As the days and weeks merged together, and time passed as if Atlas had not nearly been destroyed by her own magic, the world seemed to settle back into a vague sort of normal. The snows melted or were slowly dissipated under her steady influence. Roads were reopened, towns and villages and hamlets unearthed. The death toll was exponential, but the survivors were rallying together and surviving.
Through it all, Weiss did what she could to help. She depleted her treasury aiding reconstruction and buying supplies to give to the now homeless and destitute. She paid for the reconstruction of industry and houses and roads and the few farms that could survive on Atlas' harsh, unforgiving land. The route to Vale by sea was slowly reopened as both her own direct influence over her magic slowly melted the ice away into nothingness and the ice-breakers she had commissioned went to work, the construction surprisingly quick as thousands fled to the coast in the hope of escape or work after the freak storm that had decimated their homeland so harshly and suddenly.
Weiss had doubts the Kingdom could ever recover from the trauma of what happened. Her people were hardy, but her actions had unleashed something supernatural, something never seen before. Something new and frightening and monstrous.
And somehow, she hadn't paid the price for her crime. Instead she ruled, acted as if she had nothing to do with what happened and everything to do with the reconstruction. People praised her. They looked at her with adoration and admiration and respect, looking to her for guidance and leadership. As if she wasn't the one to cause them so much ruin in the first place.
She was glad she was in tune with her magic now, that of the Winter Maiden. She did not understand it, not fully, but she had managed to gradually coax it to her in that freaky, endless void until it flocked to her the moment she drifted to the Abyss with the help of her potions. During the day she would rule, and during the night she would meditate until she passed out from exhaustion bringing back all the magic she had unleashed, easing the chaos and carnage until somehow people could live once more.
Were things truly going to just go back to being normal? She hoped so. Even if she felt a worser fate for what she had done.
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The day started as normal as her days usually started. After a brief, minimalist breakfast she met with her council to ensure the orders of the day were set. After ensuring everyone knew where to be and what to do, she signed off on urgent documents before heading into the town inside the battlements of Nördliche Burg but outside the sturdy and now fully repaired walls of Snowflake Keep. There she helped distribute goods across the town and met with her people before leading a wagon train of fresh goods to the refugee camp still outside the walls. A wooden stockade surrounded the edges of the camp, and instead of flimsy tents and other hastily assembled shelters, the new settlers lived in wooden cabins, built using timber from the west that had steadily increased, along with a number of other goods, as the roads reopened and trade resumed.
It looked like many of the newcomers were planning on staying, and there was a high likelihood Weiss was going to have to extend Nördliche Burg's walls to guarantee their safety. It had been centuries since Nördliche Burg had had such a high population growth the fortress had needed to expand its fortifications.
The way the people looked at her as she arrived, the way they flocked around her and practically threw words of praise and thanks at her as if she had single-handedly ended all their suffering made her sickened to her core. She was helping them, but only because she had put them in that position in the first place. Yet somehow, for some reason, they loved her. They should loathe her, despise her, not respect and admire her.
She was right. If the truth was out the people who smiled at her now would turn on her with pitchforks and vengeance. It just needed to come out.
It started with the thunder of hooves in wet mud.
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Weiss smiled a wide, beaming smile and accepted her proffered gift. The little girl in front of her let her hands fall to her side nervously once Weiss took the flower, a blue one that looked like the sky. It was one of the few things that could be both beautiful and survive in Atlas.
"Thank you very much." Weiss grinned, barely resisting the urge to do something unqueenly like squeal and fawn over the child. Instead, she vented her pent up cuteness-overload-outburst by booping the little girl's nose. "You are very kind little one."
"I'm not that little!" The girl protested quietly. "Mama says I'll grow."
"And you will." Weiss promised, part of her ready to swear away a big chunk of her drastically reduced wealth in order to guarantee the child lived a safe, secure life. "I can see it. You're going to grow up and live a long, happy life."
"Really?" The girl asked, the hopeful glint in her sparkling eyes making Weiss desperate to scoop the little girl into her arms and hold her so tightly and never let go. Thankfully, she managed to resist.
