The Phoenix And The Dragon

[Gong]

The Phoenix and The Dragon


Furen! Furen!... Our Lord has returned!~

The years had been something of a mystery, for the visage of the Lady Huang had seemed not to age and allow the Heavens to bless the estate she had established upon her own. It was much like the home she shared with her husband within Xiangyang and had been bought with the money she had used to sell their old house with, it was a symbol of a new beginning for the Huang family and allowed a little more space for the occassion where her father needed to be cared personally for. Furthermore, it could house the dreams of the growing son, Zhan, who had reached the delightful age of 13 without any suffering and had signs of growing health. The studies were coming along strong and through the personal supervision of the Lady Huang, managed to give birth to the potential of both parents..however, it must have been some pressure upon the poor child's shoulders when having such notorious parents; especially those who were known for their intelligence...

Within the air carried a familiar wind, the scent was changing in a most recognisable direction and one that sparked the mind of the Lady Huang as she continued with her needle work upon the veranda. Inside was the little Zhan who enjoyed his studies very much, growing in all realms and showing no signs of his potential faltering; currently the knowledge of governance was of the agenda and one that took longer to analyse than most. A small picture of a peony was being created by the young woman, whose youthful complexion remained and the use of the infamous veil had been thrown assunder. As the needle came to a halt, the eyes looked to the Heavens and question the change in atmosphere...something was not right. Little did the Lady Huang know that certain news had began to spread as a fire within the forests around her, the figure of herself within the centre remaining ingorent for the time being..

"Furen! Furen!" Startled she rose from the side, the needle work falling to the ground and the small needle falling through one of the gaps in the wood. Advancing with some haste was one of the maid servants that was sent out, not a short while ago, to fetch some vegetables from the local market for the evening meal. But something had caused her to raise the alarm and charge home, creating a stir within the estate and of course with the household employ. "...Our Lord has returned!..." The change in the wind, a familiar scent upon the horizon..it all came together and formed within the eyes as the name of 'Zhuge Liang' was being aroused within the abode. The husband she had gone so long without, raising little Zhan on her own and having to establish their home within the jurisdiction of Shu Kingdom by herself. Now all had settled this so called Dragon made himself present in their life again, had the absence been so that she would continually do the work within this family?.. Rage and frustration collided within her body and elovated a mixture of feelings into the sky, the mind not knowing whether to celebrate with the others or to take a knife in hand and take to the streets in order to find Zhuge herself..

Zhan would be spared this information for the time being, his studies of high importance and the wishes of the household to cause a delightful surprise that after more than 10 years, his father had returned from his unknown absence. Lady Huang felt light, as if the clouds were lifting her above the realm so that she could gaze down and to observe for herself..that indeed Zhuge Liang, the Sleeping Dragon...her husband, had returned. As the servants rushed to the fore in order to make the preparations for Kongming's return, the young mother remained on the veranda on her own; feeling weak.. Some relief was through this news as dealing with so much on her own had taken its tole on her mental strength, and there was no denying that Zhuge lifted some of it; after all, there retained some love for him. He was her only beloved and so many years ago the Lady Huang had transfered her heavens to him. No matter how strong the resentment was for his very being, she could not ignore the emotions that she continued to feel for him.. "...He's...returned?" Suddenly the surge of feelings rushed throughout every limb causing the Lady Huang to topple and fall, fortunately the chair that she was sat on was nearby so that she could stop herself from collapsing to the ground. The eyes watered, allowing her emotions to pour from them...and soon, the smile upon her expression appeared with the realisation that her bed would no longer be cold. It was the ending of the loneliness a wife felt in the absence of her husband, tears streamed and the Lady Huang knelt to the floor in the happiness that she believed she would never feel again....

But, for face value they would not allow Zhuge to view this state of emotions, of course he would know Lady Huang all too well; yet, they had to place this above themselves. Zhan continued to study basking in the bliss of ignorance that his adored father would soon be embracing him, and that his family was now whole again. All employ of the Zhuge-Huang estate were ordered to remain within and still make the preparations for his return, with a large celebratory evening meal. However, at the forefront of the Manor would be the very woman who had waited all this time to view her husband once again...the Sleeping Dragon's wife, Lady Huang...the Phoenix of the Green Banner. Dressed in a modest attire of white, peach and an egg-white shade with personal embroidered peony and phoenix..hair allowed to hang loose with but a mere jade butterfly clip holding it in place, some way down its length. Both arms were placed infront of her stomach and hands clasped together, in the courtyard facing the double gates of their entrance...Lady Huang stood, eyes so expectant and smile so sweet that as if it were their marriage ceremony all over; showing that the foundations Zhuge had, would never vanish....

[Adam]

Zhuge Liang, Kongming, The Sleeping Dragon, the one who held the hopes of Shu within his grasp and mind. The weight of expectation hung heavy on the man, but never did he allow it to consume him. His body and intelligence for many years were needed elsewhere beyond the realm of Jing, aiding in the conquest of the lands of Shu. Often he would write letters where possible, but it was a rare occurance, the almost-24hour job keeping him more than busy alone.

"Why? What have the people of Shu done to deserve such war and suffering? Explain how your lord is benevolent in his manners, when he orders this... this needless bloodshed?!"

"One does not look at short term consequences, if he wants to see the grander picture. Lord Liu Zhang the lands of Shu are pivotal for this land to find peace once more. A conflict now brings peace later, it is the natural order of life that us humans are cursed to lead

It had been months since that day when Zhuge Liang confronted the defeated Liu Zhang within Cheng Du's confines. The battle had indeed been bloody and hard fought, but the strategy of Kongming and noteworthy efforts by valiant warriors such as Guan Yu and Ma Chao were the undoing of the troublesome Shu forces. After gaining Zi Tong, Liu Bei owned Shu in its entirety and finally an overworked Zhuge Liang returned to his new home in Cheng Du, where his wife still awaited his return after 10 long years.

