Chapter 13 ~ Nothing
Shan Yu quieted down, cradling the still body of Su Lin. He removed his robe and wrapped her in it before carrying her back up the cliff side. The other warriors and the people from the city were there, waiting. The Imperial troops stood to the side. Shan Yu didn't say anything, just carried Su Lin's body through the crowd which parted before him. The women began weeping as he carried her body home. Shan Yu kept a stoic face as Lan appeared, recently delivered her child, a yet un-named little girl. He stepped out of his house, walking slowly to the Imperial troops, a dark look on his face. "You were with her." He growled out.
"She was in front of us. We were racing. Her horse tried to stop but they just went over. There was nothing we could do." Chao explained, his voice quiet.
"You could have gone after her!" Shan Yu yelled, "You could have not let her die alone!"
Lan appeared from the house, placing a hand on his upper arm. The great Hun froze at her touch. "She wouldn't have wanted this." Lan said, speaking to everyone. "She once told me that she came here for peace. For peace; that phrase kept her here when she could have run, it made her accept and adapt to our culture, it made her fall in love. What better way to honor our lost one than by maintaining what she came here for… and died for?"
"She's right." The Hun emperor said, the rest of the people nodding in agreement.
"You will ride back and tell the Emperor what has happened here. Let him know that he is not alone in his mourning. The Hun people mourn as well." Shan Yu said, returning to his house.
Lan had cleaned Su Lin up, putting a faint layer of makeup. She was dressed in a rich blue gown, fit for a princess. Her hair had been combed and braided with a bright yellow flower carefully woven into the braid. Yan, her companion was nestled against her. Hayabusa was perched on the window sill, the usually mean looking bird full of sorrow. Shan Yu looked down at his once living wife. Carefully, he removed her tooth necklace, lacing it around his neck, before wrapping her in the wolf skin blanket. He carried her out of the house and out into the burial field where the men had dug a large hole. Lying inside the hole lay Jade, the great mare still as her mistress. Shan Yu could see the fear etched into the hazel eyes of the equine. Along with the horse was dried meat and grains. Some of her things lay in the hole as well such as her basket. Shan Yu carefully placed Su Lin next to her horse and among her things. Hayabusa suddenly shrieked in alarm as Yan, who had tried to follow, was attacked by a wild dog, killing the bird.
Shan Yu turned and walked to the dead peahen, picking her up with surprising tenderness. He placed her in the hole as well, at Su Lin's feet. Then, everyone began to burry her. As the earth covered Su Lin, Shan Yu realized that his heart was being buried as well. Each person came up to him, offering their condolences. He heard none of them Lan approached, carefully holding her daughter. "We are naming her Su…" she said, trying to make eye contact with him.
The Hun's eyes never wavered from the grave. They moved on until there was no one left. Hayabusa flew up and landed on his shoulder. Cheng appeared and rubbed against his master. They all had lost their mates. They had all lost their hearts.
The Imperial soldiers left the next morning. There were no farewells, no fan fair. They just slipped away. Shan Yu settled into a haze of training with his men and making himself eat. Nothing would be the same now that Su Lin was gone. Nothing.