A Song of Ice and Fire Cut Short by Dust (RWBY in Westeros)

[prestdan000]

I cannot say I have ever binged a sfw story on this site before. Way to be the first! This story rocks

 

[Dark Lord Neeba]

Wait. Has anyone explained to the girls how Trial by Combat works? If not, she's about to be in the same boat as Yang, only this time its deliberate. Or does Blake already know and accept it? I could be wrong, but it looks like she does but the others don't. Am I reading too much into this?

Click to shrink...

I believe when the trial by combat for the Mountain is first brought up Weiss seems to be aware of the fact that Clegane will either die in the ring or if he surrenders get killed afterwards, as she wants Ruby to not be the one to fight the Mountain as a result.

 

[Spartan303]

I believe when the trial by combat for the Mountain is first brought up Weiss seems to be aware of the fact that Clegane will either die in the ring or if he surrenders get killed afterwards, as she wants Ruby to not be the one to fight the Mountain as a result.

Click to shrink...

I see. Well then it's very possible Ruby and to a lesser extent Yang had it fly over their heads. No offense to those two but they don't pick up on subtlety to well. Where as Weiss and Blake are quicker on the uptake.

 

[Starfox5]

Chapter 17: The Trial

'Popular history maintains that the Four Maidens fought for justice whenever they were called upon. That is, at least to a significant part, a myth propagated by the modern incarnation of the Ruby Order, which was founded on said myth. No serious student of history would believe those claims - first of all, because what we consider just has changed quite significantly in the centuries since the Four Maidens visited Westeros. And while we have multiple sources that confirm that the Four Maidens' views of justice differed, sometimes quite strongly, from the common view at the time, assuming that they shared the modern values many associate with them would be a mistake. The modern judicial system developed over time and keeps evolving as society changes. And while it is true that the few stances of the Ruby Order in that field that can be confirmed with reliable certainty do mirror some of what today are seen as the basic rights and duties that shape our society, one has to keep in mind that most laws and customs have to adhere to similar basic principles for a working society. Nevertheless, even with the strict standards applied to those sources, the Ruby Order's views of justice were very progressive compared to the norms of their time.'

• A Treatise On The Ruby Order, by Maester Kennet Bracken

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

Ellaria Sands had a smile on her face when she walked up on Team Ruby, her arm hooked into Oberyn's. A friendly smile, not a seductive smile. Maybe a bit flirty, but nothing more - she had a reputation to uphold, after all. But nothing more because despite their very daring clothes - they either showed more skin than even most Dornish women would show in public or were so tight, they seemed glued to the girl's curves, such as there were - the girls were obviously not looking for a lover or an affair. At least, it was obvious to her - Oberyn disagreed.

"A very good morning to you, my ladies!" he said, bowing in the manner of a Braavosi courtier. "You make the sun pale in comparison today."

Ellaria mirrored him with her own bow as if they were standing in the palace of the Sealord instead of a training ground in the Red Keep.

"Ah… good morning, my prince!" Lady Ruby replied. "And, ah, thanks!" she added, with a nervous smile and her hand rubbing the back of her head.

"We're flattered," Lady Weiss added with a much more polite smile.

The girl was not only older than the leader of her group, but also far more used to this dance, Ellaria noted.

Lady Blake nodded, as did Lady Yang, the latter looking a bit subdued, in Ellaria's opinion. Coupled with the fact that she had all but fled the feast last night, when Prince Joffrey had told her she'd killed a thug who had accosted her, it didn't take much to come to the conclusion that the news had profoundly shaken her. It must have been the first time she had killed.

The girls are more sheltered than they looked, Ellaria thought. And they were girls - the rumour that they were ancient crones using vile magic to hide their true appearances was obviously a fabrication made up by their enemies to damage their reputation. Probably by the Queen herself; the entire court knew that she loathed Team Ruby, jealous of their friendship with the King and envious of their beauty, She wasn't shy about it, either - to the point that people were starting to wonder if things might escalate and to worry about being caught in the conflict. One of the Queen's handmaidens apparently had left abruptly after the tourney, and some of the people with whom Ellaria had chatted last night had been speculating that the lady had abandoned her Queen out of fear - the first of more.

"So, you train daily?" Oberyn asked, making a show of looking over the training yard - which belonged to the Kingsguard, Ellaria realised.

"Yes!" Lady Ruby nodded, smiling widely.

"We are supposed to, at least," Lady Weiss added with raised eyebrows.

Lady Ruby pouted, which made her look even younger. "Sometimes, things come up."

"Or they stay in bed."

"That happened one time! One time!" Lady Ruby puffed her cheeks up, which made her look adorable - and younger than Ellaria's eldest.

"You're our leader; it shouldn't happen even just once." Weiss sniffed.

Lady Ruby huffed. "I'll hold you to that when I have to wake you up at dawn!"

Ellaria laughed with everyone else when Lady Weiss didn't seem to have an answer to that. Yes, Lady Ruby's father had chosen the companions for his heir with great care. Lady Weiss obviously had been tasked to teach her how to handle other nobles and navigate a court. Lady Yang, half-sister of a concubine or second wife, legitimate but not the first in the line of succession according to her sources, was her guard, meant to draw attention and be obvious - the sword of her sister. And Lady Blake was the dagger. As dangerous, or more so, but more restrained - in public. All of them older than their charge, more experienced, yet not so much older that Lady Ruby would feel excluded or isolated.

And unless Ellaria had completely misjudged the girls, Lady Ruby would not only be well-trained as heiress but also have loyal friends and companions when she was old enough to rule. Her lands were blessed with a good lord.

"So…" Oberyn, always less patient, looked around again. "I remember you offering to spar with me. Since no one else seems to be using it, shall we?"

Lady Ruby nodded several times. "That's why we're here so early, before the Kingsguard arrives. But we'll have to warm up first. And, uh, you probably should wear some armour," she added with a wince and a glance at her sister.

