RWBY: Brandish pt.7

Atlas was a place of ceremonies and traditions, even more so within the royal court than anywhere else. Ruby stood outside the giant gilded doors that lead to the throne room, dressed in white clothes that were more for ornamentation than practicality with silvery tassels and blue hemming. With a ornamental sword at her hip Ruby placed a pair of gloved hands on the doors and pushed them open.

The stained glass windows on the east side flooded the room with bright shades of gold, blue, red and green as the sun shone down upon the castle. Bathed in the colored light Ruby took calm and measured strides towards the throne where Weiss stood in full regalia with Yang and Blake standing off to her sides similarly decorated.

Councilmen and other officials lined the long stretch of pale blue carpet that Ruby followed, some were familiar faces of when Ruby had lived in the castle long ago while others were unknown to her. She saw the lieutenants of the royal guard standing behind the master of ceremonies, Peter Port himself, dressed up in shinning armor and white coats.

Ruby’s heels made dull sounds against the carpet as she came to stand before Weiss, the young queen standing taller due to both her heels and the tiered dais her throne sat upon. With a smile on both the girls’ lips Ruby removed her sword and scabbard from her hip and placed it on the floor beside her as she knelt, dropping her head low as Weiss took the Schnee family sword from a uniformed attendant, cradling the weapon like a newborn, and raised it high above her head.

The words Weiss recited were the same as the ones she spoke three days ago and the vows Ruby made didn’t change either. With her family heirloom in both hands Weiss lowered the flat of the blade onto Ruby’s shoulder, first the left then the right. After passing the sword back to her attendant Weiss offered her hand bearing the ring of her family, Ruby in turn took her hand, leant in and kissed it, finalizing the ceremony and her oaths to her queen and country.

“Rise now, Lady Ruby Rose,” Weiss spoke, clearly and loudly, “My chosen knight.”

Ruby pushed herself to her feet, replacing her sword at her hip as she moved to Weiss’ side by the throne. She looked out at the faces that watched her, some were excited and even happy on this occasion while some did little to hide their dissatisfaction with their queen’s choice. Despite that Ruby could barely contain the feeling in her chest, the pride and the happiness she felt at this moment and it only took a quick glance towards Yang and Blake to see that she wasn’t the only one.

Weiss stared out at those present, ignoring the negative faces in the crowd. “With this court as witness, I, Weiss Schnee, Queen of Atlas, have selected Ruby Rose to serve and protect me from this day forward as my chosen knight.” She deliberately raised her voice as she declared the final words, “So say I!”

The vigor of those in support of their queen’s decision drowned out the less enthused voices of those who didn’t as the room echoed with their voices, “So say us all!”

Applause soon followed after the declaration as formality faded and at the back of the gathering Weiss saw James standing quietly with his second in command at his side. The general was the first to leave.

* * *

“Are you really leaving?”

Ruby knelt down before a trio of local children as they bit back tears and sniffles. “Afraid so.” She said with a kind smile. “I have to move to the castle now. It’s my job.”

A little girl, her hands clenching her dress and tears streaking her face, tried to put on a bold front as she spoke. “You’ll come back and play with us, right? You will, won’t you?”

Ruby reached up and ruffled the girl’s hair. “I will. Promise.”

She tapped the child on the nose and gave her a bright smile before standing, facing the crowd of other Low Town residents who came to say their goodbyes as a car waited off to the side. Ruby shook hands and exchanged hugs with the people who had treated her as nothing less than family while others made playful jabs at her new profession.

Ruby turned to the baker, her large husband standing stalwart behind her despite the tears that ran down his cheeks. “Here,” the bake said, handing Ruby a large bag, “I know how much you like my chocolate chip recipe.”

After accepting the gift Ruby peered inside to see a clear jar filled to the top with cookies and her eyes shone. “So many!” She chirped. “Salamat po!”

The baker smiled down at her affectionately and stroked Ruby’s cheek. “I’ll keep the room clean for you.” She said. “Should you ever come and visit.”

Ruby stared up at the woman for a moment and she felt tears starting to form in her eyes. She stepped in and buried her face into the woman’s apron-clad chest as the baker hugged her tightly.

“Don’t eat them all at once.” She said.

“I won’t.” Ruby nodded.

The girl pulled away and quickly rubbed her eyes clean, offering the woman a broad smile. As Ruby went to the car where one of Blake’s subordinates stood by the open door Ruby noticed someone else join the crowd, his hands stuffed in his pockets and a passive expression on his face.

“Sun.” Ruby said aloud as he approached her.

