Bad Dream

Yang started awake when she felt a hand on her shoulder and she sat bolt upright. “Sorry, Yang; I didn’t mean to wake you up. I was trying to get you to move.” Raven’s voice cut through the darkness. Oh. She moved so her mother could lay on the mattress as well. She was so utterly exhausted. She hated how much of a toll this was taking on her. But it was exhausting to have to deal with so much aggressive racism. Raven pulled Yang close and her head rested on her shoulder. “I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time here. I deal with racism pretty constantly in Mistral.” Yang sighed and closed her eyes. “How can you deal with it so much?” It felt like this was going to be her life from now on. She would mentally crumble if she had to deal with this everyday for the rest of her life. She wanted to go back to Vale so badly. So, so badly. She still wasn’t treated the best there, but it was objectively better than this.She wouldn’t be facing racism from basically everybody she met. “I’ve grown relatively numb to it. I started getting it at about ten… There’s really no way around it unfortunately.” Raven fell silent for a few minutes. “Actually, I did just think something that might be worth talking to Kali and Blake about. Have a clergy member perform the marriage ceremony between you and Blake now. You two can still have a public wedding at the allotted date, but if you’re a princess…” Yang frowned at that. Not…a terrible idea in some regards. But she really would rather get to know Blake beforehand. Then everyone, did it really matter when they were legally bound to each other? “I’ll ask tomorrow I want to go back to sleep.” She was exhausted. Thankfully, Raven didn’t argue and started to sing to Yang while rubbing her shoulder. With that gentle encouragement, Yang drifted back into slumber.

♠

The light of dawn made Yang’s eyes flutter open. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. What a mess… She frowned as she considered that Raven had said the previous night. No matter what, she would have to marry Blake. There was no way around it—the wedding was set for six months from now. She had planned on spending that time to get to know Blake. Not that she had any choice in marrying or not. SHe got off the mattress and sat at the desk. Like her errant thought last night, did it really matter when the binding occurred? She still felt ill at ease marrying a complete stranger. They had only met a few days ago. She really hadn’t expected to get married so soon after meeting. Blake hadsaid in the letter that if things didn’t work out between them, she could have a lover on the side… For now, it seemed like a good idea. If she was a princess officially, she doubted people would be able to get away with what they were dong. She couldn’t deal with this. It was too much. Blake had said to not be afraid to use her connections. But she was in a weird limbo where it wasn’t official but she had those close connections to the royal family. She wasn’t sure how it’d be taken. The next few hours ticked by and Yang headed to breakfast with Raven. She sat across from Blake who looked at her. “You seem to have a lot on your mind. Is it something you’d be able to talk to us about?” Yang glanced at Kali, then Blake and expressed her thoughts. Kali’s ears twitched subtly while Blake’s flicked back. “That definitely is something to think about. In this case, it’s up to Blake.” Kali looked at her. Blake looked down at her hands, ears pressed against her head. “You do raise some good points but—” “You don’t want to marry a stranger?” Yang put in. Blake nodded. She could hardly blame her. It wasn’t an easy decision. They’d at least had six months before this, but with this offer…it really left them as complete strangers to each other. “I thought we’d have more time to get each other, but honestly, you are right. People will continue to treat you like this as long as you aren’t a part of the royal family. And what’s the difference if we get legally married now then have the public celebration later?” Yang blinked. Was she really— “Yes, I’m going along with. I can see how it’s wearing you down and I’ve experienced it from Mantaline dignitaries. I don’twant you to have to deal with this for six months.” Blake let out a breath. “Let’s do it.” Wow. She really hadn’t been expecting Blake to take to it right away. But she nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” She hesitated. “And it didn’t come across a me pushing you into something because I’m human…?” She knew humans so often flexed and pushed Faunus around. She didn’t want to come across that way. Blake shook her head. “There is a big difference between humans attempting to use their power and what you’re asking. We don’t let foreign dignitaries push us around when they’re here. You’re aware of my feeling and made it clear you’re reluctant to do this. Humans that try to push us around don’t even see us as their equals. You’ve given me literally zeroevidence you see me as lesser.” Yang breathed a sigh of relief. She really was trying to make sure Blake didn’t feel lesser. “All right. Should we handle it after breakfast, then?” It sounded like both of them were on board with the idea. She would have backed off if Blake had said no. She had no interest in forcing somebody into marriage. Neither of them seemed really ready for this, but reality was forcing their hands. She would still be forced into the public ceremony, but at least they would still have time to get to know each other. “We might as well.” Blake looked at Kali. “Would you officiate? And would you be the witness?” She looked at Ghira. The