Free to Live Chapter 1: The First Glimpse
The battle had become almost too much for Diao Chan. For every soldier that would no longer get up, another immediately took its place. Her maces swung continually, but with weakening resolve. At first, she fought as a warrior; now, it was a desperate fight for her life. It had been a while since she had sent for reinforcements and she was beginning to lose hope.
A spear thrust came much too close for comfort. A bash to the side of the head quickly put the spearman down. She readied herself for the next attack and it came; however it wasn’t coming from the direction that she expected. She heard a ‘thwip’ and felt a sharp pain in her back. She dropped to her knees as her injuries finally started to bring her down. And so it ends…she thought to herself, sadly.
Diao Chan’s macabre thoughts were sharply interrupted by the sound of thundering hooves. She heard a familiar battle cry over the sounds of battle: “I shall play a requiem for you!” She searched through blurred vision for signs of her savior. Astride a black charger sat a beautiful woman. Her long, brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, adorned with a golden peacock headdress. She had a midnight blue dress with the skirt split of the middle for riding.
“Lady Zhen!” Diao Chan called out. Aquamarine eyes sought out the desperate voice. They saw the enchantress’s plight. Diao Chan was covered in cuts and nicks that had accumulated over the course of the battle. Her white dress was covered in small patches of blood, while an arrow pierced the pink ribbon tied around her waist. All in all, she was in bad shape. Not that Zhen Ji was untouched. Her own battle had resulted it gash on her left arm and thigh, which was why she was fighting from horseback. Her war charger reared up and stomped an unfortunate sergeant. Zhen Ji ferociously swung her metal flute as her mount made its way over to her wounded ally.
A moment later, Zhen Ji offered her hand to Diao Chan, who quickly took it and climbed up behind her. Zhen Ji nudged her horse into a full retreat. Diao Chan wrapped her aching arms around her rescuers small waist, who in turn smiled. The enchantress leaned into rider’s back and sighed. “Words cannot express my gratitude…” Diao Chan said with a gracious squeeze.
“No problem, milady,” was the reply as she turned around and smiled at her passenger, “besides you can always thank me later.” Diao Chan face turned bright red at the suggestive tone of voice.
She’s getting more and more open with our relationship. Soon, she’ll be kissing me in front of Cao Cao. Diao Chan shivered at the thought of her new lord’s reaction to such an obvious display of affection. At least I no longer have to deal with that evil Dong Zhuo or that barbaric Lu Bu…
She remembered the fear that she always felt as they fought to ‘win’ her affections, all those attempts to make her ‘theirs.’ Then, one day, Zhen Ji came in like a northern wind and took her away to a place where she could live free, or at least with someone she truly cared about. It was a day she could not forget, did not want to forget.
(Flashback)
Dong Zhuo had just met his end by Lu Bu’s halberd. Diao Chan had managed to convince him that she could finally be ‘his,’ after he dealt with his adoptive father. When she was certain that he was going to kill the tyrant, she dispatched a messenger to Cao Cao indicating that it was time to strike. If all went well, she would be free in a couple of weeks.
Fortunately, Lu Bu was kept busy trying to rally his supporters. The mighty Zhang Liao had fallen in line behind his commanding officer. Chen Gong had decided to stay and advise Lu Bu. Others had left. The people of Xia Pi held little hope.
Diao Chan looked to the stars for guidance as she sat in the garden. Lu Bu was in a meeting and had expected her to be by his side. She had sent him a messenger to tell him she was ill. It helped being friends with the house physician. She knew what was going to be said at the meeting. Cao Cao’s forces were closing in. It was only a matter of time… She would soon be free to go home and live out her life free of evil men.
The next morning, they arrived. Diao Chan looked over the walls of the castle to see who was going to save her. At their head was the fierce general Xiahou Dun. The imposing one-eyed general was in a less than cheerful mood as he demanded that Lu Bu surrender the city. By his side were his brother, Xiahou Yuan, and a woman, whom she was unable to recognize. Diao Chan’s interest was peaked when she saw that the woman did not carry a normal weapon such as a sword, but a gold and blue flute. Was she an advisor or the court musician? It didn’t make any difference for she had caught Diao Chan’s attention and grasped it.
Perhaps we will meet on the field of battle… Diao Chan pondered. She fully intended on surrendering as soon as she got far enough away from Lu Bu. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be too convinced that she was involved with Lu Bu and have her executed before she could tell them she sent the message.
An hour later, she sat astride her white horse and gripped the reins. Anxiety drew up with in her as she waited for the gates to open. Her freedom waited on the gate. Suddenly, a familiar red horse drew up beside her. Exactly who I didn’t want to see before I leave…
“Diao Chan,” he bellowed, “surely you don’t expect me to let you fight in this battle…”
“But, My Lord,” she began meekly, feeling her heart race as she felt her chance slipping away. “I must fight. We will need every strong arm we can get to break through before this becomes a prolonged siege.”
“Absolutely not.”
“But…” Diao Chan almost whimpered. Tears were rolling over her cheeks.
“No!” he roared, which made her almost fall off her horse. He reached over and touched her tear-streaked face. She had trained herself not to flinch. “I will take care of them and return to you. Go and retire, my songbird.” She returned her horse to the stables and ran all the way to her room, where she fell to the floor and cried. She could only hope that Lu Bu would fall; an almost impossible task.
She stayed there for only an hour. She had left her room when she had recovered and went to a window to view the gate. She had to know. She wasn’t surprised to see Lu Bu return, but he was angry. Upon his left cheek, he had a red mark. Behind him about a hundred feet was the lovely woman she had seen early. Her wrists were bound in front of her and she was covered in dirt and blood. Her face held a smirk as she glared at Lu Bu. A strange thought occurred in Diao Chan’s mind. Could she have struck the mighty Lu Bu?
She had to restrain a laugh as the mighty warrior nearly had a temper tantrum when he dropped his halberd. The other woman boldly laughed out loud. Lu Bu roared and tried to get to her. It took the combined efforts of Zhang Liao and several generals to stop him all yelling something about ransom. The woman laughed again and Lu Bu’s resistance started again. Diao Chan had never seen someone who could get under his skin so easily; she couldn’t wait to meet her.
End of Chapter 1.
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