A/N: Hey folks! Really quickly before I get this thing started, I just want to let you know that I've got a huge announcement in my author's note at the bottom, so make sure to check that out! And, without further ado, enjoy Chapter 10 of The Rose Guardian!

"Good morning, Ruby," Weiss said as she stepped out of her bedroom and saw that the armored girl was, as always, already standing dutifully at her door.

"Good morning, Princess," Ruby replied, nodding. "Did you sleep well?"

Weiss stopped in front of Ruby, giving her a small smile as she did so. "Yes, I did. Yourself?"

"Yeah, I did," Ruby replied smiling as well. "I think breakfast is almost ready, if you'd like to go."

"That sounds good," Weiss replied, giving Ruby a nod.

Both girls started to walk through the brightly lit, stone corridors of the castle until they found their way to the dining room. Weiss and Ruby pushed the doors open, revealing the table with their meals already prepared for them. Ruby pulled out Weiss' chair and waited for her to sit down before taking her seat. Both young women ate in silence for several minutes before Ruby sighed and pushed her half-full plate forwards.

"Princess?" Ruby questioned after sitting there for several moments.

"What do you need, Ruby?" Weiss asked.

"I was wondering if you would allow me to have a few days off?" Ruby asked. "There's... There's something that I need to take care of."

"Of course, you may," Weiss replied, giving Ruby a small smile. "If you don't mind however, may I ask what it is you need to take care of?"

Ruby sighed. "I need to visit my mother's... My mom's grave," she replied. "I haven't had a chance to since I became your guardian, and I feel really bad about not going."

"Would you like for me to go with you?" Weiss asked.

"Are you sure? I mean, I'm sure you have other things that you need to do, and-"

"Ruby, I don't mind," Weiss replied, giving the girl a small smile. "I'm sure I'd love to meet your mother."

"Thanks, Weiss," Ruby replied, giving Weiss a small smile.

"It's in the clearing over there, just at the edge of the cliff," Ruby said, pointing.

Weiss followed Ruby out of the woods and over to a small stone slab that sat at the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Engraved on on the stone rose emblem, and beneath the emblem were the words Summer Rose: Thus Kindly I Scatter.

"This is it?" Weiss asked.

Ruby gave a silent nod as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked up to the grave.

"Hey mom," Ruby started. "I know, it's been a while. I'm sorry. A lot's happened since the last time I was out here. When I got back to Vale, there was a giant tournament being held to select a guardian for the Princess. Well, I won, so now I'm officially the kingdom's Lady-Guardian! Bet you weren't expecting to have your name end up in Vale's nobility, but here I am!"

Ruby sighed. "Weiss and I didn't exactly get along at first, though. She was a little... cold. Though I guess that kinda makes sense, given that she's the princess, and all. Anyway, about a month ago, we had to go to Atlas, since apparently they thought we were attacking their farms. Pretty stupid, huh? On the way there, Weiss kinda started to warm up to me, and I guess you could kinda say that we're sorta friends now."

She paused as she looked at the grave, and tears started to roll down her cheeks. "I miss you, mom," she said finally. "I know that it's been almost nine years now, so it sounds kinda stupid, but, I feel like I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm doing. I really wish you were here."

Weiss walked up behind Ruby and pulled the younger girl into a hug, allowing Ruby to cry into her shoulder. Weiss and Ruby stood there for several minutes before Ruby finally stopped crying.

"Thanks, Weiss," Ruby said, giving Weiss a smile before turning around and walking back up to her mother's grave. "You want to say anything?" Ruby asked.

"Sure," Weiss said as she walked up next to Ruby. "Good day, Lady Rose," she started. "I... I'm sorry for what happened to you. I wish the kingdom had done more for you. I wish I had done more for you. We should have seen that the Atlesians submitted your killer for trial when you died. You will be happy to note, however, that your daughter has brought him to justice."

Weiss sighed. "I wish I had the chance to get to know you in life," Weiss continued. "From what your daughter has told me, you were a wonderful woman, and deserved to live a long and happy life. I wish I could give you your life back. In lieu of that, however, I promise you, as the future Queen of Vale, that I will do everything I can to see to it that nothing like what happened to you ever occurs again."

"Thanks for coming with me, Weiss," Ruby said as she and the Princess sat around the campfire together.

"Of course," Weiss replied, her smile flickering in the fire's light. "You're a friend. It's the least I can do for you."

Ruby shifted so that she was sitting next to the Princess. "Do you mean that?" she asked.

"Huh?" Weiss asked, glancing over to Ruby.

"I mean, do you really consider me a friend?" Ruby asked.

Weiss paused. "I... Suppose I do," she replied. "Despite how I acted when I first met you, you persisted in trying to prove to me that you were much more than I initially thought you were. Even when I learned that I could dismiss you to keep you away from me, you still persisted in trying to keep by my side."

"To this day, you're still always there to protect me and give me advice," she continued. "What else could I call you, other than a friend?"

"I guess you've got a point," Ruby replied, smiling.

"Of course I do, dunce," Weiss said, smiling slightly. "You know what, you've had a long day, why don't you go ahead and get some sleep. I can take the first watch."

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked. "Because I really don't mind-"

"I'm sure, Ruby," Weiss said. "You deserve it."

"As you wish, Princess," Ruby replied, giving Weiss a smile as she lay on her bedroll.

Weiss stared at Ruby as her silverite armor glittered in the firelight. She watched as the young warriors silver eyes slowly flutter closed. Eventually, Weiss heard Ruby's breathing start to slow, signalling that she had finally started to sleep.

Thank you for you vigilance, Ruby, she thought. I could not have asked for a better guardian, or friend.

As Weiss watched the young girl sleep, she felt her heart start to flutter, and a smile started to slowly form.

What is this feeling? Weiss thought. It's... It's almost as though I feel more comfortable with Ruby, like I can tell her anything, and she won't judge me. Weiss sighed slightly as she leaned against a tree, still smiling. Regardless, I can't wait to speak with you more tomorrow, Ruby.

A/N: Thanks for reading, folks! You guys are seriously awesome! And this thing broke 200 favorites, so a huge shoutout goes to exavers excalber for being number 200 officially! You guys are all really awesome!

Before I go, however, I've got a huge announcement to make! You know that huge, classified project I've been teasing recently? Well, it's time for me to reveal what it is! It's a gigantic collab between me and a group of other (and, dare I say, more talented) writers! The fanfic is called Room 205, and it's being written collectively by NobleMETA, Phoenix Commander, TheDarkenedRose, SylverLining, angelsixtwofive, and myself! Go check out the first chapter on NobleMETA's profile if you haven't already! It's been a hell of a fun time writing with this group of people!

As always, everyone, thanks for reading! The next chapter of The Path We Walk is coming along nicely, so hopefully look forward to that in a few days! I'll see you folks then!