The Queens of Remnant - Chapter 22 (Patreon)

Waking up in a strange bed, in a strange room, in a strange place, wasn’t the ideal way to start the day, but Ruby was in much better spirits than yesterday.  She was in such good spirits, in fact, that the hop had returned to her step as she skipped into the hall and found James already waiting.

“Good morning, James!”

Desperate to release some of her pent-up energy, she whipped around him several times before planting her feet and grinning up at him.

“You’re in a good mood this morning,” he commented, otherwise nonplussed by the greeting.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Ruby’s thoughts immediately returned to yesterday, which had been far and away better than expected.  Not only had Weiss gone along with Ruby’s idea, she embraced it.  Even though she was nervous and uncomfortable, she stepped outside of her shell and rose to the occasion.

Ruby had to admit that she found Weiss more attractive now than ever before.  How else could she feel after watching the gorgeous queen interact so gracefully and compassionately with the people of Atlas?

Weiss did everything with a level of unselfishness that Ruby could never hope to duplicate, from walking to talking to listening so intently to everything the people said.  With every interaction, she proved that she was nothing like her father - she was nothing like anyone Ruby had ever met.  And once she figured out how to manage the Council...she would be a force to be reckoned with.  A really kind, really generous, really pretty -

“My Queen.”

Blinking at the words, Ruby looked up and found James giving her the most curious expression.

“Sorry.  What’d you say?”

“What...are you thinking about?”

Ruby sighed at the question, knowing she couldn’t keep anything from him.  Not only was he too smart to fall for a lie, but she couldn’t keep this to herself anyway.

“I’m thinking about Weiss and how great she was yesterday.”

“I’ll admit she fared better than expected…”

“But…?”

“But she’s the Queen of Atlas,” he concluded.  “And Atlas is still at war with Vale, so caution is advisable.”

After blowing a breath through her lips, she shook her head and headed toward the stairs.

“Isn’t there something good about ‘keeping your enemies close?’” she teased as they walked.  She knew he would scoff at the response, and he did.

Even though she understood his caution, she didn’t feel the same.  Vale and Atlas may have hated each other for as long as Weiss’ father had been alive, but he was gone now - and Weiss couldn’t be more different from him.  Besides, Ruby genuinely enjoyed the Atlesian queen’s company, as strange as that was to admit.  They were supposed to be enemies, yet...she couldn’t wait to see Weiss again.

Fortunately, James didn’t comment on it any further.  He probably knew that Ruby didn’t have answers for him right now - she was figuring this out on the fly just like he was.

“Wonder what they’ll have today...” she mused as they entered the dining room.  If Vale’s dining room was large, Atlas’ was gigantic.  And, like everything else in the ‘nice’ part of the palace, it glittered with excess and opulence.  Threads of silver had been etched through nearly every surface, extravagant portraits of Atlas’ military might adorned the walls, and even more silver had been inlaid in the beautifully carved wooden table.

“Good morning, Queen Rose,” one of the servers greeted her as soon as she sat down.  “What would you and your companion like for breakfast?”

Ruby glanced at James, but he shrugged while sitting beside her - his usual agreement with whatever she wanted.

“Can we have whatever you already made?  We don’t want to create more work.”

The young man looked taken aback by the request, but he didn’t argue.  With one short nod, he disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve whatever today’s breakfast might be.

Ruby loved food, but she wasn’t picky.  She actually wanted to try more of Atlas’ traditional cuisine.  Visiting while rations were being enforced probably wasn’t the best time to judge a kingdom on its food, but she’d enjoyed everything so far.

“Find anything last night?” she asked James while waiting for their food.

“Not yet, but I’ve nearly mapped the patrols.”

“You heard what those people said, right?  That they want to clear out the chapel?”

“I did, My Queen.”

“If they want to clear it out, there must be something going on in there...”

Ruby had no idea what though.  Despite her and James’ best efforts, the building remained a mystery.  The first time she’d ever even heard anyone speak of it was yesterday.  Unfortunately, Weiss hadn’t pried into what the speaker meant by ‘clearing out’ the chapel, but Ruby was determined to figure out what was going on.  Between that, asking Weiss about the cure, and signing a treaty...they had a lot to do.

But first - breakfast.  Their server returned with two plates of unfamiliar-looking but fantastic-smelling food.  Some type of egg scramble, perhaps, but Ruby couldn’t identify many of the vegetables in it.

“This looks great!” she said, smiling at the server while he set a plate in front of her.  “Thank you so much.  And please give our gratitude to the cooks.”

Again, he looked baffled by the remark.  But eventually he nodded, flashed a quick smile, and hurried away.

“Tight-lipped around here, aren’t they?” she commented while grabbing her fork and trying her unnamed breakfast.  As soon as it hit her mouth, she hummed and looked at her plate with newfound appreciation.  “But they sure can cook.”

After taking another bite, which was just as good as the first, she nodded and dove in for more. “Maybe we should steal one of their chefs…” she mused between bites.  “Yang would love this.”

