Soldiers Always Think of Home
by theleakypen

Soldiers Always Think of Home

theleakypen

Summary

“Dong jie fights well as always,” Mu Nihuang said, smiling. “It’s been a while since we’ve sparred; perhaps you can give me a match, as well?”

Xia Dong had had her own year of mourning. She had tried to comfort herself with the knowledge that Nie Feng had died a hero, had given his life to prevent a rebellion, and had succeeded. All things being equal, though, she’d rather her husband were alive.

Xia Dong realized the silence had dragged on too long. The smile on Mu Nihuang’s face was slipping. Xia Dong found her own smile somewhere and gave Mu Nihuang a challenging bow. “I would be honored to spar with the princess,” she said. “Let us see if you have kept up your training, stuck in the south as you were.”

Notes

First ever Yuletide fic! I hope you like it :)

I spent a while sorting out what I think Xia Dong's and Mu Nihuang's pre-canon timelines might be—I hope where I have landed works for you.

Thank you so much to my betas on this!

Title is very, very loosely inspired by Li Bai's The Moon at the Fortified Pass.

Imported from Archive of Our Own. Original work id: 28143363.