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Recent events were...unexpected.  Good, but unexpected.  From the trek to Vale, where Weiss unexpectedly met and possibly befriended the leader of the Badlands’ Resistance, to her meeting with the Queens of Vale, where Yang quite literally spit fire at her before becoming gregarious and welcoming.

Based on her father’s tirades, Weiss had expected more conflict.  Screaming and shouting.  Arguments and accusations.  A long, drawn-out battle before finally reaching a tentative, begrudging agreement.  Yang initially went that route but, based on how friendly she became afterward, Weiss had the distinct feeling that it was all for show. Then there was Ruby…

Weiss knew next to nothing about the girl sitting across from her, yet they were returning to Atlas together.  Ruby’s arrival, along with her personal bodyguard, would cause an uproar amongst the closed-off and closed-minded Atlas.  The Knights were already displeased by her presence, but Weiss hadn’t been about to find a reasonable way to decline the offer.  Either let the war linger for months or bring Ruby back to negotiate the treaty and sign it right away.

In the end, her desire for a quick, peaceful resolution won out.  She had no idea what the Councilors would think, and that worried her, but hopefully they understood this was only a temporary, short-term solution to a long-term problem.  They might not agree, but with Ruby already on the way...they had little choice but to accept it.

Weiss understood the reasons for not allowing Ruby into Atlas, but her father couldn’t have been more wrong about the Queens of Vale.  While Yang initially put up a front, Ruby seemed incapable of disingenuous behavior.  Even now, she freely displayed her nerves - her knee bouncing up and down while she played with the hem of her skirt.

Weiss had met several windwalkers throughout her life, but Ruby blew away any comparisons.  Her spark surrounded her like a soft, refreshing breeze, always present yet somehow not there at all.  Unlike most people, who called upon their elements when needed, Ruby seemed uniquely intertwined with the air running through her and around her.  She was the breeze at the same time she wasn’t.  She was the air at the same time she was just a young, beautiful girl staring out the window, watching Vale fade into the distance.

Ruby had fallen quiet almost as soon as they passed through the palace gates, and Weiss hadn’t found the courage to break the silence even though she wanted to offer consolation.  She remembered what it was like whenever Winter left Atlas on another one of Father’s vengeance tours; she never knew when or even if she would see her sister again, not to mention the loneliness suffered during that wait.  While Ruby would undoubtedly see her sister again, leaving home for the foreseeable future was never easy.  Weiss understood that.  She just...couldn’t figure out how to express the sympathy out loud.

“When you say ‘cold,’” Ruby remarked then, finally turning her silver gaze away from the window.  “How cold do you mean?”

“Well, we always have snow...”

“I can’t remember the last time I saw snow.  Pretty sure I was like...six.”

“That’s probably the last time I saw a day without snow,” Weiss mumbled but looked up in surprise when Ruby chuckled.

Ruby was quick to happiness, requiring very little to make her smile or laugh.  Even when she wasn’t doing one of those things, her silver eyes sparkled with delight for anyone to see.  Was it all an act?  Faking that much sincerity seemed impossible, but Weiss remembered her father’s moments of falseness all too well.  A well-versed politician could charm as easily as breathe, yet Ruby didn’t present herself as a politician.  She presented herself as...a Queen.

That was the only way to describe Ruby, who was as intimidating as she was mesmerizing.  The way she held herself, the way she talked, the way she approached others...Weiss could only wish for a fraction of the confidence Ruby had in herself and in her every action.

“Looks like we’ll pass through the Badlands soon...” Ruby mused before glancing at the sun dipping towards the horizon.  “At night, too.  James will be thrilled about that…”

“We can stop if you’re uncomfortable,” Weiss offered, but Ruby shook her head.

“I don’t mind, but he gets a little...on edge.”

“I see.”

Considering the tall man with sandy blonde hair served as Ruby’s sole source of protection, he would understandably be anxious at any sign of trouble.  What Weiss still couldn’t understand was why Vale only sent one guard for Ruby’s benefit.  There were plenty of others at the palace - Weiss had seen them striding around in their striking gold armor - so why not send several battalions?  That would have been appropriate considering the number of Knights who accompanied Weiss to Vale.

