Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's note: I'm starting to move this as well as some other stories to this

Why? Because I'm terrified that since they're taking stories down that soon R stories will go away as well. In the other place you can have fics from G to NC-17 as well as script fics if you want.

Chapter 17 :The Embrace

"I need to speak with Lord Liu Bei!" Zhuge Liang paced the floor of his room.

"Dearest, surely it can wait for tomorrow?" Mei Lin came up behind him and began to soothingly rub his back.

Muscles that had been taunt since the breakneck ride back to Shu began loosened.

"You are right. I can inform Lord Liu Bei of the type of wife he will be receiving tomorrow." He turned to her. "I would like for you to meet Yue Ying tonight. She is not the best at cleaning, but her food is divine and her skills on the battlefield are difficult to surpass."

"I have met her before." Mei Lin allowed a hint of fear to enter her voice. "I do not believe she will like another woman to belong to her husband. She seems very possessive."

Zhuge Liang smiled. Why did everyone consider Yue Ying possessive?

"Let us worry about it tomorrow dearest. Soon enough she will find out about your newest bridge to be. In the mean time, why don't you allow me to relax you?" She arched an eyebrow and smiled at the man. He smiled back in return and pulled her close.

The light from the torches threw strange shadows as she made her way back to her tent. Finally, she could have time alone with her beloved.

She swept the tent's heavy fabric aside, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dimmed light. What her eyes saw made her give a small gasp. Her husband sat with his back to her, nude as the day he was born, with a woman on his lap. Yue Ying sat unmoving for a moment, unable to believe it. The two bodies were so entwined it was difficult to tell in the shadows where one began and one ended. Small drawn out moans of pleasure peppered the air as hands moved along bodies.

Her hands shook. Before she could stop herself she rushed over to the two bodies and yanked the woman away from her husband. The soft o of surprise on the woman's face did not surprise her. She should have known, only Mei Lin would do something so stupid.

Yue Ying pulled her arm back, ready to plant a fist in the other woman's face when a hand reached out and grabbed her from behind. She was thrown to the ground. Trembling, she got to her feet. Her husband watched her, pity plainly written across his features.

"I am...sorry, Yue Ying." He took a step towards her.

She stepped back, her legs like rubber. "Why?" Her eyes never left his face as he took another step closer.

"I was going to tell you, tomorrow."

"Why?" The word slipped from her mouth of its own violation.

"I understand that this must be difficult for you, but you must see things from my point of view."

Tears clouded her vision, blurring the man in front of her. Had she ever really known him? "Why?" There was that damn word again.

"A strategist should not always-"

"Betrayed. You betrayed me." Shaking her head she stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.

"Yue Ying, I know this is difficult."

His hand reached out to help her up, but she shoved it aside, getting to her feet and backing away from the man. Now the little bitch had come to stand beside him, not even having covered her nakedness. "Poor dear. Sweetheart it'll be okay. All three of us will learn to live together." There was a nasty gleam in the woman's eyes.

With a muffled sob, Yue Ying ran out of the tent. Before she had gotten far she slammed into an immoveable mass. She stayed down, tears cascading from her.

"Yue Ying? What's a matter?"

She looked up into the beautiful face of Zhao Yun. Someone else to pity her. Wiping her nose she mumbled something about having something in her eyes and took off once again. Surely there had to be somewhere she could be alone?

As her world crumbled around her she took off in the direction of the woods.

There was no stopping the tears this time. They flowed down her cheeks to drip down to the ground. Closing her eyes, all she could see was her husband entwined in Mei Lin 's embrace. How many of them knew? Embarrassment washed over her in a wave. Once she had asked Jiang Wei how best to win Zhuge Liang's heart. He had stammered out something and quickly left. All the times Zhao Yun had broken eye contact with her came flooding back to her as well as each time Liu Bei had invited only the male strategists into his tent to plan. Had they all known and none of them had the guts to tell her?

