Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Dynasty Warriors except my fanfic!

Author's Note: Hi there! I'm glad you liked the first chapter. I know it was short, but thanks for reading. I just wanted to get something down as 'Embodiment of Fire' has now been completed [Sun Shang Xiang x Zhou Yu]. I think Zhao Yun and Zhen Ji are great characters too, so this story will be about them. I won't be going along with all the history e.g. I know Zhen Ji was married to Cao Pi, etc., but that's all the fun of fanfiction, right?

Anyway, here is the next 'longer' chapter!

Chapter Two: Delicate Flower and Gentle Wind

"A fine name, for a fine lady," he began. "Though, I regret that the lodgings are not as splendid as you may be accustomed to. We are but soldiers here."

"They are sufficient for your needs, are they not?" enquired Zhen Ji.

"Yes, a soldier needs no luxury."

"Then as your captive, I deserve none."

"Captive…?" Zhao Yun's face was full of surprise. "You are not a prisoner, my Lady." He looked at her intently. "Rest a while," he said standing up. "We will talk later. My Lady," he said giving a quick bow. Then he left the tent.

Zhen Ji looked around the tent. On the table she noticed some ink and parchment. Perhaps she could send a message. She moved over to the table and just stared at the blank parchment. Even if she had the means of writing a message, how would she get it delivered…? What if it fell into the wrong hands…? It was useless. Zhen Ji held her head in her hands. She had to stay calm. There were always other ways. She took a deep breath. In reality she should count herself lucky, shouldn't she? She wasn't in any real danger. As long as her identity remained secret she was safe. Zhao Yun he… she had heard that he was a brave general, a man of his word, guided by the values of truth and honour. While she was in his charge, Zhen Ji was almost certain he wouldn't let any harm come to her.

Deciding, at this moment in time, she would find no rest Zhen Ji wandered outside. As she stepped out of the tent, the first thing she did was look up at the sky. It was cloudless, a pale blue. She had never been to the Shu province before, but she had studied and knew a lot about the terrain and history. Even so, it seemed different to how she had imagined. Being betrothed to Cao Pi of Wei meant that most of the things she had heard from the people around her about Shu were mostly negative. Thus, an upside to her being here was that she could learn for herself what Shu was really like. As if she had been married to Cao Pi then she would most certainly have been forbidden to set foot here. So this was just a part of the Shu army, she thought to herself as she looked around. The soldiers' uniform was a dark jade. The only soldiers she had come into close contact with before were those from Wei. Zhen Ji continued walking; leisurely observing the camp when something caught her eye. One of the soldiers was trying to perfect his archery skills. She moved closer for a better view. The soldier seemed rather frustrated and she could see why. He hit the target well enough, but none of the arrows were in the centre.

"May I have a go?" Zhen Ji asked him suddenly.

"A woman…?" He gave a spiteful laugh. "You think you can do better?"

Zhen Ji picked up the bow, holding it at arms length she examined the target in the distance. Then lowering the bow for a second she picked up an arrow. Lifting the bow, with the arrow in place, she looked at the target again. Then without hesitation, she pulled the arrow back and released it.

"That's impossible," the man exclaimed. The arrow had hit the target, dead centre. "How did you –"

"Obviously, with practice," Zhao Yun intervened, "something which you men don't take seriously. For that reason, you will all practice until nightfall."

"Until nightfall, but sir –"

Zhao Yun gestured for him to be silent. Then he glanced at Zhen Ji and said quietly "Please do not be offended." Zhao Yun turned back to his troops "If a delicate woman can hit the target accurately with one shot, there is no reason why you men shouldn't be able to manage it. You are soldiers and that is why you are here."

"Yes sir," the soldiers called out in unison.

"Shall we?" Zhao Yun held out his arm, but Zhen Ji did not accept.

"You don't trust me. That's understandable. If you don't mind me saying, though, that was a good shot."

"You mean, for a delicate woman," she remarked.

"So you were offended?"

"Only a little," Zhen Ji gave a little smile, and knelt before the stream.

"To win a war, your soldiers must first be learned in the art of war. If they are not, then the war is already lost."

"War," she sighed, "it results only in bloodshed and suffering."

"But in war people do not suffer needlessly, and if it is won then the suffering is put to an end." Zhao Yun knelt down beside her.

"Then to put an end to suffering," Zhen Ji spoke slowly, gazing at her reflection in the still water, her arms out at her sides, "you must first suffer?"