“Should I see if I can, My Queen?”

Looking at James, who wore his usual expression, Ruby arched one brow.

“You’ll kidnap an Atlesian chef?”

“If that’s what you’d like -”

Before James finished the sentence, Ruby started laughing.

“James, you better be joking,” she teased, prompting a hint of a smile as he continued his breakfast.  “You know we don’t kidnap people.  Not anymore, at least…”

When he finally smiled, she chuckled and took another bite to eat.  Without his company, Atlas would be unbearably cold, lonely, and hostile; she probably wouldn’t have lasted a day before wanting to go home.  Even with him here, she missed Yang.  She missed Yang so much that her heart hurt just thinking about her.

But Ruby tried not to let the emotion show.  As much as she wanted to demand that treaty and answers right now, she couldn’t risk raising suspicions.  No matter how helpless it made her feel, she had to remain patient.  Because if Atlas somehow found out that Yang was sick...that could jeopardize everything.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on what she could control here and now.

“What should we do today?” she asked after finishing her breakfast.  No sooner had she leaned away from the table did a server appear and clear away her plate.  “Oh, thank you,” she told the man, who gave her a curious look before hurrying away.  After watching him go, she turned to James.  “Am I scaring them or something?”

“You’re not what they expected, My Queen.”

“What did they expect?” she asked, mostly to herself.  “Horns?  Two heads?  Spitting fire?”  When James nearly smiled at the last one, she grinned and said, “Well, I’m not Yang.”

James’ smile lingered for a little longer this time as he finished his breakfast.  No sooner had he set his fork on the table did the server reappear to take the empty plate.

“You’re really fast,” Ruby commented, trying again to engage him in a conversation.  “Thank you for taking such good care of us while we’re here.”

Plate in hand, the server actually paused this time.

“It’s...my job.”

“And you do it well.”  When he didn’t immediately rush away, Ruby smiled and gestured around the room.  “From what we’ve seen, the entire staff is excellent at their jobs.  Your pride in your work really shows.”

“Thank you for noticing,” he said before giving Ruby a perfect bow.  “It’s an honor to serve you, Queen Rose.”

With that, he turned on one heel and hurried to the kitchen - this time with his head held higher and a hint of a smile on his lips. The small interaction lifted Ruby’s spirits and made her hope that one day the palace staff would stop walking on eggshells around her.  Their behavior spoke volumes about the Mad King, but they didn’t have to be invisible any longer.  In fact, they shouldn’t stay invisible any longer.  With Atlas in flux, they should speak up and remind those in power that their needs should be considered too.

Ruby would help them however she could.  Hopefully, they would eventually talk to her, and she could pass the information along to Weiss.

“My Queen.”

When James nodded to the doorway, Ruby turned and felt her heart thud against her ribcage.  Weiss had just entered the dining room and was now walking over to them, her gorgeous blue eyes locked onto Ruby while a small, adorable smile lifted her lips.

It was still early morning, but Weiss looked like she’d been awake for hours.  Her long, white hair looked perfect.  Her blue, white, and silver outfit looked perfect.  And that smile.  That smile made Ruby lean forward while a breeze rustled the placemats on the table.

Finally, Weiss stopped in front of Ruby, lightly clasped her hands, and let that captivating smile grow.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Ruby replied with a giant smile of her own.

“I hope you slept well?”

“I did!”  As soon as Ruby answered, she noticed the dark circles under Weiss’ eyes.  “But...did you?”

Weiss didn’t even try to gloss over her exhaustion or offer a ‘fine’ in return.  Instead, she rubbed her eyes before regaining that smile.

“My mind was running too fast for sleep.  I worked late instead.”

“You should’ve told me!  I would’ve helped -”

“It’s fine.”  Weiss shook her head but still smiled, appearing tired yet rejuvenated.  “I didn’t want you to lose sleep.  Plus, you’ve already helped so much.”  After dwelling on that comment, Weiss flashed an even more brilliant smile.  “But I was hoping you’d accompany me outside the gates again today.  I'd like to see if we can gather more suggestions directly from the people.”

The request hit Ruby right in the fluttering feelings she’d had since yesterday.  Part of her couldn’t believe it, but a growing part of her knew it was silly to discount the young woman standing in front of her.  Weiss might be inexperienced and unprepared, but she was kind, intelligent, and driven.  Of course she wanted more information - and no way was Ruby missing out on another day like yesterday.

“I’d love to!”  After grinning at James, Ruby chuckled and shook her head.  “I mean, we don’t have anything else to do while waiting for the treaty.”

“The Council’s still working on it,” Weiss quickly replied, but her expression clouded with uncertainty.  “I was just there - they’re arguing over wording.”

“Can’t the two of us just like...write a few sentences and sign it?”

At first, Weiss looked like she didn’t know whether or not the suggestion was a joke.  When Ruby offered a hopeful smile, however, she laughed.

