For the First Time..

Zhi Lan gets used to being known as only Lan. Princess Zhi Lan of Qiu is gone. To everyone, she's just Lan, the little girl the Commander allowed to stay.

Lan mainly resided inside her tent throughout the weeks. The only time she interacted with anyone was when she had her meals with Commander and General Wei in the Commander's tent. Even then, she still kept to herself, only nodding and shaking her head when questioned about the food.

Commander Wei was warm and patient towards Lan. He's a grandfather to his second son's daughter who's only two years younger than Lan. He wanted to help the girl heal from her ordeals. Still, though, she is afraid of him, rather, it's more of the title he held that scares her. She could see his kindness, but what if it's just a mask-like her uncle too?

Last year, Qiu experienced one of its coldest winters. Lan's uncle, the commander of Qiu's imperial army at the time, was taking care of the commoner's rebellions at the borders. Prince Zhu Dong usually plays with his niece when he's free, and often brought her gifts whenever he returned from his duties. That winter, he had brought her the rare flower of snowdrops that only bloomed in winter. Symbolizing hope, she thought her uncle meant for her to have hope for the dreaded winter to melt.

To Lan, the six years she lived, she only saw her uncle as someone who's warm and loved her like everyone in her family did. However, that night made her question everything she once knew.

"Mother..(come with me)". The events of that night replay in her sleep. "Fath..gran..dfa..(don't die)". They disintegrate into the darkness. Her uncle appears from it and lunges towards her with his sword.

Lan wakes up crying, and the whole camp along with her.

Commander Wei ran in his sleep attire to her tent and sees Lan cradling to herself. His heart aches at the sight. Just what did this girl go through?

He went to Lan and hugged her. She surprisingly wraps her small arms around him too as she continues to cry. "Shh..it's okay. You're safe with me." Commander Wei patted her back until she becomes weary and fell back asleep. He laid her down and left to go back to his own tent.

The next morning, Lan, for the first time ever since she stayed, voluntarily showed her face beyond the tents. She felt bad as she realizes her actions last night disturbed many, so she personally went out to apologize. Seeing that she's a child with a baggage, they don't blame her.

Lan then went to General Wei who was overseeing the training session. Focused on the tall figure, she tugged on his armor and waited for him to turn around. Shyly, she looked up to him and said, "Mother once said to always apologize if I do something wrong or cause trouble to others..", her voice was low, but sang beautifully. She then crossed her left leg over her right, placed both hands on her left hip, and curtsied, "Lan would like to apologize for last night."

For the first time since that night, she made eye contact with him.

Innocent eyes. She has a round, sharp pair of eyes that was clear of hazel, and lashes that were so thin but so long. It was different.

General Wei was not petty enough to hold it against a child. If anything, he felt bad, for he too realizes that she's gone through something a kid her age shouldn't have.

"It's alright kid."

Lan turned to head to the Commander's tent when the sound of a soldier yelling caught her attention. Her eyes widen at the sight of the training. Clink, clink. Soldiers on the offense endlessly attack his opponent, while those on defense manages to reflex those attacks in swift motions. 'You can protect yourself against a sword?'

General Wei saw that Lan didn't leave yet. And for the first time since that night, her eyes weren't empty, it beamed with light in fascination. General Wei coughs, making Lan return to her poker face. She bows him goodbye and left.

Commander Wei, in his tent, was reexamining plans and strategies for war. "Commander Wei, Lan requests an audience with you." "Let her in."

For the first time since she came, she initiates a conversation.

Lan gracefully curtsied again, and looks at him, "Lan thank and apologizes to Commander Wei for my behavior last night." Commander Wei gets curious about the girl because her action is most definitely not of commoners.

Commander Wei nodded and gestures her to the chair in front of his desk, telling her to take a seat. "This old man does not hold it against you as it is not something you can control. If anything, I'm happy you're finally talking sentences and not just moving your head...I don't pretend to know what you've been and is going through, but you can trust that we won't cause you any harm. You've proven during your stay here for there is no reason for us to do so. While you stay here, act freely like a child. Be a kid...Speaking of which, how old are you?"

"I am six," Lan puts up a whole hand and two fingers.

Commander Wei laughs, he puts one of the extra fingers down. Lan turns red in embarrassment.

Lan realizes that although Commander Wei carries the same title as her uncle, he reminds her of her grandfather instead.

"Lan greets Imperial Grandfather," she bowed. "Haha, Lan'er only men bows. A beautiful princess like you needs to the only curtsy." Lan's face turns red. "Hahaha Lan'er, come to grandfather, I have a gift for you." He pulls out a blue orchid and places it on Lan's small palms. "This is a rare blue orchid. The only one of its kind, like you." ...

Lan snaps out from running down the memory lane and realizes tears were already falling from her eyes. Commander Wei is shocked but didn't ask. He only went to her and patted her back.

Lan didn't feel the need to put her guard up anymore. For the first time since that night, Lan is willing to trust again.