"I promise." Weiss swore, remembering a little thing Jaune taught her when they were young and holding out her littlest finger. The girl wrapped her own, adorably smaller little finger around it, sealing the pact. The girl hurried back to her parent's with a wide smile on her face, and Weiss gave Captain Nightingale a pointed look. The man nodded, having been trained well and knowing the drill. He headed over to the parents as the crowd dissipated, leading them to a quiet corner and giving them a bag of Lien to provide for themselves and the child.
Weiss exhaled softly, awash with conflicting emotions and a strong urge to retreat, to hide herself away behind her high walls and strong castle. But her people, the people she had betrayed, needed her. She couldn't turn her back on them, even if she was sickened to the core every time they looked at her with a respect she did not deserve.
She shook her head, making a mental note to tell Nördliche Burg's staff the girl and her family had special recommendations from her if they ever sough employment there. Just another thing she needed to do.
There was a commotion behind her, and Weiss turned as she saw refugees part before a horse that thundered towards her, coming to a stop and skidding in the sludgy mud. Her guards formed a shell of steel around her, but she gestured for them to part as the rider dismounted his snorting steed and knelt in the mud before her, the Schnee emblem on his surcoat.
"Your Majesty!" The rider panted. "An army approaches Nördliche Burg from the south! They must have been let through Snowmire!"
"Could you identify who it was?" Weiss demanded, and urgent bustle taking over the camp. Concern and fear radiated through the air, fear that the war everyone had forgotten about in the chaos of the past few weeks had come to their doorstep.
"I saw Mistrali banners, but they were alongside ones belonging to our own lords as well as the royal banner Your Majesty." The rider answered. "I don't know why, but the host is sizable and is being followed by a train of supplies and civilians."
"Thank you for this information, get some rest." Weiss said, turning to Captain Nightingale, who had approached at some point during her conversation with the messenger. "Ready a retinue. I would like to meet whoever heads this army."
"Your Majesty-" Nightingale protested, and she cut him off with a shake of her head.
"If it really is the Mistrali we've already lost." She told him quietly. "The least I can do now is try and negotiate a surrender."
"And if they aren't?" Nightingale asked with a challenging tone. "Why would our own march alongside them?"
"I probably won't want to know." Weiss admitted. "But I have to find out either way. We don't have the time to organise an evacuation and the people won't have the strength to flee somewhere else after just settling down from fleeing the storms."
"We can still evacuate you." Nightingale replied hotly, eyes glinting with a determined light and his jaw set firmly. "So long as you can escape and lead us we can fight another day."
"Not after Atlas was just devastated by freak storms." Weiss smiled sadly, feeling another wave of sickness at the loyalty, the sheer belief he had in her. Would that same loyalty remain after he knew of what she had done? "We still don't know how badly affected the hinterlands were. Vale is our best bet now, and it's not like I can sail across a frozen sea to get there. Our best bet now is negotiation."
"I'll follow your lead, Your Majesty." Nightingale sighed, conceding finally. He looked a little nervous. "I apologise for being…impertinent."
"It's fine." Weiss smiled honestly, just as surprised as he was by that. "I need good advice and you give it frequently. It's just there aren't many options in this scenario. How long until a retinue can be prepared?"
"Not long." Nightingale promised, turning to his men. "Form up, we're returning to Nördliche Burg."
"Stay calm." Weiss said loudly, drawing the worried eyes of the families around her. "I'll have a word and see what new madness my lords are up to."
There were nervous chuckles and fear still sat heavily in the air, but it was dispelled somewhat and for the moment that was the best Weiss could hope for.
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Weiss felt a frown settle over her face as the chill wind stabbed into her skin and made her nose red and numb. She'd taken an entourage of a few hundred guards, all of them drawn from Nördliche Burg's garrison, to make it seem like she was arriving in a greater position of strength than she actually was. They were there for her protection too, obviously, but there was no denying the fact that if the Mistrali were truly this close to Nördliche Burg she was doomed regardless.
Weiss had hope. In what exactly she wasn't sure, but she had hope and faith in Klein to have beaten back the Mistrali. Her actions…the storms she had unleashed had undoubtedly complicated things, but she had little reason to fear. Klein was the one, definitive constant in her life. He would come through for her, just like he always had.
