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China

598AD

Temperance sat with her father by the old cherry tree, she loved and cherished these moments alone with him. Especially now he is getting weaker, she couldn't stop herself from wondering if this could be the last. She heard the Emperor's horn sound in the courtyard outside their home, she felt a burning sensation at the pit of her stomach, and she knew the news was bad. Max stepped up and gave her his cane; he walked out of the front gate leaving her behind, she followed and hid behind the gate so she could not be seen.

The messenger gave the order; one man from every family needed to join the Imperial Army because the Huns had invaded China. She knew that her father wouldn't let Russ go he was too dependent on them still, he wouldn't survive, so she watched as her father stepped up to collect his scroll, which may as well have warranted his death. It took all her strength not to protest at the action but she knew the pride her father took in this action and she couldn't humiliate him.

Later that night they sat eating their tea, the paw of silence was irritating Temperance to no end, she asked the question they were all dreading "When do you have to go?"

"Tomorrow" he would not look at them; he continued to focus solely on his food.

Temperance found a sudden loss of appetite and excused herself from the table. She paced in her room thinking of a plan to prevent her father from going, when she knew what she had to do. Knowing this could possibly be the last time she would see her family she walked through the house to watch them, her mother and brother were sat talking in the kitchen, she watched for a moment remembering every detail; their smiles, laughs, the sounds of their voices. She smiled to herself and turned to find her father.

He had gone to find his sword and was practicing his moves that hadn't been used in twenty years, she watched and was amazed at his grace as the blade cut through the air. He then turned the blade at an awkward angle straining his wrist slightly, she saw the sword fall to the ground and the grimace on her fathers face. She returned to her room and watched the sun fall and the moon rise until she knew everyone was asleep. She crept to the wardrobe and stared in awe at her fathers armour; she put it on and was surprised by the fit. She retracted the sword from its case and cut her hair and watched the long trestles fall to the ground.

She quickly packed a few of hers and her brothers belongings, she found the scroll and placed it in her bag and then began to climb through her window. Once out of the house she turned back once to say farewell and made her way to the stables. Jasper became alarmed by the difference in her appearance but was soon calmed by her voice. Once saddled Temperance mounted the horse and began her travel to the training camp.

She approached the gates, she handed her scroll to the guard and entered the camp, it was dusk and people were lining up for their meal. She quickly set up camp and made her way to the line. After trying to control her voice and actions for the last couple of hours she was ready for bed. She woke in the morning to the beginning of training; she got changed and braced herself the challenge ahead. Someone read out the register to make sure all were here; she heard her assumed name "Russ" and shouted a reply. They were then introduced to their commanding officer, Booth. She looked up at the strong muscular man, and had to stop her jaw from sagging. He was handsome to say the least, and his body was that of a true warrior, but it was his deep brown eyes that captivated her. She avoided them knowing they could reveal her secret with one glance.

She mentally cursed herself and got back to the task at hand; she began to load her bow with an arrow. She watched the other men analysing their technique, it was now her turn and she suddenly became aware that so far no one had hit the target. She stepped up and managed to pull back the arrow, she released it and was pleased to see it hit the edge of the target. She heard the applause from around her and received a nod from Booth and quickly turned to the back of the line to hide her blush.

They had been training now for six weeks and she was amazed how the training had come so naturally. She had managed to keep a low profile, her survival depended on it, she knew that if she was discovered it was punishable by death. She awoke that morning to find that her and her fellow troops were needed, they began to travel to the battle ahead of them, but a they arrived it was the opposite to what they were expecting to find.

The village was decimated with no sign of life, Chinese warriors littered the floor. Everyone dismounted their horses and searched for survivors, Temperance stiffened when she saw the slaughtered white horse; she made her way to look at the victim. For a moment she thought it to be Booth, they were strikingly similar, then she remembered his brother was the commander of this fleet. She called out to Booth who came running to her side, she looked at his face and saw the sadness in his eyes. She dared herself and looked him in the eye.

"I'm Sorry" she placed a hand on his arm and she walked away to continue the search giving him room to grieve. They found no survivors and made their way to intercept the Hun army, they all stood anticipating their arrival when the snowy mountain darkened with the mass of the Huns. They began firing cannons killing a few of the Huns but it wasn't enough, Temperance looked up and saw the high accumulation of snow on the peak. She ran forwards with a cannon ignoring the cries from her fellow troops, she set it up and noticed the Huns were getting dangerously close, she ignited the fuse and quickly mounted Jasper. Not noticing the blade cutting into her abdomen, she saw the snow engulf the Huns and began retreating out of the snows reach.

