Chapter II: The Dragon Will Come

Each time she woke up, she found herself lying in the same room as before. She had only hoped she was dreaming, but in the back of her mind, she knew she wasn't. Where was she anyway? She saw only a small wooden room with her lying on an extremely stiff, uncomfortable bed. The mat must been made out of stone.

Each time she woke up, sleep called her back to darkness again. She blinked, looking around again, than waited for slumber to overcome her again. When she remained wide awake, she tried sitting up. That was more difficult than it sounded. At first, her back was so stiff, it would not bend. She tried twisting to the left, than right, hearing a few cracks of the bones. When it loosened up some, she tried again, only to stop once more by a slight streak of pain running down her spine. She looked down at herself and found bandages wrapped around her, and a faint smell crawling up her nostrils. It smelled of…mint aloe leaves? Perhaps; it was too light to be certain.

To her surprise, the bandages was basically all she was wearing, save her panties she still wore around her most intimate spot, thanking the heavens for that. Her legs and arms had also been treated to, she found out, as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

The room was almost completely pitch black, save for the little light allowed in through the small window from the moon. It was completely quiet, hardly anything stirring but for a few chirps of the evening crickets.

She also found that the air smelled nothing of Wessex with the mossy air of the moats, or the burning cider of the wood from the fires lighting up the castle at night. It smelled of fresh wood, mountain air she had not breathed in years, and all other elements untainted by man. She could even smell flowers! Just where the devil was she?

Looking around to see if there were any of her other clothes, she stood up than when her eyes finally adjusted to the dim light and spotted the contours of a table across the room. Slowly she made her way to her feet, tested her weight out, and walked over when she found herself stable.

She found several more bandages on the top along with a bottle that held the same minty smell. There was what appeared to be a highly decorated, gold and silver threaded robe beneath the wraps. She put it on, found it a little tight and small and looked out the window.

She saw the strangest looking of buildings outside, ones she had only seen in a particular, well-illustrated book. What was the name of it again?

Not wanting to dawdle on a forgotten name, she made her way over to the door and tried to open it. It wouldn't budge.

She tried again, it still wouldn't go. When she pulled it at an angle, she found it slid open rather than swing. How very strange.

She walked out into a small hall than and made her way down to another door…or more like a paper wall. She fiddled around looking for the handle when her hand accidentally went right through the thin sheet. She thrust it back out and searched with her palm flat, finally finding the handle rather low near the floor.

She had to bend down to get through the door frame, and blessedly came to another door that was open.

She was now standing on a porch so it seemed, and looked around what appeared to be a little village within a castle. Few of the houses were lit with light inside, she guessing it was late in the hour and many were in bed. Just over to the left where a few trees were gathered was a small fire and a few people sitting around.

She remembered than, seeing a woman a few times when she woke up. Her hair had been a much lighter brown than her own, and had a small, full-cheeked face. Maybe she was over there.

She smiled to herself, relief washing over as she began quickly walking over, tightening the robe around her body, though tight it already was.

She stopped than and stood by a wall, listening to them speaking to one another. Or could it be called that? She only heard strange noises coming from one another, yet they seem to understand. She peered around the corner and took a look. The woman as she had hoped was there, sitting next to a man with a…mushroom looking hat on his head along with holding a large feathered fan. He had a pointy looking beard and his eyes seemed bleak in the fire. So did the other man sitting next to him, his hair light brown instead with a strange crown on his head and green-gold amour. Another man was completely covered up, wearing a veil over his face and large, flat looking hat. The man with his back to her looked massively large with muscle and was holding a long spear.

Good lord! Now she knew where she was. In China! How the bloody hell did she end up here?

Her uncle had told her of the Chinese people. They were of an Imperial race, or that is what they liked to think themselves as. They absolutely hated foreigners, wanting to be isolated from the outsiders they though primitive and barbaric. What would they do with her? She was not about to find out. Turning than, she walked quickly away, then when she thought herself safe, began running, her feet pounding into the earth as she sped off. She took another sharp turn only to run right into something hard and fall back. She fell to the ground and landed on her rear, letting out a yelp.