Ruby had never heard Weiss laugh before, but it was one of the most joyful sounds she’d ever heard - joyful enough to make her heart jump and the placemat rustle so much that she clamped her hand down on it to keep it from flying away.  While the laughter soon faded, a smile remained to remind Ruby that it actually happened.

“If it takes much longer, I suggest we do that.  Although, I have no idea if it would even be legal...”  The last sentence gave away Weiss’ lack of experience, but she shook her head and quickly found another smile.  “As for today, we can leave whenever you’re ready.”

“Oh, ready now!”  When Weiss raised one brow at Ruby’s outfit, Ruby chuckled and ran her hands over her arms.  “I mean, we will be once we get our coats.”

Satisfied with that response, Weiss nodded and backed toward the doorway.

“I’d like to get ready too, but I’ll meet you by the gates in ten minutes.”

“Ok.”

After Ruby nodded, Weiss smiled at her for another few seconds before taking another step away. “Ok,” Weiss repeated before finally turning around and hurrying out of the room.

Heart racing now, Ruby could do nothing but watch Weiss go.  As soon as the Atlesian queen disappeared, however, she jumped to her feet and said, “Let’s get ready!”

The placemats blew right off the table, forcing her to retrieve them before motioning James out of his seat.  They’d left their coats in one of the many coat closets hidden amongst the grand foyer so that they could be quickly retrieved in cases such as this.

“What do you think now?” Ruby asked while accepting her coat from James and slipping her arms through the sleeves.

“I’ll withhold my judgment until presented with more information.”

“Is that your way of saying you’re warming up to her?”

While Ruby grinned up at him, he pursed his lips and considered the question.

“That’s my way of saying...I’m still unsure.”

Unsure was better than sure, at least when it came to James’ opinion.  So, after buttoning up the jacket and pulling on a pair of gloves, Ruby tapped his arm and waved him after her.  The Knights obediently yet begrudgingly opened the palace doors, letting in a blast of chill that took her breath away.  Not to be dissuaded, she hugged the jacket closer, called on her spark to provide a buffer of air, and hurried outside.

Atlas’ bone-chilling cold didn’t damper her excitement as she headed to the edge of the palace’s massive estate.  It was snowing again - thick, fluffy snowflakes unlike anything she’d seen in Vale.  The palace looked almost bewitching as the white flurries came down, somehow softening the appearance of the towering spires and statues.

It was beautiful, but Ruby wished for something to cover her nose...or her entire face.  She quickly accepted that her face was just bound to be a little cold.  She couldn't create warm air from nothing, after all - she was kind of stuck with what the environment offered her, but it was a small price to pay to see Weiss again.

Weiss wasn’t at the gates yet, so Ruby and James waited just inside.  Running her hands up and down her arms, Ruby watched messengers, palace workers, and Knights pass to and fro.  Everyone went about their business quietly and determinately, undisturbed by the snow and hardly stopping to chat with anyone.

In Vale, people talked to each other all the time - nearly too much, actually.  Strangers were just friends that hadn’t been made yet, and couldn’t be made without devoting time to learning who they were.  Even though Ruby preferred that open, jovial mentality, the Atlesians’ business-like demeanor wasn’t altogether bad.  It was different, but different didn’t mean wrong.

Ruby believed that statement more than ever when she caught sight of Weiss striding over to them.  The Queen of Atlas was different in many ways, including the way she made Ruby’s heart somersault and her spark flit from her grasp.

“I’m sorry it took so long.  I was looking for something more appropriate to wear.”  Weiss self-consciously smoothed the front of her white jacket, oblivious to Ruby’s staring.  “These are the least fancy clothes I own, I’m afraid.”

At a loss for words, Ruby could only stare at the dazzling young woman in front of her.  What a transformation.  Just a change of clothes, and suddenly Weiss looked...

A small nudge of Ruby’s shoulder jostled her back to the moment.

“You’re staring, My Queen,” James whispered out of the corner of his mouth.  Knowing he was right, Ruby threw on a huge smile.

“You look amazing,” she blurted out, only to blush when Weiss’ cheeks reddened.

“I’m glad you think so…” Weiss muttered toward her feet before gesturing to the gates.  “Shall we?”

“Absolutely.”

Still shocked by Weiss’ appearance, Ruby couldn’t erase her smile.  She couldn’t put her finger on what it was, but Weiss had a different aura to her today.  Beyond the smile and more-casual outfit, she looked almost...self-assured.

“I thought we could go back to The Market,” she said while leading Ruby and James away from the palace.  “I wanted to speak to some of the other vendors and see if they’re willing to talk.  How does that sound?”

Not only was Weiss speaking more assuredly, she was walking more confidently, too.  Her relaxed posture suggested that she felt multiple times more comfortable than yesterday.  Almost as if she belonged here on the streets of Atlas, away from the demands of the palace.

Because she did belong here.  This was her kingdom.  These were her streets, her buildings, her people.

“Ruby?”

When Weiss turned toward her and James nudged her elbow, Ruby snapped out of her thoughts and nodded.

“Sounds great!  Whatever you want to do, I’m here to help.”

