A/N: Time again for another chapter where nothing is for certain, and I make it up as I go along... Thanks to everyone who bothered to read or review my story, it's nice to be appreciated! Sorry this one didn't come out for ages, I kinda lost my inspiration. But it's here now!
A/N2: Just been rereading the story, and it makes no sense whatsoever, so when I've decided where the plot's going, I'll repost a chapter at a time so it's better and, most importantly, it will make sense!
Disclaimer: (Facepalm) See the first 5 chapters.
"Na! Na, get up!"
Na hugged her pillow, and opened one eye to look at her sibling.
"Come on, get up, Sun Quan has summoned us all to the main tent." Sying said, before going outside. Na groaned, releasing her pillow, pushed herself upright, and exited the tent.. The early morning was already pleasantly warm, and the breeze brought a lingering smell of salt from the nearby lake. Na stretched, straightening her clothing, as Sying stood a little way off, waiting for her.
"Any idea why Sun Quan wants us there?" she asked, yawning, as they set off for the main tent.
"Something about Gan Ning, I think. I don't see why, though, he won't be any trouble to us until his arm heals." Sying was suddenly aware he had walked the last few steps on his own. He turned to look at his sister, who had frozen. "What is it?"
"I don't think he wants to hinder us... I think he's decided to join us..." Na said hesitantly.
"What? What makes you... why do you think that?"
"Well... last night... I got woken up by shouting... when I went to look, a soldier told me that Gan Ning had surrendered to us, or something like that -" She froze again as she remembered something. "What about Ling Tong?"
Sying paused, before shaking his head, as if dislodging a thought.
"Let's worry about that later. We got summoned to the main tent ten minutes ago - and we could be both wrong." he said, before walking off. Na ran after him, and they continued to the main tent in silent contemplation.
"There you are!"
They both looked up as they entered the tent. All the other generals except Ling Tong were standing or sitting, waiting to be told why they had been summoned. They walked over to where Sun Shang Xiang and Lu Xun were waiting.
"Where's Tong?" asked Shang Xiang quietly as they got near.
"If this is what I think it's about, it's better if he isn't here." said Na solemnly. Shang Xiang was just going to ask why, when Sun Quan, who was seated at the head of the table, spoke up.
"Thank you all for coming at such short notice - please, sit." As they took their seats, he continued. "Before we begin, can I congratulate Sying Long for the victory last night." Sying went red at the polite applause, knowing that beide him Na was dreading the question that would almost definitely come next. Sun Quan seemed to notice Na's discomfort, however, and didn't enquire as to how she felt after she had collapsed. Instead, he turned to the rest of the generals, and told them the reason they were there.
"Last night, Gan Ning surrendered himself to us. He wants to join Wu. He is, as you know, a strong fighter, but many of you may carry a grudge against him after last night." He paused, before plunging on. "You should also know that one of the people Ning killed was Ling Cao. That is why Ling Tong is not present.
"Ning would be a valuable asset to our army, but we will have to keep an eye on Tong. He has already successfully broken Ning's arm, and I think we all know how unpredictable he can be." Down the table, Na, Sying, Shang Xiang and Xun shared a worried glance. "I want to hear all your opinions before I decide what to do with Ning." Quan looked to his right, where Shang Xiang was seated.
"As the princess of Wu, I am all for having Gan Ning join us. But as a friend of Ling Tong... I am worried."
Zhou Yu was next.
" It will be hard for Tong to accept it, but times are hard enough without capable warriors. Gan Ning has my vote."
It continued around the table until it reached the twins. Na was first of the two to speak.
"Ning is certainly an able warrior, and he may help give us the edge over Wei and Shu, but Tong was very close to his father..."
Sying nodded in agreement.
"Wu needs all the help it can get in this age of chaos, but Tong will need some time to accept that his fathers killer is now on his side."
Eventually, everyone had had their say on the matter, and they all watched Quan to see what the verdict would be.
"The chance to obtain such a strong officer is too good to pass up in these difficult times, but I want all of you to keep an eye on Ling Tong. Zhou Yu, Lu Meng, come with me. The rest of you, help the soldiers get ready to leave for home." he said, after thinking for a minute or two. The rest of the generals and officers stood, and filed out of the narrow tent entrance. When Na and Sying got outside, they dithered for a bit until Xun and Shang Xiang joined them.
