Her head hung low as she was pushed to her knees, shame overtaking her as eyes of both her captured comrades and enemies bore onto her. She was suppose to be Yuan Shao's greatest warrioress, among the ranks of Yan Liang and Wen Chou, yet she kneeled here, defeated. She could feel the shame-filled gaze of her lord due to her failure and she dreaded the thought that she would have to face his disappointment just before both their deaths.

"You're this 'great' Fan I've heard so much about?" Dark, cold- the voice of the great Wei lord sent shivers down her spine. She looked up to meet his piercing gaze and her breath was caught in her throat. She was never so close to this infamous man, never so close to fear itself. This man, Cao Cao, a great and terrifying lord that caused Fan Tui to cower, narrowed his lightless eyes at her and forced his thin lips into a frown. "Disappointing." He drawled, raising his hand to signal the beheading of her, her comrades and her lord. Closing her eyes, Tui lowered her head, making her loose hair fall down her shoulders and exposing her neck to the executioner. It was her fault for failing, her fault for not being strong enough, this was a suiting end for such a warrior and so she was going to accept it without struggle. Thinking back on her life, she cracked a smile at her earlier years; she was going to live on a farm, her husband tending to the crops while she kept her little boy and girl healthy and happy- or that's what she had planned- funny how she never pictured this happening. Tui tuned her ears in to listen for the gruesome sound of parting flesh and the thump of her lord's head, but instead she heard his frantic protests.

"No! You can't do this! Cao Cao, you tyrant!" Filled with embarrassment at her lord's cowardice, Tui turned her head away from him. She had began serving under Yuan Shao for as long as she could remember, she believed he was loyal to the Han, he was just and true; it was only after she pledged loyalty to him that she found he- like every other lord- only fought to better themselves. He was a coward, a selfish and vain man, yet she held no bitterness toward him, she had served him loyally until this day, an action she did not regret; though she had desired at some points to be a star general under a man such as Liu Bei, a man who is caring, kind- a man for the people, a man with a dream worth fighting for. Just as soon as Yuan Shao's shouting started, it stopped, being replaced by a thud and the sound of crunching dirt as his head rolled at the feet of the Wei army. Tui released a final sigh knowing she was next, her fellow soldiers to follow soon after.

"My lord, wait," Snapping her eyes open, Tui brought her puzzled gaze to the warrior who intervened and who Tui immediately recognized as the great Zhang Liao. Just as surprised as she was, Cao Cao raised a dark brow at his interruption but remained silent to allow him to continue. "Perhaps this woman can be of use to us." Tui's heart began beating faster and something was tugging at her, what was this... hope? Yes, she was hoping this would save her, somehow this would keep her alive, she realized, she didn't want to die. When Cao Cao didn't respond immediately, Tui's eyes, once dull, glimmered with a silent prayer. "Her name is known far, many fear her, could this not be used to our advantage?" Liao added, trying to push his lord's decision. Tui ran her eyes over her savior, unbelieving that this demon of war was the one who was helping her. The Wei army was known for being heartless, cold and vicious, Tui assumed the fearsome warrior, Zhang Liao, would be no different. As she moved her gaze from him, she noticed Cao Cao's stare weighing down on her. A stout smile formed on his lips at the sight of her desire; an expression used positively by most, seemed malicious on him.

"If that's the case, would it not also be beneficial for her to die? They fear her name, they will fear the name Cao Cao if she falls to me." Her fearlessness of dying faltered and her breath caught in her throat once again. No, she changed her mind, she didn't want to die, not now! She looked from Cao Cao to Zhang Liao and narrowed her eyes to him. Damn him, damn him for making her feel hopful! He couldn't have let her be content and at peace with her execution? The warrior bowed his head to his lord and backed away, showing submission and respecting his answer. Tui frowned at his withdrawal and hung her head, ashamed for allowing him to make her falter. "However," Cao Cao began, "you've not done me wrong, Zhang Liao. If you believe she could be of use, I will respect that proposal." Tui gasped lightly, but quickly pursed her lips together when the dark man once again gave her a glance. Afraid to tear her gaze away from his, as if he would turn on her any moment, Tui noticed something flicker in his normally emotionless eyes. Not removing his piercing look from her, he gave a wave of dismissal to the soldier who was about to show her to oblivion. Hearing his armor scrape against itself from a bow, he pulled Tui from the ground, swiftly cut the ropes binding her wrists and roughly pushed her even closer to the lord. "I give you the chance to live and fight once more, for an even greater cause than that of your departed 'lord'. You may accept, or die where you stand." 'I accept!' No, she wasn't going to plead for her life, she wasn't going to be so desperate She remained silent, both humans locked onto one another's gaze; his, powerful and intense, intimidating. Her's, wary and anxious, hopeful. "What will it be?" No ones words ever held so much weight for her. They made her want to cripple to her knees.

"I accept," Tui managed to choke out, "I accept my lord." She repeated more firm, immediately feeling a sickness from saying it. Had she just agreed to join this demon, just to spare her life? Whatever pride and honor she held for herself was now smothered in flames. But her desire to live at that moment was greater than it had ever been. "I pledge my loyalty to you." Tui repeated for the second time in her life while getting to her knees in a bow.