Weiss’ brow creased at Ruby’s momentary distraction, but Atlas’ main marketplace drew her attention moments later.  The wide, open square was even busier than the night before and, again, Ruby marveled at how orderly it was.  In Vale, getting this many people together usually involved shouting matches and a tussle or two.  In Atlas, however, everyone spoke in soft voices and stayed out of each other’s way, looking very much like they wanted to get home as soon as possible.

Weiss’ presence garnered immediate notice, but today her appearance didn’t coincide with fear or apprehension.  The crowd grew excited and curious instead, as their voices rose ever so slightly.

“How about them?”  Undeterred by the attention, Weiss nodded to a nearby stall before turning to Ruby for approval.  “They look like they work with some kind of construction.  They’ll have different concerns than the other merchants we spoke to, right?”

“Right.”

Much to Ruby’s surprise, that was all the encouragement Weiss needed to walk over on her own.  Ruby trailed further behind, staying out of the way so that Weiss could do this on her own.

But what a transformation, indeed.

“You’re staring again, My Queen.”

After shaking herself out of that daze, Ruby smiled up at James.

“I think she’s getting the hang of it,” she said while watching the interaction.  Weiss spoke for only a few minutes before several more people joined the conversation, each looking excited at the opportunity to talk to their fair queen.

“That could be.  Or she’s a marvelous actress.”

“Don’t be such a grump, James,” Ruby teased, lightly elbowing his side before nodding at the scene in front of them.  “Look at her.”

While listening to the man currently speaking, Weiss wore a thoughtful, attentive expression and nodded along with his words.  Ruby had seen the expression a thousand times from a hundred different advisors, but she’d never seen someone so intent and sincerely sympathetic about the words being said.

“She’s willing to listen,” Ruby said, a smile growing along with the incessant fluttering in her chest.  “She cares about them.”

When James huffed, Ruby’s smile widened.  He never liked being wrong.  And, with every passing moment, Ruby grew more confident that he was wrong about Weiss.

“Now, we just have to see what she does with what she hears,” Ruby added, throwing in a quick wave when Weiss glanced their way.  Weiss smiled at the gesture before returning her full attention to the person speaking to her.

“She doesn’t enjoy the support you do - with the people or her own government.”

“But this is helping one of those things, isn’t it?”

After motioning to the growing crowd wishing to speak to or hear from Weiss, Ruby looked up at James.  His brow furrowed - ever the doubter - but she smiled and moved closer to hear the conversation.

Maybe she was naïve, but she didn’t see Weiss the way James did.  The longer she stood there, watching Weiss take suggestions and feedback from willing strangers, the more she saw a girl unexpectedly thrown into a position of authority who was figuring out her leadership style on the fly.  Someone sweet, kind, and gentle at heart, who cared about every person she met.

Weiss’ greatest shortcoming was not knowing what was expected of her or what power her position entailed.  Once she figured that out and found the courage to stand on her own…she would be a wonderful queen.

“Ruby.”

As soon as Ruby was close enough, Weiss reached out and took her hand to draw her nearer.  Ruby’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest at the casual contact, sending a quick breeze rustling through the crowd, but the moment ended too soon.  Weiss quickly dropped her hand and gestured to an elderly woman in front of them.

“She has a question for you,” Weiss explained before nodding for the woman to speak.  Shaking off the surprise, Ruby gave the woman her attention.

“Is it true that you’re Queen Rose?  From Vale?”

When Ruby gaped at the direct question, Weiss smiled and nodded.

“Yes,” Ruby replied with a small bow of her head.  “That’s true.”

Shocked whispers swept through the crowd, and for good reason.  If no official announcement had been made, they must have thought Ruby was some type of advisor or a nameless outsider allowed in Atlas for unspoken reasons.

“But...the war...”

When Ruby looked at Weiss, Weiss nodded again.  She wanted Ruby to tell them.

And Ruby would.  But she would make sure that these people understood who Weiss was and the role she’d played in bringing Ruby here.

Crouching down to meet the woman’s gaze, Ruby smiled.

“Did you know that your queen traveled to Vale?” she began, watching surprise flit through soft blue eyes while whispers traveled around them.  “She sought out my sister and me, and she convinced us to end the war.  She graciously allowed me to come to Atlas so that we can sign a treaty as soon as it’s ready.”

“Then...it’ll be over soon?” someone asked, so Ruby stood tall and looked at the group of Atlesians.  Unlike the quiet fear she’d typically seen in them, they now let hope shine through their blue eyes.

“Once the document’s ready, I’ll sign it and the war will end.”

Spontaneous conversations voiced their excitement.  But, most importantly, they now looked at Weiss with newfound respect and adoration.

“Thank you,” the woman told Ruby, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“You shouldn’t be thanking me.”

After nodding meaningfully to Weiss, Ruby smiled as the woman clasped Weiss’ hands in hers.

“Bless you, Your Highness!  Bless you!”

Weiss looked taken aback by the outpouring of gratitude, but she quickly found a humble smile.

