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Ruby had never seen so much snow in her life.  Not even in her dreams.  It was everywhere.  It covered everything.  It swirled in the air when the wind picked up.  It fell from the trees in big clumps.  It kicked up small puffs of white under the horses’ hooves.  It made everything clean, white, and cold.

The cold was unlike anything she had experienced before.  The temperature started dropping as soon as they began their climb into the mountains, and now that they had reached Atlas...she understood what bone-chilling cold felt like.  Even inside the carriage, which was relatively protected from the elements, she wrapped her arms around herself to keep the chill at bay.

The temperature change didn’t seem to affect Weiss though.  With her hands lightly clasped in her lap, she appeared mostly pensive while looking out the window.

Watching Weiss was just as interesting as marveling at Atlas, but Ruby could only stare at one of those without being rude, so her gaze drifted outside as the city walls grew even taller.  Atlas looked just as big, if not bigger, than Vale.  And free of Phage?  Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined such a place.

Weiss’ answer about the Phage worried her, but she wouldn’t give up so easily.  Everyone said Atlas had a cure, and Weiss admitted that she didn’t know much about the disease.  Was it possible that Atlas found the solution yet someone in the royal family never heard about it?  In Vale, that would be impossible, but with Weiss’ noticeable gaps in knowledge…

There was still hope.  Atlas must have done something more than shut its gates to prevent the disease from spreading.  If not a cure, then a treatment?  A remedy?  Whatever it was, Ruby would find it and take it back to Yang as soon as possible.  If she managed to get a treaty signed in the meantime, that would be a bonus.  Cure for Yang, peace for Vale - those were her objectives.

But first, she leaned closer to the window and stared at the massive gate ahead of them.  It reminded her of Vale’s gateway…only larger and more intimidating.  The grey stone possessed an imposing aura that the light sandstone of Vale lacked.  The armored Knights patrolling the top of the wall added to the sense of foreboding.  Still, Atlas was something to behold.

When the carriage briefly stopped, she craned her neck to see what was going on up ahead.  It looked like the Knights escorting them had paused to speak to the guards, but the gates soon swung open and they were admitted inside.  And just like that...she was in Atlas.

The gates closed with a heavy thump, reinforcing that she wasn’t leaving for the foreseeable future.  For the next however-many days, Atlas served as her temporary home, and what a remarkable home it was.

The dust and sand of Vale had disappeared.  In its place?  Snow and stone as far as the eye could see.  The carriage rocked along cobblestone streets with stone buildings on each side - many looked like residences, but several appeared to be businesses.  Fresh snow covered every surface except for a layer of slush on the streets, but the people really drew Ruby’s attention.

Any Atlesians who happened to be outside stepped aside and stared at the spectacle moving through the streets.  Their weary gazes suggested this was nothing to get excited about, though Ruby felt differently when she discovered something they all had in common.

They all had white hair.  Every single one of them.  There were different shades, some darker and some lighter, but it was all shades of white.

“Wow…”

That wouldn’t be the last time she whispered the word as they climbed higher in the city of snow and stone.  ‘The Frozen Kingdom’ fit Atlas perfectly, as everything looked cold and hard yet enchanting and magnificent.

Noticing the continued quiet from the other side of the carriage, Ruby glanced Weiss’ way but made sure not to stare.  After willingly participating in conversation for most of the trip, Weiss had clammed up as soon as they reached Atlas’ shadow.  Was she nervous or just tired of Ruby’s questions?

Ruby had probably asked too many questions over the past few days, but she was curious.  Atlas was basically the opposite of Vale, so she wanted to learn as much about it as possible.  What were the people like?  What motivated them?  What did they do in their free time?  What did their lives look like?  Those answers would help her understand the Frozen Kingdom better than ever before which, in turn, meant Vale could better accommodate their northern neighbors.

“Is that…?” she began, pointing at an ornate building towering above the city.  Weiss moved closer to see what Ruby was referring to before setting her mouth in a thin line and nodding.

“The palace, yes.”

‘Palace’ didn’t sound grand enough for the incredible building rising above them.  Three large spires drew Ruby’s eye - the center tower rising higher than the two sides - while every rooftop was pitched rather than gently sloped like in Vale.  Snow still accumulated in many places, such as the balconies and the ornate statues, but it added much-needed white to go along with the abundant grey and silver.

“This is amazing…” she whispered for what must be the hundredth time.

The stories didn’t do Atlas justice.  This wasn’t just a city built on a mountaintop; this was a kingdom carved into a mountainside.  The engineering alone was worthy of respect, and that was before acknowledging the sheer size of Atlas and its populace.

