Chapter Text
The carriage rumbled along the road as it grew closer to the fields, rain lightly falling against the roof as Ruby looked out the window, hand resting under her chin. Yang sat across from her, blowing a loose strand of hair out of her face, next to each sister was their attendants, for Ruby there was her best friend, Penny Polendina, and for Yang there was Pyrrha Nikos, who Yang repeatedly claimed could have been her bodyguard already.
"Please sit up, Yang." Pyrrha said, gently touching her shoulder. "You know your mother will be a bit upset if your dress was wrinkled."
"I'm already upset that we've gotta do this whole thing." Yang said, adjusting herself in her seat. "We already have guards."
"I believe Queen Summer was very clear about the need for personal guards since both of you have turned 18 and will be taking more of a role in the politics between kingdoms." Penny said, her eyes beaming. "Plus, it will be very good to have new friends."
"I'm just confused about the whole thing where they have a chance to marry us." Ruby said, leaning back in her seat. "Shouldn't that be our choice? What if I don't wanna marry anyone?"
"That's still our choice, Rubes." Yang said, leaning forward to flick her sister on the forehead, lightly laughing as Ruby batted at her hand. "Just means they get added to the pool of potential suitors if they weren't part of it already."
Ruby groaned a little as the carriage began to slow down. "They could have at least had us watch the whole tournament or something instead of just the finals."
Yang watched as Pyrrha and Penny stepped out of the carriage, pulling out a rain cover from the carriage that would keep them dry for the few steps it would take for them to get under the tent.
"Think about it like this, would you rather spend the entire day with the kingdom watching us?" Yang asked, patting her on the shoulder. "Now come on, everyone's waiting for us."
Ruby looked up to her sister's smiling face before returning the cheerful expression, keeping her worries behind her own smile, just as Yang did with her's. Following her sister outside, Ruby could hear the faint sound of metal clashing, meaning at least one of the fights was still going on. Making their way to the front of the tent and onto a stage, the sisters separated to sit on either side of their mothers, upon thrones made of wood overlooking the now muddied field. Sitting next to her mother, Summer, Ruby received a comforting smile, while Yang received a nod from Raven, her hand still clutched upon the handle of her large sword, the sheath pressed into the stage beneath her. Looking out into the field, it was clear that the last fight was going on, as one knight already stood upon a podium, their darkened armor concealing their identity, Yang focused on the helmet of the knight, metal protruding from the top as if shaped to fit horns underneath of it. Ruby, however was more focused on the fight at hand.
A larger knight swung his mace into the mud, their opponent dodging back before thrusting forward with their sword, knocking into the knight's shoulder. The impact caused them to let go of the mace and struggle to catch their footing, only for the smaller opponent to charge shoulder first into their chest, knocking them down. Redirecting the blade to the bottom of their helmet, the victor looked over to the stage. Summer gave a small smile before lifting her hand as a signal. Walking over the fallen knight, the winner reached down and pulled his helmet off, revealing him to the crowd.
"Sir Cardin of House Winchester has been bested. We have our second champion." Taiyang, head of the royal guard, announced, watching over the field.
Upset over his loss, Cardin reached for his mace again, swinging blindly at the winner.
Only for Raven to slam her sheathed sword against the stage, a sudden bolt of lightning crashing from the sky between the two knights.
Cardin's mace fell into the mud, the man frozen in fear as guards came onto the field to escort him away. Raven nodded to the other knight, noting how they tightened the grip on their sword to calm their own nerves.
"Champions, you have proven yourselves in combat, come forth and announce yourselves." Raven said, watching as both knights stood on the podium before the stage. "Let your names be known before you meet each other's steel. Let it be known for the kingdom, and so our daughters may know who their protectors will be."
Sheathing their weapons, the knight in darker armor moved to remove their helmet first. Yang perked up as dark hair fell from under the helmet, watching as she shook her hair free. Two cat-like ears atop her head twitched as they were freed from their metal confines, and amber eyes pierced into her own for a brief second.
"My name is Blake Belladonna of Menagerie, former member of the White Fang." She announced herself to the crowd. "I wish to serve for a cause beyond the passing of coin from one hand to another."
A few quiet murmurs came from the crowd watching, the White Fang was a band of mercenaries, with a reputation overshadowed by rumors of cruelty. While some could note of being helped by the Fang, others would cry to what punishments were dealt in the failure to pay for protection. Burned crops and homes, children taken to be raised as soldiers. Blake's fellow champion simply stared at her through their helmet, clearly holding their own judgement over her.