He feet patted lightly on the ground when he dismounted his steed, finding the streets of Cheng Du very much to his liking. Within his mind he even knew the direction to take from then on and gestured away his men so he could walk alone. A deep smell of the air and he felt in heaven already, so warm and inviting, but still he knew more was to grow finer within his self when he reached that house he thought about so often.

Humble like his upbringing was Kongming's arrival, the lonesome figure of the man as he paced down the path, his head dipped respectfully, ever so slightly. His heart fluttered like it did those many years ago as his vision picked up her location, his lips letting go of his usual mask of near-emotionless as it soon sprung a genuine smile of joy. To think it had been 10 years and still she made him so.

He waited until he was before her and then he stopped and rose his head, showing his glittering eyes and adorable smile. "My Lady, too long have we been apart. Please, under such circumstances, ettiquette is not needed." His hands pushed out to meet her own, drawing them away from the respectful showing she gave him. "Few and far between are the times I am lost for words, but yet I do not know how to express my sorrow in our parting, I can only hope and pray your find it your heart to forgive me."

For someone who so loved to be in the limelight, Kongming took a step back, releasing the hands of his beloved for a moment and closed his eyes to do something so unexpected. His head bowed and much like her own previous posture, his hands moved into a respectful clasping of the hands, a sign of his apology, his acceptance of fault, his endearing love to his wife and of course his feeling of mutualness, an ideal strange and absurd to all those but the great one himself, yet would his showing help ease her pain.

[Gong]

The lonely figure came into sight and the humble horse brought back the husband she had waited so long to see, the veil covering the heart wished to strike out at Zhuge for leaving her so. Within this new world all upon her own, to face the waves of chaos singularly and to raise their small child; did he know how long little Zhan dreamed of embracing his father? Did he know the hardship of explaining that even the mother did not know the where abouts of the husband, to give their child an estimate of his absence....Zhuge's return was a blessing and a curse, the once fading shadow rose its head and the achievements of her own making would soon take a step back. Watching Zhuge, the Lady Huang remained silent and simply listened intently to the words he had to speak..apologetic as usual, but there was something different about this disposition; did he truly miss her as he lead on to believe?..

Gazing into his eyes, the waters returned to glaze the Lady Huang's eyes..the veil attempting to hide the heart was being torn apart by the very words, his mere voice causing the body to become weak and just vanish into the realm of his mind. Within the Kingdom of Shu, or any for that matter, would never be placed as they too had been and there was always a deeper reasoning behind the acceptance of marriage. Observing every movement, Huang did not know how to act and was not entirely sure on what words to use...it was a strange feeling and one she had thought would never become alive again; the love she had for him when they first met was beginning to serge throughout her body. The anger at him, the desire to strike his face with her own palm vanished and was overthrone by an immediate reaction. Before the mouth could lead, the Lady Huang moved without haste towards Zhuge and took him into her embrace..placing her head upon his chest as she had done so many years ago; this was what she had missed, what she desired most..the security of know that the Dragon would always protect her..no..protect her and their son, Zhan. "Do not speak so, Liang, for I would wait an eternity if it meant you would return to my side." Finally the estate was whole and Lady Huang could not help but take in his scent, it had disappeared from their personal chambers and the comfort it brought would never be replaced. "Do not speak of your absence..all that matters now is your safety, for now our home is complete once more.."

As the eyes closed the Lady Huang did not care that it may not have been proper for a husband and wife to embrace within public viewing, but the earge was far too strong and the heart over-ruled the mind before it could begin its thought. Taking a breath, another inhilation of Zhuge's nautral scent, the woman was able to compose her disposition and retain the respectful manner of before. Finally allowing the eyes to take joy in his return, the faithful wife could not help allow a chuckle to escape her lips. "I am not the only one who has awaited this day, for our Little Zhan is now an adolescent and showing all the potential to stand side-by-side with his father." Of course, would have Zhuge forgotten about the child he had left behind? Back then he was a mere babe but now developed into a health young man whose talents were coming along quite well, the education that the Lady Huang had placed him in was doing good stead..but there was one thing missing from schooling and that was the presence of his father figure to push him further, through personal wisdom and masculine tutolage. "He is currently studying in his room, I let no one inform him of your arrival; for the words must come from the being he has missed the most." Another smile, one of pure rejoice that Zhuge had returned to her..not only for her own sake but for the happiness of Zhan who would no doubt change when he came into view, indeed all sons wished to immitate the actions of their father; to be as the Dragon, one must observe and learn diligently....

[Adam]

Shame was what Liang felt to begin with, deep unbridled shame that he had let his own wife down in his promise, to be there forever to protect her. Their marriage had always been a matter of gaining an asset to begin with that was Kongming's selfish nature, yet he was a man of some morals and even through that shadowed veil of ego, he did in face bore love for her in his heart.

His hands wrapped around her head, embracing her like he should have been doing for ten years prior and yet on the edge of the mind he had a niggling thought; just how far did the pain of his absence stem in his wife. Beyond the thoughts and insecurities he remained as ever within his character, calm and collected.

"In that case I shall speak no more of it, I am relieved to witness tears of joy instead of tears of pain." He spoke with a smile and then it grew as he moved out of their embrace and he heard news of their son. "It's fantastic to know he is developing well, I never doubted you for a moment."

// I'll no doubt get more inspiration at some point, but right now it's like I'm having actual real life issues with this commitment in this thread rofl. It's giving me a headfuck moment like what'd happen in real life if it happened to me so I won't do a good post for it just yet I'm afraid lol... weird...