Chapter XXII: Relation is Blood, Family is Loyalty
During his cousins' long conversation with his friends, Jaune had made his way back to the dormitories, and very quickly found himself twiddling his thumbs. Given the events of the past year, he really never had any time to himself. If he wasn't doing school work, he was training with Pyrrha and his teammates. When he wasn't doing that, he was fighting the White Fang and Torchwick's gang with Team RWBY. That then led into the tournament, which ate up the time dedicated to fighting crime, where the only reprieve was winning the tournament, and finally getting together with Pyrrha. Left to his own devices, Jaune wasn't sure what to do. He would usually turn to his friends, but that option was taken away from him thanks to his cousins. What was he to do in the meantime?
Exiting his room, he mulled over the idea of going to the library, something he had done on a number of occasions, when he noticed that the door of Team RWBY's room was left ajar. He knew that Weiss or Blake would have certainly made sure the door was closed and locked before leaving, thus causing him to zero in on it. There was no indication that it had been broken into, but he nevertheless approached it slowly, gripping Crocea Mors as he did. He peered in, trying to catch a glimpse if there was anything amiss, but the door wasn't open enough to see the entirety of the room. He listened intently, trying to hear if there was someone inside, but when he heard nothing, he decided to push the door open, and entered the dorm. With a quick scan of the room, Jaune could tell that nothing was wrong, at least without rummaging through Team RWBY's belongings; which would not only be inappropriate, but fruitless, as he didn't have an inventory list to verify if anything had been stolen. As the window was also closed, he concluded that indeed the girls had simply forgotten to lock up before heading out, and he had merely jumped the gun. Jaune relaxed his grip on his sword, and was about to leave, when he finally took a good hard look at the beds that Team RWBY "slept" in.
It truly was a precarious sleeping arrangement, and it baffled him that Weiss and Blake would have allowed such a thing for so long. Ruby's bed was unevenly suspended from the ceiling just above Weiss', with thick ropes tied from the corner posts to the rafters. More ropes were tied in order to give Ruby a makeshift canopy, which secretly revealed how childish the younger captain still was. This was furthered in comparison to Weiss, as her bed was immaculately made, and Ruby's was a mess. She'd deny it of course, but Jaune had many younger sisters, and they would do the same things as her. Blake's bed was hardly any better, as it was raised above Yang's upon a dozen or so books at each corner post. It was certainly level, but it wasn't much safer than Ruby's setup; one bump of the book stacks, and it would all come crashing down. Their beds were somewhat made, though the Xiao Long sisters were showing they truly were more related than they let on.
What the girls did share in common, was how they organized the traditional two shelf bookcase. It sat beneath the arched top casement window, with red hang up curtains that matched the bed covers. Starting from each corner were Team RWBY's books; matching their personalities to a tee. The top left were Ruby's, containing reloading manuals, ballistic charts, ammunition encyclopedias, and what to Jaune appeared to be several notebooks. In reality they were Ruby's sniper log books, for as long as she had been wielding Crescent Rose, she logged every shot taken; even after missions. Just below were Weiss' books, which were a mixture of Dust and history texts, and rapier treatises. Beside them were Yang's motorcycle repair manuals, magazines, and parts catalogues, showing how one-track minded she was. Just above were Blake's romance novels, which Jaune realized were nothing but, and they continued on the top of the bookcase, with several more on her bed. He couldn't be entirely sure, but he suspected that the Faunus had been increasing her collection over the course of the year, with a large number of new editions after the conclusion of the Vytal Tournament. While each member of Team RWBY had their own tastes and interests, all of their books were perfectly organized by category or genre, displaying they could keep organized when they wanted to.
Jaune's eyes scanned the sight from stem to stern, causing him to roll his tongue over his teeth in consternation. He'd have assumed that from the start of the school year, Weiss would complain about the structural integrity, which the beds did not seem to have. Blake would also be irritated by the mistreatment of the books used to elevate one of the beds; though given that it was her bed on which the books rested on, perhaps these particular tomes weren't as precious. Nevertheless, Team RWBY had slept this way the entire year, and somehow it had lasted without issue—as far as he was aware. No doubt it would stay that way until their graduation, or it collapsed—during the night most likely. He continued to gaze upon the teetering eyesore for a few moments more, when an idea sprang into his mind, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Why the Hell not?" he asked himself, before turning back to his dorm room to fetch a few things that he would need.
λΛλ
The others were now on the northern border of the Beacon campus and the Commercial District, chatting as they walked, as Pyrrha frowned at her Scroll.
"Nothing yet?" asked Nora.
"No" the redhead replied with a concerned expression on her face. "He hasn't replied to my texts, and when I called, it went to voicemail."
"Maybe he left his Scroll somewhere or turned it off?" suggested Ren.
"Perhaps, as it did ring several times before going to voicemail, which obviously means it's not dead or turned off. What could he be doing?"
"I wouldn't worry" assured Lawrence with a smile. "He's not getting himself into any mischief. If he doesn't reply soon, I can simply wait for him or ride to the dormitory myself."
"How about we divide into two parties?" suggested Weiss. "Half goes on ahead to find a place to eat, and the other half waits for Jaune?"
"Sounds like a plan" agreed Sun. "I can lead the restaurant half. Who's hanging back?"
"He is our cousin, so Lawrence and I shall wait for him" Octavia offered.
"Alrighty. Let's go."
Sun headed away with Neptune, Weiss, Blake, Ren, and Nora, leaving Lawrence and Octavia with Pyrrha, Yang, and Ruby behind.
"You two didn't have to stay" Pyrrha said.
"It's all good" Yang replied. "I can go over some plans of attack with Octavia in getting some boyfriends while we wait."
Ruby gave her sister a peeved look, which Pyrrha noticed and giggled softly, seeing how the younger Xiao Long was not interested in such things.
"Should we head back to the dorm? It would be the best place to find Jaune" the redhead suggested.
"I think we shall" Lawrence agreed with a smile. "Lead the way, Pyrrha."
The group was about to make their way to the dormitory, when a familiar face approached them.
"Excuse me, Miss Nikos" they said, causing Pyrrha and the others to halt and turn to see that it was Winter.
"Major" she replied, surprised to see her. It was the first time they had spoken since their initial meeting with the Order, and she hadn't appeared since; no doubt busy with the White Army after their advance on the White Fang. Lawrence and Octavia immediately stood at attention and saluted before bowing, which caused Winter to eye them curiously. "How are you?"
"I am alright, thank you. Yourself? And congratulations on your victory" she returned.
"I'm very well, and thank you. What can I help you with?"
"I was making my way to the flagship when I began to hear word that there was a great commotion on the northern border of the campus. Some students mentioned hearing something, and I decided to investigate myself."
"Forgive us, Major Schnee, we were the ones who caused the disturbance" apologized Lawrence.
"And you are?"
"Second Lieutenant Lawrence Arc and Second Lieutenant Octavia Arc of the Valian Border Guard—currently on leave" he replied in the expected manner a soldier should when speaking to a superior officer. "It is an honour to meet you, Major."
"These are Jaune's cousins" added Pyrrha. "They've come to visit us, and we...decided to spar in the Forest of Forever Fall."
"If we would have known that our battles would have drawn such attention, we would have headed further north. Our deepest apologies" Octavia said respectfully.
"So long as it was not a Grimm attack and no one was seriously injured, then there is nothing to fret over" Winter dismissed. "It is a shame I did not arrive sooner, for it would have been interesting to see another vigorous match of yours, Miss Nikos. Unfortunately, my colleague is incredibly leaden-footed." Before any of them could ask who that was, the elder Schnee sister turned her head and shouted at the end of the road between the Concept Research building and the Staff Dormitory. "Would you please hurry up?"
"I'm coming, damn it!" shouted back a rough voice, one that the Beaconites all recognized. From around the corner came Qrow, hunched over with his hands in his pockets, and a tired expression on his face, laced with annoyance.
"Uncle Qrow!" cried Ruby excitedly, which brightened the older Huntsman's face considerably; in relation to his usual somber tone.
"Hey kiddo. You and your sister aren't causing trouble, are you?"
"Is that what you always expect us to be doing?" shot back Yang defensively.
