A Tear Frozen in Time

Rescue - 2

Entering the airspace 5 miles out from the Demons main barrier, Bai Qian began to notice the rippling of the clouds around her as the Demon soldiers converged on her cloud.  They were not allowed to hinder anyone travelling closeby and nor were they allowed to show themselves seeing as this was one concession that Haode had managed to gain from Guotin in return for Celestial support in other areas.  It prevented any unintentional skirmishes which could grow into something far more serious, so even though one knew they were there, Guotins soldiers remained within their airspace and watched untold travellers pass them by without incident.

Only it seemed as if she were exempt from this rule.  After all she did not have an alliance with the Celestials, and nor was she one of them, and though she was still outside of the Demons airspace, that did not stop his soldiers from completely surrounding her cloud and forcing her towards the Demon Lands.

Saying nothing to them at all, she knew they were merely following orders, so arguing was pointless because they would not listen anyway.  Instead she allowed the soft breeze to sweep through her hair in the hope that it might also take a little of the fear that was bubbling up from the pit of her belly and straight into her face.  Her cheeks were flushed with anitcipation and apprehension the closer she got but she tried to keep her thoughts clear of everything except for Guotin.  To enter with Mo Yuan on her mind would be a mistake.

She knew Guotin well enough to know that he would sense his presence in her thoughts the moment she arrived and though she tried not to think of what might meet her, or what condition Mo Yuan was in, her hands were shaking a little which she quickly hid behind her long sleeves as they passed through the barrier.  

The beautiful long flowing teal gown she was wearing, fluttered like a thousand butterfly wings behind her and to those guarding the main entrance, she looked exactly as she did the first time she arrived.  Beautiful, regal, elegant and majestic.  A woman of immense power in just looks alone, despite the flushed cheeks which most put down to cloud jumping which could be quite tiring if one is travelling fast, which they all assumed she had seeing as it was also known to them of her involvement with the War God.

And there to meet her was Guotin who rather than smiling as she had hoped he would be, he was instead staring at her with a cold and closed expression, while completely surrounded by his advisors who watched her entrance with just as much trepidation as she felt.  His back was straight, his head high and his hands behind his back, but what she noticed immediately was the lack of colour in his robe.  It was a dirty grey colour, one that only made him look that much more severe and unwelcoming.

And behind him was a contigent of soldiers who were all armed and ready to battle, though going by the way they were leaning to look behind her, she realized that they must have been expecting her army behind her or at the very least, Mo Yuans Disciples.

The sight of her arriving alone instantly had his tensed shoulders loosening, because like them, he wasn't sure what to expect, but he should have known better.  After three weeks in her company, he knew enough about her to know that she would never have invaded with an army, it just wasn't her style.  It also gave him a very good idea of how she felt about himself.  That she would come to him alone, suggested that she trusted him with her own safety, and that also had to mean that she liked him which eventually had the muscles in his neck also loosening.

But there were no smiles just yet.

"Queen Bai Qian, if you will follow me." he said without preliminaries.

The sudden use of her official title rather than the more intimate 'Qian Qian' he had taken to using, surprisingly hurt and she couldn't help but pull back when his hand reached towards her in a guiding motion.