“I’ve been wondering…” she began, figuring she might as well ask and see if Ruby would answer.  “Why did you only bring one guard?”

“Because James is the only guard I need.”

Ruby’s answer was easy, as if it made all the sense in the world to only bring one person into a foreign, hostile kingdom.  Weiss, however, couldn’t imagine being in that position.

“Aren’t you worried?”

“‘Worried?’” Ruby repeated with a light laugh.  “Why would I be worried?”

So many reasons popped into Weiss’ mind that she had no idea where to even start.  Atlas and Vale had been at war for years, for one thing, and just because the war was paused didn’t mean it was officially over.  Besides, Atlas didn’t even know that Vale had agreed to a truce yet.  And, ultimately, Ruby was a Queen.  With that title alone, she would always attract extra attention and potentially deviant actors hoping to stir up trouble.

“Are you asking if I’m afraid of you?” Ruby guessed before smiling and shaking her head.  “I’m not.”

“I see...” Weiss mumbled, glancing to the side and picking at her sleeve.  The response was relieving yet annoying at the same time.  She was perfectly capable of using her spark - Winter taught her how to fight.  Yet Ruby wasn’t afraid...even though she had no idea what Weiss was capable of.

“Should I be afraid of you?”

Faced with that genuine question and those sincere silver eyes, Weiss’ agitation faded away.  Ruby wasn’t implying that Weiss was weak - she was implying that she believed Weiss held no ill intent toward her, which was true.  And here Weiss was trying to scare her...

“No.”  Weiss shook her head and hoped Ruby forgave that moment of insecurity.  “I don’t think so.”

“I don’t think so either.”

Sitting back in her seat, Ruby studied Weiss with a small smile.  Contrary to Blake, who had a stern, almost-angry gaze that made Weiss want to shy away, Ruby’s gaze was honest and friendly.  Without saying a word, she made Weiss want to spill her life story.  To open up and admit everything she was scared of or wished she didn’t have to do.  They hardly knew each other, yet those silver eyes suggested she could trust Ruby with the secrets that she had sworn never to tell anyone.

“You’re different than I expected,” Ruby finally said and, for just a second, Weiss felt like Ruby could see right through her.  Like Ruby could see every shred of insecurity, hesitation, and fear of failure threading through Weiss’ veins.

“Different how?” Weiss asked despite not needing an answer.  Blake had already confirmed her fear - everyone expected her to be like her father.  But Ruby studied her for several more seconds before smiling.

“You aren’t as tall as I thought you’d be.”

The response was so unexpected that Weiss laughed.

“Really?  That’s all?”

“Yeah.”  Ruby’s smile brightened, and her eyes sparkled again.  “I thought you’d be taller than me.  Maybe as tall as Yang.”

“Well...sorry to disappoint,” Weiss replied facetiously, but Ruby never lost a fraction of that calm, happy grin.

“I’m not disappointed in the slightest.”

Weiss’ heart warmed as she wondered what Ruby meant by that.  Afraid of the answer, however, she looked at her hands and muttered, “I’m glad,” rather than ask.  Ruby studied her for a little longer, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet that powerful gaze.  If only she could read Ruby’s mind instead...

“What happened to your eye?”  The question brought Weiss’ gaze up, and Ruby motioned to Weiss’ left eye.  “If you don’t mind me asking,” she added.  “I’m just curious.”

Touching the thin scar running across her eye, which she often forgot about when not standing in front of a mirror, Weiss struggled with an answer.  The truth felt out of reach, but a lie seemed unfair given Ruby’s honesty.

“It’s...a childhood injury.”

Thankfully, Ruby didn’t pry - she accepted the undetailed truth with a small nod and smile. “I’m not bothering you, am I?” she suddenly asked.  “Because I can leave -”

Ruby looked ready to jump right out of the moving carriage, but Weiss reached out to stop her and said, “It’s fine.  I don’t mind.”

