Chapter 10: The Night

The chirping of crickets heard as the end of another warm day drew to a close, Jing Li drooped lazily over the rim of the open window. Observing the sun set over the dream-like gardens of the estate, the sights and sounds of the Other Realm still managed to overwhelm her. The plants and creatures, similar in many of the ways she was used to and yet somehow more extraordinary in color and chord. Jing Li could not help but to almost feel exhausted by her surroundings nearly every day in this strangely magnificent place.

Her health recovered now to the point where she was able to eat regular meals and wander the grounds of the manor with relative ease. Jing Li was not surprised to receive news of the water god's anticipated visit this night. The announcement, received by the Lotus Pavilion, several days after Jing Li had imparted her greeting to the Consort of the Orchid Pavilion. Jing Li had thought back on her one-sided conversation with Lu Qi several times in the days to follow. Unsure of whether the courtesan's words could be trusted or the exact conditions which must be met for her return home. Jing Li was not so stubborn as to ignore the advice to consummate her union with Shui Long.

Even if the chances were slim that performing this duty would earn her the right to go back to her ailing mother, Jing Li knew that she was willing to do anything to liberate the village from its hardships. Not foolish enough to believe that this would earn the appreciation of those in the village who had once despised her for being different from them. Jing Li would gladly redeem them a million times over if it meant that there would be fish swimming within the waters of the Xilian and rice growing in the paddies in summer in the place that she knew her heart would always cherish as home. 

However, putting these aspirations of redemption and homecoming aside, Jing Li was also conscious of the precariousness of her position should she allow for the situation to carry on in the way that it had been going currently. Aware that she could be cast out from the immense manor at any time by Shui Long whilst their union remained illegitimate. Jing Li could not fathom what else might become of her in this foreign realm should she fail to secure her place within his estate relatively quickly. Thus, it was somewhere within this desperation and duty that Jing Li found the strength to do what was demanded of her at this time.

The horizon, blushing as the sun disappeared beyond the walls at the far end of the garden. The untouched contents of Jing Li's meal were cleared from the table by the window, before she was ushered towards the dressing table by a few maids. The women, pulling auspicious robes of vibrant red from the deep drawers. They piled the layers over her thin form in a way which made Jing Li's vague curves seem more substantial, before proceeding to apply her with makeup. The bruises and the evidence of her illness disappearing now, there was little need for excess in the powders and creams that they employed. 

This factor, enabling the women to finish their preparations with some expediency. Jing Li's lips were merely painted, and hair decorated tastefully with a golden pin, before there was only the need for her to wait anxiously for Shui Long's arrival. Uncertain that determination alone was not enough to prepare her for what was to come, Jing Li's stomach swayed more than a boat in stormy waters as the moon climbed to replace the sun in the sky. Dreading the darkness that encroached upon the Lotus Pavilion's pristine walls more so than she had ever done before. The agony of Jing Li's qualms surrounding what was to transpire this night seemed to worsen with each second that passed. Several of these seconds, accumulating to create hours, before footsteps were heard descending the corridor outside of her chambers.

The sound, provoking all of the ladies to bolt upright in their positions amidst the room. Shui Long was to enter shortly after. His hair collected in a tight knot on the top of his head and attire appearing more formal than the last time she had seen him. Jing Li admired his elegant posture and the dignified composure of his long strides before remembering to curve into a bow. The water god, merely regarding her respectful gesture with an impartial glance from his dark eyes. He waited for everyone to take their leave prior to addressing her.

"Were you waiting very long?" he asked.

The question, prompting Jing Li's cautious gaze to carefully creep up towards him, she realized that it didn't matter that she could not answer him. Reserving the right to have the members of his household at his beck and call as the Master of the estate. Jing Li knew that she could not begrudge the god of his delay or the agonizing hours that she was made to wait for him. However, feeling that there was possibly no amount of time was likely to prepare her for being met with his presence. Jing Li kept these thoughts to herself as she straightened herself from her bow. 

