Of Summer's Heath
Disclaimer: RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. This is only a fanfiction made for recreational purpose, without intending to insult and/or degrade any parties.
Prologue: Upon the Door of Snowflake Lion
"Milady, the scout party has returned."
The soldier stood unmoving, though the internal shiver that shook his confidence was unyielding. It was only his very first day as a guard, and yet he already had to face Lady Sentinel of Atlesian Steppe. Who wouldn't be nervous? He faced one of very handful woman who achieved great position in military and feudal hierarchy with nothing but refined art of war. The woman who showed nothing but iron-like discipline and battle-tempered cold heart. A single show of disrespect or uncouth act before her presence, his career—or his head—might as well be cut short.
The lady with ashen snow hair had herself clad in aristocratic military ensemble of blue and white. Blue lion's head, silver snowflake stamped on diagonally bisected field of silver and royal blue; the blazon of House Schnee. As the daughter of the proud noble lineage, she had it stamped on a badge she worn over the white sash, slung diagonally on her left shoulder.
"Very well, send them to the courtyard. I'd like to hear their direct report by myself firsthand, " she nodded. "Is there any additional details you'd like to report?"
"A Kipchak envoy was with them, milady. He said he brought a message for your eyes only."
Dainty eyebrows arched in unbridled amusement. An envoy was something really rare that came from fierce nomads of Kipchak tribes. Was it bad omen or just plain message the envoy brought before her door; she couldn't tell.
She dismissed the soldier and he excused himself—too flustered for her liking, she might add. She made her way along the slate gray hallways to the courtyard. Her blonde seneschal had been there, attending the newly arrived scout party.
"My lady," the seneschal nodded politely while the scout party members hailed her with salutation. "This Kipchak emissary wishes to pass a message for you."
As in on cue, a ruffled man in outlandish battle wear stepped forward. The envoy of the nomad tribe didn't spare any time— or intentions— to gesture any respect to the snow-haired chevalier as he stood proudly with flimsy parchment in hand.
"By the grace of our great Khan, I bear a message for Lady Sentinel of Atlesian Steppe."
Weiss accepted the message, whilst the guards and soldiers stiffened, ready to coil and jump in if any hidden attempts to harm their liege were detected.
She unrolled the parchment and read the content carefully. It spoke of an invitation for a negotiation. She couldn't help furrowing her eyebrows as she re-read the lines again. If this wasn't a jest to mock her, this might be some kind of trap to lure her defenseless. After all, her death was sought after by the Kipchak Khans who wished to ravage the southern edge of The Mantle and invade the kingdom further.
Then she noticed brown-reddish blotches and crude lines at the left-down of the hide parchment. Under rough spelling of the Khan's name, the blotches were too familiar for Weiss to recognize it as dried blood. To mark the invitation with one's signature of blood, it was a bold act to show his genuine intention for peaceful parley.
"Jaune, prepare my horse and escort party as much as you deem necessary," ordered her to her seneschal. "We'll depart for a negotiation with the Kipchaks."
Hello, Fazadragonhart here. This was supposed to be the first RWBY fanfiction I posted ever, not that shameless smutty one argh. Anyway, I thank you guys for reading this piece too. Lately I've been interested with classical performing arts; symphonies, ballets, opera, you name it. This story too is inspired by the Polovtsian Dance scene of the opera. It's such an epic music composition gaaaaaah. And the best surprise is Alexander Borodin isn't a professional musician, and the whole Prince Igor opera is his work of serious hobby! Damn, people in the past are geniuses huh...
Anyway, thank you (again) for reading! Feedbacks and constructive criticisms are always welcomed! Stay tuned for more of this and please accompany me to the end, alright?