All three men stared at Xiao for a moment, blinking. She swung her head around, noticing she had never before seen the one sitting to her left, and realized none of them were moving. "What are you doing?" She had to stop there because a fit of coughs racked her body. Her throat was parched, and it hurt to speak, but she continued in a raspy voice, "That fat bad man is torturing Da! Is it morning? It has to be! I left her, and didn't find you soon enough! He's going to kill Da!"
At this point tears were falling down her cheeks and into the bed sheet. Xiao had promised herself she would not cry, but no longer cared. Her heroes were sitting, staring at her while her sister had to fight off a man whose arm was bigger then both her and her sister put together. The man to her left was the first to speak.
"Lady Xiao, from what I have come to understand, you have been through something horrible. But, you need to take a breath, drink some water, and tell us what, from the beginning, has happened. I am sure all of us in this tent are going to be more than willing to help you, and your dearest sister," he said, giving a pointed look to Ce, who had stiffened considerably and looked ready to snap, "but we will be able to do nothing if you can't tell us. And, the hysterics you are falling into is not going to help anybody. Especially your dearest sister."
Xiao turned to him, eyes wide and bottom lip trembling. "He is right, Lady Xiao. Please, calm yourself and take a drink. Then, if you can, tell us what has happened after we left," Yu pleaded calmly. As always, he was thankful for Lord Jians presence. As Xiao took the extended cup, he watched Lord Jian reprimand his son. He heard something about, he being so tense he was causing Xiao to become fitful. With a glare sent to his father, Ce forced himself to relax.
"You have to believe me. None of this is going to sound real," Xiao started, hiccupping between words. "But, it is. And we have to hurry. Like, we need to be there now!" Xiao looked at them all and sniffed. Refusing to wipe her nose on her sleeves, her sister had always hit her for it; she gave another sniff and started her story the way she knew it. No where near as elegant as Da would have told it, or how story like and blunt as Chan had told her story, Xiao had to answer many questions when she had finished.
"No more questions?" Xiao hissed, and then coughed. "Yu needs to think up a way to break Da's spell. And Chans! And Bus! And you need to kill the bad fat man! He's angry, I know it. And he's going to take it all out on Da and Chan!" Xiao cried, starting to ramble. All three men glanced at one another with worried glances and then the healer walked in.
"A servant had told me she had awakened. With the noise she made, I had thought she maybe was better than I had presumed, but surely she is not. Out, all of you. She needs rest," the healer said.
"Rest!? No, not rest. We have to save Da. I left her alone! We have to save Da!" Xiao yelled, trying to get up. The healer glanced at all the men clearly in disapproval.
"Lady Xiao," Yu said, grabbing her arm, "we will surely save Lady Da. But, you need to calm yourself. Running to any kind of battle in hysterics is the best way to loose. Please, relax and listen to the healer. The lords and I shall discuss this Dong Zhuo fellow and Lady Da's predicament." Xiao stared at Yu for a moment, searching his expression before giving in to his logic. Falling back against the pillow, she glared at the healer.
As the healer looked her over, the three men stood and left the tent. They made their way to another tent, one close enough they could get to Xiao should anything happen, and sat around a table. Jian was the first to speak. "I think her fever has made her delusional and she made the story up while lost in this forest." His answer to the silent question was rather blunt.
"What about Da?" Ce said, turning to give his father a small glare.
"Lost still."
"As logical as it sounds, I do not feel that it is just a story milord," Yu said.
"You believe some magical fat man has held two women in a castle that is a woman?" Jian raised one eyebrow.
"When you put it that way, it does sound unethical Lord Jian." Yu stared at the wooden table with a frown.
"Well, whether it is real or not, Xiao is not going to sit around here for long. Not while she thinks Da is in mortal danger," Ce gritted out. Finding Xiao so battered, and with no Da in sight had most definitely put him on edge. Never had he felt so stressed, and so powerless, as he did waiting for either the scouts to report or for Xiao to wake up. He was the son of a lord, darn it, and he was reduced to pacing the width of a tent while his woman-yes his woman was alone in the harsh winter.
His father gave him a look that pointedly said that a woman, especially in Xiao's shape, should be no problem for them to handle. Biting the inside of his mouth, Ce tapped on the wood table and half glared at Jian. He really couldn't be blamed, never meeting the Two Qiaos, and Ce really wasn't upset over the look. That was more Yu's problem. But the feeling powerless was getting to him, and if Da was not located soon he'd have to go beat on some soldiers for some 'training'. Some very harsh 'training'.
They continued to debate the value of Xiao's ranting when a soldier peaked in to announce that the scouts had returned. Ce was the first one up and out to see the scouts. He noticed that the sun had risen, and noted that he had gotten very little sleep and no breakfast when it was almost lunch time. Yet, he was neither hungry nor tired. Turning his head, he looked over his scouts. They looked cold, upset, and unnerved. "Report?"
