Author Notes: Hello again, everyone Enjoy the last chapter :)
- Chapter Start –
"HuaiSang." Nie MingJue stayed where he was, his gaze going around the room. He looked rather uncomfortable.
Jumping to his feet, HuaiSang hurried over and grabbed his arm.
"I'm so glad you're here. Come in, come in!"
"I'm just here to deliver this," Nie MingJue said as HuaiSang dragged him inside.
"Have a cup of tea first! Have you eaten?"
Meanwhile, Yanjing flew over from the perch to the table. HuaiSang reached up to press on Nie MingJue's shoulder until he was sitting at the low table and then he went to get Prince who was hopping up and down on the perch, looking impatient.
Nie MingJue took note of the two pairs of hungry eyes affixed on the plate in his hand, each with a sharp curved beak between them. He hurriedly set the plate on the table.
Yanjing and Prince fell upon the meat at once.
"I didn't realise they're that hungry," Nie MingJue said.
HuaiSang grinned.
"They already had some of the grilled chicken at dinner, but you know, birds of prey and all."
"Right." Nie MingJue nodded and then raised an eyebrow. "ZongHui didn't tell me you brought them to the dining hall."
"You never come here," HuaiSang mumbled and tried not to pout.
"I'm sure ZongHui told you I was settling a dispute."
"He did," HuaiSang assured him. "Anyway, both owls were well behaved. Oh, the eagle owl's name is Prince! Isn't he beautiful?"
Nie MingJue nodded, his admiring gaze going from Prince to Yanjing. Then he raised an eyebrow at HuaiSang.
"By the way, did you know that someone has been visiting me every morning?"
"Really?" HuaiSang frowned before looking at Yanjing who suddenly found great interest in inspecting the plate before her. Prince just shook his head and continued eating.
"Ah," HuaiSang said, smothering a smile. "Well, I'm glad you're here, Da-ge."
"I have some letters to sign off so I should-"
"Wait, let me make tea first!" HuaiSang quickly turned on the small stove beside the table.
"Is he the leader you spoke of?" Prince asked Yanjing in a low voice.
"Yup! Isn't he big and strong?" Yanjing chirped.
"You're smiling," Nie MingJue observed.
"No, I'm not," HuaiSang said at once, adding some tea leaves to the teapot.
Prince grabbed the largest piece of liver and gobbled it up.
"Slowly or he'll think you're a glutton," Yanjing chided.
"You just wanted that piece for yourself," Prince retorted. "Anyway, I don't care what the leader thinks."
"You're smiling again," Nie MingJue said to HuaiSang. "What did they say?"
"Nothing." HuaiSang swallowed a chuckle.
"Of course you care," Yanjing snapped at Prince.
"No, I don't!"
Seeing Nie MingJue's increasing frown as he stared the two owls made HuaiSang snort. He turned it into a cough and promptly started coughing for real.
"I don't have to be a genius to know they're talking about me. "Nie MingJue's voice was dry as he patted his back.
"Da-ge, if you want to understand them, you have only to ask," HuaiSang said once he could speak. He poured out two steaming cups of tea.
For a moment, Nie MingJue actually bit his lip and then he shook his head.
"I don't have time to listen to chatter." He downed the piping hot tea and set down the teacup. "Goodnight."
For someone so big, he moved fast and was already at the door before HuaiSang could set down the teapot.
"Wait, Da-ge!" HuaiSang called out, but it was too late. With a sigh, he looked at Yanjing.
"I'll go pester him every morning until he comes to his senses," she promised without blinking an eye.
"Don't force him on my account," Prince said, tossing his head. "It's obvious he's not a bird lover."
Despite his words, his head dropped a little and he didn't even grumble when Yanjing snatched up the last piece of chicken.
- o -
The next evening, HuaiSang again brought both owls to the dining hall.
Nie MingJue didn't say anything although one eyebrow rose a little. He continued eating calmly while Nie ZongHui fussed over both birds – especially Yanjing – and gave them a few bites of meat from his plate.
Prince was on his best behaviour and stayed on HuaiSang's shoulder. Yanjing, on the other hand, flew to Nie ZongHui's shoulder and then Nie MingJue's. The latter just ignored her and continued eating calmly.
When Yanjing's beak moved to the nearest braid that went up into Nie MingJue's hair clasp, HuaiSang shook his head at her. He took heart in the fact that at least Nie MingJue's gaze strayed to Prince and his golden feathers from time to time.
- o -
Every morning after breakfast, HuaiSang unwrapped Prince's wing to examine it. Two days later, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Your wing is nicely healed. Alright, you can try stretching it- whoa!"
Prince took off with both wings extended, sending the silk handkerchief flying into the air. He flew around the room at top speed, wingtips brushing the walls as he hooted with excitement.
"Slowly!" HuaiSang and Yanjing called out together.
After half a dozen rounds, Prince swooped down to land on HuaiSang's outstretched arm, swaying a bit.
"Are you trying to injure yourself again?" HuaiSang scolded as he patted the golden head.
