I'm so close, I'm so close. If my horse can just get a little closer...! Kicking the ribs of my horse furiously, I urge her closer to the stolen carriage. My heart is pounding furiously in my chest, revenge ebbing its way into the tips of my toes and my fingers.
"Dong Zhuo, you bastard! Come back here and fight me like a man you cowardly bitch!" Diao Chan riding on the back of the vehicle blushes at my strong words. The carriage is so close I can almost grab it.
Almost....There!
Suddenly the carriage swerves to the left, going off the path. And that reveals to my eyes Zhang Liao brandishing his weapons towards me. I yank forcefully on my reigns, startling my mare so much that she bucks uncontrollably. Her legs kick back and forth, eventually dislodging me from my saddle. I pitch forward, arms outstretched. Zhang Liao's expression changes from one of intimidation to one of panic as time slows down. I attempt to tuck myself into a roll, discarding my spear as I do so. Zhang Liao carefully sidesteps as I go crashing ungracefully into the dirt, landing awkwardly on my spear hand. It takes a while for me to lose my momentum, and I'm left gasping and disoriented as I lie face down in the scorched earth. Then it's brought to my attention that Luoyang has been lit aflame. The acrid smoke taints the air and brings tears to my eyes. Maybe it's the smoke, or maybe it's the throbbing pain in my possibly sprained wrist, or the fact that I let Dong Zhuo escape justice. It might be all three.
I roll over onto my back and blindly grasp for my spear, holding it awkwardly in my loose fist. I slam the blade into the dirt, easing myself onto my knees and then up onto my feet. I rub the smoke and tears from my eyes, but the moment my eyes adjust to the bright, fiery light, I see the sparks created by sharp metal clashing. Li Dian had vehemently attacked Zhang Liao.
"(Y/N)! Are you alright?" He calls over his shoulder to me while simultaneously straining against the pressure that Zhang Liao put on his twin axes. I stared in amazement for a split second, nobody besides Lu Bu could stand against Zhang Liao in a deadlock like this without losing their head. Dong Zhuo was steadily escaping in the distance; Diao Chan still riding on the back of the carriage, Lu Bu effortlessly fighting off any soldiers that dared attacked him. The monster's crude laughter could be heard echoing into the air. I began to panic at the situation. Do I stop Li Dian and Zhang Liao from trying to kill each other? Or do I leave them to their own devices to go and stop Dong Zhuo? If I stop the two men from fighting, other officers might question my loyalty to Wei, but if I leave to go slay Dong Zhuo, Li Dian or Zhang Liao may perish.
The heavy clashing of metal brings me back to my senses. Both men wore determined expressions on their faces and I knew that they wouldn't lose without bringing the other down with them. Amidst the sounds of battle I can hear Li Dian yelling angrily at Zhang Liao. His fighting seems reckless, emotional...
"Where is your heart?! Do you feel no remorse!" Li Dian barely misses getting slashed open with Zhang Liao's axe, but there's now a large slice across the chest plate of his armor. His face is set into a deep frown as he begins to attack again. Each attack gets sloppier and sloppier as he lets his feelings overwhelm him. "Where was your heart when you murdered my uncle!" Li Dian screams as he swings his weapon in a large arc towards Zhang Liao's neck.
"No!" I yell, rushing towards the two. But Zhang Liao doesn't require my assistance, quickly ducking the blade and shooting back up to bring the blades of his axes down and across Li Dian's chest and neck; the killing blow. "Stop!" I protest, and faster than I can blink, I have thrown myself in front of Li Dian and raised my spear to block the blow. Zhang Liao's eyes widen in surprise and he doesn't stop his movements in time, and his axes slice straight through my wooden spear. I am not harmed however, but the splinters from the flimsy weapon begin to fly in every direction. I instinctively turn my entire body around and curl up into the cool metal plates of Li Dian's armor. My hands come up to shield my face as Li Dian presses me closer into his body, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and the other around my waist. Only a few splinters graze against some exposed skin of my back, just leaving a few cuts, nothing I couldn't handle.
The moment slows down finally, the only sounds are that of the still roaring fire and heavy breathing. I pull my face out of Li Dian's chest, only to see him looking down at me with flushed cheeks and parted lips. His pupils are dilated with battle lust. He's still breathing heavy, probably still cooling down from the impromptu duel. There's a slick sheen of sweat on his forehead. Then it appears that he's taken into account our close proximity and quickly unravels his arms from around my body. I take a timid step back, examining my ruined spear lying in pieces in the dirt. My eyes dart up to Zhang Liao, whose expression is unreadable. Anger? Disbelief? I don't get anymore time to analyze it though, because soon Yue Jin comes into view, speeding in on his horse. He jumps from the steed, landing gracefully before viciously attacking Zhang Liao. For once in his life, Zhang Liao appears unfocused, and he is quickly disarmed. Yue Jin hooks the poles of Zhang Liao's twin axes with his weapon and forcefully yanks them from his grip and into the dirt behind him. He stares down at his empty hands in disbelief.
"Zhang Liao!" A deep voice rumbles, followed by the loud clopping of multiple horses. Lu Bu himself speeds past on his Red Hare, another horse close on its heels. Zhang Liao wastes no time in wrapping the dangling reins around his wrist, and sticks his foot into the stirrup and the horse slows down just enough for him to mount. "Dong Zhuo is almost at the Luoyang gates, hurry!" Lu Bu orders, slicing down a few soldiers that had come with Yue Jin.
I curse under my breath before whistling for my horse. I hear her beginning to run towards me and I grasp what's left of my spear. It's pathetic-looking, barely even giving me enough handle space. Splinters prick my hands and draw small droplets of blood from my palms. I mount my mare, turning my head to Li Dian.
"Please give Lord Cao Cao my apologies," I request, voice cracking a bit as I do so. And then I take off into the burnt remains of Luoyang.
-------
Li Dian sighs loudly and throws his head back in exasperation as he watches (Y/N) speed off into the distance.
"Pardon my intrusion," Yue Jin begins in his usual, timid manner. "But you're going to go after her aren't you?" He hands him the reins to his own horse with an awkward smile. Li Dian shakes his head with his own smile, Yue Jin had hit the nail on the head. He takes the reins and mounts the horse.
"Someone's gotta keep an eye on her."
YOU ARE READING
transitioning // li dian x reader
Fanfictiondomino effect, butterfly effect, whatever you want to call it; this sudden change of events was certainly going to keep you on your toes. as much as you hated the idea of it, you're probably going to have to make a transition.
