Chapter 10 ~ Hope
Five months passed. The growing season gave way to the harsh steppe winter. Everything growing died quickly, save the love between Shan Yu and Su Lin. The warriors sacrificed their training to go out hunting for food while the women took to the forest to forage. There was never food off anyone's table. Shan Yu had been right to keep the wolf skin. Though the bitter winds blew and the snows fell, the pair was never cold.
Lan revealed a month into the winter that she was with child. Su Lin couldn't be happier for her friend, yet her heart ached a bit. Though she and Shan Yu had consummated their marriage many times, there was no sign of having children. As Lan's womb grew, Su Lin's heart grew heavier. Shan Yu was a great man and would be an even greater father. The cities children often would mock sword play with him specifically. Even with the heavy snows, Shan Yu moved through the snows as he played with the grace of a tiger. Su Lin had taken to wearing her hair loose and unbraided, much to Shan Yu's delight and insistence.
Night fell earlier during the winter and often found Shan Yu and Su Lin curled around each other in their bed. Su Lin's head was resting on Shan Yu's wide chest after a passionate love making. "Shan… do you ever want children?" Su Lin asked.
Shan Yu's arm wrapped around her waist tighter. "Someday, yes. But if they never come, I will be happy with just you." He replied, kissing the top of her head.
"I spoke to Lan's grandmother. My heart is pained over not giving you children. She heard my plea and gave me some herbs we could try." Su Lin said, snuggling against his chest.
Shan Yu paused. "You really want to have my children?" he asked.
"Yes, I do Shan. I love you so much." Su Lin replied, "Don't we deserve children?'
"Go prepare the herbs. If it is children you want, it is children you will have." He said, releasing her from his arms.
Her eye brows furrowed. "Right now?" she asked.
Shan Yu looked down at her. "Dear heart, just looking at you makes me want to make children." He said, giving her a toothy smiled, revealing his pronounced canine teeth that often pricked Su Lin's tender flesh.
Su Lin slipped out of bed, wrapping herself in Shan Yu's robe. She set up the tea kettle, adding the dried herbs into the boiling water. She brought the herb tea to Shan Yu. "This is for you." She said, passing him the smaller cup. "This is for me" she said, referring to the largest cup.
They drank their teas. Su Lin sighed. "Shan Yu dropped his cu to grasp her chin. "Come to bed." He said, pulling the robe away from her body.
She crawled under the blankets, kissing Shan Yu. Their Kissing and touching brought them, an hour later, to exhaustion. Shan Yu fell asleep, holding Su Lin close to his chest but Su Lin stayed awake a bit longer, staring out the small window. The cold winter stars twinkled down at her. 'I hoped that worked.' she thought, snuggling into Shan Yu 'but I think I agree with what he said… if children come or not, I shall be happy with him… even if it is only him.'