A well-toned tiger sat in front of his desk, glancing over the map that was stretched out before him. His seasoned muscles twitched as he looked over the area surrounding his camp. To the north laid the Tiger Clan villages, and to the east were the Ox settlements. The Rom Bora frowned, his stern face etched with worry. Both clans hated his people, and they would surely slaughter them if the gypsies didn't find refuge soon. That of course is why the gypsy leader turned to the Leopard King for help, but the spotted feline quickly turned them out after learning that the Roma Bora's daughter was taken hostage by the tiger leader Bai Jian. No one dared to interfere with the tiger clan; they were the fiercest fighters China had ever seen. In fact, it was said that Bai Jian had never lost a battle.
A small smirk appeared on the tiger's face. His people also knew how to fight, and they were tired of running. It was time to show Bai Jian exactly who he was dealing with.
Lianghu sat at the dinner table quietly, watching as Bai Jian and Li Ai discussed the average daily assignments at the palace. It had become routine for her to attend the evening meal with the royal family and captain of the guard, and she was beginning to enjoy watching the three interact with each other. Li Ai and the girl had become close friends over the course of a few weeks, and Bai Jian was slowly beginning to loosen up around the gypsy too. They had taken a few walks, forced by Li AI, together in the garden. Lianghu noticed that young leader was constantly worrying over the safety of his people, and that the Leopard king could attack at any given moment. Bai Jian seemed to never relax, even while at the dinner table.
Li Ai interrupted Lianghu's thoughts as she cleared her throat and spoke, "Bai Jian, isn't your 21st birthday coming up soon?"
He shrugged, "I suppose so, but I don't necessarily like being reminded of my age."
His sister chuckled, "We must all grow old eventually brother, but I do have a wonderful idea for you!"
Her excitement seemed to not faze him, "And what is that idea?"
"A royal ball! We haven't had one in AGES!"
Bai Jian choked on his drink, "A-a ball? You can't be serious."
"Of course I am, it would be amazing!"
Lianghu shrank back in her seat as Bai Jian and Li Ai went into a lengthy argument over why and why not it was a good idea to have a ball. Bai Jian claimed that it was too frivolous and wasted time, while his sister said that it was a great way to strengthen the support of their leader by celebrating him and his ability to protect his people.
The gypsy girl smiled at them; she had never really known what it was like to have a family. Her father never interacted with his daughter much, except on the rare occasion that he needed her to do something for him. Bai Jian and Li Ai, however, seemed to love each other beyond the constant bickering. Lianghu had never seen anything like it, and deep down she longed for a family like that.
Da watched with an uninterested look on his face, sipping his drink as the two siblings quarreled. He glanced at Li Ai, who was caught up in the heat of the argument with Bai Jian. A slight grinned appeared on Da's face as he watched her. She was beautiful, even when her face was red from arguing.
Bai Jian groaned, obviously annoyed with his sister's demands.
"UGH, fine. Just, whatever." The tiger stood, "Lianghu, would you join me for a walk?"
The girl's bright blue eyes widen, "Me?"
"Yes you. I said Lianghu, which is your name unless you changed it in the last five minutes. Do you want to go or not?"
"Oh um, of course." Lianghu stood up from her chair.
"Good. You would be far better company than my controlling sister and her sidekick Da."
The captain rolled his eyes, not responding to the comment.
Lianghu chuckled and pushed in her chair, following Bai Jian out of the dining room and into the gardens.
The sun had begun to set as the two tigers wandered along a garden pathway. Bai Jian had chosen a different course than usual; it was into the edge of a misty forest, following along a still river.
Lianghu walked alongside him quietly, looking all around her.
Bai Jian cleared his throat, "…So, how do you like the palace?"
"Well…," the tigress started it, "It's very..extravagant."
He raised an eyebrow, "And is that a bad thing?"
"No no, of course not. I just haven't seen anything like it, that's all. I'm used to living in a wagon and wandering to wherever I choose, but here, you have duties and regulations to follow for almost every single thing you do."
"Rules help us keep order."
"Yes, but too many of them can drive a person crazy. I can't even eat or sleep without someone telling me how to do it."
Bai Jian chuckled, "I take it that you prefer a roaming lifestyle than living cooped up in a palace?"
"In many ways yes, but being a gypsy means that you have to scrape and steal for your food. Who wants to hire a gyspsy? Being in the palace though, I can have whatever I want."
The tiger looked at her, "…Do you miss your family?"
Lianghu's blue eyes met his brilliant green ones, "…I don't have much of a family."
"I see…neither do I."
"That's not true! You have Li Ai and Da, they're as much of a family as anyone else's!"
His astonished face faded into another solemn stare, "I suppose so."
Lianghu glanced down, realizing her mistake. "I'm sorry. It's just, the only family I've ever had is my father, but even he wasn't that involved with my upbringing. My mother died at childbirth, and I don't think that he was ever the same since. It was almost like something was driving him mad, and he had to keep moving from place to place. That's why the gypsy's life fit us so well; he never knew when to stop running."
