Of War and Roses

Prologue Pt. II: Snow

"Throw it aside in thy weary hour, throw to the ground the fair white flower; Yet, as thy tender years depart, keep that white and innocent heart."
Innocent Child and Snow-White Flower
William Cullen Bryant

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The morning was bright and clear, the sun dancing merrily in the sky, beams refracting off smooth white stones without any regard whatsoever for the heads it was scorching below. People wandered too and fro along the bustling streets of the magnificent marble city, congregating at market stands and wells, manoeuvring around steel-clad guards, going about their daily business.

"You there! Halt!"

With a grunt, the fleeing figure limped uneasily around a corner and into a side street, the dragging blade of her rapier tinking on the cobblestones beneath her feet. Breath echoing heavily in her ears, her head pounding in tandem with her heart, she spared a glance over her shoulder. She could hear the stomping of armored boots behind her, but they didn't seem to be approaching.

Spotting a nearby well, she stumbled over, her sword falling from her cold fingers. All chatter from those gathered around the area fell silent and stared at the young girl, who moved a stained hand from her side with a small hiss of pain. The slashed fabric of her dress had been smeared deep red, flowering from where a guard's spear had carved a rather lengthy gouge while her Aura was still depleted. Immediately clamping back down on the injury, the girl's wince and subsequent short cry of agony didn't go unnoticed.

"Miss... are you alright?" A lady questioned from a few feet away.

"Y-yes." The girl nodded slowly, attempting to straighten. "Yes, I'm fine." She bent over as best she could and retrieved her weapon. Taking a moment to check the interchangeable Dust supply, she was satisfied to see that nothing was running low. She had enough to defend herself, should the need arise again. Another peek at her injury had the girl rolling her eyes, "Of all the things that could happen, my dress just has to get ruined..."

A wooden bucket of water being plunked down on the stone next to her drew her attention to the woman who had inquired about her condition, and before the girl could say anything, the older lady was prying her fingers from her bloody wound. "Let me see."

"N - no!" The girl pulled away, flustered. Remembering herself, she inhaled deeply, straightened and offered a small, somewhat forced smile as she nodded politely. "Thank you, but I'm alright. It's just a scratch."

But the lady was having none of it, "Miss, that wound is not shallow. Why have you not sought the Healers?" She insisted.

The girl gave a confused huff and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Look, I just... I'm a bit lost at the moment. I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine." She glanced away, voice quieting with a smidge of both irritation and worry, "Just as soon as I find Ruby..."

The woman sighed and as the girl turned away, it appeared as though she was going to relent, but a gentle yet firm hand taking hold of her pale wrist stopped her before she could move, "Miss, at least allow me to bandage it for you. Infection would not be kind."

The young girl weighed her options. Those soldiers could return at any moment, but the stubborn woman wasn't wrong. Her side was on fire, and every attempt at movement had the flames licking higher. Finally, the girl nodded and hobbled back over to the well where she perched on the stone lip. The woman dipped a cloth in her bucket of water and, after wringing it out, pressed it carefully to the girl's wound, the later struggling to stay still. The woman dabbed at the bloody cut, then washed off the rag and repeated her earlier action. Noting the girl's discomfort, she chuckled, deciding it was likely for the best to divert her attention elsewhere,

"Taeanna is my name. What's yours, child?"

"I'm not a child!" The prim declaration from the young girl as she crossed her arms and tilted her head just-so made the woman smile good naturedly. After a moment, the girl lowered her arms back to the well, fingers curling around the stone. She bowed her head and replied quietly,

"Thank you for helping me, Taeanna. I'm Weiss."