"It is merely sparring; armour would slow me down too much - you're not wearing armour either, after all," Oberyn replied. His ego wouldn't take well to fighting unarmoured girls while wearing armour himself, either, Ellaria knew.

"Uh, we're always armoured." Ruby winced again. "That's where Ser Barristan usually comes in, to demonstrate."

Ellaria had heard about that last night as well. Ser Barristan's reputation spoke for itself, and yet… The Kingsguard served the King above all. If the King demanded that he'd play along, he would do it - his brothers had done much worse in the past at their King's command.

"So… stab me in the face," Lady Ruby told Oberyn. "As hard as you can. With your spear."

"Pardon?" Oberyn blurted out, and Ellaria gasped. They couldn't be serious.

"I said stab me in the face," Lady Ruby repeated herself. "It's the best way to show you that we don't need armour and that you can't really hurt us."

Ellaria remembered hearing about such demonstrations, but she had dismissed them as exaggerations. She had never heard of magic that would render someone invulnerable. Of course, she wasn't an expert, but Oberyn looked baffled as well.

"My lady, I would never do that!" He shook his head. "To ruin your face would be unforgivable!" he added, recovering some of his usual roguish charm.

"Oh, fuck this!" Lady Yang suddenly spat. "Watch this!" She turned and walked to the wall behind them.

"Yang!"

"Yang, what are you…"

Before her friends could stop her, Lady Yang craned her neck, then rammed her head face-first into the stone wall. Hard enough to startle a crow that had been watching them from the top of the battlement to fly into the air.

Ellaria gasped again. That noise! The girl must have broken…

…the wall? She blinked and stared at the slight crater left in the stone, and the shards and splinters on the ground as Lady Yang turned with a snort, her face untouched.

She walked up to Oberyn with narrowed eyes. "Are you gonna get on with the program and stab Ruby in the face now?" She asked, staring right up into Oberyn's face. "If you still think this is a trick or whatever, I'll break the tip of your spear with my face."

Oberyn stared at her, then glanced at the other girls and Ellaria.

She forced herself to smile as if she hadn't been shocked by the events and nodded. "Please do, my love, or we might be waiting and arguing all morning."

"Very well." Oberyn nodded, then twirled his spear before leveling it at Lady Ruby. "Ready?"

"Yes."

Oberyn hesitated a moment, but then he struck - and he didn't hold back, aiming straight for the girl's forehead. The tip of his spear hit her, but half-bounced, half-slid off without leaving the slightest mark on her skin.

"Great!" Lady Ruby beamed. "Now, let's spar!" She jumped an impossible distance back and unfolded an equally impossible scythe in the blink of an eye.

If not for her shock - the tales about their magic and powers were all true! - Ellaria would have laughed at Oberyn's expression.

But her lover recovered quickly, nodded, and stepped up with a smile only Ellaria recognised as forced.

Then the sparring began.

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

"So, the tales were true. All of them," Ellaria said once they were back in their quarters.

"So it seems," Oberyn said.

She raised her eyebrows at him. "They demonstrated all their 'Semblances'." And you never managed to even scratch any of them, she added silently.

"Yes. That doesn't mean they are truly immune to any harm," Oberyn said with a slight pout.

She knew what he meant: Poison. "It would have to be ingested," she said.

"Of course." He snorted and ran a finger over the tip of his spear. "Even resharpened, this won't pierce their skin. Nor would any dagger."

"Not that we have any reason to make enemies out of them," she went on. "Not when they are about to bring one of your sister's murderers to justice." The Mountain would stand no chance; they knew that now. His fate was sealed.

He nodded. "And with my reputation, I would be the main suspect if they were poisoned."

Oh, yes. Ellaria pressed her lips together. Anyone who wished the girls ill would see the opportunity as well. "Best keep antidotes ready, then."

He nodded and sat down in the seat in the corner with a sullen expression, his spear resting across his thighs.

She suppressed a sigh and joined him, pushing the spear's shaft away and letting it drop to the floor so she could slide into his lap. "Are you still planning to seduce them?"

"No. Doran would be very cross with me if I did that," he said with a twisted smile. "Unless I managed to marry the girl afterwards." He laughed at the very thought of that.

She laughed as well. However, she couldn't help feeling concerned. For as long as she had known him, she had known that Oberyn hadn't had any intention to marry her - he hadn't had any desire to marry anyone, and his brother couldn't force him. But the girls' power changed that. For such a prize, even her lover would marry.

And how could she resent him for that? Those girls represented a power equal to the dragons of the former royal family. Maybe even greater.

And they were aligned with the Fat King, who had laughed at the death of Oberyn's kin.

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

Ruby Rose was still in high spirits when they returned to their room. That had been a nice sparring session! First, with Oberyn, then with the Kingsguard. And Oberyn was very good! "Did you see how he moved his spear? He really knows how to wield it! I need to learn how to do that with my baby!" she blurted out when she sat down on the bed and stretched.

Weiss was frowning at her, she realised. But why?

Blake smirked.

And Yang shook her head. "Not the best way to phrase it, sis."

Ruby frowned. What were they…? Oh! She blushed. "I didn't mean it that way!" She pouted at the giggling Yang. Not too much, though. Her sister cracking jokes was a good thing; she had been very down after hearing that she had killed a creep. Even if it had been an accident and the guy had attacked her, that was not something you could shrug off easily. Or should shrug off easily.

But she'd have to keep watching that her big sister wouldn't start drinking like Uncle Qrow. That would be… very bad. Uncle Qrow was great, but he drank too much. And not to have fun, like some of the students at Beacon did.

He said he drank so he wouldn't think or something. Ruby wasn't an expert - she wasn't even a good team leader yet - but she knew that she couldn't let Yang do the same.

"Anyway, it was a good sparring session," she said.

Everyone agreed with that.

"Even if you sliced that poor bird in half," Weiss said.

