Hey guys, here's chapter 3. Looky! This chapter's 5 pages! Go me! They're
getting longer. I apologize for the goofy antics and the overall sappiness
of this thing. but you have to understand the past week (well Monday to
Thursday) I was working 8 hours a night (after classes) writing nothing but
essays. . . . Evil essays. . . . So because of this my brain has been a
bit addled. So again it's a bit goofy. And again I'm sorry.
Second point, a few people seem to be a bit confused with Zhen Ji and her relation ship. So, to explain, you have to understand that I'm crazy when it comes to looking up info on characters. And thanks to this site ( and a couple of others, I learned that Zhen was married to Yuan Xi, who is the son of Yuan Shao. That is until they were killed and Cap Pi forced her to marry him. So this fic is taking place just before that event and thus diverges from there.
Okay standard disclaimer. I still don't own these characters; I'm just a poor college student trying to amuse myself.
Enjoy!
Two weeks had past, and the fleet was finally nearing port. Soon that afternoon they would disembark and begin their own march to Yejun, which should take them another two days. This is why Gan Ning was closed up in his quarters fast asleep dreaming of things we can only guess. Though he was hugging what appeared to be a pillow (must be a good dream).
Unfortunately his dream was not to last long. There was someone knocking at his door but Gan Ning just ignored it. Instead he rolled over and snuggled his pillow closer sinking deeper into his dream. Again the knocking came, a bit louder this time. And again he ignored it, preferring his dream to the grim reality of war. However the knocking was not to be ignored so easily, and it quickly grew to a pounding that managed to bounce the door open. In rushed one of the deck hands, looking decidedly nervous to be the one who had to wake Lord Gan Ning from his rest, but there were pressing matters at hand.
Stuttering nervously, "L. . . . L. . . . Lord Gan Ning, sir"
And there was no response from Gan Ning; he didn't even roll over.
So again louder this time the man calls to Gan Ning, hoping to wake him easily. Of course things can never be easy when they're needed to be. So the man casts about the room looking for something to use to wake his commander up, from a distance preferably. Grabbing an empty water pitcher the man begins banging it against the heavy oak door, and accompanies this with various shouts.
This seems to have had the desired effect, as Gan Ning bolts straight up, instantly awake, but by no means wide-awake or oriented. "No.No.No I wasn't in her tent! I was never near her tent! I was in my own all night long, just ask Lu Xun! Honest!" Rolling out of bed onto his hands and knees, he shakes his head, clearing away the last foggy strands of his dream. Sitting up, he looks around finding himself in his own room on his own ship, with his door open. Why was his door open? Blinking his eyes letting them focus in the new light he sees the reason, as well as the source of all the noise.
"What's going on? Why did you try to scare me out of my skin?"
Trembling the deck hand bows. "I am sorry milord. But you did wish to be notified if our course was changed at all."
"Yes, so what has happened now?"
Bowing again, still nervously trembling. "Well milord, while you were sleeping, there was a shift in the wind, it's blown us off course."
"What? Off course, where are we? How far are we from our port?"
"Sir, it seems we've been blown into the river system, if this wind keeps up we'll reach the Yejun Harbor within two hours." "Well this is an unexpected development. Hopefully this does not change our plans any. Tell the crew to begin making preparations for docking we'll be disembarking at Yejun."
"Yes milord." The man bowed and backed his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
Gan Ning yawned and continued sitting there on the floor for a few moments, he was taking in all of the ramifications of this storm. He knew Lu Xun was probably expecting something like this, the man always was. He wasn't a brilliant strategist for nothing. But the real thought that seemed to plague his mind, was the fact that his Sun Shang Xiang was there, and soon so would he.
Lu Xun had been closed up in the counsel room for the past three days, surrounded by maps and documents as he tried to piece together a workable battle plan. It all hinged on one loose piece, and that was Gan Ning's fleet. The winds and seas were unpredictable and thus so was the fleet's arrival. He sat with arms crossed and his chin on his chest, to all appearances it seemed Lu Xun was hard at work. However, in reality, he was really sleeping. Foolish man that he is, he had been working day and night perfecting his plan neglecting his own needs.
His ruse would have worked too, if it hadn't been for the messenger who chose that moment to barge into the counsel room. Which of course startled poor Lu Xun, who then fell over backwards out of his chair. You can't expect him to be on guard all the time after all.
Scrambling he picked himself up off the floor, as well as the maps that fell with him, attempting to present as unruffled front as possible Lu Xun righted his chair and sat back down.