"Oh…I'm..sorry."
The tigress remained silent, continuing to walk with him along the path.
Bai Jian was quiet for a moment, "Do you miss him?"
"Who?"
"Your father."
"Oh…not entirely."
Bai Jian rubbed his face, "Lianghu…We haven't received word from your father in several weeks, do you know what could've happened?"
Lianghu bit her lip, "No. Gypsies wander all over China, sometimes even up into Russia. He could be anywhere by now."
The tiger studied her, "There have been rumors of an army gathering in the south, any idea of who it could be?"
She snorted a bit, "Sir, my people are travellers, we don't know how to fight. Gathering an army would be the last thing on the Rom Bora's mind."
Bai Jian nodded, falling silent. Lianghu walked beside him, biting her lip. Surely it wouldn't be her father, would it?
"So…do Li Ai and Da always fight?"
He chuckled slightly, "For the most part, yes. The only time when they don't is when they're asleep, and even that is a challenge."
She smiled, "You must have your hands full with them."
Li Ai watched two figures walked along a garden pathway, talking to each other and occasionally laughing. Bai Jian and Lianghu seemed to get along nicely, and the gypsy girl was even able to get the stern leader to smile, something that he hadn't done in a long while. A smile appeared on her face as she stepped away from the window.
"…I know what you're thinking Li Ai, and it won't work."
The tigress turned around to find Da casually leaning against the doorframe.
"And why not? They obviously enjoy each other's company," she retorted, her nose half up in the air.
Da smirked, "You can't make two people fall in love princess; it must happen on their terms, not yours."
Her face faltered, "Oh, what would you know of love? You spend your days fighting imaginary battles and training soldiers."
The tiger took a step towards her as she looked up at him. He replied softly, "I know more than you think."
Li Ai was quiet for a moment, unable to look away from Da's deep brown eyes.
"It could still happen."
"They both know it's impossible Li Ai; that type of love is forbidden in Bai Jian's position."
"Oh here we go again with those petty rules." She backed away and turned towards the window again, "Who's to tell him who he can and cannot love? My brother hasn't smiled this much since our father died…I just want him to be happy."
"So do I Li Ai, but not everything we want in life will happen."
"Oh really? It seems like your life has turned out wonderful! You've got everything you could every want."
Da's eyes showed hurt at her remark. She looked up at him with fire in her eyes, reliving the moment she found her mother dead in the grass. He inwardly sighed, wanting so desperately to tell her that she was the one thing that he knew he could never have. She was the main reason he had stayed at the palace and chosen to train as a soldier. She was the reason his heart pounded so hard that when he saw that thief holding a knife to her throat, he wanted to run his sword through the lowlife a hundred times. He vowed to never let anyone hurt her again, even if it meant giving his life for her. Although he would always be by her side, Da knew that he could never let Li Ai know how he truly felt. He was only a lowly soldier, and she was a royal princess; they would never be allowed together. I want you, princess, he thought, but I will never be able to tell you…
"…If there is nothing else that your majesty needs, I would like to retire to my quarters."
Li Ai felt instant regret, "Da, I didn't mean-"
He held up a paw, "I understand. Goodnight."
With that, the tiger left the room, leaving Li Ai alone.
~several weeks later~
"And…I win! Again."
Bai Jian groaned as he pushed the majong game away.
"You always seem to win, why can't I be victorious for once?"
Lianghu giggled, "Because that wouldn't be fun, that's why."
He smiled a bit at her, noticing the way her eyes danced as she laughed. Lianghu smiled back, meeting his eyes. She seemed so free despite being locked inside the palace. Bai Jian was beginning to enjoy her company whenever he had free time, and she had proven to be an expert at majong.
Li Ai peered up from a piece of paper at them. The two tigers had become close over the course of several weeks, and Bai Jian was beginning to spend as much time with Lianghu as he did with his own sister.
Bai Jian and Lianghu didn't notice Li Ai watching them as they cleared the majong set.
"Is there another game you know that you're NOT good at?"
"Maybe, but I'll never tell." She smiled as she put away the game board, "You can try again tomorrow."
"Fine fine, but I don't want you cheating next time."
"Cheating? I would never!"
Bai Jian chuckled, "I'm just teasing." He stood up from the card table and glanced over at Li Ai, who had been reading the same letter for the last three hours.
Lianghu looked over at her, "Is everything alright Li Ai?"
The tigress looked up from her letter, "Hm? Oh uh yes, of course."
"Okay, care for a game of majong?"
"No thank you, I prefer to stick to my books."
"Li Ai, you're reading a letter…"
"I know. Oh and by the way, I made an appointment tomorrow with the tailor to find something suitable for you to wear at your ball in two weeks."