pair nodded. Her attention turned back to Yang, ears flicked back. “By the way, how do you want to handle quarters…? Do you want to stay separate or move into my room?” “Let’s stay separate for now. We’re still more or less strangers. I see no reason to rush into something like this.” She really didn’t want Blake to feel obligated to rush into a couple things. She wasn’t sure if they’d fall in love or not. “It’ll be a piece of paper is all.” That was it. Nothing dictated they had to rush into sex or anything. She…definitely would not be ready for that. Blake let out a breath. “Okay; that’s fine with me. And you’re right; it’ll only be a piece of paper. There’s nothing dictating we have to change our current trajectory.” She took a sip of her tea, ears relaxing. Those really were the best way to read her body language. They were so expressive. It was kinda cute in her opinion. “So you’ll be starting intense language lessons today, Yang?” Kali spoke up. The previous topic had been winding down, so she supposed that it made sense to move on. Plus, it was clear both her and Blake were pretty uncomfortable. She was really glad Blake hadn’t see it as her attempting to push her into it simply because she was human. And she was nottrying to usurp power either. That hadn’t even come up… Yang nodded. “I don’t like relying on translators. Plus, me and Blake are about to be married—” She glanced at Blake. “—I think it’s really important for me to be able to understand and speak the language. I know I’ll never understand what Faunus have been even through, but I at least want to understand what everyone says.” It would be years until she took over with Blake, but she didn’t want to leave the people of Chiole hanging. Kali smiled, her ears twitching. She said something to Blake in Chilese which made her choke on her tea and splutter. She wondered what it was. But Kali turned her attention to Yang afterward. “I think you’ll make a wonderful queen-consort someday.” Yang felt her cheeks heat up. SHe wasn’t trying to fish for compliments or anything like that. She was billowing her convictions. She didn’t like the idea of Blake doing all the work. “Um, thanks. I’m not trying to fish for compliments at all; I’m only following my convictions. I don’t want to leave your people hanging. I’m trying to do the best by them I can.” She was loyal to people and causes. She didn’t want to behave or be married to Blake, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t do her best by others. The people of Chiole really deserved somebody from within their borders, but she’d do her best. “And it’s that mentality which will make you a great queen-consort. You don’t have any bias against Faunus and you’re trying your best despite everything against you. There’s a high learning curve ahead of you, but you’re trying your best.” Kali took a sip of her tea. Again, Yang wasn’t trying to finish for compliments. But she would do her best by the Chilese people. She knew most of them would never like her, but she would do her best. The rest of breakfast was fairly quiet and, afterward, they headed to Kali’s office. She took out a marriage certificate and everyone signed it. “And you promise to stay together in matrimony?” Kali asked. Yang nodded. “I do.” Blake also did. “I do.” She extended her hand to Yang who took it. She still couldn’t believe that Blake had agreed to this. But she wasn’t exactly complaining either. “Then by the power vested in me, you two be wed.” Kali smiled and clapped her hands together. “I know you normally kiss in Vale, but given the circumstances… But that’s done. I’ll send out a royal bulletin to the nobles to alert them.” Oh boy, how was thatgoing to go over…? Kali got into a drawer and pulled something out then put in Yang’s free hand. “A signet ring?” She recognised the coat of arms on it as the one that had been pressed into the wax of Blake’s letter. It was strange and she wasn’t sure why it was being given to her. “It’ll shut people up, to put it bluntly. It proves your relationship to the royal family. If anybody starts giving you trouble, show it to them. Okay?” Yang nodded a bit at Kali’s words. She felt a bit uncomfortable with the wording, but if it would get the racists to be quiet, she’d take it. She didn’t have much other choice. She simply couldn’t deal with it. She tried it on but it wouldn’t fit. “Do you have a chain I can put it on?” It would be the best way for her to notlose it when out and about. She could only imagine the damage that would come about if she lost it and some random Joe found it. She was trying. She really was. She didn’t want to break the trust Kali clearly invested in her. “Blake, take her to the royal jeweler.” “Okay, Mother.” She squeezed Yang’s hand. “Let’s go.” They headed down to the garage with the carriages which was strange to her. Shouldn’t royal severs like that be on premises? Then again, jeweler meant heat which meant fire which would be a burn risk. Now it made sense. They settled down and Blake looked at her. “This feels weird, doesn’t it?” Massive understatement. Incredibly massive. She honestly had thought she’d never be married with how her life had been going before this. “That’s massively underselling it. I thought that I was going to end up a spinster almost definitely.” Most men (and even a few women) were interested in her looks more than anything. They wanted to bed her more than anything due to how attractive she was by most standards. She had long learned to fend off and read people to make sure they weren’t solely interested that. Sadly, it was the majority of people that offered her a relationship. “I guess