Ruby frowned. "It should have known better than to fly so close!" That wasn't her fault.

"It wasn't close." Weiss shook her head. "You swung your scythe too far."

"I needed the momentum," Ruby said. You couldn't power through Yang's guard otherwise. "Anyway. It was nice. And Obyeryn didn't hit on us as much as he did last night." That had been uncomfortable. He was old enough to be her dad! And Ellaria was old enough to be her mom! They shouldn't hit on Ruby's team!

"They did show more restraint today," Blake agreed.

Weiss scoffed. "They still hit on us."

Blake shrugged. "They were flirting, but I don't think they were serious."

"I've been hit on harder by students at Signal," Yang said with a snort and a smirk.

Ruby frowned a little. Yang was trying to act normal, but Ruby could tell that she was still worked up. The smirk was just a bit off, and she sounded a bit forced - a shade too loud.

"Well, they're from Dorne," Weiss said. "You know their reputation - and Prince Oberyn is widely known as a womaniser."

That didn't mean he is a womaniser, Ruby thought. Though he acted like one. But… "You can't assume they're correct about Dorne, though. They have some weird views here. Like…" She trailed off and bit her lower lip. Dang! She had almost stepped into it! She glanced at Yang and winced.

Yang snorted again, but without any humour. "Yeah. Wear a combat outfit and they think you're a prostitute."

Ruby was so dumb! She shouldn't have let her mouth run free like that and remind Yang of that incident! How could she fix it? She should apologise!

Blake spoke up before Ruby could find the right words. "The locals do have some strict views about how to act and dress. But they're hypocrites about them. The brothels in the city are thriving."

"Well, they're run by the Master of Coin," Yang said. "Who would want to go against him?"

"I don't think that's widely known - we would have heard about it otherwise," Weiss said. "He is from a very low-ranking noble family, and he must have made a lot of enemies during his time in one of the highest and most profitable offices in the kingdom. I doubt he would stay in office if he were known as a brothel owner; the nobles already look down on merchants and business owners and consider it shameful if a noble engages in trade. No wonder Braavos dominates the banking business and trade; Westeros actively disincentives economic growth!"

That meant… something negative. Ruby nodded; that was dumb.

"On the other hand, the King might consider him his new best friend if he knew," Yang commented with another snort that sounded a bit too sharp.

"I doubt that," Weiss disagreed in the clipped tone she used when she was annoyed.

Time to step in. "Well, we can't ask him what he thinks without exposing Baelish," Ruby said. "But would that be bad?"

Weiss narrowed her eyes at her. "Forcing the council member responsible for the realm's finances out of office?"

"Yes?" Ruby didn't wince and cringe. "If he's a bad person?" Pimps were bad persons.

"We don't know enough to judge the situation," Weiss replied. "Not yet. And if we were to expose him, people would assume we were plotting to take over his position - or supported whoever wanted to replace him."

"What?" Ruby frowned. "Why would they think that?"

"Because that's what they would be doing in our place," Weiss said.

"That's what they know," Blake added. "Everyone at court - with the possible exception of Ser Barristan and maybe others from the Kingsguard - is always plotting."

That sounded like a terrible way to live to Ruby.

"Like the King's spymaster," Yang said. "There's no way he doesn't know about Baelish's brothels - not with so many children acting as his spies in the walls and on the streets. But he hasn't exposed him yet."

"He might be paid off," Weiss said.

"Or he's using this to blackmail Baelish," Blake added. "Or saving it so he can release it if he suddenly needs to get rid of Baelish."

That sounded even worse! "Is everyone here playing a sick game?" Ruby asked. And she had thought having to fend off marriage proposals from everyone was bad!

"Yes. It's called politics," Yang said.

"That's overly simplifying it. Politics is not a sick game - but too many politicians treat it as such," Weiss said.

"Can we get back to deciding what to do about Baelish?" Ruby asked.

"We'll look into his businesses," Blake said. "If he's abusing his employees, we'll put a stop to it."

Ruby nodded. They wouldn't let him abuse people. Not on her watch.

"And it goes without saying that we'll have to reconsider everything he told us," Weiss said. "Or that he won't steal our money."

"Technically Blake's," Yang said with a grin. An honest grin, Ruby noted.

"You know what I mean!" Weiss complained.

They were right, though. "We need to increase our security again," Ruby said.

"We already did what we could to deter thieves," Weiss said.

Ruby knew that. But there had to be something else they could do. She was sick of being unable to do something when everyone else was plotting. And they had to prepare for the trial too!

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

While she had her glass refilled by a servant - she was watching her intake, but another glass of this exquisite vintage wouldn't affect her wits - Weiss Schnee fixed her most polite smile on her face as she spotted Baelish approaching her. She was aware that those sitting in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones, but for all the pain and misery her father had brought upon Remnant by his policies leading the SDC, he hadn't stooped as low as to engage in prostitution. Of course, she was also aware that the only reason he hadn't was that to be known as a pimp would have ruined his reputation in Atlas's high society. If it were acceptable amongst his peers, he would have jumped with both feet into the business, probably as another way to exploit the SDC employees, both as staff and customers in company-run brothels, so he could maximise his profits and avoid dealing with outsiders. It would allow him to further tighten his grip on those who were slaves in all but name.

It also said something about Weiss's education as heiress that she was able to run the numbers of such a disgusting business, and nothing good.

"Good evening, Lady Weiss." Baelish bowed his head and smiled at her. "Are you enjoying the feast?"

"I am," she lied. At best, it was a distraction from the current troubles of her team. Yang was still struggling with her unfortunate killing of that rapist, the upcoming trial not helping matters, and Archmaester Marvyn still hadn't found anything promising in the royal library. She had just left her friends to refill her glass and wasn't in any mood to deal with this… flesh peddler.