Qrow shrugged. "Nothing's changed since you two were ankle-biters—except that you make much bigger messes now." His eyes rested on Pyrrha, who he could tell was a bit tense, given they hadn't spoken since the end of the tournament. Undoubtedly she had questions, but this was neither the time nor the place, and decided to continue playing ignorant. "Congrats on your victory, Nikos."
"Thank you, Mr. Branwen" Pyrrha replied, understanding the purpose of his slightly stand-offish attitude.
"Are you gonna be staying here until we go back home for summer vacation?" asked Ruby. "We could go back together."
"Depends if I get called for a mission or not" he replied before eyeing Winter, "or this one keeps dragging me around pointlessly."
"I will be heading back to Atlas soon enough" she retorted coldly, eyeing him back. "Then we can avoid being in one another's hair—at least for a little while."
"That's a shame. I thought we were finally getting along."
Winter just glared at him with irritation, knowing that most of the time they got on each other's nerves, though it was usually her being the one to shoulder the annoyance. He could be serious and pleasant when he wanted to be; the main issue being that he never seemed to want to be either, leaving their joint missions rather tense.
"So what are you kids up to?" Qrow asked, ignoring Winter's disapproval.
"We're waiting for Jaune, or rather trying to find him as he's not answering his Scroll" Pyrrha answered. "Then we plan to take lunch together."
"And then buy more a candy since these things ate all of mine" glared the younger Xiao Long sister at the white stallions, who both nickered. "I take back all the nice things I said about you. You're hair isn't pretty, and I don't want to ride either of you now."
Qrow smirked at her childish antics, and reached for his wallet, pulling out several Lien bills.
"In that case, here's some money to replace them" he offered.
"Yay! Thank you!"
"Dad's not gonna like that" reminded Yang.
"What Tai doesn't know won't hurt him" her uncle shrugged, hiding the pang of pain that very phrase caused.
"Why don't you three go on ahead" suggested Lawrence, causing Pyrrha to look up at him in confusion.
"Are you sure? Maybe something happened?"
"Don't worry your pretty head. Jaune is alright, and we will be able to find him and return much faster on our own. If we can cover one hundred and fifty leagues in two and a half days, then what is a pair of leagues? It will take a quarter to three quarters of an hour at most—you have my word" he reassured, smiling and resting his hand on her left shoulder. Pyrrha remained quiet for a moment, before slowly nodding in agreement, his voice and smile as comforting as ever.
"Alrighty, let's go" Yang grinned. "See you, Uncle!"
"Bye and thanks again!" Ruby squealed, dashing to Qrow and hugging him tightly before he could react. He smirked once more, and rubbed her head, her never-ending warm positivity making him feel better than any spirit he'd ever tasted.
"Don't sweat it. Just don't get sick on sugar, OK?" he warned softly, to which she promised she wouldn't and took off after the first group, tailed by Yang. Pyrrha bowed respectfully to Qrow and Winter, as well as her future cousins, before following her friends and disappearing from view.
This left the Knights with the elder Huntsmen, which immediately felt off, as the blonds maintained eye contact with the Branwen heir, who also stared back silently. Winter noticed this, and was about to speak, when her usually aloof colleague spoke first, his voice free of his usual indifference.
"Take a walk, Winter" he stated without looking at her.
"Excuse me?" she asked, not understanding why he would tell her to leave. The situation was strange enough as it was, and she wanted clarification. However, she would not have it right then.
"I said take a walk, soldier. That's an order" Qrow repeated in a rare display of authority.
Winter looked at him stunned. He officially had no rank or command that overshadowed her own, and it was only within the Order than he held seniority. It was the latter he was resting on at present, and it was clear that for whatever reason, he meant it. She looked back at the Arcs for a moment, before stepping away, and marched back in the direction she initially came. When he assumed she was no longer in ear-shot, Qrow sighed bitterly.
"Right then" he said, scratching the back of his head slowly with a grimace.
Fast as lightning, Lawrence and Octavia reached for their swords, taking powerful stances, ready to draw, and glared at him with the fury of a thousand suns.
"Vile Branwen!" cursed Lawrence, his normally warm and cheery face now clenched with his teeth bared and venom in his eyes.
Qrow nodded at the insult, fully aware that they knew who he was, or rather what he was. When Pyrrha had addressed him, their body language changed. As slight as it was, it was enough for him to put two and two together, and he knew he would need to address it in private.
"Not a fan of my family, I see" he remarked obviously.
"How can someone like you be associated with a Lady such as Major Schnee?" Lawrence demanded angrily. "And how can you walk so freely in Albion?"
"Well, Jimmy brought her along, to be fair" Qrow replied, not including the truth of their relationship. "And I'm a Huntsman and a citizen of Vale—which was a free Kingdom last time I checked. I Hunt within Vale, I recycle my bottles, I pay my taxes, so I can go where I please. Let me guess, my family is responsible for the death of someone of yours?"
"Our grandfather!" growled Octavia, just as furious as her cousin. "You poisoned him, robbing him of seeing the faces of his grandchildren yet to be born, and his beautiful great-grandson born only a few months ago. The pain you have caused us and our grandmother is beyond description. Only with your death will justice be served."
"And when was this?" Qrow asked.
"A decade ago—as if you didn't know" Lawrence sneered.
"I didn't. In my defense, I abandoned the clan nearly twenty years ago, graduating from Beacon in that time, spent some time teaching at Signal, and now I work as a full-time Huntsman. Whatever assassinations Atli ordered since then, have nothing to do with me."
"And who is that?"
"The head of the Branwens—unless he's been killed since I've been gone, though knowing my old man, he's doing just fine—the rotten bastard."
This only worsened matters, as the Arcs hadn't known he was the son of their grandfather's murderer, and were now poised for battle.
"Damn you to Hell" Lawrence growled, his mind set on killing Qrow as his armour began to glow gold.
"This means that Yang and Ruby are his grandchildren" spat Octavia, feeling sullied for having touched the shorter blonde. "To think I liked those girls, whose blood is as black as Grimm–"
"Leave my nieces out of this!" snapped Qrow, now showing true hostility, causing the Knights to tense further, and expecting an attack. "Yang is only half Branwen, and Ruby is neither full nor half. Yang's mother was my sister, and Ruby's was our teammate, who married their father after my sister was killed. Now both are dead, and neither of their daughters know of the Branwen legacy, and it's going to stay that way. If you so much as tell them a single thing about what evil my family have done, and still do, then I'll take your heads. If you want to hate my father and his sins, then aim it at me, got it?"
Qrow now appeared to the Knights far more imposing than he first had, and the ire in his dark-red eyes, that for a moment flashed bright, was on par with that of their uncle. It made them cautious, but they did not waver.
"Hate is what we feel in every breath" Lawrence said at last, "but death is what you deserve, till none of your horrid House remains."
The lone Branwen remained silent, gazing into the eyes of both Arcs, seeing the flames raging within them.
"You're right" he agreed. "I deserve to die. I should've died a long time ago, but I happen to have the rotten luck of being cursed with such tenacity it gives cockroaches a run for their money. If killing me would bring you any peace, I'd let you. But there are still things that I want to protect. And since that's all I'm good for, I'm going to keep living."
"And what do you protect, Branwen? Your family?"
"Yes, but not the one you think. I left the clan long ago with Raven to escape our fate. We chose to become Huntsmen to atone for our evil bloodline. On that path, my sister brought a little girl into the world, and like the old saying goes, 'No good deed goes unpunished', as two days later, she was killed. My brother-in-law managed to pick up the pieces and fall in love again, had another child, and then her mother was also killed. Those two girls, Yang and Ruby, are all Tai and I have of the two most important women in our lives. They are my family, and I would give up my life a thousand times over for them. Even my brother-in-law, who hates the shit out of my guts—I'd die for him without question. Blood makes you related, but loyalty is what makes you family. So as much as I should be killed and left to rot, my family is worth fighting for, and I don't want to cause them anymore pain by dying so soon. I'll give you the one warning: if you want to kill me" he rested his right hand onto Harbinger's hilt, and his eyes began to glow red, "I'm not gonna make it easy for you brats, so pick your poison."
