Hello new readers! Thanks for clicking on my fic. A few things you should know! 1) I am currently revising my entire story as I've grown quite a bit since I first started writing this. Please excuse some errors in the meantime, you'll be more pleased as you progress. Also keep in mind that this fic is currently under construction and things may be mentioned later on that had been edited out in previous chapters. I have a lot of chapters to go through still! 2) This is not a one shot. This story is the type that you take your time reading and enjoy the progress and development of the characters and their relationships. {mostly Levi and Lilly of course}. 3) If you prefer to read on Wattpad, I have recently started uploading there under the same username. 4) Don't be afraid to leave a comment or favorite.
Just don't be a fucking asshole. -Levi
Growth is painful.
Change is painful.
But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong.
...
The wind blew the grass around where she lay. The sky was clear, void of any clouds. She lifted her hand and rested it on her pale chest, feeling her own heart beat as she watched the birds fly overhead. She watched as they flew from one tree to another, chirping happily as they brought meals to their newly hatched babies.
Must be nice.
She often wished she could fly too, as ridiculous as it sounded.
Especially away from her village.
Beyond the walls.
To someday see the world and all of its hidden treasures.
The leaves rustled in the wind. Everything was alive on this spring day. A feather flew by her face and into her icy hair that was fanned out around her in the grass. And then she remembered. She glanced over to the wicker basket sitting beside her. She had only collected a few dandelions, some elderberries, three turkey tail mushrooms and some camomile flowers.
"Lilly!" Her mother's voice echoed in the wind.
She wouldn't be pleased.
Lilly picked up her basket and lifted her dress slightly so she could slip her shoes back on. Then she made her way quickly towards her home.
Her mother and father owned their own apothecary in Ragako Village. Her father was Sven Holmes, and his wife was Emma. They often sent Lilly out to forage for the very herbs, fruits and flowers that they used to make their herbal concoctions. Her father made the medicinal tinctures, salves, oxymels, etc.
Her mother was in charge of making things like soaps, creams, and teas. They had passed down their valuable knowledge to Lilly, hoping one day she would take over for them and run the store herself. That is, if she didn't get married and move far away.
Her parents so badly wanted her to settle down and get married, preferably close to home of course. But even more so now that she was 19. Her beauty was "unmatched" they'd always say. And sure they were biased, she was their daughter after all. She was often told her traits were unusual or stunning. Men often stared, and it made her nervous at times.
She had inherited her father's fair skin tone, along with his pale blue eyes hidden under long, thick lashes. Her long hair was an icy platinum, with no warm undertone like most blondes. It was almost as white snow. She often wore it down, the ends of it hitting her mid-back. But she had inherited her mothers high cheekbones and her build, as well as her pink pouty lips. She was a petite girl, only coming in at 5 feet tall. She had a slender frame, but she had the curves of a woman now.
But her height bothered her the most.
She often had wished she was taller. She was the shortest in her village growing up, and was often teased. But her mother had always said to her that men liked smaller women.
Whether or not that was true, she didn't know.
And she really didn't care. Most girls her age were dating now. They were of age, and most parents wanted their children to start looking for a spouse so they could eventually start a family of their own. Life was often short within most villages of Wall Rose. Resources were scarce with the refugees now settled in, and Wall Sina had the best medical care.
Everyone knew that.
So marrying and reproducing was top on every parent's wishlists for their children.
But Lilly wanted more. She didn't want to be some helpless housewife, to be used for breeding, cleaning and cooking all day long.
She wanted to see things, experience things.
And maybe if after she'd lived her fill of adventure and love found it's way, she'd consider it.
Lilly approached her house, her mom peeking out the window at her. Her moms face disappeared from the window and suddenly her small figure appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.
Lilly dropped her basket in front of her mother and sighed.
And here we go.
"I knew it!" Lilly's mother threw her hands in the air, rolling her eyes and scoffing with displeasure. "Lilly, how many times have I told you to stop dilly-dallying when you go foraging?" She picked up the basket and looked closer at its contents, moving the camomile over. "Ah, well at least you brought me the elderberries." She smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Come on in and help me cook dinner." She placed her small hand on Lilly's back and ushered her into the little brown house.
She helped her mother prepare a vegetable stew while the bread baked. Her mother's sandy blonde hair fell in her face as she chopped the carrots. Lilly sweetly tucked away her mother's hair behind her ear and kissed her mother on the side of her head.
"My sweet, wild girl. What am I going to do with you?" She smiled and leaned her head against her daughter's.
Mr. Holmes walked in, carrying a small jar of honey from the shop that was built into the front of the house. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He ran his fingers through his blonde hair and smiled.
"I thought I could spare some of this, considering we had more sales than usual today. Would go great on that bread tonight. Maybe with some fruit in the morning if there's any left over." He said.
