It was time to enact her plan. Most definitely it was dangerous and she would likely die, but in the name of her people Elsie was resolute to not back down.

Plus, Levi was slumbering peacefully, his snores consistent. Elsie had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night and when she'd sat up he'd immediately awoken, no doubt listening to where she was going, but by the time she came out, he was asleep once more and unaware of the pen that she'd plucked off the dresser, precariously raised over his cast.

It was just too easy with the way he slept with his arm over his stomach. Her head was level with the mattress, holding her breath as she ever so gently began to sketch, the poop emoji clear in her mind's eye. In no way would any one call her an artist but it looked how she wanted and with a pleased smile, she capped the pen, hid the evidence, and climbed into bed. He shifted, his sleeping good hand hitting her back.

Elsie woke up to being smothered by a pillow. She screeched, kicking her feet frantically, her hands clawing at the strong forearms holding her down.

"You fucking wankhammer." Well, that was a new one.

Elsie dislodged his hands and his hold on the pillow faltered. Gasping for an earned breath, Elsie had no hesitation in raising her knee and kicking the crouching soldier's back. He grunted, catching himself, and Elsie was climbing on his back, her arm around his neck in retribution.

"Don't you like my drawing?" She taunted in his ear, black hair tickling her cheek.

Levi shoved them back and Elsie was held under his body, her legs spreading to wrap around his waist. Her arm was still locked, his free hand picking at her fingers. It wasn't until his hard casted elbow got her in the stomach that she released him, exhausted and gagging for air. Levi rolled off of her, kneeling beside her, victorious.

"Worthless piece of shit," He cursed, running his hand through his wild hair, looking how Elsie felt. "Are you fucking serious?"

Her head rested back, not the least bit concerned with his anger, "No, I'm Elsie," The Harry Potter reference went over his head and incited him to reach out and pinch at her hip. She giggled. "I thought it would be nice if it had some art on it, don't you like it?"

"A two year old could draw better."

Elsie ran her fingers over the emoji, "I highly doubt that. Bet I could make a profit off of it."

"A profit of getting your ass kicked," Levi huffed, kicking his legs out so he could sit cross legged beside Elsie, who laid with her head at the end of the bed and her feet at the pillows. "Just for that you're cleaning the stalls after your fucking date."

"It's not a date it's a courtship," Elsie rolled her eyes, annoyed at the reminder of Van. He would arrive shortly to cart her off to church, have her hold his arm, and not prefer if she said what was on her mind. "And only four more days of it. But, I will be talking to Minister Nick. How should I go about telling him I can read the Old Language?"

"Those idiots believe that God speaks through people. Just faint during prayer, or whatever the hell it is, and start reading shit to him. He'll think God's talking out your ass."

"More like my mouth but alright," Elsie thought it over, deciding to see if fainting would work when she got there. "Wish me luck."

Levi grunted, preoccupied with trying to rub the drawing with his thumb. All it did was smear her beautiful work and left him glowering at her, making her think he wasn't quite done with beating her up. Elsie smiled sweetly, shrieking when he fell onto her stomach, pushing all air out of her. She whined, trying to push him off, but Levi made it clear that he was content to stay until she no longer breathed.

There was a knock at the door. Levi rolled to his side of the bed, pulling a knife from under his pillow, staring at the brown door. Elsie turned onto her stomach, brushing the hair out of her face. Another knock, a tad louder, and the timid voice of Himari filtered in, "Miss Elsie?"

"It's just the maid, put that away! Honestly, why do you even have that?" Elsie hissed, clambering off the messy bed and trying to calm her hair before seeing Himari.

"For annoying bitches like that one." Levi's grumble was through the bathroom door, the lock clicking as Elsie cracked the door.

Himari had her hair down today, the short strands curling at her shoulders and making her look younger. She peered over Elsie's shoulder, seeing her wild state and the sheets hanging off the bed. Elsie would agree, it did look positively dirty, especially when the shower turned on and Elsie was wearing man's clothes. Himari's eyes were wide, her cheeks red with embarrassment at catching Elsie doing something she wasn't.

