[ The gilt walls and sweeping gauze of her chambers are closing in around her, soothed by the chime of a bell and the soft sounds of a baby just drifted to sleep. There is no news, and she wants... She wants a great deal, all at once; not least to see them all safe, within her arms, where she can protect-- she cuts the thought off, blinking away the beginnings of what can't possibly be tears, with A-Xian on his way, and--
A sudden movement in the mirror, distorted through damp eyelashes, has her reach for her sword and A-Ling, not in that order, but the movement is gold, and more silk, and a familiar figure. She hesitates, lurches-- she surfaces, freshwater pouring from her shoulders. A sword in one hand. A blanket, pulled from a cot by panicked fingers, in the other.
From the small fountain, Jiang Yanli stumbles out through the spray. ]
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A sudden movement in the mirror, distorted through damp eyelashes, has her reach for her sword and A-Ling, not in that order, but the movement is gold, and more silk, and a familiar figure. She hesitates, lurches-- she surfaces, freshwater pouring from her shoulders. A sword in one hand. A blanket, pulled from a cot by panicked fingers, in the other.
From the small fountain, Jiang Yanli stumbles out through the spray. ]