Dragon's Promise

Weiss smiled into her coffee as Ruby rambled on, detailing a story about her sister Yang. Weiss loved these moments when it was just the two of them. But alas, it was always...

Ruby stopped abruptly, her head snapping towards the window.

…over too soon.

Weiss set down her cup, already knowing what was coming.

"Fairest princess! I have come to rescue you and take your hand in - "

In a blur, Ruby was out of the window and transformed, red and black scales gleaming in the sunlight. The dragon curled around Weiss's tower, her silver eyes practically aglow as she eyed her latest challenger. As she growled and unfurled her wings to overshadow the unfortunate knight, her head came to Weiss's window where the princess slowly met her as she looked down at the knight.

"Well, what about this one, Weiss?" Ruby said softly enough for only Weiss to hear, anyone else would just hear the rumble of her voice.

Weiss coldly looked down on her newest suitor. She took in his shaking knees, his stance that showed he was moments from running, his eyes that didn't so much as glance at her. He hadn't had the guts to finish his entreaty, too cowed by Ruby's arrival.

And he hadn't even bothered using her name.

She glanced over at Ruby and felt a flutter in her chest at how she actually looked at her after that first investigation, as if the knight wasn't even worth a moment of her time.

"No." Weiss turned away from the window and headed towards the kitchen. "I'll get out the cookies for when you're done."

She sensed Ruby's grin even as Weiss ignored the knight's sharp yelp from being singed and driven away by Ruby.

Dragons were some of the most honorable creatures in the world. When they made a promise, you knew that it would be kept until their death. It made them some of the most reliable people out there if you wanted a job done.

With their powers, it made sense why they were often hired as protection or guards. No one was quite sure whether they were the ones who started tower guarding or if one person hired them and others soon realized the potential, but a dragon guarding someone, usually a royal, was now a time-honored tradition.

Though at least dragons had enough sense to stipulate the end of their contract on their defeat, not their death as the original stories told of their fates.

Weiss could admit that sometimes a dragon-guarded tower was a good thing. She'd heard many tales of people going to dragons for protection and to help them find someone, usually as a way to escape their current life and start anew.

What she couldn't understand is when a dragon would guard a tower and essentially imprison the person against their will, usually hired at the behest of an evil mastermind or jealous monarch or scheming parent.

Or her father, who was all three.

Weiss had to remind herself that as nice as Ruby was, she wasn't her friend. She'd been hired by her father to find her a worthy suitor, after all, and she wouldn't let Weiss leave until one had been found.

By the gods, Ruby had seemed downright amused with Weiss's initial escape attempts.

Once Weiss had resigned herself to being stuck here, it wasn't… too awful. Ruby was nice enough and excitable, constantly chatting about this and that. She was a stark, and almost welcome, contrast to the quiet and cold courts Weiss had grown up in.

Weiss actually found herself… liking the dragon.

But Ruby was here to do a job.

Regardless of how Weiss felt about any of this.

"Why don't you give any of these guys a chance?" Ruby asked after she'd sent another knight away.

"Because they're not really interested in me." Weiss didn't look up from her book, but she could sense Ruby's pout.

"I don't believe that. I mean, why would they go to the trouble of rescuing you if they weren't interested in you? Jaune seems pretty interested." Ruby pointed out.

Jaune was one of her more frequent so-called rescuers, actually attempting to defeat Ruby more than once. But if Weiss was being honest, his companion, the famous warrior Pyrrha, had a better chance than he did. Both in terms of trying to actually beat Ruby and in her own interests. Pyrrha didn't come for Weiss though, her attention always on Jaune instead.

And with Jaune? Well, the way he always looked over to Pyrrha for approval spoke of something more between them. In terms of wooing her, she did give points for his attempts to serenade her, as no one else had tried that, though it was still terrible.

Though that wasn't the full reason she rejected Jaune. As well as her many other suitors.

"First of all," Weiss closed her book, pinching the bridge of her nose before looking at Ruby, "I have no intention of getting involved in whatever is going on between him and Pyrrha."

"Ahh, yeah. I guess there might be something there."

Weiss nodded, glad at her easy acceptance, and opened her book back up.

"What about the other thing?"

Weiss looked back up. "What?"

"You said, 'First of all,' meaning that there's more." Ruby pointed out, settling in the chair across from Weiss, eyes never leaving her face as if studying it. "And you never said why these guys wouldn't be interested in you."

Weiss sighed, knowing by that look that Ruby wasn't going to let this go. "I know they're not interested in me." She set her book aside.

Ruby raised an eyebrow at that. Weiss felt a thrill at knowing Ruby had picked that up from her. The dragon's first attempts at it after they met had been atrocious.

But anyway…

"Do you know what exactly my father is offering these suitors?"

Ruby's face scrunched up. "A possibility of love?"

"Land. Money. Prestige. A higher position in court and a royal title. His favor." Weiss listed these on her fingers. "And of course, me. But I'm more of a consolation prize, a means to an end. Despite what you think, love has nothing to do with this."

Ruby's eyes went wide, and she blinked at her. "What? How do you even know that they don't want you?"