When Ruby settled back into her seat without further persuasion, doubt entered Weiss’ thoughts.  If Ruby wanted to leave, she would leave, right?  She wouldn’t stay if she didn’t want to?

“But if you want to go -” Weiss added only for Ruby to shake her head.

“I like talking to you.”

The statement was so...simple...that Weiss could hardly meet Ruby’s gaze before staring at the darkening sky through the window.  After spending so much of her life wishing for company, suddenly having it was strangely overwhelming.  She and Ruby were near opposites, and they represented opposing sides of a not-distant battle, but it still felt possible to enjoy Ruby’s company.  It felt…natural.

“Have you ever been to Atlas?” she asked, feeling less hesitant meeting Ruby’s gaze.  “Before all of this?”

“Nope.  My parents said I was too young.”  Thinking back on that time, Ruby smiled and shook her head.  “Probably was!  I’ve always wanted to go though.”

“I’ve always wanted to visit Vale too, but…”  Remembering the reasons why she wasn’t allowed to go, Weiss cleared her throat and considered changing the subject.  Ruby’s expectant expression convinced her not to.  “But my father said it wasn’t worth my time,” she admitted, only to be rewarded with a laugh.

“That sounds like something he’d say.  Maybe with some harsh words sprinkled in there.”

Based on Ruby’s perceptive expression, she knew that Weiss left out the finer details of his assessment of Vale.  And somehow, Ruby’s knowledge of who he was and what he was capable of reassured Weiss even more.  Before yesterday, she had never spoken a word against the man for fear of facing his wrath.  Now she knew not one, but three people who viewed him in the same light.  They might not understand the depths of his evil, but...they didn’t need all of the examples.

“I have another question,” Ruby began, but a hasty knock interrupted her.

“Your Highness.”  The Captain of the Knights appeared outside the window an instant later.  His clipped words combined with the sudden liveliness outside gave Weiss cause for concern, and his grim expression did nothing to help. “A group of hostiles is approaching,” he explained quickly.  “Stay inside while we deal with them.  We’ll let you know when it’s safe.”

“Wait,” Ruby said, but he had already spurred his horse away and the windows of the carriage buckled shut.  “How do you know they’re hostile?” she asked no one in particular, meeting Weiss’ gaze for only a second before opening the door and jumping out.

“Queen Rose -” someone immediately said, their curt tone prompting Weiss to follow.

“Your Highness.”  One of the Knights stepped in front of her while the rest formed a protective barrier around her and the carriage.  “You should get inside immediately.”

The tension in the air underscored the importance of following his instructions, and she wanted to, but she also didn’t trust them to protect Ruby.  If danger truly approached, she needed Ruby to come back with her, or she needed the Knights to follow her to Ruby.

“Excuse me,” she said, moving around him and searching for Ruby.  It didn’t take long to find the girl, who had already made her way to the front of their group - even further ahead than the most forward Knights.  As expected, none of them moved to join her.

“Ruby,” Weiss called out, but Ruby either didn’t hear or didn’t want to turn away from the source of the disturbance.  Not far away, and closing in with remarkable speed, a group of men and women raced toward them on horseback.  Their number was small - maybe two dozen or so.  They had no armor to speak of, but they were armed, and their hostile postures struck fear in Weiss’ heart.

A battle was close at hand.  She had to get Ruby inside and let the Knights take care of this.  Staying out here was asking to be caught in the fray, which she had no interest in experiencing.

“Ruby,” she tried one last time, making her way to the front of the group before the Captain summoned a barricade of ice in front of her.

“Your Highness,” he said as she looked at him in disbelief.  “Stay back.”

For a split second, she considered destroying the ice and pressing forward, but doing so would reveal her spark.  She couldn’t reveal her spark, no matter what, so she stood back and watched the alarming situation unfold.