Lawrence and Octavia tensed, feeling the great pressure he was releasing, as he began to unshackle the invisible restraints he normally kept on himself. The cold and unrelenting seriousness in his eyes and face sent a chill that passed right through them despite the warm summer sun above. He very well meant what he had threatened, and there would be major consequences if he followed through. Word would undoubtedly reach north, stirring up House Arc into a fury, and they would prepare for an all out war with the Branwen clan. How far would Lord Angus go for vengeance?; to avenge his father, and his niece and nephew if they failed to kill Qrow. Lawrence knew exactly what his uncle would do, and how far his family would go to defend their own. Then the thought about how Jaune and his friends would react to all of this. Whose side would he stand by? Would Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren remain loyal? Would they survive? Would their friendships stand such a tribulation? Did they even deserve to go through such stress so soon? At that, Lawrence let go of his sword and stood straight.
"Stand down, Octavia" he said firmly, not taking his eyes off Qrow.
"What?" she demanded, looking at him in shock.
"Consisite et quiete (Halt and stand at ease)" he repeated, making it clear that he was giving her an order.
Despite standing at his side, she could see the look in his eye, and she understood it wasn't an act of cowardice. Reluctantly, she released her grip on her sword, and stood with her feet apart and her arms behind her back, her right hand grasping her left wrist. Qrow removed his hand from his weapon, but maintained eye contact with Lawrence in silence for several moments, before finally speaking.
"Not a word to the girls or their friends, got it?" he reaffirmed coldly, holding his gaze to drive the point home.
Without saying more, he walked passed them, and turned westward towards the airship harbour. The Arc Knights watched him go, both trying to fathom what had just occurred, and wrestling with the emotions that had been brought to bear.
"Not exactly as he appears, is he?" came Winter's voice, causing the blonds to snap to her, and quickly stand at attention.
"Major" they addressed respectfully, with Lawrence continuing to speak. "Please forgive our insubordination. It was a personal matter we allowed to get out of hand–"
"At ease, soldiers" the Atlassian commanded, cutting the blond off. "I am fully aware of the Branwens and their sins against the world."
"Then how can you possibly work with the heir of such a vile House?" demanded Octavia.
"Because I have worked with him for over two years, and I was only made aware of his family history afterwards. For the record, I had only heard the name 'Branwen' mentioned once by my grandfather when I was a child, and had not an inkling of their history. Clearly he is not the most cheery of individuals, and can be hard to work with. However, he is a close friend of the Huntmaster-General—ever since they were students—thus I can vouch for his upstandingness...within reason" she explained. "I trust General Ironwood with my life, therefore, I can rely on his judgement of character, even if Qrow and I started off on the wrong foot. After two years of assignments together, I think of him as a friend as well."
Winter noticed the incredulousness in their faces, and decided to take a softer approach.
"Qrow has been through a lot in his life. Despite his appearance, he was being honest with you about his love for his nieces. I've come to understand him better over the course of our time together, and have become aware of some of the things he keeps secret about himself—one being his love for his family. There is one secret however, that I discovered in which he hides from everyone. It is his most veiled truth about himself, and it is one that he refuses to allow the world to know."
"And what would that be?" Lawrence asked, though of course not expecting in the slightest for the Major to grant him a response. To his and his cousin's surprise, she did.
"That he is a good man. Despite his foul-mouth, his drinking, his lecherousness, his unkemptness, his lack of seriousness, his crassitude, and many more flaws, I have never met a more loyal and dedicated man other than the General himself in my life. He has yet to fail a mission, and even with his flaws, any and all assignments I have been on with him, I can attest that his results are unquestionable. I now understand why the General and Huntmaster Ozpin value him so much, which is why I am asking you not to judge him based on his lineage. My own father is not the kindest of men, and his tactlessness has resulted in people's dislike of him to be passed onto me. Even more so, his nieces, who are teammates and friends of my sister—and that of your cousin Jaune might I add—have not an ounce of knowledge on the Branwens, and therefore are even more undeserving of the hate towards the clan of the Bird of Death. The sins of the father are not that of the child. As for Qrow, evil may have created him, evil may have left its mark on him, but evil has never ruled him. I would expect members of the House of the Lion to judge people on their behaviour and character, rather than their name and relatives."
"What would you know of us?" Octavia demanded, allowing her emotions to ignore rank. "You admitted you only learned of the Branwens recently. We have not forgotten their evil—no matter the era. Even if he is as good of a man as you say, his clan must pay for what they have done to us—and the world. The Arcs will never forget. This is the closest we have ever been to finding their vile stronghold. Justice must be served, and if not us to wield the sword of vengeance and dispense justice, then whom?"
Winter should have put the young officer in her place and filed a report for insubordination. Instead she remained calm. She knew very well why they were angry, and she could not blame them, for she could see herself losing her composure if she were in their boots. Unbeknownst to them, Qrow shared their hatred to such a vicious extent that he would gladly lead an assault on his former home. More than once had he voiced his desire to take his father's head and burn their ancient stronghold to the ground, ridding Remnant of them and allowing the name and bloodline of Branwen to end with him. It was why Qrow had continued to experiment with poisons for so long; using the Branwen's knowledge for good by trying to find cures for toxin his family were responsible for, as well as common ones. Winter wanted to make things clear, as she knew Qrow wouldn't try to defend himself, but in light of recent events, she understood why he was so much more on edge and self-loathing. Choosing her words carefully, she instead decided to let them know she was privy to more than they assumed.
"It is true that I only became aware of the Branwens after being introduced to Qrow. He has explained in sickening detail the meticulous cruelty they experiment and catalogue their craft, and that they have fully earned the title of the most hated House. However..." her expression and tone changed as her light-blue eyes passed over the Knights, very akin to a big cat, "I have become well versed in the forgotten history of Remnant during my time with him. That means I do know of your family—Colonel Maximilian Arc and Major Angus Arc especially. Tell me, how many Knights now fly your banner since the end of the Great War? Hundreds? Thousands? If I remember a conversation I had with the General correctly, your uncle is fond of saying 'Acta non verba' (Actions not words). Wise words indeed, which I will offer some of my own—justice moves slowly and remorselessly upon its path, but it reaches its goal eventually. Now if you would excuse me, I must return to the Veðrfölnir. Good day."
With that, Winter saluted the junior officers who returned it, and she walked down the same path Qrow had taken, leaving them with their horses. The blonds remained in silence, feeling a combination of shame and frustration. It was truly humiliating to have been thoroughly thrashed on their own code of conduct, especially when they knew it better than anyone. It was true beyond a doubt that character mattered more than anything, as good people can come from poverty, and wicked people can come from nobility. While they weren't certain how much the Atlassian Major truly knew about their family, it was very apparent she knew enough to make her point loud and clear. What drove them to such a maddening conundrum, was just how personal this situation was for them. They loved their grandfather, as did their entire family, and they felt as much as they saw the pain his death caused them.
In the most private depth of their large family library, were special tomes that documented the forgotten families and history of the Kingdom of Vale. In one tome in particular, there was a single, solitary chapter on the Branwens. So little was there in the visible world of their existence, and as the years went by, further and further into the darkness their infamy faded; to their benefit no doubt. So much of their legacy was covered in secrecy and dark omens, making it impossible to separate fact from fiction. Nonetheless, the chapter that had been written on that House, spoke of their cruelty, their love of death, their skill in assassination and poisons, that they were one of the oldest and longest living Houses in Vale, and that their eyes glowed red when they decided to kill; in the rare instances that they fought in open combat. They were undoubtedly the most hated House, and the Arcs were one of the few that still remembered that fact. Alas, the reality that Qrow Branwen, son of Atli Branwen, was a friend of the most esteemed Huntsmen and military officers in Remnant, spoke volumes of who he truly was. It was a sobering experience to say the least.
"Mount up" Lawrence said at last, which Octavia complied without resistance, and mounted Aemilius as her cousin mounted Julius. In silence, they brought their stallions to a trot, and rode to the dormitory with plenty to think about.
