AN: Just a quick note, there's a revised version of Chapter 2 being released with this.
AN 2: Format got eaten, it's fixed now.
X LINE BREAK X
Glynda frowned as she watched Miss Belladonna get sent flying for the fifth time that day. Ruby had decided to start her half of the deal after they arrived back from her fortress the day before. The first lesson was apparently about learning to relying on their semblance less, with Ruby pointing out that running out of aura in the middle of battle could be disastrous.
Glynda could appreciate the importance of this lesson, it was one she had learned all too well.
It became even more clear why Miss Rose had chosen this lesson rather quickly. While Team JNPR was faring well against Velann Darkfall, who had been shipped back to Beacon as Ruby's "apprentice", which seemed to boil down to some combination of lacky and annoyance. Team RWBY was having a lot more trouble.
Miss Xiao-Long was exempt, as Ruby had correctly pointed out that her Semblance never really deactivated. Miss Schnee and Miss Belladonna, though, were struggling. The Schnee heiress personalized training regimen came back to bite her hard, as she had been trained from the ground up to use her weapon and semblance in unison. The Faunus (had she actually thought she was fooling any of the teachers?) was doing slightly better, but still slipped up on occasion.
Meanwhile, Team JNPR was doing quite a bit better, owing at least partially to most of their members defensive fighting reliance on their semblances in their fighting styles was also only as trump cards or last resort. The only exception to that was Miss Nikos who was subtle in her use of her semblance. Though Glynda doubted that Rose knew what any of the others' semblances were.
Glynda turned to Ozpin, "Why are we allowing these people here again?"
Her boss raised his ever present mug of coffee and took a drink before he answered, "Because it is best to keep them under our eye. Whether or not they are telling the truth, there is no denying they are dangerous, you have seen the reports from the jobs they are sent on."
Glynda frowned, "Those reports are the exact reason I don't want them here, I'm afraid that they will be a bad influence on the students. Look at how Miss Rose is."
The both looked at the screen where Ruby had a savage smirk on her face, having just twisted her sister sister's arm away with the end of the strange dual blade she was using in the place of her scythe, which was sitting on her back.
The headmaster of Beacon sighed, "I know but considering their reaction to Miss Rose bring back her mother, I don't think they are recruiting."
"Their reaction? Outside of that fight, they haven't done anything!"
"Ah, but they have, my dear. It's subtle, they clearly don't want to be seen dividing so swiftly after revealing themselves. But seeing as neither Miss Rose nor Miss Darkfall seem to be very happy about the latter being here, and- in fact- there seems to be a surprisingly small amount of teaching happening in this apprenticeship, I would guess that they sent Miss Darkfall here to make sure that Miss Rose does not do something like this again."
"You have another reason, don't you?"
Ozpin walked over to his desk, and seemed to be pulling up a file,
'Arthas had a Semblance that allowed him to trap the souls of the people he killed within his sword, Frostmourne, and raise them from the dead.'
Glynda went silent, her pulse pounding in her ears, "That… That sounds like what happened to Amber."
Ozpin nodded, "Indeed, moreover Miss Rose has confirmed that she was killed by this Arthas, yet," He gestured, to the screen where the match was playing, "She clearly has access to her Aura."
Indeed, the screen showing the students Aura levels showed the Highlord (who made that egotistical title?) sitting at 80%.
"I plan to hopefully gain their trust so they will be willing to reveal how they did this, and hopefully allow us to use it to free the stolen half of Amber's soul."
Glynda nodded, understanding Ozpin's logic.
"There is also the matter of Frostmourne itself."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Do you truly think that an organization as secretive as the Ebon Blade appears to be would leave the fragments of a soul-stealing blade lying around?
"Secretive?"
"Yes, for every question they answer they leave two more unanswered. Where do they come from? What happened to the rest of Arthas's forces? Where are the forces that helped them eliminate Arthas? Where is this 'Icecrown Glacier'? Where are the 'countless' smaller Necropoli? What exactly is 'Light' and why do undead suffer when they feel it?"
Glynda shuddered as she remembered watching Summer and Ruby's reaction to the light from the broadcast.
Summer had collapsed, shrieking and thrashing, knocking both Tai and Qrow away with strength unnatural to her form.
Ruby had meanwhile fallen to one knee, teeth clenched in pain, as her skin cracked and bled, flaking off like ash. Despite her best attempts, the leader had eventually slipped up, howling in agony.
She shook her head and turned to Ozpin, "Do you have any idea where it might be?"