“You have nothing to thank me for.”

Weiss meant that as honestly and sincerely as anyone could, but the crowd didn’t believe her.  Before Ruby’s eyes, their view of their new monarch changed - from curious and hopeful to grateful and hopeful.  These people had spent decades under the Mad King’s rule and expected more of the same from his daughter.  Instead, Weiss only needed a few hours to prove that she couldn’t be more different.

“I should probably head back to the palace…” Weiss added, though she looked genuinely regretful about leaving.  “You’ve given me so much to think about, I want to start working on it right away.”

“Will you come back?” someone asked, drawing Weiss’ gaze their way.  “Will you come here again?”

“I can do that, yes.”  Weiss nodded then paused as another idea formed in her mind.  “If you’ll spread the word, I’ll come back next week at this time.  We can discuss more then.”

Grateful, hopeful, and excited - that was the only way to describe the chatters amongst the Atlesians, who suddenly had reason to speak to each other again.  Some split away from the crowd to take Weiss’ words to any who would listen, and Ruby had no doubt that next week the square would be packed to the brim.

For her part, Weiss looked miffed that this went so well - as if she’d expected it to be a giant failure and was pleasantly surprised that it hadn’t been.  Still, she graciously accepted the “Thank you”s, bows, and curtsies directed her way.  Several others wanted to shake her hand, which she kindly accepted as well. Once the crowd disbanded, a far-livelier atmosphere filled the marketplace.  Weiss, meanwhile, met Ruby’s gaze and looked at a loss for what to say.  Ruby didn’t know what to say either, so she smiled and said the first thing that came to mind.

“That was incredible.”

Ruby wholeheartedly meant the praise, but Weiss blushed and lowered her gaze rather than accept it.  The bashful response made Ruby want to compliment Weiss even more, but she held her tongue so as not to go overboard.

“You’re ready to go back now?” she asked instead.

“If that’s alright with you?  I have so much to write down.”

“Of course.  Lead the way.”

Ruby bowed and held an arm in the palace’s direction, then smiled when Weiss headed that way.  Ruby then grinned at James before walking by Weiss’ side.

“You didn’t have to do that, by the way...”

“Do what?”  When Weiss motioned behind them, Ruby looked over her shoulder before realizing what Weiss was referring to.  “You mean tell them the truth?”

“Give me all the credit.”

“You deserve the credit.  You’re the one who decided to come to Vale.  You’re the one who sent us a message.  You’re the one who took the first step to end the war.  I can’t even imagine how much courage that took.”

“And I would’ve gotten nowhere without you,” Weiss argued, her cheeks rosy from Ruby’s words or the cold.  “Your sister wasn’t willing to reason with me -”

“She did that on purpose.”

Ruby dismissed the argument with a wave and light laugh, but Weiss grabbed her hand to get her attention.

“She may have exaggerated it, but don’t underestimate your impact.” When Ruby looked down at their joined hands, feeling Weiss’ soft, smooth skin against her own, Weiss instantly let go. “You have far more influence than you know,” Weiss added, her cheeks red but her blue eyes clear and honest.

Before Ruby could ask what Weiss meant, a young boy raced onto the street and waved at them.

“Queen Schnee!” he called out before running over.  After giving Ruby a curious look, Weiss turned and knelt as he approached.

“Yes?”

“This is for you!”

Out of breath, he still beamed while holding up a beautiful red rose.  For a moment, Weiss looked shocked by the gift, but she accepted it with a smile.

“It’s super pretty like you,” he added.  “I hope you like it.”

Before Ruby could ‘awe’ at the adorable sight, James gently nudged her shoulder.

“My Queen…we’re being watched again.”

When Ruby looked up at him, he nodded.  Then she looked at Weiss and felt her heart swell with pride.

“Let them watch,” she whispered so only he could hear.  “They’re seeing the dawn of a queen.”

Whoever was out there, tasked with gathering information on where Ruby went and what she was doing, must be learning something unexpected.  That queen of theirs - the one they hoped to relegate to obscurity - was making a name for herself.  The people of Atlas already liked her, and they would grow to love her.

Ruby hoped whichever of those white-robed bastards was behind this was scared.  They should be scared, because the love Weiss would enjoy with Atlas would be impossible for any politician to destroy.

When the little boy giggled at whatever Weiss told him, however, worry pricked at the corner of Ruby’s mind.  Weiss was winning over the populace.  She was becoming their queen, but she didn’t yet have the power of a queen.  What if someone tried to get rid of her rather than risk her becoming an issue?

Before Ruby pursued that thought any further, the little boy raced away and Weiss stood up.  Holding the flower in one hand, she turned around and looked at Ruby in a way she never had before.  Her blue eyes sparkled while the snow fell around them, landing in her gorgeous white hair and dotting her beautiful eyelashes.  Ruby couldn’t name the emotion in Weiss’ eyes - gratitude, maybe?  Appreciation?  Whatever it was, it made Ruby want to stand there and absorb the feeling for forever.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be.  Before too long, Weiss blinked and turned away.