λΛλ
Half an hour had passed since Pyrrha, Yang, and Ruby joined up with the others. They had decided to eat at the Thundering White Horses Tavern, something they found most appropriate for the Knights of Arc. The others had obviously remembered the establishment from Jaune and Pyrrha's recounting of their date, and when they came across the magnificent sign that hung above the large front doors of the tavern, it was a done deal they would dine there. The owners also remembered Pyrrha, as if anyone could forget her, and offered her entire party the veranda, which they of course accepted graciously. Yang, who had been given Octavia's Scroll number and sent her the name and address of the tavern, though no doubt Jaune could lead them here when they caught up with him. Unfortunately, other than saying thank you, not one of the Arcs had contacted them to say they had located Jaune, or that they were on their way. Pyrrha herself had tried several times to reach her love, but was still unable to elicit a response from him. This fed her worry, as this wasn't like him in the least.
'Jaune, what are you doing?' she asked herself, gazing at the string of texts and missed calls on the screen of her Scroll.
"Don't worry" Nora assured, causing her friend to look up at her. "They'll find him, and even if they don't, we'll just go back and wait for him at the dorms. He just got bored without you and wandered off."
Her words caused the redhead to smile, if but a small one.
"I know. I just can't help but worry" she replied.
"Trust me, I know" Nora agreed, giving Ren a quick glance, who was currently in a deep conversation with Neptune on the best method for cooking eel. "I worry about him all the time, even though I know he's more than smart enough to stay safe."
Pyrrha's smile grew, seeing that her friend was exactly on the same page. What was most amusing to the champion, was that it was usually the other way round. Ren had voiced more than once how protective he was of the energetic ginger, and while it was fully expected, it was still wonderful to hear that Nora felt the same way.
"Even though you're not together-together?" she asked teasingly. The hammeress merely gave her an unimpressed smirk, as if to say "That isn't going to work anymore and you know it".
It was then that the distinct sound of multiple suits of armour shifting caused Pyrrha to quickly look up, expecting to see Jaune emerge from the doors that led to the veranda. To her disappointment, it was his cousins, and he was not among them.
"Forgive our late arrival" Lawrence apologized with his charming smile firmly on his face.
"Where's Jaune?" the redhead asked, hoping that there would be some news.
"Alas, we could not find him, but do not worry. We found his Scroll in his room, as well as his armour and sword. We believe he has merely gone off somewhere to pass the time. He will undoubtedly return to the dormitory once he realizes he forgot it, and will come across the bevy of messages that you've certainly been sending him."
In spite of his words of assurance, Pyrrha's face betrayed her and displayed her concern for Jaune, which brought the older Arc boy to reach out and place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Fear not dear Pyrrha. I know Jaune well, and he is not in any danger. He tends to wander—always would when he was a kid—venturing into the forest, and never once did he get into a predicament that he wasn't able to get himself out of. It may take him longer than most, but he always finds his way back."
Pyrrha looked up into the deep azure eyes of the taller Arc, and felt the weight on her heart lighten considerably. It truly was a gift Lawrence possessed; to speak so profoundly and eloquently. Jaune had displayed he too could speak in such a manner, and though he clearly needed more practice, he thus far had shown he was on the right track. She recalled that he spoke of how much he looked up to his cousin, and how he had been trying to emulate his behaviour. Jaune had indeed been truthful that he may have misunderstood what exactly Lawrence was doing, as the older boy was not a playboy or a vain sweet-talker. He was, as advertized, a Knight, and gave succor like any Knight should.
"Yes, he certainly does" she agreed with a small smile. "Thank you, Lawrence."
"Anything for family" he replied, causing Pyrrha's cheeks to turn pink. "Now then, don't tell me you lot have been sitting here starving while you waited for our return?"
"Yeeeeeees" groaned Nora, throwing her head back in frustration.
"We've been working on appetizers" Sun informed.
"Well that certainly won't do. Let us feast! Order the food and ale!"
The Arcs seated themselves across from Team RWBY, with both of them unable to stop themselves from sneaking glances at the Xiao Long sisters from behind their menus. It truly seemed that Qrow had been telling the truth regarding their knowledge of the Branwen clan. Ruby obviously had not a drop of that foul blood in her veins, which made them feel even more foolish and ashamed for judging her so quickly. It was Yang that now held their focus, as she was, as affirmed by her uncle, half Branwen. Her lilac eyes were nothing like her uncle's, which, if what they knew of the Branwen's was true, were always a dull red. Her hair, a brilliant blonde, even more so than their own, showed just how little she had inherited from her mother. Furthermore, her wild and playful personality was thousands of leagues removed from her uncle's, making the Knights feel, if slightly, less foolish for not realizing her true ancestry. The question that was now at the forefront of their mind, was who was the man that married the daughter of Death's Message-Bearer? He must not have known of her ancestry, which could also be the reason as to why his brother-in-law was so adamant to keeping it all secret. Of course there were questions of why did Atli's heirs leave their hidden stronghold, and how his heirs were permitted to leave for nearly twenty years, but the answers to those questions were none of their business...at least for now.
"Really? At this hour?" asked Ruby with a frown.
"What? I'm having a meal. I can have a few if I want" her older sister defended, looking down the cocktail menu. "Besides, it's five o'clock somewhere."
"The summer sun demands that you have a cold one or two" added Sun with a grin. "You make it sound as if your sister drinks all day long."
"Only when I can go on a proper vacation" the brawler blonde stated matter-of-factly. "And you can't drink all day unless you start in the morning—which we aren't."
"I love the way you think, Xiao Long" grinned the Monkey Faunus, pointing merrily at her.
"Xiao–" began Octavia, her eyes widening just as she caught herself, but it was too late, and Yang looked at the taller blonde curiously.
"Yeah, what's up?" she asked.
Kicking herself mentally for allowing her composure to break, Octavia quickly invented a cover to avoid raising suspicion.
"Forgive me, Yang, but I was merely surprised by your family name, given that you do not share it with your sister. I do not wish to pry, so do not feel any obligation to explain" she said as calmly as she could. "I was in and out while watching the tournament, and never caught your family name."
"There's nothing to explain really" Yang replied, not feeling any shame. "Ruby and I are half sisters with the same dad. I guess it's a bit weird that we don't have the same last name, especially with you super traditional types, but who cares really? She's my sister, and I love her—the little snot."
"Hey" glared Ruby, not appreciating the name-calling, before shifting her focus to the Knights. "Dad wanted me to have mom's name as a memento. Plus Ruby Rose has a better ring to it than Ruby Xiao Long."
"Your father has a thing for word play, does he?" Weiss remarked.
"No, but he loves puns, which makes living with him and Yang a nightmare sometimes."
"You're just jealous because you get left out" Yang teased, who then laughed at her sister's response, which was an adorable pout of annoyance.
Returning to their ordering, as their commotion had drawn the attention of a waitress, both Lawrence and Octavia now had even more to think about than they first realized. Things were far more complicated than they could possibly imagine, and what shocked them more than anything, was that neither sibling had a single iota of knowledge on their heritages. They were left with more questions than answers, which they sensed they would have to wait a great deal of time before gaining any resolutions. For now, they decided without speaking that they would not pry further. Whatever the case may be, neither Ruby nor Yang were attached to their bloodlines, and the reason to why they were ignorant of them, was untenable. Tai, their father, was truly a tragic person, and a far better man than they had assumed. He clearly had raised his daughters well, and that, was what mattered. Secretly the Arcs swore to keep what they knew hidden from them and their friends, and would atone for their immaturity honourably and discreetly.
λΛλ
After their meal, and several pints of various alcoholic beverages, the group decided to return to the Beacon dormitories. Jaune still had not contacted them, and everyone was in agreement that it would be wise to return to campus and wait for the captain of Team JNPR to return. Since the day was on all accounts over thanks to his cousins' unannounced visit, they had no issue with returning to the academy. When they arrived, Lawrence and Octavia offered to remain outside with their horses as scouts while the Huntsmen-in-training headed inside, and made their way to their dorm rooms. Just as they turned from the stairway to the main hall, to their shock, Jaune simultaneously emerged from his room, wiping his hands on a towel. He was wearing his old pants and a simple shirt, which was stained with something none of them could identify, whistling away without a care in the world.
"Jaune!" gasped Pyrrha, both overjoyed to see him, and greatly miffed at how nonchalant he was.
He looked up at her in surprise, and noticed that everyone was looking at him as if he were wearing a jester's outfit.