"Why do I get the feeling that these next few months could be interesting?" said Na quietly.
"Someone's going to have to tell Tong. He'll be angry about the decision, but if he thinks Ning is still the enemy..." Sying ventured.
"We were given a task to do. Let's get that done before we worry about Tong and Ning." said Xun.
"Where is Tong, anyway?" asked Shang Xiang.
"I think he's with his father. And probably plotting a long and painful death for Ning, if I know him." said Na. "Come on, let's get those jobs done. We can tell Tong if we see him."
They all split up to lend the soldiers a hand with dismantling the tents and packing the crates of weaponry, each one of them worrying about what their friends reaction to the news would be.
With the added help of the generals, they were soon ready to go, and set off with plenty of time to spare before it got dark.
The journey home was uneventful, and they arrived home a full hour before dark. In the confusion of cheering people, beaming soldiers, and people rushing to unpack, Na had no trouble in escaping to the quiet of her room. She flung herself down on the bed, suddenly exhausted after the dullness of the trip back and sudden explosion of life and sound all around her.
She raised her hand to cover her eyes. The lurking suspicion of a migraine suddenly hit her full force. The light through the window was too bright, the twittering birds a sudden crescendo of pain - even thinking seemed painful.
She lay on her bed, bathed in pain, when she suddenly noticed that her arm was red hot where she had been slashed. She gingerly prodded at the wound with her other hand, but the pain stayed the same.
So, an infection, then? But the sword the soldier slashed her with hadn't had any rust on it, and it had looked clean enough, though she had only got to glance at it. Oh well. It wasn't like an infection could kill her.
The migraine, on the other hand...
"You ok, Na?"
She looked over at the doorframe where her brother was standing.
"Got a bad migraine." she said, grimacing at the pain. Sying stood, watching her, for a minute, until he made up his mind.
"I'll tell them you're not feeling well, then. I imagine that people shouting and singing VERY badly won't be too good for a sore head. I'll be back at the end of the meal, then." he said, grinning. Na managed a small smile back at him as he turned to leave.
After he had gone, she slumped down into the pillows. It felt like all her energy had been sapped out of her, yet the pain seemed to be still growing. It was nearly unbearable. Maybe she'd feel better after some sleep...
Ling Tong was also staying away from the celebrations. He had travelled home in the same cart as his father, and had stayed with the body since it had been taken to the crematorium. It was the tradition for accomplished warriors to be cremated, then their ashes scattered around the land, after death.
He couldn't have joined in the celebrations, anyway. He was only just getting over the shock of losing his father - it seemed wrong to be celebrating the battle that had killed him, even if they had won.
And there was something else as well. Sying Long's first battle, and what does he do? Storms the battlefield, sets fire to the bases, and kills the enemy commander. He wasn't too sure what had happened to Na - she had just vanished from the battlefield sometime just after that - that... Tong's fists balled themselves as he relived, yet again, that fateful minute when his father had been snatched from him.
There had been some sort of commotion the morning after the battle. He wasn't quite sure what it had been. He had just wanted to be left alone with his father.
"Thought you'd be in here." came a voice from the doorway. Tong didn't bother to look up as the owner approached him.
"You're not going to the celebration, Shang Xiang?" he said, flatly.
"I thought I'd see how you were holding up. I remember when I lost my father. I secluded myself, when I should have surrounded myself with friends." She paused, and looked at him. "Just don't beat yourself up about it - you did all you could."
"I should have killed that pirate while I had the chance." he said, but with no particular malice. Shang Xiang gazed at her friend, battling in her mind whether or not to tell him the news. Her nerve failed her, however, and she just sighed and left.
When she reached the party, it was already in full swing. She threaded her way over to where Xun and Sying stood, wondering where Na was.
"She's got a migraine." Sying said, before Shang Xing could open her mouth. She furrowed her brow.
"Sorry, are we talking about the same person? Na's never ill - she's the only person I know who hasn't got a cold after diving fully clothed into the river then running around for an hour or two." Shang Xiang said, suspiciously
"I know - this is the first time I can remember her being ill since she was born." said Sying.
"You reckon being slashed with a sword has anything to do with it?" said Shang Xiang.
"Unless there was poison on the sword, or it was dirty or something, I can't see how, and it's very unlikely it would be poisoned." said Xun.
