the wolves where he was going or when he would be back. And when they offered to accompany him for safety reasons, he pointed the spear in their faces and threatened to disembowel them should they take one step after him. With that, he'd skulked away into the forest and lost himself. He needed to distract his mind, maybe a hunt, or a run, or even just a practising his swordsmanship on his own. Just something to clear his head… just for a little while…

Through the mountains, he hiked over hills and traversed over valleys. He walked for hours and hours, just wandering in a random direction. No living creature came across his path, as if the universe itself knew not to stumble across him when he was still in such a foul mood. A part of Shen was relieved for the peace, but another part of him felt… lonely, in the silence. It was all too easy to slip into memories that were still so painful. Realising the mistake he'd made in coming out here, he attempted to find his way back, but despite his usually excellent sense of direction, Shen felt a little turned around. All the trees looked the same, and the sky was so overcast he had no idea which direction the sun was coming from. He wandered, hoping to find something that felt familiar, he even tried giving his usual rallying cry to his wolves. But he was too far away for them to hear, and he only ended up sinking deeper into the forest.

"Hello?"

The voice echoed out through the trees. Shen had come to a small clearing, high on the mountain-slope, attempting to find a good enough vantage point to see where he was in these damned mountains. His eyes snapped onto movement coming between the brush. He saw a long and curved neck, with a dainty beak and large wings. The peacock's heart skipped a beat at the mere sight of the familiar silhouette.

"O-Odette?" he said on baited breath.

"Sorry?" the swan said as she came fully into the clearing, head cocked to the side, confused as she stared at him. "What are you doing out here?"

Shen felt his hope crash and burn with the flames of disappointment. This was not Odette. Although he had to admit that the similarities were uncanny: this swan had the same pristine snow-white feathers, iron beak, and even a crown of golden sun-kissed feathers atop her head. However, her ocean-blue eyes were a slightly different shape, and she wore robes of deep and rich purple – something Odette had never done. He tried not to let the sting hurt him too much. He even tried to get angry with himself for falling for such hopeless sentiments. Of course she wasn't here! How could she be!

The swan lady was still watching him, concerned, maybe thinking him a delirious hiker that had been wandering the forest. He turned away from her, wanting to be away from the sight of her and the reminder she gave him. Distractedly, he said to the woman over his shoulder: "My apologies. I seem to be… lost."

Immediately, she came forward, one wing reaching out to his. He hadn't noticed a small bunch of flowers in her other wing. "Well, let me help you get to the nearest–"

"I do not need your help. I can manage perfectly well on my own." He snapped.

His spiteful remark had her recoiling, but in the next moment, her eyes grew stormy and a professional mask of indifference came over her. Her tongue was like a razor as she retorted back at him. "I should think you'd be grateful – I was only offering to help. It would seem the manners of peacocks have been lost, as my father would say."

Shen wanted so badly to rise to her bait, to shout and scream at something – anything – just for the chance to vent some of his pent-up anger. But then he saw those same eyes, ones so similar to hers. And he sighed, releasing the anger in a forced rush. His temper was harder to control these days. He knew he had to make up for his rudeness, and so said in a more civil tone: "And what are you doing out here? I'm sure it is not a common practice for young noble ladies to wander the mountains alone."

"Ah, so you do recognise a fellow noble?" she asked, raising a brow. Shen rolled his eyes, for how could she be anything but nobility. If it wasn't her clothes or purposefully-bred beauty, then it was her articulate speech, her mannerisms, the way she held herself. Despite her wish to be frosty, the swan briefly cracked an amused smile. "And I am not like most noble ladies, I'm happy to say. They're all idiots."

Despite everything, Shen once more felt a spark of hope. There was something about this woman… something familiar in the words she used, the way that she behaved… It was almost like Odette, but not exactly the same. He was comforted by these familiarities. They helped to sooth the ache he'd been feeling ever since he'd arrived back home. For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel any anger or resentment slowly eating at his soul. And that was… relieving. He found himself drawing closer to the swan, wanting more of this release she gave him.

"What's your name?" he suddenly heard her ask.

"My name?" he repeated dumbly. Should he give her his name? Shen had no idea how much time had passed in China since he'd left. And seeing as he was in the western part of the empire, would they have heard of him. Realising he needed to say something, he took a leap of faith and simply uttered: "…Shen."

"Well then, Shen, what brings you out here?"