"I am happy to hear that. I am very busy handling the aftermath of the tourney, but I wouldn't have missed this for anything." He toasted her with his own glass. "The King certainly hasn't shied away from paying for the very best."

She made an agreeing but noncommittal noise as she took a sip of her own glass. Was that a compliment for the vintage - or a veiled insult aimed at her team by implying that they had been bought? She leaned towards the former, if only because there was no reason for Baelish to insult Team RWBY. And he would have to have a very low opinion of Weiss and her friends - and a very high one of himself - if he thought they would miss such an insult. Of Weiss herself in particular - she had no doubt that her exchanges with the Queen were well-known by now, especially since she hadn't been invited to the Queen's soirees since the tournament.

And, speaking of the Queen, Weiss noted that one of her ladies-in-waiting, Lady Lyra, hadn't been seen since the tourney, either. Had the noblewoman grown tired of the Queen's childish grudge? Or, more concerning, had whatever the Queen was planning - nobles at court were always planning and plotting - spooked her into leaving? Weiss would have to keep a closer eye on the woman.

"At least, the upcoming trial won't strain the royal coffers," Baelish joked. "Well, as long as Lord Tywin doesn't take offence at one of his bannermen facing justice. The King owes him a fortune, and Lord Tywin is known to carry grudges forever."

"You would know that better than I do, having never met the man," she replied.

"Oh, Tywin Lannister's reputation precedes him; many in King's Landing have never forgotten nor forgiven how his soldiers sacked the city after entering under false pretenses. Of course, since most of the victims were smallfolk, their murderers won't ever face a trial."

Weiss cocked her head to the side and acted as if this were news to her. "Lord Tywin hasn't disciplined them? I heard he ran his House with an iron fist." Lord Tyrion had used a slightly obscene term, but the sentiment was the same.

"Oh, he does - which is why so many believe he deliberately let his soldiers off the leash. On the other hand, it's well-known that during sacks, discipline is quickly lost." Baelish shrugged. "Not that anyone will openly question him; his family is too powerful. Why, his daughter is the queen, his grandsons princes, and his son a Kingsguard! Who would dare to risk their ire?"

"Prince Martell, I believe," Weiss answered his rhetorical question.

He chuckled. "Oh, yes, but he might be the only one who would."

"I think Lord Eddard would as well, if there is good reason to question Lord Tywin," she added. "He doesn't strike me as a man who would let fear of retaliation keep him from doing his duty."

"Oh, I think he's quite a bit more willing to bend the rules compared to Lord Stannis. The King's brother would likely kill himself if he considered it his duty. I believe Lord Stark would never go as far as to risk his family. Are you familiar with 'The Rains of Castamere', my lady? Lord Tywin had it written and performed to celebrate the deliberate drowning of House Reynes, bannermen of his who had dared to oppose him. None of them was spared, nobles and servants alike. Not even children."

Weiss scowled for a moment - she had listened to the song. And verified the events behind it. Then she nodded. "That seems to be a theme here."

Baleish looked confused for a moment before he smiled. "I fear so. But I am but the Master of Coin, not the Master of Law - or the King himself. Granting justice is not within my power."

Weiss made another vaguely agreeing noise. Baelish must be aware of the Queen's hostility. Why did he seem to want to make them even more biased against House Lannister? What were his goals with that?

They would have to look into that as well. The pile of tasks they had to do kept growing.

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

"Hello!"

"Greetings, Lord Eddard."

"Good morning, Lord Eddard."

"Yo!"

The King's Hand looked very tired, Weiss noted when they entered his office. Still, he rose and bowed his head to them. "Good morning, my ladies."

"Hello!"

"Hi!"

Arya and Bran greeted them as well - they had been playing with what looked like carved figurines in a corner of the office.

Good morning, my ladies!" Lady Sansa curtsied, one hand holding her needlepoint kit.

For a moment, Weiss felt both envious and sad. Father would have never tolerated her or her siblings playing in his office - not unless he wanted to put up a front as a loving family man for a naive visitor. But that wasn't the fault of the kids, so she smiled at them.

And beamed at the puppies. They were as fluffy and adorable as ever, and had even grown some more - if not for her Aura-enhanced strength, she would have been buried under them when they came to greet her. Which, in hindsight, would have been worth it.

But they were here for an important discussion - several, actually - so she straightened her skirt after petting the furballs, schooled her features, ignored the grins in Ruby and Yang's faces - Blake was at the window, acting as if she were checking for spies while avoiding the wolves - and cleared her throat. "Lord Eddard, thank you for receiving us. We have a few questions."

She saw him tense for a moment before he nodded and turned to his children. "Sansa, Arya, Bran. Please go to your rooms."

Weiss wanted to blurt out that the kids could stay, but this was better discussed in private.

Once the kids had left, Lord Eddard nodded. "What were your questions?"

To the point as always, Weiss noted.

"Well…" Ruby glanced at Blake. "We have a few questions about the realm's finances. And the treasure chamber."

Weiss nodded. They had to be subtle about this. They couldn't just expose, much less accuse, Baelish. Not without knowing more about the whale situation. "There are rumours that the realm is heavily indebted to House Lannister and the Iron Bank."

"That is true." Lord Eddard winced. "It's quite a large sum."

Weiss nodded. "But how large is it in relation to the kingdom's earnings?"

The puzzled frown on Lord Eddard's face didn't fill her with confidence that she'd like the answer.

"I would have to ask the Master of Coin about that; Lord Baelish handles that. He is quite skilled at handling money."

Yes, Weiss didn't like that answer. "And who checks his books?"

"He has trusted clerks for that."

Weiss suppressed a wince. So much for independent auditors. She could offer to take a look… No, that would be premature. Best see if they could take a look at the official books unofficially. Making copies of the records might be worth using a scroll. "Thank you. We have another question, though it's a little delicate." That was putting it mildly. She glanced at Ruby.

"Yes?" Lord Eddard tensed again.

"What's the deal about brothels?" Ruby blurted out.