“Shall we?”

When Weiss gestured to the palace, which was hardly visible through the thick flurries, Ruby reluctantly nodded and fell into step by Weiss’ side.  She couldn’t get that moment out of her head though, even as she and Weiss climbed the slippery cobblestones together.  She had so many questions, both for herself and Weiss, but all of them felt too…confusing.

“The Council didn’t want me to tell anyone,” Weiss admitted after several comfortable seconds of silence, reminding Ruby that Weiss’ mind was on a different subject entirely.  “I understand not spreading false hope, but...this isn’t false hope.  This is real.  Why wouldn’t we give that to them?”

“Your Council makes some strange decisions,” was the nicest thing Ruby could think to say.  Humming at the response, Weiss drifted back into thought while absentmindedly spinning the rose between her fingers.

“I’m a little jealous.”  Once Ruby had Weiss’ curious gaze, she pointed at the flower.  “He’s not even ten and already flirting with the Queen of Atlas.”

Finally catching on, Weiss laughed.  Her eyes brightened as the cheerful sound filled the air, sending Ruby’s heart tumbling through her chest and flowing out as a stuttering breeze in the process.

“His parents will have to watch out for him.”

“I’ll have to watch out for him...” Ruby muttered - mostly playfully, but with a little more seriousness than she’d expected.  Weiss must have overheard, but she only glanced at Ruby while gently twirling the flower between her fingertips.

Ruby wasn’t jealous.  At least, she didn’t think she was jealous.  He was just a cute kid doing cute kid things, but his cute kid things reminded her that Weiss was a young, beautiful woman who would have plenty of young, attractive suitors.

“Thank you.”

Surprised, Ruby turned and earned a sincere smile that made her spark flutter so hard that she nearly blew over a railing.

“Thank you,” Weiss repeated, fortunately oblivious to the random puff of snow behind her.  “I know you have your reasons for being here, but I’m grateful for your help and...”

“‘And?’” Ruby prodded after Weiss trailed off.

“And your company,” Weiss admitted before turning her gaze forward, leaving Ruby smiling like a fool.

As cold as it was, Ruby’s heart suddenly felt incredibly warm.  Being near Weiss seemed to have that effect on her, much to her growing delight.  She might be far from home in an imposing, hostile land, but...she couldn’t help wanting to bundle Weiss up in her arms and twirl around in the snow.

But Weiss wasn’t like Yang, who thrived on physical affection, so Ruby stuck her hands deeper in her pockets as they passed through the palace gates.  The snow came down faster now, quickly accumulating everywhere she looked, but it was the biting wind that made her sigh in relief once they made it inside.

“Home sweet temporary home,” she said while hugging her jacket closer.  Watching Weiss had distracted her from the cold but, now that they were inside, she realized just how much she needed to thaw.  Weiss, however, had already removed her coat and handed it to the overzealous butler.

“I’m going to write down some thoughts,” she said while motioning toward her office.  “I know you probably have other things to do, but...”

“I’ll be there.”

Weiss’ smile made the answer even more worth it.  Before rushing off to work, however, Ruby glanced at James and chuckled.

“Can I meet you in a few minutes?  I need to defrost first.”

When sympathy filled Weiss’ eyes, Ruby felt guilty for mentioning the cold.  Fortunately, Weiss didn’t hold onto the remorse too tightly.  She looked like she wanted to help but, realizing the best help was letting Ruby stand in front of the roaring fireplace for as long as possible, nodded and backed away.

“Of course.  Please take your time.”

Another small smile later and Weiss finally walked away, leaving Ruby standing there to sort through the emotions piling up in her chest.  She hadn’t come to Atlas expecting to develop such a strong attachment to Weiss, but…

“Should I assume that you’re fine with staring?” James quietly asked, drawing Ruby away from those thoughts.  Glancing in the direction Weiss went, Ruby sighed and headed to the closet to put away her jacket.

“I like her, James.”

“It’s obvious, My Queen.”  After opening the closet door, James took her jacket and hung it on one of the empty hangers.  “But what will you do about it?”

His searching gaze suggested that he didn’t know what Ruby would do next, and that worried him.  But Ruby also didn’t know what she would do next because she’d never felt this way before.  And for the Queen of Atlas?  That wasn’t exactly starting small…

“Probably nothing, but I’ll help her as much as I can while we’re here.”  The admission was oddly disappointing, but Ruby shrugged it off and nodded to James, who still wore his jacket.  “What’re you going to do?”

“I thought I’d do a little more exploring while you’re busy.”

Quickly catching on, Ruby nodded.

“I’ll see you later then.  Let me know if you learn anything.”

“Of course, My Queen.”

While James headed to the palace doors, prepared to brave the frigid weather once more, Ruby wasted no time hurrying to the office.  If he could solve Atlas’ greatest mystery, she would figure out what Weiss learned from the marketplace and what would be done with those suggestions.  Based on recent observations, Weiss would probably come up with a solution so compassionate that Ruby would only like her more.  Even if she didn’t know how to put those solutions into action yet...the thought was there, and that was what mattered.

