Outmatched: An Unexpected Messenger (Secrets and Priorities)
The revelation about Qrow's marriage and previously unknown son hung in the air like storm clouds, charged with potential energy. But before the implications could fully settle, Qrow cleared his throat, his expression shifting to something more guarded.
"There's something else you should know," he said, his voice low and deliberate. His eyes met Odyn's in silent communication—a question being asked and answered in that brief exchange.
Odyn gave a slight nod, his normally stoic features softening almost imperceptibly. "It relates to Seraphina," he confirmed.
Ruby, attuned to the subtle dynamics at play, looked between her uncle and Odyn. "What about her? Is there more we should know before they arrive?"
Qrow took a long breath. "Seraphina—or Khanna, as she was named at birth—isn't just Odyn and Sarai's cousin." He paused, clearly measuring his words. "She's my daughter. Mine and Lailah's."
The silence that followed was profound. Baron observed the shifting expressions across the room: Flare's ears twitched forward in surprise, Blake's eyes widened slightly, and Ruby seemed to be processing this new information with remarkable composure given the circumstances.
"Let me understand this correctly," Baron stated with careful precision. "Seraphina, who is traveling here with Mercury, is your daughter with Lailah. Which would make her—"
"Yang and Ruby's cousin," Qrow confirmed. "Yes."
Through the communication link, Yang's stunned silence was eventually broken by a single exhaled word: "What?!"
"I know it's a lot to take in," Qrow acknowledged, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "But with everything converging now, you deserved to know the truth."
"How old is she?" Ruby asked quietly.
"Twenty-four," Qrow replied. "Born a year after Lailah and I married. She was raised primarily in the dark elven territories under her mother's supervision, though I visited when I could."
"Does she know?" Yang's voice came through the link, a complex mixture of emotions evident even through the distortion. "About us, I mean."
"Yes," Odyn answered when Qrow seemed momentarily unable to. "She's known about her human family since she was old enough to understand. She's... been curious about you both for many years."
"And now she's coming here," Ruby summarized, her silver eyes reflecting the weight of these revelations. "Along with our cousin Corvan, whom we never knew existed either."
Qrow nodded, his expression a rare mixture of vulnerability and resolve. "It wasn't supposed to happen this way. We had a plan for introducing you all properly, but circumstances have forced our hand."
Baron, ever the tactician, recognized the potential complications immediately. "Yang and Roy's relationship becomes considerably more complex in light of this information," he observed. "If Seraphina is Yang's cousin, and Roy is Seraphina's cousin through Lailah..."
"They're not blood relatives," Sarai clarified quickly. "The connection is through marriage only. Lailah is Roy's aunt through her marriage to our mother's brother."
"Still," Ruby said slowly, "it's going to be a shock for Yang to learn she's dating someone with these kinds of family connections."
Through the link, Yang's voice had taken on a distinctly strained quality. "I can hear you, you know. And yes, it's a shock, but I'm still processing the fact that I apparently have cousins I've never met because my uncle kept his entire second family secret for decades."
The hurt in her voice was palpable, and Qrow flinched slightly at the accusation.
"Yang," Odyn spoke directly to the communication device, his voice gentle but firm. "I understand this is overwhelming. But perhaps it would be best to continue this discussion when you arrive with Roy. These revelations deserve more than a distorted conversation through a scroll connection."
"And what am I supposed to tell Roy in the meantime?" Yang demanded. "Hey, by the way, your cousin is actually my cousin too, surprise!"
"For now, perhaps it would be wise to maintain discretion," Sarai suggested carefully. "At least until you've had time to process these revelations yourself."
"You want me to keep this from him?" Yang sounded incredulous.
"Just temporarily," Qrow interjected. "Until we can all sit down together and work through the implications. Roy has his own... complicated history with Seraphina, and throwing this additional connection at him while you're still traveling might not be ideal."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the static of the communication link.
"Fine," Yang finally agreed, her voice tight with suppressed emotion. "But I expect the full story when I get there. Every detail. No more convenient omissions."
"You'll have it," Qrow promised, relief evident in his voice. "All of it."
As the communication ended, a heavy silence settled over the safehouse. The revelations had fundamentally shifted the dynamics of their group, adding layers of complexity to relationships that were already strained by current circumstances.