"Now, what is the reason for this intrusion? I believe I asked not to be interrupted while I worked."
"Yes, milord, I know." The messenger bowed. "Forgive me, but you did wish to be informed when Lord Gan Ning arrived."
"Yes, yes, I know that. However, with these winds he should have made port this afternoon, and it will be another two days before he reaches Yejun." Lu Xun leaned back in his chair, feeling quite please with himself and his calculations.
"I.I know sir, however."
A laugh came from outside the door, "Don't bother trying to reason with him, once he thinks he's right it will take the sun setting in the east to change his mind." Chuckling, a man stepped in behind the messenger, the slight tinkling of bells could be heard as he moved. Lu Xun's eyes grew wide for a moment. "Now this does change things doesn't it?" He laughed and rose to greet his friend. "Though, weren't you supposed to have marched into Yejun not sail into its harbor?"
Gan Ning grinned, and sat down at the table with Lu Xun. "Well that was the idea, but even you my friend can not order the winds."
Lu Xun laughed and sat back down. "That is very true. I suppose I will just have to rethink our strategy."
There was a laugh at the door, "You mean you had a strategy to begin with?" The laugh came again, accompanied by Sun Shang Xiang as she walked in and sat with the other two at the table, a servant following her with lunch for four.
Gan Ning's head swung around at the sound of the laugh, to everyone else it appeared that he was just looking to see who was coming in. Though, Lu Xun did notice that his friend grew a bit tense when she walked in.
"Very funny Xiang, you of all people should know how much work I've put into this. You have been the one making sure someone remembers to bring me something to eat every once and while."
"Actually, it wasn't me." She smirked at him. "It was Zhen Ji, she seems quite interested in our master strategist's plans." She laughed.
Gan Ning laughed as well, anything to break the tension he was feeling.
Lu Xun was definitely surprised by that, and sat back in his chair. "I didn't realize that Lady Zhen was my benefactor, I'll have to make sure to thank her the next time I see her."
"Thank me for what?"
Lu Xun fell over and out of his chair for the second time that day.
Gan Ning nearly fell over himself, from laughing so hard.
Lu Xun was trying hard to stand up with out looking to ruffled. Gan Ning and Xiang were laughing, and Zhen Ji was sitting bewildered, watching the other three. "Did, I miss something?"
Lu Xun shook his head and sat back down, trying to regain his composure. "No, no you didn't miss anything, I was just saying how I would have to thank you for being so kind as to make sure someone sent meals ever so often." He smiles nervously, trying not to look too suspicious in his admiration.
"Well I wouldn't be a good hostess if I did not make sure my guests were properly taken care of. Especially since ones kind enough to help protect my home, and my lord's lands." Zhen Ji gave a gracious smile, signaling the server to begin passing out their meals.
Lu Xun tired to hide his disappointment at Zhen's seeming non-intrest, choosing instead to focus on his dinner before getting back to work.
Gan Ning was too busy enjoying the first real meal he'd had in what seemed like weeks. Life at sea might be all well and good, but a ship's mess couldn't hold a candle to a real meal. Of course the company on ship wasn't this nice either, but he kept that thought to himself.
Sun Shang Xiang was blissfully unaware of the anything her companions were thinking; she was focused on her own dinner, and her own thoughts. She was still annoyed that her brother would allow the Pirate to lead their navy, though she had finally stopped making the boy's lives miserable. She watched him, the Pirate, out of the corner of her eye, he did seem to have a sense of humor, which would be a welcome change of pace compared to her brother and some of his advisors. And he did manage to bring the fleet to Yejun in less time than Lu Xun expected, that in it-self was quite a task. Maybe she should give him the benefit of the doubt from now on. Of course that wouldn't mean she'd let her brother off the hook just yet.
Gan Ning looked up while reaching for his glass, and his heart skipped a beat. He thought, for just an instant that he had seen Xiang watching him out of the corner of her eye. Could it mean that she really didn't hate him? And that it was just her crazy handmaidens chasing him for their health?
Lu Xun saw the silent exchange across from him and tried to hold back a laugh. Those two were definitely funny to watch; he just hoped he wasn't as funny to watch as well, even if Zhou Yu thought his predicament was amusing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that evening, Lu Xun was pouring over maps and books looking for any and all information he could on Yejun, the city, the fortress, and the surrounding countryside. On one of his numerous trips to the library, he stopped in the gardens where he normally listened to Zhen Ji's music, hoping to be able to just relax and let the plan form in the cool moonlight. He chose to sit near a small fountain deep in the center of the garden's hedge maze, across from the opening so he could see if anyone else came (force of habit after all). He leaned back where he sat, closing his eyes and listening to the falling water, soon he was asleep, stretched out on the bench.