In a rush to hear Weiss’ thoughts sooner rather than later, Ruby practically flew to the office.  She didn’t dare use her spark in the palace lest she startle some spark-happy guard, but she came pretty close.

As soon as she sped around a corner and caught a glimpse of white robes, however, she instinctively ducked into the nearest doorway.  She then scolded herself for hiding since she had nothing to fear from the frustrating members of the Council.  She nearly stepped out of her tiny alcove too, but their whispers caught her attention first.

Normally, she would never eavesdrop in someone else’s home.  But when the Council seemed to be going out of their way to undermine Weiss’ authority...she had to see if she could figure out what was going on.  So, rather than reveal her presence, she held her breath and strained to hear the conversation taking place down the hall.

“You said you could control her,” a woman quietly voiced to her companion.

“Patience, Councilor.”

“We don’t have time for patience.  She’s pressing for the treaty -”

“Don’t worry about her,” the second speaker hissed, his low voice tinged in agitation.  “She will bend to the Council.  She doesn’t have the support - she needs us far more than we need her.”

“And if you’re wrong?”

Several seconds of silence passed, and Ruby leaned forward waiting for the answer.

“I’m not wrong,” the second speaker finally replied.  “Don’t forget - the Half-Queen is our most valuable asset.”

Ruby clenched her jaw at that response, which was exactly what she’d feared and suspected - they were preying on Weiss’ inexperience and insecurity to wrest power from her hands.  They would relegate Weiss to insignificance before she even learned her role.

Furious at their gall, Ruby had half a mind to step out of her hiding place and figure out exactly who was speaking.  But she didn’t know what they would do if they caught her snooping.  More importantly, she didn’t know what they would do to Weiss.  So she stayed calm, stayed put, and hoped they left soon.

“Fine,” the first speaker eventually acquiesced.  “We’ll do this your way.  But if word of this ever gets out…”

“It won’t.”

“I hope you’re right, Councilor…”

Even after the conversation ended and footsteps faded down the hall, Ruby remained in hiding.  Only when certain the coast was clear did she poke her head out and, after finding a deserted corridor, hurry to the office. Her blood boiled, but she couldn’t make a scene over what she just overheard.

But what kind of unconscionably evil bastard met Weiss, one of the sweetest people alive, and decided to manipulate rather than help her?

Shaking her head, Ruby walked up to the office door and took a deep breath before knocking.

“Come in.”

Exhaling as much frustration as possible, she entered the office and found Weiss hard at work.

“Ruby.”  Weiss looked up just long enough to spare a smile before waving to the seat across from her.  “Please sit.”

While Ruby sat in her usual chair, Weiss made several hasty notes on the page in front of her.

“I’ve made a list of the requested changes.”  Unprompted, Weiss set her pen down and offered the page to Ruby.  “I’m trying to match them with the Council’s proposals to see if any are fit to move forward.  Some need quite a bit of revision, but I’ll take those to the Council and request second drafts.”

In a matter of seconds, Weiss proved that the Councilors were imbeciles.

...or maybe they weren’t as stupid as they seemed.  Maybe they knew that Weiss was smart, motivated, and a fast learner.  Maybe they realized that if they didn’t act now, Weiss would figure everything out on her own.

Even now, while Ruby looked over the list, Weiss started writing something else.  It looked like her mind was moving faster than her hands, but she still tried to put everything down on paper. Smiling at Weiss’ resolve, Ruby looked at the list and noticed, right in the middle, another reference to the chapel.

“The chapel…” she mused before gauging Weiss’ reaction.  “Do you know what’s inside?”

“No.”  Weiss’ brow furrowed as she shook her head.  “I haven’t been inside since I was young.  It wasn’t anything special - pews, paintings, and the like.”

That didn’t sound worthy of the soldier presence...

“I think they’re storing supplies in there now,” Weiss added before returning her attention to the paper in front of her.  At the moment, she had too much on her mind to focus on any single item - Ruby understood the feeling but still frowned while setting the list on the desk.

Supplies was the only plausible explanation she had come up with so far, but it didn’t make complete sense.  Of course, not a lot made sense about Atlas so far, least of all the pleasant enigma sitting across from her.

After watching Weiss work for several more minutes - her brow adorably furrowed as she did so - Ruby leaned forward and cleared her throat.

“Hey, Weiss?”

Weiss immediately paused and looked up.

“Yes?”

“I have a question.”

The words hardly left Ruby’s lips before she wanted them back, but Weiss had already set down her pen and motioned for Ruby to speak.  Ruby didn’t want to overstep, but she always wanted to know more about the obstacles Weiss was up against.

“I’ve heard people talking…” Ruby began softly.  “And sometimes...they call you a ‘Half-Queen.’”

The moment Weiss’ gaze fell to the desk, Ruby lost the will to continue.  The name sounded like an insult.  Based on Weiss’ reaction, it was.