Looking up to see what she ran into, she gasped. From what she had been told, Chinese people were usually much shorter than the average man back at home, but here there seemed to be an exception, and he was a giant.

"Well, look at this," Guan Yu said, resting the butt of his weapon into the ground. "She's up and running about. What are you doing out so late, young woman?"

The woman only looked up at him in fright, slowly beginning to back away without bothering to get up.

She saw another man suddenly emerge from the giant's shadows. He was much shorter, thankfully, but he hardly lacked in muscle, or in possession of a deadly weapon.

"She has wakened," Zhao Yun said, staring at the girl in amazement. "Have you already healed?"

All right, she had no idea what they were saying, but she didn't care to find out. Once she was far enough, she flipped over onto all fours and sprang off like a cat, running at a mad dash.

"Hey! Stop!" Zhao Yun called out.

"Quickly, go after her! I will get my horse," Guan Yu said, already running towards the stables.

Zhao Yun dropped his weapon and took off after her. His armor would slow him down, but years of training had made him prepared to run with excessive amount of weight on him. Still, the girl was much quicker, the robe flailing behind her as she ran like the wind.

She had no idea where she was going though, running past the open gates of the castle. To her left was a maze of rocks and cliffs. To her right was another maze of forest. She only hesitated half a second to decide to go right, but Zhao Yun was able to close up a great distance in that time.

Continuing to run bare footed, she was hardly out of breath as she did much running back at home. She leaped over the limbs of trees that had fallen off, careful to avoid stepping on stones and eventually saw the outskirts of a tree line she hoped she could lose the man in. What she didn't see was that the tree line suddenly ended as it grew only to the edge of a cliff.

"Stop!" Zhao Yun called out. "Don't go that way!"

He quickened his speed than, quickly striping off his gold belt and cape to lessen his weight.

Just as the girl jumped into the outskirt, Zhao Yun leaped forward and wrapped his arm around her waist, making them both land hard into the ground. They rolled over a few times, just stopping a few feet away from the edge.

She shook her head violently, trying to clear her mind of dizziness the sudden impact of hitting the ground had caused. The man had already let go of her and was getting up. She looked over to the path she had been running on and saw there no longer was one, only the black darkness below she would have fallen into if he had not stopped her.

She looked back at the man who was standing over her, holding a stretched out hand to her. Breathing heavy, and completely confused, she took it without hesitation. Without effort, the man leaped her up to her feet with a single tug. She almost stumbled back, but he quickly caught her, and this time, understandably, did not let her go.

"Uh…Thank you," she said after a moment, glad that it was night out as she felt her cheeks grow hot.

The man only looked at her without saying anything and she remembered than that they spoke completely different languages. She tried smiling than when she heard a horse whine in the distance and several voices call out.

The giant was in the lead on top of a huge red stallion, being followed by the others who had been sitting around the fire.

"Zhao Yun! Is everything all right?" Liu Bei asked, dismounting quickly.

"Everything is fine, lord." Gently than, Zhao Yun tugged on the girl's arm to draw her closer to the others. Resisting only silently, she allowed herself to be pulled over. "She was just confused, that's all."

"Poor girl," Yue Ying said, walking up to them. "She cannot understand, therefore she does not know we mean her no harm."

"Then I will tell her," Zhuge Liang announced, walking up next to his wife. He looked than at foreign girl with his bleak eyes, yet his face was gentle and kind.

"Young woman. Do you understand me?"

The girl blinked at him several times than said softly, "I do."

"Good. Understand that we mean you no harm. You are safe with us."

"Yes, I know that now. I am sorry that I ran away. Please tell this man that I said thank you for rescuing me."

Zhuge Liang nodded and turned to the Tiger General. "She gives her thanks for saving her life."

Zhao Yun turned to the woman and smiled. "My pleasure."

As if understanding, the girl smiled back, but it was the gleaming look he had in his eyes that shined in the moonlight making her feel comfortable.

Yue Ying turned than and headed back towards the horses. "Come, let us go back inside the castle and talk there. The girl must be cold."

