Chapter 14: A Fleeting Calm

"This is ridiculous!" Weiss groused. "I'm not the one who threw her lot in with dragons! There's no reason for me to stay in this…cave!"

Weiss was following behind Winter who in turn was following behind Yang as they navigated the branching tunnels that led into Yang's lair. The tunnels didn't look large enough to accommodate Yang's draconic body, but she was maneuvering through them with ease. The spectacle reminded Winter of how cats always seemed to be able to fit through any opening no matter how small.

"Weiss," Winter said, trying to not sound exasperated. "You have no horse, no provisions, no weapon, and no map. And none of us can safely travel through the countryside to escort you right now. We will return you to the castle, I promise. Once we've figured out how."

Ruby was in the back of the group. Her deep voice echoed from behind, "O-or she could just stay! She doesn't have to leave!"

Winter sighed. This time she did sound exasperated.

The tunnel finally opened up into the main cavern. Yang breathed out a quick jet of flame to ignite the torches, and light filled the large space. Yang then turned around and daintily plucked the bag Winter had been holding out of her hand with her claws. She said, "Thanks!"

"You're…welcome," Winter said. She was surprised by how dexterous Yang was with her claws given their size.

Weiss suddenly let out a gasp. Winter turned and saw that Weiss had stopped in her tracks. Her mouth fell open as she surveyed the riches surrounding her, and she quietly said, "In the name of the Brothers…."

Ruby slipped past Weiss into the cavern with a nimble twist of her large body. She said, "Pretty neat, right? You can see more of it if you stay longer."

Yang said, "Ruby…."

Ruby glanced at Yang who shot her a look. Ruby smiled nervously, at least that's how Winter interpreted her expression. Yang cocked her head to one side. The gesture had apparently conveyed shades of meaning that were lost on Winter as Ruby suddenly looked deflated. She slowly ambled toward Yang with her eyes cast down.

"I know, I know," Ruby said to Yang. "She's your treasure. I'm not allowed to have my own yet."

"What? No. I don't want her," Yang said.

"Y-you don't? Is there something wrong with her?" Ruby asked, sounding alarmed.

"Humans aren't like gold or jewels, Ruby," Yang said.

"They're not?!" Ruby asked.

"No. You can't just hoard more and more," Yang said. "They're only valuable if you have the right number of them."

"So…. If you don't want her…?" Ruby hesitantly asked.

"You found her," Yang said.

Winter wasn't following the conversation at all, although some of the things that Yang was saying were concerning. She was about to ask for clarification, but Ruby suddenly let out a yip of excitement. She began to prance about the cavern, wagging her tail back and forth. Seeing a several-ton creature romp around the confined space was a bit alarming for Winter, although Ruby somehow managed to avoid disturbing a single bit of the treasure that was lying about. Not so much as a coin was jostled out of place.

Ruby started rapidly circling around Weiss. The commotion knocked Weiss out of her treasure-induced stupor. A fearful look crossed her face, and she tried to back away from the dragon whizzing about her.

"Weiss! Weiss! Did you hear that?!" Ruby asked. "You're my very first piece of treasure!"

Weiss appeared to be teetering between exploding with rage or passing out from sheer panic. Her eyes flicked wildly about, but then they landed on something. She sprinted over to the closest pile of treasure and snatched up an exquisitely crafted rapier that happened to be lying there. She pointed the blade at Ruby and shouted, "I will never be your prisoner, you beast!"

Ruby stopped in her tracks. She said, "Wait…. What?"

Winter realized the situation was quickly getting out of hand. She looked over to Yang, but Yang wasn't even paying attention. She was busy pulling items out of the bag she'd taken from Winter and was carefully inspecting them one by one.

Winter knew better than to get in between Yang and her treasure. So she hastily walked closer to the brewing conflict between her sister and Ruby and called out, "Weiss!"

Weiss looked startled to hear her name. She glanced at Winter.

Winter said, "If you're going to threaten a creature that's many times your size you should at least have proper form. I taught you how to wield a sword better than that."

Weiss let out a frustrated huff, but she shifted her feet, correcting her stance.

"Better," Winter said. "And Ruby, I'm sure you don't intend to hold my sister here against her will."

"No! Of course not!" Ruby said. "Why would I do that?"

Winter decided against explaining to Ruby how she had in fact implied that she intended to keep Weiss as some sort of prize. She didn't want to have an hour-long conversation about the concept of personhood. Instead, she said, "Weiss, Ruby clearly means you no harm. Please put down the sword. And Ruby, perhaps you should assume your human guise. It would make you less intimidating."

"I'm intimidating?" Ruby asked, sounding like she was both surprised and pleased.

