03-27-2009, 11:47 PM
034. Locked
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"Peony, it's time to get dressed."
The graceful maiden was sitting in the Woman's Chambers and stared at her painting. She held held the paintbrush delicately between her fingers and looked into her canvas listlessly. Without turning her head, she replied softly," Yes Orchid, I'm coming."
With a silent movement, she lifted herself from her seat and glided smoothly over to the hallway noiselessly. Strangers could all agree that they were all captivated by Peony's gracefulness and tranquility when they laid eyes on her. Peony moves with a certain air of easiness and delicacy that it seems more like she floats upon the earth rather than to say she walks.
In the hallway, Peony slowed down a bit and tipped her head slightly to acknowledge Xiaoqing, who was a chubby and exuberant little girl at the age of 14. Xiaoqing blushed with embarrassment and giggled, nodding her back at Peony.
Arriving at her room, Peony held the doorknob and twisted it gently, peering inside. Her mother was already there, seated on the edge of her bed, holding a deep red silk gown that dripped like liquid to the floor and spreading out like rivulets. A small smile tugged at the corners of Peony's lips, but she held it back as proper etiquette demanded of her.
"Mama, what are you doing?"
Peony's mother, First Lady Song, smiled upon the arrival of her daughter and smoothed out the crevices and wrinkles of the silken gown. She stood up, her demeanor was sophisticated and elegant, the one of a girl with good upbringing and a high family status. Peony took a few steps towards her mother and First Lady Song stood up, holding the hand of her daughter gently," Peony, Madame Xiu finished you wedding gown."
Peony's heart dropped and she swallowed hard," It's beautiful mama," she breathed with fake anticipation.
First Lady Song smiled again," I knew you'd like it, Peony. Remember there's only three months left before your betrothal. Aren't you excited darling?"
"I am, mama."
Her mother bowed slightly and Peony bowed deeper, Lady Song walked out and closed the door behind her.
Peony held the crimson gown in her hands and was awed at it's intricacy and workmanship. Gathers and pleats were sewn in meticulously, with light pink peony flowers in braids all along the side as a zipper. There was a light pattern of pomegranates and swans swimming across the fabric. Peony let the cloth slip in her hands and fall to the ground. It made no sound when it hit the ground, but a small gasp of air lifted it just above the earth and it floated back down again. It really was like liquid.
Peony sighed and pushed back her shiny ebony-stained hair, letting it roll down her shoulders and down her back. She walked over to her window and sat down beside it. The window was her escape, her freedom. From there she could see nearly everything. At first glance, it seems the only visible thing is the Song Garden. Filled to the brim with lush green bushes and vegetables, lined neatly with thin, but strong bamboo trees, and ornamented carefully with a variety of beautiful flowers of all colors of the spectrum. But Peony knew these things were ephemeral, that they were superficial and there was something more. Flowers last a while, and wilt away with the seasons. Flowers do not convey reality. Flowers convey what the florist wants it to convey. And Peony knows this, so she looks further on. Beyond the Song Garden, Peony could see the old fruit stand man standing by his fruit cart, eagerly awaiting his next customer, or the little children playing hide and seek out by the courtyards. She felt that they were real. Peony wanted reality in life and she was tired of the arrangements made so that the future could flow along a constrained path, molded by her elders. She believed that her future needed to be free to go where its heart desired, and hers too.
But alas, Peony withdrew from her window and picked up the red gown. She gripped it slowly in between her slender fingers and picked up its scent. Smelled like flowers. She smiled with melancholy and set it aside.
Peony knew that despite her inner desires, she was already too constrained within her own life that nothing would change the path that was carved for her-- until she met him.
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