Chapter Twenty-One: Resolutions

A week had passed since Urklyn's rude awakening at Kenny's hands. No other visitors had come. Hopelessness had settled itself in his chest, a heavy weight of despair that never went away. He went through the motions of daily life in the prison, such as it was. When his mind was idle, which was frequent, he tended to turn to books as an attempt to keep the dark thoughts at bay, to no avail. Darius attempted to keep his spirits lifted, but was often ignored by the younger man.

"Wagner, your attorney wants to see you," his guard said after opening the cell door.

"My attorney?" Urklyn asked in surprise. "Hope she's got good news for me," he added cynically.

"Just you get your ass up before I have to drag you out, smartass," the guard said with annoyance.

Urklyn rolled his eyes but dropped down off his bunk and joined the guard for the walk to the meeting rooms. This time they had him in a smaller room, not unlike one of the large closets at his house. There was very little space to move around, and a glorified desk with two chairs bolted to the floor filled the bleak, windowless room.

Carolyn was already sitting in the chair opposite of his, though she didn't have her briefcase with her. The first thing that came out of her mouth was, "You've lost some weight since we last saw each other."

"No surprise, given the slop they call food here," Urklyn mumbled irritably. "Let me guess, they are extending my sentence to match the three months my mother wanted."

"No. You're still being released in three days. She probably thinks you missing Founder's Day as you lie in your cold cell without your family is the right motivation for you to get your act together," she answered.

"Well, that's a relief. She's made Abel go without food for a week until she wrote an apology letter, so it honestly wouldn't have been too much of a stretch," Urklyn sighed. "What are you doing here then? Shouldn't you be getting ready to spend Founder's Day with your family? After all, Founder's Day is tomorrow," he bitterly commented.

"Preparations have already been made. I came here to talk to you about certain things. The walls are soundproof, so we have complete privacy." She put her hands together as she looked intently at the young man. "I know why you're here, Urklyn, why you're really here."

"Because petty theft wasn't a legitimate enough reason for my mother to have me thrown in prison?" Urklyn snarked, looking away.

"You're a murderer," she growled in a low tone. "Three people, to be exact. One of them was Corporal Kyler Hauer. Ring any bells? She was a good friend of mine."

The young man gulped, his blood chilling. "Yes. There's not a day that goes by where I don't think about her," he admitted, his eyes on his hands.

"And now here you are, wallowing in your own self-pity moaning about how unfair life is." Carolyn lost any sort of sympathetic edge she had and was going for the throat. "You want to talk unfair? Imagine being so close to finally making the biggest difference this country had ever seen in a century, and then a single coward screws it all up because he was trying to save his own skin."

Urklyn furrowed his brow, trying to follow her logic. "What are you referring to? I know I was the coward… Yet if I hadn't twisted things the way I did, my body would be in the ground with theirs right now as well."

"Maybe you should be in the ground right now," Carolyn said coldly. She breathed through her nose to calm herself down a bit. "But that would make four corpses, not three. Maybe you being alive means there's still a chance after all."

And then it hit him, and he leaned back, his eyes flying to meet hers. "Wait. No, it can't be… No fucking way."

"Took you long enough. Yes, the Restorer is my code name," Carolyn confirmed.

Urklyn gaped at her. There was no way. The Goddess wouldn't allow something like this to happen to him. Hope was dead, wasn't it?

She rubbed her forehead as if she was trying to thwart a headache before standing up, pacing around the room. "I've been in these Walls for over forty-six years. Nearly half a century. The people in Wall Rose and Wall Maria had no idea the extent of how bad things really were. I see them for what they are: a cesspool of corruption. Nobles stuffing themselves like pigs while using the backs of downtrodden as their footstools. Officers sworn to keep order and peace when all they do is compete over who gets high first. The Scout Regiment believes the Titans are bad?" She scoffed as she stared down at the young man. "They haven't seen the monsters we've seen, Urklyn. Every scumbag that gets put away, another takes his place. Twenty years, I've been fighting this hopeless battle, looking for something, ANYTHING, that can change this country for the better. And then, I discovered your father."