"Yes."
She waited a few seconds for him to continue, when he didn't she coughed pointedly, "Where?"
"It must be someplace where Miss Rose is confident nobody could steal it, which means it's in a place that is either extremely well guarded, or that she checks regularly."
Glynda searched her mind, trying to think of where that could be.
"Have you noticed, Glynda, that Crescent Rose has a new blade?"
"No-"
Glynda paused. How hadn't she noticed that? Miss Rose's love of her weapon was well known, and she would have drawn attention to such a fact…
"I don't blame you, she seems to be avoiding using her scythe at all. It apparently broke recently, maybe she is afraid to damage the blade again."
No, that didn't seem right. But why was Ozpin bringing it up? They had been talking about where they were hiding Frostmou-
Oh. Of course, the pieces of the puzzle were all coming together. Where would Ruby Rose, who was obsessed with weapons keep the fragments of a powerful weapon, where she was sure nobody could steal it? Especially if she had recently lost her beloved weapon's blade?
"It's always on her."
"Indeed, it's the sort of thing James would approve of. Could you imagine if those two manage to get along?"
She could, both were soldiers, neither was completely human anymore, both dabbled in matters of the soul that would be frowned upon if it ever got out.
"Their enemies wouldn't stand a chance."
Ozpin nodded, "We are lucky she decided to come to us first."
X LINE BREAK X
Peter frowned, as he glanced up at the top of the class.
One week ago that had been the first hint to the old Huntsman that something was wrong, when Ruby had dragged her team to the top of the class, and positioned them at one of the edges, ignoring the protests of her partner.
Every time Peter looked up at the girl, she had her eyes trained on him. Normally this would have thrilled him, but this time it didn't, because Peter was old enough to recognize the look on her face, and it broke his heart.
It was the look of a soldier, not one of the soldiers that James trained, who were Hunters under a chain of command, but an actual soldier who had fought in a war.
Peter hadn't been old enough to fight in the Faunus War, but he did have a cousin who had been, and he remembered how they had acted after, avoiding crowds, staying at the edges of rooms.
He would need to go to Ozpin, alongside Ruby's parents and Qrow, who had both been hired as assistant teachers (though, for reasons that Peter wasn't sure about, Tai-Yang and Qrow were being paid equal to what they had been paid at Signal) about this. But first, he wanted to confirm something.
Quickly wrapping up one of his stories,he spoke, "Before class ends today students, I would like a volunteer to help me."
While several people raised their hands, no doubt eager to fight something, but Peter already knew exactly who he wanted.
"Miss- I'm sorry Highlord Rose," Peter had worked with Bartholomew long enough to know that some people could get extremely irritated at people not using their correct title, "would you be willing to help me."
She was silent for a moment, and Peter was almost afraid she would refuse, before she stood up and walked to the front of the class.
Once she was standing there, she reached behind her back, before pausing above the blade she kept on her back. She caressed the blade, before reaching lower and drawing her scythe. Peter released the quintet of Beowolves and sat back to watch.
Hunters were trained to always add a bit of flare into their moves, it helped connect with the public's belief of Hunters as invincible if it looked like the Hunter wasn't having any trouble with the Grimm.
Which is why what followed was so jarring. There was no flare, no wasted movements, every blow was meant to kill.
The first of the five to die did so within seconds of them being released, it charged at Ruby, only for the blade to ram through it's skull.
The second, third and fourth all fell almost immediately after the first dragged into range by a tendrils of energy, before being swiftly decapitated.
When the blade came around the gun went off, destroying fifth's head.
The entire slaughter took about five seconds.
Peter coughed, "Thank you for that demonstration Highlord Rose." He turned to the rest of the class, "You are all dismissed."
He walked out of the room, intent to talk to Ozpin as soon as possible.
X LINE BREAK X
Pain arched from Velvet's ear as Cardin pulled on it, "Please, stop!"
Cardin laughed aloud, tugging on her ear again, "Why?"
She knew that if Coco was here she would be asking why Velvet wasn't standing up for herself after she got done beating Cardin and his team down verbally. Fox would physically stop Cardin and then berate Velvet for not doing it herself. Yatsuhashi would stop Cardin and then help her with her homework like the big brother that he was.
The truth was that it had become dangerous for a Faunus to stand up for themselves since the White Fang had taken their turn for the worst. It was all too easy to be accused of a member of the terrorist organization. Those sorts of accusation could follow someone for life, and made things very difficult.
