Disclaimer: This part contains lyrics to Celine Dion's song "tell him." Also, I don't own Mulan.
Chapter three.
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Shang knew that he would have to leave early, so he quickly got dressed (or undressed ;) ) for bed, and retired earlier than usual. He awoke with the sun, refreshed and relaxed. He then realized that he didn't have that nightmare again. He could hardly wait to see Mulan. Quickly he bathed, dressed (in his wonderful uniform which his mom recommended that he wear), and ate breakfast. Mulan was all he could think of as he saddled his horse and headed off, and Mulan was all he could think of on his entire journey. He developed a plan the previous evening on how he would save Mulan from Shan-Yu, and now all he had to do was tell Mulan.
He finally reached the Fa house. Tying his stallion to a tree, he looked around for her whereabouts. He quieted his horse, and used his keen (and lovely, might I add) ears to try to single out Mulan's sweet voice. Wait.. he heard something. Was that… singing?? He smiled to himself. The thought of catching Mulan singing was perfect. He walked regularly towards what he knew to be her voice. Now he heard her clearly. All that separated them was a relatively tall bush. He listened to her sweet soprano voice ring through her garden.
"I'm scared.. So afraid to show I care. Will he think me weak- if I tremble when I speak? Oooh what if there's another one he's thinking of? Maybe he's in love. I'd feel like a fool.. Life can be so cruel. I don't know what to do.. Should I .. Tell him, tell him that the sun and moon rise in his eyes? Reach out to him. And whisper…" She stopped, conscious of another presence. "Hello? Is anyone- there?" She looked around her. Everything was still. Shang, of course, then realized that it was probably a bad idea to go listen to her. But he didn't make a noise, did he?
"My, Mulan, you are becoming more of a young woman every day." Came her father's voice from the garden entrance. Shang saw this as his way out, and quickly seized the moment. He pretended to come in from the entrance a few minutes later.
"* ahem *Hello?" Shang asked.
"Shang! Hello! Come in!" Mulan enthusiastically greeted him. He smiled at her, shaking off the flashback to his dreams, envisioning this lively creature as a lifeless body.
"Fa Zhou," he said, confidently shaking hands with this military legend.
"Li Shang. I was wondering if you were ever going to pay us another visit. You know you are always welcome here. Where is your horse?" Fa Zhou asked.
"I tied him to a tree outside your walls." Shang answered.
"Mulan, will you escort his stallion to the stable?" At the mention of the word "stable", Shang's heart jumped. He felt his adrenaline begin to pump.
"May I accompany Mulan?" Shang asked demurely.
"As you wish." Fa Zhou complied with a smile. The two young adults turned and walked towards where Shang had tied his horse.
"Are you alright, Shang? You look pale." Mulan asked, concerned.
"Yes. It's just that- I came .. I came because of a dream I had." He studied Mulan's countenance. She was serious and concerned. She said nothing. "Well, actually, a recurring nightmare.." Shang went on to tell her about his dream. Of course, he didn't tell her how he felt after she was killed, and he didn't say anything about being asked to drop his sword for her. Only about the stable, Shan-Yu, and her death.