Author's Notes: Please keep in mind that this will not be historically accurate. Historical things will happen, but this is a work of fanfiction. And also I own nothing other than the plot and my own characters. This stands for all chapters. Thank you for continuing to read!

"Boyue! Wait, okay?"

Jiang Wei stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. The corridor was nearly empty with the exception of the short girl hurrying towards him.

"You are a little late this morning," he commented as she reached his side. "Did you sleep late again?"

"It seems I am quite famous for that," Xueling muttered, slightly embarrassed by one of her faults.

"Do not be so down about it. Sometimes I wish I could sleep more," Jiang Wei responded giving Xueling a friendly pat on the head. She flushed and Jiang Wei gave her a strange look, but said nothing of it.

"I guess if the nightmares stopped then I could wake up on time or at least at a more reasonable hour."

"Nightmares? Have you spoken to the Chancellor about them?" Jiang Wei inquired with a concerned tone.

"Absolutely not. I'm sure they will go away eventually," Xueling replied with an honest smile.

"If they persist promise me you will seek his counsel."

"You have my word."

Jiang Wei nodded in approval and gave a small smile. "Let us get to breakfast, shall we?"

The dining hall was filled with hundreds of soldiers and servants alike. All of them were chatting away happily while enjoying their morning meal. The friends spotted two empty seats between Xingcai and Zhuge Liang and occupied them quickly.

"So in these nightmares, I keep seeing myself on the battlefield and all of a sudden, my family appears before me. I become unable to move and they all start coming towards me. They are angry and it terrifies me so much that I wake up," Xueling explained to Xingcai as the two ate their breakfast.

"That does sound awful. I am sorry that you miss your family," Xingcai replied offering a sympathetic smile.

"I do miss them but I am lucky to have Boyue here. We have known one another for a long time now. I guess it's kind of like you and Guan Ping, right?"

Xingcai blushed and fidgeted in her seat.

"What?" Xueling asked with a laugh. "Why do you act so bashful when he is mentioned?"

"Just…just keep your voice down please!" Xingcai exclaimed in a whisper. Xueling bit back another laugh and looked down at her half-finished plate of food. Xingcai continued in a desperate attempt to change the subject. "Perhaps you would like to speak of your beloved Jiang Wei instead?"

Xueling glared at her friend with dark eyes and fought not to stumble over her words. He was sitting just on her other side and this was definitely one conversation she did not want to reach his ears. "W-why would you say something like that? I haven't the slightest idea of what you are talking about." Yes, playing ignorant seemed the best choice for this situation.

"Your mouth says one thing, but your eyes say another."

Xueling refused to answer.

Xingcai continued even though she probably shouldn't have. "It is actually quite surprising that the two of you are not married. After all it was quite unusual that he would make you his lieutenant general and pass up all those other officers."

"I could say the same about you. And there are more important things than whether or not the hopeless and absent minded officer is going to marry the Prodigy." Xueling whispered as she looked once more at her half finished meal and realized she no longer felt hungry. Quietly she excused herself and left the dining hall without another word.

The lone girl meandered down the halls of the capital, going nowhere in particular. She walked lazily and allowed her mind to wander during this rare time she had alone. She was not angry with Xingcai's words, she was angry that her friend's assumptions were correct. Xueling reminisced about her family back in Tianshui. She had not seen her mother, father, or younger brother since long before she left to join Jiang Wei in the kingdom of Shu. Hopefully Zhang He had explained everything to them delicately as she had asked him to do. Hopefully her dear cousin had had the time to do so. Hopefully he was well. She knew she should write him again, although she was not sure if her letters were reaching him anymore. He had not responded to her last five letters.

Anguish washed over her and she increased her pace without realizing it. Lost in thought and not watching where she was going caused her to accidentally run into something rather large and solid. The collision made her head spin a little and she had some trouble focusing on the figure before her.

"Lady Zhang! Are you alright?" the form asked.

"I…uh…yes. I am alright." She rubbed her temples and blinked quickly in a desperate attempt to clear her case of double vision. "I really should have been minding where I was going." Xueling looked up and saw the man who owned the voice speaking to her.

"Are you sure? I could fetch someone if you are injured…It is no trouble."

"Trust me, I am alright Lord Zhao. Just a little dizzy after running into you so roughly," Xueling reassured her superior. As she bowed to him she nearly toppled over but quickly regained her balance. "Imbecile," she continued in a whisper.

"That is not very kind of you." Zhao Yun responded looking slightly hurt.

"N-no! Lord Zhao, not you!" she replied frantically, reaching out to comfort the noble general. "I was scolding myself is all!" There was no way she could ever insult this man. She admired him far too much for that.

Zhao Yun let out a hearty chuckle. "My words still stand. Stop being so hard on yourself, my lady."

Xueling smiled in response to his statement. "I must be going now. It was nice speaking with you. Once again I apologize." She bowed once more and then began walking down the corridor again, a blank stare on her plain features.

Zhao Yun watched as the girl fluttered down the vast corridor, a friendly smile on his face. "I expect great things from you, Lady Zhang," he stated to no one in particular.

The next day was extremely hot and the air was filled with the sweet scent of the flowers from the main courtyard. Jiang Wei was returning to his room after an early meeting with the Prime Minister. Shu was planning to march on Jieting soon and there were many preparations to be made. He and Zhuge Liang had another meeting scheduled for later that day and the younger general was longing for rest.

Jiang Wei entered his bedchamber and closed the heavy door behind him. His eyes glanced over the room decorated in dark green and gold and he let out a rather exhausted sigh. The promising young strategist made his way over to the solid desk that sat in the corner. His head tilted in a confused manner as he eyed the scrolls that rest on the desk. His usual strategy scrolls were present as well as his personal ones, but amidst the neatly organized rolls of parchment, there was a single one that was askew.

Curious, Jiang Wei picked it up and carefully unrolled the heavy paper. A quickly scrawled note met his vision and he read it slowly, as it was hard to decipher.

Boyue-

I came looking for you this morning when I did not see you at breakfast. I was worried until Lady Yueying informed me you had an early meeting. I know your schedule is full, but if you get the opportunity, I would like to speak with you. For old time's sake. I will be in my room or in the library.

-Xueling

Jiang Wei smiled to himself and placed the scroll back on the desk. This was the third note she had left him in the past ten days. He had been unable to visit with his old friend despite reading her past two notes to him, and he knew he should not put this off any longer now that he had a little time. Xueling had always been a patient girl, but he knew better than to push her to her limit. When she got upset she tended to get reckless as well and she was already suffering enough due to the guilt she was feeling because of her defection.

Jiang Wei needed sleep, but something told him Zhang Xueling needed him more.

Revised: December 29th 2013 ; January 2nd 2014.