"And discovered what an upstanding citizen he is, right?" Urklyn shook his head. "I had a chance to take him down, and I blew it. I got careless and made one mistake. That's all it took."

"If we're going there, then I made the mistake by not checking Alder out more carefully," Carolyn lamented.

"You were keeping an eye on everyone, too?" This shouldn't have surprised Urklyn yet it did. "You knew everything I was doing as well, didn't you?"

"Of course I did. You think Rod is the only one with a network around here? I didn't just conscript nobles and officers to the cause. Even the homeless have a few spies here and there. Most of them go unnoticed, and I can tell you didn't spare them a single glance. Otherwise, you might have figured it out sooner." The lawyer shook her head. "Alder almost destroyed my entire network. If he had gotten my name, everything would be lost. Yes, Kyler and Mikkel are dead, but we're still alive. There's no way in hell I'm gonna let the opportunity slide. But that still leaves the question: what am I going to do with you?"

Urklyn gulped. "You have every right to make sure I never see the light of day again for my crimes," he said in a low voice. "Whatever you see fit to do is only fair."

Carolyn gave him a look of disgust. "So, that's it, then? That's your only answer? 'Do whatever I want?'"

"What am I supposed to say?! I can't take my father down, not now."

She slammed her hands on the table, gazing into his eyes sternly. "I've got three words for you, Urklyn: suck it up. You killed my friends to save your own skin. Quit moping in this cell, deal with the consequences, and move forward, or you can stay in your pitiful state until you finally succumb to your misery."

He closed his eyes and was quiet for a long moment. When he opened his eyes, he spoke with determination. "What do you need me to do?"

"I want you to tell me what the hell is going on with your family," she answered. "Kyler told me you were keeping secrets. If we're going to make this work, I need to know everything."

"Define everything," Urklyn deadpanned. "There's more than a few skeletons in the closet."

"There's something Rod has been protecting, but I can't figure out what. I think you know what it is."

He blew out his breath. "Okay. So, first of all, I'm not sure how much you know about the ruling forces within the-"
Carolyn sunk into her chair, looking very disappointed. "Urklyn… this is exactly what led to you being here in the first place. What if I was one of Rod's agents? I could just walk over to your father and be like, 'Hey, your loudmouth son just admitted your deepest, darkest secrets to me.' I gave you nothing, Urklyn. You were about to give me everything. You know why? Because you're desperate. You were so desperate, you made mistakes. Mistakes that blew up in your face."

He held his head in his hands. She was right. He was desperate. So desperate to take his father down, everything else was rendered obsolete when he should have gone slower. "I fucked up big time, didn't I?" he said in a broken whisper.

Carolyn let out a sigh. "You hate your father, don't you?"

"How could one not hate a man who exposed his child to unspeakable horrors at a young age?" Urklyn clenched his fist. "I have to take him down. Somehow. One way or another, the madness must come to an end."

"Urklyn, you can't fight him by lashing out like an abused child," Carolyn pointed out sympathetically. "You're grasping at every possible straw that might mean his end. Honestly, it's my fault that I put so much on you that I failed to consider your mindset. You're not ready to fight him."

"But if I can't fight him, then who will?"

"You ask that question as if you are alone. Are you alone?"

"Not anymore," he said, a tinge of hope coming back to his voice. "Do you have anyone else, or is it the two of us against the massive force of Rod Reiss and his connections?"

"Are you alone, Urklyn?" she repeated.

He paused, then it dawned on him. His siblings. With the exception of maybe Frieda, he knew they would be on his side. At least, he hoped so. "No, I have my siblings," he said aloud. "The eldest, Frieda. My brother, Dirk. And then the two youngest girls: Abel and Florian."