Ruby’s awe grew as the Knights led the caravan through the city before finally reaching the palace gates.  There, they hardly paused before being drawn up the long drive leading to the entryway.  Knights in full armor were stationed everywhere.

Her general unease crept up upon realizing just how deep in enemy territory she was, but she didn’t fear for her life as others might.  She trusted that Weiss meant no harm.  And, if things went south, she trusted in her ability to fly out of Atlas without a scratch.

“Happy to be home?” she asked, but Weiss hardly mustered a smile.  Even if she said yes, it would obviously be a lie.  Her hands were clasped together again, and her normally pale skin looked even paler.  Her gaze remained fixed upon her lap, and she didn’t look up even when the carriage came to a final, complete stop.

“At least we won’t be stuck in here anymore, right?” Ruby tried again, hoping to find some semblance of the girl she had spent much of the previous few days talking to.

“I didn’t mind so much…” Weiss mumbled, but any opportunity for Ruby to probe that response disappeared when the door opened.

A gust of frozen air swooped inside, and Ruby immediately wrapped her arms around herself to combat the sudden cold.  It only partially helped, but she forced a teeth-chattering smile when Weiss gave her a look teetering between worry and pity.  Weiss opened her mouth to say something but, after considering the words carefully, shook her head and motioned to the door.

“After you.”

Needing no further invitation, Ruby jumped down from the carriage.  No sooner had her feet touched the ground did James appear beside her, and it didn’t take long for her to figure out why. Two lines of Knights formed a silver-armored passageway to the palace doors.  Each one stood at attention, postures stiff and frost billowing from their lips.

Ruby’s breath was also visible, but she doubted that would impress them.  In fact, the ones nearest to the carriage didn’t appear friendly at all.  Their suspicious glares suggested the opposite of friendly, actually, but they said and did nothing while waiting for their Queen to emerge.

“Let’s get out of their way…” Ruby mumbled while prodding James to the side.  The two of them stepped out of the Knights’ way, and everyone watched Weiss pick her way down the steps before taking a deep breath and facing the onlookers. The fanfare was specifically for her, but she looked like she would rather disappear than soak in the attention.  Her eyes sought out Ruby instead, and she motioned Ruby and James after her.

“Let’s get inside,” she whispered while they walked through the line of Knights, each of whom bowed as she passed.  They probably hated bowing to Ruby at the same time, but apparently bowing to both of them was better than bowing to neither.

“This is really impressive,” Ruby whispered back before glancing over her shoulder at James.  He stuck close to her heels, no doubt expecting an attack at any second, but the Knights weren’t here to attack.  They were here to mark Weiss’ return.

Pristine blue-and-silver banners, each bearing the Schnee family crest, hung along the front of the stunning building.  The entrance was massive, with ornately carved wooden doors manned by two Atlesian Knights in regal, plume-adorned armor.

“Your Highness,” one of them greeted Weiss, bowing nearly to the ground while the other opened the door and motioned them through.

As soon as Ruby followed Weiss into the entryway, her jaw dropped. It was...mind-blowing.  She couldn’t think of a better term to describe the silver-and-blue decorated space, which was large enough to host Vale’s end-of-year ball.  Multiple chandeliers hung overhead, marble flooring shone underfoot, and extravagant tapestries and paintings adorned the walls.  Everything looked new.  Everything looked expensive.  Everything invoked the pride and joy of being Atlesian.

The best part?  It was warm.  Multiple furnaces must be working at full capacity to crank out the wonderful wall of heat greeting them, and that relief only grew once the doors shut the cold outside.

“Well-insulated,” were the first words out of Ruby’s mouth, which she nearly regretted when she saw Weiss’ befuddled expression.  Considering the blatant opulence surrounding them, she probably could have come up with something more sophisticated and complimentary than that.

“My father made sure the palace was maintained,” Weiss replied, leaving Ruby to fill in the blanks.  Surely, Vale wasn’t the only one feeling the financial drain of battle.  Atlas must also be running low on money, possibly even rationing resources, yet the palace remained in pristine condition.  The question was...at what cost?

Before Ruby summoned the courage to ask, several gentlemen appeared at the far end of the entryway.  One had such deep-black hair that it must have been dyed to set him apart in a sea of white.  Their long, white robes billowed behind them as they walked, lending an air of importance to their mere presence.  From the way Weiss stiffened at their approach, they were important...but not necessarily in a good way.

“Your Highness,” the one with black hair said, giving Weiss a quick bow before his gaze flitted to Ruby.  “If I may...who is this and why have you brought them into Atlas?”

