Chapter 2: The Grimmlands – A Season of Rebellion

Two years earlier…

Selene didn't know who the guest was, or how they had gotten to Evernight Castle.

Selene was an inquisitive young woman, though.

When she heard one of her mother's servants, Tyrian, giggling about their guest having finally recovered enough for conversation, she had become… curious.

Selene didn't like Tyrian. She didn't like how he fawned and babbled around her mother. She didn't like the way he looked at her with a strange combination of awe and revulsion. And she especially didn't like how he laughed when he saw others suffering. Thankfully, her mother seemed to sense this, and generally kept him away from Selene. Her mother kept most of her Agents, as she called them, away from Selene.

But a guest? That was new. Unusual. And Selene had grown bored with the passing of years.

Selene had been given permission to ride Blackfeather, her Nevermore companion, anywhere in the Grimmlands that she pleased, but she had never seen any travelers that might become guests. She didn't understand why, and her maid, old Visha, had merely shushed her when she'd asked. And she'd learned long ago not to ask her mother about other people. She felt lucky that she was allowed to explore her mother's Kingdom at all.

She suspected that there were other lands out there, with people in them. Surely there were. But she was not allowed to ask about them, nor to visit what her mother had once called "the other continents" when Selene had caught her unawares and asked. Then her mother had glared at her, and made her swear she would not set foot on any of those lands.

And now there was a guest. Possibly someone who was not one of her mother's servants or Agents, who… perhaps, had not been told that they were not to tell Selene certain things.

Selene was twenty-five years old. She was sure that she was an adult, and should be able to make her own decisions. But her mother treated her like a child, still. It was frustrating.

And so she had snooped. She had listened to the servants talk, and paid attention to when meals were being prepared and served. And she had, discretely, followed a servant bearing a tray into the deepest basements of Evernight, and had discovered a door that would change her world.

Selene waited in the shadows of an alcove, just where the hallway branched, until the servant returned with the tray, now stacked with the remains of the prior meal's dishes. She assumed they had left dinner with the guest. Selene had dined in her chambers a couple of hours earlier. Visha believed that Selene had retired early, and her mother was very unlikely to look for her at this late hour.

Why a guest would want to be housed in the basements, with no windows, she could not begin to fathom. It was dim, in the bowels of Evernight. The dark stone seemed to absorb light and throw it back with a purple cast, and there was a smell of damp and decay here underground.

She waited until the servant was well out of sight, and then made her way quietly the toward where they must have left the tray. She could faintly smell the aroma of the food, and began using that as an additional guide for her footsteps.

The hallway contained several doors on either side, and all but two were open. The rooms themselves were sparsely furnished, with small beds, a table and chair.

And strangely, as she glanced in each, she noticed an iron ring was driven into the stone wall between bed and table in each one, until she reached the final two closed doors.

The first closed door had a violet light seeping from beneath it, and a strange hum sounded from within. She found that she did not enjoy either, and moved past it quickly.

And at the second closed door she paused, listening.

She could hear a woman's voice.

"Shall I tell you a bedtime story?"

Selene frowned… it sounded like the woman was talking to someone, but she did not sound well. Even through the door, her voice sounded raspy and her breathing labored.

"Very well, perhaps I will tell you," there was a bitter laugh, "the story of the Brave Huntress."

And the woman began to weave a tale. But it was no bedtime story that Selene had ever heard, and she began to feel that the woman was making it up as she went.

Selene stood next to the door, listening in rapt attention. There was the hero of the story, fighting evil monsters and dangerous people. She was brave, and happy, and she had a husband and two beautiful daughters. She had a best friend, too.

And they had adventures.

Selene learned of faraway lands. She heard about teeming cities and towns. Inhabited islands. Brave heroes who protected them. She had no idea whether any of this was true, but she didn't care. It was wonderful.

As the tale seemed to reach a climax, the woman's voice grew quieter, and Selene held her ear to the door, struggling to hear, and missed portions.

"… then the Brave Huntress slew the evil monster that had cast its shadow over the world…" her voice dipped and Selene was unable to hear the next few words, "…and she returned to her family…" there was a soft choking sound and the woman was quiet for a minute before continuing "… she hugged her husband and daughters… and she swore she would never leave them again…"

Selene was not prepared for the sounds of sorrow and anguish that then poured from the room through the cracks in the door. It drove her from that place of sadness and pain, and back to her own comfortable bedchamber.

When she slept, she dreamed of heroes and monsters. She dreamed that her mother was reading her a bedtime story, and crying. She had never seen her mother cry, and it was a horrible image that her mind painted for her. She awoke with a gasp in the dark hours of the night.