Weiss glanced at her blade. She sighed, no doubt realizing that it wouldn't do her much good even if she did need to defend herself against a dragon. She set it back down where she'd found it.

Ruby began to shrink. A moment later she looked like a perfectly ordinary young woman, save for her unusual eye color. She asked in her much higher human voice, "How's this? Less scary?"

Weiss's face went redder than Winter had ever seen it go, and her eyes locked onto Ruby who was wearing exactly the same amount of clothing as she had been a moment before.

"Oh, wait…" Ruby said. She stuck out her hand for Weiss to shake. "This is how you do it, right?"

Weiss spun around, turning her back to Ruby.

"Weiss? Are you okay?" Ruby asked. She quickly walked around to Weiss's front. Weiss just as quickly turned away again.

"Weiss?" Ruby asked, trying again to get into Weiss's line of sight.

Winter watched the proceedings as they continued to unfold. She would have intervened on Weiss's behalf, but it was all she could do to keep a straight face. Even though it was inappropriate of her, she found Ruby's unintentional antics extremely amusing.

Yang, in her human form, suddenly walked up beside Winter. Winter hadn't even noticed that she'd transformed. Unlike Ruby, Yang was dressed. She was wearing a garment made from colorful silk in a style Winter had never seen before. It looked a bit like a robe with large sleeves that was held closed by a wide sash. In its native land it was called a kimono, although Winter had no way of knowing that. What she did know was that she thought Yang looked quite elegant in it. Yang also was holding a red robe in her hand that was in a style more familiar to Winter.

"Hey, Ruby," Yang said.

"Yang? I think something's wrong with Weiss!" Ruby said, finally stopping her little game of keep-away.

"She's just embarrassed because you're not wearing anything," Yang explained.

Ruby looked confused. She said, "But I haven't been wearing anything this whole time. She didn't care a minute ago."

"Yeah, it's a stupid human thing. Here. Put this on," Yang said. She tossed the robe she was holding to Ruby.

Ruby grabbed the robe out of the air. She fumbled with it for a second. Then she clumsily slipped it on over her head.

Yang said, "Just try to keep some clothes on when you look like a human."

"Like…the whole time?" Ruby asked as she struggled with the robe's sleeves.

"You'll get used to it," Yang said.

"If you say so," Ruby said. She finally got the robe on properly. "Weiss? How do I look?"

Weiss slowly turned around. There was still a bit of a blush on her cheeks. Ruby held her arms out to her sides, eagerly awaiting Weiss's appraisal.

Weiss did look Ruby over. She said, "It's a bit large on you."

"Is that…good?" Ruby asked. "We've got a lot of clothes here. I can wear something else. Can you pick something out for me?"

Weiss's cheeks started to get red all over again.

Winter cleared her throat. She said, "Since the princess is a guest here, Ruby, perhaps it would be polite if you were to offer her a dry pair of shoes."

Everyone looked down at Weiss's feet. She was not wearing boots like Winter was, and the marsh outside had completely soaked through her shoes and the lower hem of her dress. They had begun to dry, but they still looked far from comfortable.

Ruby's expression brightened. She turned to Yang and asked, "Can I?"

"Alright. But you know the rules," Yang said.

"Yeah, yeah. Nothing gets damaged, and nothing leaves the cave," Ruby said. "What do you say, Weiss? We can pick out things for each other to wear!"

Weiss glanced at Winter and gave her a look that told Winter many things. Weiss had obviously, and understandably, been emotionally frazzled by the events of the last few hours. However, it was still clear, to Winter at least, that she really wanted to take Ruby up on her offer, but she was also silently deferring the decision to Winter so she could evade the responsibility of making it. It was all a little too familiar to Winter. She herself remembered many times over the years when she'd still been discovering who she was that she'd decided it was better to deny herself something she wanted rather than accept that she wanted it.

Winter made a mental note to have a discussion with Weiss later. Perhaps it was possible she and her sister had more in common than she knew. However, here and now were neither the time nor the place. She said, "It would be rude to turn down such an offer of hospitality, Weiss. And this is also an opportunity for you to instruct Ruby on the etiquette of human dress."

Weiss stood there for a moment. But then she managed to finally regain some of her composure. She said, "Very well, Ruby. Please show me to your wardrobe."

Ruby giggled with delight as she hopped up and down. Then she grabbed Weiss's hand and said, "Come on! This way!"

Ruby dragged Weiss off deeper into the cave.

Winter watched Weiss go. She dared to hope that this whole experience might yet end up being a positive one for her sister. Weiss didn't have much experience being outside the walls of Atlas thanks to their father's overprotective nature. Winter could only imagine how furious Father would be when he learned of Weiss's abduction, if he hadn't already.

