A/N - Sorry for the late update! I just want to thank my new reviewers for their input and welcome any more new readers.
This chapter has a hint of M. But believe me MUCH more to come!
One Week Later
Shang Xiang rested on her veranda which ran out around her room; the sun was casting a hazy light over the dew-strewn gardens as it dipped below the horizon for the end of another day, the Wu horses could be seen grazing in the far fields being tended to by the young stable boy. Shang Xiang just simply stared, all that was beautiful in the world seemed to sing in front of her and all she could do was blankly stare out, her chest feeling as though she'd swallowed a world of water. Her thoughts had been straying over the past week over and over again; she choked up on the sheer memory of finding Gan Ning still unconscious, days after she had woken up.
His skin tone no longer the bronzed sun-kissed look but rather a grey withdrawn complexion that seemed itself to be sucking the life out of him, his usual spiky strands of hair now hung limp around his face as if still wet from Chi Bi, his chest rose every so often with his weak breathing. The doctor was convinced he wasn't going to make it. And yet Shang Xiang felt a strange pang of hope, visiting him every day kept building that same hope to a point that if it didn't come true she knew she'd die right along with him.
Now, as she rested out on the veranda awaiting the news of her brother's meeting with Liu Bei, she prayed that after some compromises she'd no longer be chained to him as a wife but rather as an enemy again. Shang didn't even turn around as she heard someone step out onto the porch behind her.
Ling Tong slowly made his way around the wooden chair that Shang was sitting on, to sit opposite her. Sighing heavily as he plonked himself against the railing, folding his arms he looked down to the ground waiting for the right time to speak.
"How long have you been out here Princess?"
Shang didn't reply, her tear-stained eyes continued to gaze vacantly past Ling Tong.
He crept forward, kneeling down in front of her. "Princess?" He voiced shaking her arm gently, again she made no response. It was as if an invisible veil covered her, blocking out all sound and sight for the outside world. She was cocooned in a safe haven of angst and guilt.
Ling Tong looked at her a moment longer, a clear worry in his calm eyes, before getting back to his feet. As he made his way back around to leave, he heard her speak, her voice as fragile as crystal glass, "What happened Ling Tong?"
He looked over his shoulder as he remained turned to the door. "You don't remember?"
Shang's lip trembled as she shifted in her seat, "Oh, I remember alright. There are just blank spaces…" her voice croaked in sorrow, "Spaces that I can't seem to fill in no matter how hard I try."
Ling Tong turned and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Gan Ning had to carry you as he swam to shore. You were bleeding badly. Huang Gai found you and we brought you back here…I've told you this before Shang."
"No Ling Tong, the part I miss out is where I was in need of help and only Gan Ning came back for me." She whipped her head around, an icy glare in her beautiful eyes. "He was alone, how could he possibly have defended himself against Cao Pi and rescued me at the same time?"
"But he did." Ling Tong said; that being is only reply to her humiliating tone.
"Barely!" She cried out. "And look at him now. Half-dead because of me!"
"No!" Ling Tong said sternly, quickly moving round to get into eye contact with her. "No." He said again, flustering to think of the right words to say. "It's not your fault Shang…it's no ones fault. I have enough faith in Gan Ning now to know that he will pull through. He is strong Shang. He will pull through." He said directly, gripping her shoulders in reassurance.
Shang looked at him as though something had dawned upon her. "You two are friends now?" She asked suspiciously. Ling Tong quickly removed his hands from her shoulders and stood up. "Why? You two hated each other."
"It doesn't matter now Shang." Ling Tong went to leave.
"No, tell me!" Shang demanded, getting to her feet, her blanket falling to the floor.
Ling Tong's shoulders slacked as he paused in his departure. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I'd like to see where I stand."
"What do you mean?" Ling Tong asked confusedly.
"I know how you feel about me Ling Tong." Shang's mood turned to a lighter tone as she stepped forward. "I also know that you've felt like this for a long time and ever since your father's death, I've seen that you feel like you have to keep proving yourself to something or someone…"
"You're wrong, Shang." Ling Tong interjected, "My feelings for you are purely platonic; as if we were brother and sister."
Shang exhaled deeply, "Don't lie to me Ling Tong."
Ling Tong looked down to the floor, knowing that what she said was true, it had been so hard for him to ever confess his love for Shang. But he knew also that Gan Ning's feelings for her were so much stronger then his own and in a sense he felt that Gan Ning deserved her. He sniffed, holding back his emotions as he glanced back up at her, believing it was better to keep his love for her a secret.
"I'm not lying Shang. And the reason why…the reason why I hated Gan Ning so much, wasn't to do with jealousy…"
He watched Shang as she waited for him to reply, a look of worry and deep concern in her eyes as she listened.
Ling Tong sighed deeply as if a great weight was about to be lifted from his chest.
"He killed my father. He was the man I was looking for."
Shang slowly sank back into her seat, her mouth parted in shock. "Gan Ning?" She said to herself, almost in disbelief.
"Hey" Ling Tong knelt down again. "Hey…we're fine now Shang. I don't blame him anymore. You have to realise that he is one of us now…you do know that don't you?"
