It was almost dark when she first sensed that she wasn't alone.
She had been searching this forest for three days and had found no evidence of the fabled healer. When her mother had become ill her father had every healer in the kingdom come to try and help her but none could.
Then they had heard of a mystical and reclusive woman who lived in this forest, but her father could not find any brave enough to enter. Fearing for her mother the girl decided that she would go even if her father had forbade her.
Now she was lost, low on supplies, and possibly in danger. Though she was not afraid for she had been training her entire life (one of the many perks of being the princess) she was unsure of what it may be. But she knew that it wasn't a creature of Grimm. For something in this forest had made them friendly thousands of years ago. Though it is still a mystery as to what had done it.
Reaching for her weapon she had to quickly jump as a hooded figure appeared out of nowhere and slashed at her with a massive scythe. After hitting a tree she reached for her weapon but felt an incredible amount of pain course through her. Looking down she saw what looked like a crossbow bolt protruding from her shoulder. "You are trespassing in a protected forest! Identify yourself!" she heard.
Biting through the pain she yelled out "I am Princess Weiss Schnee and I am looking for the healer that lives in these woods. My mother is ill and may not have much time so I need to find her immediately." At this the stranger lowered the scythe and removed their hood and Weiss found herself looking at a girl who must have at least 2 years younger than her.
She had short black hair and bright silver eyes and though she may have been younger she was at least four inches taller. She walked over and after carefully removing the bolt took out a corked vial and carefully laid a drop of a sweet smelling liquid on Weiss's wound. After a few seconds Weiss was surprised as she watched the wound heal. "Compliments of my grandmother" the girl finally said.
"Who are you?" Weiss asked.
The girl mad a motion to follow her "I am Ruby Rose and the woman you seek is my grandmother. Now come we are actually quite close." And at that she turned and began walking slowly through a dense patch of trees. At least she would not be hard to follow for her cloak was a dark red color but was still noticeable amongst the green of the forest. It came down to her knees and had a hood that almost completely obscured her face.
"Why did you attack me?" Weiss asked, her hand going to her now healed shoulder.
"As you well know this forest is home to a very rare magic. This magic has turned the Grimm of this forest friendly. What is not so well known is that this power actually comes from a very rare Grimm. We had thought you had come looking to hunt it for some reason." This cause wises to pause, a Grimm was making all of the others nice. She will have to talk to her father about that later.
An hour later they came to a clearing and the first thing Weiss noticed was an impressive looking house. Next to the house a tall man was chopping fire wood. He looked over and smiled and waved at Ruby, but when he looked at Weiss his smile turned to a look of concern. As he walked over Ruby whispered "That's my uncle Qrow."
"Ok" Weiss said as Qrow reached them and examined Weiss's shoulder.
He instantly smiled again "Did you use one of your own potions on this Ruby?" he asked.
"Yes I did uncle Qrow." Ruby responded. Weiss gave a confused look to the girl. "My healing potions leave a small mark. When we get inside to talk to grandmother you can see for yourself." She said.
"Do you have business with her?" he asked.
"Yes I do. My mother needs her help badly." Weiss responded immediately.
"Then you had best get inside." Qrow said as he returned to his task.
Weiss had to admit the house was impressive all things considered. It consisted of an entry way that had racks on the walls that held weapons, a glass case with a few exotic looking herbs, and a few chests. Ruby took Weiss's sword Myrtenaster and her now collapsed scythe and put them in the weapon racks then led her through a door into the great hall. The room was dominated by a very large wood table and a fire place. To her left Weiss saw what looked like a greenhouse and to her right what looked like a kitchen. They went up some stairs into a room with two single beds, a few more chests, and a mirror which Weiss walked over to and examined her shoulder. What she saw made her gasp. The wound had healed into a scare the shape of a rose.
"My granddaughter has a talent for making potions with fun effects like that." A woman's voice said from behind her. Weiss spun around and was surprised to see a woman no older than her own mother. She must have looked more surprised than she felt because the woman giggled like a little girl.
"Yes that is my grandmother so stop staring. She uses a youth potion to stay young so that she can protect the rare creatures in this forest." Ruby said.
"Now now Ruby be nice. She was just surprised." The woman said as she stepped forward towards Weiss. "Elda Rose" she said as she extended her hand.
Weiss shook it as she said "I am-"
"Princess Weiss Schnee I know," Elda said cutting Weiss off.
"Then you also know why I am here right?" Weiss asked feeling hopeful that her journey was almost at an end.
"Yes I do. Your mother is ill and you believe I can save her." Weiss was confused at how she knew so much and it must have shown for Elda gave another little giggle. "My sight extends far across the land because of my connection to the creatures of this forest. You may sleep here tonight and tomorrow we shall set off for the castle bright and early" Elda she before she returned to the room she had come from. Her own cape billowing behind her, but unlike Ruby's hers was white with a red inside.
