Chapter 4 ~ After
Su Lin awoke the next morning, bolting awake from a nightmare. She breathed heavily, calming herself down. It was still dark out and she looked around the room. Shan Yu was asleep on the floor, barely covered by a blanket. Su Lin thought about just leaving the Huns and traveling back to China. She could ride a horse do to her tutor's lack of attention and Su Lin's ability to disappear. She wrapped the blanket around herself and quietly padded towards the door. She opened the door but something held her back. Her mantra, For peace, rang through her head. Sighing, she slowly closed the door again. Walking back to the bed, Su Lin paused, looking down at Shan Yu. He had been in every right to have had her earlier that night. Why had he stopped? Crouching down, she carefully drew the blanket back up his body before returning to bed herself. Yan, who hadn't moved, looked sleepily at her mistress as she returned to bed.
Shan Yu awoke the next morning, finding himself rather warm. His blanket had been replaced sometime in the night. Sitting up with a back cracking snap, he glanced at the bed to find his new wife still curled in sleep. He was surprised that she was still there and hadn't tried to run away in the night. He got up, rolling his shoulders, making some morning sounds which awoke the sleeping woman. She sat up, eyes clear. "Good morning." Shan Yu growled out.
"To you as well." She replied, avoiding his eyes.
There was a pause. "I… I apologize for my… advancement last night." Shan Yu said, choosing his words carefully.
Su Lin looked up, her eyes wide in surprise. "…I… It is alright I suppose. You were entirely in your right and—" she said but Shan Yu cut her off.
"It is my right, but it is not right." Shan Yu said, approaching her. "No one should be forced into…" he trailed off.
"I don't even know your name." he said.
"I am Su Lin but I am frequently called Su." She replied, rising to her feet, clutching the blanket close to her.
Shan Yu suddenly ducked out of the house. Su Lin furrowed her eyebrows before he reappeared with a trunk of her things and the maid from the night before that had brought her the flower. He placed the trunk inside the door before leaving again. The maid curtsied slightly. "Miss." She said, opening the trunk.
"Good morning." Su Lin replied.
There was a pause. "Shan Yu is a fine man miss. A truly fine man." The maid began, pulling out a simpler dress. "He will never mistreat you."
Su Lin nodded, gently taking the dress. "Not to be rude, but I can dress myself." Su Lin said.
The maid nodded. "Perhaps you could help me around the city today. I truly have no idea how to function." Su Lin said, removing her rather torn dress.
"It would be an honor Miss." The maid said.
"Please call me Su. My fill name is Si Lin, but everyone calls me Su." Su Lin replied.
"I am named Lan." The maid, Lan, replied. "I would be delighted to show you how to be a good wife."
Su Lin smiled, promptly dressing herself. Lan handed her a basket and set out into the city. Su Lin followed behind, eager to learn, the ever present Yan hot on her heels.