"I tried knocking on your door and when you didn't answer I thought I'd try here," Himari cleared her throat, running her hands down her skirt. "Do you want a bath?"

Elsie was over baths and would much prefer the shower. She was caught in a man's room, though, and figured it would be easier on Himari if she just went along with her. She didn't shout to Levi that she was leaving, figuring he already knew, and followed Himari to get ready.

Van decided it was best to wait at the carriage instead of facing Erwin and Levi again but he hadn't planned on a stormy Eren standing post, arms crossed at the door and glowering at the suited gentleman. Elsie ran Eren over, Himari saying they were running late and making her rush.

"What are you doing standing in front of doors?" Elsie demanded, too frazzled to notice Van. Her gaze was on Eren, who was levering himself up with the stair railing.

"Why are you going with him? Where do you go?" Eren shot back, taller than Elsie but not intimidating. He tried, furrowing his eyebrows and puckering his lips, but only Levi could render Elsie guilty with a look. The child had nothing on the older man.

"It doesn't matter," Elsie waved his question off, pushing a long strand of hair behind her ear. Himari had given her a braided crown, leaving the rest of her hair to fall in pin straight to her waist. "Don't you have something to do?"

"Captain Levi isn't up yet and it does too."

Elsie smirked, "He's coming down now."

Eren gasped, taking the stairs by three and streaking to the stables, no doubt to feed the horses. Elsie shook her head, amused at his reaction, and walked down the stairs with more regal grace than Eren could.

"What'd you say to make him run off? He's been there since I pulled up." Van grinned, kissing the top of her hand when she gave it to him to help enter the carriage.

It felt wet and she discretely wiped it when she sat, "Captain Ackerman is coming."

Himari squeaked, clambering into the carriage and making it rock in her fear. She breathed in relief when she realized he wasn't behind her, scared the shark would bite her ankles. Van looked back but no such scary creature showed its face and he closed the door.

"Humanities Strongest, right? Was he the tall one?" Van asked.

"No, he's short, and he's absolutely horrible," Himari couldn't hold the words back if she tried. Elsie was positive that Himari would turn Levi in for the murder of a puppy if she could. She realized, by Van's stare, that she shouldn't have spoken and muttered, "Sorry."

"You're right. He's short and grumpy and the best captain I've ever had." Elsie wasn't going to let Himari be silenced, smiling at her in approval.

Van rolled his hat, feeling the felt between his thumb and forefinger, "Then the song about him isn't a lie."

"Song?" Elsie asked, Himari huffing and looking out the moving window.

"It's been around for a while but they only sing it on the streets when a mission goes well," There was a cruel humor to Van's words, knowing that it rarely went in their favor. "There's a line, ah, I can't get the tune in my head."

"There's a poet, whose weapon is his word, he will slay you with his tongue." Himari sang, high and airy, a cheery tune that Elsie wanted to hear more of.

Elsie grinned, finding the words perfect.

Elsie held arms with Van and Mrs. Dubious, resting her chin and clenching her eyes shut. As Minister Nick spoke she inhaled sharply, planting her feet, and preparing for the visions.

They didn't disappoint.

A dead face, maggots in the mouth. Running feet. Boats coming over black waters. The pain was too much, she thought she was drowning, could feel the water in her lungs. Elsie fell to her feet, her head thunking the floor, her hands being held up by shouting Wallists. The sky was dark or her eyes were closed but the feeling never left. She felt cold, desperate, hungry.

Water splashed on her face and Elsie gasped, yanking out of her captors, thinking she was on a boat. The worried faces of the church stared at her, Minister Nick's squishing against Van's in an attempt to be close.

"What happened, child? Tell me, what did you see?" The Minister was holding her head, his hands shaking and making her teeth clatter.

