Chapter 5 ~ Working
Shan Yu inspected his troops. He was a pretty tolerant man, only demanding the best of his men on the battlefield, but able to take a joke or two at his own expense. He was drilling his men in mounted battle tactics when one of them asked, during a down time, "So sir, how was your wife?"
"I bet she's soft seeing as she's a princess and all." Another joked, earning a resounding laugh from the surrounding men.
"Did you have to help her with everything?" another asked, making the laughter grow.
Shan Yu kept his impassive star, making the laughter die quickly. "What's her name anyway?" one asked.
"Su Lin." Shan Yu replied.
"What's she look like?" the first man asked.
"She has long black hair, light brown eyes and is very small." Shan Yu replied.
Some of the men chuckled, their minds still in the gutter. "Is that her, sir?" the youngest asked, the one who had started the questioning.
Shan Yu turned to see Su Lin working in the fields, harvesting the crops sown by Hun women. She looked so fragile when compared to the other women working alongside her. Occasionally, she would wipe her bow, having worked loose a strand of hair from her braid. Shan Yu cocked an eyebrow, turning back to his men. "Get back to work." He growled, the men scattering to practice their drills.
He glanced back, just as Su Lin looked up, right at him. She froze for a second before ducking her head and gathering her basket. She left the fields, disappearing into the fray of the city. Shan Yu smirked, spurring his horse to join his men in their training.
Su Lin's hands hurt. Her back ached. She was tired. And yet, there she was, making dinner for her husband. She had just taking the food off the fire and dished it up when Shan Yu's shadow filled the doorway. Startled by his sudden and stealthy appearance, she almost fell into the fire. Shan Yu, with cat like reflexes, caught her in his arms, holding her close and away from the fire. Her heart was beating fiercely in her chest from the almost fall or Shan Yu's closeness. He straightened, making sure she was out of the fire before letting her go. He stood awkwardly before sitting at the table, digging into the meal. "This is good." He said threw bites.
"Thank you. Lan taught me." Su Lin replied, gracefully sitting at the table.
"Lan is a good girl." Shan Yu said, making himself slow down. "Peng, her husband, is a good fighter."
"Many of the Huns are very good fighters." Su Lin replied, taking a dainty bite of food.
The conversation lulled. "I saw you in the fields today." Shan Yu said, making eye contact with her. Her eyes… he thought before banishing those thoughts.
"I think I saw you on your horse." Su Lin replied after a pause, pulling her eyes away.
"We were running mounted drills." Shan Yu stated.
Another lull in conversation. "Do you ride?" he asked, suddenly, even before he registered his question.
"Yes. My tutors never approved but I taught myself." Su Lin replied, blushing slightly and smiling at the memories of her escapades.
Shan Yu nodded, making a mental note of that fact. The rest of dinner was quiet.