Now it's time for Weiss to start learning the basics from Ruby!

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Chapter 4. The First Trial

Weiss kept true to her offer of coming out to the stables a bit earlier the following nights.

Her father often went to bed around ten at night, and Weiss would continue working on her assignments for however long it took until she was finished. With a bit of extra work, she managed to get things done around eleven, and once everything was in order, she'd go out for her usual walk.

The maids and guards eventually caught on that Weiss would be doing this often, so the routine nature of it all was starting to dissuade thoughts of suspicion and instead take on a sense of normalcy.

Being early spring, some nights were still a bit chilly, and Weiss would take a jacket with her.

But she was always amazed to walk into the stables and find Ruby with nothing more than her work clothes and a small red blanket.

Tonight in particular was a bit nippy, and Weiss had taken the liberty upon herself to bring an extra sweatshirt with her, tucking it under her arm as she walked. Her intention was to give it to Ruby.

Sure enough, when she rapped her knuckles on the stable wall and peered inside the vacant pen, she found Ruby lounging on the bail of hay she called a bed with nothing but the clothes she'd been wearing all day and the red blanket on her shoulders.

The second Ruby saw her, she brightened up and waved happily.

"Evening, Weiss!"

But Weiss heaved a sigh, shaking her head at the sight of the girl.

"You dunce. It's only ten or so degrees above freezing at this hour. You're going to get sick. You should at least wait in your cabin until eleven when you know I'll be here."

"It's fine!" Ruby said. "The wind isn't so bad in here."

"Yes, but the air is still chilly. Here." Weiss tossed her the extra sweatshirt, watching as Ruby's eyes went wide in surprise.

"Ah, Weiss it's okay! I don't need-"

"Don't argue. Just take it."

"O-Okay!" Ruby folded up her red blanket and put it aside on the hay, then stood and began wrestling her way into the sweatshirt. She and Weiss were the same size, so it fit her quite comfortably. "Oh, it's nice and warm!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, and freshly-washed," Weiss added. "I've got several more sweatshirts in my room... You may keep that one, if you'd like. For the cooler nights when you refuse to sleep in your cabin."

"Waaahh, no, no I couldn't!" Ruby squeaked.

"Please. Consider it a gift for helping me every night," Weiss reassured her. "It's really not much in comparison."

Bashfully, Ruby buried her chin, mouth, and nose into the collar of Weiss' sweatshirt.

"Thank you."

Weiss flashed her a small smile.

"Don't mention it. Now then, are you well-rested?"

"Yep! I had a nice long nap before, right after lunchtime! I'm rarin' to go!"

"Good to hear."

Ruby hurried over to meet her, then walked with Weiss down to Zuri's stall.

"Okay," the stablehand said. "So I think you've gotten comfortable with petting and feeding him. So tonight, you should be able to pet him without distracting him with food first. He's familiar with you and he trusts you by now."

Ruby nodded, indicating for Weiss to try petting him without offering food first.

Weiss stepped up to the stall window and clicked her tongue softly. The stallion's ear flicked and he turned around to face her. He nickered softly in greeting and walked over to her.

Even though she didn't have a treat for him this time, Weiss still managed to reach out and pet him, scratching at the bases of his ears, causing his back leg kick out in delight.

"Oh! You found his sweet spot!" Ruby giggled. "Nice going, Weiss!"

The white-haired girl couldn't help but smile as she continued to pet the horse. She felt like she'd just passed a test or trial somehow. After a minute, Ruby nodded approvingly.

"Alright! Now that we've covered the basics, I'll teach you how to groom him! I'd teach you how to fill his water and food bowls, but that's a stablehand job. If someone told your dad that you were the one coming out here at six in the morning to do my kinda work, I think I'd get in trouble..."

"You're right," Weiss agreed. "So grooming it is, then."

"Yeah. And for that, we'll need some supplies. Come with me!"

Ruby led her down to the end of the stables, where she paused in front of a small door. Ruby located the hidden key stowed away in between two planks of wood in the wall, then unlocked the door.

It led to a small room, and as soon as Ruby flicked on a light switch, Weiss could see it was filled with supplies, including saddles, reins, crops, brushes, and buckets. She'd seen the stablehands doing their work many times before, but she had to admit she'd never before been inside the storage room where everything was kept.

Ruby ushered her inside, bringing her over to the brushes first.

"He's a big horse, so we can use one of the bigger brushes!" she said, plucking one off a hook on the wall. She handed it to Weiss, and then picked up a bucket. There was a small hose hanging on the far wall, and Ruby padded across the room to turn it on, filling the bucket halfway. She then added a bit of a bar of soap and mixed it in until small bubbles formed at the surface of the water.

"I offered to groom him today," Ruby explained. "And then when the other stablehands weren't looking, I didn't actually clean him. I saved this task just for you tonight, Weiss!"

"I'll do my best," she said. "Though I can't guarantee I'll do as good of a job as you can."

"You'll do great!"

Once the bucket was ready, Ruby carried it back out the door as Weiss took the brush. Ruby also instructed her to grab a few clean towels off a shelf near the door.

