Every inch of her body burned, while her brain seemed to pulsing creating the worst headache she had every suffered. It didn't help she was pissed off. Ambushed then caught in an explosion she could of avoided. How many times has she been recognized for her scouting and revealing techniques! How had she slipped up so much? Was it Wu rubbing off on her? How fearing failure in this kingdom was no where near as scary as the thought of failing in Wei? Was she even still alive?
Suddenly the blackness began to fade, and she could again feel light hitting her eye lids. Flinching a little at this, she come to realize she was now fairly awake. As she opened her eyes she soon noticed the light had quickly faded, as the door closed. Door? She wasn't in a tent, was the battle over?! How long had she been out cold?! No no no! As she tried to move, Qilin discovered her hands were bound behind her back keeping her from doing too much moving or striking. Seemed her ankles were as well to keep her from kickings. She managed to atleast get to where she was now sitting on her butt instead of laying on her side, a little more comfortable.
"H-hey she's awake."
When Qilin turned her head she noticed a tall male standing outside a her barred prison wall. A rather built man, with spikey hair, and with a tenor voice that really didn't seem to fit him. Maybe he hadn't quite finished with puberty yet? Shortly in after him a young girl entered the room, in truth she looked about her age, only a more innocent. Who were these two? She hadn't seem them on the field before.
"Ping you aren't supposed to be in here."
"I just wanted to see who he captured. Take a look." Ping was his name, as the young girl called him. Her was entirely black, that barely reached her shoulders. Seemed Shu even had their share of females about, if this girl was indeed an officer that is.
The thin girl glanced at Ping for a moment before looking into the cell, pausing a little when she took a look at Qilin. "A girl?"
"Yea...think thats why he didn't kill her?"
"Maybe..."
"Do you two really have to talk as though I can't see or hear you?" Qilin finally made some imput rather annoyed at the fact. After doing so the girl looked over herself quietly. Her dress was now rags, which explained the the breeze she was feeling. The white dress had faded to a grey from all the dirt in the cell, which made her only more certain she wished she had stayed back home.
"S-sorry.." The black-haired girl chimed turning to look at her for a moment. "I-"
"Guan Ping! Xing Cai!" A voice suddenly called out, "I do believe that you were not assigned to watch duty over the prisoner were you?"
Entering the room another woman gracefully made an entrance. Long light brown hair slicked back by some golden head aparatus that looked like an unusual mix between a circlit and a crown. A red gem placed at the center of her forhead, and her outfit a white and green like much of the other officers. Wearing the kingdom color happened to be a fairly popular trait. Her outfit was far more like armor then her own, and the weapon that appeared to be a cross between an halberd and scythe.
"No Lady Huang.." They both sheepishly admitted bowing their heads ashamed of themselves now.
"Then both of you run along. Ping your father is searching for you, and Cai I do believe your father has asked General Ma Chao to continue with your horsing riding lessons..I'd suggest not being late." So this was Lady Huang Yueying she had heard about, the wife to Zhuge Liang. As the two embarassedly shuffled out the door, Lady Huang turned her attention to the young prisoner. "So you're awake..."
Qilin didn't reply to her, simply looked away.
"Kongming...the prisoner is awake.." She turned looked out the door. A male's voice responded, but Qilin couldn't make out what was said. "Alright I will."
The door to the prison cell was soon opened, and Yueying cut the ropes that had previously bound Xiao Qilin's feet together. "You're to come with me."
Gently bowing her head she took a moment before letting out a breath of air then rising to her feet to follow Yueying. Now she could escape, but really what was the point now? Caught by Shu now, her mission in Wu could be labled as a miserable failure. What happened when Sima Yi learned of this disaster? Would Wei come to her aid? No...no they wouldn't. Sima Yi left those that had fail to die on their own, ultimately she knew she was screwed. Why bother even attempting to escape?
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"Please! Brother!!" Da Qiao pleaded her bowed respectfully as she spoke to Sun Quan, "We have to!"
"I don't see us having to do anything Da. That girl was solely your responsibility and you knew entirely how everyone felt on the matter of her." Quan let out a frustrated sigh before taking a sip from his wine bowl. "Xiao Qilin is no longer our problem. I know you believed you could of gotten the girl to change her plan for defection, but it shouldn't be risked any more. We stuck our necks out enough allowing you to bring her here."