“So,” he began, glancing at the car, “You’re actually leaving.”

Ruby could only nod, making a confirming noise as her eyes drifted to the ground. She felt a heavy hand clap her on the shoulder and she looked up to see Sun standing before her, a grin on his face.

“You actually did it.” He said. “I know you’ve been wanting this and now it’s yours.” He gave a wry chuckle as he drew away. “Congratulations, Ruby. Good job.”

Ruby felt a new wave of excitement wash over her as a smile crossed her lips. “Thanks!”

Sun raised a fist and held it out towards her. “Do your best and be sure to stay in contact, alright? We’re still gonna be friends, Rubes, so don’t be a stranger.”

“You got it.” Ruby replied, raising her own fist and punching Sun’s lightly. She held her hand there for a moment, staring back into Sun’s eyes as her vigor returned. “I’ll be taking off now.” She said.

Sun nodded. “See you around, Ruby. Take care of Weiss and Blake, for that matter.”

The girl nodded and then lowered her hand, turning and ducking into the car as the agent outside shut the door. She looked out the tinted windows as the man got back into the car and began the long drive back to the castle. Ruby watched as the scenery began to shift as the vehicle turned onto the main streets and she slouched in her seat.

“Holding up alright back there?” Came a voice from the passenger seat.

Ruby nodded but then remembered the older boy riding with them couldn’t see her. “I’m fine.” She said.

“As you may already know,” the copper headed boy began, “I’m Blake’s second in command.”

“You and Blake used to train at the castle together.” Ruby said. “Fox,” she trailed off, “Fox...”

“Alistair.” He finished for her.

Ruby dropped her head apologetically. “Sorry.”

Fox chuckled. “It’s alright. Blake and I trained under the previous spymaster, I don’t think you and I had a lot of interactions in the past, a lot of my time went into practice.”

“This is actually one of the few times I’ve ever seen you.” Ruby said. “I knew you worked alongside Blake but that was it.”

“The spymaster keeps me busy.” Fox explained. “And speaking of such, I would like to ask you a few questions while we’re en route to the castle.”

“Questions?” Ruby echoed.

Fox nodded. “About some of the events that took place the other day. There were multiple breaches in our security that day and I’ve been made aware of the presence of another party aside from the assassins.”

“You mean the girl who let me out?”

At Ruby’s question Fox nodded again. “I take it you don’t know her personally, then.” He said rather than ask. “Did she look familiar to you? Perhaps someone you may have met on the street or through the people of Low Town?”

Ruby shook her head. “I don’t,” she said.

Fox reached up and tapped his chin with his index finger, “I see.”

“But she told me something before she left,” Ruby began, “She said that someone was paying her to break me out and prevent Weiss’ assassination.”

She saw the driver glance over at Fox as he lowered his hand. “I see.” He said again. “Well, it’s good to know that her majesty has some more allies and apparently ones with influence. Still, the level of ease this mysterious third party had in disabling a high security cell and disrupting a military power grid is more than a little unsettling.”

“Its for that reason we’ve doubled the guard around her majesty,” the driver chimed in, “And the spymaster has us looking for anything pertaining to the attack.”

“Needless to say you’re going to have your hands full as well, Lady Rose.” Fox said, making sure to emphasize Ruby’s new title.

Ruby gave a soft laugh. “That’s going to take some getting use to.” She said. She looked out the window and noticed how quickly the city changed as they neared the front gates of the castle and she gripped her parting gift tighter. “All of this will.”

* * *

Yang stood at the center of Weiss’ study, her scroll in hand while Blake listened from the couch. “With all of the arrests,” the captain of the guard continued, “We’re sitting at a grand total of forty detainees.”

Blake let out a whistle. “That’s a rather bold number.” She said.

“Someone really wanted me dead.” Weiss added.

Yang cracked a smile, “Right?” She lowered her scroll and placed a hand on her hip, “Even with all of these arrests I know we’re missing some,” she said, “The guys who took a potshot at me and one of my boys are unaccounted for.”

“How can you tell?” Weiss asked.

“None of the guys we arrested were carrying crossbows.” Yang replied. “Those aren’t exactly common weapons now day, either.”

“So some of them got away.” Blake reasoned. “It’s staggering to think about how this could have happened.”

“We’ve become complacent.” Weiss said. “We’ve allowed holes to form in our security. We’ve no one to blame but ourselves.”

“And the guys who tried to kill us.” Yang added. “Also, I got a positive ID on the big guy you and Ruby took down; he’s a well known lieutenant in the White Fang.”