"Usually, we'll clean them during the day and then let the sun dry them off. But since it's nighttime, we'll have to dry him ourselves."

Once they had everything they'd need, Ruby turned off the light and closed the door behind them. They walked back to Zuri's stall, and Ruby put the bucket down to grab the key and open the door.

"Heya, big guy! Sorry I didn't clean you off before, but Weiss is here at your service now!" Ruby ushered her in with a grin. "I didn't groom him, but at least I mucked his stall!"

Weiss silently thanked her for that as she followed Ruby into the pen, then closed the door behind herself.

"Alrighty!" Ruby sang. "So you'll wanna start with the brush. Just go through his mane first and untangle all the knots and stuff. Then you can start on his coat. I'll distract him as you work, okay?"

Ruby had groomed this horse before and seen others do it as well. Admittedly, she was a little nervous about all of this, just because she'd seen how he could get flustered and angry very easily. But she didn't want to frighten Weiss by telling her such things, so she simply offered to occupy the horse's attention as Weiss worked.

Weiss picked up the brush and stepped up to the stallion's shoulder, reaching out to start brushing his mane.

In the meantime, Ruby reached into her pants pocket and extracted a few oats she'd prepared ahead of time, holding them out to the horse.

"Just gonna associate your grooming him with food and good things!"

She let him nibble at the oats in her palm and looked up to watch Weiss combing through his mane. She went slowly and carefully, doing her very best not to tug the hairs, using her other hand to press it flat and hold it in place.

Gradually, Weiss worked all the way down his mane, from the tufts between his ears to the longer strands at his shoulders. Ruby was relieved there had been no outbursts from the horse.

Maybe he's more mellow at night, she thought.

Weiss stepped back and looked over her work, then met Ruby's gaze.

"How's this?"

"Great! You did really well for your first time grooming, Weiss! Now for the water!" Ruby stepped away from the horse's head to show Weiss how to clean him off. She demonstrated first, dunking the brush into the warm water and then running it over the side of his neck. "Easy, right?"

"Of course."

Weiss took the brush and continued where Ruby had left off. Every few minutes or so, she knelt down to dunk the brush again, then continued brushing him.

The stallion seemed to relax a bit at the soothing contact, and Ruby's doubts dwindled and dwindled.

Weiss brushed over his shoulders, flanks, and haunches, then stepped around his front to start on his other side.

"Good boy," she murmured. "So well-behaved."

She brushed the front of his chest, then the top of his head. Before she knew it, she was finished, and Ruby clapped for her. She and Weiss each took a towel and began drying the horse off, patting through his wet fur until it was comfortably dry.

With an accomplished sigh, Weiss dropped her towel over the edge of the bucket. Ruby did the same and gave her a zealous squeeze.

"You did it, Weiss! And you did it really well! I don't think I've ever seen him so calm before. Maybe the key is to handle him at night when he's a little tired?"

"I'm just glad it went smoothly," Weiss commented.

"Well, that's because you were confident about it! Actually, I didn't tell you this, but he's usually pretty naughty when it comes to grooming. But when you did it, he was so calm! I've never seen that before!"

Weiss blinked in surprise.

"Really?"

"Really!" she beamed. "It hasn't even been a full week yet of you coming here at night, and he's already getting better! You're really incredible, Weiss!"

"Hardly..." she mumbled, looking down. "It's because you helped me with it."

"Naaaww! You're being modest~" Ruby hummed, nudging Weiss' ribs.

"H-Hey!" With a squeak, the older girl jumped back a bit. Ruby giggled as Weiss took a playful swing at her and missed.

The stall was soon full of soft laughter and energy that only being alone together in a stable at midnight could produce.

Zuri picked up on their merriment and got a bit playful as well. He stepped forward and bit Weiss' ponytail, giving a light tug.

"Ah-" Surprised, Weiss let out a short shriek as she was suddenly pulled backward.

"Wh-Whoa!" Ruby quickly dove forward to catch her, saving Weiss from falling into the bucket. "You okay?"

"Yes," she gasped. "Thank you."

The brunette blushed when she realized Weiss was in her arms, her balance now totally dependent on Ruby. Carefully, she helped Weiss straighten up and find her footing again. Ruby had never looked into her eyes from such close proximity before, and it was hard not to get lost in them...

"Ruby?"

Weiss' voice brought her back to reality.

"Uh- yeah! Sorry! We're finished here for now, so let's put everything away and then we can call it a night."

Weiss nodded, helped her gather everything, and then followed her out. Ruby locked the stall door and then walked with Weiss back to the storage room to put everything back into place.

At last, they emerged and got ready to depart for the night.

"Thank you again, Ruby," Weiss said with a smile. She beckoned the stablehand closer and leaned forward, pressing a light kiss of gratitude to her cheek.

Ruby felt her face take on her namesake's color, heat flooding her cheeks instantly.

"I-I uhm, you're... welcome, Weiss..." she babbled. "S-So, will I see you again tomorrow at lunchtime?"

"That you will," she nodded.

"Okay! Great!" She reached forward and hugged Weiss goodbye. "And I'll take good care of the sweatshirt! I might sleep out here some nights, but I do laundry and shower every day!"