Her nose began to run. Mucus joined the tears on her face. Quickly she wiped it on her sleeve. Who would want me anyway? Surely no man as smart and handsome as her husband. Despair began to bubble through her frame. There was no need for one such as her to draw breath. Her hand went to the handle of her scythe. She would not share a man she cared for with another. No, she would rather die first. Besides, her husband only wanted her for her skills in battle. He would not dishonor her skills or her body again. She pressed the scythe's blade between her breasts. It easily cut through the silk and skin, a thin drop of blood formed. "May you find happiness husband." She pushed the scythe back and took a deep breath, prepping to plunge it into her chest.

"What you do?" the accustomed gravely voice startled her, making her drop the weapon.

She whirled in his direction. "Wei Yan! What...what are you doing here?" Her hands shook.

"Baby Dragon say you hurt." He walked over to her, his brow furrowed. He looked at the tiny drop of blood that stained her shirt. "That not big wound." He took one of her hands in his. "But me no see blood no other place." He rotated her hand gently, as though searching for more blood.

Her head began to pound. "Zhao Yun knows? Already?" A shiver ran through her as her body shook. Would everyone soon know that her husband was dissatisfied that he had found a new woman to satisfy his needs?

"Me no know what you mean. But, Baby Dragon sent me."

With a wail of despair her knees gave out. The masked general quickly reached out to help her, but she curled into a ball in the dirt.

The man got on his knees and pulled her towards him. Yue Ying settled against his chest, large gasping sobs ripped from her throat.

He squeezed her tight in a hug, and then began to stroke her hair. "What a matter?"

"Nothing," she buried her head in his chest, content to be protected by him for now.

His answering sigh was loud. "Tell. Or you think me idiot too?" His hands stopped their stroking motion.

Wiping angrily at the tears on her face, she looked up and stared at the man. "You don't know?"

Shaking his head no, he bit his lip. "Baby dragon say me not understand."

Her laugh rose to the heavens, a hysterical note drifting into it. "Zhuge Liang, doesn't love me."

Wei Yan chewed on his lip, and looked away. "He married you."

"But he doesn't love me." She pushed herself away from his chest. It was too easy for her to think that someone might actually care for her while he held her. "He married me for my mind. But he doesn't see me as anything other than one more general to help him plan his victories." Tears threatened to fall again. I thought he loved me, that he saw me as more than a mind with a weapon." Turning away, she sat on the ground, her knees up against her chin. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't bother you with my problems.

Wei Yan snorted. "We friends. It no problem."

She shook her head. "Yes it is. Besides, he would kill you if he knew I talked to you about this."

"You no think me can beat him in fight?" His booming laugh filled the night. She was about to answer him when he waved one arm nonchoncely. "He bad fighter. He good strategist. Zhuge Liang not stupid though. He love you." He sat down, his body so close she could swear that she felt heat drifting off of him.

She turned to the warrior. "If he loves me then why is he holding and kissing Mei Lin right now?"

Understanding dawned in the general's eyes as he flushed bright red. "Why he with ugly woman? He has beautiful wife."

She swatted at her tears uselessly. "I'm not beautiful. Can't you see that? I'm ugly. Just look at me! I cry and get all red, I can't even act like a real woman, and I-"

"Me think you beautiful." He held out a strip of cloth.

Gratefully she took it and blew her nose. It was rather loud, sounding something like a small typhoon to her ears. With a sigh she wiped with a hand at her eyes. "You're just saying that to be nice."

"No," his voice sounded firm and sure. "Most beautiful in land."

Her eyes narrowed. "No. That would be the Qiao sisters."

"They pretty, not beautiful. Too thin. No breasts."

"Well, they're young now, but in a few years their beauty will be unparalleled. Besides, if not them, then Diao Chan-"

"Too pink. Too crafty. Belongs Lu Bu."

Rumors claimed that the enchantress had escaped with her lover to another land. "I guess Lu Bu is a good reason to leave any woman alone."