"Oh hey, Pyrrha. I didn't know you guys were done" he replied honestly.
"We've been trying to reach you for two hours!" cried Nora, causing a wave of guilt to wash over the blond.
"Shit, really?" He entered back into his room, and after a moment, exited with his Scroll, parsing through the sea of messages with his face falling by the second. "Damn, I'm so sorry Pyrrha. I was so busy I didn't even notice."
"As long as you're alright, that's what matters" she replied, smiling in relief. "But I must ask, what were you so absorbed with that you never heard or thought to check your Scroll?"
"Oh uh...I took up a hobby."
"Seriously?" asked Yang, finding it hard to believe. Weiss eyed the boy curiously, when she then noticed that the door to their dorm was slightly ajar.
"Oh for goodness sake!" she exclaimed. "We left the door open!"
"Oops" winced Ruby. "We were in a hurry."
"At least Jaune was here to make sure, if at least by proxy, that nothing would be stolen" the heiress noted, as she walked towards her room.
"Well I did check if there was someone going through your stuff, but I found the room empty" the blond informed as Weiss opened the door, and promptly stood still without entering.
"What's wrong?" asked Ruby, joining her and seeing what she saw. This caused Yang and Blake to bring up the rear, and they opened their mouths in shock.
Their beds that were once arranged in shoddy fashion, were now securely fitted to one another as a pair of bunk beds. The legs had been removed and replaced with proper corner posts, allowing the beds to safely rest on the ground instead of being perched on books or hung from the vaulted ceiling. Ladder stairs were installed at the feet of each top bunk facing the door, making the entire room seem more orderly, as the chaotic display of the original sleeping arrangement, was in all honesty, dangerous.
"When the fuck did this happen?" Yang asked, completely shocked.
"I said I took up a hobby" Jaune repeated, causing Team RWBY to turn and look at him in amazement.
"You made us proper bunk beds?" Weiss asked, feeling incredibly touched by the unexpected gesture.
"I finally had a chance to look at how unsafe this whole thing was, so I figured, what the Hell? Might as well make myself useful instead of just sitting around and twiddle my thumbs" he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not done yet though. I sanded everything down so there's no worry of a rogue splinter, but I still need to paint the wood so it matches. I could have done it before putting it together, but I wanted to get it done ASAP and avoid you girls having to sleep on the mattresses right on the floor."
There was a moment of silence before Ruby took a step forward and jumped at Jaune, grabbing him by the collar and pressing her forehead against his.
"Why didn't you do this sooner?!" she demanded, ecstatic and furious with him. It was a rather comical sight to the others, as Ruby was more than a foot shorter than Jaune, and her feet dangled in the air as she hung onto him.
"H-Hey! I'm sorry, I just didn't think of it until now" he defended honestly. "And it's not like I'm some master carpenter. I've done it with my dad and uncles, helping install fences and barns, but I was able to make bunk beds because of how many I have at home."
"Is that a side business you have going?" asked Blake with a cocked eyebrow.
"I have seven sisters and lots of cousins in the same age range. You better believe that I know how bunk beds are made."
"A good skill to have for the future, huh?" whispered Nora with a grin, nudging Pyrrha, who blushed and nudged her back.
"You did a wonderful job" complimented Weiss as she examined the Arc heir's handiwork. "Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that the faculty will not be so pleased that you have technically 'vandalized academy property' like this, regardless of its ergonomic design and overall improvement."
"Given what damages we've all caused over the course of the school year, I think they'll forgive you" noted Ren.
"So how did things go with my cousins?" Jaune asked at last, noticing that they weren't amongst the group.
"Very well" replied Pyrrha with a smile. "I think that you are in for a wonderful surprise when you get home."
"Really? What makes you say that?"
"Lots of mushy praising from your girl and team, glowing praise from Ruby and Weiss, props from me, Blake, and Neptune, and a thumbs up from Yang" Sun informed, folding his arms.
"It wasn't a hard thing to do" added Neptune. "We just spoke honestly, and it convinced them that you've done the family proud."
"I..." Jaune began, suddenly becoming very aware of his tongue, and he scratched the back of his head. His cheeks tinged red from shyness, feeling incredibly humbled, and he looked at his friends with gratitude. "Thank you, all of you. It means more than you know."
"Anything for the best captain ever" grinned Nora with Ren nodding in agreement, which added to the blond swordsman's blush.
"You should let them know we found you, by the way" Pyrrha noted. Jaune nodded and fished out his Scroll, while Team RWBY eagerly examined their new beds. Sun and Neptune followed suit, with Ren and Nora peering in. "Have you eaten anything?"
Jaune sent his text and looked up at his girlfriend with an expression of sudden awareness.
"No, it totally slipped my mine" he admitted sheepishly.
"Lawrence was not exaggerating about you having a tendency to wander" she smiled with a giggle, and held up a paper bag. "I had a feeling you would be hungry, so I brought you something from the tavern, as we ended up dining at the place we went to on our date."
"Wow thanks, Pyrrha" he replied, accepting the bag graciously. "You didn't have to, ya know. I owe you one."
"Actually, I felt compelled to—but a kiss will do just fine" the redhead said softly, leaning in close, where Jaune closed the remaining distance and kissed her tenderly.
Their teammates noticed this of course, and smirked, always enjoying seeing them express their love. This also caught Yang's attention, provoking a tease of opportunity.
"And there's wifey Pyrrha, making sure that her hubby is well loved and fed" she jeered playfully. "Gonna need a lot of both after what we learned from his cousins. I hope you can cook."
The couple blushed, as both understood what she was referring to, but it came as a surprise to Jaune, as he hadn't known that particular topic had come up.
"I can cook just fine!" Pyrrha shot back. "I'm nowhere near as good as my mother of course, but I have learned all I know from her."
"Did you learn how to cook for a dozen people at a time?" Sun asked, joining in on the fun. "Cuz you're gonna need to learn after we saw just how big his family is."
"Oh no..." groaned Jaune. "They didn't bring out the family tree, did they?"
"Yup" several of the group said in unison, causing the blond to drop his head and scratch the back of his neck.
"Just how many cousins do you have again? Twenty?" asked Neptune.
"More like thirty now..." Jaune corrected with a sigh.
"Time to start training, Nikos" informed Yang, before sticking her thumb at Ren. "You might want to start taking lessons from the amateur chef over here—since he's been cooking for Nora."
The ginger cocked her head at the blonde and placed her hands firmly on her hips.
"I'm a growing girl, and a growing girl needs to eat" she said proudly, fond of both her appetite and Ren's cooking.
Jaune smirked at his teammates, knowing those cooking skills would come in handy when they started their own family, before turning back to Pyrrha.
"I'd like to try your cooking someday" he said softly, scratching his cheek again.
Pyrrha blushed at his tone, but smiled back.
"I'd love you to, though I do need some practice" she replied, equally softly. "I've mostly prepared athletic, high performance meals rather than proper sit-down dishes. I can learn over the summer and be ready for the start of the school year—if you are willing to wait."
"With baited breath."
Jaune leaned forward and captured her lips once more, but was again robbed of fully enjoying the kiss, when he felt his Scroll chime. Reluctantly pulling away, he looked at his device, and his eyes widened in shock.
"What?" he asked in confusion, not understanding the message that had been sent.
"What's wrong?" Pyrrha asked, seeing the concern in his face, gaining the attention of their friends.
"My cousins are leaving" he answered looking up at her. "They're going to head back to Azincourt."
"So soon? Shouldn't they rest, or at least rest their horses?"
"The horses are fine, I just don't understand why they wouldn't stay for longer" Jaune mulled openly.
He quickly entered his room to leave his food on his bed, before jogging straight for the stairs. Pyrrha was right behind him, feeling obligated to say goodbye to her future cousins, but also wanted not to be left behind. Ren and Nora tailed them as well, as they too did not want to be abandoned by their team leaders. In turn, the others brought up the rear, for they heard Jaune's confusion, and wanted to say goodbye to their new friends.
They headed east from the dormitories towards the school swimming pool, and beyond that, was where Jaune's cousins stated they would be waiting for him. In only a few minutes, they spotted the Knights standing beside their horses not far from the road that led back towards the mountains.