She found herself… compelled. She dressed in a thick robe against the chill of the night air, and put on soft slippers, and crept back down. Down to the depths of Evernight.

Down to that place of mystery and sadness.

Back to that door.

Where she knocked softly.

And heard nothing.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Would the… guest? Somehow that word didn't seem correct, from what she saw. And Tyrian was known for his twisted humor. What if… it wasn't a guest? What if it was a dangerous criminal? What if they were a guest, and became angry that she had awoken them in the middle of the night?

She turned to leave.

And instead knocked again, with slightly more force. Her entire body felt eerie, like it was too light to stay on the floor. Her brain seemed to buzz with excitement and fear.

She nearly cried out when she heard the sounds of metal clinking from the other side of the door, and then the woman's quiet voice filtered through.

"Is… someone there?"

Selene held her breath. She felt her throat work, but she couldn't force the air out to speak.

"Hello? Is… can you hear me?" The voice was raspy, raw.

Selene looked back up the hall, and then slowly, she sat on the floor before the door, and leaned against it, speaking into the crack. "Yes. I can year you."

Selene heard a quiet gasp, and then a long silence. Finally, "Are you sure you're not… a figment of my imagination?"

Selene considered this. She certainly didn't think so. She'd been alive for over twenty five years now, and only now had encountered this woman. Was she… mad?

"I do not believe so. I would hope not."

There was a bitter laugh of disbelief. "Well…" The voice shifted sharper, though the bitterness remained. "Are you here to question me? Or are you another of Salem's toadies, come to mock me?"

Selene felt insulted. She had intended neither, and she was no toady. She was Salem's only and beloved daughter, not some servant.

"I am neither, and who are you, to accuse me of this?"

That seemed to take the voice aback, for there was another long pause, and she coughed several times. "Well… I guess… that was rude, huh? Alright, Voice, can I ask your name then?"

Selene felt her ire fade as quickly as it had arrived. She considered. "I am not sure I should tell you my name, as…" she went over the possibilities. "… I am perhaps not supposed to be speaking with you. Are you… an important guest?"

There was a barked laugh. "Important?" She made another strangled noise. "I guess someone thinks I'm important. But guest? Not voluntarily."

"Then… you are a prisoner here?" The idea left an ugly feeling in her stomach. "Are you a criminal?"

Another pause. "I… well I wouldn't consider myself a criminal, but it looks like someone considered me dangerous." She muttered something that Selene couldn't catch. "So… can I ask your name?"

Could she? Was it safe? If she were a dangerous prisoner, would anyone believe her if she told someone?

"I… my name is Selene." She wondered at her own audacity, and before she lost her nerve, she added, "I live here."

Another long pause, and the sound of metal clinking. It sounded like chains. And a coughing fit. And then she heard the woman speaking, slightly closer. "Well… that's… something. And you aren't Her, that's for sure, unless you're mocking me. And you say you aren't one of Salem's servants or agents."

Selene grew uncomfortable. This woman was clever. She might guess. "I am… just someone else… who lives here."

"By choice?"

"I… I cannot live elsewhere. I am… forbidden from leaving." There. That was close, but without giving everything away.

"Huh… sounds like we have something in common then, Miss Selene. I'd like to say it's a pleasure to meet you," she rasped, "But… I'd rather be elsewhere." Selene could understand that. "Can you open the door?" There was a hint of hope in her tone.

"I am unsure whether that would be… wise. I do not know what you have done. You might be dangerous." There was sigh and another muttered comment. "But… what is your name?"

Another silence. "Summer," the woman finally said in answer. "My name is Summer."

"It is… nice to meet you, Miss Summer." Selene felt suddenly exhausted. "I… I would like to visit you again, if that is acceptable? I could return, at night. Do you have… stories of the world?"

"Stories? I… yeah. I can tell you some stories. And yeah, I'd appreciate the company. The servants who bring the food, they won't return until the morning to collect the trays." The metal clinked again, and Selene began to imagine it was some sort of chain. "This isn't some psychological torture dreamed up by that jackass Tyrian is it?"

Selene giggled. "No… I am… not fond of him. He would not be pleased to find me here."

"Good. Good. Be careful, Selene. No sense in both of us ending locked up."

"No fear, Summer. I will see you tomorrow night?"

"Or at least hear me."

"Yes. That."

And Selene took her leave, and was able to sleep the rest of the night.

