Hey! Sorry it's taking me so long!!!
"Dismissed," I sighed. As the men left, I grabbed my robe and slung the canvas bag holding arrows over my shoulder, heading to the supply room. As I put away the practice equipment, I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I looked up, and a woman stood behind me. She smiled and brushed her long hair behind her shoulders.
"Excuse me?" she said, her voice light and airy, "Li Shang?" I nodded to her and she stepped forwards, minimizing the space between us.
"I am sorry to interrupt, Captain, but you have received a letter." I took a quick glance at her and realized she was wearing the red robes of an Emperor's messenger. I nodded again and took the paper envelope.
"Thank you," I mumbled. She gave me a shining smile, one so bright I almost had to look away. The envelope appeared before my downcast eyes, and I took it. I looked around, trying to tell her I didn't have a tip, and she just shook her head.
"Don't worry about it. If you need anything else though..." She flashed me another smile and disappeared through the door. I stared after her for a moment. That was odd. Why would I need her for anything else? After failing to decipher what she had meant, I shrugged to myself finished organizing the equipment.
I sat on my uncomfortable mattress, staring at the letter. Be a man. Just do it. I had pondered every answer she could possibly have sent me. With a final deep breath I ripped open the envelope and took the letter in my shaking hands.
Dear Shang,
Thank you for your letter. I'm doing well. Chores and prayer. No room for training. I must say I miss it,
although my family would rather have me working at home, I'm sure. Once again, congratulations on
becoming General. Oh Shang, your father would be so proud. He was before, I'm sure, although I know
he didn't show it. You are your father's son. I wish I could be there to see you promoted, but lately
my father won't let me out of his sight. I think he is afraid that I'll disappear into the night. Again.
Now that I write this, I am starting to see his point. But nevertheless; overprotective. And I know that
we've already discussed this, but Shang, please come back. I do miss you, although you were only here
for a short time, I'm starting to feel as if there is something missing. Once you become the leader
of the Imperial Army, try not to forget about the people of your past. I will await your reply, and your
return, if either does come. Farewell and good luck, General.
Love, Mulan
With a sigh, I clutched the letter to my chest and fell back onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling. As usual, her letter had pulled at my emotions. Emotions I didn't even know I had, or at least didn't exercise regularly. I had laughed and cried. Well, almost cried. Tears had stung my eyes and blurred the words, and I had to let my boiling emotions to settle.
And she had signed it Love, Mulan. Love. I sighed again. Was it really that simple? Had she carelessly signed the note and sent it off? Or had she waited, kept it with her, unable to make a decision, then was finally honest scribbled it down, quickly sending it away before she changed her mind about revealing these emotions to me?
With yet another sigh, I pulled myself up and made my way over to my desk. Sitting on the stool, I dipped the quill into the ink and began to write.
Dear Mulan,
I'm glad to hear your reply. And you should not be so fast as to complain about your life. You are
safe, and home, with women, might I add. Having someone to talk to cannot be too terrible. And
I believe your father might be overprotective for a reason. He is just looking out for your safety, as
you did his. You are your father's daughter. Thank you for your congratulations.
I look at the letter, debating whether or not to destroy it. I sounded like her mentor. Her Captain. How did I even begin to sound like someone who was confused by her. Someone who was feeling tidal waves of emotion and didn't know what they meant, or had never felt them before. Yes, I was confused, but I didn't want to sound confused, or give her any doubt that I was even having these emotions. After moments of staring at the characters, I continued to write.
Please do not worry. I will come back. I promise. I miss you as well. More than you know. And I
wish you could be with me, too, but I have spent so much time with you over these past few
months, and your family has wondered if you were even alive. They deserve to spend some
time with you, since you have changed so drastically. It must be quite a shock to see how much
you have changed. Not as much, say, as finding your soldier is an enitrely different gender, but
still, quite a change. My official promotion is in one day from today's date, and I will return to
you in two weeks time from then. I doubt you will be able to reply in time, so know I'll be back.
I set down the quill and reread my letter. How do I sign it? Captain Li? Absolutely not, too formal. Sincerely? Perhaps not, it was still rather formal. Just Li Shang? Just Shang? Yes, just Shang. I scribbled down my name at the end of my letter. But before I could put the parchment into an envelope, I grabbed the quill again and signed Love, Shang. Before I could think twice, I shoved the letter into the envelope and set off to find a messenger.
Thanks for reading! I'm trying not to make Shang sound too mushy. Just confused ;) I'd love to know if I'm doing anything right, so please review!!!