The soldiers parted from Camp Wu Zhong just as soon as they finished their breakfast.
Shang was riding in front of the soldiers leading the way; and Mulan rode next to him. The journey was quiet, since Mulan only kept thinking about the secret she was keeping from Shang. It was so unfair. Mulan spent most of the way biting her lips.
"What´s wrong with you?" Shang asked smiling.
"Nothing,"replied Mulan with a fake grin.
"How come you haven´t talk?"
"Just thinking."
"Of?"
"Nothing important."
"Come on, you can tell me anything."
Mulan swallowed hard; how could she do this to him? He loved her and cared about her deeply; Shang had proven it so many times.
"It´s just that I´m a little nervous about war," said Mulan. Indeed, she was scared but that wasn´t what was on her mind.
"Oh," Shang went on," Just don´t move away from me, no one will ever hurt you."
Mulan smiled at him with loving eyes.Why did Shang had to be so wonderful? She forgot about Lynn for a few seconds, and felt this sudden desire to get down form her horse and kiss his mouth passionately, no matter if all the soldiers saw them showing affection to each other. Then, she allowed her mind to wander a little into the gutter for a short time. Mulan laughed with her own thoughts.
Shang frowned smiling," What are you thinking of?" His question made her laugh even more.
"I never thought you thought about those things," said Shang. Now he was thinking exactly the same thing.
"Who says I´m thinking what you´re thinking?" replied Mulan through her giggles," Honestly Shang you surprise me."
Shang let out a laugh and replied," You know that wasn´t my point when I told you to stay by my side."
Mulan made an inocent face and asked,"What do you mean with the word that?"
"Oh forget it."
"Please tell me."
"I won´t."
They laughed for a couple of minutes. Shang found fun every moment he spent with Mulan, and he was falling in love with her more and more each time. Truly, he was going to ask her if she wanted to marry him just as soon as war ended. He found it easy to propose, but of course he needed a more private spot to deal about it; more romantic probably, and he wanted to do it as soon as possible.
The soldiers had been walking for hours now, and there was no trace of the invaders. Shang announced that they were going to spend the night in a forest nearby, so the turks wouldn´t find them unaware because they would probably attack them with no chance to defend themselves. So the soldiers started to prepare their tents. Lynn placed hers next to Tung Ma´s. At first she was having a hard time to make the tent stand still, but her dear Tung Ma helped her.
Mulan was just wandering around the forest instead of doing what the rest of the soldiers were doing. The landscape was beautiful, and she could sence some peace in there.
When Shang finished with his tent, which was the biggest and neatest of all the tents, he went to catch up with Mulan. Shang found her quietly thinking, sitting below a bamboo tree. She looked worried again.
Shang sat next to her and wrapped his strong arm around her neck."What´s wrong with you?" he asked," you just get so serious so suddenly, and you are usually babbling."
Mulan smiled at him and replied," Just worried, those guys could be here and attack us."
Shang believed her words.
"Well, why did you come all the way here?"
"Just looking for a perfect spot to put my tent."
"But you know you can´t be so distant from the rest of us," Shang went on," Actually, there´s some space next to mine."
"Yeah, but you know we can´t be seen together as more that friends by the other soldiers, not here."
"The fact that you put your tent next to mine it´s not gonna make them notice."
"Ok, let´s see..." Mulan teased," maybe I should stay in your tent instead."
"Yeah whatever." Shang smiled at her mischieviously and leaned foward to kiss her. He knew it was only a joke.
When they pulled away Shang said," So, are we more than friends?"
Mulan stayed thoughtful for a moment, what if it was a joke as she thought before." Well...uh..you said you loved me and I love you too," replied Mulan nervously, she had fallen into his little trap. Was Shang regretting about it? Mulan´s cheeks started to burn. Shang noticed Mulan´s reaction and smiled. Then he said," Mulan we are more than friends...it´s official now, but we´ll just keep it between you and me until I ask for your father´s permission to let us get married and I swear it will never change." Mulan smiled at Shang. Then, he leaned closer to her again and kissed her cherry lips for a long time. Anyway, they were very far from the tents and there was no one to see them there "lost" in the forest. They kept kissing each other for a little more time.