Ruby, demonstrating the leadership qualities that had earned her such respect despite her youth, straightened her shoulders and cleared her throat.
"While these family connections are important," she began decisively, "we need to refocus on our primary mission. Personal revelations can wait; the threat to Mistral cannot."
Baron nodded approvingly. "Well said. The artifact remains our priority."
"Speaking of pressing concerns," Blake interjected, pulling up a data display on her scroll, "I've been analyzing the intelligence from my White Fang contacts. There's a concerning pattern emerging in the city's eastern district."
"Cinder," Ruby stated rather than asked, her expression hardening at the name of their long-time adversary.
Blake nodded grimly. "Multiple sightings over the past week. Initially, I dismissed them as unreliable—she's been presumed dead since the confrontation at Haven. But the reports are becoming too consistent to ignore."
"Fall's survival would certainly complicate matters," Baron observed, quickly shifting his tactical analysis to this new development. "Particularly if she's aware of the artifact's presence in Mistral."
"More than aware," Flare added, pulling up her own scroll to display a series of images. "These surveillance photos from the market district show someone matching her description meeting with individuals we now know are connected to the supposed 'elven representatives' bringing the artifact."
Ruby stepped forward to examine the images more closely. "You're right. That's definitely Cinder. The question is, what's her connection to the artifact?"
"Salem's influence, perhaps?" Jaune suggested, speaking up for the first time since the family revelations had begun. His history with Cinder—particularly her role in Pyrrha's death—made any mention of her a difficult subject.
"Possible," Qrow acknowledged, clearly relieved to shift the conversation away from his complicated personal life. "But Salem's usual approach is more direct. This business with the artifact—disguising it as a diplomatic gift, involving legitimate elven representatives—it's too subtle for her typical methodology."
"Unless she's evolved her tactics," Baron countered thoughtfully. "Adaptation is a fundamental principle of warfare. After multiple failures with direct confrontation, a more insidious approach would be logical."
"Regardless of Salem's involvement," Ruby interjected, "Cinder's presence in Mistral connected to the artifact creates an immediate tactical priority. We need to track her movements and determine her objectives before the artifact is brought into the city."
"I've already established a surveillance rotation with my White Fang contacts," Blake confirmed. "If she moves, we'll know."
"Good," Ruby approved. "Ren, work with Blake to establish contingency plans for intervention if necessary. Jaune, I need you to coordinate with the Mistral security forces—discreetly—to ensure they're prepared for potential disturbances without revealing our specific concerns."
Baron watched with quiet admiration as Ruby efficiently redirected their focus to operational priorities. Despite the emotional weight of everything she'd just learned—about her own transformation, her uncle's secret family, and the cousins she'd never known existed—she maintained the clear-headed leadership that had become her hallmark.
"Baron, Flare," Ruby continued, turning to them. "Your experience with elven diplomatic protocols will be essential in preparing for our various arrivals. Can you work with Odyn and Sarai to establish appropriate security measures that won't be perceived as offensive by our elven visitors?"
"Of course," Flare agreed, grateful for the return to practical matters. "Though I should note that ice fox protocols differ significantly from those of the high elven courts."
"That's precisely why your perspective is valuable," Ruby pointed out. "We need adaptable approaches that respect various elven traditions while maintaining necessary security."
As the group dispersed to their assigned tasks, Qrow approached Ruby quietly. "Thanks," he said simply.
"For what?" she asked, though her expression suggested she already knew.
"For refocusing everyone when things got... complicated," he replied. "And for not pushing harder about Lailah and the kids right now. I know you have questions."
"More than a few," Ruby acknowledged, a small smile softening her features despite the gravity of their situation. "But they can wait. Mistral's safety can't."
Qrow nodded, gratitude evident in his eyes. "When this is over—when everyone's here safely and we've dealt with whatever Cinder's planning—I promise we'll sit down and I'll tell you everything. About Lailah, about growing up split between worlds, about why we made the choices we did."
"I'd like that," Ruby replied sincerely. She hesitated, then added, "Is she... are they..." She seemed unsure how to phrase her question.
"They're good people," Qrow assured her, understanding the unspoken concern. "Lailah is... complicated, like most elven royalty, but she's spent decades working behind the scenes to improve relations between our worlds. Corvan has her intelligence and my stubborn streak. And Seraphina—" He paused, a complex mixture of pride and regret crossing his features. "She's headstrong, brilliant, and has been fighting to bridge our divided worlds since she was old enough to understand them."
