Xun awoke to the sounds of birds singing. There was a soft aroma of peach blossoms around him. He slowly opened his eyes to See Zhang He enjoying a spot of tea.

He rubbed is head and sat up. "Morning Swallow, Care to join me?" He said pouring out another cup.

"How long was I asleep?" Xun asked sitting down opposite He and taking the cup.

"You've been here all night and I can tell you, there are some colourful rumours spreading about it!" Zhang He laughed sipping his tea.

"I'm sorry, have I gotten you in trouble?" Xun said taking a drink.

"Don't worry I get this kind of thing all the time, Men just don't understand that just because I act differently, doesn't mean I'm evil." He said.

"What happened to Zhang Liao?" Xun asked. The tea tasted good. It felt like he hadn't had a good drink in days.

"Oh, he had some work to do and didn't want to leave you on your own, so he brought you to me." He said.

As He said this Zhang Liao entered the room toting a wooden scroll. "He, Lord Cao Cao has issued the battle plan." Liao said. He turned to look at Xun and smiled. "Hey kid." He said he turned his attention back to Zhang He and began to go over the plan.

"We are leading our advanced forces against Wu in three days…" Liao continued.

Wu was important, Very important.

"Is Wu the enemy?" Xun asked.

The two Zhangs turned to look at him.

"To some people they are." Zhang He smiled.

The two continued to look over the notes. Xun stretched and yawned. The sleep had done him some good. His vision was nearly normal now, not quite, but the best it had been. He looked at the notes and a word caught his eye. He fell back and grasped his head with both hands, the memory flooding back so severely it felt like he had been shot. The two Zhangs stopped their fussing and ran to Xun's side.

"Swallow, you ok?" Liao asked.

"I remember…" Xun cried.

"What do you remember?" Zhang He asked.

Xun got up shakily and pointed to the two symbols on the page.

"Xiahou Yuan?" Zhang Liao exclaimed.

"I was running… I saw his banner… tried to get away, then he hit me…" Xun said.

"Anything else?" Zhang He asked.

Xun strained to find more but that was all his brain would allow. "No, that's all I remember, I'm sorry…" Xun cried

"Well, it's a start…" Zhang Liao smiled.

"Why did he hit me?" Xun pondered, "Why was I running?"

"And more so, why were you tied up when you took audience with Cao Cao?" Zhang He said.

Xun and Liao both turned to look at him. "I've said too much," He said shifting uncomfortably.

"What is going on here exactly?" Xun said, standing up.

"Look Swallow, we're trying our best to help you but we can't disobey our master, understand?" Liao nodded.

"So something is going on?" Xun growled.

"We can't tell you, but we can help you remember ok?" Zhang He, said, taking hold of Xun's arm.

He looked at Zhang He's face, the sincerity in his eyes.

"You really are trying to help me aren't you?" Xun Said calming down.

"Now we know that it was Xiahou Yuan that hit you, we can find out what happened in between and perhaps help you remember." Zhang Liao said.

Xun understood. These men were loyal, too much so to disobey their lord's orders but they were compassionate enough to help him.

"Thank you so much!" Xun said throwing his arms around Zhang Liao as a gesture of thanks. Liao smiled and ruffled Xun's hair a little.

"Next thing to do is wait until Xiahou Yuan summons a serving hand, you go and see if you can find anything to help you remember, without letting him know what you know," Zhang He said. Lu Xun nodded, finished off his tea and took the cups down to the store.

Zhang Liao sighed. "For his sake let's hope he is as smart as they all say he is, because if he can't get back to his force in three days, he may not have a force to go back to."

"He seems slightly better this morning but any stress could cause him to black out again, he needs medicine and rest." Zhang He said.

"I think he can do it." Liao said, picking up the wooden scroll and carrying on from where he left off.

Xun washed the cups and soon all the serving girls were crowding around him.

"You spent last night with lord Zhang He?" One said.

"I pity you!" Another cooed.

"Oh, so young!" Another whined.

"Nothing happened." Xun smiled, he could still taste vomit in the back of his throat.

"Girls, enough!" Locust's voice rang from the other side of the room and the girls quickly scampered away.

"Ok there Swallow?" Locust asked.

He nodded and smiled. "Can I get some food?" He asked.

She put her hands on her hips and grinned. "Well sure, just grab a bowl and get eating but don't take too long, you have a job to do!" Locust laughed.

He did so. He managed to hold down a half bowl of rice but he didn't want to tempt fate so stopped after that. He spent a few hours running errands for officers. He was getting tired and his vision was getting worse. He felt queasy but was determined to be strong. After a while Locust walked in and boomed, "Swallow! You're wanted! Xiahou Yuan just ordered two rice and two wine on the second floor, can you handle it?"

Lu Xun was excited. This was his chance to find out more about himself so he quickly collected up the requested articles and headed up to the second floor.

The second floor was quiet but for the booming laughter from Xiahou Yuan's quarters. Xun entered carrying the foodstuffs and saw Zhang Liao sitting with him, enjoying a drink.

"Ah! More wine is here!" Xiahou Yuan Laughed, happily taking the cups from Xun.

Zhang Liao nodded and Xun understood. Yuan was obviously quite drunk.

"So Yuan, from where did you obtain that fabulous hat?" Zhang Liao spluttered, feigning intoxication. He pointed to a red and gold hat resting on the table in the corner.

"Oh, THAT! That was a trophy from my recent victory but you, now you are a man with a fine taste in hats! Never cared much for 'em myself, why don't you take it? Yuan Mumbled.

"I would be delighted and honoured!" Zhang Liao hiccupped. "Swallow! Take the hat to my quarters!" He continued, winking.

"Yes my lord." Xun bowed, retrieving the hat and leaving the room.

He half closed his eyes as he rushed down the corridor towards Zhang Liao's room. He didn't want to look at it until he was ready. He entered the room and Zhang He was there, practicing some dance moves.

"Ah, you got it!" Zhang He smiled, turning to look at Lu Xun.

"What are you doing here?" Xun asked.

"Zhang Liao asked me to wait here for you, he had to go distract Xiahou Yuan!" Zhang He said twirling.

Xun sat down on the floor, took a deep breath and looked at the hat.

It was made of expensive red silk attached to a solid frame, lined with gold markings and little protrusions like wings. There were two red ribbons hanging from the sides and a veil to cover the back of the wearer's neck.

"Anything?" Zhang He asked.

Xun shook his head. "It feels like I know this hat but…" He strained to remember.

"Why not try putting it on?" Zhang He said.

Xun nodded. He raised one hand to remove unruly hair strands from his forehead and with the other, lifted the hat hand put it on, letting the ribbons flop over his shoulders.

He fell back as the memory hit him, the robes, the armour, the hat, he had been preparing for war.

"That'll be it! You ok?" Zhang He said rushing to his side to help him up.

"I was a soldier!" Xun cried.

"That's all?" Zhang he smiled.

Xun nodded. He was relieved to have some memory back but also scared. He wasn't a serving boy after all, so why would Cao Cao want him to believe he was? This was getting very confusing.

"Well, its another piece of the puzzle," Zhang He sighed.

Xun suddenly jumped up. "I've got to get back to work, Locust is going to have my head!" He turned to leave but Zhang He took his arm.

"Be careful Swallow, don't overdo it you're still sick." Zhang He said.

Xun smiled. "Please don't be so worried…" He said but paused,

Although he appreciated the concern he resented the fact that everyone thought of him as their little brother. Retaining this tiny fragment of his memory before the 'accident', he left to get back to work.

He worked for the rest of the day but by mid evening he was so tired that he collapsed in the corridor