Zhen Ji was taking her nightly stroll through the garden, in a three days Cao Cao and the rest of the Wei army would be with in a day's march of the city. Three days, to finish and implement Lu Xun's plan.
Lu Xun yawned and sat up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes he got up and started to walk back towards the map room. He was hopping to finish making his last few placements, and then he would have time for a well- earned rest. While he was walking, he heard humming coming from other side of the hedge. He smiled to himself, he would recognize that voice anywhere, it was Gan Ning humming, he seemed happy enough. Wait, make that voices, it took him a moment but he heard the other voice as well a girl's voice picking up ever so often in small talk. Lu Xun chucked to himself, seems Gan Ning's found himself some company, he only wondered if the girl's voice was that of Xiang's or not, it seemed too soft to be hers.
Quietly he slipped away from the area and finally made his way into the map room, sitting down in his rather large and comfy chair. The walk, well nap, in the garden had done wonders for him and soon he was finished with his masterpiece. If all went as he planned, there was no way they could lose. If he couldn't have his dream, at least he could keep her and her home safe. Yawning, he rolled his finished plan up, and placed it into a protective case, in the morning he would present it to the rest and set things in motion. Yawning again he settled back into his chair, letting the warmth of the fire in the hearth unwind the tension in his muscles and soon he was again fast asleep finally catching up on all of the sleep he had been neglecting.
Zhen was wandering the halls; she couldn't sleep, so she was looking for her flute. Maybe if she played in the garden for a bit she would feel better. So she ducked quietly into the map room, hoping not to disturb anyone who may be working at this hour. Slipping across the room she did find her flute, but she also found a sleeping Lu Xun curled up in a chair near a fireplace that had long died down. She smiled to her self; he really was a sweet man. Quietly setting down her flute, she picked up a blanket and covered him up, making sure not to wake him. Then she retrieved her flute and left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Lu Xun yawned after she left; he was afraid letting her know that he was awake. He didn't want to scare her off, but her kindness only served to deepen his admiration, his love for her. He also decided not to tell Zhou Yu about this, he didn't need anymore teasing. He sighed to himself; maybe he'd talk to Gan Ning. After all, his friend was in a similar situation, only his crush wasn't already married. Again he sighed to himself, and curled back up in his chair. Hopefully his dreams would be better than reality, at least for now.
Second point, a few people seem to be a bit confused with Zhen Ji and her relation ship. So, to explain, you have to understand that I'm crazy when it comes to looking up info on characters. And thanks to this site ( and a couple of others, I learned that Zhen was married to Yuan Xi, who is the son of Yuan Shao. That is until they were killed and Cap Pi forced her to marry him. So this fic is taking place just before that event and thus diverges from there.
Okay standard disclaimer. I still don't own these characters; I'm just a poor college student trying to amuse myself.
Enjoy!
Two weeks had past, and the fleet was finally nearing port. Soon that afternoon they would disembark and begin their own march to Yejun, which should take them another two days. This is why Gan Ning was closed up in his quarters fast asleep dreaming of things we can only guess. Though he was hugging what appeared to be a pillow (must be a good dream).
Unfortunately his dream was not to last long. There was someone knocking at his door but Gan Ning just ignored it. Instead he rolled over and snuggled his pillow closer sinking deeper into his dream. Again the knocking came, a bit louder this time. And again he ignored it, preferring his dream to the grim reality of war. However the knocking was not to be ignored so easily, and it quickly grew to a pounding that managed to bounce the door open. In rushed one of the deck hands, looking decidedly nervous to be the one who had to wake Lord Gan Ning from his rest, but there were pressing matters at hand.
Stuttering nervously, "L. . . . L. . . . Lord Gan Ning, sir"
And there was no response from Gan Ning; he didn't even roll over.
So again louder this time the man calls to Gan Ning, hoping to wake him easily. Of course things can never be easy when they're needed to be. So the man casts about the room looking for something to use to wake his commander up, from a distance preferably. Grabbing an empty water pitcher the man begins banging it against the heavy oak door, and accompanies this with various shouts.
This seems to have had the desired effect, as Gan Ning bolts straight up, instantly awake, but by no means wide-awake or oriented. "No.No.No I wasn't in her tent! I was never near her tent! I was in my own all night long, just ask Lu Xun! Honest!" Rolling out of bed onto his hands and knees, he shakes his head, clearing away the last foggy strands of his dream. Sitting up, he looks around finding himself in his own room on his own ship, with his door open. Why was his door open? Blinking his eyes letting them focus in the new light he sees the reason, as well as the source of all the noise.