Shang Xiang deftly snatched some wine from a passing tray a servant was carrying as she spoke again.
"Let's just enjoy ourselves for now. We can check up on Na afterwards." she said, before taking a sip. "Ooh, the vintage stuff, you must have done well for Quan to crack open this stuff, Sying. He's really tight when it comes to wine. I don't see why, though - he ends up drinking most of it himself!" Shang Xiang laughed at the half amused expressions on their faces. "Come on - it's a party! Enjoy yourselves!" she said, before whirling off into the midst of the revelling, where a few people were already attempting to dance.
Sying sighed.
"I'd enjoy myself if I knew Na was ok, but I'm just worried about her." he said, as quietly as the surrounding noise allowed.
"I'm worried, too. If you'd have seen what I've seen... I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially Na." Xun said, glumly. Something about the way he said the last bit made Sying look at him.
"What? Do you fancy her, or something?" he asked, suddenly fascinated. Xun looked up at his friends face, but found no trace of humour. He dropped his gaze back to the floor before answering.
"For over three years - ever since I found you two." he said, just loud enough for Sying to hear.
"And you still haven't told her?" Sying said increduously.
"Well... what if she doesn't like me back?" Xun said. Sying laughed out loud.
"Is that all? Of course she likes you! Haven't you noticed yet?" Sying said, laughing. Xun looked up at Sying, bewildered but hopeful.
"How do you know that, though?" he said, not quite hiding the hope in his voice.
"Try sharing a tent with her and not noticing. She mutters in her sleep - she dreams about you a lot, from what I've heard her say. And she's always looking in your direction. You just watch her next time she's around you." Sying said. Xun considered this for a minute or two until he thought of something.
"If she likes me so much, why hasn't she asked me out?" he asked, brow furrowed. Sying shrugged non-commitally.
"She's shyer than you think, and a lot more so around you. Maybe she thinks you don't like her; I don't know. She doesn't tell me everything."
Xun stared into the far distance as he considered this. Sying smiled at the bemused expression on Xun's face, but suddenly his expression froze. He nudged Xun urgently.
"Xun, I think Na's in trouble!"he said, just as Shang Xiang appeared from out of the crowd.
"Well, that quickly got boring - What's wrong?" she asked as she caught his expression.
"It's Na. I think - I know - she's in trouble." he said, desperately looking for the door.
"How do you know?" said Xun.
"I just do. Now come on!"
Sying began threading his way through the revellers towards the door. Xun and Shang Xiang exchanged glances and followed him.
Sying reached the door, and began to run. People passed him in a protesting blur, but the only thing on his mind was his sister.
He finally burst through her door to find Na lying motionless on the bed. He walked over to the bed, and shook her.
"Na! Na, wake up!" he said. When Na didn't respond, he shook her again, harder.
Xun and Shang Xiang entered the room to hear him muttering frantically
"Come on, wake up, please, come on, Na, wake up..."
Xun crossed the room to where Na was, and laid a hand across her brow.
"She's got a bad temperature... and her pulse is humming... we need a medic in here, NOW." Xun said as he checked Na over. Shang Xiang ran out into the corridor, and grabbed a passing servant.
"Get a medic here, quick!" she said. The servant knew better than to ask questions, and ran off.
When Shang Xiang went back into the room, she found Sying frantic with worry.
"It's all my fault... I should have protected her... why her? Why not me? Oh, man, I hope she'll be ok... I shouldn't have let her get hurt... it's all my fault..." he muttered as he paced the room.
Shang Xiang glanced over to the bed, where Xun was taking care of Na, and smiled slightly. The idiot had realised at last, then...
"Hey, look at this..."
Shang Xiang and Sying went over to the bed, where Xun was checking Na's arm. The wound that had been just a small scar yesterday was now swollen, and red hot to the touch.
"I'm pretty certain that the sword gave her an infection... or possibly poisoned her." Xun said, quietly.
Sying sighed helplessly, and crossed to the small window. He stared out into the now inky blackness, and saw a star twinkling. As he watched, it got weaker, and weaker, flickering all the time.Without thinking, he knew it was Na's star, and stared at it, willing it not to wink out of existance forever.
A/N: Xunnie finally knows about Na, and now she's ill! Whatever will happen? Who knows? Well, I do, but apart from me, who knows? See you next time on the installment that may or may not make sense! Toodles!