“Nevermind,” Ruby added, flashing a quick smile.  “You don’t have to answer.  I was just curious.”

Fully prepared to never mention it again, Ruby picked up the list and pretended to read it a second time.  Weiss, however, sat back and sighed.

“They call me that because I don’t have a spark.”

“You don’t??”  Ruby tried to keep the surprise out of her tone, but...she was surprised.  “Or you mean, like, just not a powerful one?”

“Not one I could use...thus, Half-Queen.”

“That’s…”

Ruby trailed off while digesting the information.  Some people were born without sparks or with such small powers that they weren’t worth mentioning, but for someone of a royal lineage to have nothing?  The only thing that made the royal families royal was the strength of their element.

“Unheard of?”

“Uh…”  Taking one look at Weiss’ downcast expression, Ruby understood that this was a sensitive subject.  “I’ve never heard of it,” she admitted.  “But I’m sure it’s more common than we think.”

“I suppose…”

Weiss’ thoughtful expression bordered on discomfort and sadness, which only made Ruby feel guilty.  She hadn’t meant to dredge up painful topics.  So, without a second thought, she reached across the desk and gently set her hand over Weiss’.

“It doesn’t matter.”  Weiss stared at their hands before looking up at Ruby, but Ruby didn’t let go - she squeezed Weiss’ hand instead.  “Our sparks don’t make us good people, or good leaders, or good anything.  You’re smart, kind, generous, and incredible.  That’s who you are, whether or not you can create ice sculptures out of thin air.”

Spotting the soft, red hue on Weiss’ cheeks, Ruby blushed but still didn’t let go.

“You...don’t care that I don’t have a spark?” Weiss eventually asked.

“Of course not.”

“Shouldn’t you think I’m weak?  Helpless?  ...unworthy?”

When Ruby looked at Weiss, she didn’t think any of those things.  She saw someone strong, driven, and courageous, with a heart of gold.  Someone who’d been dealt a bad hand but was trying to make the best of it.

“When I look at you…I see a queen.  You don’t need a spark to make me feel that way.”

At first, Weiss didn’t look like she believed the response.  Then her eyes brightened, a small smile crept onto her lips, and she gently squeezed Ruby’s hand before pulling away. The piece of paper in Ruby’s hand fluttered at the tiny moment of closeness, and she could only stare as Weiss resumed writing.  Weiss’ pace was much slower than before though, as if she had other thoughts on her mind.

Ruby felt the same.  And, the longer Weiss’ hand slowly dragged across the page, the more she realized that this might be the moment she’d been waiting for.  They’d had several good days together, and Weiss appeared genuinely grateful for Ruby’s help.  Hopefully, that gratitude meant she would humor this request.

“I have another question if that’s alright,” Ruby said, drawing Weiss’ gaze back to her.

“Of course, Ruby.  You can ask anything.”

Ruby attempted a smile but felt it immediately disappear.  Just thinking about this topic made her heart hurt so much that she didn’t even want to ask.  After waiting so long for this moment, she was terrified of the answer.  But she had to ask.  She had to.

“There’s a rumor...that Atlas found a cure to the Phage.  Is that...is it true?”

Thinking about Yang, Ruby felt her heart clench and tears threaten to grow.  Weiss, meanwhile, opened her mouth but said nothing for a long time.  Eventually, she gently shook her head.

“Ruby...I don’t know of any cure.”

The response felt like a knife plunged through Ruby’s heart.  Letting out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, she dropped her gaze to her lap while her eyes instantly swam with tears.

“But I don’t know a lot of things,” Weiss quickly added.  “I can ask around and see if someone knows more than I do.”

“Thank you,” Ruby whispered to her hands before curling her fingers together and looking up.  Caught in Weiss’ concerned gaze, she took a deep breath and forced a wavering smile.  “I’d really appreciate that.”

When Weiss opened her mouth, likely to ask a follow-up question, Ruby looked down at her hands and tried to disguise a sniffle.  The question never appeared.  Weiss picked up her pen instead, but she didn’t start writing again for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Ruby stared at her hands and tried not to cry.  She wanted to cry - she really, really wanted to cry - but she couldn’t let her growing heartbreak show.  She couldn’t give up hope yet.  Not after coming all this way.

There had to be a cure.  There had to be.  Because if there wasn’t...then there was no way to save Yang.  And if there was no way to save Yang…

“Can I help with anything?” she asked, determined to avoid that thought.  When she finally looked up, Weiss studied her before sliding a paper across the desk.

“Maybe you can help me come up with a comprehensive package of proposals?”  Weiss looked at Ruby more intensely than ever before, but she didn’t ask the questions flitting through her eyes.  “I’d like to present one large proposal to the Council if I can,” she said, offering Ruby the desperately needed escape.

“Absolutely.”

Grateful to focus on anything but her growing heartbreak, Ruby grabbed the paper and shoved the Phage as far from her mind as possible. Weiss said that she would ask.  James was searching.  That was all they could do right now.

Ruby just hoped that Yang could hold on a little longer…