***********************************************************************
Mulan and Shang agreed that one of them would have to get to camp first and them the other one, so the soldiers would´t start drawing conclussions about the two of them alone but together in the forest.
Mulan was the first to return to the camp. Most of the soldiers were done preparing their tents, some were sparing, and others were conversating about women and weapons. Mulan started to fix her own tent. Although she hadn´t done much that day, all she wanted to do was to have some sleep. Mulan didn´t know what awaited for her the next day; if there was a battle, she obviously would have to stay awake until the end. But for now, she wished to enjoy her dreams. That night, Mulan didn´t even bother to change her clothes, she just landed on the pillow and covered her body with the warm and cozy blankets, and quickly fell asleep.
Later that same night, Mulan´s dreams were interrupted when she heard low whispers calling her name from outside her tent. That sweet honeyed voice could only belong to Lynn.
Mulan went outside her tent; there stood Lynn with her long black hair untied, and carrying a towel in her arms.
"What do you want now?" Mulan asked yawning.
" I just need a tiny little favor right now," Lynn said with a big grin.
Mulan sighed and rolled her eyes. This definately was not a place for a princess. Lynn would spend all day long complaining about everything.
"Would you please make sure no one sees me, I want to take a shower?"
"Can´t it wait for another day?" Mulan replied. She wasn´t in a mood to go and babysit the emperor´s daughter while she played with the water.
"Oh, please."
No matter who asked a favor to Mulan, she would always say yes; because she wasn´t good at all at denying her help, and specially if they begged her that way. Lynn was just so darn lucky to have Mulan, maybe her secret would never be discovered and she could return home to her dear old palace safely.
Before they left, Mulan rubbed to rocks together and produced fire. Then she lit up a thin stick to light their way to the lake. It was so dark in the forest, the only light was the moon, and the dim light Mulan carried.
After several minutes, the two ladies fould a small lake surrounded by trees.
Mulan sat down turning her back on Lynn and shutting her eyes, while the princess got undressed and got into the lake.
The water was cool and pleasant for Lynn. She had been looking foward for a bath since the first day she ran away from her palace. Now Lynn felt clean, as she usually did back at the Imperial City.
"Don´t take long," Mulan said," We shouldn´t be here"
"I know, I´ll hurry." Lynn kept enjoying her bath, and had a little smim in the lake, while Mulan was still turning her back on her just waiting for her to come out so they could leave. Mulan thought about this whole secret thing. Why should she keep this away from the man she loved madly, when Lynn hadn´t been that nice to her.
"Are you done yet?" Mulan asked. Lynn was taking forever to come out.
"Do you want to take a shower too or what?"
Mulan sighed and ignored Lynn.
"I think you should because you don´t know when are you having another chance to do it," Lynn kept babbling.
Mulan frowned, that little brat was getting on her nerves. How could she dare say that she wasn´t a clean person? There was no doubt about it. Besides, she had bathed the previous day at Camp Wu Zhong.
"Ok, I´m done now," Lynn said," Pass me that towel."
Mulan stood up but didn´t do what Lynn requested her to do. The little princess didn´t say please and it made her sick, she was not her servant to do whatever she commanded her to do.
"Why are you standing there?" Lynn demmanded.
"You forgot to say please," answered Mulan sounding matter of factly.
"Oh, yeah, whatever. I´m freezing here you know."
"Can´t you just say the word please?"
"I don´t have to, I wasn´t brought up to."
"Well, if you don´t ask me propperly, I don´t have to do you a favor."
Lynn narrowed her eyes and sticked her tongue at Mulan; she looked so inmature and stupid to Mulan, spoiled brat would describe her better. Then, Lynn gave up and said in a honeyed voice," Mulan could you PLEASE pass me my towel? I´m freezing to death here.
Mulan picked the towel and threw it at her. "There you go."
Lynn caught it and said," Now who is the one with the lack of manners?"
"You started it first," replied Mulan.
Both sounded like two little girls fighting for no good reason.
Mulan turned around so Lynn would come out of the water. That gilr also took long to get dressed; it made Mulan wonder if Lynn got her servants to dress her.