"I won't. My wing feels a bit stiff, but there's no pain," Prince said and, much to HuaiSang's surprise, dipped his head. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome."
"What about me?" Yanjing demanded. "I kept you company too!"
"Thank you," Prince told her, "even though you do nag quite a bit."
"I do not!" Yanjing tossed her head, feathers fluffing in indignation.
HuaiSang chuckled and wisely kept quiet. He went to open the window wider… only to have Prince swoop past him and into the bright blue sky.
"Prince!"
"Wait, you impatient boy!" Yanjing shouted after him.
"This is where I belong!" Prince shouted back and flew up, up, up… until he was a tiny speck in the sky.
"Should I go after him?" Yanjing asked.
"No," HuaiSang replied. "We shouldn't keep him here if he wants to be free."
"So much for gratitude," Yanjing grumbled.
"So much for finding someone for Da-ge," HuaiSang added with a sigh.
- o -
There was no sign of Prince. HuaiSang, Yanjing, Nie ZongHui and most of the soldiers looked for him everywhere, but to no avail. Just as well Nie MingJue was settling another land dispute elsewhere.
By evening, everyone was tired and disgruntled. Yanjing sat sulking on HuaiSang's shoulder as he made his way to the dining hall for dinner.
"This is so annoying," she complained, giving the prepared dishes a glum look. "Prince is proud and eats more than his fair share, but I think of him as a younger brother."
"I know," HuaiSang said soothingly and patted her head. "You might as well eat something."
"I'm not hungry," she said with a pout.
"Not hungry?" HuaiSang repeated.
"That's a shame," Nie ZongHui said. "The cooks prepared this non-spicy rabbit meat just for her."
"Did he say rabbit?" Yanjing hopped down to the table and began helping herself as Nie ZongHui and HuaiSang exchanged smiles
"Is Da-ge back yet?" HuaiSang asked.
"Yes, half an hour ago, but he insisted on getting cleaned up first. Apparently, the quarelling sects were slinging mud at each other when he arrived and he was… ah… caught in the crossfire."
HuaiSang chuckled.
"Let's wait for him," he suggested just as the doors swung open and Nie MingJue strode in.
"Da-ge, you found Prince!" HuaiSang exclaimed.
- o –
It turned out that while they had searched every inch of the grounds, kitchens, stables, fields and even the cliffs behind the fortress, they had missed out on one place - the sect leader's rooms.
"I found him perched on the rim of my bathtub," Nie MingJue said, deadpan. "Having an owl stare at me while I bathe is quite the experience."
"Did you really?" HuaiSang asked Prince who pretended not to hear him.
"Where's your sense of decency?" Yanjing scolded.
"I'm hungry," Prince said and started eating.
"Were you there the whole day?" HuaiSang asked.
"I had flown too much and was tired. I couldn't find your rooms," Prince admitted between eating. "Then I saw an open window."
"So you just flew in?" Yanjing asked. Her appetite had returned and she and Prince were demolishing the plate of grilled rabbit.
"How was I to know it was the sect leader's rooms?" Prince defended himself. "His pillow is very comfortable though. I napped for quite a while and didn't wake up until I heard footsteps. Then I… panicked a bit and couldn't find the window."
HuaiSang coughed and Nie MingJue cleared his throat.
"I've decided that I'm interested to know what they're saying," he admitted with a small, rather hopeful smile.
Beaming, HuaiSang put down his chopsticks and removed a talisman paper from his sleeve.
"Da-ge, do you know how long I've been waiting for you to say that?"
As soon as the spell was cast, Nie MingJue turned to Prince who looked back at him.
"Prince, I confess I've never had any interest in keeping a bird, but I do get lonely at times. If you don't mind someone who can't spare you a lot of time or attention, but will make sure you have food and a safe place to call home, would you consider… staying here? With me?"
Prince tipped his head to one side, eyes bright and alert.
"I don't want to be caged," he said. "I want to be able to fly free. I can also hunt for my own food… but I won't say no to a bit of supper."
"Done," Nie MingJue declared and held out his hand.
Prince looked down at it and then at HuaiSang and Yanjing who both nodded at him. Ignoring the outstretched hand, he flew up to Nie MingJue's shoulder.
"I'll stay," he said. "This is a strong and safe place with good people. HuaiSang has a kind heart and I heard that his Grumpy is too."
HuaiSang raised his eyebrows at Yanjing who returned his gaze with a 'What? He is!' look of her own.
"Yanjing has a good heart too… even if she's a bit bossy," Prince continued.
Yanjing squawked in indignation.
"And what about me?" Nie MingJue asked, stroking the golden head with gentle fingertips.
Prince leaned into his touch with a pleased sound.
"You'll do," he said simply.
"Good. I hope to be worthy of your trust."
"Also, your pillow is really comfortable. I'll try not to lie on your braids when I sleep."
"Thank you," Nie MingJue said gravely and then he blinked. "Wait a minute. How do you know what my pillow feels like?"
- Story End -
A/N: Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it :)