Okay, so hi everybody. So I didn't write a disclaimer in the previous chapter, and I'm sorry but I forgot. So, here it goes. I don't own the Mulan story or any of the characters. That right belongs to someone else who obviously isn't me today. I hope this story is well received by all who read this, and if you're still reading these bold letters, you're just so much better than me at that. So...stop...reading...this...please...now..., and move it on down to the stuff below.
Sunlight filtered in through the window, warming the young woman as she prepared the table. " Good morning, Mulan." Startled, she spun around towards the sound of the voice, nearly spilling the tea in the process. The man chuckled.
Mulan smiled. "Good morning, baba." Turning back towards the table she continued on in her task. She paused, there was something she was forgetting.
"It would be hard to drink the tea without any cups with which to drink with." His smile broadened as she hurried off to find the cups. She really will make a perfect bride. His smile faded slowly, his eyes fogging up.
"Is there something the matter baba?" He snapped back to the present. Mulan was gazing at him with such concern. He smiled gently and said, "My beautiful daughter. May the ancestors smile on you today." Her brows creased slightly in confusion.
"She really will make a most beautiful bride." They both turned towards the doorway.
"Good morning momma. Did you sleep well?" Wispy steam curled slightly as it rose up off of the tea she was pouring.
"I can hardly see why she would not. Isn't today the day the arrangement is to be made with the Li family?", said Grandmother Fa as she entered the room. Mulan froze, everything seem to slow around her.
"What arrangement?" She tried to recollect herself as she continued to pout the tea.
"Why your engagement, of course. Just think of family you are going into, the children you will one day have." The teapot clattered to the floor, and Mulan paled visibly.
"My engagement. I am being married off to a man I've never met. How am I supposed to love him." Tears streamed down her cheeks as her voice broke. Her voice faded to a whisper. " I don't want to marry a man I don't love."
"They should be arriving in a few hours. Maybe we should get her ready for-"
"They're here!" Mulan turned and saw a carriage pulling into their courtyard. A rider rode alongside the carriage.
"What?! Mulan get into your room. Gramma try and prepare her as best you can. Darling stall them for as long as you can." Zhou nodded shortly before turning to greet his guests.
Zhou hurried to the door and outside. Dust flew up into the air as the carriage and horse suddenly stopped in the middle of the courtyard. Zhou coughed and waved his hand in front of his face. The side door opened, revealing a plump woman. She stepped out and onto the ground, stumbling forward when her foot hit the ground at an awkward angle. Zhou tried to catch her but only crumbled under her weight. She rested on the ground, not noticing the flattened man beneath her. Zhou groaned softly, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper.
"You are early, my friend. I trust that the journey was pleasant." Zhou smiled softly as the woman's enormous weight was lifted off of him. She scowled at his comment but said nothing.
The man dipped his head and smiled widely, placing his hand on Zhou's shoulder. "My friend, it is good to see you. It seems that the ancestors have blessed you with much after all." He was silent for a moment and gestured to the young rider. "This is my son." The young man bowed his head slightly and turned his attention back towards the horse.
"Where is your daughter?" Zhou turned to the man's wife and smiled politely.
"You arrived early than expected. I'm afraid that my daughter is still preparing herself for her meeting with you." He gestured back to his home. "Perhaps we discuss the details of the arrangement over tea until I summon my daughter."
"Now, darling, try to stay silent. Do not speak unless you are directly spoken to, and smile as much as you can. There now, they need to see how beautiful their future daughter-in-law will be." Mulan sighed heavily. She turned towards the window when she heard a male voice. She heard the man talk to the horse, and his voice sounded like soft rainfall and warm sunlight. She smiled softly, trying to imagine the face it belonged to. "Mulan! Are you paying attention? You are soon to meet your future father-in-law and his wife. You need to impress them in order for this marriage contract to work."
"But Gramma, I don't want to marry him. I don't know him or even what he looks like!", Mulan cried out. She looked away despairingly as she thought of the man outside. "Isn't there a way I can meet him before we're married?"
"Now Mulan-"
"No Mulan. Remember, the bride and groom are not to see each other until the day of their marriage." Mulan turned just as her mother walked in.