"Are you having a hard time getting dressed or what?" asked Mulan giggling. She just couldn´t help herself. "Do you need your servants here?"
Lynn was ready now, but she didn´t reply.
Lynn stood infront of Mulan and started to laugh wildly. Mulan just looked at her puzzled. Was she a maniac or what? Then Lynn´s laughter became sarcasm. "Very funny little wench." She pushed Mulan into the lake.
When Mulan´s head came out of the water, the first thing she saw was Lynn laughing wildly again. " I see you took a shower after all."
Mulan frowned and complained," This is not fair!"
"Your joke didn´t sound fair to me either," said Lynn. Mulan noticed some self-satisfaction in her voice.
"I´m sorry your highness," Mulan snapped," I never meant to be rude, and for your information I´m not a wench."
"Then you should know I can get dressed by myself."
"Oh, congratulations," said Mulan as she came out of the lake. A sudden chill ran down her spine because of the effect of the cold weather.
"The water is freezing," Mulan said trembling."Can I borrow your towel please?"
"Mmm..let me think, you have to apologize for your little joke."
"Alright I´m sorry."
Lynn threw the towel at Mulan.
"Thanks."
Now Mulan had to take off her clothes so she wouldn´t get hypothermia. So Mulan hid behind some tall green bushes, and there, she got undressed quickly, and wrappped Lynn´s towel around her body.
"Let´s go now," said Mulan.
The two young ladies made their way to the camp. As they went back, both girls decided not to talk to each other until Lynn asked curiously," Where do you live?"
Mulan thought for a moment what to answer, she guessed Lynn would start mocking her because she lived in a farm in a little village, but hey she wasn´t going to let the princess make her feel inferior.
"In a beautiful farm close to Camp Wu Zhong," replied Mulan.
"Oh...that´s ...hum...interesting."
Mulan rolled her eyes, that was another thing she expected from Lynn; the princess was trying to sound polite to show off her manners."You don´t have to be polite," muttered Mulan loud enough so Lynn could hear.
Lynn didn´t get her point for a moment, but then she replied," Really... I think living so close to nature is rather fascinating."
Mulan was shocked, still she thought Lynn was still trying to be nice so she wouldn´t change her mind about keeping her secret.
"I insist, I wish I woud´ve been allowed to go out of the palace."
"Don´t tell me this is your first time here in the wild?" asked Mulan thinking that being a princess was more like being a prisioner locked up inside the Imperial Palace since the day you were born, and she felt thankful to be free to go to so many places throughout her life.
Lynn smiled and said,"It is, and the cool water of a lake in the middle of nowhere feels wonderful."
Mulan now sort of understood her, and she started to like her.
"I would say it´s freezing," said Mulan. Both girls giggled with the memory.
When they reached camp, Mulan and Lynn checked if there was someone there to see them. And there was Shang walking around the place.
"Ok, I´ll talk to him and when I kiss him you sneek into your tent," Mulan instructed.
Lynn nodded and hid behind a huge rock in the way.
As soon as Shang saw Mulan he ran to her.
Shang couldn´t help himself , and looked down at Mulan´s bare-naked body. He had never seen such wonderful shape in a woman, those perfect and sexy legs, her bare shoulders, and he took a sneek peek at her half bare chest. It was so fast Mulan didn´t even notice he was looking at her in such way. Now he was having filthy thoughts about her again. "What were you doing?" he asked.
"Can´t I take a midnight bath?" replied Mulan with a beautiful grin.
"mmm...sure...but," the way Mulan was dressed and the thoughts he thought that moment were making him nervous.
Mulan stood on her heels and kissed Shang´s mouth. Shang closed his eyes and let the kiss go on.
Lynn avoided to make any noise and tried to walk as fast as she could into her tent.
When Mulan and Shang pulled away, Lynn was already safe.
"What was that?"Shang asked raising his eyebrow.
Mulan let out a giggle as she answered," Just a sudden reaction of mine."
Shang shook his head smiling; Mulan could be out of her mind at times, but he loved her anyway.
"Goodnight, Shang," whispered Mulan.
"Goodnight Mulan."
Shang watched Mulan as she got inside her tent, well he just couldn´t take his eyes off her, not when she was dressed like that.