"Cognati! (Cousins)" Jaune cried, causing both them and the stallions to raise their heads.
"Well now, we weren't expecting an entire farewell party" Lawrence remarked with a smile.
"Why are you going home already?" demanded Jaune, ignoring the comment.
"We must report our findings to Lord Angus right away" replied Octavia.
"You can just call him!"
"We must do it in person. You know as well as I do—tradition" the taller Arc boy explained.
"You could at least stay another day or two" offered Pyrrha, wanting to hear more stories about their family and to get better acquainted with the cousins Jaune cared most for.
"We certainly would like to, as this is our first ever visit to the capital, but sadly, we must return home as soon as possible" Lawrence explained. "I have my wedding to plan of course, and there are many things to take care of outside of that. But fear not, Pyrrha, we will meet again—sooner rather than later. You most of all must come visit us—this summer if at all possible."
"I'll be returning to Mistral for the holidays, as my mother lives alone. However, we can certainly work something out in future."
"Please do! Everyone is looking forward to meeting you, especially Jaune's folks, and the family will want to even more so once we tell them of what we've learned today. So don't make us wait." Lawrence then turned his attention to the others, and stood straight with a wide, charming smile. "My friends, it has been a pleasure and an honour to meet you all. I thank you for your hospitality, and keeping Jaune honest. My promise stands that the lands of Arc are open to you, and all you need to do is send word of when you wish to visit us. As for you, Jauney-boy, I have something to give you."
Jaune tilted his head quizzically, not sure as to what his cousin could have for him. The taller blond removed a rolled up piece of fabric tied beneath his bedroll that was attached to his saddle, and handed it over to Jaune.
"Here you are! A proper cloak" he said proudly. "We can't have you going about without a cloak bearing our colours."
"A cloak in the summer?" Jaune rightfully pointed out. "It's hard enough as it is to go about in full armour, let alone armour and a cloak. Plus I specifically asked for this armour to be modified to carry our armorial achievement and colours so that I could go into battle as an Arc."
"Fair enough, but cloaks are important—so better to have one and not need it, than to need one and not have it."
"We also considered bringing your stallion down" added Octavia "though given the timing, it would be better to wait till summer's end."
"Flavius? No way! Where would I stable him?" Jaune demanded, knowing just how much tending a horse needed.
"The Agricultural District is just to the south of us. Surely there would be someone willing to stable him" Lawrence countered. "We would send you allowance to pay for the stabling of course, and he would be of great use to you and your team on Hunts."
"He could carry stuff" noted Nora, but quickly learned that was not the right thing to suggest, as the Arcs and even Pyrrha looked at her disapprovingly.
"These horses are Destriers, not Sumpters" corrected Octavia.
"That's warhorse versus pack animals" translated Lawrence.
"That doesn't mean they can't be used as pack horses" defended Jaune, not wanting to sound harsh to his friend. "They have to carry our gear anyways, so it isn't that they can't do the job when necessary. Though as you saw with Julius, they are very proud animals, so getting Flavius to carry our gear will be hard, and annoy him to no end. In any case, we tend to use more modern transport for deployment, just like you two do in the military. As much as I miss him and miss riding him, it's better if he stays in the north."
"As you wish, cousin" Lawrence conceded, before turning his attention to Pyrrha. "Pyrrha, it has been an honour and a blessing to meet you. Come-visit-soon! And keep this one in line, alright?"
"I'll do my best" the redhead replied, beaming. "It has been wonderful to meet you both, and I will visit as soon as possible. You have my word."
"I'll keep you too it" he vowed, before kissing her on each cheek. "As for you two" he directed to Ren and Nora. "Support your captain, and watch his back."
"Got it!" saluted Nora.
"We have done so since the beginning, and we have no intention of stopping" Ren swore with a bow.
"Well said. Jaune" Lawrence began, addressing his cousin at last. Jaune swallowed, suddenly unsure of what he would say to him. He knew his cousin would give him one final Arc farewell, the one that his father would give, and he unconsciously stood straight. To his surprise, Lawrence merely extended his hand and pointed at him. "Carry on, Squire."
Jaune blinked, stunned by the lack of fanfare and teasing. In fact, Lawrence said nothing more to him, and turned to grasp the horn of his saddle after placing his left foot in the stirrup, and mounted Julius gracefully. Octavia similarly bid Pyrrha farewell with cheek kissing, and repeated the advice she had first given to Ren and Nora. When she looked at Jaune, he immediately tensed, fully expecting her to punch him again. Again to his amazement, her goodbye was a warm embrace without any surprise attacks, and she wished him the best. It was her first act of normalcy, which even the others took notice. This astonishment continued as Octavia then gave Yang a proper hug as well, which took her by surprise, as it came on so suddenly.
"It was wonderful to meet you, Yang" she said warmly, before letting go. "I hope we can meet again soon. If ever you need a sparring partner, or a friend, I am ready to join you."
"You bet" Yang replied, sensing her sincerity and returned it with a smile. "And if you happen to find any tough good looking guys that are more my type, just send them my way."
"Of course and vice versa."
Octavia promptly mounted Aemilius as Lawrence spoke once more.
"My friends, Lady Schnee, I bid you all a good afternoon, a wonderful summer, and may the Paladin of Light watch over you" he blessed. "Farewell!"
With that, the elder Knights of Arc turned their stallions eastward, and rode steadily down the road. The students watched them go, sad in their own way that they had to leave so soon. In the short time they had known the Knights, a strong impression had been left upon them. So much so in fact, that they all had begun pondering on how the day had changed their perspective of Jaune, for so many questions they had about him and his heritage had been answered at last. The Arcs' traditions seemed from a different era because they were, but they at last made sense as to why they mattered so much to both them and Jaune.
"You two became closer friends than I thought" commented Ruby.
"Guess so" her sister returned. "She's a weird one—so's Lawrence to be fair— but they're good people. She's kinda like a combination of Weiss and your friend, Penny; weird, overly formal, and good deep down."
Ruby paused for a moment, mulling over Yang's comparison, before nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, you're right!"
"Thank you for the roundabout compliment" Weiss remarked coldly, eyeing up the sisters with both annoyance and gratitude.
"We need to get him to Vacuo" announced Sun, folding his arms. "He can fight, drink, and sing. He'd be a riot back home—especially during the Festival de Colores y Especias (Festival of Colours and Spices)."
"I don't doubt it" agreed Neptune.
Jaune said nothing as he watched his cousins disappear over the ridge, feeling that there was no way he could allow things to end the way they had. Neither of them had tried any of their regular shenanigans, and it just didn't feel right in any shape, way, or form. So much had changed in his life since he left home, and while he knew that things would only continue to change, he fully expected that home would not. This simply felt too off for his liking, and he couldn't wait another week to get proper answers.
"Damn" he muttered, and handed Pyrrha his cloak. "I'll be right back—just wait here."
Before Pyrrha or anyone could say a word, the blond bolted after his cousins, quickly disappearing from view.
Despite being on horseback, the Knights hadn't gone far, and Jaune swiftly caught up with them.
"Wait!" he shouted, causing the riders to halt. Lawrence and Octavia turned in their saddles to look at Jaune, before looking at one another.
"Keep riding, I'll catch up" he said, turning Julius back down the road. The blonde paused for a moment, before spurring Amelius with her legs. "Cousin, cousin, what could you possibly need to talk to me about when you could simply reach me on my Scroll?"
"Oh shut up, ructabunde! (gasbag)" Jaune snapped, not in the mood for comedy. "What the Hell was that? 'Carry on, Squire'. That's it? That's all you have to say to me?"
"Well, what more can I say after all that's been said?" Lawrence asked genuinely, resting on the horn of his saddle. "I've done my duty, tested your skills, heard from your friends, and now I must return to tell Uncle—with great eagerness, might I add. What remains?"
"I...don't know..." admitted the younger Arc, knowing in his heart that something was indeed missing, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Lawrence gazed upon his cousin, able to see clearly the turmoil in his eyes, and saw he needed to quell it. He dismounted from his horse, and looked Jaune in the face, preparing to dismantle the situation.
