The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

Raindrops pattering lightly onto the silent field below, there was a mild breeze that swept through. Rustling the tall blades of grass between the stones as it brushed past the somber figure knelt between them, she did not look up from the simple gray marker in front of her. Unyielding to the cool spray of the summer shower that saturated her hair and clothes. Jing Li thought that she could almost feel the water god's subtle presence in the rain as it mixed with the moisture from her eyes.

The tears rolling from her chin and onto the damp soil she was knelt upon. It was sadness that made Jing Li immune to the storm or the chill of the ground beneath her as she visited the place where her mother had been lain to rest. The light of day slowly subsiding, Jing Li reached over to place a hand over the little brick that was inset into the ground before her. Her fingers tracing the characters etched into its face tenderly as her heart became burdened by the reality of this desolate reunion. Jing Li's sorrow could only be seen by the eagle-eyed attendant, who was sent to accompany her.

Shan Yu, remaining respectful of Jing Li's somber visit with her deceased mother, he did not remark upon the time until it was absolutely necessary that they should take their leave of the site. The rain, beginning to thin, Shui Long's attendant made a vague note of the clouds overhead, before remarking, "We should be going now." His tone serious yet lacking some of the disdain that it usually held towards her. Jing Li craned her neck over the lush grass to regard him. Nodding in solemn agreement to the man's timely reminder, Jing Li recalled the promise she had made to Shui Long only yesterday.

The night they shared after the banquet, succeeded by others in the following weeks. The two had appeared to gradually overcome the apprehensions that had divided them previously, when another hindrance to their happiness was to inevitably arise. Awaking one morning to find the water god deep in thought on the pillow beside her. Jing Li observed the grave line forming between his lips as Shui Long mulled over the images on the painted ceiling gravely. Trying to discern what might be troubling him from the water god's expression alone, Jing Li blinked sleepily at him from the covers of the bed. 

Feeling Jing Li's inquisitive gaze on him after a while, Shui Long turned to regard her with a rueful smile. Becoming familiar enough with the god's face in the past few weeks to recognize that his heart and mind were conflicted. Jing Li rolled onto her side to review the little lines of thought upon Shui Long's brow more closely as she awaited an explanation for his attitude. Jing Li believe that too many of their faults had been exposed to one another to be perturbed by the water god's seemingly restless mood. Although there was still much about the god that she did not know, Jing Li did not let this bother her as smiled back at him softly. Shui Long rarely passing the entire night in her chambers, as he had done on the few occasions before, "Good morning. Did you sleep well, my bride?"

Jing Li's hair, ruffling messily on the pillow as she answered this question with an affirmative nod. Shui Long brushed the dark strands away from her cheek as he gazed into her bright eyes forlornly. All hints of his happiness, seeming to depart from the god, whilst he looked upon her handsome face in the golden light of the sun's morning rays. Shui Longs fingers still twirled a lock of Jing Li's hair distractedly between them as he sighed, "I suppose, it has already been nearly two months since you arrived here." The god's dark irises reluctant to leave her. Shui Long moved his hand to cup Jing Li's cheek softly, before he continued, "I have enjoyed having you here, more than I had even dare to hope. However, it would seem our time is coming to a close." 

Although, knowing that merely a month ago, she would have jumped at the opportunity to return back to Mortal Realm. Jing Li could not help but respond to this news with a frown now. Realizing that it had been flawed to forget the shortened term of their relationship due to a few weeks of contentment. Jing Li acknowledged that the disappointment she felt at this time was a result of her own foolish expectations of her being allowed to pursue this sort of blissful existence in future. The devasting news of the imminent termination of their fleeting romance, coupled with the fact that there was nothing left of the life she once knew. Jing Li withered into the pillows dejectedly.

Attempting to hide her obvious dismay, so as to not make this conversation any more burdensome on the god. Jing Li sank deeper into the cushions as Shui Long carried on, "While, it is true that you have helped me to recover my powers and suppress my more sinister half, Jing Li. I would be lying if I were to say that I desired to end what we have." Raising her head slightly to peek up at the water god from the pillow. A glimmer of hope was to be seen in Jing Li's eyes as he continued, "It will not be easy to keep you here though, should the Celestial Court object to us." Shui Long's thumb rubbing against her cheek in a soothing motion. Jing Li could not tell whether the calm caress was meant for her or himself as he added, "However, I'm willing to try. If that is what you should want also?" 

The short time they had spent in each other's company so far marred by harrowing adversities, Jing Li was not surprised that more should await them in future. However, these theoretical obstacles to their relationship, did not seem to dissuade her aspiration to explore the connection further. Her eyes enlivened once more by this proposal; Jing Li sprung up from the pillow. Keen to signal her wish to prolong her stay, even if it only meant delaying heartbreak, Jing Li nodded. Seeming content to accept this eager response, the water god smiled back at her. Both resolved in allowing the relationship to play out in spite of the potential backlash, Shui Long sealed their agreement with a gentle kiss. 

However, the conversation was not yet to be concluded there. The god satisfied that Jing Li had consented to extending their time together; evidently meaning to prove that she was not being held a prisoner of his estate. Shui Long considered his plans wisely, before sharing them with Jing Li. "You should return." he announced, "Just for a visit. So that you are to have no regrets, if you are to remain here." Familiar enough with the water god's personality to know that this offer of catch and release was likely a test of her commitment, which he could use to convince himself and others of the validity of their relationship. Jing Li was hesitant to comply with this scheme at first but accepted once Shui Long assured her that it would only be for the duration of a summer shower.