For five nights, Selene waited until Evernight was quiet, and crept to the door of Summer's cell, as she now knew it to be. For five nights, she listened, in rapt amazement, as Summer, learning what she wanted most to know about, told her tales of the wide world. She told her about her family, and about her teammates that she'd learned to fight with, and who she'd fought monsters and criminals with. She told her about Patch, the island where she'd lived with her family. And about the broader Kingdom called Vale, and its capitol city. She told her about shops and stores and parks and streets teaming with people. She touched on other Kingdoms, and Selene recognized Vacuo as one, and it was one that her father had mentioned once, before her mother had given him one of her dangerous looks and he'd shut his mouth and never mentioned it again.

And each night, Summer's voice grew a little stronger, and Selene could hear the undertones of sadness and hopelessness fade a little.

And then the fifth night, Summer asked her a question.

"Selene… is there a way… that you can help me?"

"I… I do not know. What would you ask of me?"

"Can you help me go home?" Summer's voice broke. "My girls… they're so young. They don't know what's happened to me."

"I…" Selene realized that she didn't fear this woman, not anymore. She'd never even seen her face, but she felt, instinctively, that she could trust her. "I would that I were able, Summer. But… I would not be able to leave here with you. You would be seen immediately." And she suspected that the Grimm had likely been instructed to prevent Summer from leaving. And if her mother had done so, they would not obey her. And some of them were smart enough to inform her mother, if she were to attempt it.

The thought of defying her mother like that terrified her and filled her with shame.

Summer sighed. "Yeah… I… I had to ask." The sound of sniffling filtered through the door. "Maybe you could pass a message?"

Selene shook her head, even though no one could see her. "I would not be able to reach your lands, Summer. I have never been allowed. And I would not be able to find this… Patch. I'm sorry. I will… if I am ever able, I will try. But I would not give you false hope."

Chains clinked. "Yeah… that's about right. The Brave Huntress is a fairy tale, after all. No happy endings for me, eh?"

Selene heard the sounds of soft crying. "I am sorry, Summer. Truly I am."

"Not your fault," she said thickly after a while. "Wish I could give you a hug."

Selene had, the third night, tried the door. It was locked, and Summer couldn't reach it from the inside. The servant who brought the food had a key of course, but Selene wasn't willing to risk that.

Perhaps mother will let her go, eventually.

Something deep in her gut said that was not likely.

The seventh night, she was followed, though she didn't know it, and only realized it when she returned to her chambers.

To find Visha, the old woman who served as her personal maid, awake and waiting for her with face pale and eyes wide.

"Selene, what have you been doing down in the basements?" Visha asked.

"I… I…"

"You've spoken with someone down there?"

She knows. "I have… she is… kind. And she told me stories."

"Selene! You don't know what you're doing! We were instructed, told… that woman is very dangerous. Your mother… you know how she is if she feels you're threatened." Visha was wringing her hands in distress at the thought.

Selene swallowed. It was true. Her mother tended to… overreact… to the slightest risk to Selene's health or safety. She knew her mother loved her, but sometimes even she was terrified of her reactions.

"I have been careful, Visha. The door is closed. We only spoke with each other. She told me stories. Lovely stories."

Visha was shaking her head in dismay. "You'll get her killed, Selene." Selene gasped. Visha's face softened. "Ah, finally getting through." The old woman stepped up to her, and gave her a look of sympathy. "I know it's difficult. I know you, better than most." She let her eyes roam about the room, but was encompassing all of Evernight. A bony hand grasped Selene's arm, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "But this is dangerous, young Selene. You can't visit her anymore."

"But…" Selene felt a sob welling up. "I must tell her. She must know." She let the sob cut through. "If I just cease to visit… she will fear I have come to harm."

Visha stood looking at her, old eyes searching, and finally she sighed. "Alright, but let me do this. Old Visha will be the one to bear the risk. I'll go to her, tomorrow night, and I'll tell her what's happened. Alright?"

Selene felt miserable, but she knew… she knew… that this was what had to happen. But it still made her sick to her stomach.

She couldn't sleep the next night. She tossed and turned. She had neglected to request specifically that Visha tell her that her message had been delivered. So she thought, perhaps, that she would wait until the morning.

And morning came.

And Visha did not return.

Instead, Selene was summoned to the Throne Room.

Selene was terrified.

She dressed and made her way slowly through the halls of Evernight. Several servants passed her, and she hoped she only imagined the looks of wariness and sympathy.

When she arrived at the Throne Room, her mother Salem, Queen of the Grimmlands, sat upon her high seat. Her expression was unreadable.

But her scarlet-on-black eyes were filled with rage.

Selene's knees began to shake as she made her way through the otherwise empty room, and finally stood before her mother and Queen.

"Selene."

"Mother, I-"

"Silence," Salem snapped. Inhuman eyes, eyes like her own, bore into her, and she couldn't hold her mother's gaze. "Your servant, Visha, was caught this previous night…" Selene felt bile rising up her throat. "attempting to communicate with a most dangerous criminal."