Ruby frowned at the accusatory tone but forced a neutral expression when Weiss turned at her.  If Ruby could only use one word to describe Weiss right now, it would be nervous.  It showed in her expression, in her eyes, in her posture, and most noticeably in her hands.  But what was she nervous about?

“Councilor Ironwood, I’d like you to meet Queen Rose.”

Ruby smiled and dipped her head at the introduction.  Councilor Ironwood, however, stared at her like she had two heads rather than formally acknowledging her.  The lack of etiquette irked James, who cleared his throat to voice his displeasure.  Even Weiss seemed perturbed by the impertinent greeting, but she merely frowned before continuing.

“She and her sister, Queen Xiao Long, have agreed to end the war.  She graciously offered to stay in Atlas so that we can write and sign a treaty as quickly as possible.”

The answer was succinct and well-spoken, but Councilor Ironwood’s gaze never left Ruby.  Her presence was obviously unexpected, and possibly a cause for concern if she was reading his emotions correctly.

“Your Highness?” he finally said.  “A word if you please.”

Weiss turned to Ruby at the request, her light blue eyes asking questions that Ruby didn’t have answers to.  What she could do, however, was smile and wave the two away to have this unexpected and somewhat disrespectful conversation.

“Gee, friendly,” she whispered to James while the two stepped aside and Councilor Ironwood voiced his concerns.

“We aren’t in Vale anymore, My Queen…”

The words of caution were more appropriate than ever.  While beautiful and otherworldly, Atlas was a foreign place with unknown customs and unknown enemies.  Traveling within Vale lent an implied amount of safety, but here...James and her own spark were her only assurances of safety.  That became more apparent as the Councilor’s eyes flitted to her as if she might sneak away the instant he let her out of his sight.

What was his issue with her being here?  Did an outsider’s presence bother him that much?  Or was it that Vale agreed to end the war?  If it was only her presence, that was fine - she wouldn’t be here long.  If his issue was with why she was here...then she suddenly had far more worries of her own.

When the Queen of Atlas traveled all the way to Vale and proposed a truce, Ruby expected the logistics to be easy.  Not three minutes into this endeavor, she realized that wouldn’t be the case.

Fortunately, the Councilor appeared to acquiesce to Weiss’ response, though her hands were clasped so tightly now that Ruby wanted to ask if she was alright.  The conversation didn’t end there, however, as Councilor Ironwood motioned the other white-robed man over.  Another councilor, Ruby presumed, but this one carried a giant stack of paperwork in his arms, which Councilor Ironwood gestured to while explaining something to Weiss.

In front of her eyes, Ruby watched the Atlesian Queen crumple under what looked like a gigantic amount of work.  Her posture slumped, her eyes dimmed, yet she nodded along as if she understood every word even though it was obvious that she didn’t.  Councilor Ironwood seemed unperturbed by her lack of understanding, however, and even had the gall to offer Weiss a pen.

Ruby’s attention perked up then, and something bordering on anger seeped into her veins.  Was he really going to make Weiss sign something right here in the entryway?  Without even giving her time to read or understand or even be comfortable with whatever it was?

It wasn’t Ruby’s place to say something, as much as she wanted to.  For all she knew, this was how Atlas worked...though she doubted it.  Instead of walking over and scolding the man, she watched Weiss bite her lip and consider the pen for a long time.

Everyone expected her to sign.  Even to Ruby, who silently hoped otherwise, the outcome seemed inevitable.

Then Weiss glanced at Ruby, said a few words, and erased the gleam from Councilor Ironwood’s eyes.  Whatever she said annoyed him, but a patient, near-patronizing smile quickly replaced the reaction.  The pen disappeared, the paperwork was retracted, and Ruby couldn’t help feeling a little smug that the man hadn’t gotten his way.  Now that the conversation was over, she straightened her posture and smiled as they returned to her.

“Queen Rose,” he greeted her, this time with a mockingly deep bow.  “It’s an honor to meet you, and wonderful that you’ve traveled all this way to see a treaty through.  If you have questions during your stay, feel free to seek me out.”

“Thank you, Councilor.”

She doubted the offer was genuine, but she smiled politely.  He managed a thin smile of his own before bowing to Weiss and stalking off, his white robe flowing behind him as he made a hasty exit.

“Queen Rose.”

Ruby flinched at the term before smiling at Weiss.

“Please call me Ruby,” she reiterated.  “‘Queen Rose’ is so...formal.”

“I’m sorry.  I just...wasn’t sure if that was acceptable now that we’re here.”