Weiss stares back at her. Was there ever a time when she was so naive? She purses her lips, trying to find a way to explain in a way she'd understand. "Except for the few like Jaune who actually see me as a person, none of them say my name. They don't even look at me." Her hands curled into fists in her lap. She looks over to the window. "Some of them I've recognized as already having made courting attempts that I rejected. Believe me when I say that they're not doing this for me.

"They want what they can get from my father. And of course, if they win they'll get me as well, no questions asked." Weiss took a deep breath and opened her hands to smooth the skirt. Then she snorted. "Of course, the couple who I rejected that were technically interested in me did not have any notions of love in their regard for me. Those were the worst." Her fingers grazed the scar on her face. "And apparently, I'm supposed to be grateful for their interest, for their consideration of any other benefits marrying me would gain them, because I'm damaged—"

"Weiss." Warm fingers wrapped around her own and drew them away from her face. "You're not - Why would - "

Weiss sighed again, before moving her gaze up to meet Ruby's eyes. "Listen, Ruby, I…" Her voice trailed off as she took in Ruby's expression.

Ruby looked stricken, as if someone had stabbed her in the gut. Within her eyes, Weiss saw anger, concern, and something she couldn't name battling for dominance. However, Ruby closed her off from that fight as she shut her eyes and took a deep breath. When they opened back up, all of the previous emotions that had crossed her face were gone, replaced with a seriousness that Weiss had never seen from Ruby before.

"Weiss," Ruby looked her right in the eye, her hand tightening around Weiss's, "I need you to answer me honestly."

Weiss frowned, her brow furrowing as she studied Ruby. "I have been?" She wasn't in the habit of lying outside of court pleasantries or when she was trying to please her father. She much preferred being straightforward and often wished others would return the sentiment.

"This is important." And Weiss could tell that it was to her. "Weiss, did you agree to being put in this tower?"

"No." Weiss didn't know why she was asking this. "Why would I? I have little desire to get married, much less to someone my father's chosen or who wishes for glory. This was just his final measure to force it."

Ruby's eyes flashed, the silver burning with a fire that made Weiss ironically freeze in place.

Ruby was angry.

She didn't say anything but Weiss could feel it, an oppressive weight in the air, a growl hissing at the edges of her hearing.

But Weiss didn't know why.

Ruby took another deep breath and her anger released somewhat and was replaced with something more melancholic. "Thank you for your honesty, Weiss." And with that she let go of Weiss's hand and retreated to the other side of the room.

Weiss's fingers twitched, already missing the warmth. "Ruby…" Weiss didn't know what to say. She didn't understand why she was acting like this; after all, it wasn't like she hadn't known this already, right? "Ruby, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Ruby wouldn't look at her, but she must have sensed the flat look Weiss sent her. "Okay, I'm upset, but not - not with you."

Weiss didn't get it. "If you say so."

"I do."

Silence settled over them, but it wasn't like the comfortable silences they usually shared. This one… hurt for some reason, and Weiss wasn't sure why. Or what she could do about it.

Weiss hesitated in picking her book back up. Maybe she could be a bit more honest.

"This… wasn't my choice. Being here." She said, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Ruby curl into herself just a bit more. "But…

"Meeting you hasn't…been…completely terrible." Honest Weiss may tend to be, but she didn't usually let herself be vulnerable. Not with how she was raised. She hoped Ruby got the message nonetheless.

She heard a small huff of amusement, which was enough for Weiss to pick up her book and finally get back to reading.

As she lost herself among the pages, she heard a very soft, "Thanks, Weiss."

And that was that.

Ruby seemed to throw herself even harder into her role as protector and keeper after their conversation.

A fire had been lit in her, though Weiss had no clue what had sparked it.

Ruby judged each suitor with a much more careful eye than before, though she still checked with Weiss for the final decision. The ones like Jaune, Pyrrha, Neptune, and a couple others who at least called Weiss by name she treated much more gently than the ones who viewed Weiss as a prize. But at the end of the day, all of them were sent away.

Weiss wasn't sure what to make of it. Technically, everything was the same as before, but something had changed. She just wasn't sure what.

And when they weren't getting unwanted visitors, Weiss and Ruby became even closer. That unquantifiable change affected them here too, as Ruby seemed to take more care with her words and Weiss, despite part of her telling her not to, found herself talking more about what life in the castle had been like now that her ire with her father was out in the open.

Eventually, Weiss found the courage to ask something that'd been on her mind since the very beginning, when the dragon guarding her had been revealed to be an idealistic, cheerful girl.

"Why did you choose to take on this task?" Weiss asked one night as they were gazing at the stars together through the window. It felt safer to ask in the dark.

Ruby was quiet for so long that Weiss wondered if the dragon had fallen asleep and missed her question. However, then there was a soft huff of breath. "I wanted it to be like the old stories," she admitted quietly.

Weiss's forehead scrunched up as she glanced at her. "The ones where the knight slays the dragon?"

"Sort of." Ruby snorted. "I wanted to protect people, to save someone. Whether as a hero or a dragon, I just wanted to help."

