Morning, Hour of the Dragon...

A warrior rode his horse at full gallop from the city gate and entered the square where the execution was held. Mongol soldiers surrounded him immediately; swords, bows and arrows at the ready. He stopped his horse in front of the tent waving a scroll in his right hand. "STOP! In the name of the great Kublai Khan, stop this execution now!" he bellowed in the Mongol language.

The warrior wore a red helmet over his head, a matching red metal chest plate and shoulder guard over his chain linked armour. He was riding a white stallion, covered with a red blanket embroidered with the imperial wolf crest of Uygor on both sides. The warrior carried in his left hand a staff which stood on his stirrup and on that staff, a small red flag of a black wolf within a white circle fluttered in the wind. It was the standard of the Turfan kingdom.

The executioner relaxed and placed the tip of the long sword in front of his feet and he gazed at his master, Lord Jujur Marknor, the khan-to-be of the Great Khanate.

Princess GoldenFlower, relieved at the interruption of her execution, opened her eyes and turned her head to peep at the warrior from her prone position. His voice sounded familiar but she couldn't place where she had heard him before.

Without any malice, Jujur stood and spoke loudly to the warrior, "the great Kublai Khan has not been with the living for a long time. Why did you invoke his name and who are you?"

"I'm Prince Ohgee Barakhan, son of King Zajkor Barakhan from the kingdom of Turfan. We are part of the Uygor Empire and come under the protectorate of the Chagatai Khanate. Uygors, Merkits, Tarjits, Tatars and Mongols are brothers-in-arms since the time of Tamujin, the great Genghis Khan. Inside this scroll is a promise from Kublai Khan granting my King any property he so wishes as a gift. It is with this promise that I now claim the woman you are executing." The warrior extended his right hand to Jujur, presenting the scroll.

A Mongol soldier approached him, retrieved the scroll and handed it to Jujur. The other lords and council elders crowded around him. After reading the scroll, Jujur looked up at the warrior.

"Why do you want her? She is a hostage from the Middle Kingdom. Our great city of Xanadu has fallen to the Chinese. Our council of elders dictated that she must die!" Jujur crumpled the scroll and threw it to the ground. The other lords and council elders gasped at his action. Throwing a scroll with the great khan's seal was sacrilege!

Ohgee dismounted, retrieved the scroll and bowed towards Jujur. He spoke with conviction, "My lord... may I approach you?" With strength, he planted the staff in the ground and then he handed his sword to a Mongol soldier nearest to him. He stood with his arms behind his back, waiting for Jujur's reply.

Jujur noted that the warrior was unarmed and beckoned him to advance with a wave of his hand.

He approached Jujur, removed his helmet and held it in his hand whilst his free hand hooked behind his back, demonstrating to Jujur that he was not a threat to him. Ohgee stood beside him and whispered into Jujur's ear. Jujur's eyes widened. After the prince had completed his message, Jujur turned and stared at him in astonishment.

Lord Jujur thought for a few moments, then announced, "you may take her away and do what you wish with her, so long as she does not go back to the Middle Kingdom."

He waved to the executioner to release the prisoner, turned away and sat cross legged on the podium, looking annoyed. The other lords and council elders were bewildered. What had the stranger said that changed Jujur's mind?

"Thank you Your Lordship. You will not regret this decision." The warrior bowed, put on his helmet, retreated, retrieved his sword and lifted the staff. After mounting his horse, he tipped his head towards Jujur and moved towards the prisoner.

Jujur's nineteen year old son, Marak, was furious with his father's pronouncement and he clenched his fingers, suppressing his anger within him. Marak wanted to rush toward the prisoner and pierce her heart with his sword, but he managed to suppress his frustration. In his young mind, the princess should pay with her life for the destruction of Xanadu.

GoldenFlower stood, looked up at the warrior with bewilderment in her eyes and mused, 'Why did they spare me? What did this prince say to Lord Jujur? Why can't they just let me die and end my miserable life? Will I spend the rest of my life in slavery?'

Her mother's voice spoke sweetly inside her mind,'my daughter, you have to live your life as it comes to you and don't wish for death. One day, you will see your father.'

She looked at the warrior without expression and offered her left hand. 'He looks familiar, but he couldn't be TallMonkey.' His helmet covered his eyes.