"We´ll continue this later," muttered Shang.
Shang was riding in front of the soldiers leading the way; and Mulan rode next to him. The journey was quiet, since Mulan only kept thinking about the secret she was keeping from Shang. It was so unfair. Mulan spent most of the way biting her lips.
"What´s wrong with you?" Shang asked smiling.
"Nothing,"replied Mulan with a fake grin.
"How come you haven´t talk?"
"Just thinking."
"Of?"
"Nothing important."
"Come on, you can tell me anything."
Mulan swallowed hard; how could she do this to him? He loved her and cared about her deeply; Shang had proven it so many times.
"It´s just that I´m a little nervous about war," said Mulan. Indeed, she was scared but that wasn´t what was on her mind.
"Oh," Shang went on," Just don´t move away from me, no one will ever hurt you."
Mulan smiled at him with loving eyes.Why did Shang had to be so wonderful? She forgot about Lynn for a few seconds, and felt this sudden desire to get down form her horse and kiss his mouth passionately, no matter if all the soldiers saw them showing affection to each other. Then, she allowed her mind to wander a little into the gutter for a short time. Mulan laughed with her own thoughts.
Shang frowned smiling," What are you thinking of?" His question made her laugh even more.
"I never thought you thought about those things," said Shang. Now he was thinking exactly the same thing.
"Who says I´m thinking what you´re thinking?" replied Mulan through her giggles," Honestly Shang you surprise me."
Shang let out a laugh and replied," You know that wasn´t my point when I told you to stay by my side."
Mulan made an inocent face and asked,"What do you mean with the word that?"
"Oh forget it."
"Please tell me."
"I won´t."
They laughed for a couple of minutes. Shang found fun every moment he spent with Mulan, and he was falling in love with her more and more each time. Truly, he was going to ask her if she wanted to marry him just as soon as war ended. He found it easy to propose, but of course he needed a more private spot to deal about it; more romantic probably, and he wanted to do it as soon as possible.
The soldiers had been walking for hours now, and there was no trace of the invaders. Shang announced that they were going to spend the night in a forest nearby, so the turks wouldn´t find them unaware because they would probably attack them with no chance to defend themselves. So the soldiers started to prepare their tents. Lynn placed hers next to Tung Ma´s. At first she was having a hard time to make the tent stand still, but her dear Tung Ma helped her.
Mulan was just wandering around the forest instead of doing what the rest of the soldiers were doing. The landscape was beautiful, and she could sence some peace in there.
When Shang finished with his tent, which was the biggest and neatest of all the tents, he went to catch up with Mulan. Shang found her quietly thinking, sitting below a bamboo tree. She looked worried again.
Shang sat next to her and wrapped his strong arm around her neck."What´s wrong with you?" he asked," you just get so serious so suddenly, and you are usually babbling."
Mulan smiled at him and replied," Just worried, those guys could be here and attack us."
Shang believed her words.
"Well, why did you come all the way here?"
"Just looking for a perfect spot to put my tent."
"But you know you can´t be so distant from the rest of us," Shang went on," Actually, there´s some space next to mine."
"Yeah, but you know we can´t be seen together as more that friends by the other soldiers, not here."
"The fact that you put your tent next to mine it´s not gonna make them notice."
"Ok, let´s see..." Mulan teased," maybe I should stay in your tent instead."
"Yeah whatever." Shang smiled at her mischieviously and leaned foward to kiss her. He knew it was only a joke.
When they pulled away Shang said," So, are we more than friends?"
Mulan stayed thoughtful for a moment, what if it was a joke as she thought before." Well...uh..you said you loved me and I love you too," replied Mulan nervously, she had fallen into his little trap. Was Shang regretting about it? Mulan´s cheeks started to burn. Shang noticed Mulan´s reaction and smiled. Then he said," Mulan we are more than friends...it´s official now, but we´ll just keep it between you and me until I ask for your father´s permission to let us get married and I swear it will never change." Mulan smiled at Shang. Then, he leaned closer to her again and kissed her cherry lips for a long time. Anyway, they were very far from the tents and there was no one to see them there "lost" in the forest. They kept kissing each other for a little more time.
