Disclaimer - Yadayadayada...read the fine print. Oh? There's no fine print?

Just as a thing this story is based off a mixture of various subjects. Dynasty Warriors the game, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and random history. Enjoy it if you want to

Prologue

The banquet hall was huge, lavish and busy - as they always were. It was abuzz with life. High officials talking and debating, ladies of the court chattering, servers clinging the dishes as they continued to replace what had been finished. It could all be very exciting, but Da found it tiresome tonight. She hadn't been feeling very social lately and some of the glances she had been receiving tonight made her even more uncomfortable. She was used to entering a room and be greeted by silence and stares, especially when her sister was with her. There was always talk about their beauty that could not be surpassed. But tonight it was different...somehow...

She wasn't naive. She knew her father had insisted on attending this banquet to see Lord CaoCao. Or should she say so Lord CaoCao could see the two sisters? Her father and the lord had been friends for most of their lives so Da and Xiao had been around for a random visit or two and plenty of these types of gatherings, but such things were different when you were a child. She had a funny feeling CaoCao was far more interested in them now than when they were little girls.

But then Xiao had also insisted and Da very much doubted it had to do with Lord CaoCao. Moreso with some letters she had been receiving. Atleast Da believed so. What other reason could there be? She wished her sister would tell her. Where had she gone anyway? All night she had been here and there. She looked around for Xiao and spotted her coming her way, a large cheerful smile on her face and two men following her.

"Hello, sister!" Xiao greeted her. "I would like you to meet Lord Zhou Yu and Lord Sun Ce." She paused waiting for a reaction. She wasn't disappointed. Her elder sister immediately looked at her with an expression that clearly said - So, this is the man you've been exchanging letters with. - But she wondered if Da could guess which one. She would have loved to turn around and see the oath brothers' looks, but it would have been too obvious. "It's been an enjoyable evening listening to their stories that I thought it only fair to include you!"

Sometimes her sister could be a vicious flirt, Da decided as she smiled her greetings...

Zhou Yu had a smile on his face and he couldn't help but blame his friend. "Wow...when you fall you fall hard."

"What do you mean?" Sun Ce looked at him, away from the busy room.

"You've been staring at her all night." It was one thing he had noticed since Xiao had introduced them to her sister. His friend appeared to not be able to speak for atleast five minutes. And whether Da had realized or not her almost bashful smile indicated her interest. As Xiao had commented - The night had become much more interesting.

"I have not." Came the expected denial.

"Alright." Zhou gave in. "Every other time you were not otherwise preoccupied. And may I point out you know exactly who I am talking about." The smile had yet to leave his face.

"And you would prefer I stare at the wall?"

"Not at all! They are far prettier than any wall I have seen. But perhaps make sure you are less obvious. I hear CaoCao is interested in them." Although it was only a rumour he didn't want Ce to get into any trouble. He hadn't dragged him all the way up to a northern territory banquet to anger a lord.

"That goat is interested in every pretty thing that walks through those doors. And since we're on the subject of being obvious...maybe you should watch how openly you flirt with Lady Xiao."

Zhou paused, being taken off guard. When it came to things like this he expected to catch people...not be caught. He cleared his throat. "I'm surprised you had time to notice."

"I'm sure you are." Ce gave a tight smile. He suspected Zhou thought he didn't notice plenty of things, but this there was no mistaken. He had witnessed his friend's wooing techniques before. Zhou may not like to admit it but there were certain habits he had that were easily distinguished. Problem was there was a difference to how he flirted with the younger Lady Qiao compared to others. Ce wasn't sure he wanted to spend the time figuring it out.

"So?" Xiao was leaning over the back of a long seat, occassionally one or both feet were kicked into the air. Although it was undeniably cute and was befitting Xiao's outgoing personality Da wished she would keep such athletics at home. It just wasn't proper in this kind of setting.

"What are you asking, sister?" Da sighed, sitting across from her. She hadn't stopped chatting since the two lords had excused themselves and Da had started turning a deaf ear to her.

"If you had been paying attention to me you would know." Xiao pouted. "But I just wanted to know what you were thinking."

"Nothing much."

"Nothing much! We're here in northern territory. We're attending a large banquet and are guests of a lord. I introduce you to two Lords of the Wu Kingdom. All that and you're thinking "nothing much"?" Xiao rolled her eyes before standing up and coming around and plopping herself on the couch she had been leaning over. "You don't tell me anything, I swear!"