Weiss almost collapsed with relief. Soon they would return to the castle and soon after her mother will be healed. She was so overcome with joy that she almost missed Ruby saying that they were going to have to share a bed. She looked at her like she was crazy until Ruby said "Hey it's either that or the Floor." 'It's going to be a long night' Weiss thought with a sigh.
An hour later Weiss was standing next to the bed wondering how to proceed. They had had a very nice dinner (the first Weiss had had since she had set out) after words Ruby had shown her to the bath where Weiss had shamelessly hogged it. Nobody had seemed to mind after she had told them how long it had been since her last proper bath. And now she was standing over a sleeping Ruby in a barrowed night gown wondering whether or not to take her up on her offer of the floor. "There is plenty of room so just slide on in." Ruby said with her eyes still closed.
"Yeah but I have never had to share a bed with anyone other than my mother. And then only because I was five years old and I had had a nightmare." Weiss replied.
"Well hate to say it but this is as good as it gets" Ruby said as she scoots to the far side of the bed. Swallowing her nervousness about sharing a bed with this strange girl Weiss slid into the bed and crawled under the covers and tried to get comfortable.
The next morning Weiss awoke alone to the unmistakable smell of bacon frying. She got up and noticed that someone other than Qrow was in the adjacent bed. While she was sure that he had been there the previous night this was a new person. They were obviously a girl maybe a little older than Ruby. Her hair was a wild bush of fiery blond hair. While she had been wondering who this person was Ruby had walked up behind her. "That's my half-sister Yang." She said scaring Weiss.
"Don't do that! I hate it when people sneak up behind me like that." Weiss half yelled waking Yang up.
"Ugh who's yelling?" She said sitting up in the bed and turning to face them.
"Darn it Yang," Ruby shouted "put some clothes on. We have company."
"Yeah yeah yeah I know the princess." Yang said lazily going back to sleep.
"No I mean uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted.
"He went out hunting," Yang said, "he said he would be back late tomorrow night."
"Oh. Well grandma and I are going to the castle to help the Queen and will probably be gone for about a week or two." Ruby said.
That got Yang's attention. "Wait the castle?" She said as she bolted upright.
"Yeah, you wanna come?" Ruby asked.
"Heck yeah!" Yang yelled going to a chest pulling out clothes.
"Oh do you have anything that might fit me?" Weiss asked Ruby looking at her clothes mainly the big hole in the shoulder.
Yang looked too "dang sis nice shot." She looked at Weiss's shoulder "Ha. Looks like you used one of your special potions." Ruby smiled as she found something for Weiss to wear.
"Yeah, she was lucky I had anything on me at all. If grandma hadn't told me to take it she would have had a big problem."
She handed the clothes to Weiss "When you're done we have breakfast ready downstairs." She said.
"Ok thank you," Weiss said.
Yang looked over to her "So have fun last night?" she asked with a huge grin on her face. It took a moment for Weiss to figure out what she meant. When she did she went as red as the cloak Ruby wore.
"NO! ICK! You have a perverted mind Miss Rose."
Yang looked at her. "It's Long actually. And lighten up it was just a joke".
Weiss hmpd out of the room and in to the small tower room that Elda had entered the previous night. After closing the door she leaned on it thinking about what Yang had said. It actually did feel good sleeping next to Ruby. More than she cared to admit. That more than anything scared her. 'Best not to think of it' she thought as she got dressed and went downstairs. Probably an after effect of that potion or something. Look at what it did to her shoulder.
The table was set for four and hade plates with bacon, eggs, biscuits, and gravy. Weiss having been so nervous about the sleeping arrangements the previous night hadn't eaten much. Upon seeing the food her stomach made a very audible growl. "Sounds like someone is hungry" she heard Elda say behind her. Weiss jumped and was about to speak but Ruby beat her to it.
"She hates it when people sneak up on her." she said with a smile.
Elda laughed "ha-ha sorry about that." Weiss sighed and sat down and started putting food on her plate.
"So what were you up to in the green house?" Weiss asked pointing out that Elda had a basket full of herbs.
"Gathering some things for the trip," she said moving to the kitchen, "Now eat up we leave in an hour."
When they headed out Weiss stood blinking in the morning sunlight. Elda had a large bag on her back and was going over a map. 'Hold on a little longer mother. Help is coming.'
I hope you like this first chapter of Ancient Rose. Please excuse any grammar mistakes for this is my first ever fan fiction. More are on the way so be patient. Leave a comment on what you think. And yes this is going to be a White rose based story. So don't worry about that.
Re-working this story a bit. I will make a few strategic changes that I hope you'll enjoy.