Van pushed him away, grabbing Elsie under the arms to help her sit, and put himself behind her so she couldn't fall back. A cold rag appeared from one of the hands and Van ran it over her sweaty forehead, whispering in her ear that she was okay.

"I heard words," Elsie mumbled, trying to hold herself up, but Van pulling her back. "It was in another language but I understood it. A man told me."

Minister Nick was alight with excitement, dancing on his feet as he hurriedly yanked his necklace off, ignoring the sound of it breaking to the horror of the congregation. He shoved it in her face, too close to read, but to exhilarated to care. With steady hands Elsie took the necklace and ran her fingers over the words, having read it once before.

"Du sollst unseren Stolz nicht nehmen, du wirst unsere Städte nicht zerstören, du hast versprochen," The words sound garbled to Elsie's ears, she could only imagine what the others heard. It sounded like a nasty language with her butchering of the pronunciation but the meaning rang to Elsie. "Thou shall not take our pride, thou shall not destroy our cities, thou has promised."

It was a rough translate at best. Maybe it wasn't city but wall that was written, either way Elsie didn't want to figure it out in front of the gaping radicals. They stood in awed silence, Van's hands slacking, his breathing erratic. Minister Nick covered his mouth, fingers shaking, clutching his robe. Elsie sat in the center, her green dress fanned around her, face red and wet, as their beady eyes bore into her, judging.

"Can it be?"

"She could be making it up."

"I've never heard anything like that."

Minister Nick marched forward, jerking Elsie to her feet. She wondered if he was going to kick her out, call her a liar, but he clutched her shoulder and spun her to look at the reverent people. Van slowly stood, amazed, Himari behind him looking as if she may faint.

"Look! Can you see? God has given us a gift for showing mercy, for saving the soul of a damned one!" He howled, bruising her arm. "He has spoken through her to reward us! We are making progress, my flock, this is a sign that we are dong the Lord's work as He planned!"

Van clapped the loudest among the group, smiling ear to ear, looking like a cat who got the cannery. Itsuko and her unpleasant men were at the back, arms crossed, not partaking in the celebration.

"We have to tell my uncle right away! Who would've thought, a God's prophet, here in Stohess! I mean, they have them in Utopia because of the Grand Church, but never one who could read the Old Language. Oh no, I hope you don't have to go there with the rest of them."

Van's words went in one ear and out the other. Elsie sat with her legs crossed in the rumbling carriage, a cheek rested on her palm as she watched the shops pass. They came to a splattering end and the carriage croaked as it entered the sandy path leading to Lord Mahil's. She now watched the trees, content for a moment.

She had deciphered the words for each wall. To protect, to promise, for pride. She knew that Annie and the others had come from another world past the sea, that they were aware of the Walls but didn't seem all too concerned to let it be known. Who promised? The other island? If only she could remember what they were called... Eldorians? No, that was what Eren was, a titan-shifter, right?

Thou shall not destroy our cities? Thou promised? It was a reminder, for all that Elsie could see, in case the other civilization came knocking. Her visions of the unknown soldiers and boats suddenly clicked, a warning. The Walls hadn't been built to save them from titans but from whoever else lived out there, and they were on their way.

"You did give me quite the fright though, Elsie," It was Van grabbing her hand that made Elsie turn, blinking rapidly, forgetting that he was sitting beside her. Himari was across, twiddling her thumbs. "When you fell and hit your head it made a terrible sound."

He moved as if to touch her forehead and Elsie leaned back, wincing when she touched the bump at her hairline. It wasn't the worst thing to happen to her (which was still Levi using her as a landing board when she was training) and she waved it off. Van could tell she was in no mood for talk and softened his tone.

"You're probably exhausted. I'll talk to my uncle when I pick you up in the morning."

Elsie didn't want to see Van so soon and the sermon wasn't necessary, "Would it be rude of me to miss it? I don't think I'll be good company tomorrow."