"Here is your belt and cape, Zhao Yun," Liu Bei said, handing his belongings over. "How did these come off?"

"I had to take them off to lessen my weight, therefore allowing me to run faster."

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow and side-glanced at the girl. "She is that quick?"

"Yes, lord. Very."

Guan Yu brought his horse over than and handed the reins over to Zhao Yun. "Ride back with her on my Red Hare."

"Are you sure, lord?' Zhao Yun asked. "It is your horse."

"I am. Besides, she is not afraid of you."

Not being able to argue with that, Zhao Yun helped the girl mount up, and then himself behind her. He fumbled a bit with the reins, having to reach around the girl's body and grab them from around the horse's neck. His arms, though he didn't mean to, held her securely in place while she sat sideways on the saddle, keeping her eyes to the ground. As the group began to ride on towards the castle gates, Guan Yu walked the other way.

"Guan Yu!" Zhang Fai called. "Where are you going?"

"I want to look around for a moment. I will bet here shortly."

"You'll be there after dawn with the pace you run at!"

If Guan Yu heard, he did not care to respond, already disappearing into the forest where the girl and Zhao Yun and run in.

"Wait!" The girl suddenly cried out, afraid the giant would fall into the ravine.

"Do not worry," Zhuge Liang said. "He knows these forests better than anyone. He will be fine."

The girl turned her head to the man and looked at him for a moment in silent amazement. After a while, she was bold enough to ask, "How do you know my language?"

"I have studied many languages as a boy, English being among the first. It is a language vastly growing as your people travel and explore the world. I encountered another foreigner like yourself several years ago. He was my teacher."

"Does anyone else know it?"

"I think not," he simply replied, and turned to speak with his wife.

Well, so much for her being able to give a personal thanks to her handsome rescuer, or at least she thought he was handsome. At the same time she felt ruinously foolish for having run away like that, and now all these people came out just to make sure she was all right. She never looked to the left of her the entire time, for if she did she would be looking directly into those beautiful, gleaming eyes again.

Though at the same time it was frightening how much strength this lean looking man had. He was only half of the giant and not as muscled as the other man with the spear, yet he was abnormally quick for his speed and had a strength of a…a…

She tried to find a word to describe him best, when she noticed the cape draped over one of leg that held a design of a tiger. Yes, a tiger! That fit him perfectly.

They arrived back at the house where she had been sleeping for the past several days, dismounted their horses and walked in. Zhao Yun only left her side for a moment to light several of the candles around the room, bright enough for her to see everyone clearly, and everyone to see her just as well.

"You must be hungry," the mushroom-hat man said. "Would you care for food and drink?"

"After what she just went through, she was hardly hungry, but was thoroughly parched. "I am a bit thirsty."

The man than turned to the woman and said a few words. She left for a moment into the room across where the girl had been sleeping, than came back with a tray of cups and a small, stout little kettle. She poured cups for everyone and handed them around. The girl had hoped for something cool, but it was obvious whatever the liquid in her cup was not. She brought the rim to her dry lips, tipped the up just a bit and let the hot liquid run down her throat. Whatever it was, it was incredibly strong, making her cough for a moment. Zhao Yun reached over and patted her back. When she stopped, she drank again, this time for careful and found it delicious.

"What is this?" she asked when she was done.

"It is an herbal tea of my wife's own making. It clears the head and heats the chest up during cold nights."

"It is delicious."

Yue Ying smiled and nodded in thanks. She refilled everyone's cup again than returned the kettle back to the room. Everyone than sat around the table, Zhao Yun doing something the others hadn't expected. He pulled a chair out for the young girl than pushed her forward after she sat, taking a seat beside her. Even the girl was surprised, knowing that in China, women were seen as inferior to men, and were what her uncle said, "lived in the shadows of their men."

Zhuge Liang paid no mind to it. "If you do not mind, young woman, there are several questions I would like to ask you, for mine and everyone else's knowledge. Of course, if you are too tired, we can continue this in the morning."

