Those who don't know
The value of loyalty
Will never understand
The cost of betrayal.
It was another grueling day. Just like the one before, the one before that, the one before that, the one before that, and the one before that. You get the idea.
Life as a stable hand wasn't easy. Running here and there feeding the horses, getting them ready to ride, cleaning out the stables, and calming down the horses when one got to rowdy was only a tiny part of the list of things that needed doing. Not to mention fixing saddles and harnesses that fell into disarray along with the other various equipment that people seemed to neglect. It was indeed hard work, but for young Ruby Rose their was no other job she would rather do. Well there was but since women weren't allowed to become knights she was content where she was.
Working for the most renown stable master in the entire kingdom. Stable master Ozpin. He was a mysterious fellow. Most of the time he seemed weird, disconnected. As if he wasn't fully there. However, he did have an air of concern for all his stable hands. He always made sure they where doing alright. If they weren't he did everything he could to fix it.
Most of the stable hands, like Ruby, had lived on the streets. Ozpin had found them starving and half dead. That's when he took them in and gave them a second chance at life.
Of course that didn't always work out. There were people like Mercury. The boy was the last person Ozpin brought in. It was around six months ago. Once Mercury was up and in good shape he started stealing from the other stable hands. As soon as Ozpin caught wind of this the boy was back on the streets. That was in the past though and right now it was no concern to any of them.
Ruby was just about done with her last task for the day when she heard a voice behind her.
"Hello Little Red, How was your day been?"
Spinning on her heel Ruby saw Ozpin. His gray hair and cane marking his presence.
"Oh Stable Master, Its been well, thank you. How was yours sir?"
Ozpin thought a long moment before speaking.
"As well as any other. Now red can I ask a favor from you?" Ozpin was a kind man, but Ruby knew he was only being polite by asking. He would ask the favor no matter what she said.
"Of course, sir." Ruby replied.
"I've been informed that her Majesty and her Highness wish to go riding in the morning. I need someone to get Sparks and Allie prepared for them. Since no one else is here I'd be grateful if that someone was you."
Ruby hadn't even realized that all the other stable hands had gone home. It was slightly shocking.
"Of course sir. When can I expect them in the morning?"
"All they said was early. Now I must go. Duty calls, and thank you Little Red." With a light tap of his cane the stable master walked away.
Ruby sat down on an upturned bucket. Sometimes she forgot that this was the stable the royal family trusted with it horses. She was not looking forward to this.
To say Ruby hated the royal family was a lie. She loved them like any loyal subject. She just couldn't understand how they could sit up in their castle with their expensive silk clothes and big feasts while people down in the streets starved.
Alas, there was nothing she could do except prepare the horses for tomorrow. Because when the royal family said early they usually meant just as the sun was rising. She also knew that Ozpin expected her to stay up all night just so she didn't miss them.
letting out a small sigh Ruby leaned back. It was going to be a long night.
It was dawn before Ruby had realized it. She had managed to keep busy with inane tasks. She had long since prepared the horses. It wasn't until she saw the Queen and the princess did her brain kick back on.
At first she was enthralled by them. Their immaculate silk clothing as white as the purest snow. In the early hours of the morning it was almost blinding. Both queen and princess were stunningly beautiful. However, Ruby's eye was draw more to the princess. Her hair was as white as her clothes. She had a slender body and the most beautiful blue eye's she'd ever seen. The only thing that marred her beauty was a scare over her left eye.
Hurrying across the stable yard she met them halfway. Giving a very respectful bow she greeted them.
"Your Majesty, your Highness." That was among the many things Ozpin had taught her. How to properly interact with royalty. Bow first, greet them with the appropriate titles, and then wait for them to speak.
"We sent word ahead to Stable Master Ozpin that we wanted to take a ride today. Where is everyone?" The queen spoke softly and slowly.
"Everyone but myself is sleeping, but I have your horses ready for you your majesty." Ruby replied.
Something about Ruby must have peaked the Queens interest, because instead of ordering her to the horses she began to ask questions.
"What is your name if I may ask?" Ruby was slightly taken back by the question. She didn't expect the Queen to take any interest in her at all.
"They call me Little Red, your Majesty."
"Little Red? Is that your given name?"
"No your Majesty, All stable hands are given a nickname. Its sort of tradition ma'am."
The question seemed to satisfy the Queen. She moved to ask another but was stopped by the princess.
"Mom can we please go? I wish to be back before most of the people wake." Her voice was also soft, but it had a sharper edge to it.
"Of course dear. To the horses please."
Bowing low before turning around Ruby lead them to their waiting horses. Once the Queen and the Princess were saddled up and all square away they rode off.
Ruby's eye's followed them all the way. Queen Schnee and her daughter Princess Weiss. It was the first time Ruby had actually spoken to anyone of the royal family. She hadn't realized until now that she had been shaking. Ruby sat down to regain her nerves. Then she realized she'd have to do it again when they returned. It also slowly dawned on her that she might have stolen one to many glances at the Princess. She just hoped no one noticed.
The Queen and the princess rode in mostly silence. It wasn't until they made it out of the city walls did they speak.
"So what do you think of that stable hand?" The Queen asked.
"I don't think I like her. She was eying me the whole time we were there." The Princess replied. She didn't sound even remotely happy.
"Well you're a princess dear. It's to be expected people will gawk." The Queen stifled a laugh.
"Yes, but this was different."
"Well I for one like her. She must be very loyal to stay up all night for us."
"How do you know she stayed up all night? She might have just woken up early." The Princess still wasn't amused, and she wasn't enjoying this useless conversation.
"Did you see how she looked. Dark circles under the eyes, messed up hair, and she was very dirty. No doubt from the work day before. If she was cleaned up she might actually look pretty." The Queen sounded as if she was thinking on an idea.