A voice called out then, with a strong accent, "Leave her alone."
The man stood about even with Coco and Fox, most of his face was hidden by a sea of hair, only his nose and two glowing blue eyes peeking out from under a mass of tangled black hair, were easily discernible. The cloak that he wore over his other clothing give only a small peek at the armor that he wore.
The leader of Team CRDL scoffed, tugging on her ear again, " Why should I?"
He yelped as the man crushed his arm, forcing him to let go of her ear, "I said, leave her alone."
Was it just Velvet or had his voice just gotten deeper?
Cardin stood his ground, staring down the man, "Why should I? It's not anything worse that what that Rose girl is-"
That had been the wrong thing to say, the man released a roar, and changed.
His face elongated, fur sprouting from his body. Claws grew from his fingers as he grabbed Cardin by the scruff of his uniform, slamming him against the the wall, and when he spoke, his teeth had been replaced with fangs.
"Never. Compare. Yourself. To. Ruby. Rose."
The other members of Team CRDL staggered back, and Velvet felt her jaw drop.
He turned around, throwing the leader at his team, "Leave."
They looked at him, shock on their faces.
"I said, LEAVE!"
The last word was roared, spittle flying from his mouth as they scampered away.
He looked over at Velvet as his body shifted back to the form of a human.
"Could you do me a favor and not mention that to Ruby? I only got this job because I promised to watch my temper."
Velvet nodded.
"Thanks, I'm trying to work towards a promotion, but it hasn't been going well."
Velvet found her voice, "Why did you get angry about him comparing himself to Ruby?"
He looked embarrassed, "Highlord Rose saved my mother once, so I owe her one."
He pulled out a pocket watch, "Sorry, I have to go, we're supposed to keep up on our training exercises until Knight-Champion Redbrand recovers."
He jogged away, throwing a wave over his shoulder.
The rabbit Faunus waved back numbly, before turning to find Ruby.
What exactly had Cardin been talking about?
X LINE BREAK X
Ren had noticed something strange, well, stranger than everything else going on.
Maybe it was because of how well his semblance synergized with other people, but Ren had a deep understanding of Aura.
Semblance, as a part of Aura, was usually a reflection of its user, Yang's Semblance was just as volatile as she was, Blake's clones were just as silent and subtle as their creator, Goodwitch's telekinesis was as dominating and unshakable as the woman herself.
He also knew that Semblances could change if their user changed slightly. Ruby was evidence of that fact, the petals that followed in her wake had become scentless and dead after her reappearance.
Ren knew Auras, and he knew something was strange about Ruby's aura, even compared to the other members of the Knights of the Ebon Blade.
The Knight's Aura as a whole looked like someone had taken black chains and bound their aura to their body, leaving imprints across their bodies.
Ruby, meanwhile, still had the chains, but they were… different, they seemed to arch from Crescent Rose's blade around Ruby's body. They also seemed more constricting, like trying to desperately drag the blade and girl together. Finally, the chains were slowly but surely turning a brilliant red, fire licking along them.
"Nora?"
Ren's hyperactive partner turned towards him, a smile on her face, "Yes, Ren?"
"What do you think about all this stuff with Ruby?"
Nora tilted her head to the side, "What do you mean?"
"There just seems so much off about their story, like they're hiding things, Ruby had a boyfriend that she never mentioned? Everything should be going to hell, but-"
A fingertips pressed onto Ren's nose, stopping him in his tracks.
"Of course they're hiding things Ren, they only just got done with something really painful. Remember what I was like after Mom and Dad died?"
He did, Nora was always a cheerful girl, but after her parent's death in a Grimm attack she had been acting unnaturally happy, trying to act like nothing had happened. Watching his best friend go through the motions of everyday life had been one of the most disturbing things Ren had ever seen.
"So, what, you think that she's trying to act like everything's normal?"
She nodded seriously, sometimes it shocked Ren at how perceptive Nora could be.
"Why?"
"Sometimes, it's just easier to hide away from it all, acting like it never happened."
"Then what do we do?"
"We be there for her, she'll tell us what's really going on when she's ready."
X LINE BREAK X
Twigs snapped under the hooves of the horse, and there was an unseasonable nip in the air. As Alexandros pulled his cloak around him, he couldn't help but think about how happy he would be when he reached the small farm he owned in Brill.
He had been gone for a month now, Uther had asked him for help training some recruits, including the prince and he was glad to be be home for Darion's ninth birthday.