Wei Yan nodded in agreement.

"Zhu Rong?"

He crinkled his nose up, then made a face. "She worst of all. No wear enough clothes. Hair ugly. Look who she married."

One hand went up to try to stop her giggle. "You're right. She does have horrible taste in men. I would hate to see what she considered handsome." For a second, it seemed as though the masked general flinched. "Wei Yan?"

He shook his head. "It nothing." They sat quietly for a moment, the song of the crickets surround them. "You no ask about the others?"

She smiled. "All right. So what's wrong with Sun Shang Xiang then?"

"Breasts too big. Consort to Liu Bei. Wants to be in charge so man is helpless."

She laughed out loud at the last. "And what's wrong with that?"

"Marriage is about equals. That why Huang Zhong never married. She think she should prove self. She already good enough, but she no see it."

"You're right, on both counts." The tears had finally stopped. "And what about the famous Zhen Ji?"

"Music gives headaches. Breasts too big. No wear panties."

"What?" Yue Ying's eyes grew large. "Wait a minute! How do you know if she doesn't wear panties or not?"

His smile was contagious. "When we fight her. She raised leg in kick. Me saw she no wear panties."

"But if she did that regularly everyone would know about it!" She didn't remember seeing anything that she shouldn't have when they had fought against the flute player, but then again, she hadn't even considered looking. An image filled her mind of Jiang Wei's face when they had returned to camp and mentioned Zhen Ji. He had turned as red as a beet.

Wei Yan shrugged. "Maybe men like. So men no tell."

She punched his arm. "But that means that you liked it then."

He broke eye contact. "Me no see naked women often. Women no like me. Me take what me can get." He avoided her eyes. For long moments the only noise was of the crickets chirping.

What was someone supposed to say to a statement like that? She had seen the way the other women in camp avoided him and flocked to Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei. Leaning over, she tentively put a hand on his shoulder. "I like you." He looked up and she smiled. "You're hard to get to know, especially since you act so tough, but you're a pussycat under it all. I bet if you opened up more with others you'd be beating them off like Zhou Yun and Jiang Wei.

He snorted. "Women like men like baby dragon. They want pretty men. Women no see me. They see battle scars. They hear Wei Yan no smart."

She slapped his arm. "Don't belittle yourself like that! To be a warrior you have to be smart enough to outthink your opponents. You can't rely on pure strength in battles. Plus I've seen some of your recommended strategies. They probably won't be used because my husband hates you, but they're good solid plans. It's true you aren't the best at strategies, but you're much better than some of the others here. I doubt Zhang Fei could find his way out of a paper bag. And Zhao Yun, you mention dancing and off he goes with Jiang Wei to find my bodyguards." She threw her arms into the air. "One day I'm going to get killed because those ladies are always ready to-" She stopped.

Wei Yan was staring at her with the oddest look in his eyes.

"Yan?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. "No worry 'bout me." Fumbling he took her hand in his. "You very beautiful Yue Ying. Never forget."

She watched him, trying to read what was beyond the mask. Why did she sense that he was sad?

"We go now. It late." He stood up and pulled her to his feet. "You sleep in my tent. Me make sure bodyguards stay there."

Her face flushed crimson. "But I can't do that! People would-"

His eyes went to the stars above. "Me will sleep outside. Everyone will see. No one think bad."

"But I don't want to throw you-"

"Please."

His eyes held a concealed pain that touched a cord in her heart. She nodded, but didn't respond.

As they began their way back, he picked up her scythe, twirling it gracefully in one hand. "Things be better soon. Me go with you to speak with Zhuge Liang."

Relief flooded her. Maybe everything would be alright? "You don't have to."

He looked at her and grinned. "Me want to."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Feeling better, she tried to keep her mind focused on what she would tell her husband tomorrow, instead all she could think of was the warm hand that held hers.

I'm not going to answer reviews this time because I'm worried sick. I might or might not have a job. SWeet mary feel like vomiting.