Author's Notes: I found this on my computer. I don't really remember where I was going with this but I'm pretty sure I wrote it in response to one of the challenges that had been posted on the Art of War site. Zhang Song and Fa Zheng are actual characters and Fa Zheng's style name is Xiaozhi. They both conspired against Liu Zhang. However Zhang Song was discovered and was executed along with his family. Fa Zheng actually lives on to see Liu Bei take Shu and becomes one of his men. I've taken some liberties in this story in regards to these two characters so it's not 100% historically correct, so please keep that in mind.

Securing Loyalties

Chapter 1

Blood, there was so much blood everywhere. In all her life nothing could ever even begin to prepare Yan Lian for the sight before her. A sob caught in her throat as the arms that held her back finally loosened enough to allow her release. The moment she was free she immediately fell to her knees, crying helplessly in her distress. Her stomach turned. She felt as if she was going to be sick. There, before her, sprawled across the dirt crusted floor in a rapidly growing pool of blood was her husband. Zhang Song. Her whole body trembled as she crawled over to the lifeless figure beside her and reached out. Ignoring the deep crimson pool that was quickly seeping into her clothes she gently touched his hand. Warm. He was still warm. On the verge of hysteria she began tugging on him, crying out his name again and again as she tried her hardest not to lose it completely.

"Throw her in the prisons," Liu Zhang ordered, much to the consternation of his surrounding officers.

"But my lord-"

"You dare question me," he thundered angrily, slamming his fist as he shot up to glare fiercely down at all those who dare oppose him. Although usually he wasn't so stringent with his men tough times called for tough measures and he needed to do what was necessary to make sure another instance such as this doesn't occur again. If he didn't have their loyalty then at least he would have their fear. "Do it now!"

With the utmost reluctance Fa Zheng moved towards the grief-stricken woman. He extended a hand down and softly implored, "Please Lady Yan, you have to come with me."

Through tear filled eyes Lian looked up at her husband's friend, the same one who had conspired with him in this whole thing, the one who was still alive while he was not. She wanted to hate him so much but she just couldn't. Song knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the risks and he did it anyway. He betrayed their lord and now they were both paying for his treason. Gently taking the hand offered she wiped her eyes and shakily forced herself up to her feet.

Annoyed Liu Zhang muttered, "Someone take her now before I throw you all in the prisons."

Zheng lowered his arm and was just about to lead her out when he saw two lower ranked officers coming forth. His grip tightened considerably on the spear he held. Before they could even come close he pushed her behind him and in one graceful move swung the head of his spear around to effectively halt them in their steps by the point of his blade. In a low voice he growled, "I will follow your orders but until you have adequate proof of her involvement I refuse to treat her with anything less than the respect befitting one of her station and anyone who dares to do otherwise will answer to my blade. Do I make myself clear?"

At that he lowered his spear again, leveling the room with his fiercest glare to accentuate his point before leading the clearly shaken woman down to the prisons. Save for the occasional sob the entire walk was one made in complete silence. No matter how much he longed to Zheng knew she needed the peace. It was only when he found himself on the outside of the locked bars with the younger woman he'd come to admire on the other side did he finally find his voice again.

"Lord Liu Bei is going to be launching his attack tomorrow," he told her in a hushed whisper. "While the troops are busy with preparations I'm going to send someone down to free you, a boy named Guo Yu. You will be led to the north gate and from there I want you to head pass the Valley of the Fallen Phoenix and around the forest. Just beyond it, in the southeast you will find Liu Bei's army. Tell him what has happened. He won't hesitate to offer you asylum in his camp. If he is every bit the man I know him to be he will not turn you away."

"Why? Why Xiaozhi? Why would I want to run to the man responsible for Song's death? How could you even continue this after what's happened?" she choked out, gripping the cold metal bars between them tightly as the tears continued to stream down her flushed cheeks. "Why are you doing this? Why did you let them kill him? Why?"