In a single sentence, Weiss gave away how uncertain she was in her position and how she could interact with others.  And suddenly...Ruby was much more worried, not only for herself but for Weiss.  If the man with the stack of work was any indication, forces were at play in Atlas that would love to have a Queen in their pocket.  Weiss needed to figure out her power before someone dictated it for her...because the less power she had, the less likely this treaty finished quickly.

“It’s ok,” Ruby replied, hoping to offer some reassurance.  “I prefer you call me Ruby because we’re equals.”

Even though that was fundamentally correct, disbelief flashed through Weiss’ eyes.  The response made Ruby feel guilty for even bringing it up, but why should she feel guilty when it was true?

It wasn’t her responsibility to help Weiss become a queen.  It was her responsibility to sign a peace treaty, find a cure, and get home to Yang as soon as possible.

But Weiss needed help.  She needed someone to help her grasp her new responsibilities and navigate Atlas’ political system.  Ruby was probably the least qualified person to do so, but...she would help however she could.

Find the cure, sign a treaty, help Weiss get on her feet...this trip was busier than expected, but Ruby never backed away from a challenge.

“He’s one of the councilors?” she asked.

“Yes.  One of the longest-tenured ones.”  After glancing around the entryway, where they were still garnering a fair amount of attention, Weiss gestured Ruby and James after her.  “I can show you to your quarters now,” she explained as they left the palace doors behind.

“Looked like he brought you a ton of work,” Ruby added while trailing Weiss up a gorgeous staircase strung with pearlescent silver ribbons.  New sights kept drawing her attention, but she didn’t miss Weiss’ hefty sigh.

“The Council put together a series of decrees while I was away.  It seems that many items have been on hold since my father’s...passing...so they’re rather urgent.”

“Things are always ‘urgent’ around the palace,” Ruby pointed out.  “But some more so than others.”

“I believe these are all of higher urgency, but it shouldn’t take long to read them all.”

Apparently, Weiss hadn’t seen the same stack of papers that Ruby did.  Sorting through that much information, asking follow-up questions, and coming to a decision could take weeks to do correctly.  Of course, just signing and moving on was the fastest, easiest option...

“You have to do what the Council says?”

“No…”  The answer would have been more convincing without the pause, but Weiss hurried on.  “But they represent the different factions within Atlas.  Going against them would be going against the will of the people.”

“Ah.  We have advisors, but we listen to them about half the time.”

When Weiss gave an amused scoff at the response, Ruby smiled.  Something about the action was so...uninhibited.  As if, for a split second, a bit of the real Weiss showed through.

“Yeah, they love that about as much as you’d think,” Ruby added and, when a short laugh slipped through Weiss’ lips, her grin widened.  She glanced at James to see if he noticed too, but his gaze was elsewhere, on the lookout for escape routes or enemies no doubt.  While he took care of logistics, Ruby sent a small smile Weiss’ way before marveling at every piece of the palace she laid eyes upon.

Even though she spent the past few days imagining this moment, nothing could have prepared her for the magnitude of the experience.  She was in Atlas.  She was walking through the halls of the palace - the same halls the Mad King once wandered - which were just as exquisite as the entryway.  She was being escorted to her temporary living arrangements by the Queen of Atlas, who was unexpected in the most welcome ways.

Sneaking another glance at Weiss, Ruby again wondered how she and the Mad King could be related.  Their personalities were night and day.  The Mad King made quick enemies and bullied others into what he wanted.  Weiss was soft-spoken, mild-mannered, and...Ruby couldn’t help wanting to be her friend.

Friends with the Queen of Atlas...not long ago, the thought alone would have been good for a laugh.

“Here we are.”  Pulling Ruby out of those thoughts, Weiss pushed open a set of double doors leading to a massive waiting area with multiple adjoining rooms. “They’re the best guest accommodations we have...”

“This is nicer than my room back home!”  Ruby walked inside and spun in a circle, taking in as many details as possible - the silver ceiling, silver chandelier covered in crystals, the elegant seating area, bookshelves, and anything a guest might need.  “What about James?”

“There’s an ample-sized servant’s quarters across the hall.”

Ruby giggled at the response and nudged James in the side.

“Here that, James?  You can be my ‘servant.’”

“I didn’t mean any offense,” Weiss quickly added.

“None taken.”  Waving off the apology, James opened every door in Ruby’s temporary home and checked the room beyond.  Satisfied with what he found or didn’t find, he returned to Ruby. “I’ll make sure your belongings are brought here in good shape, My Queen.  Will you wait here?”

“I will.  Thank you, James.”