"Oh no," the girl said, waving her hand. "I've slept long enough. Please ask, for I'd like to ask a few questions as well."

"I'm sure you do," Zhuge Liang replied. "First, what is your name?"

"Leonia Winsom."

"Le…on…ia…Win…som…" Zhuge Liang repeated. "A nice name. Where are you from?"

"Wessex, near Essex and bordered to the North by the Norsemen.'

"How did you come all the over here? By ship I presume."

"Yes, but we were attacked by the Danes. They wanted a new ship since there's was in poor shape and they took all our goods we had on board and wanted to sell it to other foreigners. We were caught during a storm, however, and that is when I and the others tried to abandon ship." She went still for a moment. "I believe I am the only one who made it."

"Why did you abandon ship? Were you afraid they would kill you?"

"They would do worse. They wanted to sell me as a harem girl."

Zhuge Liang nodded. He was not exactly certain what a "harem girl" was, but it was something most unpleasant that undignified all women part of it.

"Was you family on the ship with you?" he continued.

"No. It was mostly mercaneris just traveling around."

"Why were you on the ship?"

Again she hesitated to answer. "I was off to go join my husband-to-be who I would marry in the summer."

"Where is he now?"

"In India, where the Danes had planned to sell the goods…the goods that were my wedding present to my future husband. But the waves of the storm carried me out…much further than I had expected."

"Do not worry. I am sure my Lord Lui Bei will take best interest into getting you back home safely."

"Oh, please no!" Leonia cried out.

Everyone look startled and stared at her.

"I'm sorry, but please do not send me back. I can work my living here."

"Zhuge Liang. What is she saying?' Zhao Yun asked, wondering why the girl suddenly looked so frightened.

"Patience, Zhao Yun," he said. "Now, Leonia. Why is it you do not want to return back home?"

"Because…of my husband-to-be! He is a cruel man and would beat me poorly. I was to marry him only for his alliance to protect us against the Norsemen, but we do not need it! They cause us no harm."

Zhuge Liang considered this for a moment, than nodded again. "It is your decision whether you want to stay or go, but you must have the permission of the Ruler of Shu in order to stay here."

"Who must I ask?"

Instead of answering, Zhuge Liang turned to Liu Bei and the others. "Her name is Leonia Winsom. She is from a land called Wessex, bordered by neutral allies and enemies, as we are. She was on a ship on her way to India to marry her husband-to-be, but her ship was captured by people called Danes, ruthless people who are of greed and want of power. She and other mercenaries aboard escaped one night when there was a terrible storm at sea. She is the only survivor however, and it would seem she somehow managed to drift all the way over here. Lord Liu Bei, she asks permission to remain here, for she does not want to return home, in fear of her future husband beating her. She promises to earn her living, and serve under you."

"A foreign woman?" Zhang Fei said. "Never! We are in a time of great war, and we do not—"

"Of course," Liu Bei interrupted. He turned to Leonia and smiled. "You are welcomed here."

His smile told Leonia everything, that he had accepted her request. She smiled brightly than and began to thank him over and over whether or not he understood her.

"What?" Zhang Fei cried out. "Brother, your joking!"

"Actually, I am most interested in learning of the foreign customs. They could one day come in use."

"Use? How so?" Guan Yu asked.

"Lord Liu Bei and I earlier discussed that perhaps if we learned a foreign language, we could use it as a code to deliver messages. If the enemy ever got a hold of one of the messages, they would not be able to understand it."

"Hmm," Yue Ying thought aloud. "That is a brilliant idea, husband and Lord Liu Bei. Many times our scouts were easily captured and were forced to tell the truth. This way, even they won't understand what it means"

Everyone turned to gaze their eyes upon Leonia, who suddenly became nervous under their stare. What were they thinking, she wondered?

"It is settled than," Zhuge Liang said, speaking in Leonia's language. "You may stay here as you wish, and you will pay your debt to Lord Liu Bei by helping me to teach everyone your language. With two teachers, it will go just as fast."

"But I do not know your own language," Leonia pointed out. "How will I be able to teach them if I cannot tell them what they are learning?"

