Disclaimer: New year, same disclaimer! Nothing's changed. I still wrote this, and it's still based on "The Emperor and the Nightingale" by H.C. Anderson. If anyone makes any money off of this, make sure to give his estate some...and remember to put "2008" on the checks, okay?
==================
Chapter 6 - "If Not for You"
==================
Zhen Mei sat by her window, watching the leaves fall from the trees a few yards away. Nearly six months had passed since the night of the ball, and still she hadn't said much, other than to cry on Fa Ling's shoulder. Her dream life had come to a crashing halt. More importantly, her sister was still missing. And it was all because of Mistress Ng.
With Song Mei replaced, the advisor saw no need to honor the Empress' promise. It was just as well; since she was still in shock over the events of the ball, Zhen Mei was useless. Fa Ling had gathered her things and ushered the former Royal Cook out of the castle before Mistress Ng could send the guards to perform the task, and the two women retreated to Song Mei's home near the forest, hoping she would return there.
Zhen Mei replayed the night of her sister's disappearance over and over again in her head. "Why?", she whispered. "Why did this have to happen?"
Fa Ling had been her lover's constant during this trying time, her one link to reality, and her one source of hope. "She'll be back, my love. I'm sure of it." Her words, as always, were answered with a simple nod from the former cook. It wasn't much, but it was Zhen Mei's way of letting her lover know she was still there, not completely lost in a sea of despair.
-----------------------
"My Empress, the caravan from the West has just left," Mistress Ng said with a smile. "They were quite pleased with your offer, and will discuss the matter with their elders. I am sure a trade route will be established within the month."
"Excellent! They do have wonderful spices, and I so wish to have them!" She poured over some papers before turning to the advisor. "There is nothing more we need to tend to today, is there?"
"No, my Empress. What is your desire?"
"I wish to hear another song! Call for Lady Nightingale again!"
"As you wish, my Empress." Mistress Ng waved for a guard and relayed the message to fetch the singer. The Royal Advisor should have been in her glory these days; she was closer to her Empress as she had been in years. The 'present' of Lady Nightingale was indeed a godsend to Mistress Ng, with the man-made creature serving as a proxy for her love as well as a more than ample replacement for Song Mei. She was part of her Empress' life one again, and that's what mattered.
Even so, Mistress Ng still hadn't become the Empress' true lover; she simply replaced one rival with another. And while the Empress had not fallen as madly in love with Lady Nightingale as she did with Song Mei, she loved her still...which meant Mistress Ng was still on the outside looking in. The time had come for the final part of Mistress Ng's plan.
Soon the doors to the Empress' office opened, and in walked Lady Nightingale, dressed in silk and jewels, and carrying a small lute. She stopped short of the other two women and bowed. "Shall I play a song for you, Your Highness?"
"That you shall! Play something soothing, as I need to rest after such an arduous meeting!"
"As you wish, Your Highness." As Lady Nightingale began to play, the Empress watched her delicate fingers glide over the strings of the instrument. Hours earlier, those very same fingers were gliding over her own body, and watching her now, the Empress imagined herself as the one being played. "Is she not truly amazing, Lady Ng? Often I forget what she is, as she is so unbelievably talented!"
"This is true," Mistress Ng mused. She knew well the talents of Lady Nightingale, and taught her the things that would please her Empress.
Somewhere in the song, an odd note was sounded, followed by a sharp "ping". Lady Nightingale looked at the lute to check for a broken string, but her gaze soon became a frozen one. Her body became still, as did the room itself.
"Why have you stopped, Lady Nightingale? Play on, please!" The command from the Empress went unheeded, as Lady Nightingale stayed frozen in place, not even so much as to move an eyelid.
Mistress Ng removed the lute from the other woman's hands, amazed to see that indeed, all the strings were intact. This could only mean one thing--that it was Lady Nightingale herself who was broken.
