HIYA PEOPLE! I'm back…hears people groan what?… well, um this is an ALL fluff chapter…yes…ALL fluff the point of this chapter? My good humor.
On to business.
Shadowwolf5889: Oh…don't faint… I need you to write more in your story…Thanks…
Sideways: Yes, yes…I suppose so…
Mrs.SleepingDragon: teehee yes…well I think you'll like this chapter…
Chapter 17: Winter's Courtyard
The dead of winter froze my cheeks while walking in the courtyard. I had been there awhile, alone. I often did when I needed to think. I began to harbor thoughts of going inside. It was growing cold. I turned back toward the fortress and looked up to Zhuge Liang's window, I smiled. He was watching me, or so it seemed. He often reflected from that mirror on the daily events that constantly weighed on his soul. I turned again and continued walking toward the frozen pond and statue. It was put up a few weeks after we took Cheng Du, a present from the local carpenters. It was actually a large statue of Liu Bei holding his sword. Our lord said he wanted similar depictions made of all his more prominent officers. I often avoided my own, but Zhuge Liang's was wonderful. Of course no one could capture his true essence in a pose, but they did well. It was he in a meditative position. I went up to it and sat in its lap and looked to the frozen waters. A few moments later, I felt a cold and watery snowball hit me in the arm.
"Darn, I missed." I looked up to see Master Liang, "Aren't you cold? You've been out here 20 minutes." I narrowed my eyes and quickly scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at him. "HEY!" Soon, it became a snowball war. We dodged behind the statues and ran around the courtyard. Soon, I got too close without any snow… "TAG! You're it!" Zhuge yelled and continued running.
"Oh yeah?"
"Bet you can't catch me!"
"Oh, I will." After a bit of running, I finally caught him. I ran as fast as I could, hiding behind a ring of statues of the tiger generals. However, he caught me and I slipped on the snow. His expression turned from joy to horror.
"Are you okay?" I looked slyly at his outstretched hand and yanked him down with me. "Hey!" He lay down next to me and we laughed.
"Forgive me, Master Liang, that was fun…" I began to shiver…
"I'm sure it was, have to cheat, eh?"
"Uggghhh!" I turned on my side and tried to slap him playfully, but he caught my hand, but I quickly had him pinned in the snow. "HA!"
"Alright, alright." He looked into my eyes and saw right through me. "Have I ever told you that you have the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen?"
"No, I don't believe that you have." My voice trailed.
"Then I'm telling you now." His voice turned to a whisper and floated over the passing breezes. I prayed he would kiss me. The moment was perfect…but he didn't. I let him up and we slowly made our way back to the fortress. Liu Bei was inside the gate waiting for us.
"You two look like you're freezing…" He handed us two blankets.
"Thank you my lord."
"Oh yes, I came to tell you that there's a surprise banquet for Zhao Yun's birthday on Friday. But right now I want you both to change into some warm clothes, I don't need you guys catching cold." We walked upstairs and he escorted me to my room. I closed the door, but as I was changing, I could hear that Ma Chao and Zhao Yun had confronted him. This is what I heard, Ma Chao spoke first.
"WOW! Go Master Liang! The Sleeping Dragon is a lady's man!"
"Gentlemen, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do!" said Zhao Yun.
"We saw everything!"
"Did you kiss her?"
"I'd like to see that! Serious old Zhuge Liang planting one on Aven Yu…" taunted Ma Chao.
"If you saw everything, why are you asking?" The Sleeping Dragon replied calmly.
"Because…you did didn't you?"
"That's not your business."
"Awwwww Come on! If you didn't, then knock on that door right now and kiss her." Replied Zhao Yun.
"Unlike you, I respect women. I don't make them prizes and figures of lust." This seemed to take the two aback.
"Come on We've seen the way you smile at her and we've seen the look on her face, too."
"Well…" I opened the door as The Sleeping Dragon was about to retort.
"Is there a problem, gentlemen?"
"Uhhh…no?" Sputtered Ma Chao nervously. I shifted my gaze to Zhuge Liang
"No, My Lady."
"We better go," Zhao Yun piped up and the both were gone in a matter of seconds, looking back to see if the Prime Minister would make his move…