"You know what my biggest mistake was? I neglected my family." She was downcast as she remembered those moments. "I was obsessed with taking the Reiss family down, I put that above my husband and son. Matthew, my husband, all but threatened me with divorce when he couldn't take it anymore. It opened my eyes to what I've done, and what I've failed to do. So, I took some time take back up and remember what was truly important in my life."

Urklyn sighed. "I've been half-heartedly paying attention to them since everything started becoming intense. I ignored Dirk even after all he's been through, I snapped at Florian apparently when I was drunk… Gods only know what Abel would have to say to me. I have a lot to make amends for."

"Then do it. If you love your brother and sisters, prove it," she advised. "And when you're ready to start again, you'll know."

He nodded slowly, deep in thought. "Should I come to you when I reach that point? Where would I find you?"

Carolyn smirked. "If you want to have a weapon made, pay a visit to the Yarckel District. There's a forge with my name on it."

Founder's Day dawned clear yet cold. In the Interior, the day started early for those who lived and worked in the castle. The celebrations that unified all within the Walls was set to begin at 10am, and there was much to be done in preparation. Three representatives, one from each of the three Walls were chosen weeks in advance and told to prepare a speech to be shared with all of humanity. A podium for these speeches was set up at the top of the stairs that led into the castle's main reception hall. Servants scurried left and right, polishing the floor and all public spaces for the throngs of nobles and the general populace set to converge upon the castle.

Those belonging to the upper crust of society were invited to a private banquet with the king following the celebrations. For all the other people, the local eateries and various establishments had opened their doors and prepared for the influx of people. Some even offered a special discount to those who had traveled from the outlying districts or the refugees as an act of goodwill for sake of the people. After all, this was a day to celebrate their Founder, Ymir Fritz, who was known for her generosity and blessings to the people.

In the Reiss household, the morning was far from relaxing. Greta was in her element, set on having her family appropriately dressed and to the castle with time to spare before the crowds began to gather. Frieda, of course, was the representative of Wall Sina, and therefore would be introduced as the eldest daughter to one of the most prominent noble families within the Walls. There could be no room for error, not today of all days.

The young queen herself was not concerned by her mother's fretting. She had her notes written out specifically to aid her in the speech that she was to be giving. She stood in front of her full-length mirror, and carefully applied her makeup, admiring her reflection. The floor-length, peacock blue, A-line dress with black fur trim and long sleeves was elegant and warm. It would hardly be proper for her to be shivering or covered in a shawl on such an occasion. The gold eyeshadow she dusted on her eyelids brought out the blue in her eyes, something that still slightly perplexed her. Ever since that day in the chapel, her eyes hadn't returned to their previous shade of purple. Now purple was the secondary color, even in her Titan form. She shrugged off the trivial thought. After all, blue was their original color, before she took on the Holy Inheritance. She chose a soft pink lipstick, and blew a kiss at the mirror as she finished her preparations.

"Oh, Frieda, you look so beautiful!" Florian gasped from the doorway, her sky blue dress swishing softly when she moved her hands to cover her mouth. "Every guy that sees you is going to fall head over heels in love with you immediately."

"As well they should! I mean, dang!" Abel flashed her elder sister a cheeky grin. "Just wait 'til Dirk catches sight of you."

Frieda rolled her eyes in the mirror, touching up her blush. "Can't you let that joke die already?"

"Never. He won't be able to escape it," Abel snarked, adjusting the sparkly bodice on her own midnight blue dress. "We might let you off the hook since it wasn't your fault."

"You're too magnanimous," sarcasm dripped from Frieda's words. She shook her head and turned away from the mirror to face her sisters. "Is Mother still panicking about us being behind schedule?"

"Did you have to ask?" Florian sighed. "I think she commented about my hair at least four times. And she had a conniption when Abel mentioned that her boots hadn't been polished in the last two days."

"Oh boy. What did she say then?" Frieda asked, slipping a pair of teardrop diamond earrings into her earlobes, and handed Abel the matching necklace. "Can you assist me with this?"