Zheng leaned forward, eyes remaining firmly fixed on the stone ground below as he softly answered her, "Shu needs a capable ruler if we are to prosper. Meng Da, your husband and I, we believe Lord Liu Bei to be this person. He is a fair man Lian, one who is generous and strong. If you do not believe me then believe those who fight with him, those who would willingly give their lives for him. His men are more than just his subjects they are his people, his friends." He paused to give her an imploring look. "I know you are not blind. I know you can see the state of our country, our people. We need a new direction. Liu Zhang isn't what's best for Shu anymore. Please understand Yan Lian we are doing this for our country. If Song didn't believe in Lord Liu Bei, in what we were doing he wouldn't have risked so much. He certainly wouldn't have risked you."

He gently touched her cheek to wipe away the tears that still fell, relieved to see that she did not move away from his touch. She was still mad but she didn't hate him and for that he was grateful. Ever since she married Song he had come to think of her as a sister and after losing one of his dearest friends the last thing he wanted was to lose her too.

"Whether Lord Liu Bei succeeds or fail I want you to remain with his army. I hear that there are women who travel and fight with him. You'll be safe there. Please promise me you will do as I say. Song will never forgive me if anything were to happen to you. I will never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you." Lian closed her eyes and silently nodded. She then placed her own hand over his and tilted her head up to stare into his tortured brown gaze. "I promise Xiaozhi. Just make sure you make it out of this alive also."

"I will," he promised. With a gentle smile he reluctantly pulled away. Although he hated the very thought of leaving her in such a place he knew he had too. Liu Zhang needed to be placated for the time being, least he tried for something more drastic like her execution. With sorrowful eyes he gave her hand one last gentle squeeze before finally letting go.

She gripped onto the bars as she watched him leave. Silently she wondered how exactly it all went so wrong. Although she had been far from living the ideal life she was happy. Her marriage may have been a farce but she did care for Song. He allowed her the freedom society would otherwise see fit to deny her, the freedom to pursue her dreams and seek the knowledge she had always craved. Without him there was no doubt in her mind life would've been very different. She had heard all the horror stories. Known of girls whose husbands abused and hurt them. And despite having been taught a thing or two personally by Zheng on how to defend herself she was still barely even able to hold her own against a lowly private. Her talents lay in the art of healing, not fighting.

She sunk down to the hay scattered floor, feeling both emotionally and physically drained. She just wanted the day to end. But more than that she wanted to wake up and find out that this was all just a dream, to find herself back in her own bed, to find Song still alive and well by her side.

"Please let me wake up," she whispered brokenly to herself, curling up into a fetal position as she lay down upon the straw matted cell. She forced her eyes to close and in the silence of the night cried herself to sleep.

* * *

"Lady Yan," came an urgent call that was quickly followed by a frantic tug to her arm.

Opening her eyes Lian slowly sat up. Confused she blinked rapidly as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Far from the lavish comfort of her room she had awoken to find herself trapped in the prison cell she vaguely remembered falling asleep in. The only difference was that it was no longer locked and she was no longer alone. It was then that it finally came back to her. She let out a shaky breath, trying her hardest to hold her emotions at bay. When she was certain another breakdown wasn't imminent she looked to the stranger beside her and frowned. Suddenly becoming aware of her precarious situation she quickly backed away from the intruder, ready to defend herself if need be.

"Lady Yan please, we must get going. If we do not hurry you will not be able to make it to the forest without getting caught in the crossfire," the teen before her blurted out, eyes darting about the place in clear anxiety as he took a hold of her hand.

Although she remembered Zheng's instructions she remained cautious. "Who are you?"

"Guo Yu, a loyal officer of General Fa Zheng," he answered immediately. "Please my lady we must hurry. We have already wasted too much time as it is."

Hearing the clear urgency in the boy's voice she nodded her consent before hastily rising to her feet. Without another word she followed him down the familiar hallways and towards the north gate, just as Zheng had told her. Apart from the few stragglers they ran into hardly any trouble and it wasn't long before they made it out.

The moment they were free of the castle gates Yu led her towards the surrounding shrubbery where a single horse, her horse Midnight, was already ready and waiting for her. With practiced ease she mounted the black stallion. Quickly thanking the teen for his help before taking off, knowing she must make the trip alone. At a steady pace she followed the familiar path, keeping to the cover of the trees as she made her way towards the Valley of the Fallen Phoenix.