With strength, Ohgee grabbed her hand and pulled her up to sit behind him on his horse. He kicked the horse and they began to move away.

Marak couldn't help himself and grabbed a bow, placed an arrow on it and aimed at the princess. Marak was one of the best marksmen in the Mongol army. As the arrow shot out from his powerful composite bow, he smiled.

Jujur jumped up and slapped his son's face in anger. "Why can't you respect my decision?"

GoldenFlower felt the hard blow of the arrow piercing her back and cried out in pain. She hugged the warrior's chest tightly, but, her hands released him when darkness clouded her mind.

Ohgee quickly planted the staff on the ground and managed to catch her with his left hand before she could fall to the ground.

Twenty Turfan riders with helmet and body armour, similar to Ohgee, appeared from behind a nearby hill and rushed towards them. They quickly formed a protective line between him and the Mongol soldiers. Two riders helped Ohgee bring the limp body of the princess down from the horse.

Ohgee dismounted and cradled GoldenFlower in his strong arms. She gazed at him without focus, puzzled as to why she was shot. Then her eyes became clouded with darkness, her eyelids closed, her body sagged and her head fell backwards.

Jujur mounted a horse and rode to the prince. Ohgee's escorts parted to let him pass. Jujur stared at the lifeless body of the princess, "I didn't want this to happen. Marak will be punished." He rode back to where he came from.

~*~

"When I finally have you in my arms as mine to cherish, providence takes you away from me again. Why am I fated not to marry you?" Tears flowed down his cheeks. Then he saw, below her pale lifeless face, the gold pendant containing his love poem hanging around her neck. She had told him once that she would never remove it and wanted it next to her heart - until the day she died.

Ohgee, saddened by the loss of the princess, placed her body on his lap as he sat on the ground. He gazed at the point where the arrow pierced her back and his eyes widened. There was some hope that she may still be alive as the arrow did not hit any of her vital points. Wetting his finger with his tongue, he placed it next to her nostrils and his sombre mood changed. His eyes widened. He could feel her shallow breath!

The princess was in a state of shock and had fainted. If he didn't react fast, she would soon die. Motioning urgently to one of the riders to bring him some clean cloths, he prepared to remove the arrow.

~*~

The Turfan warriors had commandeered a horse-drawn cart from the Mongols to transport the princess. In her weak condition, they could not travel very far.

The convoy came to an oasis where a dozen trees grew in a circle around a well. Four abandoned mud houses stood forming a square. As nightfall would come shortly, the men organized to make camp quickly. A large tent, given by the Mongols, was hastily set up and they laid the princess inside. They would need to camp here until the princess was fit to travel.

Whilst she was unconscious, Ohgee would care for her personally. There was no woman in their group. He knew that in her feverish state, he could not allow her wound to become septic.

~*~

Three days later, Hour of the Horse...

The princess finally awakened, feeling very weak. She could feel the stabbing pain on her back and tried to recall what had happened.

The flaps of the tent parted. The whole interior brightened with sunlight as a tall man appeared and spoke jubilantly in Chinese, "Ah! At last the princess wakes up!"

GoldenFlower was happy that he knew her language and thought she recognised the voice. But that was so very long ago. She strained to see the visitor. His face was overshadowed by the strong sunlight behind him. Her heart started to beat faster as her excitement rose. She wondered, 'Could he be...? Please let him be my one true love.'

His smiling, bearded face came closer to her and she became delirious with joy. She ignored the pain. Even though she was still weak, she found strength to push her body up and quickly wrap her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly and weeping incessantly. The pain on her back was dreadful but the happiness that filled her heart overpowered the pain.

She pushed him away and held him at arms length. With her glassy eyes fixed to his, she whispered sweetly, "TallMonkey, I'm so glad that you saved me from death!"

His finger touched her lips lightly as he gazed lovingly into her tearful eyes. "Will you be mine to love and cherish now that no one can claim you anymore?"

GoldenFlower was so pleased that he still wanted her after so long a time. "I'm 22 years old now and no longer of an age suitable for marriage. Many men have taken my body for their pleasure. My heart and body is scarred with sadness and pain. I've lost two babies." She paused, the sorrow of losing her babies hit her, but she took a deep breath and continued, "my face is no more as sweet or pretty as I used to be. I'm not worthy to be your wife. I can only be your concubine and I will gladly serve as your slave."