James appeared by Ruby’s side as if from nowhere, but he didn’t drag her away.  He just stood beside her, the two Valerians facing the onslaught without a care or worry that Atlas wouldn’t protect them.

The raiders, or bandits, or whoever they were, grew closer.  Close enough that Weiss could make out individual features and see individual eyes.  But, just as she opened her mouth to order the Knights to help, Ruby disappeared.

One second, Ruby was there.  The next second, she was gone.  In her absence, the wind picked up.  What started as a gentle breeze grew in power, quickly becoming a gale that whipped Weiss’ hair to the side while dirt and debris swirled into the air.  Raising one arm to shield her eyes, she watched in awe as a towering cyclone encircled the approaching party.

The horses reared up and away from the wind, forcing the group to stop in its tracks and pull back.  They tried to turn around, but the windstorm tightened around them, forcing them into a smaller and smaller space with no means of escape.  Suddenly, they weren’t hostile anymore - they were trapped.  They were scared.  They shouted to each other, trying to figure out what to do or how to get away.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the wind stopped.  The cyclone drifted away as if it never intended to stay long.  Ruby appeared in its place, standing alone in front of the bandits.

They didn’t attack on sight like Weiss feared.  Instead, they stared down at Ruby while she spoke.  After listening for several long, tense moments, the two men in front looked at each other before disembarking from their mounts and walking forward.

No one moved to Ruby’s aid.  Even James, who should be glued to her side at a time like this, watched from a distance.  Did he not think Ruby was in immediate danger?  How could she possibly be safe when she was outnumbered twenty-to-one?

“Captain,” Weiss said, giving the man a stern look and motioning to the ice blocking her path.  Heeding the silent instruction, he removed the barrier but opened his mouth to issue yet another warning.

“Stay here,” she interrupted before he could and left safety behind.

This was a dumb decision, and possibly a reckless one, but she couldn’t let anything happen to Ruby - they hadn’t even made it to Atlas yet.  Marching the Knights over seemed like a bad idea, so she went by herself just as Ruby had seen fit to do. She didn’t know how Ruby found the courage to do it, as her resolve wilted with each step.  While she was by no means defenseless, she had only ever sparred with Winter before.  Ruby’s voice, which became clearer with each step, was the only thing that kept her moving forward.

“- to Atlas,” Ruby was saying as the men caught sight of Weiss and stiffened.  Weapons quickly raised, and Ruby glanced over her shoulder before raising her hand.

“Wait,” she said, motioning for the group to lower their arms.  They reluctantly listened.

“They’re just looking for food,” Ruby explained to Weiss, her eyes overflowing with sympathy for the armed militants.  “Their homes were burned during a skirmish several weeks ago -”

“You mean Atlas set fire to our town,” one of the men corrected, and the others were quick to nod.  “We lost what little we had left.”

With one arm holding Weiss a step behind her, Ruby addressed the group without fear.

“We can leave you some of what we have, but you must let us pass.  I understand your anger, but this is a fight you won’t win.  Let us pass, let us try to fix this, and live to see better days.  Because better days are coming - I promise you, they are.”

Ruby’s tone implored them to believe her.  To trust her.  Because she truly, to the depths of her being, meant them no ill will.

Fortunately, the group of would-be bandits heeded her warning.  After exchanging a glance, the two leaders accepted her offer with a nod.  One of them whistled and motioned the rest of the group out of the way, and the horses quickly moved aside.

“Thank you.”  Ruby’s gratitude was sincere, and she even offered a smile at their cooperation.  “We’ll set some things aside, and you can pick them up once we pass.”

As the two men nodded and returned to their horses, Ruby gently turned Weiss around and hurried back to the caravan.  “Have your guards leave whatever they can,” Ruby whispered on the way.  “Food, blankets, basic necessities - anything will help.”

Numbly nodding, Weiss made her way over to the Captain while Ruby continued to the carriage. “Sir,” she directed to him before pausing and clearing her throat.  Ruby had stopped to listen, but Weiss tried not to let that intimidate her.  “Please go through our supplies and leave behind some food and basic necessities for those men and women.  Keep anything you deem essential for the remainder of our journey.  But everything else, leave it off to the side for them.”