"Even with Mercury?" Ruby couldn't help asking, the skepticism evident in her voice.
"That one surprised me too," Qrow admitted. "But according to Lailah, there's history there that goes deeper than his recent allegiances. Something about childhood bonds being reforged." He shrugged slightly. "I'm reserving judgment until I see them together."
"That's fair," Ruby agreed. "I suppose we're all navigating unexpected connections these days." Her hand unconsciously went to her ear, tracing its increasingly elven point.
"Some more literally than others," Qrow observed with a hint of his typical sardonic humor, nodding toward her ear. "How are you dealing with all that, by the way?"
"One day at a time," Ruby replied honestly. "It's strange to become something different from what you've always believed yourself to be. But also... illuminating, in ways I hadn't expected."
Qrow nodded thoughtfully. "Your mother would have had some interesting thoughts about all this. She always did have theories about the silver-eyed lineage that went beyond what Oz was willing to discuss."
This caught Ruby's attention immediately. "What kinds of theories?"
"That's part of the longer conversation," Qrow promised. "For now, we should focus on Cinder and the artifact. There'll be time for family history later."
As they rejoined the others, Baron observed the subtle shift in dynamics throughout the safehouse. The revelations had changed things—how could they not?—but the immediate focus on Cinder's trail had provided a necessary anchor, a reminder that regardless of their personal connections and complications, they shared a common purpose in protecting Mistral from whatever threat the artifact represented.
Later that evening, as final preparations were made for Yang and Roy's arrival the following morning, Baron found Flare reviewing security protocols with Odyn. The high elf was explaining a particular elven warding technique when he paused, a distant expression crossing his features.
"Something troubles you," Baron observed quietly after Flare had moved away to implement one of the suggested measures.
Odyn studied him for a moment, seeming to weigh his response. "I'm concerned about how these revelations will affect Yang and Roy's relationship," he admitted finally. "They've developed a genuine connection over these past months. Finding out they share such... complicated family ties might create unnecessary strain."
"You believe they should be kept in ignorance?" Baron asked, careful to keep any judgment from his tone.
"Not indefinitely," Odyn clarified. "But perhaps until they've had time to solidify their bond. To understand what they mean to each other without the weight of these familial connections influencing their perspective."
"Until they're married, you mean," Baron deduced, recalling the earlier conversation.
Odyn's expression confirmed this interpretation. "Roy has been... quite serious in his intentions toward Yang, based on our recent communications. It would be unfortunate if these revelations disrupted what could be a significant bridge between our worlds."
Baron considered this thoughtfully. "Your concern is understandable. But secrets have a way of creating deeper wounds when eventually revealed. Trust, once broken, is difficult to restore."
"A valid perspective," Odyn acknowledged. "Though in elven society, we often take a longer view of such matters. What seems like deception in the moment may be understood as wisdom with the perspective of decades or centuries."
"Perhaps that is the fundamental difference between our approaches," Baron replied. "Elves have the luxury of time for such perspectives to develop. Humans, with their briefer lifespans, must navigate trust and honesty within much narrower windows."
Odyn seemed to consider this perspective seriously. "And what of those who bridge both worlds? Like Ruby in her transformation, or Corvan and Seraphina in their mixed heritage?"
"They face the most complex path of all," Baron acknowledged. "Navigating between worldviews that operate on fundamentally different timescales and values."
Their philosophical discussion was interrupted by Blake's urgent approach. "New intelligence," she reported crisply. "Cinder has been spotted at the eastern docks, meeting with someone who matches the description of one of the artifact couriers."
The moment of contemplation broken, they returned to immediate tactical concerns. As plans were adjusted and security measures enhanced, Baron found himself reflecting on the layers of complexity that defined their current situation—not just the immediate threat of Cinder and the artifact, but the interconnected web of relationships that bound them all together in ways none of them had fully comprehended until now.
Family connections that had remained hidden for decades were now emerging into the light. Relationships were forming that crossed boundaries previously thought impermeable. And through it all ran the thread of the artifact—a potential weapon that seemed designed specifically to target these very connections.
As midnight approached and the safehouse finally quieted, Baron joined Flare in their assigned quarters. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, reviewing maps of Mistral with particular attention to the eastern docks where Cinder had been spotted.
