Mulan opened her eyes, relinquishing the concept of actual sleep. She had managed to halt her tears and now tossed and turned relentlessly. She had figured she was being overly sensitive, that she was reading too much into her relationship with Shang. However, that thought alone could not console her enough to sleep.
The storm that had been approaching earlier had never truly arrived, only stirring up winds and a trickle of water from the sea. She listened to the howling spirits outside, eyes wide and dark with awareness. The winds whipped across tall sea-sculpted cliffs, whistling fiercely until they reached as far as the mountains. The water of the seas grew restless, turbulent and angry, throwing itself on the shore with vengeance. She would not sleep tonight.
Finally, Mulan decided the sleep she needed was futile and rose out of bed. She had not known how long she had laid in her bed, but she knew she would get an earlier start on her trip back to the Imperial City. It was a means of escape from the tension, the army, everything. She took a glance outside when she had finished packing her remaining items.
The sky was at its darkest, a pure midnight silk covering the sky like a heavy blanket. Even the small, pure twinkling of stars did not mar the perfect darkness tonight. Only the moon dared to defy the darkness, its usually soft glow a harsh light upon the land. The night air was cool close to the sea, a breeze picking up every once in a while. The earlier black storm clouds avoided the moon, rolling like thick velvet across the heavens.
"It is no wonder that there is so much poetry written about the moon," a steady voice breathed in Mulan's ear, no farther than a hairsbreadth away.
Mulan spun around in surprise, trying not to look the way she felt. She had been too caught up in admiring the moon, she had never heard the soft padding of his feet on grass. Her instincts should have alerted her of Shang's approach, not to mention his nearness. Her cheeks colored slightly as she realized that he was still only a few inches away, bare-chested underneath his robe. Mulan gazed meekly down at her packed possessions, feeling guilty, like a child who had broken a teacup or stolen the last warm dragon's beard (coconut sugar taffy-like candy) from the tabletop.
She willed Shang to go away, to let her go. Didn't he know that she couldn't go with him blocking her way? Didn't he know that his presence was what held her transfixed and silent?
Warm fingers reached up to touch Mulan's jaw, lifting her eyes to meet his. His eyes were like his fingers: warm, soft, tentative. His half smile faded into sadness when he saw her fear and guilt, his hand dropping to his side. If only he knew what she was thinking.
Mulan reveled in the simple tender touch, but almost shied away from it like a skittish horse. She knew that when she met his eyes that he could see her trembling, see her fears and doubts. Her doubts from earlier plagued her, and her feelings were almost too overwhelming to keep in check. His proximity and those liquid dark brown eyes searching her face were making her feel faint. She felt the need to say something, anything to break the long still silence.
She never got the chance to as gentle lips silenced any words she was about to say. It was a chaste kiss, barely brushing her lips, quick and almost nonexistent. Almost.
"For luck," he whispered, answering her confused expression. With that, he vanished into the shadows, never giving her a chance to find her voice. Mulan touched her lips reverently where Shang's had been only a moment before. A secretive smile made its way onto her face as she picked up her possessions, looking at the moon one last time. 'For luck,' she agreed.
A dark figure dressed in black surreptitiously crept towards Mulan's tent. The gleam of her sword silently registered in the cool night air, swift and cruel. She was but a shadow, and no one noticed the intruder. She entered the tent, quickly slicing through air where Mulan's sleeping form would have been.
'Curses,' she thought, looking at the empty tent. 'Shan Yu will not be pleased.'
With that, the lithe woman crept away into the night, leaving only the floating feathers of the sliced bed as a sign of her presence.
Mulan arrived at the capital in a half of a moon cycle later. She traveled with a stowaway Mushu and Crikee in her pack through the dense woods of the coast and the high mountains of the mainland. She had never covered so far a distance and so many different places, in such a short time. However, time was of importance, and Mulan had found herself taking shortcuts through stretches of blazing deserts and along magnificent bodies of water. If only her father could see her now!
Mulan made it to the gates of the Imperial City midday, instantly recognized by the guards as their heroine of China. The city was a very different place compared to the glorious night of festivities she had last attended. There were no fireworks now, only a large, busy market full of unfamiliar faces overshadowed by the Great Palace. The palace itself was under repair from Mulan's last visit, almost restored to its original glory.
Mulan reigned Khan to a walk to admire the palace, if only for a moment. It was an epitome of architecture, using no nails, only interlocking pieces. As she rode closer to the long staircase before it, Mulan saw the two gargantuan guarding lions at the entrance. One fed a cub through its claws, while the other's paw rested atop a miniature world. This miniature globe was the size of Mulan, sitting astride Khan.
A sentry posted at the massive doors noticed Mulan, directing a stablehand to take Khan. Before she knew it, she was taken to a guest room and placed in a scented bath. Her tense muscles relaxed a bit with the heated water, although she was wary of the five female servants appointed to her. They each seemed to be curious, but held back their questions with practiced training.
Mulan was washed, primped, and painted before she could hold counsel with the emperor. Although she felt awkward to be back in the heavy makeup and stifling dress of a lifetime ago, she managed to continue breathing and resist the urge to scratch her face. Soon, she was admitted to the throne room where Emperor Tang, Chi Fu, and miscellaneous other council members were waiting. Emperor Tang was seated at his throne, while the council members, including Chi Fu, were standing on the stairs below him in two curved lines. She felt their stares evaluate her being, perusing and making assumptions before she was even halfway across the room. Mulan felt self conscious, and almost jumped when a gentle hand directed her to kneel before the emperor. A signal was given to rise, and she did so as gracefully as she could, trying not to fidget or trip on her long dress as she was subjected to the scrutiny.