It wasn't long before the unmistakable cries of battle sounded. Abruptly she pulled on the reigns, bringing her horse to a sudden halt as she stared off into the distance. To where she knew many of the men she'd come to know as friends were fighting for their lives. She tightened her grip on the reigns, torn between going back and helping treat the injured and continuing on to the camp as promised. Before she could make a decision however she heard something off in the distance. Deciding it better to be safe than sorry Lian dismounted, falling to the ground in a low crouch just as the echo of an approaching march froze her to the spot in fear.

"Surround the Valley of the Fallen Phoenix and shoot down anyone who tries to pass from the East," she heard a deep voice order. "And remember Liu Bei rides upon a white horse. It is more than likely he will cross this way. The battle is won if we are able to strike down the enemy commander. Go take your post. Secure the north gate at all costs."

"Yes sir," responded a chorus of what must've been over fifty men.

A thunder of footsteps immediately reached her ears, signaling the unit's departure. Once she was sure they were gone she climbed back onto Midnight with a troubled frown. If they are successful in taking down Liu Bei then Liu Zhang would win. Her husband's death would be for naught and Fa Zheng would no doubt be exposed as a conspirator. He would be executed just as Song was. Her grip on the reigns tightened. She couldn't let that happen. Not again. She may not understand why it was so important this so-called man of justice should rule Shu but there was one thing she did know. If he were to lose then she too will lose. She would lose all that she held dear. She had already lost a husband. She could not stand to lose a brother also. She had to stop this. She had to do something.

"I have to warn them about the ambush," she murmured to herself.

With her mind made up she gave a sharp kick to her steed's side. Kicking its front legs up with a loud cry the black-haired horse rushed forward, heading into the valley at full speed. Even with their head start she knew that she could outrun the ambush unit. She just hoped they weren't planning on positioning themselves anywhere near or else there would be no way she would be able to pass.

As she rode the ominous rise of hills on either side cast a shadow over her. She felt a sudden chill run down her spine but continued anyway. It was then she saw them. In the distance she spotted what looked like specks of green with a larger white speck leading the march. A white horse, she mentally noted. It must be Liu Bei. In a futile attempt to gain their attention she threw a hand in the air, pointing to the surrounding hills as she yelled at the top of her lungs, "Ambush. Turn back."

Determined more than ever to relay her message she gave her horse another firm kick, propelling them both forward even faster. For a split second she thought she heard something from above. It almost sounded like someone calling out. Before she could even begin to digest what it was she felt something lodge itself deep in her right shoulder. A sharp pain shot through her entire body, nearly dislodging her off her horse with just the sheer intensity. It was then that another something whizzed by, this time slicing open the tender flesh of her cheek. She held on tightly, forcing the pain away as she desperately fought to remain astride, more than relieved she had yet to fall off. For that would certainly be a death sentence. She knew at that moment the only reason she was still alive was because she was moving too fast to allow them to get a proper lock on her and the ambush party hadn't expected anyone to come from the west. Unsure whether she was friend or foe the they must've hesitated. And it was this indecision that had saved her life.

"Please, please Midnight, keep going," she chanted under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut as she silently willed her steed to keep on going.

After a moment she finally forced them opened again, only to find her vision blurred by tears. She had no idea how long her horse kept up his grueling pace but she was mildly aware of him slowing down. It only barely registered in her mind that the barrage of arrows had also stopped. She was conscious but very much unconscious of everything around her. All she knew was that she must've escaped the range of the ambush unit because another hit had yet to meet its mark. Looking ahead she saw the green blurs coming towards her. Or was she heading towards them? She wasn't sure. All she knew was that they were getting closer. Adrenalin now gone she felt all the energy zap right out of her, the pain returning full force. Suddenly light headed she released her grasp on the reigns and for a second she was sure she was flying. Completely weightless, she felt like a feather, just falling further and further, floating on the wind. She closed her eyes, awaiting the impact that was never to come. Instead a warm body softened the fall, catching her just before she hit the ground.

"Why hello there little miss," a soft voice mumbled.

Lian looked up to find herself faced with a pair of furrowed brown eyes, the only feature that was visible from behind the straw hat and mask the man looking down on her wore. She felt her vision began to darken as the world slowly disappeared from around her. Barely coherent she murmured, "Lord... Liu Bei... ambush... valley..." That said her eyes rolled into the back of her head and with a low groan her whole body slumped in the stranger's arms as she fell into a dead faint.