His jaw fell open at the request, and she understood why.  Resources were precious these days, yet they were giving some to strangers?  Why wouldn’t they just fight?  Why wouldn’t they just leave?  But Ruby had already made the promise, and Weiss was loath to break it.

“As you wish, Your Highness…” he eventually said before motioning for the nearby Knights to do as told.  While they rushed off, Weiss made her way to the carriage, where Ruby smiled at her before the two of them ducked inside.

Several minutes passed before their journey continued, during which time Weiss remained quiet and tried to convince her hands to stop shaking.  The group of ‘bandits’ was still visible through the open window, waiting patiently while the line of Knights moved away.

Were they even bandits?  Or just a group of unfortunate souls with nothing else to lose?

That answer was clearer now than ever before, but nerves still sputtered in Weiss’ chest as the Badlands fell behind.  Ruby, on the contrary, looked pensive and calm while staring out the window.  It was impossible to tell if the run-in rattled her.  The only emotions shining through her eyes were open sadness and compassion for a group of strangers who she may very well never meet again.

Now, Weiss understood why Ruby was the one traveling to Atlas - she was the peacemaker.  Harmony flowed from her as easily as the breezes that were so prevalent in her presence.  She was diplomatic and composed.  She was kind and certain.

She was the perfect queen.

“How did you know?” Weiss finally asked, drawing Ruby out of her daze.  Silver eyes blinked once, removing whatever thought she’d been in the midst of, before focusing on Weiss.

“Know what?”

“That you could negotiate with them?”

When Weiss gestured outside, where the terrain steepened as they began the ascent to Atlas, Ruby offered a small smile.

“Do you know what they used to call it?” she asked, her gaze briefly moving to the window before returning to Weiss.  “The Badlands - do you know what they used to call it?”

“The Valley.”

“The Valley,” Ruby repeated with an air of sadness that pulled at Weiss’ heart.  “A group of settlements with miles and miles of lakes and ranches and farmland.  These people aren’t fighters, criminals, or bandits - they’re farmers, ranchers, and fishermen.  They love the land and everything it provides them.”

After a short pause, Ruby sighed and motioned to the window.

“Look what we did to it...” she whispered while Weiss looked down at the region they were leaving behind.

Not much was visible as night fell, but the sparse lights suggested very little activity taking place.  Once upon a time, had lights twinkled across the valley below them?  Had the settlements teemed with life as residents celebrated the end of another day?  Because right now, it only looked…dead.

“And for what?” Ruby eventually asked.  “Because Vale hates Atlas, and Atlas hates Vale?”

“Atlas hates everyone…” Weiss mumbled, watching the Badlands disappear behind the cover of trees.

“I hope you can change that.”

The comment drew Weiss’ gaze, but Ruby gave nothing more than a small smile before staring into the darkening forest surrounding them.  As the conversation lapsed into silence, Weiss suppressed a scoff at the idealistic wish.

How could one person change the attitude of an entire kingdom?  Even if she was the Queen of Atlas, which she didn’t feel or believe just yet, how could she sway the minds of individuals with hopes and dreams different from her own?

But, as Ruby stared out the window, lost in her thoughts, Weiss’ initial dismay gave way to a strange sense of gratitude.  Her father expected her to fail no matter what.  Winter thought she needed to be protected from everything.  Yet Ruby, who had known her for mere days, had higher hopes for her than anyone else ever had.

With such high expectations, she would likely prove her father correct - she was useless.  A failure.

“That’s an awful lot to put on one person…” she muttered, wrapping her arms around herself when her spark grew colder.

“But you’re not alone.”

The comment captured Weiss’ full attention, and her heart jumped when she looked up and Ruby shook her head.

“You aren’t alone,” Ruby repeated with just as much certainty.  “That’s what I’m here for.  To help you.”