"Welcome to my palace, Major Fa Mulan," the wise voice of the emperor said. It still marveled her that such a voice could be used in a private conversation or address the whole of the Imperial City.
"Thank you, your majesty." Mulan bowed instinctively, rising consciously after the appropriate interval.
"You were not called here to admire my palace, child, but to learn of the great task that lies ahead of you."
"Yes, your majesty?" Mulan asked, perplexed. What more news could he have?
"As you know, Shan Yu is alive." Emperor Tang waited for her affirmative nod. "He has a dozen fighters, twenty at best. But we have seen what damage those fighters can bring, no matter how small their number." He paused, his sage-like face unchanging.
The members of the council took this break as an opportunity to ask questions, some for Mulan, some for the emperor.
"How many trained soldiers do we have?" one man in green silk asked.
"Have you seen any sign of the Japanese on the coast?" a worried, thin old man asked.
"What do you recommend we do next?" Chi Fu questioned the emperor.
"Should we-"
A raised hand of the emperor stopped the onslaught of their questions. Emperor Tang cleared his throat once, enough to chasten his council members into a quiet murmur.
"There has been no sign of the Japanese on the far coast where General Li's troops are stationed," Mulan confirmed. "But I have heard of Japanese along the northern border, close to the Great Wall." She briefly glanced at Chi Fu, who was doing his best to fix her with a baleful glare. She had nearly forgotten that he had returned to the Imperial City shortly after arriving at the coastline of the sea. Something about duty and a fear of water.
"It's true. Five captured and five took their own lives," the man in green said. Mulan could tell he was of military background by the broadness of his shoulders and the straight line of his back. She would find out later that he was an ex-general, injured in his left leg severely. He was old, gray taking permanent residence at his temples, but his dark eyes showed no age as he studied her. Satisfied, he continued with the news. "Three have also been found in Hun territory beyond the Wall. No news of what has happened to them."
"I suspect they do not want to reveal their plans, so have resorted to this tactic for the good of their county," Mulan revealed. Another round of murmurs and agreements from the council. Mulan secretly wondered how they ever got anything done.
"Could the Japanese want to take over China?" Chi Fu flippantly questioned, asking the emperor as if Mulan wasn't there. His royal blue robes swayed as he diligently recorded the meeting.
"It is possible," Emperor Tang mused, his aged mouth dropping into the slightest of frowns, troubled. Once again there was a pause, and the committee resumed their persistent questions and pointless debate.
"If both the Huns and the Japanese plan to attack China, whatever their resources, we could become be fighting a war on two fronts!" Mulan finally said, practically shouting. She was angered by the pettiness of the council, and how the lives of China's citizens seemed all a political power play.
"Yes yes, but we would know of an alliance by now," Chi Fu dismissed her idea, rolling his eyes in her direction. Several of the other members nodded in agreement.
Mulan tried not to be downplayed by the slippery, vile man. Chi Fu had always rubbed her the wrong way, and now he was willing to use her as a boost to his ego. Her nail traced the line of her palms harshly, the only sign of her anger.
"The Japanese are a secret and mysterious people," a tranquil man in light green robes said, his eyes smiling at Mulan. "Do not underestimate their powers."
"Remember, the Japanese were originally Chinese four dynasties ago, sent by their emperor to find the Golden Dragon of the Rising Sun. The Dragon was to bring good fortune to China, and the emperor wanted it badly enough to threaten his searchers with death. Fearing dishonor and execution, the people sent to search for the dragon left for the island we now call Japan when they could find no trace of the myth. Some of these people are still bitter about their exile today." The man who told the tale sat back down, his purpose served for the day.
'It would not surprise me if they have a spy in this court,' Mulan secretly thought. She had heard the tale many times from her grandmother's storytelling. It was a tale of honor, fear, and betrayal, and only served to remind her of the uncertain war ahead. She had tuned out the bickering over the Japanese's motives for the past several moments.
"Why would the Huns collaborate with the Japanese? We outnumber both in manpower," a confused member asked. "Wouldn't it be better for them to try to attain something more," he grasped for the word, but never found it.
"Attainable?" Mulan suggested, already weary of the tiresome speculation. She noted one spry member whispering behind his hand to Chi Fu, throwing a glance her way every few seconds. She decided not to childishly glare at the wiry man, and defiantly kneeled in the center of the room.
The debate continued without her until sundown. Mulan kneeled in the center of the carpet, turning her thoughts over and over to keep herself from boredom. All of the troops were training on the coast with Shang, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po. If the Huns were to attack the capital, there would be no defense. The Japanese had remained quiet, but if they were creeping around the northern border and allying with the Huns, then it could mean war. What she had fought in the Tung Shao Pass was but a decisive battle, perhaps a war. But now, with the added element of the experienced Japanese with the handful of Huns, the Imperial Army was really preparing for war. Mulan was tired, and knew that her mind was becoming cluttered, confused. She longed to rub her temples and rest, but fear of disrespecting the elders in the room, as well as the emperor, kept her in the center of the room.
Finally, Emperor Tang bid Mulan to rise to her feet. He smiled wearily, knowing the ennui she must have been feeling. He requested that she rest and meet him privately in the morning. Mulan gladly did as he ordered, ignoring the tingling sensation in her lower legs from kneeling for so long.
She tried not to limp until she had left the grandeur of the throne room. Two servants fussed over her, guiding her to her room, striking up a semi-interesting conversation consisting of giggling and talk of handsome men. Mulan paid them no attention except for when there was a brief mention of Li Shang, but heard nothing of interest and allowed the gossiping women to remove her makeup and clothing, redress her in nightwear, and send her off to bed. She had not realized how tired she was until she reached the soft bed. Soon, she fell asleep, dreaming of a certain handsome general.