A/N
Eyy i live, just trying something new. WAGMF is still in the works. Just a little writers block
Crocea Mors scraped against the whetstone, the sound of metal on stone echoed across the stone walls and floor. The fire in the center of the room the only source of heat what felt like a coffin to Jaune. The Crown of Thorns on the table in front him, still resembling the tiara his wife once wore. What was once a beautiful tiara decorated by beautiful gems, and pristine bronze had changed drastically. A simple band with bronze accents, jagged and nicked by battle. Banging on the doors interrupted my thoughts. Sighing I sat my blade down, and made my way to the door. "She never gives up huh?" I said aloud to no one in particular. Opening the door I saw no one other than Ruby Rose. Thankfully, the war was over, and she didn't have to see what some of us had became over there. She was pure, where people like me were not.
"Lo and behold, The famous Templar shows his face to the world" Ruby praised with faux bow and giggle "I've been sending you letters since I heard you came back! Why haven't you responded huh?" she then peaked inside to see the bare minimum of what I now called home. A table, a fireplace, and a few furs on the floor. "Living a simple life there huh Vomit Boy? she said with a smile
Rolling my eyes I said sarcastically "Nah, got a lot of gambling debts. They came to collect last night." giving her a sarcasm dripping from his tongue, then I said with a little more enthusiasm " I didn't realize you were coming by so soon Ruby, I would've added a few extra things if I was going to have company. You should've sent a letter or something" I finished with a hearty chuckle
Ruby's face went red, but went back to her normal shade rather quickly "Well if you checked, you would've noticed that I sent quite a few actually!" she then turned to storm off but I quickly caught her arm
"Ruby I'm just teasing you. I saw your letters, sorry I haven't time to write back." I said quickly. After hearing my words she attempted to shove me, but ultimately failed in doing so. With a grumble she led me away from my little shack I called home. "Hold on just let me grab my things alright?" As I headed back inside, I donned my crown, then strapped my shield to my back, and quickly sheathed my sword by my side. Quickly rolling my makeshift bed, i tucked it into a bag and we headed off.
Before I Could strap the pack to my back, Ruby took it and said "Relax Jaune, I don't mind carrying this as long as you don't make me carry that massive thing" She said point at my shield, then she added "You know, you don't have to take all this with you, we're only going to Vale. It'll be safe."
"I'd rather be safe, than sorry Ruby. Plus i feel naked without all of this" I finished while adjusting my helm. As I did, Ruby turned to see it and got a somber look. If only for a split second, then back to her normal mood.
"Yang went ahead, she said that the big strong hero would be more than enough to protect me. Can you believe her! I'm 20 years old! I'm not a kid anymore!" Ruby said, clear frustration in her voice. "I can take care of myself dang it" she finished with a huff.
Laughing at her predicament, I decided to keep my mouth shut. Though as we walked through the crowds towards the stables, I noticed heads started to turn to us. Seeing me, they showed clear disgust. After all, there was only one man who wore a crown such as mine. The Black Templar. a necessary evil we needed to defeat the Viking hordes that threatened to bring our walls crumbling down. After a moment I had noticed that Ruby was rambling about Yang and the strange things she had done since she had gotten back from the war catching the tail end of what she was saying I only heard "She sleeps with her dagger by her bedside still, and when i went to wake her up about a week ago she put me in a headlock! A headlock!" she exclaimed
"Ruby you gotta give her time, I know its difficult to understand sometimes but things got bad over there. A whole bunch of things happened that most of us would like to forget" I said fiddling with my crown again.
With a small smile Ruby said "Yeah I know, its just strange sometimes. Sometimes its like she never left and she is still the same person, other times shes a completely different person. Once I found her outside you know? she had dug a whole in the ground and had slept in it? I was so confused."
As we came upon the stables, I called the stable master to fetch both of our horses. Then as we headed out, Ruby asked "Hey Jaune, what was it like over there? Yang won't tell me anything. She won't even tell me where she went. Please please pleaseeeeee!"
With a sigh I said "Ruby the things that happened over there weren't war stories that I'd like to share. I'll be honest with you. When battle was upon us, our warriors stuck to a code of honor. Thats why we were losing. Then, the Black Templars entered the melee. There was never wounded enemies to send to thier homes. My brigade was designed to put fear into the enemies. Seeing their comrads throats slit, and their heads severed right before them in the midst of combat. We were knights without a code, and that made it easier to decend upon them like a shadow. Ruthless, and controlled the battlefield with a cold iron fist. That was my job."
"Jaune, that was then. Not now. We're at a time of peace now, the enemies defeated. If you dont mind me asking, what are you gonna do now?" Ruby asked
"Im not gonna join the peace corps that's for damn sure" I said with a smile and a hearty laugh.
Ruby just rolled her eyes and smiled at me. Finally she said "Well its good to have you back Jaune, even though you were gone. .it feels like you didn't change one bit"
That made me wonder. Was this darkness always within me then? Or was it just something ingrained upon me through the war?
As we saddled up, I tied my shield to one of the flanks of my horse, but kept my blade beside me. The nicks, grabbing at the cloth and leather. With a simple adjustment, I set the blade in a more comfortable angle. Finally after Ruby mounted I asked "To Vale then little one?"
With a playful shove, and a smile "To Vale then, maybe we'll find you a replacement for that antique? That blade deserves sone rest don't you think?" And with that, we rode out to Vale. My previous battles on the forefront of my mind.