"You were expecting me and Octavia to give you a harder time, weren't you?" he stated more than asked. Jaune tried to respond, but was only able to swallow and look down, giving Lawrence his answer. "Listen, you know we all love you, and we gave you a hard time because we knew how great you could be—once we could get passed your hard-headedness. We heard from Pyrrha that you said you didn't feel like an Arc until recently. I'm sorry, Jaune. Not I, not Octavia, not Randolph, not Collin, nor anyone wanted you to feel that way. You were always an Arc. You ride like an Arc, hunt like an Arc, play and sing like an Arc, uphold the code of chivalry like an Arc, chase redheads like an Arc—the list goes on. You haven't awakened Majesty and you're having trouble with Aura, but just as you have overcome your stagnation with the sword, so too will you break through the remaining barriers. You are an Arc, Jaune, and never have we been more proud of you. We will gladly follow you into any battle, and no doubt in time, you will be a fantastic Lord."
Jaune looked at his cousin in astonishment. Never before had he heard this level of praise from anyone in his family. The profoundness of what Lawrence had said almost shook him, as they were what he wanted to hear for so long. Lawrence's sincerity was reflected in his eyes, proving that he was speaking from the heart as he always had since childhood. The faces of his family materialized in his mind's eye, recalling the good times he had pretended hadn't been there. Something then struck his heart, and he began to feel tears forming, along with a lump growing in his throat. He quickly swallowed that lump and blinked away the tears, knowing he needed to speak clearly and steadily.
"But I still don't know what those barriers are. I train with Pyrrha every day, and she's an amazing teacher, but we've hardly made any progress. It's been almost a year since I came to Beacon, and neither Pyrrha nor my teachers have helped me awaken Majesty. And then there's Aura control, which I've a better chance of learning to fly than channeling my Aura into flying attacks. How can I be an Arc, let alone a Knight and a Huntsman, when I'm this far behind? I'm putting Pyrrha and my friends at risk by being such a liability. How can you or anyone at home be proud of me when that's the truth of the matter?" he explained, desperately trying to get his burning guilty across. This only caused Lawrence to smile further, and spoke before Jaune could protest once again.
"Take a knee" he commanded.
"What? Why?"
"I'm going to dub you."
"No!" Jaune shouted. "No you can't!"
"I very much can" Lawrence argued. "I am a Knight by your father's decree, and you've shown that you fulfill every desideratum in the Code. You even procured your own armour, though we will need to make you a new suit when you graduate, and your horse is at home. You have completed your training as a Squire, and you are ready to be knighted."
"Not yet" Jaune disagreed, shaking his head. "Not yet. Not till I can protect them—protect her. And it has to be father—not just for tradition's sake. Not only would it be such a cowardly way to get around his blessing with you knighting me, but because I want his approval—to earn it, as well as my pauldrons. Please, Lawrence, I have to do this right. I've messed up enough as it is, and if I don't start doing things the right way, I'll never break that habit."
Lawrence tilted his head quizzically at Jaune, and without warning, pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Te longe venerunt, catulus (You have come a long way, cub)" he said proudly. "Hoc quid quod locutus sum ad te, ut custodiant facere, quod iam facis. Te in recta via, ut iter deinceps. Intellegisne? (This is why I told you to keep doing what you're doing. You are on the right path, so keep marching forward. Do you understand?)"
Jaune felt his heart swell in his chest, as his cousin's words reminded him of what Huntmaster Ozpin had said to him before the start of the tournament. "A person often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it". Now more than ever did that phrase ring true, for he felt the pride for his family that he had never been able to grasp, and he returned the hug fiercely.
"Etiam (Yes)" he replied with more gratitude than he could possibly put into words.
"Atta boy, cousin" Lawrence grinned, clapping him on the back, and leaned backward but kept both his hands on his shoulders. "Keep your head held high, and protect my cousin, Pyrrha. If you break her heart, I'll kick your ass, got it?"
"Trust me, I'd much sooner die than hurt her. I did it once, and I'm still unable to fully forgive myself for it. I swear to the Gods and the Paladin I'll protect her with my life, and make her as happy as she's made me" Jaune vowed, neither his eyes nor his voice trembling as he spoke.
"Spoken like a true Arc" Lawrence applauded, and struck Jaune's chest lightly with his right fist where his heart would be. "You have the Cordis Leonis (Heart of the Lion). May it guide you and drive you forward. Take care, Jaune. See you at the ranch."
"Same to you. Ride safely" the shorter Arc wished, smiling contentedly, and already missing his cousin.
Lawrence then rubbed his head affectionately, before quickly turning the gesture into a headlock, and ground his knuckles on the top of his head. He only did this for a second or two, before giving Jaune a playful shove, jumping onto Julius' back, and trotting up the road. Jaune recovered quickly and glared at his cousin, before his annoyance melted into laughter, and he cupped his mouth with both hands.
"Lawrence!" he bellowed, causing the Knight to halt and turn his stallion broadside to look at him. "In hoc signo vinces!"
Lawrence grinned wildly, drew his warsword, and made Julius rear onto his hide legs.
"Ad Rex, Ad Regnum, Ad Fastus! (For King, For Kingdom, For Pride!)" he shouted back, before bringing up his war horn and unleashing a powerful blast. He then turned Julius back eastward, and brought him into a full gallop with a bound, his hooves pounding the earth like thunder.
Jaune continued to stare at the lonesome road until the sound of hoof beats faded into the buzz of cicadas, before at last turning back and walked towards the others. When they came into view, he saw them notice his approach, and he waved reassuringly that all was well. For Pyrrha, a wave was not enough, and she looked at him with slightly doleful eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asked, noticing his messy hair.
Jaune smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
"I've never been better" he replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Let's head back before my food goes totally cold. I'd like to hear all about what my cousins told you guys and defend myself; since I bet they told some stories that need some fact-checking."
Lawrence had since caught up with Octavia, and pulled back on Julius' reins to slow him to match her pace.
"I take it that things went well?" she asked, keeping her eyes to the road and appearing not to have been affected by his charge.
"Swimmingly" Lawrence replied, sheathing his sword with the chappe of his crossguard connecting with the locket of his scabbard with a satisfying metallic click. "That kid is shaping up to be a true lion. I offered to knight him then and there."
Octavia's head snapped to her right, glaring at him.
"Are you out of your mind, es stultior asino? (you stupid ass). You did not actually knight him, did you?" she hissed angrily.
"Language. Yes I did offer, and no I did not dub him for he turned me down, saying that only Uncle Angus can do so."
"Gratias ago Deorum (Thank the Gods)" the blonde sighed, looking to the sky before returning to her cousin. "You know as well as I do what comes with being knighted. Jaune may have grown considerably, but he—especially he—is NOT ready to bear that responsibility. Nonetheless, I think I owe him an apology."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"I called his decision to not inform Pyrrha properly about our family traditions and history as brainless. Clearly the brainless one here is you."
"You have wounded me terribly" Lawrence cried overdramatically, clutching at his chest with his right hand. "In all seriousness, Octavia, do you really think that I would have gone through with dubbing him? I of course know of the consequences of Knighthood, and I only did it partially because I think he is worthy, while the rest was to test his dedication to earn his place. Thankfully he showed that his head is screwed on straight, as Uncle wants to be the one to knight him as well. There will Jaune be judged if he is truly ready. A legacy like ours is a great burden to bear."
"Yes..." Octavia nodded, her eyes dropping slightly. This caught her cousin's attention, and he glanced at her with a pensive expression.
"You're thinking of Yang and Ruby, aren't you?" he stated more than asked.
"Etiam. It truly shocks me neither of them know their own lineage—Yang especially."
"From what their uncle told us, I think there is a very obvious reason for that. Why would their father burden them with the truth of their lineage? It could very well change how they see their uncle, and how Yang sees the mother she never knew. I can honestly say that I now believe both Sir Qrow and Lady Winter, and I can also believe that Dróttinn Branwen would be so cold blooded he would kill his own daughter, still weak from childbirth. Then again, corvus oculum corvi non eruit (a raven does not pick out an eye of another raven), as it is written. We are missing much of this story."
"But what of their Xiao Long heritage? Would that not be a point of pride for them both? Why would their father keep it a secret to them?"
Lawrence didn't answer, as he agreed with her, and he needed to think of a response. After a while, he finally voiced his hypothesis.