"Oh."

Ruby had wanted to save someone.

Ruby had probably thought that she was helping Weiss somehow.

But by now she surely knew better.

Weiss sighed and leaned closer to Ruby in invitation. Ruby took the chance as she closed the distance and dropped her head onto Weiss's shoulder.

For a moment, they just basked in the other's presence before Weiss lifted a hand and began tracing the constellations above. "How familiar are you with star legends?"

Ruby made a negative sound, but listened as Weiss weaved the stories behind the sky's tapestry, guiding Ruby through each pattern.

It was a good distraction and Weiss could feel Ruby's mood lift, even though her heart still sank in her chest.

She wished Ruby could save her, but that seemed as reachable a goal as the stars up in the sky.

Of course, Weiss knew it had to come to an end.

Her father had started all of this so he could expedite her marriage without giving her much choice. With Ruby's defense and judgement though, no one had yet been able to even touch the tower.

So there was no way he wouldn't have something to say about all this.

"Weiss! Get down here!"

Both Weiss and Ruby stiffened as the strident voice came through the window. Weiss scowled as she recognized it, but a glance at Ruby made her pause.

Ruby looked furious.

"Ru-" Ruby was out the window and transformed before the name left Weiss's lips.

She ran to the window to find Ruby growling at her father and his retinue of guards.

Her father took several steps back in surprise, his guards lifting their weapons slightly. He then rallied and growled right back. "You…"

Ruby snarled. "You've got some nerve coming here."

"Me? What have you been doing?" Weiss's father demanded. "I expected you to choose an advantageous husband and hand her over by now! Do you know how much you are costing me with this stunt!"

Ruby's eyes narrowed. "Money? That's your concern? Not your daughter or her happiness?"

He rolled his eyes. "I have Whitley to take the throne with Winter already out of the way. Weiss is just a spare to find a good use for."

Weiss rolled her eyes right back. It's nothing she hadn't heard before, but…

Ruby let out a puff of smoke. "You lied."

He blinked. "What?"

Her tail lashed back and forth. "You lied to me."

His composure broke, as he began to nervously look back and forth. "I… I don't know what you mean."

"You told me that Princess Weiss asked for a dragon to help her find love. You told me that this was her choice." She rose to her full height. "You lied. She didn't want this at all."

Weiss took in a sharp breath.

That had been the piece she'd been missing. The thing that finally brought all this together. She smiled softly as her chest ached.

Ruby really hadn't meant to keep her prisoner.

As per usual, the fault lay with her father.

"There are consequences to lying to a dragon," Ruby said in a low voice.

Her father laughed brokenly. "So what if I lied? You already gave your promise. You are bound to it and there's nothing you can do."

Weiss blinked. Maybe she could use that.

"Ruby!" She called. Both Ruby and her father jumped before directing their attention to her.

"What?"

"What exactly was your vow? What did you promise?" Weiss asked.

Ruby tilted her head, her eyes sweeping over her. "I… I promised… that I would guard you and protect you until you found a partner of your choice."

Weiss smirked. "So it's not like we have to stay here, right? Your promise didn't mention anything like that."

Ruby's eyes widened.

Her father began to splutter. "You listen here, Weiss, you will not be leaving this tower-"

"Besides," Weiss said softly, for only Ruby to hear, "I have found someone that I think I'd like to be partners with." She held out her hand to Ruby, and her smile softened into something more genuine. "If you'd like that."

The world was still as the two of them stared at each other.

Then Ruby lunged.

Within moments, Weiss found herself nestled between the ridges on Ruby's back, in the perfect position to hang on as Ruby spread her wings wide.

Her father blustered about, even as he and his guards backed up, buffeted against the wind of Ruby's wings. "Now just a minute, you two-"

But he was easily ignored as Weiss could only listen to Ruby. "I would like that."

And they were gone.

Weiss gasped as they launched into the air and found herself higher than she could have ever imagined. She carefully leaned over, eyes roving over the land that was a blur below them, as what they had just done sunk in.

She laughed, and she could feel the rumble beneath her as Ruby did too.

They were free.

"Where to now?" She shouted to be heard over the rush of the wind.

"Anywhere you'd like," Ruby replied. "But wherever we go, we'll go together."

"Promise?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Weiss could practically feel Ruby's grin.

"I promise."

AN: So fun fact about dragons, if someone lies to them to extract a vow from them, that vow is now void. The moment Ruby learned that Jacques lied to her, she no longer had to keep the promise and guard Weiss. She stayed though because she cared for Weiss and she figured he'd just trick some other dragon, one who may not care that this isn't what Weiss wants, to do his bidding. It was her way of trying to protect Weiss after she realized her screw-up. Other consequences for lying to dragons is being allowed to eat the person and essentially getting blacklisted among dragons that actually have morals.

Also, about an hour after the escape, both Weiss and Ruby realize that they left all their stuff back there, so Ruby ends up asking Yang to get the stuff that they want to keep. There was no way they could go back after such a dramatic exit. Luckily, Yang laughed at them but agreed to help. Between her and Blake, they easily managed to get in and out.