A subtle smile playing on the edges of Shui Long's mouth, there was an unsettling flutter within the pit of Jing Li's stomach as the man with the ethereal white hair and regal figure approached her. Fearing that he had somehow distinguished these thoughts easily amongst her features as the god stopped in front of her. Jing Li's sheepish nature prompted her gaze to turn away from him when there was merely the space of a single step that endured between them. Shui Long's hand to cross this gap, Jing Li flinched as she felt his cold fingers were to meet with her skin. Their first contact tickling the rapid pulse of a vein that throbbed relentlessly in her neck, the god's fingers were to gently trace the cord of its frantic rhythm up to Jing Li's face. His elegant digits curling around the gentle curve of her chin, Shui Long guided her eyes tenderly back to him as he said, "There is no need for you to be afraid." 

True that he had never given her a reason to shy away from his touch, Jing Li nodded a bashful response to this statement. Releasing a long sigh as she attempted to rid herself of her insecurities surrounding the close proximity of this, and possible future encounters with the water god. Shui Long slid his hand from her cheek to take the anxious palm that hung at her side instead. The gentle suggestion of a smile persisting on the god's face, helping to ease Jing Li's nerves as he directed them towards one of the long settees in the center of the room. 

There was a small table that sat in front of the sofa where they chose to position themselves. The top of its rosewood surface, offering a few dried fruits, a silver pitcher, and two accompanying cups. The couple was to situate themselves beside each other before Shui Long was to speak again.

"I'm glad to see that you're recuperated now." He remarked, trying to detract from the daunting prospect of the task that awaited them. However, this effort was immediately nullified by the sensation of his outer thigh brushing against her as he reached over to recuperate the tall pitcher from the table. 

The two of them, occupying a small footprint of the settee in spite of the immense space that it provided to them. The god of Xilian Lake proceeded to pour each of them a glass to commemorate the sealing of their union. Placing one of the squat silver cups into Jing Li's hand before taking up his own. Jing Li peered at the clear liquid inside for a moment as she prepared to dedicate her body to the same endeavor in which her soul was already party to. Following Shui Long in the act of interlocking their arms together in a motion that was to acknowledge their promise to remain bound to one another from this day onward, Jing Li downed the drink rapidly.

Feeling the burn of the alcohol as it slid down her throat, Jing Li coughed mildly from the strong liquor. However, finding that the beverage was not yet enough to grant her the courage to shed her inhibitions. Jing Li did not resist another as it was offered to her by Shui Long. The second cup of nuptial wine enjoyed more slowly than the first, she felt a warmth rise to her cheeks as Shui Long spoke again. 

"I regret that this arrangement does not allow us to get to know each other better first." He explained, coming the closest he had been to issuing an apology than he had done in all of their encounters thus far. 

Shui Long replaced his cup back down on the table as he continued, "You should know that our time together will be cherished though. That you are worth cherishing, Jing Li." The hand he had just liberated of his cup, coming to rest on her knee now as he spoke. Jing Li was not so naïve as to believe that he had never uttered these words to another or held her more highly than anyone else in his life at this moment. However, even if these words were to be nothing but empty promises. There was at least something to be found in his serene tone that helped to calm the frantic fluttering in Jing Li's stomach.

Another buffer of alcohol provided to further ease Jing Li's nerves; the liquid glided smoothly down her throat now. Depleting slowly what remained in her cup, Jing Li could still feel the god's cold touch on her leg as he carried on with his reasoning, "You might not know much about the relations between a man and woman. However, you needn't trouble yourself with this." The remark, reawakening some of the insecurities she possessed in regard to her inexperience. The hue of Jing Li's cheeks became a deeper shade of red as she forced back all that remained in the cup. The empty vessel taken from her by Shui Long, it was replaced on the table beside his own before he clasped the hands she had folded in her lap.

