Hello everyone, I hope that you are having a great weekend, I don't know about you but the weather is freezing where I live, if it is the same for you please be safe while driving on the roads. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing on this chapter, as always, So on with the story…
Ember was riding fast in for the hunt, the cold air breezing past her sharp features. This was the Kings idea of fun, a hunt, in the middle of winter 'joy' thought the short haired girl. Levi was riding right next to her staying next to her. 'More than likely chance Ember will find the fox first anyway, and I don't trust the Prince anyway, after all he asked for her' cringed the Corporal.
Flashback to that morning
The group of soldiers from the Scouting Legion woke up and were invited to join the rest of the of the other member of the party to breakfast, however they declined and took their meal in the room that Ember and Hanji slept in. As Levi entered Ember stood, he almost 'Tch'ed' but restrained himself because he noticed that she had made her bed immaculately, however he needed to let the girl know that she need not be so formal with him at places such as these. Nobody ever was anyway. They all was down to tea and looked out of the large window. In about half an hour a servant came and called them to join the rest of the group, disturbing Erwin and Hanji's light conversation and Levi and Embers staring at objects outside the window. "The King request's you in the hall gentlemen, and ladies, in five minutes" with that he gave a bow and left them be. "We knew it would come at some time" sighed Erwin getting up, the rest followed after him into the room that they had been in last night.
The King cleared his thought and spoke up "My good friends, I thought that a slight diversion was in order, and it seems the perfect weather for a hunt, so men I have horses saddled for all of you, and fair ladies if you desire to watch the sport there are places where you can view our fun" finishing his statement the King started making way to the doors that led outside when the Prince spoke up. "Would Ember have the honor of joining our group, I've heard great things about her skill, would you please" in his sickening voice. The young girl gave a bow and walked across from the females in the room to join the men.
End of Flashback
Flighty voices of women could be heard and the horse bound group rounded a bend at breakneck speed. "Uh, look at her riding like them, who does she think she is, doesn't even looked like a girl" stated a blond haired women who was so bundled up in cloth that she didn't even feel the frigid air. "She's in the military, what would you expect; how about Humanities Strongest though, he gets more handsome every year. But yes the girl does have the physic of a twelve year old boy" flippantly stated and brunette hair women who looked in her forties.
The group had stopped for a small break and to warm up, most drank shots of gin or other strong alcohol, but Ember and her friends politely refused, not wanting to fall off their borrowed steeds. Erold had other plans as well during the respite, he looked greedily over to Ember in her fight fitting coat at pants. She was not near her horse so he slipped over to the tall black beauty and cut the saddle that would hold the girl. No matter where she came from the Prince wanted to get to know her better, much better. "Let us start again" shouted the King" causing the Prince to slip away again back to his horse. Just as they began the hunt again it started pouring rain; not only rain but rain with harsh wind that blew it into the riders face and body from the left. Ember took the first jump with good form. The Prince was riding next to her, trying his best to keep up with the girl. Levi had fallen slightly behind but had one hand covering his eyes to watch the girl far in front of him through the torrential rain. They were approaching one of the higher jumps and the shorter Squad Leader watch in a bit of shock as Ember took the fence in great form but at the top fell back into the mud that had puddled near the posts. Levis eyes widened as another man started the jump and was going to hit Ember, fortunately the girl rolled in very fast time avoiding being killed.
The short haired girl stood up and looked down at herself, 'disgusting' she thought seeing a fresh layer of mud caking her jacket, which she promptly took off. The Prince seeing this thought 'Plan Ember is a go' smiling and turning his horse around he looked down at the drenched girl. "Had and accident did we?" Ember huffed at his statement crossing her arms over her chest that now shone pretty clearly her form because of her wet sopping clothing. "Shall I rescue the damsel in distress?" he questioned aloud extending his hand. 'Really, this is what he wants at a time like this' thought Ember turning for some form of escape. Levi by now had taken the jump and saw Ember facing off the Prince, speeding his horse up he made eye contact with the girl and he nodded at her.
Erold was still holding out his hand growing impatient he started lowering his chest and arm lower but was suddenly met with a face of mud and Levi quickly rode next to him kicking up mud; Ember took her Superiors hand and was swung easily around and up in front of Levi on his still moving horse. "Tch, what happened brat?" he questioned her slightly annoyed. "Some bastard cut my straddle straps?" she stated emotionlessly. "I think I know who he is?" Levi hissed holding Ember around the middle and his reigns in the other taking another jump over a fallen log.
Two hours later and the hunt was over Levi and Ember getting the fox in the end, as most had expected, however the ladies of the court seemed terribly let down when they saw Levi with Ember riding with him, even though he paid particular attention not to connect his body with that of the girl if necessary, he was not found of physical contact after his capture. Dismounting and getting changed. Thankfully Erwin managed to get his comrades out of the second night of activates, saying to the King that they were needed back at base. They probably were, it had been almost two full days that the Superiors had be gone, so by now Shadis must need some help with all the cadets. By noon the group where out of the castle and headed home.
They arrived back at their headquarters by the time that most cadets should be in bed. Erwin, Levi, Hanji, and Ember all went to their rooms. Half an hour later Hanji came to Embers room and knocked. "Who is it?" questioned the girl. "Hanji" the scientist whispered back. "Come in Hanji" Ember said, the door opened silently and the red hair girl walked in. "I was wondering if I could borrow your blanket, you don't mind do you?" she asked, she gave Ember such a pleading look that the girl sighed and got up, handing her blanket to the older women; not even asking why she needed it, too tired to really care anyway. 'I can make it through one night without a blanket" Ember thought. She comprehended the list of events the Hanji gave that showed why she needed to blanket but by the end she just wanted to go to sleep. However half an hour later she wished she had not given her one source of warmth to her Superior. Finally conceiting she got up and went outside the cold air making her shiver greatly. Ember remembered that the supply room was down the hall. She looked down at the sliver of light that was radiating from under Levi's door, however just as she was about to pass by when she heard his voice calling out for her to come into his room. Turning on her heel the girl walked into the warm room and shut the door quickly behind her to not let the cold air in. Levi was seated at his smaller desk filled with stacks of papers. He looked up from his work his brow furrowed looking her over. "What are you doing out this late at night, it's dangerous and in that attire?" he questioned looking her over, she was wearing only a tank top and pants. "Hani took my blanket Sir, I was getting another" she stated monotonously. "Why did she want a blanket brat?" he asked. "Long story Sir" she stated. "Sit, tea" he said back to her. Shrugging her shoulders Ember took the seat adjacent from him, just as she did so he rose and took his jacket off the back of his chair placing it over her shoulders. He stated pacing around the room. "Are you sure you have time for this Sir, you seem a bit preoccupied, can I help in anyway?" Ember questioned. "I need the distraction, pour me a cup of tea as well" he stated blandly.
Sitting across from Ember again with tea in one hand and papers in the other he looked up from time to time to as her melodious voice gave the tale…
"Well first Hanji gave her blanket to the baby titan Olimpia, she then asked Armin for his, then he asked Eren, well Eren asked Mikasa, apparently a few minutes later Mikasa snuck into Hanji's room and stole the blanket back"
…Finished the girl. "Sounds like something she would do, always was lazy" he finished. "You should go to bed" he stated when silence took the room for a few minutes, "don't forget the blanket" he said when she was just a step outside of his door" she nodded and left. The man sitting down on his bed ready for another sleepless night, 'I wonder if she has nightmares?" he thought closing his eyes…