"She blew her lid, had me stand still for ten minutes while a maid polished every speck of dust out off my shoes. She redid my makeup too, saying it was too thick," Abel mumbled as she clasped the necklace around her elder sister's neck.

Frieda turned to the mirror once more to adjust the placement of the necklace. "Thank you, Abel," she said sincerely. "I hope she won't find fault with the curls and soft updo that I chose for today."

The middle daughter rolled her eyes. "You're Frieda, 'carrier of the Holy Inheritance'. You can do no wrong in Mother's eyes," she grumbled.

"That's not true, and you know it, Abel," Frieda scolded. "I have upset Mother and Father plenty of times. Remember that time whe-"

"Please, can you not argue today?" Florian swiftly interjected. "We hardly need to give Mother another reason to chastise us."

Abel opened her mouth to respond, but Dirk appeared behind the girls at that moment. "Father's got the carriages waiting. He sent me to get you, Frieda."

Frieda's jaw dropped open, impressed with her little brother's choice of style. "Look at you."

The Reiss men were dictated to wear their finest suits, and Dirk was no different. However, unlike their father, he knew how to make his suit look good. Smokey-gray suit with a black vest, it complemented the silver tie that would shine in the sun. His hands were ordained with white gloves, the left one slightly modified for his missing finger. He even had a black top hat tucked under his arm. "Sorry, ladies. It's high time for the Walls to remember that the Reiss family also consists…" He flipped the hat onto his head. "...of handsome, eligible gentlemen."

Abel was the first to speak. "Well, shoot. There go my chances. Maybe you've got a better shot, Frieda?"

Florian rolled her eyes. "Try those lines on the girls at the dance this evening, Dirk."

"We'll see. For now, we have to go respect our elders and get downstairs," he told them.

The young queen gave the mirror a final glance and tucked her notes into a small black clutch with a wrist strap that she slipped over her slender hand. "I'll see you at the celebration," she said to her siblings and moved gracefully downstairs to the carriage.

Within an hour, the majority of the residents that lived within the Walls had gathered into the castle courtyard and the surrounding streets, eagerly anticipating the celebration's commencement. Even Commander Nile Dok seemed to be more relaxed, even when he had to keep chasing his two toddlers away from the refreshment tables. Sadly, no meat, but the fruits, vegetables, and soups smelled fresh, so that was good enough for the civilians.

On the courtyard's balcony, the "king" of Paradis, Fritz, strode out to meet his public. He was easily in his early seventies if his gray hairs and extremely wrinkled complexion was anything to go by, but his eyes had the light of a much younger man. His purple robes trimmed in white seemed to flow with the gentle breeze. It easily caught the attention of the public as their voices were hushed with a simple raise of his hand.

"Huh, Gramps seems more lively than usual," Abel whispered to Florian, who quickly elbowed her.

"People of Paradis, I thank each and every one of you for coming here today," Fritz began, his voice sounding like it hadn't been used in a decade or so. "It is truly a good day that, despite the shortcomings we face in each of our lives, we are able to put them aside and remind us of this great country we live in and was founded on the principles that are the backbone of society."

The Reiss family inwardly prayed that Dirk's new medication would not cause him to start heckling the old man like he did Frieda. They already had one son in prison; they did not need the other. Fortunately, the boy kept his silence, if his expression said exactly what he thought of those words.

"Now, I suppose this would be the time I would give a glowing speech, but fortunately, we have three lovely ladies who are kind enough to help an old man." He chuckled at his own joke that was joined by many others.

Dirk was dying inside.

"As per tradition, we shall begin with Wall Maria, but first, let us all have a moment of silence for the people that were lost to the scourge of the Titans and remember the sacrifices they made for this nation."

Everyone bowed their heads. Not a word was whispered, nor did a horse whinny for any reason. Even the Wall Maria citizens who were openly shedding tears were able to keep their composure to show their respects.

