The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

Birds flitting overhead as they dove to snap at the winged insects hovering above the mirror-like waters. They were too delighted by the abundance of tasty morsels found near the pond to take notice of the little boat, which floated between the lily pads below them. The wooden vessel, barely swaying as it was compelled forward by some incomprehensible magic across the pond. Those conveyed within the boat's shallow hull were shielded from the prying eyes of the estate as they bobbed peacefully on the pond.

Leaning languidly onto the bow of the vessel, Shui Long placed his arm around the woman, who was currently draped across his chest. Jing Li's long dark eyelashes, fluttering as she was coaxed in and out of sleep by the gentle rocking motion of the boat. The water god contemplated the shapes that the shade of the willows cast upon his bride's docile face as he held her near. Content to pass a particularly lazy afternoon spent in each other's company, in which he could neglect the worries of the Celestial Court or his duties as a god. Shui Long felt the sanctuary of Jing Li's presence and the solace of this silence for the first time in many weeks.

Finally released from the monotony of the tasks demanded of him, Shui Long basked in the tender warmth of his bride's embrace. Absorbed by the fascination of the delicate fragrance of flowers that arose from Jing Li's pale skin and the ripples of light that played in the long strands of her hair. The water god allowed himself to become entranced by the beauty of this moment for a long while, before his thoughts 

to the promise he had made to Tian Gong. His serenity disturbed mildly by the knowledge that it was only a matter of a few weeks before Jing Li was expected to make her formal debut in the Celestial Court. Shui Long shifted his weight slightly in the hull of the boat.

Reluctant to disturb the current tranquility of their existence, he bore the burden of this knowledge alone. Few others on the estate made aware of Jing Li's imminent debut, aside from his attendant Shan Yu. Shui Long felt this knowledge loom over him more profoundly with each day that it was to be omitted from their conversations. Apprehensive towards the trials that might await them as a couple, but simultaneously overwhelmed by the desire to share more blissful days such as this in each other's company. The boat tattered marginally as the water god considered his aspirations to make Jing Li his wife in the not too distant future. 

Distinguishing this vague disturbance, the resplendent woman accompanying him stirred from her sleep. The stunning pool of Jing Li' blue iris, gazing up at the god as he smiled at her softly. Her eyes made weary from the heat; she blinked the haze of slumber from them as she sat up. Sliding a hand onto Shui Long's chest to support herself as Jing Li lifted her head from the rhythmic pounding that had lulled her to sleep. Admiring the places where the dark hairs had clung to her cheeks and temple during her brief nap, Shui Long asked, "Did I wake you?" A faint smile still apparent on his lips as he combed back the strands with his fingers, he added, "I do not mind if you should wish to rest longer." 

Jing Li's cheeks adopting a mild hue of embarrassment for her the perceived indiscretion of treating him as a pillow for as long as she had. Shui Long was somewhat disappointed when she shook her head negatively in response. Jing Li, resisting the urge to resume her relaxed position upon his chest despite the dark circles that marred her eyes. Shui Long wished to tell her not to burden herself so much in her studies to the point where it affected her health. However, not wishing to discourage Jing Li in any way from pursuing one of the few passions she possessed. Shui Long resisted the temptation to voice this concern as he continued to stroke the soft locks of his bride's hair.

The hesitancy to confess some of the thoughts that had been nettling him recently, dissolving naturally in her quiet presence. The water god slid his arm Jing Li once more as he began to admit slowly, "The other gods are becoming more curious about you." Her brows pinching together mildly, Shui Long continued, "I suppose it is normal for them to take an interest. Seeing as you are the only person that I have ever displayed any sort of affection towards." Jing Li's lips, parting slightly as she listened intently to his admission. There was a light which sparkled within her eyes and a smile that played on her pink lips as she interpreted this to mean that Shui Long indeed held feelings for her. Intending to clarify these emotions in more certain terms, the water god took a deep breath. Prepared to confess his desire for Jing Li to become his wife now, this proposal was ultimately interrupted by a voice which called to them from the shore.

"Master!" came the shrill voice of his attendant. A vague note alarm hinted in Shan Yu's tone, Shui Long groaned as he was prompted to divert his eyes away from his bride. Propping himself up onto his elbows to observe the man on the shore. The water god poked his head over the side of the boat as he yelled back, "What is it, Shan Yu?" His attendant craning his neck slightly out over the water, he hollered, "Master, there is something that requires your urgent attention!" Quickly tiring of the conversation that was being called across the pond, the boat had already begun to drift back towards shore when Shui Long answered, "Can't it wait, Shan Yu?" 

"I really think you'll want to deal with this immediately." He replied.

The attendant, already beginning to hop impatiently upon the spot from the extent of his distress as he stood at the edge of the pond. Shui Long could see that he was left with little choice, but to once again moor the boat to one side of the embankment. The vessel, shuddering as it ran aground in the shallows of the pond. The water god helped to steady his bride first, before stepping from the boat. His feet firmly planted in the rich silt on the shore, Shui Long reached back. Lifting Jing Li from the little vessel they had shared by her waist, he ensured that her feet were returned onto dry land, prior to inquiring after the source of his attendant's agitation. 

His mood soured by the disturbance, Shui Long did not attempt to disguise his discontentment as he growled, "This better be important, Shan Yu." The man's eyes, darting between his Master and his bride uneasily for a moment. He eventually announced, "My Lord, it would seem that you have a, uh…visitor." The uncertainty of this final word, already inspiring some questions amidst those who had just arrived on the shore. The water god raised a skeptical eyebrow as he asked, "Who is it, Shan Yu?" The attendant, seeming uncertain of how much detail he should provide due to Jing Li's presence there, replied tentatively, "Well, you see, they are a visitor from the Mortal Realm, my Lord." 