Da Qiao frowned, "But...She...I was certain she had changed over by now! Qilin hid me to defend us! Would someone who wasn't loyal do such a thing."
"Someone attempting to gain our trust would. I figure jokes on Sima Yi now his officer has failed. I think I might write a letter."
"Are you attempting to cause more trouble?! Brother Shu is our concern.." Da Qiao noticed he seemed to drift off in thought, giving her a signal to be silent. A hand moved to her side where the arrow had previously entered her skin. Under the cloth she could feel the bandages crinkling at the slightest movement. It reminded her of what had happened, why she was persistant on trying to get her brother's help.
Suddenly a messenger entered the room bowing his head, "I have grave news."
"What is it?" Sun Quan lifted his head curiously.
"Lord Zhou Yu...has died."
Da Qiao stood there eyes widened, as Sun Quan lept from his seat. Both wearing the same look across their face, complete and utter shock. Zhou Yu had been ill, but they believed him to be getting better by the day for him to suddenly die?! Da Qiao turned looking down the hall, "Little sis...oh no..." Shaking her head she buried her face in her hands. Why all at once?!
"I..i see...inform the others. Make sure Xiao Qiao...is holding up.." He replied before looking away, eventually having to get up and remove himself from the room. Zhou Tai glanced at the older Qiao for a moment, giving a gentle nod of condolence before walking after Sun Quan.
It was bad timing, as always, but two men suddenly entered the room seeming to be searching for Lord Sun to solve some sort of problem amongst them. Obviously the pair was none other then Ling Tong and Gan Ning whom were bickering over who exactly had right to give guard orders on patrol. However the two of them were not complete idiots. When they entered the room to find Lord Sun Quan gone, their attention turned to Da Qiao who was standing there trying to recover from the news that had just been delivered.
"...Da...?" Gan Ning paused lifting a hand giving Ling Tong a signal that this was truce for a moment. "Da you aren't still distressed about Qilin are you?"
"No...Sun Quan said there was no way we'd help her...I can't..I" Da stammered lowering her hands trying to keep a straight face, yet it was easy for both men to see through the weak smile. "I have...to accept it simply...I.." They obviously hadn't heard yet, and she didn't want to ruin their moods. Both men despite their hatred for one another kept the place full of life, a high spirited rivalry that seemed to keep everyone on their toes.
Stepping forward the pirate put a strong hand upon her shoulders, "Thats not all...whats going on?"
"Lord...Zhou Yu...Gongjin...is.."
"Is?"
"Dead." Da Qiao face paled as she was forced to say it, as if forced to accept the reality that he was truly dead. Her eyes closed tightly as she tried her hardest not to end up sobbing on the pirate again, how terribly weak she must of looked to him. Bursting into tears it seemed at things that were common with war. She felt his other arm move to brace her, unrealizing her body was giving on her. Slowly her knees had begun to give out, sinking to the floor, but Gan Ning's arm around the small of her back kept her up easily.
Ling Tong eyed the pirate cautiously for a moment before looking to Da Qiao, "...Its hard to lose family. I understand that feeling very well. Its alright to cry, you are girl after all, you won't be critisized for it." Gan Ning's eyes rolled a little at the nunchaku wielding son of Ling Cao.
But his eyes widened as he felt her arms latch about his waist.
While Ling Tong eyes brow arched in a curious manner, before slipping out of the room.
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"I know your face...yes I remember you all to well. Chi Bi if I'm not mistaken. I also believed we encountered once before during battle at a castle. Uncovered Zhou Cang's ambush rather easily..." Zhuge Liang recalled looking down at the young woman with a gaze that bore no hatred yet no like. It was the first time she felt as though death was the best option for her. Several Shu generals were standing in the room she was in, currently she kneeled on the floor while they spoke amongst each other. Zhuge Liang, Wei Yan, Huang Yueying, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were the current generals standing in the room. "But you were with Wei were you not?"
"I was..." She replied softly her eyes lowered onto the floor.
"And with Wu now...did you betray them?"