"Milord," the head scout stuttered, looking from Ce to Jian, "We had followed the girls trail, or what was left, and found a rather impressive castle. Unsure of what to do, I sent one of my men inside the grounds, not the castle itself mind you, and when he returned, well he said… He can tell you." The head scout motioned for another man to step forward.
"Milords," the scout said with a bow. "I had been… volunteered to scout the castle. I walked around the grounds, taking a quick survey to see if it was inhabited, since we really had no indication of it being their before. I was in the gardens, marveling the craftsmanship of a statue when I heard the most painful scream. It sounded from a woman, I am sure, and it was such a painful wail that it sent shivers down my spine. My apologies for my cowardice, but I quickly returned to the group. To say I was terrified was an understatement, and stuttered through the experience to my captain." The scout bowed his head in shame, although he would admit willing to anybody who asked that he would not want to enter those grounds again. Such a cry was going to haunt him for years in his nightmares.
"A castle?" Jian asked eyes wide. At the captain's nod, Yu could only sigh. He watched Ce and Jian start to drill the scouts on the castle before mumbling his leave. They only waved him away without much thought. Slipping back, he made his way towards the tent Xiao resided in. The healer was gone, and Xiao lay in her bed asleep. Yu slowly let the tent flap fall, not wanting to wake her. She had gained some color from when they first found her, and that brought a smile to Yu's face.
Still, she seemed so small. Of course, she had always been much smaller than him, he would never deny that. But, before him then, she seemed to be even smaller. She was mostly bone; there was a good chance he could have counted her ribs with little problems if it would have been decent to do so. With a quiet, powerless sigh, Yu ran the back of his hand down the side of her face.
She was beautiful, in her own way. Albeit, she did have a more childish look, he could never help but stare. She was always happy, and always had that gorgeous smile on her face, his Butterfly. He was sure, in her old age, she'd have laugh lines, but he couldn't imagine it damaging her lovely face. No, even old, he could only imagine her a happy, loving grandmother with bright hazel eyes that still shone with her happy youth.
Her childish, happy, carefree beauty off set her sisters elegant, graceful appeal. Which explained how, together, they out shone even the moon and flowers. The moon only had its beautiful elegance, like many of the other woman, and the flowers had to choose between the childish cuteness of Xiao, or the graceful passion similar to Da. But the two sisters easily achieved both in such a balance that men could only stare after the two in awe.
He slid his hand from her soft cheek and down her slender neck. Stopping where the sheet started, Yu reclined back and watched her breath. His Butterfly was so sick and frail, unlike her usual self, that Yu could only imagine her being blown away in the winter breeze. Or worse, stolen again by the 'bad fat man' as she had said. The thought of her, still there, made him shudder in repressed anger, and he could only imagine what Ce, a man who was fueled by emotion was feeling.
"M'ld?" Xiao mumbled, blinking up at him with slurred speech. Yu's head shot down and he could only give her a gentle smile. "I'm really here?" she asked after sitting up.
"Of course you are Xiao." Yu laid a hand on the bed to lean forward. As much as he thought that should have brought her joy, she instead broke into tears and crushed herself against his chest. Between the coughs, hiccups, and sobs Yu thought the small girl was going to literally break. He rubbed soothing circles on her back and kissed the top of her head. As she knotted her small hands into his jacket, he mumbled things into her hair, not really thinking about them. Like he usually did in such moments, he just mumbled his sweeter, happier thoughts to her.
" I left Da alone Yu," Xiao said into his chest when she calmed a bit.
"Xiao, love, it was for the better. Now, we can rescue both of you."
"But she is alone Yu. She never left me alone. Not once in these times. I can only guess what she must be feeling. She's always stuck by me Yu, and I've left her. I'm a horrible sister!"
"Come now Xiao, do you really think Lady Da would think such things?"
"No, she's too sweet and… that doesn't change the fact that I am."
"Xiao, you did what you must to save both of you. I hardly think, risking your life to come and get us to return to save her makes you a horrible sister. If anything, I think people can only look at your deed and respect you for it."
"… Really?"
"Do I lie?" Xiao blinked up at him before shaking her head. Yu smiled down at her, and when she averted her gaze to the red sheet, he grabbed her chin. She sniffed and fisted her hands in the sheet as he dropped his head and kissed her. It was not heated, or rough with sexual power. Instead, he gave her a gentle, lips meeting, kiss that gave her a part of him. He gave her what support he couldn't with words, no matter how poetic he could make them.
When they parted, her cheeks were red but she dared not look away from him. Rubbing her cheek with his thumb, he gave her a smile he kept just for her, his Butterfly. At a cough, both jumped. Xiao, jumping almost off the bed, swung her head around to the healer that stood holding the flap of the tent. Her face as red as it could get now, she tried to steady the world that now swayed from her quick movement. Yu gave her hand a squeeze before standing and walking to the healer.
"You shall catch her cold, Lord Yu," the healer whispered.