The second champion took their helmet off, white hair pulled into a ponytail falling out from where it had been tucked in. A blue cloth covered the knight's left eye and a scar came down her cheek from it. Blake stared at her fellow champion in disbelief, and worried whispers traveled through the crowd and the attendants standing by the royal family.
"I am Weiss Schnee, exiled princess of Atlas." She announced herself, putting a hand to her chest in a form of salute. "My reasons for being here are my own."
Raven tightened her grip on her sword, only relieving some of her tension when Summer placed a hand over hers. Atlas was never a friend to Vale, scars from the old wars still fresh on the minds of those whose mothers and fathers fought in them, King Jacques pushed for control over many trading routes after his rise to power, changing the kingdom's attempts at conquering the others from one enforced by steel to one enforced by coin. But the name of Weiss Schnee, even in Vale there were rumors behind her exile. Some would say she left of her own accord, others that her exile was a ploy to try and garner sympathy for Jacques to hide behind.
But more would say it had to do with the night of bloodshed that happened before her disappearance.
Weiss closed her eye and bowed her head as the suspicions cut into her, a shallow sigh rising up in her throat.
"DIBS!"
The voice cut through the air, causing everyone to fall silent and look to the stage, Weiss could feel heat rise up to her cheeks as she saw Princess Ruby standing tall and staring straight at her with beaming kindness in her eyes. Suddenly aware of her position, Ruby coughed into her hand and tried to feign some composure.
"I, uh, I believe I have decided who I want as my champion." Ruby said, trying to straighten out her dress.
Blake covered her mouth to try and hold back a laugh, turning away from her fellow champion. Weiss simply tried to look away, unsure of how to handle the princess' enthusiasm.
Summer laughed into the back of her hand as she stood up. "It would seem that the two of you won't even need to fight for our daughters to decide." She paused to look over to a still distracted Yang. "It seems that they both have made up their minds on who they'd prefer to defend them."
Yang barely registered what was said until she saw Blake turn her head in her direction, lilac eyes meeting amber. Turning quickly, she noticed that the rest of her family was also looking at her.
"Uh, did... did I miss something?" Yang asked, her cheeks gaining a bit of color in embarrassment.
Raven stood from her seat, the wood creaking under her feet as she stepped to the front of the stage.
"My wife has a point. If the two of you agree with the arrangements, then neither of you need to fight." Raven said, tapping her sheathed sword against the stage.
Weiss turned on the podium and offered a hand for Blake to shake.
"I know when I'd be beaten. No doubt that you have more experience than I do." Weiss said.
"You seem like you've been able to handle yourself." Blake said, reaching out to shake her hand.
As soon as their hands touched, Blake felt a sudden dread reach deep into her core, every instinct in her body firing warnings off, as if faced with a predator. Pulling her hand away slowly, Blake turned to leave the field with Weiss, still wondering what she had felt in that brief moment.
Weiss waited in one of the tents set up so the Queens could properly judge the champions in private, the rain hitting the roof to fill the silence. Weiss stayed knelt on the floor, across from a throne, her armor discarded for a red and white uniform to mark her presence amongst the royal guard. Her eye remained closed as she slowly breathed, finally she had the chance for some answers.
"Five years." Weiss said to herself as she reached up to the eye patch she had been given with her uniform. "Five long years. I need answers."
"Ah, so you've been making plans for quite some time." Queen Summer said from behind her, causing Weiss to nearly jump up to her feet. "Please, there's no need to get up."
Weiss watched as she slowly made her way to the throne, resting her elbows upon her knees as she leaned forward to examine Weiss.
Summer hummed to herself as she took in Weiss' appearance, but also as she looked passed all that to something within her. "Born or cursed?"
"Ex-excuse me?" Weiss asked. "There's... There's a difference?"
"I'm very happy that you're not feigning ignorance about this. I could smell a fellow wolf from the start of this tournament." Summer said, her grin falling as her eyes pierced into Weiss' very being. "Now. Born or Cursed."
"I can't remember ever being bitten. On my fifteenth birthday I just... lost control." Weiss said, her hands clenching into fists at the memory. "So please, tell me how you managed to get rid of the Hound of Vale."
Weiss felt her blood run cold as Summer simply began to laugh.