In another world, that was everything Weiss wanted to hear.  She didn’t want to be alone.  She didn’t want to do this by herself. But she couldn’t trust Ruby, no matter how honest and sincere Ruby seemed.  Winter said not to trust anyone, and that advice surely applied to one of Atlas’ greatest enemies.  For all Weiss knew, Ruby had an ulterior motive for coming to Atlas - a motive that had nothing to do with ending the war.

Regardless...she enjoyed Ruby’s company.  It was nice not to be alone, and it was nice to be around someone her age.  Maybe Ruby, just like Blake, just like Yang, didn’t share all of Weiss’ views, but they seemed to agree on what mattered.

“Then we’ll fix it,” Weiss said, nodding in the direction of the Badlands.  “We’ll help them rebuild, replant, whatever they need.”

“We will.”  Ruby smiled - a big, bright smile that sent a shiver of chill from Weiss’ heart through her veins.  “We can do this.  Together.”

Weiss hadn’t fully believed it until Ruby agreed.  After hearing the words from the Queen of Vale’s lips, however, Weiss knew this was a mission she would gladly embark upon.  She might not be able to lead or rule like Ruby did, but she could throw herself behind this cause with everything she had.  She could help restore the Badlands, just like she promised Blake.  She had no idea how she would do any of that, but she would have to figure it out as she went.

Lost in those thoughts, she didn’t say anything while the carriage gently rocked across uneven terrain and the sun sank below the horizon.  The sky was dark before long, lit only by the orange glow from the Knights’ torches.

“James is probably wondering when I’ll head back there…” Ruby eventually said, finally stirring into motion.  “And I should get out of your hair now.”

“Oh, right.”

Disappointment flickered in Weiss’ chest when Ruby motioned in the direction of the Valerian carriage somewhere behind them, but the feeling was pointless.  What did she expect Ruby to do - stay here with her?  Even if she miraculously felt comfortable enough to sleep with a stranger nearby, there was only one bed, and the sofa was hardly fit for a queen.

“Of course,” she added, hoping the hesitation went unnoticed.  “I hope you sleep well.”

“You, too.  And...thanks for humoring me today.”

With one last smile, Ruby opened the door and disappeared in a breath of air.  She hadn’t even asked the driver to stop, but she obviously didn’t need the carriage to stop in order to leave.

Alone once again, Weiss listened to the sounds outside the window and mulled over Ruby’s words.  She hadn’t felt like she was humoring Ruby today.  If anything, Ruby had humored her, with her lack of experience and knowledge on most of what they spoke about.

If Ruby hadn’t been here, what would have happened to those ‘bandits?’  Was Weiss capable of easing tensions without resorting to bloodshed?  She wished that she could say yes, but the situation had been different from what happened with Blake.  A large group with clearly hostile intentions...would she have had the courage to step outside were it not for Ruby?

Shaking those thoughts from her mind, she decided it was past time to sleep.  Still, when she finally closed her eyes, she wondered whether she would be ‘humoring’ Ruby again tomorrow.

Ruby answered that question early the next morning when she joined Weiss for breakfast and lingered for most of the day.  Even though she left every so often to accompany her bodyguard, expressing concern that he was lonely, she never stayed away for long.  It felt as if she enjoyed Weiss’ company, though Weiss knew better than to hope that was true.

Regardless of Ruby’s intentions, her presence distracted Weiss from her nerves as the air grew colder and snow appeared.  The windows remained closed now, offering respite from the chill as they neared their destination.  With each degree of temperature lost, however, she remembered why she didn’t want to go home.  The Council, the stack of work, the expectations -

“Is it true what they say?” Ruby asked, dragging Weiss away from those thoughts and into another curious, silver gaze.  “That there’s no Phage in Atlas?”

While Ruby had skirted around the subject before, this was the first time she came right out and asked.  As such, Weiss carefully considered what she knew about the disease before nodding.

“Very few documented cases.  Overall, yes.  It’s true.”

“But how?  Did you find a cure or something?”