"What's going on? Why did you try to scare me out of my skin?"
Trembling the deck hand bows. "I am sorry milord. But you did wish to be notified if our course was changed at all."
"Yes, so what has happened now?"
Bowing again, still nervously trembling. "Well milord, while you were sleeping, there was a shift in the wind, it's blown us off course."
"What? Off course, where are we? How far are we from our port?"
"Sir, it seems we've been blown into the river system, if this wind keeps up we'll reach the Yejun Harbor within two hours." "Well this is an unexpected development. Hopefully this does not change our plans any. Tell the crew to begin making preparations for docking we'll be disembarking at Yejun."
"Yes milord." The man bowed and backed his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
Gan Ning yawned and continued sitting there on the floor for a few moments, he was taking in all of the ramifications of this storm. He knew Lu Xun was probably expecting something like this, the man always was. He wasn't a brilliant strategist for nothing. But the real thought that seemed to plague his mind, was the fact that his Sun Shang Xiang was there, and soon so would he.
Lu Xun had been closed up in the counsel room for the past three days, surrounded by maps and documents as he tried to piece together a workable battle plan. It all hinged on one loose piece, and that was Gan Ning's fleet. The winds and seas were unpredictable and thus so was the fleet's arrival. He sat with arms crossed and his chin on his chest, to all appearances it seemed Lu Xun was hard at work. However, in reality, he was really sleeping. Foolish man that he is, he had been working day and night perfecting his plan neglecting his own needs.
His ruse would have worked too, if it hadn't been for the messenger who chose that moment to barge into the counsel room. Which of course startled poor Lu Xun, who then fell over backwards out of his chair. You can't expect him to be on guard all the time after all.
Scrambling he picked himself up off the floor, as well as the maps that fell with him, attempting to present as unruffled front as possible Lu Xun righted his chair and sat back down.
"Now, what is the reason for this intrusion? I believe I asked not to be interrupted while I worked."
"Yes, milord, I know." The messenger bowed. "Forgive me, but you did wish to be informed when Lord Gan Ning arrived."
"Yes, yes, I know that. However, with these winds he should have made port this afternoon, and it will be another two days before he reaches Yejun." Lu Xun leaned back in his chair, feeling quite please with himself and his calculations.
"I.I know sir, however."
A laugh came from outside the door, "Don't bother trying to reason with him, once he thinks he's right it will take the sun setting in the east to change his mind." Chuckling, a man stepped in behind the messenger, the slight tinkling of bells could be heard as he moved. Lu Xun's eyes grew wide for a moment. "Now this does change things doesn't it?" He laughed and rose to greet his friend. "Though, weren't you supposed to have marched into Yejun not sail into its harbor?"
Gan Ning grinned, and sat down at the table with Lu Xun. "Well that was the idea, but even you my friend can not order the winds."
Lu Xun laughed and sat back down. "That is very true. I suppose I will just have to rethink our strategy."
There was a laugh at the door, "You mean you had a strategy to begin with?" The laugh came again, accompanied by Sun Shang Xiang as she walked in and sat with the other two at the table, a servant following her with lunch for four.
Gan Ning's head swung around at the sound of the laugh, to everyone else it appeared that he was just looking to see who was coming in. Though, Lu Xun did notice that his friend grew a bit tense when she walked in.
"Very funny Xiang, you of all people should know how much work I've put into this. You have been the one making sure someone remembers to bring me something to eat every once and while."
"Actually, it wasn't me." She smirked at him. "It was Zhen Ji, she seems quite interested in our master strategist's plans." She laughed.
Gan Ning laughed as well, anything to break the tension he was feeling.
Lu Xun was definitely surprised by that, and sat back in his chair. "I didn't realize that Lady Zhen was my benefactor, I'll have to make sure to thank her the next time I see her."
"Thank me for what?"
Lu Xun fell over and out of his chair for the second time that day.
Gan Ning nearly fell over himself, from laughing so hard.
Lu Xun was trying hard to stand up with out looking to ruffled. Gan Ning and Xiang were laughing, and Zhen Ji was sitting bewildered, watching the other three. "Did, I miss something?"
Lu Xun shook his head and sat back down, trying to regain his composure. "No, no you didn't miss anything, I was just saying how I would have to thank you for being so kind as to make sure someone sent meals ever so often." He smiles nervously, trying not to look too suspicious in his admiration.
