one battle wound too many // sima shi x reader

chapter ten

I run one hand over the cracks and crevices of the elegant wooden carriage pulled by two magnificent, birch-colored steeds. My other hand, I am glad to announce, is being held tenderly by my now-and-forever-husband: Sima Shi.
"I'll show you the view from the highest point in this land," my beloved promises. "Stick with me. You'll see." I squeeze his hand and he squeezes back; the cold, emotionless facade he'd been putting on for years, the face I was so used to seeing, quickly vanishes. My wonderful, emotionally naked and vulnerable Sima Shi. He gazes affectionately into my eyes as he speaks again.
"I cannot promise you a peaceful life," he admits. "But I can give you one more worthwhile." And with those words he seals the deal and my lips with his own. When we break away, grinning like idiots, Sima Zhao is whooping as he throws peach blossom petals at us, while Wang Yuanji gives us a polite, congratulating smile. The grins from the people are infectious and today is such a good day, a day I never anticipated, but a day of which I've dreamed since I was small.

"Ziyuan," I breathe, using his style name for this first time. He smiles even wider. "The love that I feel for you, words can't comprehend how real it is. I'm still in shock by the fact that it is I who gets to marry you."  I take his face in my hands and kiss him deeply again, resulting in more hollers from the crowd of officers and peasants, and more Zhao-picked-petals raining down upon us.
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When I wake up the morning after, still groggy and a little disoriented from last night's festivities, I am shocked by the warm presence next to me. I've always been used to waking up alone, it gave me the assurance that I had no one to lose. Today is different, not only am I going to sleep in with no worries, but I am going to sleep with my significant other. My one and only. Till death do us part.
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I'm glad Sima Shi wakes me up before the sunshine does. Hair a mess, eyes glazed over with sleep, grin delightfully splendid. He presses a chaste kiss to the tip of my nose, and I can't help but giggle since the act was so childish. Shi drapes himself over my own body, preventing me from moving at all. I slap at his bare chest playfully.
"Shi," I whine. "Get off of me. You're heavy." He laughs and looks at me but when he speaks...the voice isn't his.

"My lady, wake up! We must get going!"
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My eyes snap open, and I'm exposed to the starry night sky, along with the faint clashing of metal in the distance.
"Oh," I sigh dejectedly. "I was dreaming." Tears well up behind my eyes, threatening to stream forward if I didn't do anything quickly. Zhong Hui looks at me, confused.

"My lady?" He asks. "What were you dreaming about?" His voice is laced with uncharacteristic concern and the tears spill forth uncontrolled. I bury my face in my hands and begin to sob.

"How can I love him, and not be willing to lose him?"
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AN: Ack! That was short, sorry you guys if you wanted a longer part. Summer is coming soon so I'll have more time to make better and longer chapters!

P.S~ I don't own Sima Shi's marriage line, that belongs to Koei.