The tiger groaned, "Li Ai, I don't think that will be necessary. I'll be there for only a few minutes anyways."
Li Ai gave him a disapproving look as she glanced up from her letter, "The party IS in your honor Bai Jian, you can spare yourself for just a few hours."
"I can, but I don't want too. Balls are just a waste of time and money."
Li Ai rolled her eyes, "Then at least show your face for a few minutes; it won't kill you to smile at a few people too."
Lianghu smiled at her remark while Bai Jian groaned again and left the room, muttering something about going to train. Li Ai watched her brother leave the room and sighed, looking at Lianghu.
"..I worry for him sometimes…I'm afraid that he'll be too caught up in helping the villages keep order to ever find love. I don't think that he would care much about it though, he's always been the lone wolf of the family."
Lianghu raised an eyebrow, "Aren't there a lot eligible girls in the surrounding villages?"
Li Ai smirked, "Oh, there are tons, trust me, but he always seems to make an excuse to avoid being in public. He hates social gatherings."
"I see.." She put away the majong board underneath the table.
The princess studied the young tigress for a moment before speaking, "Lianghu, I want you to be my guest at the ball."
Her eyes widen as she popped up from under the table, bumping her head in the process, "M-me? But I'm a gypsy, the people will-"
"will not know who you are, you will just be a close friend of mine."
Lianghu bit her lip, wondering what she should do. "What if Bai Jian sees me there?"
"Don't worry, he won't care. Security is heightened during large gatherings, so he should be fine with it. So, what do you say?"
"Well…I would be honored."
Li Ai smiled, "Great!" She quickly stood up, throwing the letter aside, "Let's go find a gown for you!"
Bai Jian leaned back in his chair as he listened to his captain of the guard give a report of the surrounding villages.
There had been two attacks on the BLANK village, but the bandits were quickly captured and executed on the spot.
The leader looked down at the map stretched out before him, his green eyes scanning the area.
"And the gypsies?" He asked.
"No news from them, it's almost as if they've disappeared. We haven't had any trouble from them in a while."
Bai Jian was quiet for a moment, still studying them map.
He finally spoke up, "It seems as if his missing daughter is not the number one priority on the Rom Bora's mind at the moment, I wonder if he is up to something."
Da cleared his throated, "It could be, but I doubt that the gypsy clan would gain support from anyone nearby, they could just be in hiding."
"Where were they last seen?"
"Heading south, away from the Leopard king's territory, but that was four weeks ago. No one has seen them since."
Bai Jian looked back at the map, "We need to draw them out of hiding."
"What do you propose then?"
"I don't know yet, but I'll think of something. In the meantime, send two scouts to the south, I want to know what that gypsy has been up to."
Da nodded, "As you wish."
Ribbons and lace flew around the room as Li Ai dug through the dress shop, trying to find something suitable for Lianghu to wear.
The young tigress stood in the corner, watching as the princess looked at different quipoas and dresses. Before she knew it, Lianghu's arms were full of fabric and gowns.
"That should get you started, now go try those on while I go find some more.
"Um, okay" Lianghu stumbled towards the dressing room, dropping items along the way.
After trying on countless dresses, Lianghu was beginning to get worn out. Li Ai, however, was just getting started.
"Here, try this one on next."
"But I thought you really liked the last one?"
"I did, but I really like this one too. Now go on."
Lianghu inwardly sighed as she once again made her way towards the dressing room and slipped the gown over her head. When she stepped out, Li Ai looked up and quickly dropped a dress that she had in her hand as she smiled.
"That's the one, you look beautiful Lianghu…"
The girl bit her lip, uncertain of how she truly looked, "Are you sure?"
Li Ai chuckled, "Yes, I'm positive. Now go change while I pay for it."
Lianghu bowed, "Thank you, I am grateful, but… I don't know why you're treating me with such kindness."
The princess smiled softly as she replied, "Because, you're the only one who's made Bai Jian and I smile in a long time."
~a week later~
"SIR! We found them!"
The Rom Bora quickly looked up from his desk as two gypsy dragged in a couple of tigers.
He smirked, "So…you're the two spies Bai Jian sent."
They remained silent, keeping their eyes downcast.
He walked over to them, "Congratulations gentlemen, you've found the gypsy clan."
One of the scouts glared up at him, refusing to show fear. "Bai Jian will find you, with or without us, it doesn't matter. Each and every one of you gypsies will be slaughtered."
The Rom Bora chuckled darkly, pulling out his sword, "Why can't we just be friends? I'll tell you what, I'll make a deal with this so called leader of yours. He lets my daughter go, and I'll give him one of his men back."
"He would never agree."
"There's always a first time."
He raised his sword, "Of course, I never said that they were going to be alive."
Another chapter done! I hope to upload weekly if school doesn't get too intense. Let me know what you guys thought about this chapter and what will happen next! I know not a lot of action was in this one, but there will be a lot in the next, so just hang tight!
Love you guys!