"Thinking about tomorrow?" he asked quietly, settling beside her.
"About all of it," she replied, echoing her words from their earlier conversation on the balcony. "Yang and Roy arrive in the morning. Seraphina—Khanna—and Mercury, along with Lailah, will come by evening. Corvan follows at some point after. And somewhere in the midst of all these family reunions, Cinder is moving pieces into position for whatever she has planned."
"Complex variables," Baron agreed, studying the map with her. "But also, perhaps, unprecedented opportunities."
Flare looked up, her expression questioning.
"These connections between humans and elves," Baron elaborated. "Ruby's transformation. Qrow's marriage to Lailah. Their children. Yang and Roy. Even our own binding. Each represents a bridge between worlds that have remained largely separate for millennia."
"And you think this convergence is meaningful beyond coincidence," Flare intuited, her keen mind following his reasoning.
"I do," Baron confirmed. "The artifact appears designed specifically to target mixed heritage and cross-species bonds. That suggests our enemy fears precisely these connections—which implies they hold power our adversary wishes to prevent."
Flare considered this thoughtfully. "A weapon designed to sever bonds that threaten an established order."
"Or to prevent a new order from emerging," Baron added. "One in which the traditional boundaries between elven and human societies begin to dissolve."
The pendant warmed between them as they contemplated these implications, its gentle heat a reminder of their own cross-cultural bond—one that had seemed unusual when they first formed it, but now appeared to be part of a larger pattern emerging across their world.
"For tonight," Flare suggested, setting aside the maps, "perhaps we should focus on the immediate concerns. Tomorrow will bring Yang and Roy, with all the complications that entails. And Cinder's movements suggest her plans are accelerating."
"Agreed," Baron said, rising smoothly to his feet and offering her his hand. "There will be time to explore these broader connections once the immediate threat is addressed."
As they prepared for a few hours of rest before the complexities of the coming day, somewhere in Mistral's shadowed eastern district, Cinder Fall stood gazing out over the harbor, her amber eye reflecting the broken moonlight scattered across the water's surface. Beside her, a figure in elven diplomatic robes nodded in understanding of whatever instructions she had just delivered.
The artifact pulsed in its sealed container nearby, resonating with the ancient energies that flowed through the fault lines beneath Mistral—fault lines that connected to what elven scholars called the Abyssal Depths, where things far older than either humans or elves waited for the barriers between worlds to weaken.
And across the city in three different directions, travelers moved steadily closer to their convergence point: Yang and Roy from the west, Seraphina and her companions from the south, and somewhere in the distant north, a young half-elven diplomat named Corvan prepared to meet the family he had heard about all his life but never been permitted to know.
The pieces were moving into position. The stage was set. And beneath it all ran the current of connections—of blood, of choice, of love—that would ultimately determine whether the coming confrontation ended in destruction or transformation.
For now, though, there was Cinder to track, arrivals to prepare for, and a web of family secrets that would need to be carefully navigated in the hours ahead. The larger implications would have to wait. As Ruby had wisely observed, personal revelations could be addressed later.
The trail of Cinder leading back to Mistral demanded their immediate attention. There would be time for family connections after they had ensured there would be a future in which those connections could flourish.
Qrow stood at the window overlooking Mistral's eastern quarter, absently running his thumb along the worn edge of his flask without actually drinking. The familiar weight of it was comforting, even if he'd been limiting himself more carefully in recent weeks. This wasn't a time for dulled senses.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing like that," Ruby observed from where she sat examining her weapon, making final adjustments to Crescent Rose's firing mechanism.
Qrow hadn't even realized he'd been moving. He forced himself to stand still, tucking the flask away. "Just thinking through contingencies."
"Contingencies," Ruby repeated with a knowing look. "Nothing to do with Aunt Lailah, then?"
The title sounded strange on her lips—foreign, yet somehow fitting. Qrow managed a wry smile.
"That obvious, huh?"
Ruby shrugged. "Your left eye keeps twitching whenever someone mentions their arrival time."
Baron, who had been quietly reviewing security protocols with Blake near the communications array, approached with the calm precision that characterized his movements.
"You have reason for concern beyond the personal," he observed. "The Silver Storm's arrival in Mistral will not go unnoticed, regardless of whatever diplomatic cover has been arranged."
