Once Upon A Time (7) Wild Orchid

by Cameron Dokey

  The night before Jian and I exchanged our vows, I could not sleep. I lay awake for many hours gazing out the window at the stars.

  I heard a soft whisper of sound and turned from the window to discover that my stepmother had entered my room, my baby brother in her arms.

  “I wondered if I would find you awake,” she said. “I don’t think I slept a wink the night before I married your father.”

  “My own marriage will be all right, then,” I said as I patted the bed beside me. “Look how well yours turned out.” Zao Xing chuckled as she sat. I held out my arms for the bay, and she placed Gao Shan into my arms.

  “I won’t be here to watch him grow up after all,” I said.

  “No,” my stepmother said softly. “It appears that you will not.

  But I hope you won’t stay away forever. Who knows? Perhaps you will return to have your own child.”

  “For goodness’ sake, I’m not even married yet,” I exclaimed.

  Zao Xing clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as the baby squirmed in my arms.

  “Here, take him back,” I said. “I want to give him something.” Zao Xing took the baby back. He settled peacefully in the crook of her arm. I reached around my neck and lifted the dragonfly medallion over my head. I held it out in one palm.

  “Prince Jian gave me this,” I said, “the night before I rode away to fight the Huns. He said my father had given it to him when he was just a boy. I would like Gao Shan to have it, to remind him of Jian and me when we are far from home.”

  “It’s a wonderful gift,” Zao Xing said, her eyes shining. “Thank you, Mulan. He is too young to wear it yet, I think, but I will save it for him. And I will tell him of his famous sister’s exploits. They will make fine bedtime stories.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I said. “He’ll grow up getting into trouble.”

  “No,” Zao Xing replied. “He will grow up to bring the Hua family honor.” She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Your father and I are both glad to see you so happy, but we will miss you, Mulan.”

  “I’ll miss you, too,” I said. I returned her embrace.

  “Now,” Zao Xing said. “You lie back down. Gao Shan seems happy. I think we’ll just sit beside you awhile.” The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes was my stepmother cradling my baby brother in her arms. I fell asleep to the sound of her gently voice singing a lullaby.

  My father gave me his horse as a wedding gift.

  “Ride up the streambed,” he said when at last the day arrived for Jian and me to depart. “It will take you through the woods to where our land ends and the rest of China begins, and you will understand why I chose that path to return home.”

  “We will do so,” I promised. I swung up into the saddle. “Make sure you teach my little brother how to use a bow.”

  “Come back and teach him yourself,” my father said.

  “I will do that also,” I answered with a smile.

  “Take good care of my daughter,” my father said to Jian.

  “As you once cared for me,” he vowed. Then he grinned.

  “Though, truly, I think you may have things backward.” The sound of laughter filled our ears at our departure. Jian and I rode up the streambed as my father had requested, the horses picking their way carefully among the stones.

  “I wonder why your father wanted us to go this way,” Jian mused as we rode along.

  “I can’t say for certain,” I said. “Though I think I’m beginning to guess. Wait until we reach the woods. Then we will know.” Half an hour’s travel farther brought is to the first of the trees.

  Soon we had passed beneath their boughs.

  “Look,” I said, pointing. “Oh, look, Jian.”

  Here and there on the forest floor, now hidden, now revealing themselves, tiny white blossoms lifted up their heads.

  Wild orchids.