If he had weakened the Mistrali enough in battle, they may be willing to come to a negotiated settlement. Atlas was in no position to pursue a war, but Vale encompassed the other half of her kingdom and it was under the careful guidance of her sister and brother-in-law. With Ironwood and Winter at the head of Vale, an army was probably already mustered and a fleet gathered to counter-invade Mistral. Weiss did not want to assume, as news from Vale had been all but cut off thanks to her stupid actions, but she was willing to trust in the capability of her brother-in-law and sister.
If so then her position may be stronger than she thought. But she couldn't use that idea and hope and take it for an absolute fact. If she overplayed her position then the Mistrali would inevitably push back. If she underplayed it, then Nördliche Burg would be conquered and Atlas, just barely getting back onto its feet, would be sent barreling backwards once more. She didn't know if the Kingdom could recover, even if it was eventually liberated by Ironwood.
It was a fine line she would have to tread, but tread it she must. She was a Queen, even if she didn't deserve to be, and she would do her duty as such. She would not let her people down once more.
Rounding the bend of the Solitas Road, she saw a fairly large party of horsemen riding towards her own. Her men drew in around her, forming a solid battle line, ready to strike and protect at once. The banners of her family flew high alongside those of her Kingdom's, cast up in a strong wind. She tried picking out the banners in the party rapidly approaching them, but there were too many to paint a clear picture. Interestly she saw Mistrali and Atlas-Vale flags flying side by side, and the terrifying possibility of this being a trap to lure her out and kill her struck suddenly like a thunderbolt, and a tingle of fear shivered its way up her spine for a moment before she calmed herself.
If it truly was a trap, she had her men to protect her. Not to mention if the situation became dire, she could possibly utilise her Maiden magic.
Could she do such a thing? Could she trust herself to do so?
She didn't know. She hoped she wouldn't have to find out.
The riders slowed, and two figures rode out to meet them, one carrying a flag of Mistral and the other Atlas-Vale. Weiss frowned as she recognised the fur-clad form of Chieftain Stone alongside that of someone she was definitely surprised to see.
Alexander Nikos had disappeared as if he was a snowflake melting in spring a little before the war began. Weiss had her suspicions, but they were thrown out of her mind the moment she saw him ride side by side alongside the person who had been his biggest critic during their betrothal.
Curiosity was a strong emotion, and even she struggled to suppress it. She nodded at Nightingale and advanced forward, flanked by four guards whilst Nightingale rode next to her, carrying her banner.
They met at a halfway point, Weiss taking a moment to take in their appearances. Both looked gaunt and tired, as if they'd had to travel through the Otherworld just to get here. Nikos still had a calculating gleam to his emerald eyes, laced with an all too familiar smugness. Chieftain Stone had a respectful look, even if he looked exhausted, and Weiss took note of the fact half of his right hand was missing.
"Chieftain Stone." Weiss greeted, nodding at her bannerman. "I'm glad you are well."
"Likewise, Your Majesty." Stone replied, bowing lowly in his saddle. "Though I believe both of us have seen better days. Is it true? Was it Bragrim?"
"It's likely, yes." Weiss answered, not trusting herself to be able to sell the lie if she gave a definitive answer. "I can't be certain though. We all know how poorly magic users have been treated over the centuries, and I won't rule out enemy wizards doing this until after I can launch a thorough investigation."
"Makes sense." Stone conceded, scratching his bearded chin with the single remaining finger on his right hand. "Bragrim wasn't the mad sort, and we all know the Inquisition has more than a few tricks up their sleeves."
"Speaking of the Mistrali Inquisitors." Weiss said, turning to Alexander with a cold look."What are you doing here?"
"Why, providing you with men, arms and a more reasonable contender to the throne of Mistral." Alexander replied, voice airy and teasing. She felt a spike of anger at hearing it after blissful months without his presence. "I've heard you broke our betrothal. I must say, that stung quite a bit. Couldn't even write me a letter first? I had to find out through rumour and happenstance."
"You hid yourself away." Weiss retorted, eyes narrowing. "Which was quite wise considering the war your sister declared soon after. I take it that some sort of deal has been struck?"