The water god able to maintain a portal between their realms for as long as the rain persisted, Shan Yu had been sent to accompany her. The opening between the two worlds often, presenting difficulties for a mere mortal to traverse, the attendant had remained a persistently prickly guide throughout their journey. However, despite his protests and multiple threats to leave Jing Li behind, Shan Yu stayed next her even now on the hill beside the village. The final resting place of her mother, being the only place that she could think to visit given her short time there. Jing Li felt as though she had finally been granted some closure as she removed herself from the grass. 

Wiping the mud from her skirts before she went over to join the attendant, who was currently tapping his foot impatiently upon damp ground. His arms crossed in front of him, Shan Yu reviewed her ruined attire disparagingly. However, he did not feel the need to comment on Jing Li's untidy appearance as he turned from her. The man's lean legs advancing a few paces, he said, "Don't dawdle or I shall be forced to return without you." Aware that this was likely the attendant's preferred choice as he neither slowed nor glanced back to observe whether she was following him. Jing Li took one last look over the somber field, before finally succeeding Shan Yu through the steady drizzle. 

Determined in her decision to continue moving forward as she departed from her mother's burial site. Jing Li trudged after Shan Yu through the puddles found along the ridge. Slipping down the secluded path, which led back to the banks of the Xilian. There was only the splash of their footsteps and the tapping of raindrops filtering through the leaves of the surrounding foliage for a while. Until a third set of shoes came plodding up the path towards them. The person's face concealed by the thick brush that lined the path and the fading light. The water god's attendant hurriedly pulled Jing Li aside.

Tossing a shawl over her head as they moved to one side of the path. Jing Li held the fabric up as though she was shielding her face from the diminishing precipitation as the vague figure of a man approached. Not enough room on the trail for both parties to proceed at the same time, Jing Li and Shan Yu waited for the other person to walk past before continuing down the slope. However, prevented from moving forward by a calloused hand upon her wrist, Jing Li stopped. The cloth failing to conceal the shock in her blue eyes as they to regard the person who had seized her. 

The shawl fluttering onto the mud, once Jing Li was to recognize her old friend in the twilight that descended over the ridge. His face covered in stubble and more sunken now than she recalled, Fu Guo's earnest eyes were filled with liquid as he stared back at her. The man seeming almost afraid that she would vanish in front of him once more, Fu Guo tightened the grip on Jing Li's wrist. His hold on her so adamant that it made her release a muted hiss of pain. He did not appear to hear this outburst as he pulled Jing Li into a longing embrace. The purple irises he had carried to place upon the grave of someone he once knew, crumpled into the ground beneath them. Fu Guo held her close to his chest as he began to speak.

 "Jing Li?" Fu Guo said, his voice quivering from emotion, "Jing Li, I thought you were dead." The relief of Jing Li's reappearance, provoking an urgent confession to leak from him, her friend continued in his earnest speech, "The Elders said that there was a chance you might return, but I never believed them." Held close enough to his chest to hear the strain of his heart and lungs as Fu Guo attempted to get all of his words out quickly. Her friend, gasped desperately, "I have spent every day searching the lake for any chance, any sign, any sliver of hope that you might be alive. Yet, who would have thought that I would be here holding you now!"

The emotional reunion interrupted by the attendant behind them. He cleared his throat to remark harshly, "She is not for you to hold." Fu Guo, wrenching his head in the direction of the attendant. There was a fierce look within his eyes that Jing Li had never seen before as he responded, "And who are you to say who is to hold her?" A pause occurring as Shan Yu was unsure of how to explain his presence there. The slight oddities of attendant's appearance and haughty mannerism, eventually caused Fu Guo to become suspicious towards his identity as he said, "Are you Shui Long?" 

Shan Yu, scoffing at the absurdity of question. The attendant turned his nose up as he replied, "I have no need to explain myself to you, human. However, you should know that it is the water god's bride that you are tarnishing with your dirty common attire." Fu Guo seeming to take this as confirmation of his suspicions that Jing Li now belonged to another man, he grumbled quietly, "So it's true." Noting the resentment in her friend's voice as he came to terms with this fact, he growled back, "I don't care! I vowed to never give up Jing Li again if she were ever to come back. I won't let her go with you!" 

Her friend's hot temper, diminishing slightly as he felt a tug on his shirt. Fu Guo relented his hold on her enough to allow for Jing Li to express her opinion in this argument that mainly concerned her future. Hoping that her friend had moved on since her departure, Jing Li regarded him sadly as she denied his claim towards her now. Fate not allowing for her to discover emotions of romance for Fu Guo in the past. Jing Li knew that these feelings were likely to never develop for him, whilst she had already begun to form attachments to another man.

However, Fu Guo, not quite willing to accept this as her final decision. He pleaded with her once more, "You don't have to go back there. Stay with me, please Jing Li." His hands still securing her forearms to him, Jing Li shook her head somberly. Fu Guo realizing that she could not provide him with the response that he desired at this time, he released her. Hid hands flopping back at his sides as he understood her response to mean that she must return to a place beyond his reach. Jing Li did not have the chance to console her friend before she was hastened down the slope by the cantankerous attendant.