He had missed Renault's fourteenth birthday, due to an raiding party of Orcs and was sorry for that.
Alexandros…
The Ashbringer froze, turning his head to the side to look at the origin of the ethereal voice.
Her skin, eyes and hair were unnaturally pale and she was clad in silver gossamer robes, like someone had taken moonlight itself and weaved it into clothing.
Come.
She raised a hand beckoning him forward. Normally, Alexandros wouldn't have agreed so readily, normally he would have demanded answers, but his instincts were screaming at him to follow this strange woman, and they had never steered him wrong before.
After tying his horse to a tree, he set out after her. No matter how quickly he moved through the, the woman seemed to be slightly faster.
"Madame, where are we going?"
She didn't answer, and Alexandros grasped his sword with his undamaged hand, an oath on his lip.
He followed her for about ten minutes, when she disappeared behind a tree. He hurried forward, and burst into the clearing. She wasn't there.
What was there was a young girl, asleep on the clearing floor. If he had to guess, she was around the same age as Renault. She was wearing a blouse and inappropriately small skirt with a bodice, all in black and red, a red cloak thrown over it.She was shivering slightly.
Alexandros reached down and shook her gently, "Young lady, you need to wake up, this is no place to sleep." When she didn't respond he wrapped the cloak around her before he unfastened his own cloak and throwing it over her. He reached down and lifted her up, grunting as he did so, "You're heavier than I expected."
The girl didn't respond.
The Ashbringer sighed as he walked back towards his horse, wondering how he got into situations like this.
"You've got a guardian angel looking out for you child."
After about an hour and a half of riding Brill came into sight, and the girl had yet to wake up.
He carried her into the main room of the house and lay her down near the hearth, adding another log to it and using the poker to stoke the fire.
He walked over to the dresser he had, and reached in, looking for something more presentable for the girl to wear. He gently pulled out a well-worn, but still in fine condition, dress. It had belonged to Elena, and she had wanted to pass it on to their daughter if they ever had one. Alexandros had never had the heart to give it away after her death. He carried it over to the girl, comparing their size, it would work, at least until he could find the girl's parents, or if that failed, someone to take care of her.
"Dad?"
He turned around to see Darion coming down the stairs, a smile tugging at his lips, "Darion, what are you doing up so early?"
The boy in question rubbed his eyes tiredly, "I heard noises, so I was hoping you had come home."
Alexandros chucked spreading out his arms, "Well, I'm home."
Darion rushed into his father's arm, "I'm glad."
A voice yelped out, causing Alexandros to whip around.
The girl was sitting up, looking around, her eyes locked onto Alexandros and she lept up, reaching behind her back pulling out a box that unfolded into a scythe.
"Who are you, where am I?"
Alexandros gently pushed Darion behind his back, "I am Alexandros Mograine, I found you in the woods outside of Brill."
The girl looked confused, "Where's that?"
"Lordaeron." The girl looked more confused, "Azeroth?"
The girl shook her head, confused.
"Where are you from?"
It was Darion who asked the question.
"Vale."
Darion stepped out from behind Alexandros, "I've never heard of there before, where is that?"
"Darion, get back here."
"Remnant."
Alexandros had never heard of there, and was getting the sinking suspicion that it didn't exist, or at least, not on Azeroth.
They had learned from an Orc that there was at least one different world out there.
Darion walked forward, "What's it like there?"
The girl started to speak, voice shaking as she described the city she lived in, gently lowering her arms as she sank to the floor, Darion sitting down next to her listening.
Alexandros watched as they spoke, becoming more and more certain that this girl wasn't from Azeroth, and he pulled out the crystal that the Knights of the Silver Hand used to stay in contact.
He couldn't leave this girl alone, and Uther owed him a favor.
X LINE BREAK X
Uther pushed open the door, "This is where you'll be staying until a time comes that we find a way to send you back."
The Lightbringer didn't have the heart to tell her that they probably never would find a way.
There was just something about this girl that made him want to protect her, with her dully glowing eyes, and enthusiasm for everything. In the day and a half he had know her she had been excited to ride on horseback, to watch the gates be lowered, to see the castle.
But at the same time, she seemed too innocent. She didn't seem to notice the way that the Orcs glared at him as he passed, the mutterings of discontent, the guards ready to put down anyone who stepped out of line.
After showing her to the quarters in the Silver Hand's headquarters that now belong to her, Uther showed her the rest of the fortress, they eventually got to the training grounds. There a young adult with bright blue eyes and flowing golden locks was in a practice match against an older Paladin and appeared to be winning.