"Your Highness, I must take her with me. I will see if there is anything that can be done for her." Mistress Ng's look was one of concern, but that was to cover up the glee she felt inside. 'Ah! How fortunate am I!' she thought. 'I need not do anything now! I would have shut you down myself, Nightingale, but it seems the gods smile upon me, and do my bidding!'. If she could not restore Lady Nightingale, that meant for a very unhappy Empress. She would need to be consoled and comforted, and Mistress Ng was more than ready to take up the task.
"Please hurry, Lady Ng! I must have her back!"
"As you wish, my Empress!" the advisor replied, hiding a sinister grin.
-------------------
Word had spread throughout the village of the state of the ersatz singer. Many of the townsfolk had become enamored with her, as Mistress Ng would bring Lady Nightingale down to perform for them. It was beneficial for the advisor in two ways: First, the villagers would be so entertained by the new singer that they would forget about Song Mei. And second, they would associate the singer with Mistress Ng, giving the advisor a more favorable reputation. But now it was told that the new sensation was 'ill' in the castle.
Word has also gotten to Fa Ling, who greeted the news with a scowl. "Hmph! Ask me if I care, because I surely do not!" She stomped through the tavern, disregarding the stares of the patrons. "It was wrong for them to replace the beloved Song Mei to begin with!"
"But Lady Nightingale's more beautiful!" someone called out. "Yes, and more graceful, too! What a dancer!" another voice joined in.
Fa Ling wheeled around to the hecklers. "Do you not realize she is not a real woman? She is but a toy! A large, fancy, magical doll! She has somehow stolen Song Mei's voice, and you all have forgotten about the original! How dare you cry for a doll, when the real person is missing!"
A low murmur rumbled through the crowd. 'Ha! I see you did not even notice she was gone! One of your own, one you have all worshipped as a goddess! How could you not know she has been gone for so long?" A man stepped up to say something, but Fa Ling raised her hand to stop him. "I must tend to her sister, as I have been without help from any of you! Go tend to your new goddess!" With that, she ran out of the tavern.
-----------------
"I bring news from the palace."
Zhen Mei turned to face the incoming Fa Ling. "Is it about my sister?" she asked hopefully.
"No, but it is about that...thing that replaced her. It is broken."
"Is it dead?"
"Not dead, my love, just broken. Mistress Ng is--"
"DO NOT SPEAK HER NAME TO ME!" Whatever ounce of anger Zhen Mei found left in her, she has all but spent it in that one sentence.
Fa Ling placed her hands on her lover's shoulders to keep her in place. "I am sorry, my love. I just--"
"It is I who should apologize, Fa Ling," an embarrassed Zhen Mei replied. "It was wrong of me to scold you--especially since you have been so kind to me. If not for you, I would be completely lost."
Fa Ling took the girl into an embrace. "Not to worry. I have been yelled at before, and yet I live. I just wanted you to know what is going on."
"I...I understand." Zhen Mei lay her head on Fa Ling's shoulder, savoring the warmth of her lover's body. "Maybe this is the gods' way of retribution. It could be, could it not?"
"It could, but I suspect it is more than that." Fa Ling broke the embrace and led her girlfriend to a cushioned seating area. "They will both pay for this, I am sure. Let the gods decide how and when."
"You are right, as always. We need to find a way to locate Sister Song."
Fa Ling was glad to see the light in Zhen Mei's eyes again.
------------------------------
Mistress Ng stood outside the Empress' chambers and took a deep breath. 'If I am to do this, I had best not let my emotions get ahead of me.' One more deep breath, and she entered the room.
The sound of the doors opening stopped the Empress in mid-pace. 'What news of Lady Nightingale?" she asked worriedly.
The advisor tried her best to be as solemn as possible. "I had sent for a number of magical artisans, alchemists, and smiths of different types. Unfortunately, even with all of their talents, they were unable to...care for her. She is no longer, I am sorry."
"This cannot be!!" the Empress shrieked. Her pacing began anew, more frantic than before. "Why am I to be punished so? First Song Mei leaves me, and now this!"