Inferring from the uneasy glance that Shan Yu made in Jing Li's direction, that the visitor was likely to be someone relating to his bride. The mystery of the person's identity was soon to be exposed as another voice was to interrupt them from alongside the pond.

"Jing Li!" He yelled. The name of his bride, called out desperately by a scrawny man as he scrambled through reeds and over the rocks near to the water. Everyone present on the embankment turned to regard the intruder from the Mortal Realm as he stumbled through the water towards them. Pursued by several of the estate's guards, the young man from Jing Li's village threw himself down at her feet.

Startled by the sight of the person she had once considered to be her dearest friend in a clearly perilous situation. Jing Li had begun to step forward, when her path was barred by Shui Long. Placing himself between them in obvious objection that his bride should be moved to display compassion towards the man she had known before. Jing Li eyed the water god uncomfortably. However, did not attempt to defy the silent command that this action implied. Remaining unmoving behind him as she realized that her loyalty was promised to Shui Long in the moment. His bride's wide eyes took in the scene with great alarm as the guards hauled Fu Guo once again back onto his feet. 

Shui Long's gaze, narrowing on the man, who he recognized to be the fisherman that had sought to earn Jing Li's heart through the guise of friendship for many years. There was contempt held in Shui Long's dark irises as he issued an order towards the guards, "Throw him back." The severity of the god's anger conveyed by the harshness of his tone; the intruder squirmed in the silt as the guards seized him. The men, attempting to drag the wretched creature that had washed up on the shores of the water god's domain away from the embankment. There was a frantic displacement of water as the young man cried out, "Jing Li, I love you! I was a fool for not telling you before!" The confession spilled out between grunts and strained gasps. All struggle seemed to come to a tense halt as he added, "I that you must feel the same way about me." 

The men, pausing to review the woman shielded behind the water god's broad back. Shui Long felt Jing Li's body press against him gently, whilst she proceeded to poke her head out from around him cautiously. Her face, obviously indicating her sorrow towards Fu Guo's plight. There was a crease noted in her soft brow and a graveness found in the curve of her lips as she gazed upon her friend. The expression his bride displayed, igniting a hint of jealousy that could only serve to fuel Shui Long's ire further. This could only be mildly placated by the observation that Jing Li was not swayed by this adamant declaration. 

Moisture gathered in the corners of her eyes and brows furrowed by the position Fu Guo's statement had placed her in, she shook her head negatively in reply to his amendment assertions. Whether this rejection was to deny the assumptions that Jing Li returned her friend's feelings or the fact that such a thing as love could exist; Shui Long did not allow himself to be bogged down with the nuances of these questions. The water god, all too aware that he would not soon willingly relinquish Jing Li to any acquaintance from her past or present for as long as he lived and breathed. He motioned for the guards to momentarily cease in their arrest of the man for a moment as he stepped forward.

A golden light glistening within the water god's imposing gaze. Everyone else on the embankment remained still, whilst he continued to approach the man that might have once been considered a rival for Jing Li's affections. The young man's breathing, made uneven by his efforts to evade the estate's guards, his strained gasps overlapped, Shui Long's calm address. "Jing Li has chosen to stay here by my side." he said, "If you care for her, like you say, then you would allow her to be happy. But instead you choose to upset her by continuing to impose your feelings onto her unjustly." 

Fu Guo glowering defiantly back at the god as he leaned in closer. Shui Long was then to issue a warning, which he had no intention of ever repeating, "I do not know how you came to be here, boy. However, I can guarantee that our next meeting will be our last if our paths are to cross again." The intruder's defiant gaze diminishing gradually as it traveled from god to the beautiful woman that still remained some distance behind him. Fu Guo's glare was to take on a more forlorn air as it was to eventually fall upon the ground. Distraught that sympathy could not persuade Jing Li to reconsider her choice, Fu Guo hung his head in disappointment. 

Deflated by the unsatisfying result of his efforts to win back the bride of the water god, he sighed, "When I was brought here by the heron, I thought that there was hope for us to be together. But I see now that I was mistaken." The mention of the mysterious bird that had carried Fu Guo here, instantly conjuring up a vague notion of the circumstances behind the sudden man's appearance. Shui Long muttered this detail again, "A heron?" The words falling like an epiphany from his lips. Their significance was only discerned by his attendant, who entered into the conversation apprehensively. 

"Master, surely you don't think she had something to do with this?" Shan Yu Asked. Shui Long, feeling aggravated by the schemes of sabotage that were being formulated right under his nose. There was a fierce crease within the god's brow and a subtle twitch in one corner of his mouth as he responded, "Precisely." The serious statement, confirming his suspicions that Lu Qi had used the connections of her clan to bring Fu Guo to his estate. The water god knew that the set-up had been intended to create friction between himself and his bride. 

The First Consort, most likely hoping that his human bride should return with her devoted admirer to the Mortal Realm or that Shui Long's jealousy might drive him to commit an atrocity against the man that would be unforgivable in Jing Li's eyes. The water god was relieved that his quiet bride's earnest emotions and fidelity had prevented either of these outcomes from being realized. However, irked by the evidence of Lu Qi's plotting found in the young man's admissions, Shui Long was still contemplating the gravity of confronting his consort. When his thoughts were to be interrupted by the faint whistling of an object flying through the air. 

The blade, unseen by the god, before he was pushed onto the ground by Jing Li. His bride, employing all of her strength to remove Shui Long from the path of the dagger. They toppled onto the embankment in one reckless motion. Their robes covered by grains of moist sand in their descent, the water god could feel the determination in Jing Li's hands as they clung to him determinedly on the shore.