Shang's eyes fell to the ground, her hand covering her mouth. "Oh God, Ling Tong I never knew."
"Shang." Ling Tong voiced firmly, "Shang look at me." But she continued to fret over the news, her hands grasped tightly around her shoulders as she tried to keep herself still. She eventually looked at Ling Tong; as usual he steadied her with those gentle eyes. "He's no longer my enemy."
Shang sniffed and nodded her head whilst Ling Tong rubbed her shoulders affectionately. "How did the meeting go?" She asked after a brief silence.
"With Quan?"
Shang just nodded.
Ling Tong got to his feet as he recited the news, "Well he's come to the agreement that your marriage is void…" Shang had never heard such happier news in her life, "…based on the fact that we have decided to deal with ownership of foreign colonies and no longer be an alliance. Zhou Yu got the Yangtze River, as he always wanted. So everyone is satisfied." Ling Tong sighed.
"This is what the marriage had always been about hadn't it, Ling Tong?"
"And what's that princess?"
"A revenge plot, I knew how angry Zhou Yu was when we lost those southern colonies to Shu years ago, during my father's reign. By getting sweet with Liu Bei we could agree on peace terms such as these. I just thank God that I never had to touch him."
Ling Tong didn't dare utter a comment but simply stroked her hair out of her face. "Come, Shang." He helped her to her feet. "Let's go see how our warrior is doing."
Sun Quan stood over his warrior Gan Ning as he first started to come round. The ashen figure awoke in a fit of weak coughs and splutters, a small trickle of saliva escaped the side of his mouth as he tried to contain his convulsions. Quan rushed to the side of the bed and held Gan Ning's shoulder firmly. One of the servants soon crept up and wiped Gan Ning's face clean, dabbing at his mouth like a baby.
Quan gave a warm and encouraging smile when Gan Ning finally made eye contact with him.
"I knew you'd make it through," Quan said reassuringly.
Gan Ning fell back into the large plush pillows behind him and his bleared vision spun to focus in the stark bright room. "Where am I?" He mumbled his mouth as dry as sandpaper.
"The doctor's quarters. We've been trying to nurse you back to health, Gan Ning."
It was almost as if everything had suddenly dawned on Gan Ning and he practically jumped out of bed in fright, "Shang! Shang! What about her?"
"She's fine." Quan said calmly, "Thanks to you, my brother." Quan then leant forward into the bed and gave Gan Ning a strong hug. Gan Ning couldn't comprehend the act of love from his Lord, he didn't dare embrace him back but gratefully accepted the gesture.
"No need to thank me, my Lord. Anyone would have done the same in my position."
Quan just smiled knowingly and ordered for water to be brought.
And then there was a moment where it seemed that time stood still, the daylight from outside shone through brighter, sound became so slight inside the room that you'd likely hear a bluebird singing miles away, and people moved in hazy circles as though forever locked by a harrowing drug. Gan Ning could only smile gently from the time that Shang Xiang entered the room until the lifetime it felt like it took her to get to him. Apart from her already tear-stained cheeks, fresh tears of relief suddenly poured down her face. And then with the sound of wind escaping a vacuum, she came nearer and on the impact of their embrace. Everything returned to normal.
Gan Ning did his best to comfort her with her brother Quan and at least 4 other nurses watching. Shang Xiang cried silently onto his bare chest, the pleasing warmth and aroma of his skin almost sending her into a deep sleep.
"Shang." Quan said once and sternly enough for her to contain herself.
"Forgive me my Lord; I am just so happy that he is alright." Shang sniffed.
Quan looked from Gan Ning to his sister and just kept his opinion for later. "Well I believe you should leave Gan Ning to get his rest."
Shang stole a quick glance at Gan Ning on the bed, knowing that her act of affection had got them into trouble. She secretly mouthed 'sorry' and Gan Ning forgave her with the warmth in his gaze. Shang then bowed to her Lord and left the room with Ling Tong in tow.
Quan called for a chair and when he had got settled comfortably he leant forward towards his warrior.
"You know I have the utmost respect for you Gan Ning…" Quan paused, not needed confirmation he drew his seat closer. "And I am very pleased to see you have recovered from your traumatic experience."
"Thank you, My Lord." Gan Ning squeezed in.
"But I cannot help what I see." Quan said with a hint of grimness but at the same time sympathy.
"My Lord?"
"My sister is a princess of Wu, royal blood, and after me she shall be Empress. Therefore she has to marry one of royal blood, to secure a pure bloodline and gain alliances with other provinces. You understand what I am saying?"
"Yes Lord, but I don't know why you are saying this to me..."
"Be friends, but that is all."
"O-Of course my Lord, I wouldn't have ever done that."
Quan leant back and inspected Gan Ning's expression was he lying? Who's to really know?
"Good." With that Quan rose from his seat and squeezed Gan Ning tightly on the shoulder. "Good" He said again, before exiting.
Gan Ning sat up and buried his head in his semi-bandaged hands. The nurses knew to leave on their own accord and left the warrior to fling things at the opposite wall.
One Month later.