“A cure?” Weiss repeated before shaking her head.  “Not that I know of…”

Disappointment flickered through Ruby’s eyes, prompting Weiss to explain further.

“But I don’t know much about the Phage,” she admitted.  “From what I’ve heard, we sealed off the city as soon as the outbreak started.  Everyone credits that with saving us.”  Looking out the window, where snow covered the ground and sparse trees, she scoffed.  “Really, I think our frozen hearts saved us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Our element is our disease.”

Setting a hand over her heart, where a noticeable chill rose through her skin, Weiss sighed.  Regardless of the temperature, her heart remained cold.  According to Winter, everyone felt this way, but the severity depended upon the strength of their spark.  Stronger spark, colder heart.  That was probably just Winter’s way of making Weiss feel better about always feeling cold, but she had come to believe it.

“Your hearts are frozen?”

Hearing Ruby’s surprise, Weiss turned away from the window and attempted a small smile.

“I wouldn’t say frozen, but...they’re definitely cold.”  Weiss briefly considered offering Ruby the chance to feel the difference - to see if there actually was a difference - but quickly discarded that idea.  “But that’s where our sparks reside, isn’t it?” she added instead.

“Is it?  I’ve always felt like it was kind of...everywhere.  Just flowing through our veins, through our minds.”

“Right.”  Unwilling to make an even bigger fool of herself, Weiss backed away from speaking on matters she didn’t fully understand.  “That’s probably right.  It just...feels concentrated in our hearts sometimes.”

To Weiss, it felt like her spark remained in her heart until she called upon it.  But that didn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t everywhere at once.  Maybe she just didn’t feel it anywhere else until she sought to use it.  Thankfully, Ruby didn’t dwell upon the topic for long.

“But there have been some cases?” she reiterated.  “Of the Phage in Atlas?”

Considering their previous few days of communication, Ruby’s fascination in this particular subject struck Weiss as odd.  But if the Phage was as prevalent in Vale as suggested, the curiosity made sense.  While the disease hardly entered Weiss’ mind since it hardly impacted Atlas, it must be top of Ruby’s.

That was a sad thought.  An incurable illness sweeping through the kingdom while they were fighting a war?  Balancing both enemies at once must have been extremely difficult.  It was a wonder Vale lasted as long as they did.

“I’ve only heard of a few,” Weiss answered, finding no reason not to be honest.  “Mostly related to travelers returning from outside the walls - that’s why we closed our gates so fast.  Now, no one goes in or out without permission.”

“Sounds...strict.”

“Or necessary.”  Ruby’s assessment sent a twinge of annoyance down Weiss’ spine, but she shook the feeling away and focused on the implications of that partial lockdown.  “With that said, people might not be thrilled by your presence.”

“They think I’ll bring it in and infect them?”

“Possibly.  That, and you’re...well, let’s just say my father had nothing kind to say about you, your sister, or anyone from Vale.”

“The feeling was mutual,” Ruby grumbled, but she quickly dropped the sour expression for an apologetic one.  “Sorry...”

“For what?”  When Ruby didn’t immediately respond, Weiss sighed and shook her head.  “Listen, Ruby...I understand who my father was, and I know there’s no reason for you to apologize.  If anything, I’m sorry for whatever he said or did to you and your sister -”

“And that’s something you never have to do.  You aren’t your father, and you aren’t responsible for his actions.”

Weiss’ heart warmed at the words at the same time a burst of chill raced through her veins.  The divergent sensations left her without words as she clamped down on her spark and read the sincerity in Ruby’s kind, silver eyes.

Sometimes, it felt like Ruby knew exactly what Weiss wanted to hear.  How was that possible when they’d only known each other for a period of days?  Was Weiss that easy to read or was Ruby that good at identifying insecurities?

Weiss might never know, as two knocks on the side of the carriage prevented her from responding.  One of the windows opened several seconds later, letting in a gust of winter air that made Ruby cringe and wrap her arms around herself.

