Circa. Middle Ages AU

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Hajime Isayama. I don't own anything.

Chapter 1

Mikasa stepped lightly down the empty hallway, glancing out of every lancet window to her left. It was barely past dawn, the servants were still asleep, the animals outside still in their slumber. Faintly, she could hear a skylark lost somewhere high above in the pink skies – a sound that only adds to the tranquillity. The girl inhaled deeply, shivered, and pulled her gown tighter around her. Suddenly, she frowned and stopped as she reached a wide balcony area. Spread in front of her eyes was the wide flattened area that would be the tournament grounds in a few days. Newly sanded and with re-erected stands, bright flags hanging limp in the still morning air, the sight nevertheless bought a sense of annoyance to Mikasa.

"Tch"

Turning on her heel, Mikasa stalked back the way she came, making a great deal more noise than before. Why they suddenly decided to hold a tournament at the Jaeger family's estate, she'd never know. It's the first time people of consequence have approached the castle in ten years – and suddenly a whole hoard of them are coming. She scowled: the whole event was nothing but a nuisance, it has made Eren tired and stressed for weeks. If it weren't for Armin's exceptional event planning skills, her adoptive brother may have lost it already. Not only that, the whole thing just bought back fenced off memories from that tim-

Shit.

Mikasa swore to herself as images began flooding her mind. Masks, a fire… burning villages… Holding her head, she grasped at the walls for support, accidentally catching hold of a tapestry and ripping it down to land with a loud thud.

"Lady Ackerman!"

A voice broke through the waves of nausea. Raising her head, Mikasa spotted Sasha running towards her. Taking the brunette's outstretched hand, Mikasa stood up slowly, taking deep breaths. "I'm fine, Sasha." Giving her friend a faint smile, but not wanting any raised questions, Mikasa eyed the bow and quiver of arrows the castle huntswoman carried. "Going out hunting?" she ventured.

The worry in Sasha's eyes cleared at Mikasa's question. "Yeah," she huffed, heaving the quiver further up her shoulders. "The party of people arriving in two days means the kitchens require a lot more meat to cater for them all. So I thought I'd go snag some more game around the area to help out, y'know." A happy smile spread across her honest features.

"Make sure you don't snag all the game for yourself, Sasha." Mikasa teased, mischief gleaming in her grey eyes.

"..ahem. Haha." Sasha laughed awkwardly and started side-stepping away. "Well, if you're ok now, I'll be off then. See you later, Lady Ackerman."

"Mikasa."

"Oh yes, I forgot. Silly me – Seeya, Mikasa." And with a wave, Sasha disappeared down the corridor, leaving Mikasa behind.

Giving her black hair a smooth, Mikasa made her way down into the courtyard. Glancing around again to make sure no one was around, she took one of the training swords belonging to a squire and proceeded with her morning sword practice. It was essential that no one saw her. Eren wouldn't mind, nor would Armin – but by being Lady Ackerman, Lord Jaeger's cousin and adopted sister, any unladylike carry-ons will bring unwelcome whispers from the servants and outsiders, rumouring her indecent conduct to be due to Eren's lack of authority over his estate.

Mikasa did not need people slandering Eren.

Swip. The sword drew silver arcs in the air as Mikasa slashed at the straw dummies.

Eren was the last family she had left, it was her duty to protect him. Bits of shredded hay fell to the ground as Mikasa vehemently slashed the figure apart.

When only the stick remained, Mikasa let the sword slip to the ground with a clang. Passing the back of her hand across her face to wipe off any visible sweat, she crouched to the ground and stared at what remained of the straw man. A tight smile passed over her pretty features.

"Mikasa?" A familiar voice sounded behind her. The forest green eyes of her cousin, her adopted brother, the owner of the castle looked at her warmly.

"Good morning, Eren." She stood up and greeted him, tilting her head to one side as she commented; "You're up early today."

"I suppose so." Eren heaved a sigh, running his hand through his brown tousled hair. "It's only two days until the guests arrive, and it's getting pretty hard to sleep thinking about all the things that still need to be done." He paused as Mikasa's jaw tightened. "It's fine, Mikasa – it's inevitable that we'd have to host these things someday. Before, we were too young, but now – "

"Oh come on Eren!" Mikasa interrupted Eren with a hiss. "You know why we've never had to do this before." The boy's eyes darkened and he looked away. "No one wanted to come near our supposedly cursed estate for the last ten years. Did they help us after the fire?" Mikasa lowered her voice dangerously, "Not one letter, not one word offering us help. We were orphans Eren. And all the nobles left us to fend for ourselves."

"And we've managed to survive, Mikasa." Eren said quietly. "It's been ten years and our estate is back to what it used to be like."

"No thanks to them!" She was starting to wonder whether her words were reaching Eren at all. "Now that we've rebuilt it, we're supposed to stress away for weeks and then offer everything up for their merrymaking?"

"Mikasa." Eren warned. "We're doing this so we can integrate ourselves back into society. It'll help, you know." Avoiding her gaze, he mumbled "…and perhaps it's time we start looking for a match for you."

Mikasa looked at Eren blankly. Did I just hear him right?

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Mikasa…" he sighed. "It's my duty as your brother and your only male relation…"

"Just…stop."

Eren obediently shut his mouth as Mikasa stared at the sanded floor. I knew it all along, he only saw me as his sister. But even still…

"Eren? Can we just… not talk about this right now?"

"Ok." He relented, visibly relaxing as they dropped the uncomfortable topic. "I'm going to go check on Armin and see how much father the preparations have come since yesterday. You should go to breakfast soon, Mikasa."

"I'll go as soon as I tidy this place up."

Later, as Mikasa mulled over the events of the morning at the breakfast table, she decided it really didn't matter.

It didn't matter that Eren saw that it was high time she was married off.

It didn't matter that strangers were coming to stay in the castle in less than two days, strangers that could destroy again everything they've worked for.

It didn't matter as long as she was still by Eren's side.

Yes, she will protect Eren.

Even if it means that this upcoming tournament ends up very, very messy.

First time putting fanfic up on the net - not very sure what direction this story is going to take . it was a kind of spur of the moment thing. If some facts are wrong, please don't kill me ;~;

Reviews, comments all greatly appreciated :D