it is. I always knew I’d have to marry for the sake of continuing the family line, but I’d expected to be about 22, 23 or so, not 17.” Yang offered a sympathetic glance. She was still only sixteen, what with the December birthday. Technically underage but still old enough to be married off. She wished she could say more but she wasn’t sure how to comfort Blake. “We’re not going to have to worry about kids for a while though, right? I’m…not ready for that sort of responsibility.” She was only sixteen. She was not ready for that sort of commitment yet. The children wouldhave to come from her, though. Whether or not this worked out romantically was one question they didn’t have the answer to. She was trying her best… Blake shook her head. “Not at all. We have a few years until then. And thanks to Bedona, we don’t have to have sex or anything to produce them.” She let out a sigh, dears drooping. “I’ll have to carry all of them though… They’ll need to have Faunus traits and with how inheritance works… Plus, they’d have no way prove they’re royal if I don’t carry them…” SHe looked so defeated. “I’m sorry. I wish I could be of more help. But I’ll be here by your side regardless of what happens.” Yang smiled at her. Even if this didn’t work out romantically, she could still be a supportive partner. Honestly, she wouldn’t have minded carrying one of the kids, but it did make sense. Inheritance followed whoever carried the children most of the time. Sometimes a human mother carrying a Faunus-fathered child would end up with Faunus traits, but it was rae. Same with a Faunus mother carrying a child fathered by a human. The child was more likely to have the Faunus traits. “At least we have time until then.” Blake nodded. “Thankfully. And unlike Mantle, we don’t really have any concept of virginity, so wedding night and consummating the marriage are moot points here.” Yang cringed. She knew that Mistral placed high emphasis on that as well.V ale didn’t which she was glad for. Neither she nor Blake were sexually attracted to each other so neither clearly wanted to have sex. She was more than okay if they never laid in bed together. It was something she’d rather reserve for somebody she loved. She was so glad magic could bypass the need for sex. “It isn’t a big deal in Vale either. The only thing is don’t get pregnant out of wedlock especially if you’re nobility.” She was considered a bastard by Vale’s and Mistral’s standards. The marriage had been legitimate but with Raven fleeing, it was deemed a failure. Thus Yang was in no sort of standing to receive lands. Then combine that with not being born in Vale. “Pretty much same here. Screw around all you want, but the second you get someone pregnant, you gotta marry them. And you better no mess around with somebody outside of marriage. That’ll get you shunned. You’ll be disowned and set to the streets.” Yang cringed. “Vale’s…a lot more lax about that. The laws are a headache but you can marry multiple people. It isn’t common, though.” Especially in the nobility. It would make lines too confusing. Most people were monogamous so it usually wasn’t a worry. But she knew of a few noble families like that. The line of succession for those families was screwy from what she’d heard. It didn’t happen too often at least. “That…is incredibly strange to me, but who am I to judge?” Blake shrugged. “It’s not common, but it does happen. It’s at least not harems.” She’d heard some tribes in Vacuo practice having many women to one man. The opposite was apparently incredibly rare. She didn’t know how she’d feel if Vale practiced stuff like that. The laws here were pretty strict in Vale from what little she knew of them. She would notlike to share her partner with that many others. They came to a stop and got out, then walked inside a store. Jewelry of all sort sat in display cases. Almost immediately, Yang was drawn to a set of lockets and she pressed her hands against the case. It was simple and had a rose pressed into the gold. Blake stood next to her. “Which one?” She pointed. “We can get it if you want.” “Are you sure? It’s gold. It’ll be exp…” She trailed off. Right. Royal family. Her family had never wanted for money being nobles, but she was still acutely aware of the cost of things. She had yet to be ordained clergy so she hadn’t received any pay for her education. But she had an allowance from her parents so she knew how to keep a budget. She wasn’t big on jewelry for the most part but… Blake rang a bell on the desk and a big, burly man walked out. He struck up a casual conversation with Blake which wen ton for quite a while. Eventually, though, he motioned for Yang to come around to the other side of the counter. Yang looked at Blake. “He needs to measure you for a tiara. Normally we don’t wear them in public, but with what you’re going through, it’ll be a visible sign of your power.” Yang nodded and stepped behind the counter where the man pulled out a pad of paper and measure Yang’s head in several different ways. It felt strange but she was let go after about ten minutes. The man pulled the locket out along with a set of earrings. Blake put one in her left ear then looked at Yang before handing her the other one. “You’ll want to do the same. It’s our personal symbol that you’re married.” “Oh, okay.” She was glad she’d gotten her ears pierced a few years ago. She enjoyed earrings most as they were usually subtle and not too overbearing. But the locket and chain were handed to her and she put the signet ring on the chain. With that done, Blake paid and they headed back outside. The carriage ride back was quiet without anything happening.