Falling Together.

Liu Fen had spent too much time in bed during the day, and now the night denied her any sleep. She had left her room and chosen to wander under the stars. She had told Xiao Mei to stay behind and rest, but the little maid had insisted on accompanying her.

She walked beside Liu Fen with a lantern, lighting their way.

The cobblestone path was lined with trees that whispered softly in the night breeze. Leaves fell from their branches, and as she watched them swirl and dance in their descent to the ground, Liu Fen remembered of another time and place, another courtyard in the imperial palace, where she and A'Xin had played as children.

In that courtyard, stood a large willow tree that A'Xin loved to climb despite her mother's warnings. Perched on one of the higher branches, A'Xin would call to Liu Fen. "Come up, come up! You can see the whole palace from here."

Liu Fen would shake her head, smiling. "No, thank you. I have no skill for climbing trees. I might fall."

"I'll be there to catch you," A'Xin would promise.

And so it was that one day, Liu Fen finally yielded to A'Xin's relentless persuasion. A'Xin had gone up first, then reached down and pulled Liu Fen after her. Liu Fen had clung to the princess like a frightened bird, her heart pounding and her body trembling.

"Don't be afraid," A'Xin had whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist, "I'm here with you." She had guided Liu Fen to a high branch and helped her sit. Then she had sat beside her, still holding her close.

They had stayed there together, admiring the view. Liu Fen had seen the palace from a new perspective. It was beautiful in the light of the setting sun. They would have stayed there longer if A'Xin's mother had not found them. "Xian'er, you unruly child," her voice had startled them from below. "Have I not warned you about the dangers of tree climbing?"

A'Xin had jumped up in alarm, letting go of Liu Fen's waist. Liu Fen had lost her balance and screamed as she slipped. A'Xin had acted fast, grabbing Liu Fen's hand in mid-air. But the sudden movement had made A'Xin lose her grip too, and both had fallen together, breaking through the leaves and twigs. Liu Fen had closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact and pain, but A'Xin had held her close, cushioning her fall as they landed with a thud.

Liu Fen had opened her eyes and saw A'Xin's mother running towards them, her face full of worry. "Are you all right?" she had asked, kneeling down next to them.

Liu Fen had rolled off A'Xin and nodded. She had felt a bit sore, but nothing serious. She had looked at A'Xin and saw her nodding too.

"You naughty child," A'Xin's mother had scolded her. "You could have killed yourself and Fen'er too."

"Mother, we're fine," A'Xin had protested as she rose to her feet. But then she had winced and looked down at her leg. Liu Fen had followed her gaze and saw blood soaking through the white breeches she wore under her dress.

A'Xin's mother had gasped. "You're bleeding?" She had lifted A'Xin's skirt to reveal a cut that ran from her knee, up her thigh. It looked like a branch had sliced through both silk and flesh on their way down.