Ruby looked interested as the hammer users battled. The weapons were probably simpler than most weapons she had seen but they were good at their purpose, getting through armor and hide to more vulnerable parts beneath. Against Trolls and their like it wasn't any more effective than a sword but against Orcs with their hardened hide and massive muscles it was very effective.
Fighting fel magic might have been the purpose of gathering the Silver Hand but it was just a more targeted focus on the spellcasters of the Orc clans.
Uther was going to introduced the small crimson wearing girl to his apprentice. Arthas would make a good friend for the girl, especially if the desire to explore that he could see even now continued. Uther smiled, "Arthas come here and let me introduce you to the new ward of the Silver Hand."
Arthas, nearly exhausted from many hours of sparring, looked like he wanted to groan. He did pick himself up though and start toward the two of them. Ruby looked like she wanted to help him, since he was rather obviously exhausted. Uther smiled. Yes, they would make good friends. Arthas would help her with her curiosity and get her used to their people, while Ruby would help him take better care of himself. Uther loved the boy like a son but the way that he always put the people first wasn't always the best choice. Sometimes you had to take care of yourself and those who are yours before you took care of the masses.
Ruby perked up as Arthas reached them. Uther introduced the two "Ruby, meet my apprentice Arthas Menethil, Crown prince of Lordaeron. Arthas, meet my new ward Ruby Rose. I hope the two of you make good friends."
Uther watched as the two of them introduced themselves before he spoke, "Arthas, could you show Ruby around, I have thing I need to do."
Arthas nodded, "Of course."
As Uther walked away he could hear Ruby start asking Arthas all the details that Uther hadn't cover. It included things like the other races, the interactions of the Alliance and how the Horde had formed. Uther left the two to their discussion, he had already shown Ruby how to reach her room, so she should be able to find it once she is done.
X LINE BREAK X
Jaina cover her mouth, desperately trying to suppress her laughter as Arthas dove back out the door he just walked through, out of the way of the massive ball of fire that had been accidently launched his way.
Ruby's face reddened as the prince rose up, a bemused look on his face, "Well, I think you were one of the last people I was expecting an assassination attempt from today, Ruby."
Ruby's face grew even redder, and she seemed to be determined to look at anything other than Arthas and Jaina.
It was strange how quickly the sixteen year old had managed to worm her way into their lives, it had been almost two months since Jaina had met the young girl, following behind Arthas like a lost puppy, and it already seemed strange to think it wasn't longer.
Finally managing to calm her laughter Jaina spoke, "That was very good Ruby!"
Arthas turned to look at her, laughing slightly, "It was?"
Ruby meanwhile somehow turned her name into a whine, "Jaina! Now you're teasing me too?"
Jaina had to keep from laughing at the pout on Ruby's face, making her look all the world like a kicked puppy.
"No, no, I'm serious, most beginners wouldn't have been able to make anything half that big!"
It was true, very few fire mages could create anything more than sparks to start off, and considering Ruby's absolutely abysmal attempts at almost every other branch of magic, it was particularly impressive.
Arthas spoke up, voice completely deadpan, "It's a relief to know that me nearly being turned to ash was good for something."
Jaina rolled her eyes, "Stop being so dramatic, now, was there something you needed?"
Arthas nodded, turning towards Ruby he pointed a thumb behind him, "Uther was looking for you, something about having promised to show you how to use a hammer."
Ruby gasped excitedly, before rushing out of the room in a flurry of rose petals.
Jaina called out after the girl, "We'll continue this tomorrow!"
Ruby reappeared in the room, "Ok, thanks Jaina!"
She hugged Jaina around the waist before disappearing again.
Arthas and Jaina locked eyes, before bursting into laughter.
X LINE BREAK X
Donovan watched in excitement as the ship pulled into port, the heraldry of the Kingdom of Lordaeron flying from the mast.
Donovan had grown up on stories of the second war, and the heroes of it, Anduin Lothar, King Magni Bronzebeard, Admiral Daelin Proudmoore.
Personally his favorites were Uther the Lightbringer, and Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner.
Donovan had dreamed of being a Paladin for years, fighting the hordes of Orcs, saving maidens from dragons, all those things.
And now Uther was here, in Gilneas! King Greymane had allowed a small envoy from Lordaeron into the borders of Gilneas.
The twelve year old sat on his father's shoulders, a huge bear of a man, watching as the gangplank was lowered.