“I really didn’t mean any offense,” Weiss reiterated as James hurried back the way they came.

“It’s ok,” Ruby assured her.  “People call him my servant all the time.”

“Yes, but…”  After letting that thought trail off, Weiss sighed and met Ruby’s gaze with even more apology.  “I wanted to give you a tour of the palace, but the Council wants to hold a special meeting to discuss your arrival.  I hope it doesn’t take long, but they want to meet...right now, essentially.”

“That’s alright.  I’ll wait for James, then we’ll explore the city a bit.”

“But it will be dark soon,” Weiss replied, glancing out the window to check the time.  “You probably shouldn’t go out this late.”

“It won’t be long!  We’ll just take a quick look around, get a feel for things.”  When the response did nothing to ease Weiss’ concern, Ruby gently tapped Weiss’ elbow.  “I’ve been cooped up for a little long,” she admitted, her spark growing louder when blue eyes met hers.  “I just need to get outside for a little bit, even if it’s cold.”

“Then at least let me find someone to accompany you...”

“Naw, that’s ok.  We like exploring by ourselves anyway.”

Weiss looked like she wanted to insist, but she gave up with a small smile.

“If you’re sure…”  Letting the offer dangle a little longer, Weiss only continued when Ruby nodded.  “Then...I’ll head to the Council meeting now and find you after?”

“Sounds perfect.”

Satisfied with those plans, Weiss nodded once before moving to leave.  She didn’t walk away, however, without first hesitating and turning back to Ruby.

“Please remain vigilant...in the city and in the palace.”

The warning sounded slightly ominous, but Weiss merely nodded one last time before heading into the hall.  Pretty soon, she was gone and Ruby was left alone in the large, quiet room.

“Well, you made it…” she mumbled to herself, swinging her arms and looking around.  Everything felt strange and new here, which was exciting but also made her miss home.  The warmth of Vale, the familiarity of the palace - her home - but most of all...she missed Yang.

Her heart clenched at the thought of Yang, but footsteps prevented her from dwelling on that sadness.  Seconds later, she smiled when James strode into the room with her belongings.

“They probably would’ve carried that up here for us,” she pointed out while he set her luggage near the sofa.

“That would require trusting them with your things, which I do not.”

“What’re they going to do - steal my clothes?” Ruby joked while sitting on the arm of the sofa.  “I didn’t bring anything of value except you.”

While she smiled up at him, he sighed and let his shoulders slouch a fraction of an inch.

“What are we doing here, My Queen?”

“We’re here to sign the treaty.”

As soon as Ruby offered the generic answer, he responded with a caring, patient expression.  He knew as well as she did that signing a treaty didn’t require her to trek all the way to Atlas, which meant he knew that she had another reason for volunteering. She couldn’t tell him the whole reason - that wasn’t her secret to share - but he deserved as much answer as she could provide.

“Atlas has the cure.”

“That’s nothing more than a rumor -”

“But I need to know,” she said, giving him a serious look.  “If Atlas has any information, we have to find it.”

“I understand your compassion for those suffering with the Phage, but to put your wellbeing at risk…”

“It’s important, James.”

Something in her response - Finality?  Hope?  Desperation? - convinced him to sigh and accept this new endeavor.  But he always accepted what she wanted to do.  Not once had he disagreed or argued that she was being stupid or unreasonable.

“Then what would you like to do now?” he asked, and she looked around before nodding to the door.

“What do you think?  Explore!”

Accepting that response just as easily as he had accepted an Atlesian vacation, he fell into step beside her as they headed toward the front of the palace.

“I’m guessing you know where to go by now?” she asked while following him through the immaculate halls.

“Yes, but you should familiarize yourself as well.”

Softly humming, she took note of every turn they made.  Left at the end of the hall, right at the landscape painting of Atlas, another right near an exquisite silver vase, and the entryway came into view.  Plenty of staff members and Knights bustled around the large space, and they all cast suspicious glances at Ruby and James as they approached the two Knights guarding the exit.

“Uh...can we leave?” she asked the nearest one, who looked down his nose at her before exchanging a glance with the man beside him.  After coming to a silent agreement, they somewhat begrudgingly unlocked the door and pushed it open.  A gust of cold air whipped through the first crack it found and reminded Ruby that she wasn’t in Vale anymore, as if she needed the reminder with all of the unfriendly faces around.

“Wow, that’s cold.”

Undeterred by the temperature, she gave the Knights a small nod of appreciation and walked outside.  The chill seeped through her jacket mere feet from the door, illuminating the reason behind Weiss’ concern.  Apparently, Ruby’s jacket was ill-suited for this weather, but she hugged it tighter around her and rubbed her arms while icy breaths slipped through her lips.