Qrow's expression shifted. "You've heard of her?"
"All who have served in elite combat units know of Commander Lailah," Baron replied matter-of-factly. "Her tactical innovations during the Grimm Incursion of the Northern Territories are still studied at Atlas Academy. Though few know her true rank within elven society."
"Queen Hyuuan's personal guard," Blake interjected, her ears perking with interest. "The histories mention a warrior called Silver Storm who saved the Elven Queen's life during an assassination attempt, but I never connected that to—"
"To my wife?" Qrow finished, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Yeah, she doesn't advertise the connection. Makes operating across borders easier."
"And Hailfire?" Flare asked, joining the conversation. "Your message indicated she travels with the diplomatic party."
An unexpected smile crossed Qrow's face. "Baron's sister has been Lailah's shadow for nearly fifteen years now. Appointed as Seraphina's personal guard initially, but everyone knew the real purpose was to create stronger ties between dark elven territories and the high elven court."
Baron nodded, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his normally impassive features. "My sister chose to serve in the Vanguard rather than follow the more traditional scholarly path expected of our lineage. Our father was... displeased."
"Until she saved the high king's niece during that ambush near the Crystal Forests," Qrow added. "After that, even the staunchest traditionalists in the dark elven court had to acknowledge the value of her choice."
"The relationship between Hailfire and Seraphina is one of friendship as well as duty," Baron explained to the others. "Their correspondence has been one of the few reliable sources of information concerning elven court politics during these unsettled times."
Odyn, who had been listening quietly, cleared his throat. "Speaking of unsettled politics, my father will be arriving with them as well." When several heads turned in surprise, he added, "A recent development. High King Berethon decided the situation warranted his personal attention, particularly with Cinder's involvement."
Qrow visibly tensed. "Berethon's coming here? You didn't think to mention that earlier?"
"The communication arrived while you were briefing Yang," Odyn replied calmly. "I was waiting for an appropriate moment to share the information."
Ruby looked between them. "Is this... bad?"
"Complicated," Qrow muttered. "Berethon and I have a... complex history."
"They were rivals for my mother's attention in their youth," Sarai explained with a faint smile. "Before she chose my father and Lailah chose Qrow."
"Rivals is putting it mildly," Qrow said, the corner of his mouth twitching. "He nearly buried me in an avalanche during a training exercise when he found out Lailah and I had been meeting secretly."
"Father has always had a flair for the dramatic," Roy commented dryly as he entered the room, having just arrived with Yang. "Though he claims that particular incident was a 'regrettable miscalculation' rather than deliberate."
Yang followed close behind him, her expression guarded as she took in the assembled group. Her eyes found Qrow's immediately, and the tension between them was palpable—the weight of revelations still being processed.
"So," Yang said, breaking the awkward silence, "not only am I meeting Roy's father, but apparently he's the High King of the elven territories and has a history of trying to bury my uncle in avalanches. This day just keeps getting better."
"He's also tremendously fond of embarrassing stories," Roy added, his attempt at lightening the mood surprisingly effective. "Particularly those involving Qrow. I believe he's been collecting them for decades."
Despite himself, Qrow snorted. "That sounds about right. The old fox never forgets a good humiliation."
"He respects you more than you realize," Odyn said quietly. "He wouldn't have consented to your marriage to Lailah otherwise, regardless of her wishes. The Silver Storm may be the queen's guard, but in matters of his extended family, Father has always maintained final approval."
"Wait," Ruby interjected. "So Uncle Qrow had to get permission from the Elven High King to marry Aunt Lailah? Like a formal request?"
"Three days of traditional trials," Qrow confirmed, grimacing at the memory. "Combat demonstrations, knowledge tests, endurance challenges. All while wearing ceremonial armor that weighs about twice what it should."
"You broke three records that still stand," Sarai pointed out. "Father was privately impressed, though he'd never admit it publicly."
Baron, who had been monitoring the security feeds while they talked, suddenly straightened. "Movement at the eastern approach. A diplomatic convoy matching the description of our expected arrivals."
All levity evaporated from the room as everyone shifted back into alert readiness. Qrow took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders.
"How close?" he asked, voice steady despite the apprehension evident in his posture.