"No, she was a spy." Came a familiar female voice, when Qilin glanced up she froze to see that Sun Shang Xiang was standing there with her husband Liu Bei.
"Wait...you knew this and let her stay in your ranks? I didn't know Quan was that big of an idiot" Zhang Fei remarked shaking his head, and people called him the dumb one!
"It wasn't like that!" Shang Xiang snapped rather angry her brother was insulted. Though she left with her husband, Sun Quan was still her older brother that she would not take to having insulted infront of her, "Da Qiao was trying to get her to fully defect, knowing the risk it was of getting betrayed by the girl. Qilin was noted for her devotion to Lady Zhen Ji, her ever betraying was highly unlikely. Da was setting herself up for a mess unfortunately."
"Does that mean we get to kill a spy?" A somewhat eagar tone crossed Zhang Fei's voice, resembling a little kid about to be given a candy of sorts.
"No...No I don't believe so." Zhuge looked the girl over, "I know Sima Yi's mind well, this girl will be abandoned for dead by Wei soon enough. Killing someone with talent is pointless..."
Qilin simply let them speak, it was still sinking in Wu had known of her identity. What had made it slip? Her letters to the north? The over all demeanor she had adopted. Failure plagued her mind. After a moment her eyes came to fully rest upon the man who had caught her, Wei Yan. Now not on the field no longer carrying his heavy blade, he stood up fully erect, making him an even more fearsome sight. Yet he did not bare the monsterous presence he had on the field, instead he was passive, and listening in on the decisions made.
"So...as a prisoner of war you shall serve under my command along side of Wei Yan and Jiang Wei."
Jiang Wei? That buggar was here at Shu now? Since when!? Qilin looked rather baffled at this thought but shook it off before seeing that she was to be teamed with the very man that had captured her. Was he not a unit of his own? Why? He had certainly been powerful enough to take her down quickly.
"That way I can keep my eye on you." Zhuge Liang remarked simply before leaving the room, "You are all dismissed. Wei Yan, keep track of her for now."
Turning a little the 'monster' watched Zhuge leave before turning to face the girl sitting upon the ground looking up at him. This was an awkward job to say the least, yet he noticed he had instilled a fear of himself with in her from the battle which meant she wouldn't act out stupidly as others would. Shang Xiang hadn't left quite yet, she had knelt by Qilin undoing her hand chains. Wei Yan on the other hand retrieved something from one of the soldiers in the room. Taking the item in hand he frowned a little, he didn't quite understand entirely, but it wasn't his choice. It was hers. Walking over he held out a polished weapon, and Qilin recognized it instantly as her Moon Flute! It hadn't been lost.
Taking it she looked up at him, "...Thank you..?" She managed to get out simply.
"mmhmm.." Was all he replied with. Before looking to Shang Xiang, "Her room.
That was all he said before defying Zhuge Liang's orders and walking out of the room leaving her with Sun Shang Xiang. This was most uncomfortable, and she didn't know what to say in the least.
"Sorry to burst your ego if you thought you were undiscovered.." Shang Xiang noted looking to Xiao Qilin.
"...Not your fault I failed." Qilin replied solemly, rising to her feet. "Why did you act so nice if you all knew?"
"Because Da Qiao as I said had hope you'd fall in love with Wu and stay. Can't say you aren't likable though, but...it is war y'know." Shang Xiang shrugged her shoulders a little, "That doesn't matter now though. You're stuck here whether you like it or not. Its not bad here. They're all really nice, you just have to get used to it. Come on I'll show you to your room.."
"You betrayed your brother though..."
"I...had to choose..." Lady Sun glanced over her shoulder, "I love my brother. But I also love Liu Bei. You were right about him. I couldn't let him get used by Quan. Sometimes loyalties change Qilin, and not all the time is it bad."
Authors Note: Wow! A fast chapter to type. Sort of one of those, 'wtf?!" bit that will be expanded upon later. I'd like to address with Wei Yan's DW speech, I'm not following it entirely. We all have our own ideas how they are to be portrayed! Hehe. I am not a Zhuge Liang fan though I will say that, but I did my best not to make him look too much like an arrogent ass that I see him ass. Trying to write without character bais that is negative is very hard sometimes though ;