Fritz cleared his throat to signal the end of the moment. "Now, then, our first lady is a young girl currently undergoing intense training in the 104th Cadet Corps. She has braved many trials and tribulations to get to this point for a twelve-year old girl, and we commend her for it. Please, give a warm welcome to Mikasa Ackerman."

The raven-haired girl stepped up to the podium, her eyes momentarily sweeping across the crowd. Catching sight of Dirk, they darkened for a flash which caused Dirk to take cover behind Abel. Only then did she go back to her neutral expression. She smoothed her hands over the skirt of her red, knee-length dress in a sign of subtle nervousness. Florian silently admired the look of the puffed cap sleeves paired with the starched white collar of the dress. It was a simple, elegant look that suited the girl well.

"People of the Walls, those who dwell within Wall Maria wish to offer our most sincere gratitude for the care and kindness we have received this last year. While it does not negate the losses we have suffered, our people are the better for the kindnesses we've received," she spoke slowly, showing very little emotion on her face. "Thanks to your generosity, we are working on acclimating to our new circumstances of life. Those in the regions that have been fortunate enough to remain free of the Titans have begun to return to a sense of normalcy. And for those of us who have brought with Wall Rose and Wall Sina, we have been welcomed with open arms and hearts by the good people within." She forced a small smile onto her face. "We look to the future with hope that we can reclaim Wall Maria fully and restore peace and prosperity to all regions within the Walls. Thank you."

There was a magnificent round of applause, as well as a girl who swiped a small loaf of bread from the stands shouting, "We love you, Mikasa! WHOO!"

Once the commotion died down, Fritz spoke again. "Our next lady was quite difficult to narrow down. There were many great females to go through. However, we came to realize that the best candidate would be someone teaching our youth the good and the bad of our history, a woman who has no hesitation in telling the truth. Give a round of applause for Professor Beatrice Stadler."

A woman in her early twenties stepped to the podium, her sharp blue eyes missing nothing. She had golden hair that was wrapped in a braided updo with a large red rose clip behind her right ear, keeping the hair in place. Her dress was a more formal ball gown style, in black, with a red petticoat peeking from underneath. A simple gold embroidery ordained the top of the bodice and the bottom hem of her skirt. Florian thought she looked like a princess.

"What is she, a history professor, or the model for yesterday's fashion?" Dirk muttered, shaking his head at the outfit.

"Humanity. What a powerful word to describe the thousands of souls contained within these Walls. On this, our Founder's Day, we gather to celebrate the diversity within our people. Represented, we have those from Maria, Rose, and Sina. Each one bears the name of one of our Founder, Ymir Fritz' daughters," Beatrice spoke with the noble air of one who was accustomed to receiving attention when she gave a lesson. Not a sound was heard from the crowds as she continued. "Karl Fritz, the descendant of Ymir Fritz had the Walls erected as a way to protect humanity. The first name and Wall that was built was Maria, named after Ymir's eldest. History recounts how, like her mother, Maria was known for her determination, her kindness, and her desire to protect her younger sisters.. It's only fitting that her name be carried on in the legacy of protecting her people. Those who live within Wall Maria, know that you are no less due to being in the outlying areas. No, you carry the strongest burden of us all, and we commend you for that."

A hesitant clap began from the back of the group, and spread through all those gathered. As the clapping died down, the professor continued. "Rose. The middle daughter. Unlike her sisters, she preferred quiet time spent reading and in reflection. My kind of girl," she chuckled. "From her, we see a quiet strength, and an admiration for things of beauty. Within Wall Rose, we see many of our artisans and our scholars, as well as the industries that provide us many of our resources to sustain our existence. To our brothers and sisters who call Wall Rose their home, we thank you for providing humanity a beautiful, culturally-rich heritage."

Amidst the applause, Dirk leaned over to Abel. "Well, I certainly feel like we're getting an abbreviated lecture."