"Approximately thirty minutes out," Baron replied, bringing up a magnified image on the display screen. "Six figures on horseback, standard elven diplomatic formation. Two outriders—that would be Hailfire on the left flank based on the armor configuration. The center formation appears to contain Lailah and—" he paused, adjusting the image enhancement, "—I believe that is High King Berethon beside her. Seraphina and Mercury follow in the rear guard position."
Qrow nodded, tension radiating from him in almost visible waves. "Ruby, coordinate with Jaune and Ren to secure the perimeter. Yang, you and Roy should—"
"We'll welcome my father and help manage diplomatic protocols," Roy interrupted smoothly, placing a hand on Yang's shoulder in a gesture of both reassurance and solidarity. "Particularly since I haven't yet officially introduced him to Yang."
"And I need to have words with my uncle about his secret families," Yang added, though the edge in her voice had softened somewhat since her arrival. "After we make sure everyone's safely inside, of course."
As the group dispersed to their assigned tasks, Qrow found himself alone with Baron, who was conducting a final check of the security systems.
"Your sister," Qrow began awkwardly. "She's... well, she hasn't changed much since you last saw her. Still absolutely terrifying in combat and surprisingly funny once you get past the formal facade."
Baron nodded, a subtle softening around his eyes the only indication of his emotional response. "And her relationship with Seraphina? The reports have been... inconsistent."
"Hailfire takes her duty as protector seriously," Qrow replied carefully. "But they're also friends—true ones, despite the difference in their stations. Hailfire was there when Seraphina took her first steps, helped train her when she showed an aptitude for dual-blade combat. She's as much family as guardian."
"And Mercury?" Baron asked, his tone neutral but intent clear.
Qrow's expression darkened. "That's more complicated. Seraphina sees something in him the rest of us don't—or won't admit to seeing. Hailfire has... reservations, but respects Seraphina's judgment enough to reserve her own."
Baron seemed satisfied with this answer, returning his attention to the security readouts. "The convoy has increased pace. Estimated arrival now twenty-two minutes."
"Great," Qrow muttered, anxiety creeping back into his voice. "Just enough time to work myself into a proper panic."
"If I may," Baron said after a moment of hesitation, "throughout my years of observation, I've noted that Lailah's expressions when discussing you are consistently indicative of deep affection and respect, despite the complications of your divided lives. Whatever tensions exist regarding past decisions, the foundation appears solid."
Qrow blinked, surprised by both the insight and the fact that Baron had offered it. "That's... probably the most words I've ever heard you string together at once."
Baron's mouth twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "Exceptional circumstances."
Outside, the first notes of the elven arrival horns echoed through the valley, a clear, crystalline sound that seemed to hang in the air longer than should be physically possible. Qrow took a final deep breath.
"Well," he said, straightening his shoulders, "time to face the music. And my wife. And my formidable father-in-law. And my daughter who's traveling with her former-enemy-now-something-else." He shook his head. "Just another day in this increasingly complicated life."
"Indeed," Baron agreed as they moved toward the entrance. "Though I find myself curious to meet my sister after all this time. Particularly to observe how she balances her duties to both Seraphina and the High King."
In the courtyard, Ruby was organizing the welcome party with her typical efficiency, positioning everyone according to proper diplomatic protocol as advised by Odyn. Yang stood beside Roy, her posture betraying a mixture of nervousness and determination as she prepared to meet not only her cousin but the elven royalty who would soon be family through multiple connections.
The convoy appeared on the ridge above the safehouse, silhouetted against the early evening sky. At its center rode a woman with silver-white hair streaming behind her like captured moonlight, her armor gleaming with subtle enchantments. Beside her, a regal figure on a midnight-black steed sat with the easy confidence of one born to command. Behind them rode two figures deep in conversation—a young woman with features that somehow captured both Qrow's sharp angles and an elven grace, alongside a silver-haired young man whose posture remained alert despite his apparently relaxed demeanor.
And on the left flank, a dark elven warrior whose armor and bearing mirrored Baron's with undeniable familial resemblance, her vigilant gaze sweeping the surroundings with professional precision. Hailfire's hand rested casually on her weapon, but her posture relaxed fractionally when she caught sight of her brother among the welcoming party.
"Steady," Qrow murmured, as much to himself as to the others, as the convoy descended toward them. "Just remember, we've faced down Salem's lieutenants, stopped a war at Haven, and survived family dinner at Tai's. We can handle a royal elven visitation and a family reunion."
