Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Growing Pains

Xiao Mian sat nervously on her bed. Today was the day of Anshis departure, and her fathers had left earlier to meet him and go over some final plans. They had requested she wait until she was sent for. 

She was still in disgrace after her behavior when she had been rejected by Anshi and said all those cruel and insulting words. Her heart was sore. She had not meant to say those things to him. After all, she had lived in familial harmony with him as brother and sister since he had saved her life the night her mother was murdered. She had made her crush known for years, and to his credit, he had never led her on.

 
But, she had hoped for such a long time, that he would wake up and love her back. And she still, even now, hoped. But Anshi sent word that he was her loving brother (that, again!) and for her to please reflect on his position, his feelings, and his honest response. Her fathers had put their feet down and only allowed her to visit family, and attend her medical training with Aunty Qing. She could not go anywhere without approved escorts. She had even made a special appeal to visit Anshi to apologize, She made the request of Wei Ying, thinking he would be the softer touch out of her parents.

"Absolutely not. Your Father and I are in complete accord this time. Your behavior was reprehensible towards your brother.'

"But he is not my brother. He is my adopted Fifth Cousin once removed or something of the sort."

"You were raised as a sibling to him. He only recognizes you as a sibling. He has declared that his feelings will never change. And yet you persist, forcing our hands until we can only allow you to see him right before he goes. Wei Ying took her hand and patted it gently. He and Lan Zhan knew how much pain she was feeling, but they knew that the least bit of freedom afforded to her, and she would be off to Anshis side, only to make the situation more unbearable for their younger brother and more painful for Xiao Mian." 

"We will allow you time with him before he leaves, but you are forbidden to press your attachment on him further, and you will apologize for the unpleasant things you said to him last time."

She looked at him with disappointed and reproachful eyes. She certainly expected better from the normally indulgent Wei Ying. Well, she had plans of her own, and she was going to enact them as soon as she arrived at the encampment.

After her fathers left, she spent much time at her dressing table. She brushed her silken hair until the ink-black strands shone. She threaded two simple pearl earrings through her shell-like earlobes. Then she removed a small box of carefully hidden cosmetics. She purchased them on the sly but had never worn them before. She dipped a brush into a shimmering powder and lightly drew across each eyelid and cheekbone. Then she added the slightest hint of pink lip rouge. From the back of her closet, she pulled out a carefully hidden tunic. It was designed for a twenty-year-old, at least. She drew the deep, violet silk around her waist and stood back, pleased with the result. She looked eighteen if a day and she giggled. He would not be able to resist her this time. She chose a matching violet umbrella, and the deep color made her look mature and refined. No little girl pastel would work for today. She sat down to wait in the garden.

She would approach him alone He would turn, to greet her as his little sister. His eyes would widen, and he would start to speak, suddenly tripping over his words. He would be overwhelmed at her beauty and suddenly fall to his knees, taking her hand in his and placing a kiss on the top...NO!... The palm...Yes! The palm was much better. 'Oh Xiao Mian, Xiao Mian, how could I have ignored such loveliness that stands right before me?'

"Xiao Mian? Xiao Mian?... Hello?"

She dreamily looked up only to see a pair of kind but confused, mink-brown eyes staring at her. 

It was AQiang. 

What on earth was he doing here? She broke her romantic reverie and sighed in exasperation. She knew the handsome young man at the door liked her. All the other girls were terribly jealous of how much attention he showed her. Its not that she wasnt fond of him, but he was still such a BOY, not a MAN. Not like her Anshi, who had saved her life the night her mother had died. And he was sweet in his own way, bringing her a flower or her favorite treats. But, she wanted her Singer and that was that.

A'Qiang knew that he did not stand a chance. Anshi was all that Xiao Mian could see. Considering his predicament, he understood. The heart is an odd and funny organ that has a mind of its own, and his own belonged to this strong-willed beauty. He would do anything for her, and she often took advantage of that. He did not mind. At least he was near her, and that is all he asked for.

"A'Qiang, what are you doing here?"

He bowed gracefully and replied, " I am sorry to have intruded upon your thoughts. But I was sent by Lan Zhan to escort you to the training grounds. The tribe will be leaving in a few hours.

"So you are my warden today." 

A'Qiang's ears turned beet-red, and he turned away to hide the pain her words caused. "I am your Clansman and your friend, so I volunteered. I felt a friend might be better than an elder or an anonymous soldier."

She bit her lip in shame.  No matter how upset and edgy she was, she knew she had hurt him, and she was filled with instant and sharp regret. Her eyes filled with penitent tears. She crept close to him and reached around to tug gently at his sleeve.

"A'Qiang, I am sorry.  So sorry. I can be an awful person when I am angry and hurt, and I should never have turned it on my best friend. Please don't be mad at me?. Forgive me? Please?

He turned and looked down at her sorrowful face. He smiled and reached into his sleeve and handed her a handkerchief. "Not mad. Can never be mad at you. At least for long."

Xiao Mian smiled back. "Thank you. Now let me repair my make-up. I will hurry." She soon returned and stepped down in the bright green grass. With a feminine flourish, she opened the violet, oil-paper umbrella and posed gracefully. Everything in the world that he desired stood before him, and he felt a desperate yearning that fought with the sad resignation of fate.

He offered his arm and said softly, 'Lady Lan Xiao Mian, I am honored to escort the most beautiful woman in Gusu to say farewell to The Lost Eagle Tribe today." 

She beamed up at him, her sweet friend, who was the first one to ever call her a woman.