His boots clunked against the floor as he made his was to the kitchen. He placed the jar of liquid gold on the wooden counter, and wrapped an arm around his wife.
"I love you." he whispered in her ear.
Her mother turned and kissed him sweetly in response.
It was nice to see her parents still in love. Her parents had overcome a lot of ups and downs in their lives, and they supported each other through it all. Her mother and father tried to have more children after Lilly, but it never happened.
They had tried for years and years without success. Her mother became very depressed as a result. She remembered some days her mother never left bed at all. Her mother had felt like she let her husband down after promising him many children, and she had felt like less of a woman for not being able to produce them. But her father was persistent. He brought his wife flowers everyday and would climb into bed with her and tell her how lovely she was.
Some days he'd help bathe her, and promise her quietly that he loved her, that he didn't need anymore children. That she was enough and she always would be. And eventually little by little, she started to glow again. Her mother was beautiful. She didn't look her age at all. Many men wanted to court her, but she chose Sven. The tall and handsome aspiring business owner. And they were just as in love as they were that night they shared their first kiss behind the little bakery shop at the entrance of the village.
That's the kind of love Lilly only wished to have if it ever came.
"Take a look at what your daughter brought back on her foraging expedition." Lilly's mother walked over to the hook by the back door where the wicker basket hung.
She grabbed the basket and tilted it so her husband could see the contents. He smirked and glanced at Lilly.
"It's better than last time." He grinned and roughed up Lilly's hair. Lilly leaned against her father and smiled.
Oh she was always a daddy's girl.
"Speaking of expeditions, Conny asked if I wanted to go with him and a couple of friends to see the Survey Corps come back from their expedition tomorrow. They aren't sure what time exactly they're expected to come back, but probably before noon." Lilly said as she leaned against the counter.
"Absolutely not. That is no place for a young woman to be. Some of those soldiers come back missing limbs! And they do carry the bodies back! Or what's left of them at least!" Her mother scowled from across the kitchen.
"I'm not a baby anymore mom. We all know what happens when you cross paths with a Titan. I just want to see them... the soldiers. They get to see the outside world! Who knows what's out there?!" Lilly's face lit up once more.
"Lilly Homes, no. And that Conny, he's not very bright. I don't know why you insist on hanging around him. You don't have an interest in him do you?" Her mother asked while arching a suspicious brow.
"Of course not! He's like a brother to me mom. You know that." Lilly stated while leaning on her arm and waving her other hand in the air.
"Just checkinggg." Her mother sang as she poured freshly brewed tea.
"I don't see why she shouldn't go." Her father picked up an apple and polished it on his shirt.
Lilly turned around and started stirring the soup on the stove. She knew her mother was glaring at her father.
"Sven, really?" Her mother asked, obviously in disagreement.
Lilly grabbed a rag and opened the oven. It was an old oven, needed to be repainted. Hot air blew out and the aroma of fresh baked bread filled the room. Lilly's mother always baked the best bread. Her father adored her mother's cooking, and Lilly adored that.
"She's an adult now Emma, it's not going to kill her to see the return of the men and women who risked their lives for us all. Maybe she could thank one or two of them for us. Besides, she's been slacking off on her foraging duties, maybe she's just a little burnt out. She could use a break for a day." He bit into the apple and smiled at his wife.
Her mother stared at the floor and tapped her foot, clearly in deep thought.
"Okay alright, but if that Conny boy tries anything-"
"Mom!" Lilly exclaimed while carefully pouring soup into three bowls.
She carried them over to the table and sat down in the old wooden chair she always sat in which were located between her parent's seats. Her mother and father came and sat down soon after, her mother setting a slice of bread next to each of their bowls. Her mother and father chatted about their day.
Her father talked about the valerian and camomile tinctures he'd been selling like hot cakes to help with insomnia. He had taught Lilly every recipe for every thing he sold in that store so it interested her to know what sold and what didn't.
Her mother talked about their newly born calf. Lilly loved the few animals they kept. She loved feeding them every morning and spending time with them. Sometimes she told them her secrets when no one was around to listen, about her dreams of traveling, and escaping the harsh realities of these walls.
She finished her food and washed her dishes quickly. She kissed her mother goodnight and then went over to her father and kissed his stubbly cheek.
"Thank you papa." She whispered sweetly and then kissed her mother on the cheek as well.
She then darted up the stairs to get ready for bed.
...
Lilly shut the door of her bedroom behind her and walked over to her dresser. She pulled out a white sleeping gown and laid it on her bed. She undressed herself and ran her fingers delicately over the skin of her shoulders. They slightly ached from reaching for the elderberries that hung the highest from earlier in the day. She sighed and put her gown on and then reached for her hairbrush that sat on her nightstand. She brushed through her long hair quietly while she thought. She didn't know what to expect the next day.
But she was excited for any opportunity to leave this tiny village and the same daily routines that ran her life and wild soul.