"War is the way of the world."

"A way I would most definitely change."

"What way would you choose instead?"

"Intellect," she told him with an air of confidence.

"You would talk your enemies to death?" he laughed.

"If people were all learned in more scholarly disciplines" she looked at him with annoyance on her face, "then they would see that war wasn't the only way. For if one doesn't know war, how can it be put into effect?"

Zhao Yun's expression became more serious now. "If only that were so, my Lady, but that world is far beyond our reach. Tell me, if that is how you feel about war, why be skilled with a bow?"

"The target does not have to be a man; hence archery gives us more than a weapon. It provides man with the means to hunt, as well as discipline," she replied leaning forward over the bank once more. "However, my answer now would be that everyone should know how to protect themselves."

"Surely, a lady like yourself would have many men more than willing to protect you."

Not looking up at him, she whispered "You never know when you'll find yourself all … alone." At that moment a tear fell and caused a small ripple in the water.

"But you are not alone. You will remember," he told her "and when you do, I, Zhao Yun, promise to help you find your way back to your loved ones."

She wiped her eyes and looked at Zhao Yun, "Thank you," she began, "but you do not know what you promise." Leaving no room for any further talk of the matter, she stood up and asked him quickly "Could I rest a bit longer?"

"Can you find your way back to the camp?"

"I think so."

"Then sleep well, my Lady."
With that Zhen Ji made her way back to the tent, she had found herself in. Zhao Yun was still kneeling. He watched her as she disappeared from view. It was an age in which men had more influence. A woman's place rested solely upon her ability to bear strong sons and beautiful daughters. Zhen Ji, however, was a learned woman. Was she of nobility then…? Her clothes certainly depicted as much although they did no justice to her beauty, which was definitely hard to dismiss. As he pictured her in his mind, Zhao Yun remembered what she had said when he had promised to help her. What had she meant by '…you do not know what you promise'? Had she remembered something about her past? Whatever it was, thought Zhao Yun, at this moment in time she was delicate… a delicate flower.

Zhen Ji entered the tent and drew the curtains. Searching the tent briefly she found a map, which she placed on the low table. Maybe she could find her way out of Shu. Her mind then, however, wandered over what had happened once more. She thought about what Zhao Yun had told her, that she wasn't alone and that he would reunite her with her loved ones. She sat down to examine the map. There was the Shu province. So she traced her fingers across the map and there was Wei. Then she recognised another. It was where she was to live with Yuan Xi… but he was gone. She was alone. Zhao Yun was wrong. Her loved ones…? Who were they…? She had married Yuan Xi, but then… he had been killed. Then Cao Pi had arrived and he had asked for her hand. Zhen Ji had just lost her husband after being newly-wed. How could she love another so soon…? She had had no time to grieve and yet she had found herself betrothed to Cao Pi. And what about Cao Pi…? Did he love her? Or was it her beauty he fell in love with… her body rather than her soul? If he truly loved her, surely, he wouldn't give up on her. He would come find her, even if she was in enemy territory. Enemy territory...? Then was Zhao Yun, her enemy? He had shown her kindness, but if he knew the truth… she just couldn't tell him. She threw the map aside, folding her arms and resting them upon the table and then buried her face into them and sobbed.
It was late now and rather dark in the tent. Zhen Ji was lying on her back and staring up at the roof of the tent. She had tried to sleep but to no avail. There was so much on her mind, so many mixed feelings. She felt helpless. She let out a heavy sigh. Just as she did, therefore off guard, someone entered the tent. Quickly she sat up and raised a golden flute in a defensive position as you would a weapon.

"Surely, if that flute were played it would have a more positive impact."

Zhen Ji lowered the flute after recognising the voice. It was Zhao Yun.

"I'm sorry to alarm you," he spoke with a gentle tone. "Did you get some rest?"

"My body is at least rested, but my mind is far from such a thing," she replied.

"Do you play?" He asked her gesturing to the flute.

"I haven't played it since –" she paused momentarily, her eyes on the ground "Since I lost a loved one."

"Then if you are not ready, I shall not ask to hear it," he told her. "Tomorrow we will journey back to the city, which will require both a rested body and mind. For without the mind what good is the body?" Zhao Yun paused. Then crouching, he added "For that reason, please, try and ease your mind. You are safe here."

Thanks again.

Until next time,

Lady Leonhart [04/09/04]