Chapter 13: Freedom to Grieve

Four days. That was the how long it had been since she'd last received one of his promised letters.

At first she had told herself that they was simply a delay in the postal service; one that Eren wasn't aware of, but as one day gave way to three more her fear of being abandoned began to reenter her mind. And she started to question whether or not Eren had even been a genuine friend at all.

Still wearing her nightdress with her knees folded to her chin and sitting on her bed Historia read and then reread the last letter she had received before Eren had gone dark on her.

'Dear Historia,

As much as I would like to say that I am well, I do not want to lie to you. Whilst I am happier now than I was living my life within these walls, here in Shiganshina I feel that my parents; particularly my mother, are trying to get me to accept the way things are. And I hate that!

I hope you are enjoying your birthday present. Armin wasn't to pleased when I came back without it but once I told him that about you and that I gave it to you as a birthday present, I could tell he was more accepting.

He and my sister, well... adopted sister, have been acting weird lately and I think they have feelings for each other but they always deny it.

We saw the scouts returning from their most recent excursion beyond Wall Maria which seemed like it could be pretty cool but seeing the dead and injured being brought back and then hearing fellow humans speaking nastily against the brave scouts made me angry.

And so I defended the scouts honour by breaking a man's nose and punching another when they spoke rudely. I may have issues with the Garrison sector but if it wasn't for Mister Hannes stopping me then I probably would've killed those two men.

By the way, I'm proud and happy that you stood up to and taught those three mongrels (I just learnt that word!) to be better people, if only I could get my mother to support me in joining the scouts.

My father is visiting one of his patients inside the interior again soon, so hopefully I can see you again.

Best wishes, your best friend

Eren'

Staring at the slightly messy handwriting, that she had come to love, over the back and forward flurry of letters she could tell instantly tell that her best friend had been troubled by something - that he hadn't mentioned - as he'd been writing this letter.

Upon receiving the first letter from Eren, Historia had been so overjoyed that she had rather brazenly stood up to her grandfather by refusing to work that day. Instead she had taken the letter and gone for a walk around the immediate lands just outside the farmstead - where she met Nash, Klein and Shane.

Remembering that day, and the confidence she used to put those boys in their place was almost enough to drive away her fear of abandonment but then recalling Eren's promise to her: to find them 'true freedom' someday, and her confident smile turned to a frown.

Glancing over at her desk she saw the - heavily bookmarked - gift from Eren on the outside world. Her grandparents had tried to confiscate the tome but thanks to witnessing Eren's brusqueness towards them and the confidence he had instilled in her, she had won her first proper argument.

Trying to desperately convince herself that her abandonment fears were nought to worry about she took a deep breath, climbed off the bed and moved towards the desk; her fingers itching to hold the gift in her hands.

However, at that very moment a loud explosion followed by the whinnying of hundreds of horses and the 'crunch' of their hooves on the ground sounded throughout the grounds of the farmstead.

"Secure the buildings! And bring me the occupants!" A loud but rather droll voice suddenly enunciated, breaking through the quietness of the morning air.

Agitated by the sudden loud noise and the seeming organised voices outside in the farmstead, Historia raced over to the window and hastily pulled the ragged curtains shut right before a shadow of a mounted soldier appeared to pass by her bedroom.

Hurrying back to her desk the girl quickly pulled off her nightgown and threw it over the chair before pouring into the bowl and then splashing some over her face. Sighing as she felt regenerated from the - fewer - jobs that she now had, Historia quickly dressed herself in her usual work clothes: white blouse, red skirt and boots.

Just as she was about to head back towards the kitchen she heard soldiers yelling obscenities for her grandparents to exit the farmhouse.

Suddenly feeling a lot less secure about the coming situation she rushed back to her bed and grabbed the book, somehow knowing that that if soldiers found it she would be in serious trouble.

Wrapping it up inside her favourite shawl the girl placed her present from Eren inside her work satchel and then dropped to her knees as she stuffed the whole bag under the floorboards beneath her bed.

Just as she was about to put the floorboards back down she remembered her earlier train of thought regarding Eren's recent lack of letters, however, this time she knew that if soldiers searched her room she knew that she didn't want the letters that she did have to be found and inspected by unknown adults.

Jumping back to her feet the girl hurried back over to her desk and opened the middle draw revealing a stack of thirteen letters all from her best friend. Moving back to the hidey-hole she pulled the bag back out and added the letters in between the pages of the book.

Suddenly a loud 'bang' reverberated through the building as, she surmised, the soldiers kicked down the main door and flooded into the farmhouse. As a second much closer sounding 'bang' reached her ears, she realised that the shadows she'd seen going past her bedroom window had been heading for the back and side entrances - of which the side was really close to her proximity.