"Matters not," Yu said with a wave of his hand.
"So says you now," the healer huffed and shooed him out. "Lord Jian and Lord Ce call for you. Go, and stop trying to catch her cold." Yu walked out into the cold, and followed the directions of a soldier to where Ce and Lord Jian awaited his presence.
Da quickly closed the curtains when she had seen Xiao exit the gates. Blocking the light of the moon, she sunk to the floor and tried to stop the tears. It would do no good to be weak now, to sit in the room and cry until the monster found her. In all actuality, she should not be on the floor, she thought. She should have been running through the castle trying to find a hiding place.
The thought brought up the picture of the game she, Xiao, and some of the soldiers used to play. Instead, this time, her life depended on not being found. Still, she could not bring her legs to work. She sat on the floor, only half registering how cold the floor was, and wept silently. At the swirl of wood before her, she watched Chan grow from the floor. Chan looked down at her, a very sad expression on her face.
"It is good that Xiao was able to escape," Da said, after a moment of silence. "Although I admit I am most terrified, I am glad that she is safe. Or, I am going to believe safe in Lord Yu's arms." Da looked up to Chan's face, and gave the saddest of smiles. She knew full well the chances of staying alive. Zhuo would be none too kind when he did finally get his hands on her. She did not expect the help of Chan, who would have to live with the pig for eternity, and was not going to ask for it. Nor did she expect whatever Wu force to arrive in time. Strategic plans would be made before hand, this probably being one of the first times they had a battle of magic.
She knew that, in all reality, they would have continued to her town and surely would have heard all the tales from the attack of Lu Bu and what happened to her father. But, having lost much of her hope, she dared not believe that Lord Ce would be able to come and rescue her. She did not want him to face off against the Mighty Lu Bu, scared for both of them (more so Ce than Bu though). Then, with the spell on herself, she did not think she could get out. But, now, Xiao had left. Xiao no longer would choose to stay with her, and to die at the hands of the monster of the castle. She could be happy.
Da pushed herself to her feet. Chan reached to help her up, and Da took the help with a small thank you. Straightening her dress, and taking a deep breath, she looked to the door. "I think, it would be best for me to go and find a hiding place while the castle is still safe to roam. I do have until sun up correct?" Da looked to Chan.
"Yes Lady Da, he shall return to normal at sun up. I shall try to stall-"
"No, do not endanger yourself Lady Chan. You shall have to live with him for much longer than I will, and you shall have to put up with him longer than I will. Please, do not do anything to harm yourself or what future you have," Da said with a bow. "You have done more than I could ever ask of you." Da really did try to stop the tears. Giving Chan one last smile, Da pushed past her and made her way into the maze of the castle halls.
She didn't really know which way to take, and when the impulse came to take a left, she knew Chan was helping her against her request. Chan had stated, earlier in their friendship, that when she merged fully with the castle she was able to 'push' people in a certain way she wanted. From picking a direction, like she did often, to sitting and eating, like she had said she had done to their father. Da looked up to the walls, although she knew she would see nothing of Chan, before sighing. Instead of fighting, she followed Chan's subtle directions.
Chan quickly led her to the kitchen, in which a plate was set out for Da. Giving a small smile and thank you, for she had not even thought about eating before the chase of her life begin. Da quickly ate the meal and left the kitchen, not caring that the food left a bitter taste in her mouth. She picked up the hem of her dress and quickly walked down the halls.
She stopped down one of the halls after constantly moving for a length of time that left her legs hurting, and slid down the wall. She nearly screamed when the curtains started to open on their own. Hand over her heart, and breathing heavy, she glanced around. Nobody down the halls, she stood and looked out the window. The moon was setting. Apparently it had taken her longer than she thought to run around and get lost. Clenching her hands into a fist, she grabbed the hem of her skirt again and walked off down the dark hall. As she was debating whether to go left, down a dark hall, or to go straight downstairs when a loud roar had her spinning and staring down the hall she had just walked.
It was an echo, which had dawned on her after she had stepped back some. Her hands were clammy, she thought as she brought one to her chest to try and calm her breathing. But her breaths only quickened. The chase had begun; Dong Zhuo was free of the nightly curse. And, if that roar was an indication of anything, he already knew that something was wrong. Setting her jaw, Da turned and ran down the hall instead of the stairs.
Happy Valentines! Its tech. a day early, but who cares. I put some lovey dovey stuff between Xiao and Yu to celebrate the holiday. The only thing (other than the whole, I don't know if I did the 'fluff' moment totally right) is that I don't like how Da is portrayed in the Chap. I guess, when I read it, she sounds rushed. But anymore detail would, I don't know, be too much? Anywho, Xiao is all teary and stuff because she fell sick, bad. And, all the stress of living with Zhuo for a week, leaving Da/getting horrible sick just over filled the cup. I, personally, believe she deserved a good cry at this point. And some lovin'.