Chapter 7: Choosing

Marie stepped into the bar's kitchen the afternoon of the festival. Her father and Nance had already gone ahead to set up the stand where they would sell food and drink for the evening, but her mother had stayed behind, baking another two batches of sweetbread before taking them out to the town square.

"I can help carry them over," said Marie, noting the bags of loaves already packed and set aside.

"Don't worry," said her mother. "I borrowed a handcart from the Kesslers, so I'll be able to bring them all in a single load. We don't want you to look all rumpled for your date."

"It's not a date," said Marie, though she did run her hands down her dress to make sure the wrinkles were gone. "I'm going with two of them, the same two you always see here."

Her mother frowned. "Do they both like you?"

"I think so, but Mama, I like both of them, as friends, and I know if I choose one the other is going to be disappointed."

Her mother cleaned her hands on a small dishcloth and patted Marie on the head. "You'll disappoint both if you can't make up your mind. And I think you already know which one you like, if the way you keep those flowers are any indication."

The calla lilies had wilted a season ago, but Marie had pressed and dried them between sheets of paper to preserve them as decorations before they were too far gone.

"Do you want to do anything with your hair?" asked her mother.

"It's fine," said Marie.

She wore it pinned back to keep it out of her face, but otherwise let it hang down her back, and it was long enough that it nearly reached her waist. Marie put it up often enough for work. If she was going out for fun, she didn't want to gather it all up, and especially not in a fancy braid she wasn't used to wearing.

"And I'll be meeting them there, so I can help you carry things," she said. "I won't be with you and Papa tonight so at least let me help out. It's more than enough that you're letting me take the night off. I know you'll be busy."

The festival was not necessarily the best source of income, given the time and energy to transport everything to the town square, and even then they could not offer all the same food they usually would, but if they didn't go, there wouldn't be anyone coming to the bar.

"Benjamin's daughter, Olivia, will be helping us," said her mother.

"Olivia is fourteen. She's not used to serving customers yet."

"That's true, but this is a good time for her to learn, since there are only a few things people can order. You know we could use another waitress when times get busy." Her mother smiled, indulgingly. "And then, if you find someone you would like to marry, we certainly wouldn't expect you to keep working here."

"Mama. I'm only seventeen. It's not like I'm close to being a spinster."

Her mother let out a quiet breath. "No, you're not. But you know, you're our only child, and your father and I want to make sure you're taken care of. Your first love might not be the one who you'll eventually marry, your father wasn't mine either, but it's important to have one, so you have a better idea of what kind of person you'll really want when the time comes."

-AoT-

Erwin and Nile were waiting for her when Marie and her mother arrived at the stand her father and Nance had set up. There were already benches and tables laid out for people to sit, courtesy of the sponsoring merchant association and the air was filled with the scent of fried food.

Her mother waved to the two trainees before joining her father behind the counter and Marie tried hard not to die of embarrassment. The last thing she needed was her mother openly encouraging them in addition to her. They didn't seem particularly bothered though. Both smiled and waved in return. The two of them were out of uniform and in short sleeves due to the weather. Though the sun had nearly set, it was still warm, and with all the cooking fires from around the food stands, it would stay warm for a while to come.

"Did you want to get something to eat?" she asked. "I'm sure my parents will let us have something here, but we can go somewhere else if you'd like. Because we had to cook most of the food in advance, we don't have as much selection as we usually do though. Mostly beer, bread, and pies."

"That's all right. You don't need to feel obligated to feed us," said Erwin. "Why don't we walk around and see what else is here?"

"I'm not that hungry yet either," said Nile. "We could play some games if you see anything you like."

Aside from the food stands, there were games, which everyone knew people were more likely to lose than win, but a particularly skilled player might be able to land a ring around the neck of a milk can, or throw a ball into the small hole cut into a wooden board painted to look like a titan. Marie had tried a few as a kid, and sometimes she had gotten lucky, but usually she didn't. Now that she was older, the prizes did not mean as much, mostly being toys for children, but still, they could be fun for fun's sake. Nile and Erwin probably could throw much better than her.

"Sure," she said. "Let's walk around."

Marie had a little money of her own that her parents gave her in exchange for working at the bar. They paid for her food and clothing still, as a matter of caring for a single daughter living at home, so she did not need much money of her own. What she had was a little extra if she wanted to buy herself a treat of some kind.

She used this at the festival, though Erwin and Nile jointly offered to pay for her. Though still trainees, they had actual money, coming from a stipend they received while training. Unless they washed out, they were considered enlisted and therefore employed, but she didn't want them to put themselves out there on her account, especially Erwin. He had managed to avoid any severe punishment for carrying her up to the bell tower with his maneuvering gear, but the fact he had gotten any at all didn't seem to bother him.

As she suspected, the two of them were better at the games than her, and she was happy enough to polish off a berry-filled sweet roll while Nile and Erwin competed to see who could knock over the most bottles. Nile had better aim, but Erwin had more strength behind his throw. Both got prizes.

"This is too cute for me," said Nile, holding out a stuffed donkey to Marie. "Do you want it?"

It was about ten centimeters high, a good size to sit on shelf or a nightstand, and the poor donkey seemed to be shaped to sit on its rear, head sullenly hanging down in need of a hug.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Nile nodded. "I won't keep it."

She wiped her hands clean and took the donkey.

"I think it kind of looks like you," said Erwin, flashing Nile a grin.

His friend glowered. "Not all of us can get lucky and win a goodie basket."

Erwin's prize consisted of a basket filled with bird-shaped candy and a small doll with a shepherd's cane. Marie didn't think it was properly equipped to manage its flock.

"You know I'm not going to eat it all," said Erwin. "Half of it will be gone the instant we set foot back in the barracks." He turned to Marie. "You're welcome to take some as well."