Gan Ning cursed silently to himself as the arrow again narrowly missed the bulls-eye 20 feet from him. He had been practicising archery ever since he had recovered from Chi Bi, he knew that if he had wanted to remain in Quan's good books, he would have to be the best warrior that Wu had ever seen. This is why he had spent days and nights excessively training for the next battle that Wu would eventually face.
Others had their own theories about Gan Ning's exhausting exercise. Shang Xiang. After all whenever he did his laps he ran like the devil was chasing him and ever since Quan had warned him about being with his sister he had hardly spoken to her, and it broke his heart every time to be so distant when she came up to him. But it was for their own good at least that's what he kept telling himself.
Gan Ning shook back his thoughts and aimed again, this time with a bit more anger in his heart, he got the bulls-eye head on. With a tiny smile at his accomplishment, he tried the next bulls-eye 10 feet further. Unbeknownst to him, Shang Xiang was walking up behind him.
Over the past month, she had been as fragile as glass if anyone even mentioned Gan Ning she felt she had to be excused. Her heart felt saturated with woe and each inhale of breath, her ribs ached inside. Ling Tong had tried to be some solace to her over the past few weeks, but there isn't really a cure for a broken heart.
"I brought you some water." Shang Xiang said so quietly that it was almost inaudible.
Gan Ning nearly jumped out of his skin at her voice but acted naturally as he could, "Thanks. Leave it there."
Shang looked to where he had indicated and placed the tray down. The red shawl that was wrapped around her shoulders billowed in the wind, the skimpy warrior dress she wore barely covered her thighs and if it couldn't be any worse for Gan Ning to look at her, she had grown her hair longer making her face that much more framed and beautiful.
"What are you doing?" She asked optimistically, although it was clear what Gan Ning was doing.
"Archery." He said morosely.
Shang pressed her lips tightly together to stop herself from spluttering out crying. She hadn't given Gan Ning the satisfaction of seeing her cry yet.
"Would you like a new target?" She asked, seeing that he had shot about 20 arrows into the same target.
Gan Ning flopped his bow down by his side and looked once at her through the corner of his eye, "What, Princess?" he then watched as she stormed about 5 feet in front of him. He almost gasped as she pulled down her top slightly to reveal her cleavage more.
"Aim right here!" She yelled. "Aim for my heart. You seem to do it so well."
Gan Ning looked to the floor in shame and for the first time in ages he actually looked at her the same way he used to. "I'm sorry, Shang."
Shang released a croaky wail, and covered herself up once more. "What have I done?" She demanded,
"Nothing." He said apologetically.
"Then what?" She cried as she stormed toward him, Gan Ning instinctively stepped back. "You can't even stand to be around me anymore! I must have said or done something!" Shang found herself yelling louder then she had ever done on the battlefield. Gan Ning looked around hesitantly and quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her out of earshot. They rushed inside the barn where the horses were usually kept, but currently were out grazing in the fields.
"Shang! Do you want Quan to hear you?" Gan Ning asked infuriated.
It then all dawned on Shang; she instantly covered her mouth with her hand in shock. "This is because of my brother."
Gan Ning held his hands out in defence, "No."
"Yes it is! I knew that when I hugged you that day, that he was not pleased. He warned you to stay away from me didn't he?!"
"No he didn't…"
"Didn't he?!" Shang pushed Gan Ning.
"No!" Gan Ning suddenly gripped her arms by her sides. "He said we could be friends."
Shang tore her arms free. "Then why exactly have you been ignoring me this last month?"
Gan Ning sighed, turning around to leave.
"No!" Shang shouted, grabbing his shoulder and twisting him round. "No tell me! You dare walk out on me and I'll hang you myself!"
Gan Ning stood still waiting for her to speak.
"Why have you been ignoring me?" Shang said a tear running the length of her cheek. "Do you hate me now?"
"No…" Gan Ning stated.
"Am I embarrassing to you?"
"No, Shang..."
"What do you prefer men?! Already married?!" Shang pounded her fists into his chest,
"No I was afraid this would happen!!" Gan Ning fumed seconds before slamming his lips into hers.
Shang instantly wrapped her arms around his neck, moaning innocently into his mouth. Gan Ning held her almost too tight against him; the sounds of her desperate pleasure sent him into frenzy. He pinned her up against the wall, their rough kiss turning into a sensual embrace, their tongues dancing madly over one another. They only broke off long enough to take one breath and then start again. Gan Ning settled himself between her legs; the thin material of their clothes was the only thing that separated them. Shang broke their kiss with a shy whimper at Gan Ning's pressing hardness between her legs. She hesitantly ran her hands over his broad back again and again, trying to find some solace of darkness for her dark thoughts.
She gingerly rubbed herself back into him; her adorable movements sent Gan Ning crushing back into her.
"Gan Ning…"she said in a begging tone but not entirely sure what she wanted him to do.
And then as if the sound of her voice sent warning sirens throughout Gan Ning's head, he let her gently to the ground and stepped back.
"I'm sorry Princess." He said in shock, before running from the barn altogether.
Shang slumped to the floor and rested her head on her arms and knees, squinting her face up in harsh sorrow she murmured to herself. "I love you."