"Oh, of course, please rest." He soothed her, once more grasping her hand. Elsie bit the inside of her cheek but said nothing, her eyes meeting Himari's shrewd glare.

They both knew that she didn't want to be with Van. He was a proper gentleman, helping the girls down, and insisted on taking her to the infirmary. She tried, really fucking hard, but he was not taking no for an answer and with an arm around her waist, he shushed her objections. Elsie was scowling prominently at their entrance, scaring a young nurse that Elsie wasn't familiar with. She took one look at Elsie's dark demeanor and disappeared to the back, another nurse scurrying out.

"Really now? Every day it's one or the other," Nurse Bianca was not happy, her hands on her hip as Van made Elsie sit on a bed. Elsie knew her damn self and kept her feet on the floor, shaking his hands off when he tried to push her back. "What happened?"

"She fell and hit her head. Is she in here a lot?" Van did not let her talk and the nurse didn't seem to mind, knowing that Elsie could go on if allowed.

Elsie winced as nurse Bianca padded the raised skin, "Since the day the Scout's arrived. I had to wrap her sprained wrist and the next night her and her captain come in looking like they'd been ambushed," She put a stinging wad of something on Elsie's forehead that made her hiss. Bianca pushed harder, no sympathy. "And the next he has a broken arm and now she with a concussion."

"I'm in the army, what do you expect- Ow!" The nurse had made to lift Elsie's chin to look in her eyes, one hand rested on her shoulder. Bianca pulled the shoulder of Elsie's gown down, dark blue bruises left from Minister Nick's hold.

"Fell, you said?" Nurse Bianca eyed Van dubiously. "Best you wait outside."

"Oh no, Elsie, tell her-"

"It's okay, you can go home. I'm going to lay down after this." She cut him off, thankful for the excuse.

Bianca tutted in disagreement, cutting the right length of sterilized cloth from a spool.

"Ah, alright. Good evening then, Elsie." Van was pale at the accusation, feet tripping over each other in his hurry to leave. She felt the tension relax once he'd left the room, allowing her to finally breathe at ease.

"He didn't hit me." Elsie said, figuring she could at least uphold Van's integrity.

Nurse Bianca scoffed, wiping her hands together after she fixed Elsie's dress and wrapped the bandage over her head. She felt ridiculous with it on, planning to remove it the moment she walked out of there. She'd rather walk around with a huge ball on her head than the uncomfortable bandages sticking to her hair.

"If he had hit you I would be treating him and you'd be chewing his ear off. No, he was aggravating my patient so it was best that he left. Now off you go, don't do anything that can hurt your head and no sleeping for five hours." Nurse Bianca had a strict motherly tone, scrutinizing Elsie with narrow amber eyes.

Elsie made no such promise and raced out of the infirmary, gathering her hair into a messy bun. Her tanned thighs were showing as she took the stairs by three, a servant boy dropping his books when she passed. She changed into her uniform, tossing her gown and bandage wraps onto the perfectly made bed, and skipped down two doors. She opened it, expecting Levi, and was disappointed when the room was bare. She turned to leave but paused, looking back at the canopy bed. Elsie knew Levi had made the bed by the triangle tuck and had taken the time to place a new folded pair of clothes for her on the right side of the bed.

She smiled, warmed at the knowledge that she didn't have to ask to stay with him. Levi wanted her there as much as she did.

Levi was in Noir's stable, grappling with the stallion to get a hoof in his lap. As he was one handed and the horse was in a mood, the simple task turned tedious. By the time Elsie walked up Levi was giving the horse a stern talking to.

"Are you really threatening to turn Noir into stew? How dare you!" Elsie was aghast, hugging the first horse she rode. Noir understood that she was defending him and kicked at Levi when he made to touch her.

"It's my sack of meat, I can do whatever I want with him."

"Don't listen to the old man, Noir, he's just bluffing." Elsie crooned, scratching between his eyes. His tail swished in pleasure, rubbing against her. She giggled and stepped back, giving a parting pat so that she could attend to Sunni.