"But Momma, it would just be a peek. I just want to know what he looks like, " Mulan pleaded softly. "That is him outside right?" Her mother nodded slowly, still frowning.
Gramma had a blissful smile on her face as she said, "I remember when I first saw your grandfather. It was-" A dark look from Li silenced her, but she glared back.
"Now dear, let's get you ready for your appearance. Let's see, now we want flowers in your hair, a sash around your waist, and your makeup." Mulan frowned again as her mother spun and hurried out of the room again.
Mulan sank down on her knees and looked at Gramma Fa. "Please Gramma, I just want to see him." Gramma smiled at her and helped her with her makeup.
"Now tie this sash around your waist. Some flowers in your hair and this jade necklace will make you look even more beautiful." Gramma pulled out a small wooden cage with a cricket in it and said, " What do you think?" The cricket made a chirping noise in response, and Gramma smiled again and handed Mulan a fan. "Use the fan. It drives the men crazy." With those parting words she left.
Mulan immediately ran outside and slunk around the backside of the house, staying in the shadow. She kept looking to see him, but all she could see was the top of his head. I need to see his face. She looked up at the tree branches above her head and pulled herself up. She climbed higher and leaned out further, still trying her best to see around the horse head. The branch groaned under her weight as she continued to crawl out further on the limb. Then she heard it, the branch giving into the pressing weight. It snapped, and she cried out sharply as she fell through the air.
She lifted her head up, and found herself lying on the ground. She looked around but there was sign of him. Where is he? The squeal of a pig met her ears, and the pig soon came around the corner followed by a young man. The man launched himself into the air and came crashing down on top of his target. Mulan's mouth twitched up into a smile as she heard the pig's surprised squeal. He stood up quickly, the pig laden in his arms.
"Gotcha! You're not getting awa-" He trailed off as he saw Mulan staring at him in slight shock. His appearance was odd like that of a wealthy servant due to all the mud that was clumped up on him. "You're Mulan!"
"Yes, and I'm pretty sure one of you is to be my husband." She smirked slightly as she stroked the top of the pig's head. "Would you perhaps be my betrothed?" A smile spread across the man's cheeks, even when he realized that she was talking about the pig.
"You-you're worth at least four, no five pigs!", He exclaimed loudly. Mulan's smile turned sour as she turned and stalked off. "Wait, you're also worth a cow!" His face fell, his eyes darkening with regret. "Five pigs? A cow?!"
Mulan walked back into her room, dusting herself off as she walked. Am I only worth a few animals? Her eyes threatened to fill with tears as she thought of what the man had just said. I don't even know his name, and I already don't like him. Her brow creased in anger.
"May I present to you my daughter, Mulan." Surprised, Mulan turned slowly and saw an older woman staring back at her. Behind the woman, she saw a man whose stature greatly surpassed her father's. His scowl seemed to lighten slightly as his gaze rested on her. The woman looked back at him, and he nodded. The woman stood and beckoned Mulan forward.
Mulan stepped forward slowly. "The fan, use the fan!", Gramma hissed under her breath. Mulan whipped out the fan, bringing it across her face, and then bowed respectfully. The woman hastened forward and grabbed Mulan's wrists.
"Clear eyes," She murmured and reached into Mulan's mouth,"no missing teeth, and her back appears to be perfectly straight." She kept circling around Mulan, eyeing like a hawk. "Oh, but her waist is so skinny, not good for bearing sons."
The husband remained silent but looked at Zhou and nodded. "We are in agreement. Your daughter will marry my son in one year. Until that day she will wear this pendent to show that she is betrothed." He gently placed the pendent around her neck and said, "My son carries the other half of this pendent."
Mulan lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. She saw nothing but empty pools that reflected her own expressionless features. Seeing the apprehension in her eyes, he smiled in a slightly reassuring way. She smiled back slightly, unsure if she should speak or not. Deciding against it, she backed away and bowed. He nodded and said, "We shall see each other in a year's time Fa Zhou."
Mulan watched as the carriage and her betrothed faded off into the distance. She absentmindedly stroked Little Brother's head as a single tear trailed down her cheeks.