“We’re not in Vale anymore!” she joked, smiling at James.  The tip of his nose was already red, his cheeks were growing pinker by the second, and he probably wouldn’t smile for the entirety of this adventure.  But he typically didn’t smile much, so that was nothing new.

“Let’s take a quick look around…and try not to turn into icicles.”

Using her spark to push back against the frosty air, slightly negating the chill, she picked a random direction and set off at a near jog.  It wasn’t as cold in her little bubble.  Plus, it was nice to be outside after all that time in the carriage.  She had enjoyed her conversations with Weiss, but her spark had protested the lack of activity.

“Look at all this snow…”

Fresh snow piled several inches high on a nearby railing.  It probably would have been much higher if the railing was wider.  Curious, she sent a little burst of air through the piles and giggled at the resulting puff of white.  She did it several more times, cleaning off one side of the railing as they headed down a wide staircase leading to the palace gates.

Dozens of Knights patrolled near the gates, which stood open at the moment but were probably closed during the evening.  If Ruby had any concerns about making it over the tall walls, she would ask what time that happened.  Since she could probably make it overtop without anyone even noticing, she didn’t hesitate as she headed through.  It was only when she reached the other side that her pace slowed and her mind struggled to comprehend what she was seeing.

The city.  Atlas.  The world beyond the palace.  Whatever someone wanted to call it, it was a sharp contrast to the royal family’s residence.

The stone buildings were much smaller, which was to be expected, but any notion of affluence faded just steps from the gates.  People hurried to and from on their errands, but their worn clothes and downcast gazes left little suggestion of warmth.  The large soldier presence likely didn’t help, as there didn’t seem to be a single street without a patrol observing the populace. The cold was a good reason to not linger outside, but the chill seemed to bother no one besides Ruby.  Yet everyone hurried to get off the streets…

“Does something feel off to you…?” she finally asked, watching a Knight question one of the shopkeepers.  “Besides all the looks we’re getting,” she added when the men caught sight of her and stared.

“There is something...” James mused while looking at every shop and home they passed.  His eyes narrowed when a Knight grabbed a woman by the arm, but the man issued a few harsh words before letting go and stalking away.  The interaction was tense and quiet, whereas in Vale it would have exploded into a shouting match and volley of fire across the streets.

“Ice is cold and quiet...” Ruby whispered as they headed further into the city.

“Except when it cracks, My Queen.”

Falling silent at that response, she kept her head on a swivel and pressed onward.  She stuck out like a sore thumb in the midst of all the white hair, and everyone stared at her as she passed.  The looks were mostly curious, though some were suspicious, mistrusting, or even worried.

The curiosity was mutual.  This place, unlike the palace, teemed with life.  At the same time, it felt frozen and empty.  How could those two feelings coexist?  How did she see so many people yet hear so few voices?  Besides stopping to stare at her, why did everyone’s gazes spend so much time on the hard, slippery cobblestones underfoot?

Maybe it only felt strange because it was so different from what she was used to.  Maybe Vale was too loud, too rambunctious, and this calm, orderly environment was actually nice.  It just didn’t feel nice.  It felt...sinister.

With that word scratching at the back of her mind, she watched a family hurry up the steps to a small home with smoke coming out of the chimney.  One of the children - a young boy with short white hair and a small bandage on his chin - caught sight of her and stared.  When Ruby smiled and waved, his jaw dropped and he tugged on his mother’s sleeve.  His mother took one look at Ruby, ushered him into the house, and shut the door behind them.

“My Queen.”  Stepping closer, James ducked his head and lowered his voice to a whisper.  “Someone has been following us since we left the palace.”

Ruby knew not to look, so she met James’ eyes instead of searching for this person.

“Spying?”

“Most likely.”

Nodding at the information, she carried on as if unaware that they had an observer.  She wasn’t surprised, but they couldn't do much about having unwanted company.  As long as whoever it was stayed out of the way, they should be fine.  They just needed to be more careful, especially if they had to snoop around looking for a cure.

With caution in mind, Ruby made her way toward a tall, regal building rising above everything else in the area.  Its elegant spire reached toward the sky while stained-glass windows offered a dash of color amidst the white and grey, but it wasn’t until they entered the large, empty square surrounding the building that her curiosity was piqued even further. The building stood out for its height and extravagance alone, but the Knights stationed by every door and patrolling the perimeter in pairs suggested more importance than initially met the eye.