Slamming the floorboards back down over her precious gifts, Historia jumped to her feet dusted herself down and moved across the room to her desk and began to comb her hair trying to make herself less suspicious for when her room was inevitably searched.

As she imagined, it didn't take long for soldiers to barge into her room brandishing rifles and swords.

"Stand up…" one of the guards yelled before realising that the girl he was aiming a rifle at was already on her feet, and seemed to be innocently brushing her hair.

"Take her!" He spoke again gesturing for his two followers to do the rest.

Before she even knew what was happening two other guards behind the one with the rifle, a man and a woman, moved swiftly forward and grabbed her each of her arms and marched out of the room.

"Do not struggle girl. Our Captain is unencumbered by empathy", the woman spoke tersely grasping her quite tightly; allowing her nails to dig into the young girl's forearm, and started dragging her away.

"And besides…" the other man added slyly, "Lord Reiss wishes to see you alive and unhurt".

Flinching as the bruising on her lower left arm flared up as the woman yanked her along Historia mentally prepared an angry retort, but then she saw and heard the familiar voices of her grandparents - crying and begging - as they were manhandled out of the kitchen to the outside the farmhouse.

"Grandpa, grandma…" Historia cried out trying to get wriggle free from her captors and run to the adults who'd, begrudgingly, raised her. However all that she got in return were two glances of seething rage for her outburst followed by a loud 'slap' - the sound from that one moment ricocheted off the surrounding walls - from her grandmother.

"Shut up you little vermin!" Loren screamed as she again struck the young girl with such ferocity that her nails drew blood. "All you ever do is bring suffering and misfortune! We'd all have been a lot happier if you were never born!"

Dropping to her knees with tears running down her face as she clutched her bleeding cheek, Historia remembered the confidence that Eren had shown her when he had kicked open the kitchen door - with no care or respect towards either of her grandparents.

Suddenly recalling the awe she'd felt at seeing Eren kick down the door; as well as remembering the grandparents shock, Historia felt an intense white hot anger surge up within her tiny body for the constant disdain being shovelled at her feet during her entire childhood.

Abruptly standing up she narrowed her eyes, took several steps forward and violently shoved her grandmother backwards - right onto the outstretched sword held by one of the soldiers, impaling her straight through the chest.

"What have you done…" the tearful agonised cry from Giichi yelled as he broke free from the soldiers and raced over to his wife. "You ungrateful spiteful child! When Alma first brought you home... I should have drowned! That way we wouldn't have been burdened by your sinful contaminated presence!"

Lifting his dying wife into his arms Giichi hugged her tightly to his body and loudly wept. "Loren... why didn't we kill her?"

Refusing to give an inch or even show any outwards sign of regret for her actions, Historia clenched her fists and glowered at her grandfather. "I don't care!" She retorted bitterly. "You never cared how I live... so I won't care how you die!"

A very obvious fearful flinch took ahold of the estate manager as he saw the unbridled grief and frustration within his granddaughter, as she consciously threw aside her childhood and accepted the hared form those around her. Yet, before he could utter another word a hand suddenly grabbed him by the hair and yanked him hard backwards and he felt the edge of cold steel against his throat.

"Ohh looky here…" a raspy yet dulcet toned male voice chuckled mirthfully. "The little princess has killed the old hag".

Looking up through her angry tear-filled eyes Historia glared at the tall man - before trying to lunge at him too. Garbed in black trousers, white shirt, long grey trench coat and a black trilby this man sneered down at her as he kicked the girl backwards into the grasping hands of his soldiers.

"Oh-ho…" the man continued, as he pressed the blade of an extremely large hunting knife into Giichi's throat, drawing the tiniest amount of blood. "This one's got fire in her veins!"

"Kenny!"

Another voice loudly interjected. "She may be illegitimate but she is still my daughter, and I would kindly ask that you not sully my honour".

Angling his head so that he could glance at one of his subordinates behind him the trench-coated man sighed before releasing Giichi Franklin - who quickly moved away - and turning around to face the second man walking towards the group of soldiers.

"Oh my deepest apologies oh lofty and gracious king…" the now named Kenny spoke haughtily, and with an over the top bow.

"I was so overcome with joy that I nearly forget that I'm no longer in the under-city", the man stated with a grin. "One gets so bored stationed in the Mitras that having being given a proper task; as well as finally getting my own squad, has made me revert to the man I was before I met you and Uri".

With a long and deep sigh the second man approached Kenny and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's fine. You are after all the Captain of the First Interior Squad. But your enemies are who I say they are!"

Grinning, the Captain removed his black trilby, revealing his dark hair with a few wisps of grey running throughout, and then boomed with hearty laughter.

"Hahahaha! You really are a cold and calculating man, Rod. The total opposite of Uri but as long as you let me keep having my fun every now and then, you can count on me having your back".