"Glad to hear it."

They parted, and Weiss waved a bit before turning back and heading toward the path that led to the mansion.

Ruby's mention of showering had Weiss eager for one; grooming a horse was a bit of a messy process, and she didn't want to go to bed smelling like a stall. Plus, she couldn't risk her father finding out what she was doing – not until she was absolutely certain she was ready.

By the time she'd made it back to the mansion, she checked her wrist watch to discover it was just past 1AM. Weiss headed up the stairs quietly, counting her blessings that she had her own bathroom and wouldn't have to risk waking anyone by turning on lights. She grabbed her nightgown from her room and then retreated to the bathroom to start running the water.

Once she was finished showering and had slipped into her sleepwear, she tossed her dirty laundry into the hamper and retreated to her room. She flicked on her bedside lamp for the moment, crossed the room to one of her windows, and opened it a crack to let in some fresh air.

As she passed by her desk, she made sure everything was in order. A stray paper caught her eye, and she realized she'd neglected to finish an assignment.

Therefore, she toiled away at her desk for another hour, until it was nearly 2:30AM.

When she'd finished at last, she shut off the lamp and collapsed onto her bed. Her hair was still damp from her shower, as she hadn't been able to use her hair dryer for fear of waking someone up. She curled up in her bed beneath the blankets, shivering a bit as the dampness of her hair seeped into her back.

But she felt immensely accomplished about what she'd done tonight. She remembered Ruby's praises about how she'd groomed Zuri without incident, and it gave Weiss' confidence a much-needed boost.

It had only been six days, and yet she'd done a lot more than she'd ever thought possible.

I can do this... she reminded herself. With Ruby's help, I can do this. I'll prove myself to my father and save that horse.

With her goal in the forefront of her mind, Weiss soon drifted off.


The following days and nights went much the same way; Weiss woke early, went to her tutoring and home-schooling lessons, then worked on her homework until late into the night. She'd then go see Ruby and the horse, and finally return to her room to complete her unfinished papers.

Another week passed by in this manner, and Weiss could feel her bond with Zuri getting stronger by the day.

And... not just her bond with the horse.

She was becoming quite smitten with a certain stablehand as well.

How couldn't she, after all? Ruby was so helpful, so earnest and pure-hearted, not to mention the passions she shared with Weiss.

And she was rather cute, too.

. . .

The first day of the third week of their secret nighttime training was rainy, but that didn't stop Weiss from waking earlier than usual, nor did it prevent her from going outside to watch the lessons at lunchtime as she always did.

She met with Ruby as per usual and observed the riders and their horses. Zuri wasn't among them – he never was – and Weiss was both a little proud and a little apprehensive about that.

She was proud because she truly believed he could be her horse.

But as far as her father knew, the stallion wasn't being used by the riders very much, and each day, the horse's use to him faded more and more.

That evening, Weiss started on her assignments again, then around eleven went to the stables, walking through the mud and rain.

It poured all night, but that didn't stop her from working with Ruby once more on grooming the stallion and gaining his trust.

Once they had finished putting everything away, Ruby paused Weiss before she could leave. She did something she'd been building up the courage to do for an entire week now.

Coyly, she kissed Weiss' cheek in return for the one she'd received several nights ago.

Weiss wasn't all that surprised or taken aback by the action; in fact, it made her heart flutter. She merely smiled before pecking Ruby's lips lightly and without a word.

Ruby squealed, ecstatic beyond explanation as she danced and twirled around in little circles.

"Wow!" she squeaked. "Weiss, c-can I-?"

Weiss planted another kiss on her nose.

"Of course, you dunce."

Ruby kissed her lips this time, a little fuller and for a little bit longer than before.

The rain was cold outside, hissing as it fell all around them, pattering against the wooden roof and walls.

But for that moment, the two girls were comfortably warm.

After a few minutes they parted, and Ruby pinched herself to ensure all of this was real. Weiss helped confirm it by lightly flicking her forehead.

Ruby wished Weiss sweet dreams before running off giddily, skipping and giggling and still wearing the sweatshirt Weiss had given her.

It was the first time since they'd started meeting up at night that had ever seen her intent to use the warm, dry bed rather than a musky old hay bail.

Weiss watched her go. Ruby reached her cabin and slipped inside within thirty seconds.

As for Weiss herself, she stumbled the five-minute walk back to the mansion, her hair thoroughly soaked through by the time she fumbled her key into the lock and got back inside. She removed her boots and left them by the front door to dry, then made her way up the stairs.

Once more, she showered in the late hours, and then returned to her desk to complete her homework. Her heart was still pounding quickly, and it had been for quite some time now, even before Ruby had kissed her.

She shook her head, shut off the lamp, and laid down on her bed, her still-wet tresses covering her back.

She thought of Zuri for a moment before her thoughts ultimately went to Ruby.

But it was entirely unexpected and almost forced when sleep took her, dragging her down into the darkness against her will.


A/N: Just when their secret romance starts to blossom, something's wrong with Weiss! How will this affect her training with Zuri and seeing Ruby?

If you like my work, you can support me on P-a-t-r-e-o-n as Kiria Alice!

Please review!