The first one off was a stuffy looking older man, probably here to carry out whatever this envoy was about.
The second person was a Paladin with long blond hair, a polite smile on his face.
But the third person...
"Look Dad, It's Uther!"
He was even more impressive in real life than in the stories he had heard from the veterans of the war and occasional trader.
His eyes were eternally half lidded to keep the glow to a minimum and his hair was starting to grey with age, but it was clear that he hadn't started to grow weaker.
"Wow…"
Uther whipped around, catching the fourth member of the group as she tripped.
"Who's that?"
York Carmine, Donovan's best friend spoke up, "Wait, how do you not know this? Even I know who that is, and I don't even like Uther! You're like… the president of the Uther fanclub."
"Ok, ok, we get it, you're smarter than me. Now who is she?"
"That's Uther's daughter!"
Donovan looked back at the girl, and he could see it, there was a similarity in their faces, and they both had glowing eyes. Plus there was the way that Uther was fussing over her. Even her clothing, a beautiful dress, was made in gold and blue like Uther's armor.
He watched as Uther helped her into one of the two carriages waiting for them, the other held King Greymane, who had been waiting, the older man, and the younger Paladin.
He couldn't help but think about how graceful she looked.
X LINE BREAK X
"But seriously, why do I need to wear these stupid lady stilts?"
It had been the seventh time she'd asked since they got into the carriage and Uther smiled and reached over, ruffling Ruby's hair. It wasn't the first time that Uther had convinced Ruby to wear heels but every time she complained incessantly about the 'lady stilts'.
"I know you hate it, but you are technically part of an envoy, so you need to look presentable."
"By tripping all over myself?"
"Yes." Uther smiled mischievously, and winked at her. "But it's mostly so that you can learn how to walk in those so that eventually when you wear them they will make you more presentable than you always are."
"Well, could the dress have at least been red?"
Uther laughed, "I think that would send the wrong message for this trip. Do you want me to buy you one when we get home?"
"What is this trip about anyway? Nobody wants to tell me."
Uther grew silent, he had been trying to avoid mentioning the war around Ruby. He knew that she was aware that something was wrong, his insistence that she not leave the base without a guard had to have tipped her off, but he didn't want to worry her.
"It's about the war, isn't it?"
Uther sighed, of course Ruby knew, she was a lot more perspective than most people, Uther included, gave her credit for.
"Yes, Terenas is hoping to convince Lord Greymane to join the war effort."
Ruby squirmed in her seat, before asking a question that Uther really wished she hadn't.
"Have you gotten any closer to finding a way to get me back to Remnant?"
"No, not yet."
In truth, there hadn't been any progress because there hadn't even been any attempt to make any. They couldn't afford to do so, between the war and attempting to rescue the Sons of Lothar, one dimensionally displaced girl wasn't worth the effort. Uther had tried to think of every reason to sway people on this, new allies, supplies, technology, but hadn't had any success.
"Oh…"
"Hey, it will be fine, we'll get you home, I promise."
"Yeah…"
Uther searched his mind for anything to change the subject.
"You never answered my question, do you want me to buy you that dress?"
Ruby laughed, "Sure."
X LINE BREAK X
Terenas watched with some amusement as Uther fussed over Ruby, glad for any sort of relief from thinking about how badly the negotiations with Genn were going.
"Where have you been? Do you know how worried I was?"
The answer to that question, in Terenas's opinion, was annoyingly so. Though, it had been any other scenario, he would have found it hilariously so.
About an hour into the discussions, Arthas had walked into the room and admitted, rather sheepishly, that he had lost Ruby.
After that he rushed out of the room promising to return when he found her, probably catching sight of the look on Uther's face.
Over the next three hours, during which Arthas had not returned, Uther had become more and more distracted, until Terenas snapped at him to go look for the girl, because he wasn't helping there.
This was several hours after that, Uther had been wearing a hole in the rug of one of the room they had been given in (one of) the Greymane Manor, before Ruby wandered into the room, apparently unaware that she had very nearly given Uther a heart attack.
"I was with Lia- Prince Greymane, he was showing me around the city!"
That made sense to Terenas, from what he remembered of the Gilnean prince he would see no problem with bringing a girl around the city he went to regularly. The boy would be a man of the people, the type that Uther would have loved to have in the Silver Hand.
"And if I asked Prince Greymane that, he would tell me the same?"
"I would, sir."
Uther looked slightly mortified as he realized that the boy in question was standing in the doorway.
