The Knight of Lancaster or Something

Ruby always loved her fairy tales, especially the romantic ones of noble knights and royal maidens. A pity hers doesn't fit the cliches so neatly, but that's what happens when you prefer guns to gowns and your Prince Charming is mostly that way by accident. Just who is the knight of Lancaster here, anyway? (A young girl's tale of first love, fidelity, and the fate of the Kingdom.)

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Note:

Welcome to a story is and is not a story, at least not the typical sort, and the first from me in a long while. Some may be familiar with this style of mine. Others may not. Your mileage may vary.

Further notes below, but rest assured this (a) exactly what it looks like, and (b) long. Very, very long. Calling this a 'summary' doesn't quite do this justice, as you shall come to see, since summary implies short. If you enjoy this sort of thing, expect to be enjoying it for a couple of weeks.

Also, I do not own RWBY. 'Nuff said, let us begin.

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Prologue

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The story starts long long ago, with a tale of the Knights of Vale.

In a world where Huntsmen and Huntresses are the heroes of all, the Knights are the heroes of Vale and Vale alone. Sworn to their lords, protectors of the weak and innocent, the bravely stood against both monsters and men… and did so for the sake of the Maiden they loved and dedicated themselves too. For while Knights were strong in word and valor, the Maidens were pure in virtue, and despite their weakness possessed a strength of nobility to keep the Knights on the proper path. A Knight fought for their Maiden, braving danger and never bringing dishonor. A Maiden remained pure for their Knight, guiding them with grace and bestowing upon them their personal favor. Theirs was a bond of devotion and duty, of courting and conviction, of restraint and reputation, of selfless servitude…

And terrible, tragic longing. No matter how noble the Knight, or modest the Maiden, theirs was a love that could never be realized. For a Knight is sworn to their Lord, and a Maiden must do as is their Duty, and these are the truths of True Nobles in the Kingdom Vale. But it is with this knowledge they pledge themselves even so, and in doing so prove their depth of their love despite knowing they might never be together…

'Boring!' a young Yang Xiao Long cries, blowing a raspberry for good measure as she interrupts her mother's tale.

The scene pulls out, to show a young Yang- and an even younger Ruby Rose- on their parents laps in a cottage of ye old yesterday. Yang, sitting on her father's lap, is bored. Where is the action? Where are the bad guys? And who wants to hear about a boring old love story where they never get together?

Ruby, sitting on her mother's lap, is enthralled instead, touching the story-book her mother was reading from. On it, elegant cursive script is on one page. On the other, a fairy-tale picture of a Maiden extending a hand, and a caped Knight kneeling before her and accepting it. Young Ruby reaches out, and brushes the point where their hands interconnect.

As Yang interrupts the story, it's not that Ruby doesn't disagree. She's still waiting for the dragon, and the daring rescue, and everything else she wants. Precocious as she is, she doesn't want to be the Maiden either, even when her mother suggests it. Maidens are nice, but they're weak, and not even Summer's gentle admonishment that there are different types of strength deters her. Ruby would rather rescue the Maiden than be one.

But still… on some level, even then, Ruby is enthralled with the story Summer told. Ruby likes the Knights, with their strength and bravery and dedication to protecting the Kingdom. But more than that, she loves their dedication to the Maidens they love, even if circumstance or station prevents them from being together. There's a selfless there, a noble sacrifice… it's all the virtue of being a Huntress, with a romantic devotion to True Love on top. For a moment- just a moment- Ruby wishes she could have that too. Just like Mom and Dad do.

Her family laughs.

Summer laughs gentlest, but tells her that Taiyang might be charming, but he's no Prince. There's a loving teasing there, but no claim to a courtly love. Her father, on the other hand, tells Ruby she is much too young to be worrying about that just yet. Yang is the most opposed- didn't Ruby say she was going to be a Huntress with her, like Mom?

Besides, another voice chips in uncharitably, Ruby couldn't have that if she wanted too. Knights aren't real, not like they used to be, and the reason they're little more than legends now is that they didn't get with the times. Hidebound, bound to tradition and to fools, the Knights of Vale died off because they wouldn't accept commoners among their ranks. Or women, usually, or anyone else wouldn't bow to blue blood. Knights are just pawns in a noble's game, strung along for their pleasure, and Ruby'd be better off without them.

The voice is Uncle Qrow, off to the side, and his sharp cynicism ruins the moment even as he takes another drink from his flask.

Dad chides him. Yanks looks back and forth, worried at the mood. Mom holds her. And Ruby… Ruby looks like someone told her cookies aren't real, or worse. Qrow holds out for a moment, before sighing and relenting. Ruby's never liked being told she can't be something.

Qrow's apology comes with a quip, and something to make up for ruining the moment. Joking that it's not just royals who can screw over the people, but vice versa, Qrow moves past the bad language to tell Ruby the tale of the exception that proved the rule. Of the female knight who not only had a Prince, but got the guy in the end… something none of the knights of legend ever did with their Maidens. Ruby listens, enthralled once more, as Qrow begins his tale…

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End Prologue

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Author Note:

Welcome to the Knight of Lancaster, something I have been chipping away off and on at for... years now? Years. The outline started being typed in 2015. Actually writing it out was very sporadic. Things changed.

For those who saw previous works, this will (mostly) be the post-a-day style. With the story more or less written, there were be frequent updates. Like, usually daily, with some exceptions for real life things. Unlike past times, this isn't just to break up small popcorn bits. This is because the whole thing climbs into the hundreds of thousands of words, and... yeah. Not really something to dump all at once.

What else to say... oh. Yeah.

This is a romance, duh. Valentines day published, and all that. The core pairing's not much of a secret either. But lest you think it's going to be some trite confession and then tension-free fluff thereon out...

Have you read any of my stuff before? And seen the other genre tag?

Buckle up, dear readers, because this is going to be a ride...