Winter looked at Yang. Now that the excitement of the rescue was over, Winter felt like there were a million things she needed to say to Yang, and a million more questions she needed to ask. But she couldn't recall what any of them might be. The past two days had been the most eventful of her life, and she knew she still needed time to process everything.

Yang didn't say anything either which Winter found uncharacteristic of her. But she supposed Yang had also been through a traumatic experience. She might need time too.

Winter watched as Yang slowly turned toward the nearest pile of treasure and began to wander toward it. Winter couldn't help but smile. She'd seen a whole new side of Yang today, a more mature side. Yang acted quite motherly toward Ruby, which made sense given that Yang was the one who'd raised her. Winter felt it suited Yang immensely. As Yang continued to walk, Winter was struck again by how poised and regal Yang looked in the foreign robe she was wearing. Dragons really were such magnificent creatures. How had she not seen it before? However, the spell of admiration that had taken hold of Winter was broken an instant later when Yang reached a sizable pile of coins and literally flopped down onto it.

Winter stared, both horrified and fascinated, as Yang rolled around in the coins like a pig wallowing in the mud. Yang let out a series of satisfied groans that made her sound like she was indulging in a luxurious bath. It was as good a reminder as any to Winter that Yang was not human.

Yang finally came to rest on her back, still lying on the coins. She let out the most contented sigh. Then she said, "I've needed this so much. I was going to go crazy if I went one more day without seeing a spec of gold."

Winter looked out over the vast collection of wealth in the cavern. Her mood suddenly dipped as she recalled some of the more bizarre things Yang had said only a few minutes ago. Specifically, what she'd said about humans and what made them valuable.

Winter said, "I'm just another treasure to you, aren't I. Just another part of your hoard."

"Well yeah," Yang said.

It was the answer Winter had been expecting, but it still felt like a dagger in her heart. She bitterly said, "I've been a fool then. I had believed you could care for me like I care for you."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Yang said. She jumped to her feet and rushed over to Winter. "What are you talking about?"

Winter tried to respond, but her words got stuck in her throat.

"I'm a dragon, Winter!" Yang said. "Nothing is more important to me than my hoard! To say you're not part of it would be an insult!"

Winter blinked a few times, confusion cutting into her emotional state. She finally looked Yang in the eye.

Yang put her hands on Winter's shoulders. She said, "I know every single piece of treasure in this cave down to the last coin. And none of it's more valuable than you. Because you're not like a golden chalice or a shiny gem. You won't…. You won't be here in a hundred years. You won't…last. I've got to appreciate you now, while I can."

Melancholy was starting to creep into Yang's voice. It almost sounded like she was getting choked up. Winter was stunned.

"Besides, humans do the same thing with the people they love," Yang said, obviously trying to play down her emotions. She let go of Winter and started casually strolling about.

"I'm not sure I know what you're referring to," Winter said.

"You know," Yang said. "That thing with the ceremony and the rings and stuff."

"You mean…marriage?" Winter asked.

"Yeah, that's it," Yang said.

Winter was really taken aback now. But out of all the directions her mind could have gone, she asked, "Should I inform my sister that she has a wife now?"

Yang snickered. She said, "Yeah, you should. That'll be worth a laugh."

"Wait a moment. Did you say 'love'?" Winter asked.

Yang froze. She asked, "Did I?"

"Yes," Winter said. "You distinctly did."

"Huh," Yang said. "You're right."

Winter took a few steps toward Yang. She asked, "And did you mean it?"

Yang didn't reply right away. She scratched her chin as she thought about it. And when she finally answered, she said, "Yeah. I did."

Winter had to steady herself to keep from falling over. She let out a slow breath, trying to calm her pounding heart. She drifted over to Yang and gently placed her hands on Yang's cheeks. Then she said, "I love you too, Yang."

Yang's mouth opened, but no words came out. Winter leaned in close and gave Yang a soft kiss. As their lips pressed together a few tears trickled out of the corners of Winter's eyes. The twists and turns of fate that had led her to this point almost seemed farcical. She'd forsaken her sworn duty and betrayed her kingdom. But because of that she'd finally found what she'd really been looking for. And given the opportunity, she'd do it all over again.

Winter felt it was important to occasionally reflect on one's life to ensure it was proceeding as it should. However, she didn't know how she could even begin to evaluate her own life right now. At the moment she was in a cave, lying against a pile of coins, cuddling in the arms of her dragon lover, and surrounded by enough treasure to buy and sell kingdoms. The only two things she was certain of were that her life had become incredibly strange and that she had no regrets.

