The sunlight crept out from the horizon as dawn approached. The rays began to bounce off whatever spots that were clean from the grime and scratches and rust present. However the sunlight did not bring the Rider's glorious wooden wings to shame. The light caught all of the individual feathers and made him look like warrior of true mettle.

The figure sat astride a well looked after chestnut, a rumble going through its chest as it shook its mane. "I know, I know. I don't like it either but we gotta try. She could help us all." The figure stroked their war mate and calmed it down with low noises.

Soon enough, the pair were off, treading over dead bodies and similar knights in plate mail. The figure themselves only wore a chest plate, arm guards and greaves while the rest was covered in riveted chain mail. "Not many lived, huh? What a blood tragedy." The horse nodded in agreement as they approached a tower that set off an ominous aura.

The horse whinnied again. "I know, I know. I hate being sent on this mission, but High Commander says it's of utmost importance. All of her other loyalists are out on their own mission and we were the next best thing, I wouldn't think too hard on it." The horse grumbled before picking up the pace.

The drawbridge was up, what a surprise. But the Rider saw no evidence of what caused the carnage behind them. "Maybe a beast of mythological status?" The rider mused as they inspected the gap, no way could he jump the gap and neither could his horse.

"If Little Red was here, she'd know what to do." He grimaced until the horse bumped its nose into him, smiling he patted the nose. "I'm not being self deprecating, I'm just musing about what they would do. Sunlight could clear this gap in an instant, I have no idea how that woman can have so much energy."

Was the horse laughing? "What? I know she hates that nickname and prefers to be called Aurora, but it's worth seeing her reaction. Though if I keep saying it I won't live as long as I'd like." The rider checked their gear and looked for a grappling hook. "Any ideas what could've caused the scene behind us?" The horse shook its head.

But right now, at the back of the Rider's head, there were whisperings. Some were suggestive, some were outright demanding. At first he looked around to see if they were alone. "Do you hear that?" The horse nodded in affirmation.

He quickened his pace and began to throw his grapple, the rope and head sailing across the gap. However, he noticed that as he let it go, the whisperings became louder and then fell silent as the hook attached itself to the balustrade. He peered down the edge with a grimace. "That's a long way down, stay here alright?" The horse just gave him a look that he rolled his eyes at, even his horse was sassy.

The Rider took a run up and sailed over the edge and grasped at the rope, hauling himself up over the edge. He always kept his hand on his sword as he searched around for the winch. Right there, was a guard house that could hide one.

Only more dead bodies. The Rider grimaced as he stepped over the dead bodies and began to arduous task of lowering the gate.

A loud boom echoed as the draw bridge hit the surface. He looked around and gripped his sword tighter as he exited the guard house, no opposition?

There was the bloody voices again, echoing off the walls of his mind. "Like do you mind being quiet? I have a job."

'Why do you ever believe that you could amount to anything other than a squire? Those wings were a pity gift by the High Commander. Why don't you go rogue? You'd get a far higher standing then than you would ever get under her gaze.'

He shook his head… And the thought hit him. 'Was this how that carnage was created? Do these get worse to the point where it drives you to kill? What is this place?' The horse neighed and shook its mane again.

The pair walked over the drawbridge, stopping right in the front of the door leading up to the tower. There, famed was a princess of pure white, one that could change the tide of this grim war. The Rider looked at his horse before unclasping the wings around his waist and placed it on the saddle. "Too clunky for in doors, even for me." The horse shook its head in agreement and whinnied in worry. "I'll be fine, my wings say everything about me for Pete's sake, gotta count for something right?" Sceptical look from said horse.

"Climb the steps, end the war." He breathed deeply as he began that dreaded ascent. His steps echoed off the cold stone walls. 'Is it getting colder the further I go up?' He mused as the steel of his chain mail began to slightly shine from a layer of frost. His breath steamed and he began to shiver. 'I'll be a frozen popsicle at the end of this.'

And, as if fate was listening to him, the door came into view rather suddenly. The door knob was clearly frozen over. 'I'm here now, can't go back.'

'Kill her, kill her and become powerful.'

'What the hell? Bugger off kindly.' He grumbled at the thoughts in his head. With a shaky breath he grasped the door knob and twisted it, opening the door with a deathly creak.

'Ok, now it's bloody freezing.' He moved the door wide opened and there was a rather regal looking woman looking out the window, standing stock still. She was breathing, somewhat. But she stood so still that it was almost like she was frozen solid.

The Rider gave her a look over. She was wearing a rather beautiful dress that started off white before drifting into deep blue as it travelled up her form. She was surprisingly agile looking for someone who has been trapped in a tower for so long, maybe an enchantment provided her sustenance?

He looked around the room and saw a case with soft velvet lining the inside. 'Wait, where's the weapon?'

