As I go through these, I have many sudden urges to fix the prose (and I did fix it). It's amazing to see what my writing was like a few years ago.

Disclaimer (in the style of Wei Yan): Dynasty Warriors...not...mine.

Chapter 2: Interrogations

Ling's POV

I woke up to find myself in a tent. Where I was, I could only guess. There were small rays of light shining through the flaps that served as a door, indicating it was daytime out side. For some reason, panic set in and I sat up quickly, immediately wishing I hadn't done so. Pain shot through my head and I remembered what had happened... was it yesterday? Two days ago? Three? Just how long had I been out?

"Lady, the Lord wishes to speak with you." I had heard this voice before... not during the seige but in a time far beyond recalling small details, such as the sound of someone's voice.

... Third Person POV, Jian Ye...

"You are indeed lucky that Gan Ning came at that moment. Just what did you do to aggravate them so much?" This speaker was Sun Jian, lord of Wu. Ling had a nagging feeling that he had meant more to her at one time, but she couldn't place it and thus ignored it.

"...I believe I angered them by resisting." Ling answered the man's question.

"And what were they trying to do?"

Ling thought for a moment. This was a question that had to be answered carefully. "I don't know. They said that we as women were 'useful.' I think they were going to capture and sell us." A spiky-haired man in the corner snorted.

"More like rape, as sure as I'm still standing." The spiky haired man corrected.

"They could try! I know that my sis..." This statement came from Sun Ce, the son of Sun Jian. Sun Jian halted his son's words with a warning glance. Sun Ce looked downward and sighed. "I know that no one would stand for that." Sun Ce revised. He seemed to Ling to be an "act now, think later" type of guy. And that nagging feeling was back. This whole place seemed familiar, and it seemed so in many ways that her previous home did not.

"And... what did you say your name was?" Sun Jian resumed his interrogation of Ling.

"I didn't. As for that, I don't know. I call myself Ling Mei."

"...You don't know your own name? You must be kidding."

Ling resisted the urge to make a sarcastic, not to mention a bit vulgar, reply. Instead she responded, "I wouldn't joke about something like that. I forgot everything. I don't know when. I could have been born not knowing who I was, for all I know."

"...I see." The lord of Wu certainly wasn't a person to try to fool. He could see right through everyone if he wanted to. He was looking through Ling right now. Finding nothing, he sighed. "Very well. You may leave. Go back home, where ever your home is." Ling couldn't expect him to know, but his words twisted a knife in her heart. She flinched and stood silent for a moment.

"My lord, if I may?" The lord of Wu nodded, waiting to hear what she had to say. "I have no home. It was destroyed when the armies burned the rice fields outside Luo Yang." This much she had found out by questioning the messenger that came to get her.

"...You lived in the fields?" Sun Ce asked. The others sighed at his conclusion, but were surprised by Ling's answer.

"Yes. No one would take me in." Ling personally felt that Sun Jian was somewhat intimidating, but would not let that deter her. Summoning her courage, she said plainly, "Would you let me stay here? I promise I can make myself useful. And if you think I'm not doing enough, I'll leave." It took quite a bit for Ling to give up what little pride she hadn't lost to those bastards in Luo Yang and say this.

After brief consideration, Sun Jian allowed her to stay. "We'll talk about work and conditions later. You all may go."

Is it just me? Ling thought. 'Or did he call everyone here to hear my answers?' However, she had little time to ponder this, as she was being addressed by the previously mentioned spiky haired man.

"C'mon. I'll escort you back." He offered sarcastically. He even held out his hand to complete the insult. Ling couldn't tell if he was trying to be humorous or just plain insulting.

"I hardly need an escort. I can protect myself. However, if you would be so kind as to help me with directions, I'd be thankful." Ling said innocently, the very image of a proper, shy woman.

"C'mon! Relax! I was only jokin'!" He said, grinning.

"Me too. Could you tell me your name?"

"You're kidding. How can you not know who Gan Ning of the Bells is? Especially when I was the one who saved your life." He answered.

"...such arrogance..." Ling teased. What am I doing? She thought at the same time. He's a person of importance and I am a faceless refugee! Out loud she said, "Sorry. I'm grateful that someone stepped in to help me. The only other person was that little girl. The others were such cowards, it really just--"

Gan Ning gave her a strange look. "Little girl? You must have been seeing things. There were only a bunch of women. Not a one of them under sixteen." His raised eyebrow lowered, and then he smiled. "Maybe you're going crazy. You should write these things down. That's what they tell me when I see things that aren't there." His eyes rolled up a bit and he rubbed his chin in thought. "Of course, when I start seeing things, I'm usually drunk.

"Write them down..." Suddenly, Ling remembered the book she wrote in, the thing she'd hoped would help her remember. Panic gripped her—that book was all she knew of herself. "Did you find a book in the tunnels?" He had started walking, so she ran to catch up as she asked the question. He stopped and raised an eyebrow again.

"Why would I have worried about something like that? I was kind of busy getting revenge." He continued walking and Ling followed, compelled to learn more about this revenge he had exacted.

"I suppose I should have thought of that." Ling sighed and thought it best to accept the loss of her journal. "Just one more question, though. What were you getting revenge for?"

Gan Ning stopped again. For the first time, Ling saw the good humor disappear from his face. As he continued walking, he said quietly, "I'd rather not talk about that."

Ooo! Not much happened in this chapter! That's because it's still what we in the biz call the "exposition." So it'll pick up speed. In any case, I hope you'll read the next chappie!

Please Review!

Constructive criticism is good too.