Ruby cast him a quick, encouraging smile. "At least this time we know who we're dealing with, Uncle Qrow."
"That's what worries me," he replied, but there was a resigned humor in his voice as he stepped forward to greet his wife, his daughter, and the complications that came with them.
The horns sounded once more as the convoy reached the courtyard gates—a formal announcement of arrival that echoed against the stone walls. High King Berethon raised a hand in greeting, his eyes finding Qrow's with an expression that managed to be both challenging and amused.
"Brother," the king called, his voice carrying easily across the distance. "I see you've managed to keep my children alive. A promising start to what promises to be an... interesting reunion."
Beside him, Lailah—the legendary Silver Storm—rolled her eyes in a gesture so unexpectedly human that several of the younger observers blinked in surprise.
"Ignore him," she called to Qrow, her voice rich with both authority and warmth. "He's been practicing that entrance line for the entire journey."
And despite everything—the tension, the secrets, the threat of Cinder lurking somewhere in the city, and the artifact that threatened them all—Qrow found himself laughing, the sound genuine and unburdened for the first time in weeks.
The reunion had begun. What came next would depend on whether the complicated bonds of family—both those forged by blood and those created by choice—could withstand the challenges that awaited them.
As the formal greetings continued around them, Qrow caught that familiar glint in Lailah's silver eyes—a subtle shift in her expression that most would miss but that he recognized all too well from their years together. The slight arch of her eyebrow, the almost imperceptible tightening at the corner of her mouth—warning signs as clear to him as storm clouds on the horizon.
She dismounted with fluid grace, handing the reins to one of the attendants. As the others engaged in formal introductions and protocol, she moved toward him with the controlled precision that had earned her the name Silver Storm on battlefields across Remnant.
"Husband," she said, her voice carrying just enough edge that Qrow felt a bead of sweat form at his temple despite the cool evening air. "I've heard interesting tales of your exploits during my absence."
Qrow cleared his throat, suddenly aware of Ruby watching the interaction with fascinated curiosity from several paces away. "You know how rumors exaggerate, Lai."
"Do they?" She stepped closer, close enough that he could detect the faint scent of winter berries and ozone that always seemed to cling to her—the scent of high mountain storms captured somehow in physical form. "Because Hailfire's reports were quite... specific."
Behind her, the dark elven warrior was greeting her brother with the formal arm clasp of their people, but Qrow could swear he saw amusement in her otherwise stoic expression. Of course Hailfire would have detailed his every misstep in her reports. The woman missed nothing.
"I can explain—" he began, but Lailah silenced him with a single raised finger.
"The skirt-chasing in particular," she continued, her voice dropping to a register that only he could hear, "was an interesting detail. I wasn't aware my husband had developed such... diverse interests during our time apart."
High King Berethon approached then, saving Qrow from having to formulate an immediate response. The elven monarch clapped a heavy hand on Qrow's shoulder, his grip just slightly firmer than necessary.
"He's gone pale already, Lailah," Berethon observed with undisguised amusement. "Perhaps ease into your interrogation? We do need him functional for the challenges ahead."
"I'm simply reminding my husband of certain commitments," Lailah replied smoothly, but there was steel beneath the velvet of her tone. "Commitments I intend to discuss with him at length. In private."
Qrow swallowed hard. "Looking forward to it," he managed, earning a snort from Berethon and a dangerous smile from his wife.
"I'm sure you are," she said, stepping back slightly. "After all, it's been some time since you've had to demonstrate why I chose you above all others—including certain persistent elven nobility." Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward Berethon.
The High King raised his hands in mock surrender. "Ancient history, Commander. Though I maintain I would have been the superior choice."
"And yet," Lailah replied with a smile that somehow managed to be both sweet and threatening, "I chose the human huntsman over the elven king. A decision I have never regretted—" her eyes returned to Qrow's, pinning him in place, "—despite certain... concerning reports."
Seraphina approached then, saving her father from what was becoming an increasingly uncomfortable position. Their daughter moved with the same fluid grace as her mother, though there was something distinctly Qrow in her sharp gaze and the slight smirk that played at her lips.
"Mother," she said with exaggerated patience, "perhaps you could postpone terrorizing Father until after formal introductions? Ruby and Yang appear quite eager to meet their aunt and cousin."