“Looks...official,” she muttered while watching a young man skirt out of the way of the patrolling Knights.  The action made him look skittish but, the more she watched, the more she realized everyone else stayed as far away from the building as possible.

“What is this place?”

“A religious or government building, perhaps,” James guessed.  The patrolling Knights turned the corner then, but another pair immediately appeared to take their place.

“Let’s ask!”

Before James protested - not that he would anyway - Ruby skipped over to the guards standing at the front doors.  They stiffened at her approach, but she smiled and waved in hopes of putting them at ease.

“Hey!” she said, taking care to hold her smile.  “I’m new here, and I’m just wondering what this place is?”

When they said nothing, she gestured at the intricate carvings covering the walls.

“It’s really beautiful.  Maybe we can check it out?”

As soon as she moved forward, they sprang to life.

“Outsiders aren’t allowed in the chapel.”

“So you do talk,” she replied, laughing as she obediently stepped back.  “You don’t have to let us in, but can you tell us what it is?”

“Outsiders aren’t allowed in the chapel,” one of the Knights repeated, so she sighed and shared a look with James.

“Is that all you can say?”

After frowning down at her for several seconds, the Knight clenched his jaw and gave a curt, “No.”

The response wasn’t intended to be humorous, but Ruby held back a laugh at how serious he was.

“I get it - you only speak irony,” she joked before playfully elbowing James in the side.  “Too bad Yang’s not here.  We’d be in there in no time.”

“Leave now or risk immediate arrest,” the other Knight said before reaching out to physically turn her away.  She quickly flashed out of his reach and held out her arm to keep James from stepping forward.

“It’s fine, James,” she said before he voiced his abundant displeasure.  “We’ll just go.”

Knowing better than to press their luck, she pulled James away before they got themselves in trouble.  The last thing she wanted to do was get arrested and force Weiss to bail her out of prison on her first day.  Especially when she wasn’t confident that Weiss could bail her out of prison.

“Now I get why everyone stays away...” she muttered as they walked away from the building.  “Not the friendliest, are they?”

“They are not.”

James probably had much more to say, but he kept the harsh words to himself.  Understanding that he was disgruntled by the interaction, Ruby searched for a distraction.  Unfortunately, she quickly spotted one.

Around the corner from the regal chapel, a Knight was speaking to a young girl.  But his tone was low and harsh, and he held the girl tightly by the arm while she ducked her head and subtly tried to pull away.  It looked like she was being reprimanded for something, but Ruby couldn’t imagine what.  The people here hardly seemed to speak let alone do anything that warranted such a reaction.  But Ruby didn’t know how things worked here, so she didn’t intrude.

At least, that was her plan.  Things changed when the Knight slapped the girl hard across the face.  Then Ruby was at the girl’s side before her knees even hit the cobblestones.

“Are you alright?” Ruby asked, kneeling beside the girl to see if she was hurt.

“Back away,” the Knight ordered, but Ruby ignored him and ducked her head to meet the girl’s gaze.  Tears streamed from scared blue eyes and an angry-red welt was already rising on her cheek.

“Are you alright?” Ruby asked again.

“I’m ok,” the young girl whispered before pushing herself back to her feet.  Still sniffling, she nodded to the Knight before hurrying off as if everything was fine. But it wasn’t fine, and Ruby wasn’t going to be fine with it.

“What’d you do that for?” she demanded, scowling at the Knight responsible.  “She wasn’t even doing anything.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Oh, it’s not?  It’s not my concern that you hit a girl half your size when she’s not fighting back?”

“It’s not your concern, outsider.”

The Knight took a menacing step forward as a puff of frozen breath left his lips only to straighten up and back away when James stepped into his path.

“Raise your voice at her again, and it will be the last thing you do.”

The calm, even-keeled warning masked James’ readiness to pounce, but Ruby pulled him away before the Knight made the mistake of testing his patience.

“It’s alright, James,” she said, sending the Knight a dirty look while backing away.  “We’ll just mind our business while they abuse people.”

The comment earned a scowl but nothing more.  And, having lost the desire to learn more about this wretched place, Ruby set her sights on the palace and led James that way.

“That was horrible,” she muttered to herself.  “Who just hits someone like that?  How is that even allowed?”

“We’re not -”

“Not in Vale anymore, I know, I know.”  Still frowning, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms before redoubling her efforts to hold the bitter cold at bay.  Even with her spark constantly pushing against it, it etched across her skin like a thin layer of ice.  “Alright, it’s too cold,” she eventually decided.  As soon as James started shrugging out of his coat, however, she raised her hand to stop him.  “Oh no you don’t!  You’ll literally freeze to death without that.”