Weiss closed her eyes while Lord Eddard stared at the rapidly blushing Ruby. That could have gone better. "We noticed that there are several brothels in the city, and we wonder about their legal status."

"Ah…" Lord Eddard looked embarrassed as well. "That is… They are tolerated. Their business is not outlawed, but it's not… honourable."

So, that confirmed that if running a business was already considered beneath a noble, engaging in that particular trade would be seen as much, much worse. So, why would Baelish risk everything he had earned to engage in that business? Was it that profitable? Or was there something else behind this? Was Baelish blackmailing selected customers of his brothel? But he would risk exposing himself that way…

She would have to discuss this with the others once they were in a place without spies listening in. For now, she had a few more questions about this particular local custom.

*****​

Street of Silk, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

Hanging upside down, Blake Belladonna peered through the window on the upper floor of the brothel. Baelish hadn't gone out of the Red Keep today to check his business, instead staying in his official office. Blake had considered sneaking into his office, but she didn't think he was as careless as leaving incriminating evidence there for any spy to find.

And with him doing his actual work, it meant his office in his brothel was empty - and the odds of finding any proof of his, so far solely suspected, crimes were much better there. Or would be, if his office were actually empty instead of being occupied by the man he had been giving orders to the first time she had followed him to this place.

This must be the strawman he was using to run the brothel, she realised as she watched him do paperwork at the desk with apparent familiarity. Officially, the brothel would belong to this man. Most employees would probably think he was the true owner as well - Blake didn't think Baelish would trust a brothel's staff to keep such a secret for him. Even if he treated them well, it would take only one angry employee to ruin him.

And, judging by what she had seen in the other rooms, when they weren't occupied by a customer, Baelish didn't treat his employees that well - although she was ignorant of what was normal for such business in King's Landing, so he might be a model employer by local standards. Still, women crying in private and men drinking heavily might be normal for a business here - she had seen merchants hit their staff as well, and in supposedly respectable trades - but it certainly wasn't the sign of a model employer.

Still, she had seen - well, heard of - worse such business as well, and that had been in Remnant. Not that that excused what Baelish was doing - what they knew so far. She was about to pull up and check another window or two on the way back to the Red Keep when the door was opened and a man entered.

Her ears twitched as she listened.

"Mors!"

"What is it, Tarber? I am busy!"

The man, obviously named Mors, was, consciously or not, imitating how Baelish had treated him, Blake realised with some faint amusement.

"There was another of those urchins hanging around the place."

Urchins? Blake frowned. If they were hurting children - or doing something worse - she would have to intervene.

"A mute one?"

"Couldn't catch'em to check, Mors. They were watching me before I spotted them and gave me the slip."

Mors grunted. "Were you drunk?"

"No!" Taber replied a bit too vehemently, and too hastily, in Blake's opinion.

But Mors nodded. "Then it was one of them. Slippery bastards." He grunted again. "Tell the men to cast a wider net. Can't have spies watching our business. Customers wouldn't like it if anyone knew them."

"Yes, Mors!"

Mute spies… Blake frowned as she pulled up and sneaked across the roof again. Mute urchins acting as spies. Like the one she had caught trying to pick her pockets. Was it the same child? But the brothel manager had talked as if there were more of them. Once is coincidence, twice is…

She pressed her lips together as she jumped off the brothel's roof across the narrow street below. If someone was mutilating kids to use as spies, she would put an end to that sick practice.

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

"Ser Gregor Clegane, you stand accused of having killed your guard, Joff of Lannisport, in a fit of rage, and of having attacked Lady Blake Belladonna when she called for the guards to arrest you. What do you say to this?"

The King sounded… annoyed to be here, Blake thought. Certainly not eager, unlike the Prince who was leaning forward on his seat. Or his Sworn Sword - Sandor glared daggers at his brother. And Prince Oberyn mirrored Prince Joffrey's pose and eager expression as he stared at the accused.

She could understand Prince Oberyn's attitude; Ser Gregor had brutally raped and murdered his sister and massacred her children. And Ser Gregor had disfigured Sandor and murdered their sister, at least according to Sandor. But Prince Joffrey? He had also been very enthusiastic about the death of the wanna-be rapist who had insulted and attacked Yang.

"I demand a trial by combat!" Ser Gregor, wearing chains thick enough to hold a horse, and dressed in clothes that hadn't been changed since Blake had taken him down two weeks ago, spat. Literally - she could see some spittle hit the floor. And the sheer hatred and rage in his eyes when he looked at her…

She narrowed her eyes and slightly raised her chin. "As his accuser, I stand ready to face him."

"Well, that simplifies things," the King said. "We don't have to go through the whole thing and can go straight to the fight."

"As if anyone had expected anything else," Yang whispered next to Blake.

"He didn't have to call for the trial by combat straight away," Weiss commented in a low voice on her other side. "He could have waited for the result of the formal trial before calling for a trial by combat."

Blake didn't think Ser Gregor could have waited. Even if he hadn't spent two weeks in a cold, damp cell, which wouldn't have helped anyone's mood, the man just seemed to be too angry for any restraint or patience. And unlike someone else she knew who was too often driven by his anger and hatred, Ser Gregor lacked the self-control to keep his temper in check in crucial situations.

"So, let's move this to the yard!" the King stood and started walking towards the doors. Everyone but the Kingsguard waited for him to leave first, of course, before stepping out themselves. That allowed Blake to keep an eye on Ser Gregor until he was led away. If he tried to flee, she could stop him. It would be his best chance to escape, she knew.

But she doubted he realised it. He seemed fixated on her - even when he was led outside, behind her, she could almost feel his glare on her.

*****​

"Looks like the tourney wasn't enough for half the city."

Blake softly snorted. Yang was wrong - the crowd watching the trial filled the courtyard, but it was hardly half the city. And yet, she was also right in a way; Blake was certain that for many in the audience, this was entertainment. Just like the court dramas back home, she thought. But with more action. And more blood.