"Thank you Kenny…" Rod Reiss responded with a small smile as he patted the Captain on the shoulder, "I'm always glad for your strength".

Turning back towards the weeping Giichi, whom has returned to once again cradling Loren's dead body in his arms, and the young girl glowering at both of them, Lord Reiss suddenly stopped as he caught sight of two more soldiers accompanying a woman in a fine gown towards him.

Upon seeing her father cradling her mother's corpse and then seeing her child surrounded by rifle wielding soldiers, Alma immediately felt rage surge within her. But then she saw the familiar visage of her Master. Immediately throwing herself to the ground she prostrated herself and begged for his mercy.

"My lord…" Alma sobbed as she looked over at the body of her mother. "Please whatever infraction the girl has done let it be known that I will demonstrate extreme justice onto her! I will make her know her place!"

Sighing as he shook his head, Lord Reiss moved past the prostrate woman and over towards the young girl. "Hello little one…" he spoke holding out his hands placatingly as he knelt down. "Your names Historia, right?"

Receiving no obvious reply he sighed and softened his gaze before finally, Rod Reiss reached forwards and took the girl by the arm and pulled her into an embrace. "I'm glad I got to meet you my sweet daughter".

Visibly flinching, Historia wrenched herself out of her father's arms, shoved him back and moved several paces away from him, scowling him and her grovelling mother.

"Why now!" she growled bitterly, desperately trying to keep tears from spilling down her cheeks. "You could have come to see me at any times before…"

Unfortunately, at that moment her mother sprang back to her feet and violently tackled her daughter to the ground. "Shut up you devil child!" Alma screamed pummelling her daughter. "You have no right to ask anything about yourself!"

With a vicious snarl Alma gritted her teeth as she prepared to once again assault her progeny, only this time before she could start yelling obscenities she suddenly felt a hard grip on her shoulder which yanked her backwards.

Falling to the ground, she was about to question his lordship when she suddenly saw the dark silhouette of the Captain standing over her holding his large hunting knife. A wide sadistic grin on his face.

"My lord…" she begged pitifully, spinning around to face Lord Reiss. "Please I can still be useful!"

Widening her eyes in horror as she watched Lord Reiss once again walk past her and again kneel down and embrace the child, Alma realised that her end was here.

Meeting her daughters tearful gaze - just as the Captain swung the knife down upon her - she gave her final breath to curse her child.

"You cursed demon!" She screamed violently. "Everything that is wrong in this world is your fault! Our lives world have been so much better had you been stillborn!"

And just like that - watching in horror and resentment - as the knife cleaved it's way through her mother's throat followed by the man - 'Kenny', she now knew - then using the blade to scalp her freshly deceased mother, Historia couldn't help but break down in tears. Simultaneously, regretting and resenting her life up to this point she unconsciously held onto her father as he patted her on the back.

Glancing over at her grandfather, out of the comet of her tear filled eyes, she saw him lunge forwards and manage to wrest a bayonet from one of the soldiers rifles before holding it to his own throat.

Using it as if he was spreading butter on his morning toast, Giichi Franklin slit his own throat glaring angry hate filed gaze at Historia. "Devil child…" he gargled on his own blood as he fell face first to the ground.

"hahahah..." not realising until she felt a hand over her mouth that she was laughing, Historia allowed her self to revel in the situation she now found herself in.

"I want you to hurt, like you hurt me…" Historia murmured, remembering the hauntingly beautiful song Eren had sung. "I want you to lose like I lose when I play… what could have been".

"Where did you learn that!" Rod Reiss exclaimed, angrily grabbing Historia's shoulders and forcing her to look at him. "Who taught you that song!"

Sighing, as he looked into the seemingly glossed over eyes of his illegitimate daughter, Rod Reiss turned his head and called for one of the soldiers.

"Get a message to the Lord Lieutenant of Wall Sina for me…" he spoke trying to hide how frantic he felt. "Tell him that Historia Reiss is dead, and the sole survivor… is a simple orphan girl called Christa Lenz.

Nonchalantly walking forwards, ignoring the now sweaty appearance of the Lord, the Captain grinned as he struck the young girl firmly but without his usual to-kill aura on the back of the neck, rendering her unconscious.

"Rod..." Kenny spoke plainly. "Why do you look like you've just seen a ghost? Is this because of what that man told you..."

"Enough!" Rod Reiss retorted flatly. "I don't know how or where she leant that song, but she's too much of a wolf card now. From this point onwards I want Christa Lenz to have false documents for her immediate transfer into the military".

Saluting as two soldiers; after receiving nods of dismissal from their captain, quickly mounted their steeds again and raced off to the capital.

"Yeager..." Rod Reiss gritted out under his breath. "You bastard! I don't know how you did it but you've turned my daughter against me!"

N.B.

'Go Now. Whisperers in the dark are coming...'