She noticed that Booth had come to her aid he travelled on foot so he could not escape the snow, he had become engulfed. She search the white expanse and saw a part of him emerge, Temperance quickly rode the snow and hauled Booth on to Jasper and began to return to the rest of the troops. She noticed that he was drifting in and out of consciousness and had finally awoke by the time they reached safety, she unconsciously moved toward him like a moth to a flame.

"Why did you do that?"

"I'd like to ask you the same question"

They looked at each other knowingly both unwilling to admit the connection between them. Temperance felt a sudden pain in her lower abdomen and fell to the ground, she heard Booth shout but after that everything went black.

She regained consciousness and slowly opened her burning eyes; she heard murmurings which then escalated to shouting. Temperance opened her eyes to find Booth entering the tent she was in, she sat up and the bandage around her torso revealed her feminine figure.

"So, it's true" Booth turned and began to exit the tent, Temperance grabbed the blanket and quickly followed after him.

"Booth, let me explain" in her true voice, she heard the shocked exclamations coming for the crowd surrounding the tent.

Booth cursed himself he knew there was something peculiar about 'Russ' but didn't follow his instincts like he usually did. Now look at the mess he was in he had trained a woman to fight and as the highest authority he would have to sentence her to her death. He turned to look at her and wasn't prepared for what happened next; he looked at her he saw her curvy feminine figure, her shoulder length hair framing her beautifully delicate face and he was in love. He continued to look at her, he looked into her eyes they showed the strong, confident woman before him but also revealed a glimmer of hope.

She stepped forward. "My name is Temperance, my father wouldn't allow my brother to come and he is too weak. I couldn't let him go; he would have been killed instantly, so I took his place"

Booth took a step forward "Do you know the penalty for your actions?" his voice came across much harder than he intended as he tried to control his emotions.

She nodded in response and bowed her head forward ready for her death. Booth walked over to Jasper and unsheathed her sword; he held in above her slender neck and then dropped the sword to the ground. She looked up at him with her magnificent eyes, filled with confusion.

"You saved my life, consider my debt repaid" she nodded and watched as the troops followed their leader, leaving her in the snow.

She found her normal clothes and tried to wrap as warm as possible, she waited for them to disappear over the horizon before she began to return home. She thought of the dishonour she had brought her family and the embarrassment she had bestowed on Booth. She closed her eyes and saw their faces, the disappointment in their eyes made her heart ache. She mounted Jasper and began to trundle home, when she heard a noise behind her and saw an arm reach through the snow; it didn't work. She began to move as fast as she could to the Imperial City and hoped someone would listen to her.

As she entered the city she noticed they were celebrating the troops return, still riding Jasper she moved her way through the crowd. She looked up and down the line of troops and finally found Booth.

"Booth, BOOTH" after she yelled a few more times he looked at her "It didn't work, the Huns are coming, they could already be here"

"And why should I believe you?"

"Why would I lie? It is suicidal for me to come back here, why else would I come?"

He inwardly hoped she was returning for him, but he turned and dismissed her. He saw the annoyed look in her eye and fear in some of his troops that had overheard their exchange. She rode off, and he continued with the celebration. He began walking up the steps to the Emperor's palace, the Emperor stood on the platform. He was a short distance from him when the concealed people within the dragon behind the Emperor removed their disguise, the Huns, she was telling the truth. Before he could react the Hun leader hoisted the Emperor over his shoulder and began to carry him into the palace.

Booth and his troops made their way but found themselves locked out of the palace, they heard a whistle from above; he looked up to see Temperance.

She smiled cockily "Need any help?" She cast down a rope for them to climb up.

Booth climbed up the rope and through the window to see Temperance assorting the weapons she could find. She didn't look up but she knew it was him "Now do you believe me?"

"I wanted to believe you, I just..." he found he couldn't explain why he wouldn't listen and just stopped there.

She accepted his apology, once the troops were in the palace she gathered her weapons and made her way to the roof. She knew the Hun leader would take him to the roof; it was the only logical reason for bringing him into the palace.

The troops had fanned out to remove threats from other Huns that had invaded the palace, leaving Booth and Temperance to save the Emperor. They took out the guards at the bottom of the stair case and then ascended them, they opened the door.

Booth punched the Hun leader square in the face, leaving him slightly disorientated and Temperance quickly pulled the Emperor out of his grasp and told him to stay back. The Emperor watched as they moved in perfect sync, they flowed freely like water in a way it looked more like a dance than a battle scene. He could see evidently that they were a unity of opposites; yin and yang.

The Hun leader fell to the floor; and in one swift notion Booth caught Temperance's waist and pulled her lips to his. The adrenaline and raging emotions intensified the kiss; they no longer knew how much time had passed and broke apart due to the lack of oxygen. They gazed at each other and then both realized that the Emperor was watching, they turned their heads and blushed.

I hoped you liked it, I had a blast writing it : )

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And as always any suggestions and criticisms are welcome ; P

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