Chapter One: Daughter of the Sleeping Dragon

Sitting at my fathers desk, I move my hands over the map, feeling the bumps. The more bumps the higher the elevation, and different variations for water and forests. This was made especially for me so that I could study strategy.

I hear the door slide open, "Hello?"

"Xiaolian, we have some guests. Come and be introduced." Mother says to me as she puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Yes." I reply as I stand up.

I follow her footsteps through the house and ask, 'Who is visiting?"

"Liu Bei and some of his officers," She replies calmly as she suddenly stops.

I stop as well, wondering why I can no longer hear her feet moving.

"Make sure to keep your gaze low, daughter. Your eyes are abnormal... It may make them feel uncomfortable." She says quietly as she picks up one of my hands and squeezes it.

I smile back at her, "I understand."

That has been said to me many times. My blindness has caused some sort of color defect in my eyes, and it seems unnatural. Many times I have been left out of something because of it. If I were just normal..

I follow mother as she starts walking again, then knocks lightly on the door.

"Enter." Father says as Mother opens the door.

"I am Yue Ying, wife of Zhuge Liang. This is our daughter, Zhuge Xiaolian." She says, bowing.

I bow, keeping my eyes low, "I.. I am Xiaolian. Pleased to meet you."

I hear movement, as if multiple people suddenly stood.

'I am Liu Bei. It is a pleasure to met you, Lady Yue, Lady Xiaolian." A soft and virtuous voice speaks with confidence.

"Greetings, Lady Xiaolian, Lady Yue. I am known as Guan Yu." A strong and determined voice says.

Wait... I know these people. The Liu Bei who fought at the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Hu Lao Gate, along with his brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Such great warriors... here to speak with father? I am unsurprised. It is true that father is the most intelligent man alive.

A rough voice, that seems irritated says, "I'm Zhang Fei. Nice to meet ya."

The fourth person says in a firm and gentle voice, "I am Zhao Yun, and I am delighted to meet you."

I can feel the hairs on my neck stand up. His voice sounds so kind...

I bow again with a demure smile, then sit beside my father. Picking up the teapot, I pour into fathers glass, which he holds out to me.

By feeling the air momentum that his movement makes, I can 'sense' where the cup is. It doesn't always work but, it is better than just guessing.

Father places the cup on the table and then says, "I will help you, Lord Liu Bei. But you must promise to walk a path of benevolence."

"Benevolence?"

"Yes," Father replies, "That is the true form of your intentions. To bring peace to the land not for fame or wealth... but for the people."

I can sense Liu Bei nodding his head, "Yes... benevolence... that's it. That's what I want!" He exclaims.

I smile. It seems that father has finally chosen who to give his alliance to. I am glad, fathers talent should not waste away up on this mountain. It should shine bright as a star. Not that I would know how a star shines... but I can imagine it.

"I understand. Xiaolian and I will support you with our knowledge." Yue Ying says as she kneels beside me.

I hear the fabric of a chair as someone shifts their weight, "You are also strategists?"

Mother puts her hand on my shoulder, "Xiaolian has been studying under her father since she was a child. It is a pity..."

I look at the floor, feeling hurt.

Father shakes his head and says, "You've nothing to be ashamed about, Xiaolian. It's not your fault you were born blind."

I smile gratefully at him and bow my head slightly, 'Thank you."

"Blind?" Liu Bei asks. I can feel that the attention of the four men has shifted to me.

I fidget nervously.

The boisterous Zhang Fei says, "We can't take a blind person with us. She'll only be a burden."

Those words strike me like a blade to the heart. That is the only thing I've ever regretted in my life. I have many things that some people don't have. Loving parents... a home. Knowledge. I can give up my eye sight for that. But to be a burden? I'd rather die.

I feel water welling up in my eyes, and I wipe it away with my sleeve. But as the tears continue to fall, I stand and say, 'Please excuse me!"

Rushing out, I trip multiple times on the way back to my room. I lock the door behind me and sit on the window seat. I stare over the small hot spring and calmly regain my composure.

With determination I decide something.

I'll never be a burden. If so, I will take my own life.

I swear it.

End Chapter One

Disclaimer: DW or its characters do not belong to me!

Hello, this is Shiro Chan! It is nice to see you again.

I am pleased to present my next OC story; "The Sleeping Fox"

I hope you like my character 'Zhuge Xiaolian'

I chose that name because it means "Little Compassionate One" and is not a mixture of Xiao Qiao and Lian Shi's names.

Thank you for your attention!

Best wishes,

Shiro-Chan~