***********************************************************************
Mulan and Shang agreed that one of them would have to get to camp first and them the other one, so the soldiers would´t start drawing conclussions about the two of them alone but together in the forest.
Mulan was the first to return to the camp. Most of the soldiers were done preparing their tents, some were sparing, and others were conversating about women and weapons. Mulan started to fix her own tent. Although she hadn´t done much that day, all she wanted to do was to have some sleep. Mulan didn´t know what awaited for her the next day; if there was a battle, she obviously would have to stay awake until the end. But for now, she wished to enjoy her dreams. That night, Mulan didn´t even bother to change her clothes, she just landed on the pillow and covered her body with the warm and cozy blankets, and quickly fell asleep.
Later that same night, Mulan´s dreams were interrupted when she heard low whispers calling her name from outside her tent. That sweet honeyed voice could only belong to Lynn.
Mulan went outside her tent; there stood Lynn with her long black hair untied, and carrying a towel in her arms.
"What do you want now?" Mulan asked yawning.
" I just need a tiny little favor right now," Lynn said with a big grin.
Mulan sighed and rolled her eyes. This definately was not a place for a princess. Lynn would spend all day long complaining about everything.
"Would you please make sure no one sees me, I want to take a shower?"
"Can´t it wait for another day?" Mulan replied. She wasn´t in a mood to go and babysit the emperor´s daughter while she played with the water.
"Oh, please."
No matter who asked a favor to Mulan, she would always say yes; because she wasn´t good at all at denying her help, and specially if they begged her that way. Lynn was just so darn lucky to have Mulan, maybe her secret would never be discovered and she could return home to her dear old palace safely.
Before they left, Mulan rubbed to rocks together and produced fire. Then she lit up a thin stick to light their way to the lake. It was so dark in the forest, the only light was the moon, and the dim light Mulan carried.
After several minutes, the two ladies fould a small lake surrounded by trees.
Mulan sat down turning her back on Lynn and shutting her eyes, while the princess got undressed and got into the lake.
The water was cool and pleasant for Lynn. She had been looking foward for a bath since the first day she ran away from her palace. Now Lynn felt clean, as she usually did back at the Imperial City.
"Don´t take long," Mulan said," We shouldn´t be here"
"I know, I´ll hurry." Lynn kept enjoying her bath, and had a little smim in the lake, while Mulan was still turning her back on her just waiting for her to come out so they could leave. Mulan thought about this whole secret thing. Why should she keep this away from the man she loved madly, when Lynn hadn´t been that nice to her.
"Are you done yet?" Mulan asked. Lynn was taking forever to come out.
"Do you want to take a shower too or what?"
Mulan sighed and ignored Lynn.
"I think you should because you don´t know when are you having another chance to do it," Lynn kept babbling.
Mulan frowned, that little brat was getting on her nerves. How could she dare say that she wasn´t a clean person? There was no doubt about it. Besides, she had bathed the previous day at Camp Wu Zhong.
"Ok, I´m done now," Lynn said," Pass me that towel."
Mulan stood up but didn´t do what Lynn requested her to do. The little princess didn´t say please and it made her sick, she was not her servant to do whatever she commanded her to do.
"Why are you standing there?" Lynn demmanded.
"You forgot to say please," answered Mulan sounding matter of factly.
"Oh, yeah, whatever. I´m freezing here you know."
"Can´t you just say the word please?"
"I don´t have to, I wasn´t brought up to."
"Well, if you don´t ask me propperly, I don´t have to do you a favor."
Lynn narrowed her eyes and sticked her tongue at Mulan; she looked so inmature and stupid to Mulan, spoiled brat would describe her better. Then, Lynn gave up and said in a honeyed voice," Mulan could you PLEASE pass me my towel? I´m freezing to death here.
Mulan picked the towel and threw it at her. "There you go."
Lynn caught it and said," Now who is the one with the lack of manners?"
"You started it first," replied Mulan.
Both sounded like two little girls fighting for no good reason.
Mulan turned around so Lynn would come out of the water. That gilr also took long to get dressed; it made Mulan wonder if Lynn got her servants to dress her.
"Are you having a hard time getting dressed or what?" asked Mulan giggling. She just couldn´t help herself. "Do you need your servants here?"