"I apologize for interrupting your moment with Ruby, I just wanted to say that today was quite enjoyable, and was wondering if Ruby would like to come with me to see the rest of Gilneas tomorrow?"
"I'd love to!" She looked over at Uther, "If I'm allowed to."
"It's fine, just warn someone before you run off next time, please?"
"Well then, I will see you tomorrow my friend, and please, call me Liam."
Terenas felt the beginning of a plan hatch inside his head.
"Ruby do you mind going to your room, I need to speak with Uther."
"Sure, I have a book I… borrowed from Jaina I can read."
"Thank you."
When she left the room Terenas turned to his friend.
"What?"
"I'm just thinking, Ruby and Liam seem to be getting along."
"What are you planning, Terenas?"
Terenas breathed in, "We need this deal, Uther."
"What-?"
"A marriage between the prince of Gilneas and the ward-"
To Uther's credit, he didn't need to hear the end of the sentence, "No."
"Uther, we need all the help we can get."
"You have your own daughter, use her, you're not using mine."
Terenas wasn't sure if Uther even realized what he had said.
"Uther-"
"I promised to protect her, what definition of protect are we using that means 'marry her off to someone she met less than a day ago'?"
"Uther-"
"No, Terenas, I won't let you go through with this, and that is final."
"I understand."
It was true, that was why he didn't want to marry Calia off again, he had nearly wed her to Deathwing.
And really, now that he thought about it, how could he ask his friend, either of them, to do something he wasn't willing to do himself?
X LINE BREAK X
Shargresh looked at the girl, who was happily chattering away at her guard.
"I can't believe we're doing this."
Crom looked him, "All we need to do is knock out the dwarf, and grab her. Then we use her as leverage to get the Lightbringer to release some Orcs."
"Or, he tracks us down and kills us."
"He won't do that, he wouldn't risk us hurting his daughter."
'Ancestors forgive me.' Shargresh thought.
"Fine, let's just get this over with."
Crom moved forward, smashing the dwarf over the head with a club.
Shargresh stuffed the cloth in her mouth as she lashed out at him, brushing against his side before Crom pulled her arms behind her back and tied them there.
"I'm sorry," Shargresh said, as she glared at him, "don't fight, and we'll get you back to your father in one piece."
He felt a nagging sense of guilt as she continued to glare at him.
X LINE BREAK X
Ruby worked the dagger that she had managed to steal from one of the Orcs into the ropes keeping her hands together.
They hadn't bothered to take Crescent Rose from her, apparently thinking that she wouldn't be able to use it, or not realizing that it was a weapon in the first place.
The ropes gave way and Ruby lunged forward drawing Crescent Rose and desperately trying to ignore the horrible pain in her right arm, stemming from a dislocated shoulder.
She rushed towards the biggest Orc picturing it as a Ursa and swung the blade behind him.
Ruby shook as Crescent Rose fell from her hands, which were slowly being stained an almost black color from the blood leaking out of the Orc's wound.
Horrified silver met shocked red before the Orc collapsed, having been nearly bisected by the massive scythe.
'I… I killed him.'
Ruby sank to her knees, staring at her hands, uncaring to the world around her.
"Duraro!"
Ruby was torn back to the present by one of the other Orcs grabbing her by the neck, lifting her up, he started to squeeze.
"You killed my brother!"
Ruby lashed out, every instinct in her screaming at her to fight, but it was useless, the Orc was just too big, and Ruby had never been good at hand to hand combat, that had always been Yang's thing.
Yang… Ruby felt hot tears slide down her face as she realized that she would never make it home. Never see Yang, Weiss, Blake, Uncle Qrow, or her father again.
"Crom, this wasn't the plan, she was only supposed to lure out the Lightbringer."
"That was before she killed my brother, Shargresh!"
"She was defending herself! Ancestors, she was scared, we kidnapped her!"
Ruby worked her mouth furiously, desperately trying to say something to the enraged Orc. A rhythmic beating noise was swiftly growing in intensity.
"I don't care why she did it! SHE KILLED MY BROTHER!"
Ruby could see the Orc, Shargresh, step forward. The noise had gone silent.
"PUT HER DOWN!"
Two other Orcs grabbed onto Shargresh, holding him back.
Crom turned to Ruby a nasty grin on his face, "Where's your father now?"
As Ruby's vision slowly faded away, she couldn't help but wonder what he meant by that.
Suddenly the vice around Ruby's neck was broken and Light flooded her vision.