"Oh, I never got rid of the Hound, just as I never lost control as I let her out." Summer said, giving a wide smile to show her fangs. "Just like you, I was born a werewolf, but I learned how to control myself. My advice is to eat more than your fill before a full moon until you can learn to control it."
"And what if I can't?" Weiss asked, leaning forward as her desperation finally began to crack into her voice. "I've spent five years trying to keep myself from hurting anyone, and now you're telling me it's all on me while I protect your daughter?"
"Oh, the beast inside is merely a part of you, like any emotion. What keeps you in control won't be the same as what I found to keep myself in control, but I'm certain you'll find what keeps you tethered." Summer said, getting up and closing the distance between them, cupping Weiss' chin as she leaned in to stare right into her eyes. "But, rest assured, if you do pose a threat to my daughters in any way."
Fear gripped Weiss to the core as Summer's hand slipped from her chin to her throat, her silver eyes almost shining.
"I Will show you what the Hound of Vale is truly capable of."
Weiss sucked in air as Summer let her go and began to walk out of the tent.
"I hope my daughter's decision was not misplaced. Ruby was not looking forward to this arrangement until she saw you." Summer said, pausing at the entryway. "Do not disappoint her."
Weiss felt herself shaking in her place as Summer left, after a few minutes, she slowly rose to her feet. A new resolve began to fill her beyond the fear of death that had been placed by the Queen. She would not let this chance to live a new life slip by her, she was tired of running.
Blake knelt across from Queen Raven in their tent, Raven sat silently judging her with her sword unsheathed an resting on her lap. Blake's ears flicked from the sound of the rain and the sound of guards moving outside. The new uniform she wore felt somewhat looser than what she had been used to as a mercenary, with red and black to symbolize which Queen she answered to.
"It has been some time since I've had to deal with the White Fang." Raven said, cutting through the violence. "Less time has passed since I heard of Sienna's passing. So tell me, what is the real reason why the Fang would send one of their members to fight for the position of one of my daughters' personal guards?"
"I can already guess that lying won't get me anywhere." Blake said, flattening a crease in her uniform. "The new leader seeks to have the Fang's position elevated to one that will be respected amongst the kingdoms. To do so, royal blood would be needed. He intended to enter the tournament himself, either to kidnap one of the princesses or to try and convince one of them to marry him. I convinced him it would be better to have myself and a close friend within the Fang's ranks to enter to improve our chances of victory."
Raven picked up her sword and planted the tip of it into the ground next to her. Blake kept an eye on the blade, the metal still stained with blood from before Raven's time as Queen. Stories still revolved around her, how her sword would cut through entire troops of soldiers like paper.
"I won't ask how you convinced him, I feel like that may yet be personal." Raven said, noting how Blake's jaw tensed at the memories. "Mercenary bands, the tribe I belonged to was like one. They can be very hard to escape when your life has been devoted to one."
"That's why I entered the tournament, I can't recognize the White Fang anymore." Blake said. "This was the only chance I had to really get away. Otherwise, they wouldn't stop until they hunted me down."
Raven hummed in acknowledgement, standing from her seat. "Yang no doubt sees your former position as a mercenary like a means of personal freedom. She'll no doubt ask your ears off about it. Don't spare any details. Make sure she knows that the so-called freedom we both wore was nothing more but shackles we could hide."
Blake nodded in agreement, the last few months had tested her resolve to keep going, and Adam's... plans for their future caused bile to rise in her stomach once he had shown what he was truly capable of.
"I have a request to make." Blake said, standing up and causing Raven to raise an eyebrow. "Ilia Amitola, she's a friend of mine who also wanted to leave the Fang with me."
Raven held up a hand to keep Blake from saying anything more. "She'll be given a position as a guard. She proved herself with a sword before she lost against you in the finals, and I can't risk my daughter's personal guard having her mind somewhere else."
"Thank you." Blake said.
Raven pulled her sword out of the ground and rested it over her shoulder as she moved passed Blake to leave the tent.
"My daughter and I disagree on a number of things. She has a big heart and can be too kind for her own good." Raven said, looking over her shoulder. "In politics, that can sometimes be a problem, but it seems like you could use some kindness in your life. Just make sure to keep your guard up."
Blake let out an easy breath as Raven left the tent. Tomorrow, her life of service to the crown would begin, but for today, the sound of rain helped to lift her soul as she finally felt free.
She only wished it could last, as Adam would learn of her betrayal eventually, and the silent fear of his retaliation dug into the back of her mind.