"By Sir Klein, Your Majesty." Stone interjected, sensing the hostility between the former bride and husband to be. "In return for Alexander Nikos providing us with men who deserted Queen Pyrrha, we will acknowledge his claim to the throne and provide either financial or military support in his endeavour. A less hostile Mistral in return for our support sounded like a good deal."
"Money and manpower is something Atlas is short on these days." Weiss replied. "But I cannot say the same for Vale. We can discuss a proper treaty at Nördliche Burg after you have rested. I'd offer a feast, but we need to focus on conserving what we have. Will your men behave?"
"They will." Alexander promised, not like that meant much though. The man used sleaze, intrigue and overall untrustworthiness. "Even if they wanted to do anything untoward, I reckon they're too exhausted by the march here to actually have the energy to do it."
"That's reassuring." Weiss deadpanned, turning back to Chieftain Stone, her expression softening slightly. "Where is Klein?"
"I…" The Chieftain paused, eyes turning to the mane of his horse, where his hand rested and his single finger curled up with emotion. "He fell during the liberation of Vulcan. He fought bravely Your Majesty. I…I'm so sorry."
Weiss blinked, uncomprehending of the words. A droning noise rang in her ears, and a chill colder than any wind, snow or ice she had touched in her long life in Atlas shook her to her very core. She squeezed her eyes shut forcibly, refusing to cry, to show weakness, let alone in front of Nikos. She could feel the haunting touch of Klein's cloak, wrapped over her body like a blanket to comfort her after a bad dream. She could see him in her mind's eye, eyes gleaming, neat moustache curling as he smiled warmly.
She exhaled, letting out what emotion she could afford to in a brief moment before she opened her eyes. The image of Klein was gone, replaced by the chill Atlesian wind and the looks of sorrow on Chieftain Stone and Captain Nightingale's faces. Even Nikos somehow managed to look less smug, as if he was genuinely feeling sorry for her. It was sickening.
"His body?" Weiss asked, feeling the ghost of Klein's smile at how normal it sounded, how it lacked the weakness of grief. "Where is it?"
"Buried outside of Vulcan." Stone answered quietly, words almost caught by the wind. "He received a hero's funeral Your Majesty, just like he deserved."
'He deserved to live until his hair was grey and he finally found someone to settle down and enjoy life with!' She roared inside her mind. For a brief moment, she felt her control relax. The wind kicked up around them, fresh snowflakes falling from the sky and dark clouds mustered overhead.
Weiss clutched at the reins of her horse so hard her knuckles turned paler than usual, using the slight pain to bring her back to reality and get a grip of the tumultuous Maiden powers before she unleashed a second catastrophe onto Atlas.
"I'll have to visit it when this is all over to pay my respects." Weiss said stiffly, pausing for a moment and forcing herself to calm, to soften and understand. She wasn't the only one hurting. She hadn't been there. "Thank you Chieftain."
Stone said nothing and his eyes remained averted. She sighed slightly.
"Let's go. The Mistrali will have to camp outside the castle, but you are welcome to bring a guard of two dozen inside Nördliche Burg, Alexander." Weiss said, turning around. Her guards followed, as did Chieftain Stone and Alexander Nikos, the joint army of rebel Mistrali and tired Atlesian soldiers following.
Weiss was too caught up in her grief and anger to notice how Nikos watched her closely, a suspicious look in his emerald eyes and the amulet hidden underneath layers of fur, tunic and armour glowing with a malicious purple aura.
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The citizens in and around Nördliche Burg eagerly welcomed the returning soldiers. Vulcan had been liberated, the Mistrali army had melted away in the same snows that had devastated Atlas and the army shared what supplies it had brought, so whilst they were relatively poorer quality compared to the food she had stored and had been sharing, it was enough to make the threat of famine less likely.
She fixed a smile on her face and rode on blankly, letting Nikos wave to the crowds next to her. He was not, and never again would be, her betrothed, but if she was to support him as a pretender to the Mistrali throne then there was no denying he was at least equal in status to her.