"I don't?" Da raised an eyebrow. "What about you? Keeping secret that you have been receiving letters from Lord Zhou Yu."

Xiao opened her mouth then closed it. Did it twice more before she was able to speak. "How do you know it's Zhou Yu?" She dared her. She was very curious how her sister had come to this conclusion.

"He's been watching you all night."

"Has not!"

"No? I can't imagine what else would be keeping his attention in your direction."

"And what about Lord Sun Ce?" She countered.

"What about him?"

"He's been staring at you all night." She gave a smile and a mischievious look sparked in her eyes. And here she had been worried the week would be boring!

"Don't be silly." Da tried to deny it. It was ridiculous - her sister's silly notions. She didn't know what she was trying to prove or what kind of game Xiao had created to keep herself entertained. Although it would be easier to dispute if Da herself hadn't caught Lord Sun Ce watching her.

"Alright. When he wasn't otherwise preoccupied he's been staring in your direction." Did her sister have to be so literal? "Like he's doing right now!" She giggled, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

"He is not."

Just to make sure Da was wrong she turned to see for herself. "Yes, he is."

"Don't do that!" The elder sister reprimanded her, shocked at Xiao's boldness. The last thing she wanted to do was make a scene. If her thoughts were right CaoCao would have the younger lords' heads.

Xiao turned back around. "You make it seem as if it's a bad thing. I find Zhou Yu and Sun Ce very enjoyable company." She leaned closer to Da and lowered her voice. "Do you know who bothers me? Lord CaoCao. He's been watching us all night and it gives me the creeps! I don't care what Father says about him."

"Shush, Xiao!" Da hissed. "Don't let anyone hear you say that." She was semi surprised her sister had noticed, but it was a good thing she had. It meant she wasn't oblivious as she seemed to be on most occassions.

Xiao fell back, slouching. "But it's the truth!"

Da shook her head. If it was only that simple. Because if they were going to sit here and tell truths then - truth be told - she didn't want to be here. Then she wouldn't have to worry about Lord CaoCao or any other lord staring at her all night. Worry about what was expected of her or whether she was part of Xiao's self made amusement. None of it sat well with her.

Or atleast most of it...

Ce watched as the sisters conversed. Xiao was a bundle of energy as she bounced around changing positions at a moments notice, an excited squeal or giggle escaping once or twice from her. But it wasn't the youngest Qiao that held his attention. It was Da who sat there like a perfect statue that made him pause. He found himself wondering if she was always like that. What was there to find behind the facade. And he also wondered why he was so worried about it. It was rather unlike him. At one point she glanced over in his direction and he almost forgot how to breath. She had an intense gaze that was softened by thick, dark lashes and it held his attention far longer than it should.

"I bet you can't stop." Zhou's voice broke through his thoughts.

He turned towards his friend as he often did to speak to him. "What are you talking about?"

"I bet you my jeweled dagger that you can't stop watching Lady Da Qiao for the rest of the evening." Zhou was overly confident. He had not seen Ce quite like this before. It was vastly entertaining.

"You will lose." Ce returned.

"I highly doubt it."

They were interrupted by Xiao as she came bouncing up to them. "I was just seeing how...things...were going." She flicked her eyes for a second at Ce not dropping her smile for an instant. She too had noticed his reaction to her sister and found it utterly lovely!

"Quite well I would think." Zhou replied.

"I'm so glad!"

"And you? How has the evening been?"

"Well...alright I suppose." She always hoped for better on a normal basis and prefered it when her sister was in a much more playful mode. "I'm not overly keen on stuffy banquet halls. Much prefer the out of doors."

"Perhaps later you would like a tour of our ship."

"That would be lovely!" She clapped her hands. She hadn't expected such an invitation and was very excited. It was much better than being eyed by CaoCao.

Ce cleared his throat. "As the hour is so late perhaps another day for such a tour."

"Of course." Zhou nodded.

"Another day would be perfect. I'll bring Da along." Xiao couldn't resist. "She'll be absolutely enthralled."

"Would you and your sister like us to escort you to your carriage?" Ce suddenly offered. Both Xiao and Zhou were mildly shocked. All this time he had believed his friend incapable of flirting his way out of a burlap bag! This simple task was a huge improvement.

"I don't see how we could refuse. I'll go get Da!" She went running off.

"I thought we were trying to avoid being obvious." Zhou pointed out.

"With them gone and away from the festivities I think both of us will be less obvious." Came the simple explaination.