Hearing the organization’s name made Blake’s ears twitch, “That means,” she began, “That some of the assassins were members of the White Fang as well.”

Yang nodded and she glanced at Blake, “Some,” she said, “But not all. Most of them were mercenaries and professional killers, some with rap sheets as long as this room.”

“That’s unsettling.” Weiss said. “Would the White Fang really be so bold as to try and have me killed?”

“It’s hard to know what their thoughts are now.” Blake replied. “The organization has fallen on some hard times but with the protests going on outside the Torchwick refinery the number of disgruntled Faunus is only growing.”

“Along with the number of potential candidates.” Weiss surmised. She let out a deep sigh, “This would happen as the King of Vale was coming to visit.”

“Even if this had happened several weeks ago he’s bound to know anyways.” Blake said.

“Yeah,” Yang agreed, “He’s kind of creepy like that.”

Weiss shot the girl a stern look but it quickly melted away as she sighed again and Yang merely grinned back at her helplessly. “Speaking of creepy people,” Yang began, “Have you caught any backlash from Ironwood yet?”

The question was sobering to say the least and Weiss cursed to herself as another worrisome subject was thrust into her thoughts. “Nothing.” She said. “He’s passive aggressively accepted Ruby’s knighthood and he’s been oddly quiet since the ceremony.”

“It’s sad when a grown man broods like a child.” Blake said.

Both Yang and Weiss looked at her at the venomous statement and Yang couldn’t help but laugh after the words sunk in. “Dang, Blake,” she said, “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you actually hated the guy.”

“Hate is rather strong,” she said in her defense, “But I can honestly say I really don’t care for him.”

“Ironwood’s mood aside,” Weiss began, “What’s done is done.”

“And after you said you wouldn’t ‘alienate the general of your army’.” Yang added.

“My decision is ultimately unpopular.” Weiss said. “However, none can deny Ruby’s prowess nor her willingness to serve me.”

“Give it time.” Blake advised, “I’m sure Ruby will prove herself.”

“Not like anyone openly objects.” Yang added.

“Speaking of Ruby.” Weiss started, “Is she moved in yet?”

Blake nodded. “Fox escorted her here personally.”

“It’s going to be weird for her to be back here again.” Yang said. A thought suddenly occurred to her and the blond couldn’t hide the smile, “Hey! I have an idea!”

* * *

Ruby had barely gotten settled into her room for the night when one of the attendants knocked at her door. “Lady Rose, your needed in the dinning hall,” she had said and so Ruby found herself walking the castle corridors with the shattered moon shinning through the windows.

“What exactly could I be needed for?” She asked aloud. “I already had dinner. Did Weiss fail to mention that one of my duties was kitchen work?”

The double doors were shut tight and she could hear faint sounds of movement on the other side. With a raised eyebrow Ruby reached up and took the handle of the left door and with a firm shove opened it, the warm light of the other side washing over her along with voices.

Yang, Blake and Weiss along with Velvet and several members of the royal guard greeted her as she walked in. Every held a glass in one hand and Ruby saw one of the tables lined with plates of food and decorated with colored paper and linens.

Ruby could only stand there for a few moments in curious disbelief. “What’s all this?” She asked.

“Your welcoming party.” Yang said as she approached her little sister and handed her a glass. “Don’t worry, it’s non alcoholic.”

Ruby looked around at everyone, dressed down from their usual clothes or uniforms as Blake and Weiss walked up to join her. “Yang had the idea.” The spymaster said. “She thought this would be a good way to welcome you back to the castle.”

“I had wanted to get a lion for the night as well but somebody said I couldn’t,” Yang said as she looked to Weiss.

“There was absolutely no way I was going to let you bring a wild animal into my castle.” Weiss added.

“What would we have done with a lion anyways?” Ruby asked.

“My point exactly.” Weiss said.

Yang shrugged. “You guys are no fun.”

Blake reached up and put an arm around Ruby’s shoulders, guiding her towards the table and food. “I know we just had dinner but eat up and have fun.” She said. “This is all for you, after all.”

Ruby looked from her to her sister and Weiss who only nodded to her. Her eyes then went to the other attendees who either nodded to her or raised a glass in acknowledgment.

Yang gave Weiss a nudge with her elbow and the other girl audibly cleared her throat. “Tonight,” she began, “We welcome Ruby back to the castle for the first time in several years.” She raised her glass, “Welcome home, Ruby.”

All around her Ruby saw the attendees raise their glasses, welcoming her as Weiss had done. Ruby’s grip on her glass tightened as a warm feeling welled up inside her and she raised her own glass.

“It’s good to be back!”