Lynn was ready now, but she didn´t reply.
Lynn stood infront of Mulan and started to laugh wildly. Mulan just looked at her puzzled. Was she a maniac or what? Then Lynn´s laughter became sarcasm. "Very funny little wench." She pushed Mulan into the lake.
When Mulan´s head came out of the water, the first thing she saw was Lynn laughing wildly again. " I see you took a shower after all."
Mulan frowned and complained," This is not fair!"
"Your joke didn´t sound fair to me either," said Lynn. Mulan noticed some self-satisfaction in her voice.
"I´m sorry your highness," Mulan snapped," I never meant to be rude, and for your information I´m not a wench."
"Then you should know I can get dressed by myself."
"Oh, congratulations," said Mulan as she came out of the lake. A sudden chill ran down her spine because of the effect of the cold weather.
"The water is freezing," Mulan said trembling."Can I borrow your towel please?"
"Mmm..let me think, you have to apologize for your little joke."
"Alright I´m sorry."
Lynn threw the towel at Mulan.
"Thanks."
Now Mulan had to take off her clothes so she wouldn´t get hypothermia. So Mulan hid behind some tall green bushes, and there, she got undressed quickly, and wrappped Lynn´s towel around her body.
"Let´s go now," said Mulan.
The two young ladies made their way to the camp. As they went back, both girls decided not to talk to each other until Lynn asked curiously," Where do you live?"
Mulan thought for a moment what to answer, she guessed Lynn would start mocking her because she lived in a farm in a little village, but hey she wasn´t going to let the princess make her feel inferior.
"In a beautiful farm close to Camp Wu Zhong," replied Mulan.
"Oh...that´s ...hum...interesting."
Mulan rolled her eyes, that was another thing she expected from Lynn; the princess was trying to sound polite to show off her manners."You don´t have to be polite," muttered Mulan loud enough so Lynn could hear.
Lynn didn´t get her point for a moment, but then she replied," Really... I think living so close to nature is rather fascinating."
Mulan was shocked, still she thought Lynn was still trying to be nice so she wouldn´t change her mind about keeping her secret.
"I insist, I wish I woud´ve been allowed to go out of the palace."
"Don´t tell me this is your first time here in the wild?" asked Mulan thinking that being a princess was more like being a prisioner locked up inside the Imperial Palace since the day you were born, and she felt thankful to be free to go to so many places throughout her life.
Lynn smiled and said,"It is, and the cool water of a lake in the middle of nowhere feels wonderful."
Mulan now sort of understood her, and she started to like her.
"I would say it´s freezing," said Mulan. Both girls giggled with the memory.
When they reached camp, Mulan and Lynn checked if there was someone there to see them. And there was Shang walking around the place.
"Ok, I´ll talk to him and when I kiss him you sneek into your tent," Mulan instructed.
Lynn nodded and hid behind a huge rock in the way.
As soon as Shang saw Mulan he ran to her.
Shang couldn´t help himself , and looked down at Mulan´s bare-naked body. He had never seen such wonderful shape in a woman, those perfect and sexy legs, her bare shoulders, and he took a sneek peek at her half bare chest. It was so fast Mulan didn´t even notice he was looking at her in such way. Now he was having filthy thoughts about her again. "What were you doing?" he asked.
"Can´t I take a midnight bath?" replied Mulan with a beautiful grin.
"mmm...sure...but," the way Mulan was dressed and the thoughts he thought that moment were making him nervous.
Mulan stood on her heels and kissed Shang´s mouth. Shang closed his eyes and let the kiss go on.
Lynn avoided to make any noise and tried to walk as fast as she could into her tent.
When Mulan and Shang pulled away, Lynn was already safe.
"What was that?"Shang asked raising his eyebrow.
Mulan let out a giggle as she answered," Just a sudden reaction of mine."
Shang shook his head smiling; Mulan could be out of her mind at times, but he loved her anyway.
"Goodnight, Shang," whispered Mulan.
"Goodnight Mulan."
Shang watched Mulan as she got inside her tent, well he just couldn´t take his eyes off her, not when she was dressed like that.
"We´ll continue this later," muttered Shang.