Lord Eddard and Lord Renly had taken precautions, of course. Ser Gregor wasn't allowed to suit up and arm himself in private, but had to don his armour at the edge of the circle in which they would fight, and he wouldn't be handed his weapon - he had chosen a sword that was about the size of Yatsuhashi's Fulcrum, and she wondered if he could wield it as well as the second-year student back at Beacon - until the start of the fight. Even so, Blake couldn't help wondering how confident the Kingsguard standing between Sir Gregor and the King were.

Well, they didn't have to worry; if Ser Gregor tried to attack anyone, Ruby would intervene - she had her scythe out and her eyes glued to the man. Blake had no doubt that her friend would stop any such attempt in its tracks before he could take more than a single step.

But, to Blake's slight surprise, the man didn't attempt to flee - or to attack anyone. He seemed fixated on fighting her.

Well, she'd oblige him. She drew Gambol Shroud as she stepped into the circle and bowed to the king. While the High Septon led a prayer for divine justice, Ser Gregor seemed to tremble with fury, barely able to control himself. He was baring his teeth and grinding them so hard, Blake almost expected a few to crack, but he managed to restrain himself until the Septon finished.

So much hate… She was glad about it. It made this farce easier. Not easy, just easier. If he were desperate, afraid, if he showed that he was aware that he stood no chance, then killing him would feel more difficult even if she told herself, once again, that he was a rapist and child murderer who had shown no remorse at all.

But as soon as the King gave the signal, Ser Gregor roared and charged her, his huge sword raised high, spittle flying from his lips as he bared his yellowish teeth in a grimace.

He might as well have been moving at a leisurely pace. Blake waited until he reached her, then dodged to the right, whirling around him. She didn't even bother to leave a clone in her place. Before he realised it, she was behind him and Gambol Shroud's ribbon was wrapped around his legs. A quick jump on his back with both feet left him falling forward, and Blake launched herself forward a moment later, vaulting over his upper back and shoulders with Gambol Shroud and its sheath crossed in front of her chest.

The moment she was passing directly over his head, she struck, spreading her arms in a lightning-quick movement, and Ser Gregor's body and head hit the ground separately in a brief shower of blood while she landed a few yards ahead of him, her weapon already sheathed again.

She didn't bother looking behind her at the corpse - her ears would pick up any movement, not that she had missed - and bowed to the King. "Justice has been served, Your Grace."

While the crowd cheered as if she were an actress giving a show, she didn't miss several people making warding gestures with their fingers - aimed at her.

And she didn't miss how both princes, as well as Sandor Clegane, looked disappointed, either.

Too bad for them; Blake wouldn't play with her victim. She was better than that.

*****​

The Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Westeros, 298 AC

Yang Xiao Long looked at the corpse as blood formed a pool around the stump of its neck, then at Blake bowing to the King. Her partner looked cool and composed - as if she had just finished a not particularly challenging task at Beacon instead of killing someone. As if this had just been routine.

But Blake was a bit too calm. Stood a bit too straight. And didn't look back at the corpse, her attention focused on the King.

The audience was still cheering - most of them - but Yang saw several people who looked disturbed. Not by the death, she thought, but how easy and quickly Blake had finished things. The Kingsguard members present, with the exception of Ser Barristan, certainly looked taken aback at least a little.

Well, if they were surprised, then they hadn't paid attention during their spars. Granted, Team RWBY was usually holding back, focusing on techniques and details, but they had seen at the tourney what happened when they went all-out. That was on them, and not a problem for Yang.

Unlike her own team. Ruby was standing straight, trying to look unfazed, but Yang could see through her facade, how she was holding Crescent Rose so tightly, her knuckles were turning white.

"Don't look at the corpse," Weiss, standing between them, whispered.

She looked a bit paler than usual as well, Yang noted. Tense, but somehow more fragile as well.

"I'm team leader," Ruby replied. "I should have done this instead of Blake."

"Don't be stupid!" Weiss hissed before Yang could say the same - she really was off her game, she realised. "Blake made it clear that she wanted to do this."

"To spare anyone else," Ruby shot back.

Weiss's eyes widened, and Yang smiled ruefully. Her friend seemed to have underestimated her sister. Ruby wasn't an airhead, even if sometimes, she had her moments.

But this wasn't the time or place to hold this discussion. "Later," Yang said - Blake was glancing at them, and the way her eyes were narrowing slightly, she wasn't happy about their discussion either. At least no one else would have overheard them, not with the audience's excited murmurs drowning out everything else.

She turned to look at the corpse again when two servants started to drag it away with the help of a horse. The man - a rapist and a child murderer, she told herself again - had died quickly. He hadn't been left to slowly die from internal injuries or infection. And Blake had known what she was doing.

But that didn't make it easy or OK either. They would talk about this. Blake had been there for her when she had realised what she had done, and Yang would do the same for her partner.

But first, they had to talk to the others.

*****​

"You shouldn't have had to kill him!" Ruby blurted out as soon as they were in their room.

Yang saw Blake growing stiff and tense at once. "He would have killed anyone else. I started it when I arrested him, so I finished it," her partner said.

"He couldn't have killed me!" Ruby shot back. "I'm team leader - it is my job to look out for you all!"

"That doesn't include killing for us," Yang said.

Blake glanced at her, then nodded. "It was my decision, not yours. I was the accuser, so it was my responsibility."

Ruby bit her lower lip.

"Only because this farce of a judicial system mandates that the trial could only end by you either retracting the accusations or killing him," Weiss said.

"You could have picked a champion," Ruby pointed out.

Yang raised her eyebrows at her sister.

Blake nodded. "I could have. I didn't." She shook her head. "It was my responsibility, Ruby. Not yours."

Ruby frowned, looking from Blake to Weiss and then to Yang.