"You could say that my companions and I got a little stranded in the forest further south… I think." He murmured. The swan smirked a little, having caught him out on actually being lost. "And can I ask again, why a noble-lady would be out in the forest by herself?"

"I like the peace and tranquillity out here. So different from the backstabbing of court."

"You are not afraid of bandits or other lowlifes?"

"Hmmm, yes, I see nothing wrong with meeting a stranger in the woods who is clearly armed to the teeth." She eyed him up down, clearly taking note of the iron gauntlets on his feet and the Guan Dao in his hand. The peacock hurriedly moved his robe so as to hide his feet – the woman was perceptive, he'd give her that. Her tinkling laughter filled the air teasingly. "Shen, I do believe I have more to fear from you than a bandit."

"Perhaps you are quite the accomplished warrior, then, for you to act so nonchalantly about such a prospect."

"I am nothing of the sort. I do not participate in violence."

Shen threw her a look, certain he'd misheard such a ludicrous statement. "You can't be serious."

The swan tensed up, her expression once more becoming not so friendly as she defensively told him: "Weapons do not need to be raised when a simple conversation can dispel the argument. Blood does not have to be spilt when my words can harm you just the same."

Once more, he so badly wanted to argue, but bit his tongue. "And is this unnecessary danger warranted by anything of worth?"

"Well, the Moon-Festival is tonight, I wanted to gather wildflowers for a gift. My mother and I love to participate." She smiled almost shyly as she gazed down at her small bouquet of flowers. Shen had to admit they were pretty, but again, he didn't see the point to this. And then, those blue eyes glanced up at him, and he could've sworn he saw a blush beneath her feathers. "You're more than welcome to join us? I know I would like the company of a gentleman such as yourself."

Now it was his turn to smirk. "Gentleman?"

"Gentleman-who-is-clearly-a-bandit is what I meant to say, but gentleman was shorter."

"So without a means to protect yourself, you would willing wander around the commoner-populace, subjecting yourself to cut-purses and swindlers and Heaven knows what else." He shook his head in clear disapproval. "I have more sense, at least, and avoid such things."

Finally, the swan seemed to give up with a cross shake of her head. "Very well. If you want to stay here alone in the forest, then that's fine. If not… I'm going either way. I will not have my evening be ruined."

She turned to march right out of his life as abruptly as she'd entered. Shen, for some reason, felt him standing on the edge of a knife. Odette's words echoed once more in his head: Be the man I know you to be… Find me, in another life… Could this be it? Shen knew that his work would be years from completion if he started again, and it would only land him in more anger and hate. He could content himself with that, but now that he'd tasted the sun, no matter how briefly, he wanted it once more. He'd never be content with the dark again. And his heart… it was still too raw from everything that had happened, from losing Odette. But could he move on? This swan was so much like her, she had the same sunshine in her soul, the same kindness. But she was different as well, more of a spine to her, more determined and not easily fooled. Could he dare to hope again?

"Wait." He called out. The swan's footsteps stopped. Her eyes were expectant, and he stumbled for an excuse to save his pride. "I may have a passing interest, an errand to run – in the city, I mean."

Though she rolled her eyes, her smile was warm. "Oh, of course,"

"Precisely." He nodded briskly and marched to her side. Heart pounding for fear of rejection, he hesitantly offered her his arm. A thought occurred to him, and he asked. "Might I ask… what is your name?"

The swan's smile was warm enough to banish away the ice in his bones, and when she reached to loop her wing through his, Shen couldn't deny the way his body hummed. She dipped her head in greeting and said: "Lianne, of the Shēnghuó province."

The End

Author's Note: And so, we come to the end of this little story. I just want to say a huge thank you, to everyone who has reviewed/PM'd me/favourited/followed. I didn't think this story would have much of an audience, it was just for fun. But in all honesty, you guys have made this what it is, and your support for me and my work has been so inspiring. I have no words with which to describe it. Just... thank you. Really.

And yes, the swan at the end, Lianne, is a reference to my other Lord Shen story "The Vow", so if you haven't read, please go give it a try ;) And yes, there were a few references in here to both Gaston Leroux's "Phantom of the Opera", and Susan Kay's "Phantom". I just think Erik has a lot in common with Shen, and those quotes seemed very fitting for this scenario.

And now I sign off, with all my love and appreciation to you, my lovely readers. Thank you once more for going on this incredible journey with me.

Forever Yours,

DONOVAN94 X