He took hold of her pendant with his fingers and smiled at her, "does this pendant you are wearing mean anything to you?"

With a bit of shyness, GoldenFlower looked down, her eyes avoiding his and answered coyly, "Yes."

"What?"

She recited the poem from memory, "Until the time I belong to you, and you to me, our hearts will never be truly happy. For as sure as the sun rises, Yin and Yang will be united as one. Until that time befalls, I will be in the shadows, waiting patiently for you to come." Tears formed at the sides of her eyes.

"The time is now, and I've come out from the shadows!"

GoldenFlower embraced him tightly and started sobbing intensely with happiness. She suddenly remembered something. Pushing his body away, her eyes opened wide as she looked into his and whispered, "Until now, I know you only as TallMonkey. I still don't know your actual name."

"I'm Ohgee Barakhan, son of King Zajkor Barakhan of Uygor. And... I still want you as my wife. Anything else you need to know?" He gazed intently at her and smiled.

GoldenFlower grinned and she put her hands on the back of his head to bring his lips near to hers. "The rest can wait. Right now, show me what I've missed for so long!" Her eyes closed as their lips touched. She pulled him down to her body and planted kisses on his face, showering him with her love.

~*~

The same evening, near the camp fire...

Ohgee and GoldenFlower sat at the edge of a pond in the centre of the oasis, away from the rest of his warriors. He was dressed in comfortable, beige, long flowing robe, similar to those worn by the Arabs. She was similarly dressed as her clothes were still in Karakorum. The dress she had donned a few days earlier was stained with blood.

Gazing at him lovingly, holding his hands, she asked, "What did you whisper to Lord Jujur?"

He smiled at her. "I told him I had wanted to marry you for many years but I couldn't because of circumstances. I begged him to be merciful and grant me my wish to make you my wife. By doing so, it will deprive the Emperor of you. He will also have a friend in the south otherwise my army will join the Chinese to attack him. Right now, he needs friends, not enemies."

"I've so many things to ask and I don't know where to start!" She smiled back at him.

"We have a lifetime to answer all you queries. When you are able to ride, I'll take you to my palace, but, I warn you, it won't be as beautiful as the Forbidden City!"

"That doesn't matter so long as I have you," she replied. "In fact, I'd prefer to live a farmer's life!"

"Ha! Look at your feet! You won't be able to do field work because you'll be falling most of the time!" He laughed loudly. "Besides, a farmer's life is not for me."

GoldenFlower blushed but smiled. Then she gazed at him and spoke softly, "Let's start from the beginning. Why did you come to Xian?"

"Well, I was on my way to Xian to surprise my good childhood friend, who had set up a trading house for grapes and raisins. He had taken up his father's business. You may not know it but Turfan is famous for its sweet grapes and raisins." He smiled at her.

Ohgee continued his story, "it rained heavily one day and my horse broke its leg. I had to kill the animal and I was covered with mud. A farmer gave me some clothes in exchange for my expensive dress. I gave them my sword for safe keeping and I told the farmer that I will come back one day to get it. I would look ridiculous had I carried a sword in farmer's dress.

"I then continued my journey and I happened to meet a group of farmers running away from the police. That was when I was caught by the police. I pleaded my case before the magistrate, but, because I was not wearing my expensive dress, my story was not believable. I was sentenced to be executed.

"On the day of my execution, I was fated not to die. The governor's daughter came along and saved my life." He looked at GoldenFlower and smiled. "When you fainted, I carried you in my arms. I saw the most beautiful girl in my life. You also had so much compassion. From that point onwards, I wanted you to be my wife."

She blushed and gazed at him. "You should have told me you were a prince and I would have run away with you!"

He smiled. "I know you wouldn't have. That's why I had prepared the poem even before I met you on the hill top. I know your character. You wouldn't let your father down!"

"Maybe if had you pushed me harder, I would've surrendered!" she giggled.

"No you wouldn't! Anyway, I followed you on your journey to Beijing and saw you were very brave fighting the bandits. I thought you would be killed when the leader came for you. I don't know why he hesitated but you didn't and you killed him instead. But, I saw you felt sorry for him and held him in your arms as he died with you holding him. I couldn't come to your aid because your father would have thought I was one of the bandits."

