Thanks for the nice reviews, I appreciate them! Hope you all had a great New Year, and here is chapter 2. All things in italics are Wei's thoughts.
Troubled Mind.
"Ever since that night at Wu Zhang Plains he's been different, you must have noticed Liang." Yue Ying was sat at a table with her husband, looking worriedly in Wei's direction.
"Yes, you are right Ying, ever since our return to the palace he has been distant from everyone, even me," He followed her gaze to his young protégé, apart from everyone else as usual and sighed, "I think I will speak with him tonight after Lord Liu Bei's feast, but I think he needs to be alone to count his thoughts, for now at least."
Wei tried to act normally, like nothing had happened, but he couldn't deny it, something had happened, a very big something. He nudged his meat bun, staring into space thinking about the night of Sima Yi's return. Nothing seemed the same to him anymore: I have always been loyal to Lord Liu Bei, but now, I can't help but wonder how loyal I actually am…… am I a traitor because of what happened? What if people found out? I would be cast out, but I can't keep this inside me, it is too painful, he took a large gulp of wine that completely drained his glass then put his head in his hands I need some fresh air. He then stood and walked to the large doors, but was waylaid on the way by Xing Cai and Guan Ping.
"Hi Wei!" Cai said in what he noticed as a fake cheery tone, I suppose they know something's wrong, "Me and Ping were gonna go to the training room to spar for a while, you feel like joining us?" Wei sighed,
"Tempting as that sounds, I am afraid I cannot, I have work to do for Master Liang." Cai looked a bit putout, until Ping said hastily,
"Oh well, come on Cai, it's his loss, I guess he's just afraid we'll beat him." Cai grinned and the walked away, as they rounded a corner however, Wei heard their voices.
"Oh, great job Ping, what was that, reverse psychology?" Ping shrugged,
"Well, it normally works, I thought he would want to prove me wrong and come, but I guess it didn't work…" Cai rolled her eyes at him and asked,
"Well, what are we gonna do now?" Ping grinned,
"Wanna make out in my room?" Cai made a fake posh accent,
"Guan Ping! Such suggestions are not permitted by a lady of my class," She dropped the accent, "But to hell with that, lets go!" despite himself, Wei felt himself laugh and he rolled his eyes and continued on his way to the gardens.
He stretched his arms over his head and sat on a stone bench on the bank of the large pond. Now this is a place to think. He stared at the shimmering surface of the water, until a carp broke the surface and he jumped. He scolded himself; Honestly, now tiny fish scare me, what has become of me? He resumed his staring at the water and he saw a peach blossom float towards him, he vent low a scooped it up. It was softer than what he expected, and it smelt wonderful, he turned his gaze at the sky watching the sun shine and clouds scurry across the blue surface, he felt better surrounded by this peace and tranquillity, until he heard a voice carried on the wind,
"I am glad you like the flower." Wei stood bolt upright, looking round desperately for the source, finding none, he screwed the blossom up in his hand and threw it into the pond. "Damn you, Sima Yi.." He muttered to himself, then, he lost all sense of where he was and he screamed at the top of his lungs across the lake, letting out all his anger, hurt and confusion in one loud burst.
"Um, sir?" Wei turned to see a maid standing a fee feet away, looking more than slightly disturbed, "Lord Liu Bei's feast is about to begin, and your presence is requested in the great hall…." She bowed and hurried away. Wei walked to the doors, taking one last look at the garden, before heading to the hall.
It was already packed and noisy when he entered, and he saw his seat at the long table, next to Liang, and sat down. "How are you Wei?" He looked at Liang,
"Oh, I am fine Prime Minister, why do you ask?" Liang stared appraisingly at his pupil and said,
"No reason, was it wrong for me to ask?"
"Of course not, my apologies." Liang sighed, shook his head before talking to his wife sitting next to him, once again, leaving Wei to himself. They really care about me, but if I told anyone…They'd think I was a slut or a whore, but would they be wrong to think that? No. No I wont tell anyone, I can't tell anyone.
The evening wore on quite uneventfully; Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were again engaged in another heated drinking contest and the usual chatter was going round the tables, which Wei didn't take part in. He reached for his goblet of wine and took a small sip, it was then that he heard it; Sima Yi's voice came to him as clear as if he were right in front of him.
"Aww, is my little Wei preoccupied? You should eat something, I would be most upset if you were to fall ill" Wei could hear the mocking laughter in his voice and he did his best to ignore it, but it still came, "How have you been since our last meeting? I had been hoping to come to you, but that man next to you has never left your side, why, I think he may try to steal you from me."
"Shut up Yi." Wei muttered, he was feeling sick and humiliated, but managed to control himself, "Of course he would have no chance if he tried, firstly because I would kill him if he came near you, and secondly because you love me, so-" Wei finally lost it, forgetting he was in a crowded room, and that Sima Yi was no where to be seen he stood up and yelled,
"I DO NOT! LEAVE ME ALONE!" The room went deathly quiet, everyone was staring at Wei, who was breathing hard, fists clenched, he stared round, realising what he had just done and said, shakily, "I-I am sorry, I did not mean to- I'm sorry." He then turned and headed out of the hall, not looking at anyone.
Ok, I tried to have a funny bit with Cai and Ping, it was crap, but oh well. Hey, are my chapters a bit too long? Let me know please, and as always, please, please, please review! If you don't, Wei will die! (he he he)