He got his answer as the princess had travelled the distance between them immediately and had her rapier pointing right at the visor of his helmet. They stood silent for a while, until a surprisingly soft voice emanated from her lips. But that voice emanated authority.

"Name." She gave him a cold stare.

'Huh, surprisingly young sounding, not a bad looker as well. That scar rather enhances her beauty.' Her gaze hardened as she squinted further, almost as if she could read his thoughts. 'Better open my mouth before I die.' He raised a somewhat shaky hand and lifted the visor off of his face.

His ocean blue eyes pierced her ice blue ones. "J-Jaune Arc."

"Arc, what are you here for? Why shouldn't I kill you right now?" Her tone was rather haughty. 'What a lovely combo.'

"I'm here… on a mission… to bring an end to this war." The princess didn't move.

"You came here on a fool's errand. Be thankful that I don't slaughter you where you stand."

'Kill her now!' His face contorted. "Is it the voices, that make you so cold?"

'Oh shit, bad move.' The rapier nearly poked his nose out as she moved closer. "I didn't ask for you to come anywhere near me, now either take my good graces or be acquainted with the pile of corpses outside."

"B-but please! I cannot go back empty handed. I'm just a simple Knight who just wants to end this bloody war. I am tired of waking up to more dead bodies and lost friends. Please, help me end this war."

"You only want me for my power." She sassed him. 'Holy shit she's attractive when she does that. Ok brain not helping!'

'Kill her now! End it all! She makes this a reality! Kill her and end the war.' The voices caressed his mind.

"How can you handle those voices? They'd drive me up the walls."

"You learn to silence them. Keep talking and you won't have to." The tip pierced his skin and blood pooled slightly.

"Come on, I rode here for a while and I'm bloody tired, I do not have time for ice cold snooty princess'." He turned on his heel and was about to head out before he felt a source of heat behind him. 'That's odd, I didn't see any torcheAAAAEEEE!'

He was sent flying into the wall as a fireball erupted behind him. He collapsed onto the ground, leaving a Jaune sized clean section of the wall. He groaned as he opened his eyes and saw the Princess staring down at him. "No one has ever treated me like that. Do you know how long I've waited to meet the person who didn't give a damn about my status and wasn't afraid to talk back?"

'Uhh way to long?' He shrugged his shoulders.

"Too long, now Jaune Arc. I will ride back with you, but I will not hand myself willingly to your leader. I hope you are far more interesting company than you've led me to believe."

"Naturally, would never want to disappoint you." His voice was heavy with sarcasm, which made her mouth twitch. He got back up and led the way back down. The voices in their heads became desperate and assaulted them harder. At one point, Jaune grasped his sword with half of the thought of cleaving her in half.

They reached the bottom and the horse neighed in happiness as it trotted over to Jaune, head butted him affectionately. "What a lovely horse, is she fast?"

"Fastest horse in the army, no mare or stallion is faster than my war mate." He offered her a push up, to which she gracefully accepted. She may have hated ass kissers but she can respect a gentleman.

She watched with curiosity as he buckled on his war wings and slid down his visor. He was a completely different person now, completely silent and serious. He slid up onto the horse with expertise and clicked his tongue, urging the horse to get them back to their base as fast as they can.

"We must use the mountains to our advantage, our snipers can use the height to rain lead onto the enemy." The red headed Hoplite studied a map intensely amongst commanders that follow the scheme of red, yellow and black separately. They all nodded in agreement, the red commander moved forward. "My battalion will work well in that small pass, they wouldn't be able to come at us beyond 5 abreast."

The yellow commander nodded. "My shock troopers can cover any holes that have been created by the enemy, there is no way they can completely break through." Her eyes were red as she thought of the action ahead.

"My mounted war band will keep the High Commander safe, if anything was to break through they would be more than capable enough of closing the gap until reinforcements arrive. Don't worry, we'll keep you safe."

Right now, a sizeable commotion could be heard from the other side of the camp. The Hoplite looked at each commander. "Expecting any visitors?" They all shook their head.

The jingling of a harness stopped as they heard two sets of feet hit the ground and approach the grand tent. The flaps were opened as the familiar sight of war wings and Jaune Arc entered the tent. With a practised gesture, he got on one knee and held a hand over his breast. "High Commander, I have returned with success."

The flap opens again and the Princess entered, immediately casting her eyes over the tent. Her attention was immediately attracted by the High Commander. "Weiss Schnee, I can't tell you how relieved I see that you are willing to help."

Weiss tilted her head as her lips curled into a confident smile. "Your choice of Knight was rather interesting if I say so myself. He certainly has a bravery about him rarely seen. Wise choice, High Commander Pyrrha Nikos."