“But -”

“No buts.  Keep that on and let’s hurry back.”

When he reluctantly slipped his arm back through the sleeve, she doubled her pace back to the palace.  She tried not to boss him around because he wasn’t her ‘subject’ - he wasn’t even from Vale - but she wouldn’t let him freeze just so she could be a little warmer.  They would deal with the cold together.

“Hopefully, they let us back in...” she muttered as they approached the palace doors.  Fortunately, the guards decided not to give them any issues and let them right inside.  The warmth of the entryway was the most magical thing Ruby had ever felt, and her skin tingled as she began to defrost.

“Maybe we shouldn’t leave the palace the whole time we’re here,” she joked, catching a hint of a smile on James’ lips before a familiar face entered the room.

Weiss was accompanied by a slew of white-robbed Councilors, all of whom seemed to have something to say.  The meeting must have ended, but apparently there was more work to be done...even though Weiss looked exhausted already.  The moment she spotted Ruby, however, she said a quick word to her followers and headed over.

“Did you go outside like that?” were the first words out of her mouth, her blue eyes giving away her disbelief.

“Uh...yes?”

Ruby had no idea how else she was supposed to go outside - with more coats, perhaps? - but Weiss looked at a loss for words.  Eventually, she shook her head.

“Please wear more layers next time,” she advised softly.  “The weather is harsh.  We’re accustomed to it, but I imagine you two are not.”

“Noted.”

Ruby smiled at the consideration, and Weiss nodded before turning away.  Rather than leave, however, she paused and met Ruby’s gaze.

“If you’re not busy, would you like to join me for dinner?”

“Busy?” Ruby repeated before chuckling.  “What would I be busy with?”

“I’m...not sure.  Maybe you had other plans for your evening, or maybe you and James would prefer to eat alone.”

“Oh.”  After glancing up at James, who shrugged, Ruby smiled.  “No, we’d love to have dinner with you.”

The acceptance made Weiss happy - Ruby saw the flicker of happiness in those blue eyes, and that made her heart flutter with joy.

“Afterward, I can show you around the palace,” Weiss offered, and Ruby’s smile grew.

“Sounds even better.  I’d love to go on a tour with you.”

“Then...that’s what we’ll do.”

For a moment, it looked like Weiss would smile - she spotted the Councilors waiting for her and sighed instead.  The expression didn’t last long, however, before she resumed a neutral expression.  “I’ll come get you at your chambers in half an hour?”

“We’ll be waiting.”

Weiss smiled, a polite smile this time, before returning to the men and women determined to bend her ear.  Her posture remained perfect and her hands clasped as they resumed speaking, but her gaze flitted to Ruby as she and James headed upstairs.

“I think she actually cares about our well-being,” Ruby whispered as they went.

“I wouldn’t be so quick to trust, My Queen…”

“You don’t think we can trust her?”

“I think…there’s much going on here that we don’t understand,” James replied in a low voice.  “And it would be wise to learn more before placing our trust in anyone.”

Humming at the advice, Ruby glanced back at the entryway before continuing to their temporary rooms.  Weiss’ posture said that she didn’t want to speak to those people, as did the way she twisted her hands and glanced at the floor more often than not.  She didn’t look or act like a queen.  She looked and acted like someone thrust into a role they didn’t want or were woefully unprepared for.

It wasn’t Ruby’s job to teach Weiss how to be Queen, but she couldn’t help feeling sympathetic.  Everyone wanted to rule a kingdom, but the responsibilities that came with it weren’t for the weak at heart.  Conviction and confidence were key to shouldering some of that weight, but Weiss severely lacked both of those traits.

Ruby understood that they shouldn’t quickly trust one of Vale’s greatest enemies, but...there was a kindness to Weiss that she couldn’t help being drawn to.  Unfortunately, Weiss probably wouldn’t trust her either…but if Weiss didn’t trust Ruby, then who did Weiss trust?  Who could help her through this?

“James,” Ruby said, drawing his gaze as they walked through splendid, unfamiliar halls.  “Thank you for coming with me.”

He only responded with a hint of a smile and a nod, but she knew he understood the gratitude.  Without him, she would be here alone.  A score of Elites would have accompanied her, of course, but being surrounded by people didn’t mean she had company.

She had always known that she was blessed in many ways, but her greatest fortune was having James and Yang in her life.  They were patient, loving, and encouraging.  She could count on them no matter what, she could trust them with anything, and they supported her through everything.

It must be lonely having no one to trust...especially in a cold, quiet place like this.

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