"Did the fucking psychos club you?" Levi demanded, catching sight of her new look.

"I didn't have to pretend faint after all. The visions came back, stronger, and I saw a bo-" A burn in her throat. "They're-" It intensified when she tried again. "I saw the future. But I told them I heard God telling me what the necklace said."

Levi frowned, "And?"

"Thou shall not take our pride, thou shall not destroy our cities, thou has promised."

Levi sat at his stool and Elsie crouched at his side, heaving Noir's toned leg onto her captain's lap. He used his left hand deftly. She admired him, then, she would admit. He was striking, one sleeve rolled up, the tendons in his wrists visible as he flexed. He clenched his jaw in thought, grinding his teeth. Levi hadn't trimmed his hair the past week and it was brushing his cheeks as he bent, shoulders rolling under the white shirt that did nothing to hide his muscles. What would it feel like to run her hands over his back? She'd only the faintest touch to go off of, and that had been a blissful moment, even in the sadness.

"You said that there is an ocean?" Levi's deep voice broke her revere and she remembered the severity of the moment.

"Yeah."

"And you said that there is a Germany. This, whatever the fuck it's meant to be, is for whoever reads German. Am I right to assume some fucking Germans are after us?"

Elsie shrugged, "They don't go by German but it's the language they use, or very close to it. The visions, Levi, they're really bad. I see death. Whoever is coming has something more than guns."

"Something more like Eren." Levi stated, exhaling.

"This is shit." Elsie said dejectedly.

Levi cracked his neck, released Noir's leg, and moved to the next, "I'm not going to ask you now but I have a question that I need an answer to."

Elsie hummed, ruffling her escaped baby hairs, "Okay." The pain was the worth the answer at this point.

"It gets worse every time. It started as one night, then two days, then four days." He didn't face her, Noir in a better mood and listening to his master.

"Ask me after we get Annie then." Elsie said breezily, deciding it was time to pay attention to her own horse. The poor girl had been left with her saddle on the last time she'd left her and a hefty bribe of carrots should be able to get her back into Sunni's good graces.

Levi's statement made her freeze, "You won't be on that squad."

"What?" Elsie pivoted. "What the actual fuck, Levi?"

"You're. Not. Going." He punctuated each word as if she was deaf, letting the leg fall and standing to meet her. "You're not essential therefore you'd be in the fucking way."

"It was my idea."

"Congrats, you're a genius."

Elsie stomped her foot, a childish anger flaring at being left out. Hadn't she proven that she could handle herself? She was just as capable as Eren and fucking Armin of all people. It didn't make sense why she couldn't be on look out or even attend the ball. Hell, she was the only one invited to it! Levi rolled his eyes at her little show, making her feel less than she already did.

"Why not? If it weren't for me the Scouts wouldn't be invited! Lord Mahil and Van expect me to be there, and if I'm not then Van will come looking for me. Either way, I'll drag myself to that ball-"

Levi crowded her against the stall, his arms bracketing her. Noir neighed in discomfort, kicking hay at them. She was lost in Levi's eyes to care that she'd have to settle the hay later on.

"Are you going against direct orders?" Levi dared her to push him, a dangerous glint that promised this wasn't a game. He was deadly serious, the most strict she'd ever been subjected to.

He really didn't want her at that ball. She'd be damned if he fucked it up again.

"No, I would never."

It proved how stubborn they were, cursing each other with looks alone. Levi clicked his tongue and shoved off the stall, "Clean the fucking stalls."

The bastard had another thing coming if he thought Elsie was going to be bedridden. As soon as she had checked on Sunni, she raced up the hill to find Erwin and demand an explanation. No way was she going to miss catching Annie, not with everything coming to light.