Leaning in to speak to her more softly, Shui Long's lips hovered next to Jing Li's ear as he said, "I know it's a lot to request that you trust me right now, but at least believe that I do not wish to harm you." His breath like a refreshing breeze after the amount of alcohol she had so carelessly consumed, Jing Li nearly released a sigh as it caressed her warm skin. Confident enough that the water god's hands should guide her, Jing Li followed him up the step which led into her sleeping quarters. The bed, fresh with new silk sheets that the maids had supplied that morning. The mattress's tidy corners tugged mildly as Jing Li came to sit along its edge. 

Her shawl, no longer possessing the will to remain upon her shoulders, sliding down her arms and onto the sheets. Shui Long once again cupped Jing Li's cheek in one of his fresh hands as he said, "This may be uncomfortable, but try to bear with me." Her fears, rising to the surface, in spite of the numerous reminders of the obligations she held as a bride and as the savior of her village, Jing Li nodded. Her eyes moist with the tears she knew could not be permitted. Shui Long appeared absorbed within the watery depths of her gaze for a long moment. His stern face inching closer, the god said longingly to her, "There are no pools that could rival the solace found in your eyes."

Hearing a sincerity in this remark that made her heart quiver a little, there was a tear that slipped from the feeble border of Jing Li's eyelids. Skimming the curve of her soft cheek before it came into contact with Shui Long's fingers. He wiped away the short trail of moisture that the drop had left behind, before closing the distance that was left between them. Their lips joining, the blush on Jing Li's cheeks was renewed as she appreciated the taste of the wine now in a different way than before. Enjoying the bittersweet liquor together as Shui Long's tongue slid into her mouth, there was an unusual heat that rose within Jing Li. 

More profound than the warmth inspired by the alcohol, it came from a place deep within her core that she had never known. Threatening to envelope Jing Li's entire body as they sank down into the luxurious sheets adorning the bed. She discovered that her lips were no longer shy to admit their yearning for the god's embrace. Even risking to seek him out in the dim light provided by the few lanterns in the chamber, their mouths only parted to permit Jing Li's muffled moans to escape from her sporadically before Shui Long pulled away. Standing once more to unfasten the belt from his robe, the fabric separated to reveal the subtle muscles on his chest and abdomen to her. However, the appearance of what was to be situated below them was found to be substantially less subtle. 

The god's eyes, gleaming with a hunger that sent another quiver down her spine. Jing Li's fears were to be gradually negated once more by the desire for his touch as he slowly uncovered her own body. Peeling away the swathes fabric that was donned for the purposes of making her a more appealing bride. Jing Li's apprehensiveness about being exposed in front of a man for the first time prompted her to place an arm over her breasts. This attempt at modesty, made futile by the water god, who soon took Jing Li's hand in his. Shui Long, interlacing their fingers together as he lifted Jing Li's arm from her chest. He pressed the back of her hand into the spot on the mattress beside her head as he issued a gentle reprimand, "Don't. You're beautiful." 

These words said tenderly, whilst the threat of his intentions could be felt rubbing against her inner thigh as Shui Long lowered himself onto her gradually. There was another desirous glint within his eyes before Jing Li discerned a sharp pain between her legs. Emitting a startled gasp as she could feel the god's weight press down onto her hips more adamantly. The discomfort provoked more tears to rise to the watery pools of her eyes as she reminded herself of the vow, she had made to endure this minor agony. The aching eventually eased by the steady rocking of their bodies against one another, Jing Li yielded to the mixture of pain and the pleasure that collided within this moment. 

Jing Li's amorous panting heard penetrating the night. She forgot all of her previous fears as she clung to Shui Long's body in the hope that his reliable presence would serve to anchor her soul in the tides of passion that threatened to swallow her whole. Holding her to him as a shiver of delight rippled through them, Shui Long too seemed unwilling to relinquish Jing Li as an impassioned moan passed from her lips. Jing Li' body trembling from the overwhelming wave of ecstasy that crashed over her. The heat that consumed them, gradually receded back into the depths of their cores, they were to fall still in one another's embrace until it would again come to possess them another night.