"Well I wouldn't be a good hostess if I did not make sure my guests were properly taken care of. Especially since ones kind enough to help protect my home, and my lord's lands." Zhen Ji gave a gracious smile, signaling the server to begin passing out their meals.
Lu Xun tired to hide his disappointment at Zhen's seeming non-intrest, choosing instead to focus on his dinner before getting back to work.
Gan Ning was too busy enjoying the first real meal he'd had in what seemed like weeks. Life at sea might be all well and good, but a ship's mess couldn't hold a candle to a real meal. Of course the company on ship wasn't this nice either, but he kept that thought to himself.
Sun Shang Xiang was blissfully unaware of the anything her companions were thinking; she was focused on her own dinner, and her own thoughts. She was still annoyed that her brother would allow the Pirate to lead their navy, though she had finally stopped making the boy's lives miserable. She watched him, the Pirate, out of the corner of her eye, he did seem to have a sense of humor, which would be a welcome change of pace compared to her brother and some of his advisors. And he did manage to bring the fleet to Yejun in less time than Lu Xun expected, that in it-self was quite a task. Maybe she should give him the benefit of the doubt from now on. Of course that wouldn't mean she'd let her brother off the hook just yet.
Gan Ning looked up while reaching for his glass, and his heart skipped a beat. He thought, for just an instant that he had seen Xiang watching him out of the corner of her eye. Could it mean that she really didn't hate him? And that it was just her crazy handmaidens chasing him for their health?
Lu Xun saw the silent exchange across from him and tried to hold back a laugh. Those two were definitely funny to watch; he just hoped he wasn't as funny to watch as well, even if Zhou Yu thought his predicament was amusing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that evening, Lu Xun was pouring over maps and books looking for any and all information he could on Yejun, the city, the fortress, and the surrounding countryside. On one of his numerous trips to the library, he stopped in the gardens where he normally listened to Zhen Ji's music, hoping to be able to just relax and let the plan form in the cool moonlight. He chose to sit near a small fountain deep in the center of the garden's hedge maze, across from the opening so he could see if anyone else came (force of habit after all). He leaned back where he sat, closing his eyes and listening to the falling water, soon he was asleep, stretched out on the bench.
Zhen Ji was taking her nightly stroll through the garden, in a three days Cao Cao and the rest of the Wei army would be with in a day's march of the city. Three days, to finish and implement Lu Xun's plan.
Lu Xun yawned and sat up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes he got up and started to walk back towards the map room. He was hopping to finish making his last few placements, and then he would have time for a well- earned rest. While he was walking, he heard humming coming from other side of the hedge. He smiled to himself, he would recognize that voice anywhere, it was Gan Ning humming, he seemed happy enough. Wait, make that voices, it took him a moment but he heard the other voice as well a girl's voice picking up ever so often in small talk. Lu Xun chucked to himself, seems Gan Ning's found himself some company, he only wondered if the girl's voice was that of Xiang's or not, it seemed too soft to be hers.
Quietly he slipped away from the area and finally made his way into the map room, sitting down in his rather large and comfy chair. The walk, well nap, in the garden had done wonders for him and soon he was finished with his masterpiece. If all went as he planned, there was no way they could lose. If he couldn't have his dream, at least he could keep her and her home safe. Yawning, he rolled his finished plan up, and placed it into a protective case, in the morning he would present it to the rest and set things in motion. Yawning again he settled back into his chair, letting the warmth of the fire in the hearth unwind the tension in his muscles and soon he was again fast asleep finally catching up on all of the sleep he had been neglecting.
Zhen was wandering the halls; she couldn't sleep, so she was looking for her flute. Maybe if she played in the garden for a bit she would feel better. So she ducked quietly into the map room, hoping not to disturb anyone who may be working at this hour. Slipping across the room she did find her flute, but she also found a sleeping Lu Xun curled up in a chair near a fireplace that had long died down. She smiled to her self; he really was a sweet man. Quietly setting down her flute, she picked up a blanket and covered him up, making sure not to wake him. Then she retrieved her flute and left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Lu Xun yawned after she left; he was afraid letting her know that he was awake. He didn't want to scare her off, but her kindness only served to deepen his admiration, his love for her. He also decided not to tell Zhou Yu about this, he didn't need anymore teasing. He sighed to himself; maybe he'd talk to Gan Ning. After all, his friend was in a similar situation, only his crush wasn't already married. Again he sighed to himself, and curled back up in his chair. Hopefully his dreams would be better than reality, at least for now.