Winter glanced at Yang who was smiling happily at her. In many ways, Yang was still an enigma to her, but she intended to savor all the discoveries that lay ahead. She was ready to truly know Yang like she'd never known anyone else.

A question suddenly popped into Winter's head. She asked, "Where did that chess piece I gave you go?"

"It's here," Yang said, waving her hand vaguely. "I put it in a chest for now. Until I find someplace safer."

"The way you were talking back at the castle I thought you might choose to put it on display," Winter said.

"What for?" Yang asked. "I've got it. I know where it is. That's enough."

"I see," Winter said. If she really was going to be living with Yang, she decided that learning the ground rules regarding Yang's hoard was a top priority. Although there were other, equally pressing questions that Winter had. After all, she didn't actually know what a life with Yang would truly be like.

Unsure of how to broach the topic, Winter asked, "Have any of your previous lovers been inducted into your hoard?"

"Previous lovers?" Yang asked.

"Ruby implied during our second meeting that you regularly took humans as your lover," Winter explained.

"I don't know about 'regularly'," Yang said.

"I'm merely curious," Winter said, but in truth she hoped that Yang's answer would help her gauge what their blossoming relationship might ultimately become.

"No. No one else has," Yang said. "I'm not really sure I'd even call any of them lovers. I just liked to occasionally visit a human town and rock the world of some lucky gal."

"Should I expect you to do the same in the future?" Winter asked. She certainly wasn't interested in sharing Yang, but she had no idea what a dragon's view on monogamy might be.

"No way," Yang said. "What we have is so much better."

Winter smiled. She said, "That's gratifying to hear."

Silence settled over the cavern again. Winter basked in the serenity of it all, but concerns about the world outside Yang's lair started to worm their way into her head. Apropos of nothing, she asked, "Yang? Whatever happened to the emissaries my father sent to Patch? Surely they would have returned or at least sent word by now."

"Oh, them?" Yang said. "I bribed them. Gave them a bunch of gold and told them to never report back."

"When did you…? No, never mind," Winter said. She didn't need to know how much Yang had gotten away with right under her nose. "I'm surprised you were willing to part with any of your gold. Even for that."

Yang chuckled. She said, "It wasn't my gold."

Winter grimaced. She said, "Please do not elaborate on that."

Yang just smirked knowingly.

Winter sighed. All of this was a distraction from what was really weighing on her. She said, "Yang. It won't be long before Ironwood finds this place."

"Finds it how?" Yang asked. "You two were searching for it for like a month."

"Exactly," Winter said. "He knows where your lair is not."

"So?" Yang asked.

"Don't you find it peculiar that he never appeared to foil our escape from Atlas?" Winter asked.

"Well…I didn't until now," Yang said.

"He no doubt wanted to see in what direction we would fly," Winter said. "That final clue will have been enough. He will come, and soon."

"Only if he's an idiot," Yang said. "Between me, you, and Ruby, he won't stand a chance."

"You should know that he wields a magical sword," Winter said.

"Oh yeah? What's it do?" Yang asked.

"I do not know," Winter admitted. "But it is certain that it will aid him in battle against a dragon."

"Well not all of us are dragons. So unless it's the most crazy-powerful magic sword ever, he still doesn't stand a chance," Yang said.

"I know that. But so does he," Winter said.

Winter was already running through scenarios in her head. Thinking out loud, she said, "He won't come alone. With Weiss kidnapped, he will have no difficulty convincing my father to lend him a contingent of the castle's guards. They will arrive in force."

Yang scowled. She was silent for several seconds. Then she said in a deadly serious tone, "I won't let anything threaten my hoard. No matter what I have to do. Or who I have to end."

"And I won't allow the slaughter of so many good men and women," Winter said.

Yang looked directly at Winter, obviously realizing the impasse.

Winter said, "And now you see his strategy."

Truth be told, Winter didn't know for an absolute fact that she had correctly deduced Ironwood's plan, but she knew him well enough to be confident she wasn't far off the mark. To sew discord among his enemies so effortlessly was too good an opportunity for him to pass up.

Yang asked, "So what are we going to do about it?"

This time it was Winter who was silent. Any strategy she came up with felt like it would end in disaster. She couldn't see a way to victory that didn't involve sacrificing too many lives. But that was when Winter hit upon a new idea. She said, "We must do the last thing Ironwood will expect of us. We must confront him directly."

Winter sat up.

"Where are you going?" Yang asked.

"To find our sisters," Winter said. "It will take all of us to make this work."

A few minutes later, Winter was following a trail of lit torches deeper into the cave. They led her to one of the lair's many other caverns which itself was lit up. Winter knew Weiss and Ruby must be inside.