The mention of the singer's name surprised Mistress Ng--she had sworn the Empress had completely forgotten about her.
"What have I done to deserve such cruelty?" the Empress continued. "Why am I destined to be alone?"
That was Mistress Ng's cue. "But you were never truly alone," she said soothingly. "I am by your side, my Empress, as I always have been, and always will be." She stepped into the path of the Empress' pacing and attempted to hold her.
She fought at first, but the Empress relented and allowed herself to be held. "Such loneliness, Lady Ng! Such as you could never know! If not for you, I would surely go mad! What cruelty!!"
"Do not fret, my Empress, I am with you." Mistress Ng was giddy with delight over finally having the Empress--HER Empress--in her arms. "You will never be alone again!" She kissed the top of the Empress' head, and the woman gazed up at her through tear-filled eyes.
"You...you have always been here for me, Lady Ng," the Empress said between sniffles. "Like a friend...no, like a mother! You have cared for me and put me where I am. I would be lost if not for you. Even now, I have you when all others have left me. Thank you, Lady Ng." She held the other woman closer and lay her head on Mistress Ng's chest. "How can I ever repay you for what you have done for me?"
So many words tried to force themselves out of Mistress Ng's mouth. So many emotions and thoughts, so much pent up for so many years. She felt as if she would explode if she didn't let something out.
"Love me."
"But I do love you, Lady Ng. You are like family to me--closer, yet! I cherish your advice, your friendship, your companionship. There is no one in this country who is closer to me."
"No, my Empress." Mistress Ng tried hard to contain her annoyance. "I wish for you to love me as a lover--as you did Song Mei and Lady Nightingale! For years I have wished for nothing more!" This may not have been the most opportune time, but she was going to lay her heart out for the taking. "Love me, my Empress! Love me, body and soul, and I will ask for nothing else!"
"I understand what you are trying to do, dear Lady Ng," the Empress said with a gentle smile. "It is quite a noble gesture on your part, but do not worry--I will be fine. Your gift of Lady Nightingale was precious, indeed, but you should not feel the need to replace her with yourself." The Empress broke the embrace and stood, placing one hand on the advisor's shoulder. "I do appreciate the gesture, as I appreciate everything you have done for me."
Mistress Ng stared at the other woman in disbelief. "Do you not understand what I have just said to you? I am in love with you! I always have been, and always will be! I am offering my heart to you, as I have offered my life! This is not simply some 'gesture' to ease your pain!" She harshly pushed the Empress' hand off of her shoulder and glared at her. "This is not sympathy, but pure love! I have longed to be more than just your advisor, your surrogate mother, your friend. I wish to be your lover, your equal! It is all I want, and all I have ever wanted!" She charged forward and grabbed the retreating Empress by the shoulders. "Love me, Reina! Love me!"
"I..I cannot." For all her powerful majesty, the Empress had been reduced to simply Reina--a meek little girl who longed for love, but crumbled under the weight of Mistress Ng's emotions. "It is...it is too much to bear! It is all too much!!" She tried to run away from it all, but Mistress Ng held a firm grip.
"You WILL love me! Or you will love no other ever again!" She tried to kiss the other woman, but was pushed away. It took all of the Empress' will to get away from the raving advisor.
"Lady Ng! Please stop this! I do not wish to call the guards on you!" She made her way to the door and threatened to open it. "Please do make me do this!"
It took a moment for the advisor to gather her senses. "I apologize, my Empress. Please excuse my behavior. I let my emotions get the best of me, and did not consider your feelings or the gravity of this situation." As brave a face as she tried to put on, Mistress Ng's mind was a sea of turmoil. She backed away from the Empress, bowing and allowing the other woman to pass.
"We will not speak of this again. Please get some rest and clear your head."
"Thank you, my Empress."
She watched Mistress Ng leave the room, and the moment she was gone, the Empress collapsed.
==============
End of Chapter Six
==============