Abel snorted. "I doubt I could stay awake through a full lecture."

"And finally, Wall Sina. Sina, the baby of the family. She was vivacious, and despite her being the youngest, she displayed commendable leadership qualities and an insightfulness that's to be marveled over. Nothing slipped past her keen eyes. For those who call the Interior within Wall Sina home, we thank you for your leadership, your influence, and your poise in the face of the current circumstances facing humanity. Both you and Rose have welcomed in the refugees from Maria and offered a sense of home for them. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Ymir would be quite pleased to see how humanity has come together in the midst of this tragedy. Today, we are stronger. We come together and remember the past. We reflect on the present and what we have to be thankful for. And we look to the future, knowing that we have triumphed over the all that has come before. Knowing this, we shall prevail. We are humanity! Thank you." She stepped back from the podium with a satisfied grin.

One could not tell whether the applause was out of satisfaction of the speech or relief from the speech reaching its conclusion.

"And finally, we have our lovely representative Wall Sina," Fritz announced. "She embodies the the core of what we all strive to be: compassionate, merciful, and strong. I can think of no other woman that best qualifies than our very own Frieda Reiss."

Abel rolled her eyes. "Let's just hope that her speech here isn't nearly as dull as her sermons have been," she whispered to Dirk, who nodded in agreement.

Once the thunderous applause died down, Frieda strode to the podium and gazed at the people. Her people. To them, she was just a noble giving a speech, but to her, she felt the weight of being in command of an entire nation for the first time. It was daunting to the point she realized she was hesitating. Clearing her throat, she began. "I'm going to pick off a bit from where Professor Stadler left off. Over a hundred years have passed since the day Ymir Fritz founded this land. So much has changed since then, yet some things remain the same. It's always been the order of our humanity."

The secret queen felt herself at a loss for words right then and there. No one could hear the words of her younger brother echoing in her mind louder than the Inheritance could speak. What do her people really think? What do they believe in? Basking in the praise and adoration of her fellow nobles gave her the biggest clues of what humans were: arrogant, self-righteous pigs that deserved whatever punishments awaited them. And yet, in the audience, she could see the rags that passed for clothes worn by some families who looked like they begged for their meals in order to survive. A couple of Scouts of the Survey Corps missing body parts when they went up against the Titans that threatened their entire existence. The expectant and hopeful looks of the cadets that carried the future of…

Her blue eyes stopped on a green-eyed cadet nearby, looking as disgruntled as a thunderstorm. His countenance reminded her of someone she knew, yet she couldn't place. When his eyes met hers, even from a distance, she could see the absolute disdain and revulsion he had for her. Who are you?

"Lady Reiss?"

Frieda gasped, glancing over at her personal bodyguard. "It's… it's alright." Her throat was dry, forcing her to clear it again. "Forgive me. Public speaking is not my strong suit as my brothers and sisters would like to boast."

Florian looked at Abel in alarm. "What's wrong with Frieda? She's never stopped in the middle of a speech like this."

Abel shrugged, looking as confused as the rest of the crowd. "I don't know. She spent hours memorizing it, so I'm not sure why she hasn't pulled out her notes if she needed a refresher."

"Normally, this is where I would pull out my notes and use them when my memories fail me… but I can't do that." A sorrowful look distorted her features. "To do so would make me blind to the here and now. I can say the nicest, kindest words to lift the spirits of those fallen on hard times, but it doesn't change those hard times, do they? Words can't bring back limbs. They can't bring back homes. They can't bring back lives of loved ones that were gone too soon."

Dirk's jaw dropped open. Where the hell was this coming from?