“Your Highness,” the Captain of the Knights addressed Weiss with a hurried bow.  “We’re nearly there.  We should arrive at the palace within a couple of hours.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as Weiss responded, he nodded and shut the window.  But, no matter how brief the conversation, the temperature inside the carriage had dropped precipitously.

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be!”  Seeing Weiss’ concern, Ruby smiled and waved one hand.  “It’s not like you can help the weather.”

While true, that didn’t erase Weiss’ guilt as she inspected Ruby’s outfit yet again.  Ruby said it was her heaviest jacket, but it wasn’t nearly enough to combat Atlas’ cold.  If Ruby approved of it, however...it wasn’t Weiss’ place to say otherwise.

“I won’t stay long, by the way,” Ruby added, smiling as the path evened out beneath them.  “I’m sure you have a lot to do, and I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Well, we don’t want to rush such an important treaty...”

“But it shouldn’t take that long, right?”

“We’ll have to see what the Council says...” Weiss muttered while avoiding Ruby’s gaze.  She had no idea how long it would take, but she didn’t want to reveal that lack of knowledge.  Especially not to Ruby, who had far more experience, capability, and...was just a much better leader than Weiss.

Once the war ended, she would focus all of her energy on figuring out how the Council worked and what she could or couldn’t do.  In the meantime, she would learn on the fly. That learning opportunity would arrive sooner than desired, unfortunately, as the woods gave way to large clearings and the well-trodden path became a paved road.  From there, all she had to do was look up to see Atlas - her home - towering above them.

Resting behind tall, fortified walls, the city rose up into the mountains as if it belonged there.  The palace sat at the very top, visible even from this distance as it peered down on everyone and everything below.  Spotting its sharp spires cutting into the air was enough to rattle Weiss’ nerves, and she inhaled a long, shaky breath while clutching her hands in her lap.

Most people probably enjoyed returning home, but she wished that her travels had lasted longer.  She wished that she could remain in this ‘in between’ phase for another few days, or weeks, but there was no time for that.  She did what she set out to do - convinced Vale to end the war - but now...that felt like the easy part.

Ruby was a real queen.  She knew exactly what she needed to do and how to do it.  What would she think as Weiss bumbled her way through trying to bring peace between their kingdoms?  Even worse, what if she proved herself so incompetent that Ruby left without signing anything?

“There it is,” Weiss whispered, nodding toward the last place she wanted to be.  “Looks like we got more snow…”

When Ruby saw Atlas for the first time, she said...nothing.  She just stared out the window, stared at the kingdom towering above them.  As more details revealed themselves, she blinked and leaned closer.  And finally, after looking over everything she could see, she turned around.

“Weiss…” she breathed out, melting Weiss’ heart with her smile.  “This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen…”

From anyone else, Weiss would discount the compliment as pandering.  From Ruby, however...that was impossible.  So, rather than brush off the words, Weiss leaned closer and tried to see Atlas through Ruby’s eyes.

Maybe the crisp, clean snow covering every rooftop was majestic.  Maybe the way the kingdom had been cut into the mountain was awe-inspiring.  Maybe the palace was impressive.

Maybe Atlas was amazing in some ways, and maybe Weiss should be proud to call it home.  Her ancestors built this city.  They carved a community into a land of ice and snow, they prospered where others failed, and they never shied away from the adversity of such a harsh environment.

At the same time...she wasn’t a visitor, and she knew better than to fall for the façade.  She saw the flaws and ugliness in every corner.  She saw the marks her father’s reign left upon every street and every citizen.  Could something be beautiful when it was rotten at its core?  Should they celebrate the semblance of beauty when everything underneath was tainted and broken?

When Ruby turned toward her, silver eyes impossibly bright and excited, Weiss hoped that Ruby never saw what she saw.  She hoped that Ruby escaped this frozen place without experiencing the remnants of her father’s wrath.

“Welcome to Atlas...” she whispered, struggling to calm her spark as the gates grew near.

Comments

yodaka

when you mentioned Badlands used to be known as The Valley...I can't help but imagine Blake speaking with valley girl accent xD