Chapter 2
Shang groaned at the sight of Wu Zhong. At least it meant he was nearing his destination. How was he ever going to make it up to her after the way he treated her? This place would just remind him of those horrible weeks, how could he have ever thought that she was a boy?
He kicked on, consciously avoiding the decent into the plains. If he could just stick to the mountain side maybe he could avoid Wu Zhong altogether. Good plan.
Shang had decided to see Mulan in spring but the army had required his presence at the northern border and so his duty had prevented any contact between the two of them. To say he felt bad was an understatement. Shang's guilt was heavy; and being his own worst enemy he would torture himself every night thinking that she deserved a better friend, that she had moved on or worse, that she had been betrothed and no one had told him.
Feeling slightly sick at those thoughts Shang increased his horse's pace. The sooner he could get there, the sooner everything would be sorted out and he could be sure once and for all just what he was to Mulan.
Ling's legs buckled beneath him sending the buckets rolling and the water running into the dry ground. Mulan gasped and made a quick effort to detangle Ling from the buckets and bamboo rod. Finally free, Ling got back on his feet only to find himself drenched and sparsely covered in mud. Mulan laughed at the sight making Ling feel a little better. If only he could make Mulan truly happy.
Unconscious of her friend's serious turn of thoughts Mulan reached down to get the water carrier and added it to her own full one. Ling meant well in helping but honestly it'd be better if he left it alone. "Uh, I think you'd better get cleaned up. I'll finish up here and meet you inside for lunch." Ling nodded with a look of disappointment on his face. He only wanted help. "Oh! and Ling?" Mulan waited for him to turn around, "try not to trip into any lakes on your way back." Ling smiled; he knew she didn't want him to feel bad but gods! Could he make himself anymore of a fool?
He trudged his way up the dirt road sighing every time he looked down at his clothes. Aiya. He was an embarrassment to himself. Ling frowned at his thoughts; he had to be positive if he was going to win over Mulan. At least she was already his friend. And she seemed pretty happy to have him around. Well, those points weren't much but they were something. Enough to keep him plotting new ways to show Mulan his feelings for the rest of the way.
Mulan bent down filling the bucket in one swift movement, pausing only to sweep her hair back. It had begun to grow long again and she scolded herself for forgetting to wear a tie.
She hummed to herself as a thought popped into her head. It would be damn fun to walk around on the ledge of the pond. So leaving the buckets behind she jumped up onto small wall careful to keep her balance. She wouldn't forgive herself if she arrived home as wet as Ling. One step, then two hurried into a medium pace and Mulan grinned, proud to have such perfect symmetry and centre.
Mulan looked up, confident that she didn't need to watch her feet and saw a horseman slowly approaching. He was tall and had a sense of grace and formality from what she could see of his shape as he wove between the trees on the edge of the road. A sense of familiarity overcame her and she went to step off.
Slip.
She had missed the edge and sent herself flailing backwards. No more the picture of balance and beauty and now she was soaked. "Aagh!" she held her dripping sleeves up and had to smile at what Ling would say.
Shang was nearing the village now and it was well before sundown. He'd made good progress despite avoiding Wu Zhong. Now all he had to do was to get rid of the tingling in his stomach. Nerves at his age and status!
He was surprised to feel like a boy again. A grown man should be afraid of his death, losing his family or his hair. Not of a woman who stood no higher than his armpit. But it wasn't her size or shape that had him concerned.
What if she rejected him?
All his fears came flooding back in one gush and he swallowed hard. She wasn't even around and he was shaken. Gods what would he do when they met?
There was the turn off to Fa Zhou's farm. Mulan's home. He swallowed again.
Maybe it wasn't too late to turn back.
Shang shook his head. No. He was not afraid of the girl warrior, or the friend. He wouldn't be afraid of Mulan in anyway.
His stallion took him further along the road and Shang saw a lady by the water, balancing along the edge off in her own world. He saw her look up and stare at him but she was too far away for him to tell who it was. Probably just a servant.
The lady stepped off but fell backwards into the water and Shang had to smile at the sight. Maybe Mulan was raised by the klutzes on her property.
Shang quickened his horses pace. He was growing more anxious to see her the closer he got to the house. And the dragonflies in his belly weren't helping. He began to wonder if she had changed since their parting. She was certainly softer as a woman he recalled, "No" Shang shook his head, that was unjust; she was enchanting as a woman. Surely she would've grown only more beautiful.
Shang looked down at himself. He hadn't changed. Well not too much. The uniform was different and he hoped she would be proud of him. A promotion to general at his age and experience was unheard of and while it had caused a stir at the courts his deepest wish was that Mulan would be pleased by it. He wasn't a fool, he knew that he couldn't make her love him but he didn't want her to be ashamed of him. He assured himself she couldn't - being a general was a great honour.
He swallowed hard at the site of the house. His do or die attitude was beginning to waver. What if she –
A commotion and roar of laughter to his right shook Shang's thoughts away. He turned his horse about and gaped at the sight before him. Mulan was frozen in shock staring at him with wide eyes, dripping from head to toe and there stood Ling of all people about as wet and muddy as she, smiling at Mulan only to turn and see Shang his face morphing into disbelief.