"The bigger question is why would a member of the Xiao Long depart from his clan, and end up marrying the daughter of the Dróttinn Krákar (Lord of Crows)?" he pointed out slowly. "Again, I fully believe Sir Qrow's tale that he and his sister wished for a better life and be free from their clan. However, from what we know of the Xiao Long, they are as close-knit as we are, so why under the Light did their father leave and hide the truth?"
"To marry Lady Raven in secret?" Octavia offered.
"Most certainly, but we are still left with the question as to why did he leave in the first place, for like us, the Xiao Long don't become Huntsmen. Keep in mind that Sir Qrow said they were students of Beacon Academy, and Ruby mentioned that her father was captain of their team—with Lady Raven, Sir Qrow, and Ruby's mother as the remaining members. Honestly, the Xiao Long have stayed out of the affairs of the Kingdom since the death of the King—slowly retreating back into the mountains even before then—so all of this is beyond queer. We have no right to dig into this, but by the Paladin, would I love to know the truth."
"Agreed. So what then do we tell our uncle? He, grandmother, and our fathers and uncles, must be made aware of the current state of the Xiao Long and the Branwens. This truly is the closest we have ever gotten to them, with confirmation of the identity of the current Dróttinn Krákar, and that his son has turned on him. He could lead us right to the Branwen stronghold. We never dared to dream of such good fortune. And yet...what will this means for Yang, Ruby, and Jaune? I feel such conflict."
"As do I" Lawrence sighed. "But that is why we chose to leave earlier than we planned. Given how we jumped the gun multiple times at this news, we are not as level-headed as is needed. Uncle Angus will know what to do, and we will call a council to discuss the matter—before Jaune returns home. This will require a great deal of tact, as Sir Qrow's threats were genuine, and things could turn very ugly very quickly. Despite the personal reasons for our haste, we must consider and respect Yang and Ruby's family."
"We must. I feel such pity for all of them. For those poor girls to lose both their mothers at such a young age, and for their father to be subjected to that heartbreak twice; I respect this Tai tremendously, as much as I pity him. Gods do I feel ever worse for judging Yang as I did."
"Aye..." replied the taller blond, understanding her feelings.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization, and he pulled on Julius' reins to halt him. Octavia quickly did the same, and looked at him in confusion, seeing the alarm in his face.
"Quid iniuriam? (What's wrong?)" she asked.
"Her name is Yang..." he echoed, his eyes filled with dire soberness, "and her father's is Tai...Taiyang Xiao Long..."
Octavia's eyes widened in kind, understanding what he was getting at, and she felt beyond foolish for not realizing sooner. It was now making all the sense in the world.
"Lord Angus needs to know of this now" Lawrence ordered, gripping the reins of his horse. "Cavalcata! (Ride!)"
He shortened his reins and squeezed his legs, causing Julius to bolt forward, entering into a full gallop near instantaneously; displaying his title of Destrier was not for show. Octavia quickly did the same, and kept pace with her cousin, with both she and Amelius knowing there was a long day of riding ahead of them.
λΛλ
Well into the night, below the academy was the hidden hall that housed Amber and collected artifacts of the original Order of the Maiden's Ring. Amber herself was now lying in a proper hospital bed with an oxygen mask on her face, and several IVs in her arms. Her breathing was slightly laboured as she slept, even with the added oxygen, and she appeared feebler than she had been when she first awoke. Before her was the Order, along with Penny, who was examining the medical equipment that monitored the injured Maiden.
"Her health is failing, Huntmaster-General" she announced softly, turning to look at her commanding officer. "I do not believe she has much longer."
Ironwood lowered his head and nodded.
"Yes" he acknowledged, his face not revealing his true emotions.
"He lied to us" hissed Winter, standing at ease, but tightened her grip on her wrist in frustration.
"No, I do not believe he has" countered Ozpin quietly. "Torchwick informed us that ending Cinder Fall's life would cause the Fall Maiden's powers to return to Amber, and that is precisely what occurred. She regained consciousness, but it did not heal the wounds that we could not with conventional medicine. Never did he say that it would heal her body, nor do I believe that he could have known. This has never happened before, so how could a gangster like himself deduce the magical powers of the Gods?"
It was a sound rebuttal, and Winter looked away vexed, wishing there was a better outcome.
"So what do we do now, Oz?" Qrow asked gruffly, not taking his eyes off Amber's scarred face.
The Beacon Huntmaster shut his eyes for a moment, resting on his cane as if a great amount of weight had just been placed on his shoulders.
"The only thing that we can" he answered at last, slowly opening his eyes. "We must speak to Miss Nikos once more."
Author's Note:
So many questions, so little time.
Let's start on a lighter note, shall we? I actually don't know how I came up with Jaune deciding to make Team RWBY legitimate bunk-beds, but it came very naturally. While it is very cute, it did allow me to make commentary on Team RWBY's room and sleeping arrangement. I think what I wrote speaks for itself rather clearly, but it is curious to dissect their quarters. It seems that I'm not the only one with this fascination, as I've come across a number of pieces of fanart for Team RWBY's room; almost as if it were its own character. It's very busy to look at, and rather conflicting when you focus on the details. Why didn't Weiss complain? Why didn't Blake complain? We don't know, so instead I decided to further flesh out Team RWBY by showing their books. I know it might seem trivial, but it does make you think a little; and in the end, Jaune does a nice gesture for his friends.
And now for something completely different. Of course the Arcs would know of the Branwens (though before anyone asks, no, Jaune is not aware of any of this...yet). Qrow's scene was one of my favourites of the entire story, as it once again shows more of his past, as well as how much he loves his family. I wasn't kidding weeks ago with chapter XI that I wanted to show Qrow as more than a worthless drunk. Yes I wanted him to be struggling internally, but still having a purpose that drives him forward. This of course leads us to Winter's defense of him. Since the beginning I've tried to show the members of the Order being genuine friends. Given how many of you have reacted positively to that change, and lamenting CRWBY's handling of the inner circle, I'm not out of my depth here. Winter is no different, and while it's fun to see them annoy each other (mostly Qrow teasing Winter), I never once wanted or intended for Winter to ever hate Qrow. They truly respect one another—which is to be expected after working together for two years. I wanted to show that respect coming from Winter, and being able to see who Qrow truly is. Now that I think of it, she's also a great character CRWBY ruined—what a shock.
We also have the final confrontation with Jaune and his cousins. Many of you were concerned with how they treated Jaune, so I hope this chapter finally makes things clear and settles it (until Angus makes his appearance). As for Lawrence and Octavia learning that Tai, Yang, and Ruby are Xiao Longs...that will have to wait for now—so go ahead and theory-craft that XD. To be serious for just a moment, I genuinely think that Ruby should be called Ruby Xiao Long. I've been hinting at that the entire story by referring to her as the "younger Xiao Long", or she and Yang as the "Xiao Long sisters"—because that's what they are. Even here in Quebec where culturally no one gets married, the kids take the dad's name; why not here? I know the answer is the wordplay, but that actually messes with character development and world-building. I honestly planned on making that change from the get-go with DDCT, calling Ruby "Ruby Xiao Long" and never drawing attention to it, but I decided to leave it alone and simply be subtle.
These are small things, but they matter.
And lastly, we have the situation with Amber. As Qrow said it, "No good deed goes unpunished".
My deepest apologies for taking so long with this one. It's been the same nonsense at work, as well as helping out my family. Furthermore, I've been having a number of conversations with my editors on what to include in this chapter. During the editing process, I thought about including even more of the secret backstory of the world of Remnant. I had written a few more pieces of dialogue for Winter, but my editors warned it could reveal too much too soon. Therefore, I took extra time to double check if everything was done correctly. This is the issue with writing a story like this instead of starting at square one; you want to include so much in such a small package, that it frankly becomes a mess.
Next chapter is going to be bloody massive, and I probably should split it up, but I'm unsure. It's more complicated than it was with Adam and Raven's scene in chapter XI, as that was just moving it from the opening of chapter XII. We'll see in time. Thankfully I'm taking greater care with Project JADA, and trying to get things in better order than I did with DDCT.
Anyways, cheers, Happy Memorial Day, and see you all next time.