"It is so easy to focus on yourself, to worry yourself over what dress to wear for this occasion, memorize lines that you know will be the right things to say. Sometimes, it's all you can think about and before you know it, the world changes without you. The ones you love dearly are changed for good or for bad, and the people you've ignored for so long are finally on your doorstep. What do you do then? Stay selfish and remain in the only place you know, or do you finally open your eyes and stretch your hands out to them?" She paused, her eyes sweeping across her people. "Founder's Day is more than a chance to gather with our families. What better time is there for us to pause and remember where we came from, and what our Founder stood for? Our world may be full of tribulations and monsters, but recognize the good that can come from the midst of adversity. The light of hope that all this destruction won't break us. We are humanity! We are strong, courageous, and compassionate. Let that knowledge spur you into loving your fellow man and following the example left for us by our Founder, Ymir Fritz. Without these things…" She clenched her fist despite no one being able to see it. "There's too much corruption in these Walls. Our souls are all that's left. Thank you."

The silence she received was deafening, as if she managed to turned all her people to stone. Considering the power she contained, it wasn't too far of a stretch to think of that as a possibility. They all stared at the secret queen transfixed, practically in a trance. It was broken by one man's applause. A few more joined in, and within seconds, the loud cheers sounded greater than any war cry that could be uttered. Frieda could not move away. Never in her life had she received such responses, even after doing so many sermons these past five and a half years. It was far more intoxicating than anything the Inheritance had ever produced for her, and she didn't want it to go away.

Dawn had arrived for the year 848. For many, it was like any other day. Others saw it as a grim reminder that they were getting old seeing the years go by. For the Reiss family, it was a day of elation. The siblings wanted desperately to go meet their brother outside the prison gates, but they couldn't risk blowing his cover. So, instead, they sat in the living room with their parents patiently waiting for the carriage to bring him home. Breakfast had already been prepared, though none of the family dared touch it without Urklyn. It was the least they could do for him.

Florian's ears perked up when she heard the clopping of the horses. "He's here!" she shouted, shooting to her feet. Unfortunately, when she ran for the door, she tripped over the rug and managed to crash into one of the end tables, sending its contents clattering to the ground. "Ow…"

"Watch it, Florian. You're acting as clumsy as Dirk now," Abel quipped, shooting her brother a grin.

He rolled his eyes in mock-annoyance. "Yeah, yeah, make fun of the cripple, why don't you?"

The air in the room seemed to change with his remark. He didn't have the same light tone he used to have when making jokes at his own expenses. Abel didn't say anything more, kneeling to help her sister pick up the items that cluttered the carpet.

The arriving horses grew louder, prompting Rod to stand from his chair. "Girls, leave it there. We can pick it up later. For now, let's welcome your brother home."

Greta nodded in agreement, though she knelt to Florian. "Sweetheart, are you going to be okay?"

"I'm okay, Mother," the youngest daughter assured. "Really. I still love him."

Abel was the first to the door, with Frieda right behind her. Neither of the young women hesitated in the slightest, racing outside to their brother, who was stepping down from the carriage. He was wearing the clothes he'd been wearing on the night of his drunken breakdown and brawl, the shirt stained by ale and smelling faintly of vomit. This didn't deter his sisters from wrapping him in a hug that nearly knocked him over. Dirk followed them outside, with Florian several steps behind him. Rod and Greta brought up the rear, allowing their children to reunite with Urklyn first.

"I'm sorry," Urklyn whispered, tears cascading down his face. "I'm so sorry." His knees buckled under the strain of his shame.

Frieda and Abel eased him to the ground slowly, their arms not leaving him. "It's okay. You're home now. That's all that matters," Frieda whispered in his ear.

Dirk came up behind his brother, and joined the hug. "I missed you, Urklyn. Too much damn estrogen when you're not around," he joked, his voice cracking.

"You missed Founder's Day. You owe me for that," Abel said, tears running down her own face.

"I'll make it up to you, Abel," Urklyn said weakly. "I'm sorry."

Abel snorted, then gripped him tighter. "You're more important than any gift."

Florian joined in last, slightly hesitating, but wrapping her arms around Abel and Dirk's to join the embrace. "Welcome home," she said simply.

Nothing else mattered anymore. He was home.