"I will first teach you ours."

Leonia slightly paled. "I've tried to learn other languages before, and I must admit, I have no knack for it. In three years, I have yet to learn how to speak Norse. I cannot even say a simple sentence!"

"Everyone can learn," the strategists continued, disregarding her complaint. "It just takes time and much practice."

Leonia sighed and nodded. "Very well. I shall try. It is the least I can do to your Lord—Liu Bei was it?—and the others."

"Speaking our language is what you can do for Lord Liu Bei. To repay my wife who healed you and kept you alive from bleeding to death, you will learn different medicines and antidotes from her, and become her assistant. And from Zhao Yun, who saved your life tonight…well, you will have to ask him."

Leonia nodded and only continued to stare at Zhuge Liang.

"You may ask him yourself after you learn the language."

Leonia's shoulders dropped, but said, "Yes, I understand."

"Good." He turned back to his Lord. "She understands everything. Wife, she will learn from you and become your assistant. Zhao Yun, you may decide yourself how you with her to repay you."

The warrior look startled. "Repay me? For what?"

"For saving her life, of course. Besides, I do not want her owing you two favors at once."

"What do you mean?"

"I must ask you something…after the girl has gone through my teachings, helped everyone learn her language, and through Yue Ying's own medicine training, I want you to teach her how to become a warrior."

"What?" Zhao Yun stood up than, staring down at the strategist with huge disbelief. "Your not serious, lord! A foreign woman becoming a warrior to fight in our war?"

"No, not to fight in the warrior. To protect herself. She will become one of the scouts, but if she should ever be caught, she must know and understand the warrior's way of defending, or committing suicide if there are no other options."

"Zhuge Liang," Liu Bei said before Zhao Yun could argue. "We only have just rescued the girl and have allowed her to stay her. Is it necessary to put her into such risk? As Zhao Yun said, she is not even of this land. It would not be right."

"Lord Liu Bei, at times of war, drastic measures should be made. If she wishes to stay here, she must earn her keep. Besides, we can use all the help we can get."

Lord Liu Bei shook his head, but when he looked up, he gave his most trusted advisor a nod. "Understood."

"Lord—" Zhao Yun began.

"Hold your tongue," Zhang Fei interrupted. "No sense in trying to change their minds. It would be like knocking down a wall with your bare hands."

Meanwhile, Leonia was out of the center of attention, but was wondering why the men—particularly Zhao Yun, the one who had saved her—had such angry looks in their eyes, and why Zhao Yun was yelling at the mushroom-hat man.

"Well," Yue Ying said, standing up. "It is late, and we should all get rest if we are to rise at dawn. After tonight though, I would feel much better if one of you men protected Leonia…until she can do so for herself."

As if the question didn't even need to be asked, everyone save for Leonia turned their attention to Zhao Yun. He meagerly nodded. "Of course. And she does not owe me anything for this."

"Leonia, go with Zhao Yun. You will sleep with him tonight and for all the nights until you are fully trained by him. He will protect you and keep you safe."

At first, Leonia was alarmed that she was to be sent sleeping with a man she did not even know and only having learned his name several minutes ago. But, she remembered hearing of how the Chinese men were of honor and respect, and though the women were considered lesser to their "power," they would never harm their women. Besides, it would be better than to sleep alone in a dark room, even if the two couldn't talk to each other.

Leonia stood up than, Zhao Yun already at her side, offering his arm. Another odd gesture, everyone noted, but the girl seemed to know what to do, taking it and wrapping her own arm around it. They walked towards the door, turned in the doorway and bowed, than left.

"What is this? Does Zhao Yun know all the Western customs?" Zhang Fei asked.

"Possibly. I see him many times reading whenever he has a chance. He may be studying up on Leonia's people and their cultures."

"Is that why you allowed Zhao Yun to guard Leoina?" Guan Yu asked.

"Zhao Yun is of a strong, loyal warrior. With both skill and knowledge, he can become undefeatable."

"You do think of everything, husband," Yue Ying said. "Well, everyone, I suggest you be off to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," everyone else said, and left.