"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU DAMN ORC!"
Ruby lay there, gasping for breath as fighting raged around her.
"FALL BACK!"
"Alexandros, let go of me!"
"We'll go after them, you stay here with Ruby."
"...Thank you."
"You would have done the same if it was Darion. Arthas, Ballador, Grayson, Maxwell! Let's move!"
The noise restarted, and Ruby realized that it was the sound of horse's hooves. She heard the sound of footsteps on gravel and the Light grew in intensity.
She basked in the Light, feeling the wounds she had accumulated in her week in captivity rapidly heal as the figure reached down and set her shoulder back in place.
"Ruby, can you hear me?"
Ruby felt tears prick at the corner of her eyes, "Uther?"
The Light faded, allowing her to see the greying brown hair of her guardian, "I'm right here."
"I didn't think you were coming."
Uther reached down and brushed some of the hair out of her eyes, "Of course I was coming, I just wanted to get some help first."
Ruby started to sob, "I was so scared."
Uther pulled her into a hug and she buried her head into the mantle he wore, "I'm sorry, I got here as fast as I could."
Ruby felt something drip on her, and she realized with a shock that Uther was crying.
"What-"
"You nearly died."
They sat there for a while until Uther asked a question.
"Did they say why they took you?"
Ruby thought back to what they had said.
"I think they thought I was your daughter."
"You are my daughter."
Ruby went quite, not sure how to respond. Uther had taken care of her in the nine months she had been on Azeroth, but it felt like calling him her father was betraying Tai.
Eventually she settled on tightening the hug, "I'm your daughter."
The pair sat there for a while longer, before Ruby spoke.
"Can we go home now?"
Uther smiled at her, "Of course."
He helped picked her up, and carried her over to Steadfast.
X LINE BREAK X
Darion watched as Ruby practiced with her scythe, it was like watching a dance, every step had a role, each move flowed into each other. Sweat dripping down her arms, glistening as the sun hit them.
The nine year old jumped as a voice spoke out, "Watching your crush again, Darion?"
Darion turned to glare at his older brother, "I don't have a crush!"
"Then why is it that every time we come to
Lordaeron, you end up watching Ruby practicing?"
"She's just so good at fighting, no matter what weapon she's using, she always knows exactly what to do."
Renault's grin grew even wider, "Yeah, you totally have a crush on her."
"No, I don't!"
"Then why don't we go over there and you can tell her how much you like her weapon skills?"
"No!"
Renault laughed, "Ok, whatever you say."
X LINE BREAK X
Alexandros shared a look with Lady Proudmoore as Uther paced around.
"Lord Uther, have you actually tried to talk to Ruby?"
That was the source of the problem, Ruby hadn't been out of her room since her birthday a week ago, and everyone had started to worry about her.
"No, what if she's angry at me?"
The Ashbringer sighed, before standing up and grabbing his friend.
"Well, best find out now, rather than later."
Lady Proudmoore was in the lead, and knocked on the door.
"Ruby? Can we come in?"
"yes…"
Alexandros frowned, in the year he had known the girl he never heard her so down.
As the door swung open, the frown grew even worse. Ruby was curled up on the bed, her glowing eyes being the only sign of her location in the dark room.
"Ruby you've been in here for the last week, is something wrong?"
Ruby nodded, and Lady Proudmoore walked over, gently sitting on the bed.
"What's wrong little Rose?"
"I'm never going to get home am I?"
"Oh, Ruby."
Alexandros watched as Lady Proudmoore ran her fingers through Ruby's hair.
"It's been a year and you all haven't made any progress getting me home."
Alexandros looked at Uther, who looked shocked, apparently realizing, just as he had, how badly being away from her family hurt Ruby.
"We are working on it Ruby."
"You keep saying that."
Alexandros breathed in, before speaking, "Ruby, we are trying to find a way to get you home, but even if we don't, you have a family here."
"I do?"
Jaina pulled Ruby into a hug, "Of course, you do. You have me and Arthas, and Alexandros and his kids, and Uther."
Here Ruby pulled out of the hug and looked over at aforementioned Paladin, who spread his arms, catching her as she dove into his chest, making Alexandros glad he wasn't wearing his armor.
"I guess I was being really silly, huh?"
"Of course not, Ruby. There's nothing wrong with missing them, and we're not going to stop looking for a way back."
"Yeah."
"Come on, we still need to get that dress fitted for you."
Ruby laughed, wiping her eyes.
"Ok."