Yang nodded at her. "We're Huntresses, Sis. This is part of what we do."

"And we won't leave that to you, team leader or not. We're in this together," Weiss added with a frown. "So, stop complaining, dolt!"

Yang felt tempted to make a comment about team spirit, but this wasn't the time or topic for it. She nodded curtly instead, followed by Blake.

Ruby deflated and sat down on the bed. "I don't like it!" she complained.

"You don't have to like it. You just have to accept it," Weiss told her, sitting down next to her.

Yang nodded again.

Ruby nodded slowly, then suddenly narrowed her eyes at Yang and the others. "That goes for you as well, though."

What did she…? Oh. Yang frowned at her, and even more so when Ruby flashed a toothy grin at her.

"You will accept it if it's my turn to make such a decision," Ruby said.

It was clear she wouldn't budge on that, Yang realised.

Fuck.

*****​

After Ruby and Weiss had gone off to train the Stark kids (and to pet their wolves; Weiss wasn't fooling anyone, least of all Yang), Yang looked at Blake lying on the bed. She was supposed to catch up on sleep so she could spend more time at night doing 'surveillance', but Yang didn't think her partner would be sleeping much, if at all, today. She had her eyes closed and was breathing regularly, but she was just… Her body wasn't relaxed, not really. Yang knew how Blake looked when she was asleep - she tended to smile just a tiny bit when her face muscles relaxed, and sometimes, she moved in her sleep just a bit, trying unconsciously to find a more comfortable position. Not unlike a cat, not that Yang would ever say that.

So, Yang shouldn't feel bad for not heading out, or not being quiet, so Blake could sleep. Not at all - this was what partners did. Blake had been here for Yang, and so Yang would be here for her. "So… wanna talk about it?" Smooth, Yang, she berated herself. Just use the worst line ever.

"About me killing the Mountain?" Blake replied without opening her eyes.

"Yes."

"I did it so he wouldn't kill someone else in the trial and get off to murder more people," Blake said.

"Yeah." Yang walked over and sat down on the bed - on Blake's side, not on her own side.

Blake opened her eyes and turned to her side, raising her eyebrows as she looked at Yang. "I knew what I was doing. It was my decision."

"Yeah, we went over that already," Yang replied. "And Ruby took it to heart."

Blake winced. "I'm sorry. I should have handled this differently."

Yang snorted. "You think you could have done anything to make Ruby Rose be fine with her team suffering while she's OK? Have you met my sister?"

Blake giggled, then drew a sharp breath and shook her head. "No, I guess not."

"Damn right," Yang said.

"I didn't think you'd be so… accepting."

"I hate it. She's my little sister. I kinda raised her." As much as you could if you were two years older. Almost got her killed, too, but that wasn't something to bring up now. "But I know I can't stop her." Even if she wished she could.

Blake nodded without saying a word.

"So… I don't need to go into all the reasons why killing the guy was right," Yang went on after a moment. "You already did that."

"Yes."

"And it's about as helpful as it was for me, I guess."

A quick sad smile flashed over her partner's face. "Yes."

Yang nodded. "Thought so. It eats at you, right?"

Blake hesitated, then nodded again. "Some of the older members of the White Fang said it got easier over time."

Yang slowly nodded again. Blake rarely told anything about her time in the organisation.

"But… some who claimed that were… drinking more than others," Blake said.

Yang winced. "I know the type." Uncle Qrow was such a drunk.

"And those for whom it did get easier…" Blake winced. "I don't want to be like them."

Yang winced. She could imagine that. "You won't be," she said, reaching out to pat Blake's knee.

Blake stared at her. "How can you be sure? We probably have killed people in the North and didn't even notice."

Yeah, Yang had realised that as well. Everyone probably had, but they hadn't talked about it before. "We feel bad about it." Bad enough to not want to think about it. "If we stop feeling bad about it, then we can worry."

"That'd be already past the point when we should have worried." Blake looked away, and Yang saw her jaw muscles twitch as she clenched her teeth. That would be another sad memory from her time in the White Fang.

"Yeah." Yang really wanted to know what had happened there to do this to her partner, but she wouldn't push the issue. Blake would tell her when she was ready. "So… good talk?" She forced herself to grin.

Blake's smile looked as honest as her grin. "Yes."

Yang nodded once again, then leaned back, resting her head on Blake's thigh. "Nap time then."

"Yes."

*****​

"Lady Yang." Jon smiled in his earnest but also shy way at Yang when she walked into the training yard. None of the others were around - Yang had seen Arya and Bran, both covered in sand and looking exhausted, entering the Tower of the Hand on the way here. It looked like Ruby and Weiss hadn't been very gentle today.

Of course, they hadn't been gentle! Yang berated herself. Not after what they had seen today. But… She looked around.

"Lady Ruby and Lady Weiss mentioned going to buy 'comfort food'," Jon answered her question before she could ask it.

He looked confused, so Yang explained: "Food you eat to feel better."

He still looked confused. "That's… good food?"

She chuckled. "Sorry, it's a word from our world. It means food you usually don't eat too much because it's unhealthy, but so good, so when you feel like treating yourself, you buy a lot of it."

"Unhealthy food?" He grimaced. "Why would you eat that?"

Yang blinked. Oh. "No spoilt food. Unhealthy food - like, candy, chocolate, cakes, cookies… too much sugar and fat, basically, not enough nutrients."

He shook his head. "But that's what keeps you healthy! Without fat and sugar, you grow sick and die in Winter!"

Yang winced. Right. Westeros - at least the North - had a different view of healthy food. "Well, it's different back home. Getting enough food is usually not a problem." Not in the cities, and if you got cut off from supplies in the countryside, you usually were killed by Grimm before you could starve. "Anyway, they just want to cheer up by getting a treat."

"They mentioned buying fish dishes as well," Jon said.

"That's comfort food for Blake." And Yang knew that Jon hadn't missed her partner's weakness for seafood.

