A Kind Of Bravery: A Mulan Retelling [1st Draft]

19: Honored

Chapter Nineteen:

Honored

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Harriet wasn't sure when she noticed, but the darkness that surrounded her wasn't nearly as dark as before, instead a warm glowing umber. She let out a small sigh through her lips, cracking her eyes open briefly before them shutting them again tightly.

The room was far too bright, but she tried again anyway, allowing her eyes to adjust to the golden sunlight streaming in through the window directly across from the bed she was laying in. For a moment she simply relished in the feeling of being awake and in a warm, comfortable bed for the first time in over a month, but as she blinked owlishly and stifled a yawn, her eyes caught the reflection of sunlight on blonde hair.

Turning her head to the side, Harriet froze as she took in the sight of her older sister's sleeping form. When she had last seen Clara, she had been more than seven months pregnant, and Harriet's face paled as she saw that her sister certainly wasn't that.

Sitting up quickly, Harriet reached for her sister's hand that was resting on top of her bed. With shaking hands, she grabbed hold of Clara's hand, causing her blonde haired sister to wake up from her light slumber.

"Harriet! Oh thank goodness you are awake!" Clara cried as soon as her grey eyes met Harriet's matching ones but before her sister could hug her, Harriet put up her hands.

"Are you okay? Where is the baby? I'm so sorry!" Harriet said, her words tumbling from her mouth freely. However, instead of yelling, Clara just gave her a tight hug. For a second Harriet was momentarily relieved, but then Clara backed away and smacked Harriet up the side of the head.

"Never do that to me again. Never. And yes, I'm fine and so are the babies."

"Babies?" Harriet's eyes grew several sizes as Clara's scowling face broke into the smile that it was known for.

"Yes, babies. Twins to be exact, a boy and a girl. They're with Frederick and Leopold right now." Harriet raised an eyebrow at the sound of Frederick and Leopold looking after the twins. She would've thought that Clara wouldn't let the babies out of her sight. "Frederick insisted on looking after them while I was in here and as you know, Leopold and Frederick are a packaged deal of sorts."

Harriet definitely knew that, and since they weren't in here, Harriet felt a little unsure of what her brother-in-law and her- her thought process stopped. What was Leopold to her? Her mind settled on friend, but it didn't feel like a fitting title. Regardless, she had no idea what they thought of her.

"Can I see them?" Harriet asked her voice raising hopefully as she turned her focus to the subject of her niece and nephew. She had missed their birth, but she was determined to be a good aunt. That is if their mother let her.

"You can in a bit. First we have some things to talk about." Harriet swallowed dryly before leaning back on her pillows uncomfortably. Oh boy, she was not looking forward to this.

Harriet watched as her sister smoothed her lavender skirts and placed her hands delicately in her lap; the very picture of a queen that was accentuated by the gleaming golden crown on her head. She must've had to address some people earlier that day, otherwise Clara wouldn't be wearing the crown.

Clara gazed at her for a moment, her eyes going up and down Harriet's form as if ensuring herself that Harriet was really there.

"What made you think that was a good idea?" Clara asked quietly, and Harriet tried not to cringe. Clara's quiet voice had always been more deadly than her shouting one. It meant that Clara had carefully thought over her words and now was determined to say her piece.