As they entered the still blackened walls of Snowflake Keep, their group split. The soldiers Chieftain Stone and Nikos had brought with him were taken to the barracks whilst the horses were led off to the stables to be taken care of. Weiss entered the keep, flanked by Nikos and Chieftain Stone, with Nightingale and her guards following closely, a further contingent of her own, loyal men following the guards brought by Stone and Nikos, ensuring they were surrounded to mitigate the risk of them trying anything.
She led them to the empty council chamber, gesturing for them to sit as she settled down at the head of the table. Nikos sat opposite her, which at least meant he was far away. Someone she did not know settled down onto his right, and although he had a charismatic smile plastered on his face, something about the utter coldness in the man's eyes made her wary of him.
Stone took a seat to her left and they sat in silence as servants hurried into the room, having been told about the surprise meeting. They handed out goblets of wine as Lord Zeki entered the room, scar showing over the black eyepatch he now wore.
"Zeki?" Stone gasped, standing suddenly as his fellow lord sat down opposite him to her right. "What in the name of the Gods happened to you?"
"The loyalists of Prince Nikos who did not take kindly to our Queen breaking off her betrothal to him once the war began and ordered for their arrest due to the treason of supporting foreign royalty of an invading kingdom." Zeki replied coolly, turning his head calmly and blinking in Nikos' direction with his one good eye. "Prince Nikos."
"Lord Zeki." Nikos replied, and Weiss smiled internally at the off put look on his face. "I must apologise for whatever happened. I gave no such instructions for-"
"We'll know that once I'm finished interrogating those we arrested." Zeki interrupted, and this time Weiss couldn't stop the small smile from curling in the corners of her lips at the look on Nikos' dumbfounded face. "I take it we have an interesting proposition from Nikos?"
"In return for our support in installing him as Mistral's King in lieu of his clearly mad sister." Weiss answered, taking a small sip from her cup of wine. She didn't trust herself not to drink herself into a drunken stupor, so she pushed the goblet away from her afterwards. "He will end the war with Atlas-Vale. We are just going to discuss the terms of the deal. Firstly, reparations."
"Mistral is in a state of near bankruptcy." Nikos said. "We cannot afford any meaningful sum of war reparations, though I will accept the responsibility for the war rests solely on my sister's shoulders. I am willing to repeal the Vytal Treaty in return for Mistral being exempt from paying war reparations."
"The Vytal Treaty has already been nullified." Weiss retorted. "You'll have to offer something better than a worthless piece of paper unless you want me to push for war reparations Nikos."
Nikos pursed his lips, as if he was deep in thought. The man next to him looked bemused, as if it gladdened him to see Nikos in such an awkward, weak position.
"Argus." Nikos said reluctantly. "I'm willing to lease the city and some surrounding lands to Atlas for one hundred years, where negotiations can begin to either reintegrate it back into Mistral or Mistral secede it's claims to the city depending on the circumstances."
"Argus, two hundred year lease and the island in the bay belongs to Atlas in perpetuity." Weiss retorted quickly. "Then I will accept waiving Atlas' rights to pursue war reparations."
"Fine." Nikos conceded, hands curling slightly on the table. Weiss fought to keep an impassive look on her face. He needed her, but she couldn't afford to push him away and let his army loose on Atlas. "Do you recognise my claim to Mistral's throne as legitimate?"
"I do." Weiss nodded. "I can only offer minimal support to help you reclaim it however, due to the war and recent disaster that has had an adverse effect on Atlas. I can grant you a loan of one hundred thousand Lien to fund your campaign with an interest rate of 0.1% to prevent interest related financial loss on your end. I will also provide five hundred soldiers and ships to transport your army over to Mistral. What is the strength of your current army?"
"Six thousand." Nikos answered. "We lost a lot of good men in the storms. I can likely earn a few thousand more once I land in Mistral. I doubt my sister is very popular after losing the bulk of her army in Atlas. If you can give my two thousand men to strengthen my army that number will be a certainty due to the intimidation factor alone."
"One thousand." Weiss offered. "And instead of another thousand soldiers I'll provide food and other supplies for the start of your campaign in Mistral."
"I'd need two dozen wagons and enough food to fill them if I'm to have an army seven thousand strong." Nikos said. "And that's just to get me to the Atlesian coast."