"Ah." Jon frowned. "Why would Lady Blake need to feel better? She won a great victory today."

Yang glared at him. "A great victory? The man had no chance to beat her."

"Because the gods ruled it."

Yang swallowed what she wanted to say about any gods that made her partner kill for them. People here took their religion seriously. "That doesn't mean it's something to be happy about."

"But… a murderer was brought to justice thanks to her." Jon shook his head. "Isn't that something to be proud of?"

"Ask your father if he's proud when he cuts off some criminal's head," Yang told him with a frown. "Before you try it out yourself."

"I will, my lady." Jon bowed his head.

Yang rolled her eyes. The boy was overly formal, which meant he was annoyed or angry with her. Well, that was his problem. Still… "We don't take killing lightly," she said. "It's not… normal for us."

"But you're so strong!"

"That's it," she said. "Because we are so strong, because we can kill so easily…" Far too easily, as Yang wished she didn't know from personal experience. "...we can't kill easily." She blinked, then groaned. "That didn't make sense, I know. But… OK, it's like this: The stronger you are, the more careful you have to be. Because if you make a mistake, the consequences will be much worse."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"Yes. Power is a responsibility, not a privilege," she quoted a teacher from Signal.

Jon nodded. "It's a duty."

"Yeah, pretty much." Close enough, at least.

"But if you wield your strength in the course of justice, then that's following your duty, right?"

Yan suppressed a sigh. She came here to blow off some steam, not to get all philosophical. Well, she had quoted one teacher, she might as well quote another. "And what is justice?"

He blinked.

Hah! Don't have an answer for that, huh? "Think about it!" she said. "After our sparring match."

He blinked. "Our sparring match? I just…"

She interrupted him with a faked strike to his face that had him dodge to the side and draw his sword before he realised what he had done, then kept up the pressure so he couldn't get cold feet.

She needed to blow off some steam.

*****​

 

[Starfox5]

Oh! I was not asking for the outfits to be changed into the ones from my post.

This is your story after all and I'm nothing more but a mere reader.

I just want to show folks why I think the clothes that I mentioned can further hammer home the differences in "clothing sensibilities" between RWBY and Westeros!

Click to shrink...

Oh, yeah, they would be even "worse" for Westeros.

Another good chapter.

Also Little Finger getting nervous that the girl's password isn't the Westeros equivalent of 1234.

Click to shrink...

If he knew just what Weiss knew about bookkeeping...

Wait, the man Yang killed, was he a confirmed rapist or was Blake just guessing because it would then be convenient to justify Yang killing him?

I'm pretty sure all we know of the guy was that he didn't respect Yang and attack her. Maybe a bit crass but nothing too rapey.

Still, now Westeros knows one crucial information: them RWBY doesn't kill people on purpose. That could mean that they are more innocent than people think but that could also mean that they could hesitate in a life or death battle. In open combat, the willingness to kill can overcome the wall of skill, knowledge and ability should an opportune moment present itself. Fighters had been known to die or injured by neophytes because they held back when they shouldn't.

Click to shrink...

This is Westeros - full of sexism, violence and misogyny. A woman walking around dressed like Yang? Almost everyone would say "She was asking for it". Yeah, he would have raped, and likely beaten, maybe even killed, Yang if she had been a normal girl.

The man is as far as they know is a faceless dumbass aggressive knight that bit off more than he could chew. The issue that Yang has was that she only meant to give him a painful love tap instead of a painful death because he was stupidly and rudely attacking her. Chances are that he was the kind of guy that would beat women from the actions he took in the scene we saw him but there's not enough to say if he was horribly drunk and trying to save his reputation or something else in that situation. We will never know because he's dead but that news is impetus for Yang to really think about what she does and to be careful about what will happen. If that guy was aiming to slash at some random prostitute Yang wouldn't be impacted as hard because she would taking someone out in a life or death situation instead of a easily avoidable accident.

Westeros only has the rumor mill and can only take them at their word that they are totally not willing to kill people *wink wink nudge nudge*. They currently are judging RWBY by Westeros standards because that's the only frame of reference they have so the shitty nobles of the land think they are playing a convoluted game of politics and/or are blessed by the Seven Gods. The people that do know them know that they are genuinely merciful but it's kind of hard to take advantage of that in a fight because it's like saying Superman wouldn't kill a hostage so you'll take the moment of his hesitation to shoot him with a regular 9mm bullet. They could literally kill knights by running through them quickly. How do you even create an answer for people that can accidentally kill you if they don't notice you?

Click to shrink...

Yeah. They're really frightening for most people who consider them carefully.

Thanks !
And i agree with him here.It would be better for everybody there to send girls back home.
Problem is - as far as we knew,nobody knew how to do so...
Well,i hope that children really knew something!

Click to shrink...

They are trying, at least.

Wait. Has anyone explained to the girls how Trial by Combat works? If not, she's about to be in the same boat as Yang, only this time its deliberate. Or does Blake already know and accept it? I could be wrong, but it looks like she does but the others don't. Am I reading too much into this?

Click to shrink...

They basically know how it works.

I cannot say I have ever binged a sfw story on this site before. Way to be the first! This story rocks

Click to shrink...

Thanks!

I believe when the trial by combat for the Mountain is first brought up Weiss seems to be aware of the fact that Clegane will either die in the ring or if he surrenders get killed afterwards, as she wants Ruby to not be the one to fight the Mountain as a result.

Click to shrink...

It's even worse - the only way it can end is if the accused is killed, the accuser withdraws their accusation, or the accuser dies.

I see. Well then it's very possible Ruby and to a lesser extent Yang had it fly over their heads. No offense to those two but they don't pick up on subtlety to well. Where as Weiss and Blake are quicker on the uptake.

Click to shrink...

It's not that bad, but they are a bit slow sometimes when it comes to different cultures. Weiss and Blake are more experienced with travelling and all.