Till Ashes do we Part

"Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice." –Michael Novak

Chapter 1

The day the letter came demanding Winter's head was the day her life ended. She knew the letter was going to arrive someday now that she was not only of age but at the time that the Lord Qrow called for her at his leisure. All because her father had begged for a favor that he could not ever hope to afford.

The parchment paper was neatly folded with a blood red wax seal closing the letter shut. The outline of a crow was clearly visible despite the distortion of the wax. Winter herself had been the one to hand deliver it to her father. It almost felt like justice when she tossed the letter to land on his paperwork and interrupt his work.

"He's calling," Winter said with a low hiss in her voice. Jacque Schnee didn't look up at his eldest daughter; instead, he leaned back in his chair and eyed the piece of paper.

"Well, this is unfortunate. I was hoping the Lord would wait too long and you would be a crone before he bothered to remember the barging. I was hoping to marry you off to a business partner. Guess I'll have to see if they will be willing to wait for Weiss now."

Winter felt her nose twitch in irritation. Her father would just think of this as a political game. She watched in disgust as her own father reached over to his phone on his desk and dialed a few numbers.

"Yes Mr. Schnee," his butler, Kline, answered on speaker.

"It appears Lord Qrow had called in his debt. Do me a favor and fetch a wedding dress for Winter."

…

Winter had always hated the color white. It seemed too perfect and pristine; making her fingers itch to ruin the perfection with a stain or a tear. Now she was completely covered in a silk and lace mermaid wedding dress of that color. Her hair was pulled back in a bun and her sister, Weiss, cried behind her as she attached the veil.

Her family knew who she was marrying. The monster that would likely kill her before any actual vows could escape through parted lips. They knew, but they were sending her anyway. Winter was fine with that. She would rather die and her sister and mother be safe then try and escape and those she loved to be left to chance of being slaughtered.

"Don't cry Weiss," Winter tried to sooth as she applied the last of her make up. Rising from her seat in front of the vanity to hug her sister close. "It's my wedding day after all. It should be a happy day."

"But you're going to die." The words were blunt and hurt a lot worse then Winter anticipated, but it couldn't be helped. She was the oldest—that meant she would also have to be the strongest.

"That isn't necessarily true," Winter tried to rationalize, though her argument would be weak at best. "He just wanted me to be his bride, nothing more."

"But in the stories, the vampire always killed their bride." At the word, Winter even found herself shivering as her sister's sobs became even more erratic then they were before.

"Those are just stories," Winter attempted to sooth, and though her voice came out even her hands betrayed her; shaking as they stroked her sister's hair. "Nothing more."

And Winter hoped those stories were really nothing more than that. As much as she loved her family and wanted them to stay happy and healthy, there was still a part of her that refused to die without kicking and screaming.

"Cheer up Weiss," Winter cooed as she pushed her little sister off her the best she could—their blue eyes, so much alike, finally meeting. "I'm happy with this."

Lies, but anything to make the whole event easier on her sister. Weiss had nodded weakly in response. Even Winter knew the words didn't sit well with her younger sister, but they were all Winter had. With a final kiss to Weiss' forehead, Winter began to descend from her room and down the stairs of the manor.

…

The walk to the door was even more excruciating then Winter could have imagined. Weiss walked behind her, carrying her train, but lining the marble halls of the Schnee Manor was every member of the household whether it was staff, their children, or her own blood. No one clapped for the bride, but someone—likely Whitley—thought there would be a sick irony in playing a wedding march.

She walked to the beat, alone. Her father didn't stand by her side but instead waited at the door for her to reach him. She couldn't help but snort to herself at that. Even on her wedding day, he was still making her come to him. There was a bouquet of white roses in her hands that she gripped tight to try and hold face with the members of the staff. She was a Schnee after all and this was her duty to perform as the eldest daughter.

The thorns had cut into her hands and she could feel fine droplets of blood beginning to pool through her fingers. She didn't care though, she would lose it all soon enough.

When she finally reached her father, he said nothing. Instead, he just pulled her veil over her face, the thin mesh fabric doing its job to obscure her face. After that was completed he offered her his arm and she took it, following the man outside to a waiting limousine.

The door to the car was already open and inside she could see another wedding dress with a female inside. Winter looked at her father curiously, but he only shrugged as he helped her into the car. After he finished helping her in he walked away, and Winter was grateful for this. It gave her the chance to say the last of her good-byes to her sister.

Weiss wasted no time in throwing her arms around her sister once more. "I love you," Weiss cried as she buried her face into the crook of Winter's neck. "I will always love you, and I will come and find you. I will rescue you I promise!"

Winter had to bite her lip to keep from crying.

"I love you too," Winter finally choked out. "I have loved you since the day you were born… and I will love you until the day I die."

Weiss sobbed again but pulled back and furiously whipped the tears from her face. Then there was a curious light in her eyes as she reaches into her dress pocket and pulled something out.

"Here," Weiss said with a small smile on her face. "A wedding gift for you."

Winter took a black velvet box from her sister's hand and examined it curiously before opening it. She couldn't help but let out a soft gasp at what her sister had handed her. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry Winter had ever owned. The chain was silver and there were sapphires littered throughout the main pendant of a silver cross. Without hesitation, she removed it from the box and clasped the piece around her neck.

"Thank you," Winter said just as her father slammed the door shut and the Limo pulled out of the estate's driveway.

"Your lucky to have family that loves you that much." The other girl said, sounding like she was more around Weiss' age then Winter's.

"Sister," Winter corrected as she finally examined the other rider. Winter couldn't see much of her face, but she could see tanned skin and freckles along with long caramel brown hair that flowed freely under the veil. "What's your name?"

"Ilia," the other bride replied simply.

"Well Ilia, it's a pleasure to meet the last living person I will ever speak to. Ilia let out a laugh.

"The same goes for you as well."

BRK: Hello, here is the vampire AU no one asked for. Anyway this will update on tuesday. Please leave feedback, until next time later gators.