Winter walked in and saw dozens if not hundreds of garments strewn about the cavern floor. Most of them were red or white in color, and all of them looked small enough to fit Ruby or Weiss's frame. None of that surprised Winter. What did surprise her was that a mattress was also laid out on the cavern floor.

Winter walked over to the mattress, and as she got close, she saw that Weiss and Ruby were both asleep on top of it. Weiss was dressed in a man's linen undertunic which came down to her knees. It was obviously not something she'd been wearing when she'd been kidnapped. Ruby had on a garment that somewhat resembled a chemise made from luxurious red silk, except that it was decidedly less modest. Its bottom hem only reached Ruby's upper thighs, the neckline plunged deeply, and there were no sleeves of any kind.

Weiss and Ruby were not only lying on the mattress together, but Ruby was also curled in tightly to Weiss's side with both her arms and legs wrapped around her. She had the happiest smile on her face that Winter had ever seen.

Winter wasn't entirely sure what sequence of events had transpired before she'd entered the cavern, but she decided to reserve judgment for now. She strolled right up to Weiss's side of the mattress and loudly cleared her throat.

Weiss stirred a little, but she didn't open her eyes.

"Weiss," Winter said. When that didn't get a result, she more firmly said, "Princess."

Weiss's eyes finally fluttered open. She looked confused and addled from sleep at first, but she quickly took stock of the situation and immediately looked mortified.

Weiss opened her mouth to say something, but then her eyes shifted over to the still sleeping Ruby. Weiss began the process of extracting herself from Ruby's embrace. And it was a process. Winter patiently waited as a minute ticked by, then two, then five.

Eventually, Weiss freed herself and got out of the bed. Ruby was still fast asleep.

Winter nodded in the direction of the cavern's entrance. Then she clasped her hands behind her back and started walking that way. Weiss followed behind her. Once they were back in the tunnel, Winter said, "I see you've taken to your new companion rather quickly."

"I'm learning to manage her," Weiss said, clearly trying to salvage some of her dignity. "She's like an excitable puppy, but maybe that means she can be trained."

"I'm sure Ruby will delight in you lavishing such attention on her," Winter said wryly.

"Hey! I didn't ask to be brought here!" Weiss said. "I'm trying to make the best of the situation."

"Indeed you are," Winter said. "I must assume you were the one who asked Ruby to wear that…garment? I doubt she would have selected it for herself."

Weiss pouted, but her cheeks also lit up with a telltale blush. She said, "I thought it might look…fetching on her."

Winter shook her head, amused. She would definitely have to have a talk with Weiss. Perhaps Weiss could benefit from her mistakes. But that would have to come later.

Winter asked, "And what am I to make of your own attire?"

Weiss glanced down at her undertunic. She said, "I saw an opportunity. Could you imagine Father's reaction if he saw me in men's clothing?"

Winter had wondered if Weiss's garment had been some form of youthful rebellion. Although Weiss sounded a little too dismissive for it to be only that. But Winter realized she needed to address the matter at hand. She said, "All that aside, I've come to ask you a favor, Weiss."

"That's rather bold of you," Weiss said. "I believe I'm the one who's owed a favor."

"I owe you many favors," Winter said. "And I intend to repay each and every one. But this cannot wait. A conflict is coming. Lord Ironwood and Father will not let my actions or your abduction go unpunished. I will need your help to resolve the situation."

Weiss glanced back into the cavern where Ruby was sleeping. It was clear by the expression on her face that she felt a great deal of conflict. But eventually, she asked, "What do I need to do?"

"Don't be so quick to agree," Winter said. "This will be dangerous. You do not owe me your life."

"I'm not going to do this for you," Weiss said. "Or for Ruby. And especially not for your girlfriend. Do you know the last time Father allowed me to leave the castle? I'm going to do this because it's a decision I get to make."

Winter looked very sternly at Weiss, and Weiss returned her gaze without wavering. Winter's expression gave way to a proud smile. She said, "Very well then. Go wake Ruby. We will all need to prepare."

Author's Note: And now the big question. Do I tag this story as Ruby/Weiss? I don't think I should since it only shows up right here at the end. I don't want to be setting any false expectations. And speaking of the end, the next chapter is (should be) the final one. Things are getting pretty crazy at my day job, so I'm definitely going to need two weeks to get it out. But I will get this story done before work swallows me up!

As always, I welcome constructive criticism. Please feel free to leave a review. And if you like what you've read, taking the time to favorite and/or follow really helps me out. You can also find me on tumblr (electronicyarn) if you want to send me a message or be notified of updates.