"Mother, I know that tone. What are you thinking?" The Princess turned her head to look at her mother.
"Well you did say you needed a new personal servant." The Queen said.
"Oh no. I'm not having some dirty stable hand that probably doesn't even know how to read as my servant." The idea simply repulsed her.
"Maybe that's exactly what you need. She's very loyal, and after the last one we must be careful who we pick." The Queen's voiced lowered at the end.
The memory of the incident still sicken Weiss. She put her hand unconsciously over her scared eye. Her last Servant had betrayed her, and tried to kill her. Luckily she failed and only left a scare, but that was the moment that made the princess realize how dangerous her life was.
"Still I don't want some dirty stable hand. I want someone that is smart. They at least need to be able to read." The Princess' tone was one that ended conversations, but this was her mother she was talking to.
"You must not be so picky my child, but I will find you a servant that can read if that is what you want." With that the conversation died and they rode on in silence.
After Ruby could walk again she decided she needed a bath. The other stable hands wouldn't be up for another few hours and she reckoned she had enough time before the Queen came back.
It was a quick bath. Just long enough to get the dirt out of her hair. Getting out of the bath she opted to put on her slightly better clothes. The ones that weren't stained and full of holes. They still weren't that nice, but as a stable hand they were the best she could do. Looking, and feeling, much better Ruby returned to the stable yard.
It wasn't the long before the other stable hands started dragging themselves to work. First came a red head named Pyrrha. Everyone called her Amazon. Ruby liked Pyrrha she was very friendly.
Then came Amazon's boyfriend Jaune. He was nicknamed Vomit boy. Not the nicest nickname but he didn't seem to mind. How he got Pyrrha though was beyond Ruby.
Two others came after them. Nora and Ren. They were nicknamed Pancakes and Shadow. It was obvious to her about Ren's nickname. The boy was a literal shadow sometimes. He always seemed to appear out of no where and disappear just as easily. Nora's nickname however, was a bit more confusing. Every time she asked someone they just made a face and said they didn't want to remember the night it happen. Ruby finally gave up when she realized she'd never know what happen.
Finally, out walked her favorite stable hand. Yang, or Blondie as was her nickname, was Ruby's half sister. Seeing her she ran to give her a hug. Her sister returned the hug excitedly.
"Ruby, you didn't come to bed last night. I was worried." The blonde girl said.
"Sorry Yang. I stayed up all night out here. Ozpin needed me to prepare the horses for the Queen and Princess." Ruby let go of Yang to see her face. It was one of understanding. She had once gotten the task of prepping the royal family's horses.
"Well why didn't you come get me? I could have helped." Yang protested.
"I was fine on my own. No point in us both being tired." Just then Ruby let out a long yawn.
"Alright little sis. Hey I'll take some of your morning rounds so you can rest until the royal folks are back." Smiling Yang strode off without another word from Ruby. She was not gonna let the younger girl argue.
So Ruby did what her sister suggested and relaxed. She made sure though to keep her eye on the north rode were the Queen and her daughter would return.
It wasn't but another hour before she saw to horses coming down the road. Jumping from where she was sitting Ruby darted to meet them. once they reached the stable yard she bowed low then took the reins on the horse.
Without so much as a second glance the princess set off to the castle. The Queen however stuck around.
"Little Red would you please answer a question." Her voice made it more of a statement then a question. "Can you read?"
Ruby wasn't sure why the Queen wanted to know, but she answered non the less. Ozpin's voice in the back of the head. Never say no to the Queen.
"Yes ma'am I can. Stable Master Ozpin takes it upon himself to teach every stable hand how to read and write." Ruby said as politely as she could.
"Oh so you can write as well." The Queen thought a moment longer. Then without another word set off.
"So little Red, what did the Queen find so interesting about you?" a voice behind Ruby asked.
Spinning she faced Jaune.
"I don't know Vomit boy. I dont know." was all Ruby said. She was deep in thought herself and wasn't paying attention to him.
Why did the Queen take interest in her? Ruby had seen the way she normally treated stable hands. It was mean. It was like she simply didn't care. So why ask questions about her? It wasn't until She heard Ozpin's voice calling did she snap out of it. Hurrying to join the other stable hands that had already gathered in front of the Stable Master.
"As some of you may know her Highness' birthday is tomorrow, and as always there is to be a parade. We need all of are white mares prepped for that. Good day to you all." Just like Ozpin short, swift, and to the point.
"Damn it." A voice said beside Ruby. "that's fifteen horses."
Right. Ruby had forgotten how many there were hear. Thirty-two horses in all. In Ruby's opinion way to many for the stable, but they made it work. Ozpin often had to do the work the stable hands didn't have enough time to finish. He always got it done no matter how much it was. No one knew how. With how old they guessed Ozpin to be they were surprised at how much he could do.
"Well no point in milling about. Let's get to work everyone." Call Yang. She was sort of like the mom of the group. Always making sure everyone was okay. Always helping everyone even at her own expense. There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for them, and at this point there wasn't anything that any of them wouldn't do for her. They were a family, albeit a very rowdy one at times.
So everyone set off to do there jobs for the day. Everyone taking extra care with the white horse that were to be in the parade. All in all the rest of the day went by smoothly. Though Ruby knew tomorrow was gonna be very hectic.
Parade days always were.
So another new story. Even though I haven't finished even one of the other three. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of The Stable hand. I just really got an inkling to write a medieval type story. I know it won't old up to ones like The White Rose of Vermilion, but I hope you enjoyed it nevertheless.
Also as a side note for the people that are already following me. I'm sorry for my small absence I was on vacation with some family. I tried but there was no way of getting out of it. Also another chapter of confusing times coming within the day or tomorrow. Anyways folks that is all for now.
Until the darkness comes
-Roctan