Lailah's expression softened as she took in the young women waiting nearby. "Of course," she agreed, though she added in a lower voice meant only for Qrow, "But make no mistake, husband—we will revisit this conversation. Thoroughly."
As she moved away to greet her nieces, Qrow exhaled slowly, earning a sympathetic grimace from Mercury, who had sidled up beside him.
"She was like this the entire journey," the silver-haired young man murmured. "Planning exactly how she would remind you of your place in the natural order."
"Which is?" Qrow couldn't help asking.
Mercury's smile was surprisingly genuine. "Wrapped firmly around her little finger, from what I've observed." He paused, then added with unexpected sincerity, "For what it's worth, she spoke of you often during our travels. Not all of it was threats of impending retribution."
Before Qrow could respond, Seraphina returned, hooking her arm through Mercury's with casual intimacy that still startled Qrow to observe. "Come," she said. "Ruby wishes to speak with you about your experiences at Haven. I believe she's trying to determine if you're worthy to associate with her cousin."
As they moved away, Qrow found himself briefly alone, watching as his two families—the one he'd built with Taiyang's daughters and the one he'd established with Lailah—began the delicate process of integration. Yang was engaged in what appeared to be surprisingly comfortable conversation with King Berethon, while Ruby was peppering Seraphina with questions that had his daughter laughing openly.
"She will forgive you, you know," came Hailfire's voice as the dark elf approached, her movements nearly silent despite her armor. "Though she will extract a suitable penalty first."
Qrow turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "And you'll enjoy watching every minute of it."
"Naturally," Hailfire agreed, the ghost of a smile touching her normally impassive features. "It was my reports, after all, that detailed your... how did Lailah phrase it? 'Deplorable reversion to bachelor behaviors.'"
"I didn't—" Qrow began to protest, but Hailfire silenced him with a look remarkably similar to the one Lailah had employed earlier.
"Save your explanations for your wife," she advised. "She has been planning this confrontation since we left the elven territories. I believe she even composed a speech, though knowing Lailah, she will abandon it in favor of more... direct methods of communication."
Qrow winced. "That does sound like her."
"Indeed." Hailfire glanced toward where Baron and Flare were conducting a security review with some of the elven guards. "My brother appears well. The bond with the ice fox seems to have been beneficial."
"They're good for each other," Qrow agreed. "Though I don't think I've ever seen him smile."
"You wouldn't," Hailfire replied matter-of-factly. "Even as children, he reserved such expressions for moments of complete privacy."
Across the courtyard, Lailah was now speaking with Ruby, her posture softening as she engaged with her niece. Even from a distance, Qrow could see the growing animation in Ruby's expression as she apparently bombarded her newly-discovered aunt with questions. Beside them, Yang's initial wariness seemed to be thawing under Berethon's unexpectedly charming conversational approach.
"You should prepare yourself," Hailfire advised, following his gaze. "Lailah was quite serious about reminding you of certain... priorities."
"I've faced down Grimm, assassins, and Salem's lieutenants," Qrow replied with more confidence than he felt. "I can handle my wife."
Hailfire's rare laugh was surprisingly musical. "That," she said with genuine amusement, "is precisely the misplaced confidence she intends to correct."
As if sensing they were discussing her, Lailah looked up, catching Qrow's eye across the courtyard. The smile that curved her lips sent an equal measure of apprehension and anticipation down his spine—a reminder of exactly why he had risked everything to marry the fearsome Silver Storm all those years ago, and why, despite their complicated arrangement of separate lives, he had never truly looked at another woman since.
"You're doomed," Hailfire observed cheerfully. "But it might be an enjoyable doom, if you play your cards right."
Qrow couldn't help but laugh. "That," he agreed, straightening his shoulders as Lailah began moving purposefully in his direction, "has always been the gamble with her. And I've never been one to shy away from high-stakes games."
As Lailah approached, her expression was a complex blend of irritation, affection, and something more primal that sent his pulse quickening. Whatever happened next—whether stern lecture or passionate reconciliation—one thing was certain: he was about to be thoroughly reminded of exactly why he had married her in the first place.
And judging by the determined gleam in her silver eyes, she intended to make sure he never forgot it again.
To be continued in Chapter 37: Mistral