"Maybe later?" she said. "I think I'm going to run out of hands." And she couldn't tuck candy under an arm like the donkey if she had to. "We still have a lot to see don't we?"

"And the fireworks," said Erwin.

"It can't be that late already." Though the sun was down now, she was positive they could not have spent that much time exploring and playing carnival games.

"It's not," said Nile. "We have time."

"My parents will probably let us drop our stuff off in the back of their booth so we don't have to carry everything. Do you want to run back really quick?"

"Sounds good," said Erwin.

-AoT-

They played a few more games before they got tired of them and most of their prizes they left with Marie's parents, with one exception. Erwin had won Marie a hairpin and Nile didn't believe for a moment his friend was giving her gifts if he wasn't interested her. It bothered him, watching Erwin pin her hair while she laughed and asked Nile if Erwin was doing a good job of it.

But maybe she didn't like Erwin as much as he thought, because she did ask him to the festival. Erwin had asked her, but she had asked Nile.

The live band started playing a melody and Marie beamed, her face almost glowing in the light from the lanterns. "I like this song!" she said. "I've never been out on the dance square before! Do either of you dance?"

Suddenly, Nile wished he did. He'd never been inclined to try, but now that she asked...

"I can," said Erwin.

And of course he could. Overachiever.

Nile said, "You guys go on ahead."

Marie took Erwin's hand, pulling him towards the square, but she looked over her shoulder at Nile and said, "The next one is with you, okay?"

He opened his mouth to explain that he didn't dance, and he'd probably embarrass her trying, but before he could muster the words she turned around again, taking Erwin with her. Marie wanted to make it to the square before the song was over.

Nile grumbled to himself and followed them at least as far as the edge of the dance area. Most of the participants were young couples, but there were some older people and children as well. And here Nile was standing among the watchers instead of the dancers as usual.

Erwin and Marie bowed to each other, then he took her hand.

Nile decided to find something else to look at until the set was done, and decided that other dancers might be a good idea if he was going to be enough an idiot to actually try. It wasn't like he had never seen anyone dance before, so he had a general idea of what he should do, but he didn't want to improvise more than he had to.

Then his eyes fell back on Marie, longer than he intended. He wanted to know how she danced, so he could compliment her, but that led to looking at Erwin again and he had to tear himself away. Nile reminded himself that Marie had still asked him, even after asking Erwin.

He almost didn't notice when the song ended, until he finally realized that the voices around him were that much louder for not having to compete with the music. Marie and Erwin walked over and she held out her hand.

"You want the next one?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, taking her hand, "but go easy on me. I'm not very good."

Not like Erwin.

"That's all right," she said. "The important thing is to have fun."

Nile took a deep breath as she led him out on to the square. Other couples gathered around them, waiting for the music to start, and then the fiddle trilled and the flute began a lively melody.

He felt incredibly silly, but Marie was smiling and he decided that if she was enjoying herself, then it didn't matter much what he looked like. Sometimes he moved a half second too late, sometimes he stumbled his way through a turn he didn't quite know how to do, but after a short time he got used to the rhythm of the song and his military training had given him a good sense of balance, so at least he was in no danger of tripping and falling over.

They bowed to each other at the end of the song and Marie said, "You aren't half bad. I don't know what you were worried about."

Nile glanced away and back again, embarrassed. "I don't know that I was half good either, but thank you. I really appreciate it."

He would have liked a second dance, but she started walking back to Erwin, so he came along with her.

"I'm so thirsty after all this," she said. "I could use something to drink."

"I can get you something," said Nile. "What do you want?"

"Hm... Do you remember the cider booth we passed by? It's just a couple rows down."

"Yeah. I'll get you one."

"Can you get me one too?" said Erwin.

Nile looked at him, wondering if Erwin had an alternate motivation and said, "If you're comping all of us."

"Done!"

Marie glanced at both of them and said, "I don't need either of you to pay for me. I told you that already."

"It's my treat," said Erwin, "and it's for all of us. After all, this is our last summer as trainees. I want to celebrate."

Nile sighed. "Well, if that's it..." He held out his hand and took the coins Erwin handed him. "I'll be back soon." And he would have to figure out how to manage three mugs in two hands. Maybe he could get two handles in one hand and if he was careful nothing would spill.

The cider booth wasn't hard to find, and he carefully picked up three mugs, bracing them together just in case they slipped. It wasn't too bad, though he almost dropped them at the sound of the first loud bang in the air.

Overhead, fireworks bloomed in purple, red, and gold.

Nile winced and walked faster, trying not to slosh their drinks more than necessary. Erwin was alone with Marie, though they probably weren't dancing anymore. The band wouldn't want to compete with the boom of the fireworks.

He squeezed his way through the crowd of people who stood gawking and looking up at the pyrotechnics, apologizing to those he had to physically nudge aside, until at last he came back to where he had left his friends.

Erwin and Marie were still there, holding hands as they looked up at the sky, and Nile did not want to know who had reached for who.

A/N: The festival here is supposed to be more like the July 4th celebrations I used to go to as a kid, rather than the Japanese ones we typically see in anime, though I guess stripped of cultural context they look more or less the same; food stands, games, and fireworks. I feel a little mean to Nile here, but I think as a character he's more inclined to be discouraged than Erwin.

Thank you for the review, Milkshake Money! I'm a little surprised too that there hasn't been much reader interaction for this one and I suspect it's because most fanfic readers aren't looking for a prequel story about Erwin, Nile, and Marie. After all, chapter 53 came out three years ago and this is the only fanfic of its kind on FFnet.

If you (collective you) are reading this and think more people ought to be as well, please leave a review, favorite, or follow. :) It helps show other people this is worth reading.