"Food is not something I can part with easily, not with winter coming and the storm destroying what was left of Atlas' harvest and imports from Vale cut off." Weiss warned. "Twenty horse-drawn wagons, and enough weapons and amour to equip half of your army in good quality equipment."
"Deal." Nikos conceded. He knew he was unlikely to get a better off, both in terms of volume of manpower, finance or supplies. Even still, Weiss felt it was too generous for a man she loathed. "Should we draw up a peace treaty whilst we're at it?"
"Better to do that once you are actually made Mistral's king and have the authority to do so." Weiss replied. "Is that all?"
Nikos turned to the man next to him, who shrugged. Nikos shook his head.
"Very well then. If you will, I would like to speak with my lords." Weiss said, clearly dismissing them. Nikos uttered the usual pleasantries whilst the man he'd entered the room with just left silently.
"Who was the man with Nikos?" She asked, not to anyone in particular.
"Duke Acteon." Chieftain Stone answered quietly. "He defected to Nikos and his men form the entirety of Nikos' force."
"From what I know, he is a monster who has a proclivity for rape and torture." Zeki said, voice utterly calm despite the horrifying words he said. "He was implicated in the murder of a rebellious noble family a few years ago but he managed to either bribe or weasel his way out of court. The lands he suppressed saw a population drop of nearly twenty percent and it still has yet to economically recover. If I may, it would be wise to launch a discreet inquiry into his actions here in Atlas. I find it doubtful he has been on his best behaviour when the fog of war covering any crimes he could commit tempted him."
"Do it, quietly." Weiss agreed, feeling a rising revulsion for the man who'd sat mere feet away from her. "I take it you didn't know?"
"I-I Of course not!" Stone protested loudly, and Weiss could tell he was genuinely shocked, before a frown settled on his face. "I admit I had my doubts about the man. Ever since Nikos showed up, my army started to bleed. Little disappearances here and there. They tried to blame the storm but me and my men managed to avoid the worst of it by sheltering in Mantle, and even after that we only had a few dozen disappearances from the usual causes, sickness, desertion so and so forth."
"How strong is your army?" Weiss asked, and Stone sighed.
"Twelve thousand." He admitted, and Weiss tried to recall how large it was supposed to have been. "We lost a lot, too many in an attritional battle with a Mistrali army loyal to Queen Pyrrha. Thankfully we have enough to deal with Nikos should he go back on his word."
"That's what I was hoping you'd say." Weiss sighed. "Do either of you object to the current plan in regards to Nikos and Mistral?"
"I'd prefer if we helped him less, both in terms of supplies, soldiers we're sending and financial aid." Zeki admitted, before shrugging slightly. "Nothing matters so long as we can get the Prince to leave willingly with his army. With any luck we'll be able to manipulate and prolong the Mistrali civil war so Atlas has time to recover from whatever mad, magical chaos Bragrim unleashed."
"I concur." Stone sighed. "As much as it pains me to be on the same side as that whelp he conducted himself appropriately enough in the field. If he pushes for your hand in marriage however we should re-evaluate how much support we give him. If he still has designs on Atlas' throne, we need to distance ourselves from his cause."
"Very well." Weiss paused for a moment. "Where is Lord Branwen? I thought he'd be here."
"He disappeared shortly after the storms." Stone answered. "Though I cannot help but wonder if that is not a good thing. I think the stress of the war maddened the man. He even claimed he had a necklace that could summon a dragon! Pah. The tribes avoid war as much as possible, as it has a habit of turning good men mad, cruel or both. I believe Branwen had gone mad."
"Just another death to add to the lists." Weiss sighed, feeling her head slump. "Stone, get some rest. Vine, begin your investigation into Nikos' right hand man. I'll get started arranging the goods as per our agreement with Nikos."
The two men nodded, seeing the plain dismissal. When they left she turned to Nightingale, who stood behind her,
"You too Nightingale."
"Your Majesty-"
"Please."
Nightingale exited the room silently, and Weiss could see the worried look on his face. For a moment she sat in the empty room, pretending to be ignorant as her tenuous grip on her self-control faded.
Then she started to cry.