Selene tried to speak, but her throat had closed up. She felt her knees buckle, and she allowed herself to collapse.

"When I questioned her myself, she dared to claim that she did so of her own volition. Is this true?" Salem's voice held Power. Power amplified by ages-old fear and rage. It washed over Selene, sapping her strength.

Selene stared at her hands, splayed across the floor. Visha… no… please not Visha. "I… mother…" she gasped. " I… I begged her to tell the prisoner… that I could not…"

"That you could no longer meet with her in secret? I had guessed as much. So… it seems that Visha would lie to her own Queen to protect you from punishment. Foolish." She spat the last word.

"Please, mother, I beg of you."

"What? What would you have me do? You have risked your safety, and given comfort to my enemy who would have killed us both, given the chance."

"No. No."

"Your protestations are useless, daughter. This… prisoner. Her life is already forfeit. All that remains is that I decide a suitable punishment for your maid."

"Please… I beg of you… mother," Selene wept. "Visha was trying to do the correct thing."

Salem stared at her daughter for several long heartbeats. "I will teach you a lesson, daughter. I will teach you a quantum of the fear that I felt when I learned what you had done." She stood. "You will know the fear of not knowing. I will not tell you that Visha will be killed, nor that she will be spared, only that you will not see her again." Salem had drifted forward until she stood beside Selene, but was staring forward, voice low, but still full of that dreadful power. "Do you understand me? Do you feel that fear and pain? The fear and pain and terror of losing something, knowing you cannot do anything to correct that loss? Or perhaps you could, but you will not know what that might be, or whether it is in vain?"

Selene felt as if her body were dying. Loss and guilt and terror. All she could do was collapse on the cold, hard floor, sobbing, as her mother swept past her.

"Think hard upon this, daughter. Do not disobey me again."

Selene never saw Summer nor Visha again.

For weeks she mourned. Her mother would not speak of the matter, but attempted to, in her own manner, show that Selene's continued sorrow and pain was not what she sought. She tried to tell her daughter that what she wanted was for Selene to be safe. To behave and not take risks.

Selene knew her mother loved her. But it was stifling and hurtful.

And some nights, as she lay in bed, she thought of Summer, and remembered the stories that she had told her. Of lands beyond her mother's Kingdom.

In the months that followed, she began to seek solitude, away from Evernight. She had long been allowed to travel with an escort of Grimm, even camping overnight, in the lands near the castle.

She began to venture further, across its length and breadth on Blackfeather. She learned its landmarks and landscapes. But all she found was empty land, other than Grimm and wild animals.

All the while Summer's words continued to echo in her thoughts, to take root in her chest. There was a world out there, beyond. Her mother had forbidden her from visiting those other lands. Those lands where people dwelt.

Quietly, slowly, rebellion took hold. Salem's lessons had been learned, but not in the manner she'd intended. Self-rationalization can be a powerful force.

Her mother had specifically said the other lands. And Selene was sure, confident, that her mother had meant the other populated continents that Summer had mentioned.

But that left the sea. The sea was not "other lands".

So Selene began to range farther afield, leaving her escort at the shore of her mother's kingdom, and keeping her travels to the seas surrounding it during the hours of darkness. Several times, she thought she had seen machines, flying through the air in the distance. Or ships, plowing through the waves. She avoided those.

Eventually, she saw distant shorelines, and the lights of dwellings.

She turned back, each time. She feared what she would find. But also she feared that level of overt disobedience would be catastrophic. She believed she had cost Visha her life. What would Salem do to a town of strangers if Selene were found there?

And then she found the island, to the southeast of her mother's lands.

It was modestly sized, and there was no trace of habitation. The continental mainland, a land of people, was over an hour away, and she could see no signs of them having visited the island itself.

And it was green and vibrant. The island was covered with forest and grassy clearings, and there were plants and flowers and animals, and no Grimm to inform mother of her visit.

Selene, only living daughter of Salem, had found her Quiet Place.

She spent only one night there, that first time. She spent it before a small fire she had built herself, and thought of Visha, and of Summer, and of the Brave Huntress, and all of the things she could not have. And she was happy, and sad, and her heart was full.

And then, two years later, she found another had usurped her quiet place.

[A/N] I hope you found this "flashback" chapter interesting and not jarring. And yes, it is setting up plot bunnies to come. In case you didn't notice… a wild Summer Rose appears. And clearly, she's not dead at this time (about twelve years before RWBY Volume 1). Time will tell whether she is killed, still captive years later, or has been turned into a Hound-type Grimm experiment by Salem. But I do promise her inclusion here isn't a 'bait and switch' for her to never be seen again in some fashion.