GoldenFlower spoke softly, her eyes downcast, her fingers playing nervously with each other, "many men died for me! He was one of them."

"Once you were in the Forbidden City, I lost contact with you. While I was in Beijing, I joined a Confucius school, studying how to run a country. I only knew you went back to Xian when my friend, who had a trading house in Beijing, told me that you were no longer in the capital. I rushed back to Xian, hoping to meet you again and I'm glad that I did. I didn't know you lost your unborn child." He looked grim.

She held one of his hands and squeezed it firmly at the memory. Forcing a smile, she spoke softly, "that's over! Please continue."

"You remembered our encounters in Xian?" he asked. "I wasn't actually sorry that I took you against your will, but I felt remorse when I left your palace. Then I saw your face inside the carriage on the day you left for Beijing again. I knew you hated the tryst we had in your bedchamber!"

"That's over. We both liked it but I blamed myself for giving in to you so easily." She managed a smile and touched his cheek warmly.

"Whilst you were in the Forbidden City, I stayed with my friend and continued my studies in the school, hoping to meet you. It was a very long wait before I even got a chance to see you. As you were leaving Beijing at DaQing Gate, I shouted, "I'll come for you, My Princess."

"Yes, I remembered that. I thought that was you." She smiled at him.

"I took a boat up the river to Xanadu, hoping to see you before you arrived there, but I didn't manage to catch sight of you. I did manage to glimpse sight of you with another beautiful lady in the botanical garden a few months later. Then news of your marriage to Akgan Khan reached me. That's when I decided to go back to Turfan."

"I had to do it because I was carrying his baby." She gripped his hands tightly, pulled them to her face, feeling his warmth, tacitly asking for his forgiveness.

"You don't need to explain your actions to me." He gazed at her and smiled.

"I want you to understand my circumstances," she uttered with her eyes downcast.

"Then there was the uprising by Prince Subutai and Akgan Khan was assassinated. The news reached me a few days later as I was in Turfan and it was winter. I immediately journeyed to Xanadu. Then Prince Subutai was assassinated and Lord Jujur took over the city. When I heard that Lord Jujur had moved all the princesses to Karakorum, I followed you to there.

"A few months later, I heard that Xanadu was surrounded by the Chinese and I knew you were in big trouble. I met MorningBird in a traveller's inn. We rode as fast as our horses could carry us to my kingdom's nearest outpost. I brought back to Karakorum all the warriors I could spare. And yes, MorningBird should be safe in my palace in Turfan." He smiled at her.

She was so happy to learn about her maid and hugged him. "Thank you for saving them. You met her husband?"

"Yes. I'm happy for her too! A few days ago, I wore my battle dress and saved you. Anything else that I've missed out?" Ohgee said.

"Yes, but right now, I just want to hold you and not let you get away!" GoldenFlower hugged him tightly and wept softly. She felt his true love for her was unlike others she had experienced before.

~*~

The next morning, the pain was bearable and she decided to leave the oasis. They broke camp and journeyed to the Kingdom of Turfan.

Six days later, they passed a very spectacular mountain range.

"This mountain range is most unusual!" GoldenFlower spoke to Ohgee.

"Yes. This is the Flaming Mountain. From afar, the pattern on this mountain will look like many fires rising from the ground to the top. The red colour of the soil makes it look like fire all the more. It stretches for many li." He replied then arched his eye and smiled. "I've a surprise for you at the corner of this mountain range."

"I'm so happy to be together with you and I like surprises. Any hints?" she tried to pry an answer from him.

"We'll get married there!" he smiled.

GoldenFlower's heart started to beat faster and her face flushed. Finally, she will get married to the one true love of her life! 'Will there be a grand reception around the corner?'

~*~

The convoy set up camp beside the river in the valley. There were many trees to shade the tents as the weather was hot.

Ohgee smiled and gazed at GoldenFlower, "Ready?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed with happiness and couldn't wait to get married to him.

They carefully rode the winding path up the mountain and pass opened doorways to caves. She was puzzled! Where is the grand reception?

"This is the one thousand Buddha cave temple!" Ohgee said.

"But, this place is deserted!" she exclaimed.

"Yes. This temple was abandoned when the Arabs converted most of the people in this land to Islam. I used to meditate here when I was a child. It is very peaceful and cool inside!"