The Emperor and The Dragon

The Celebration

Long ago, The She-Dragon agreed.

The Emperor was elated beyond words, yet kept these emotions he felt at bay.
She was to start to-morrow.
Of course, he promised to double her pay, even when Laan-Mei had declined the money he offered for her new work.

The Dragoness felt a weight on her dear, golden heart. Oh, how she loved the mortal man, so.
Her heart yearned to tell him what she truly is; a Sky Snake, An Honourable Beast, a Dragon....his admirer.

With her decision set, she must tell him tonight.
If he rejects her true identity, then so be it. She shall fly away and never let him see such an ugly beast's face ever again.

Her heart heavy with the grief that was to come. Fear gnawing on her shivering soul, that none of the lotus would dare shiver as much as she.
Anxiety, a sly, low snake, slithered down her throat and into her belly, letting the poor Dragon feel as miserable as ever, even when she hadn't done the task to confess yet.

This was very much a big step to take.

As the young Emperor settled into his mattresses, a knock startled him from the balcony of his dark, lonesome room.

'Who must it be?' Nei-Yon wondered.

As he took slow, cautious steps toward the elegant wooden screen, a voice he never expected to hear from the other side suprised him.

"Your Majesty? It is I, your Musician, Laan-Mei." She introduces.

Relief crashes over Nei-Yon's chest like a wave over a bridge. But then he wondered; how has his dear Musician, gotten all the way up here without him noticing?

The balcony outside had no steps, and it was only a sleek red wall. Dangerous to anyone to fall; for it was then a deep cliff, overlooking the majestic gulf of Ka'ng Ruan.

"Laan-Mei? How have you gotten there? More importantly, is it not cold?!" Worry seeps through the Emperor's voice.

Nei-Yon takes a robe that was hung for him, as he wore it over his shoulders. Readying himself for the cold that will soon embrace him as he would open the screen door. His hand just about to slide it open.

"Laan-Mei, I-"

"Your Majesty!" Laan-Mei cries out, startling the young Emperor.

"Is... everything alright, Laan-Mei?" He voices his worry.

"I am afraid, Your Majesty." She announces.
"Beyond this door, you will see something frightening. I am afraid once you see and speak out words of hatred and disgust, I would never see you again."

Nei-Yon could not see his beloved Musician's shadow that reflected from the moonlight.
Only a large, dark shadow looming.

The Emperor's hand began to shake in fear, before dispelling the growing thoughts in his head.
"Why do you say so?" He asks gently.

"The Laan-Mei you know is not real. This door between us is the only thing hiding my true identity from you." Her voice was sad.

"Then let me know the real you. How can I truly love a woman if I do not know who she really is?" Nei-Yon's voice was stern, yet he meant every single word.

There was silence. Only the chirping of crickets sang throughout this night.

"Laan-Mei, I never have fallen in love with you." The Emperor pauses, catching a breath, before doing what he must do. "I walked into love with you. With my eyes wide open, and choosing to take the steps along this path you made for me. The days you spent with me made me treasure you more and more. If I loved you for when you were not real, then I also love the real you that is hiding from me now." Nei-Yon confesses.
"Do not hide from me, Laan-Mei. Whatever you are, I will love you, just as much as I had loved the you that had made me feel this way."