Ymir called out to Elsie, asking who pissed the freak off, and Elsie bent to pitch a rock at her head. The titan girl gasped and ducked, the others laughing at the outburst. Eren tried to chase after Elsie, calling her name, but Mikasa captured his attention and Elsie was storming down the hallways, her steps thundering and dangerous. She banged on Erwin's door, too frustrated to do it any other way.

He opened the door, "I was expecting you, Miss Elsie."

Levi was casually sipping tea at the desk, tisking when they made eye contact. Elsie pointed at him, "I won't do it, I refuse too."

"Your captain is right, you're not necessary to the mission-"

Now, on an ordinary day, Elsie was a saint and Levi had the tongue of a bastard, but she found herself exploding, using words that she'd heard so often that they worked perfectly to describe how she felt.

"The fuck I'm not necessary! I fucking went to that bat shit crazy church for days and I fucking fixed what would have been a cluster fuck of a plan to save your sorry asses, cause God forbid you dipshits can do something right!"

"I disagreed and thought it would be better to have the whole team there. Of course, only if you want to join the... uh what did you call us... dipshits?"

Elsie was panting from her tantrum and Erwin was laughing at her, shaking his head and ruffling Elsie's hair, as if she was a child. Considering what had just happened, she would take the slight jab at her ego for the sake of hearing that she was still attending the ball. The commander hadn't flinched at her words, taking it all in stride, and chuckled at it still as he walked to Levi's side.

"I'm going?" Elsie confirmed.

"Yes. After all you were invited by the Lord's nephew, it would be rude to cancel with you living in the castle. Captain Levi is right, you aren't necessary for the capture of Annie Leonhart, but you will keep an eye on the guests and anything that we miss. We can't risk to fail again."

"Oh well," It wasn't what she wanted but it was better than Levi's plan. "I translated the Minister's necklace."

The conversation transitioned amused Erwin so much that he had to laugh, bashfully hiding his face when Levi and Elsie leveled him with questioning looks. He controlled himself, sighing after.

"I've just realized how much you've changed, Elsie, I'm sorry. I remember a timid girl hiding behind Levi and now here you are, cursing out the Commander of Scouts and then continuing on as if nothing happened."

"Tsk, brat." Levi said into his cup. The rim couldn't hide his smile.

Elsie sat between Hange and Miche, leaning on her elbows in enthrallment. The show had begun, Jean and Eren circling each other, identical looks of concentration, the fire light making their hair appear like the same shade of black. The Scouts had pulled the two tables apart, after Hange had instructed so when Mikasa had failed at containing the argument to only shouting, and were now standing on the tables or sitting, taking bets and cheering when Jean made the first move.

"Where's Erwin again?" Miche asked, booing when Eren knocked Jean's head to the side.

"He's busy with Levi, don't worry." Their conversation had gone down a path that only war generals could make. Elsie, having won her fight for the day, headed to find company elsewhere.

And dinner was being served on top of the fight, so Elsie sat and considered herself referee as she ate her stew. Mikasa was shaking her head, scowling, and Armin had come to ask if one of the squad leaders were going to stop it. Miche and Hange exchanged looks, having not considered that.

"KNOCK HIM DOWN EREN, I HAVE TEN ON YOU!" Hange hollered, leaping out of her seat when Eren tackled Jean like a line backer.

"No!" Miche groaned, putting his head down in defeat.

Elsie stood and the boys separated, gasping and leering, wiping spit but ready to go again. The cadets had been restless all week, no training to be done on the Lord's land, and horse duty switched between the thirty of them. It was no shock that Eren and Jean had come to blows, annoyed with close proximity of each other.

"Eren wins this round," There was boos from Miche and the right side. Hange was punching the air. "Tomorrow we'll do a real round, anyone who wants to be put in the bracket come sign up."

This caused excitement. Elsie planned to hold it just as Petra and Gunther had, taking the names of the willing and later would randomly pair them. Ymir walked up alone, Krista at the table with Connie.

"Will you be fighting, freak?"

Hange's glasses flashed as she examined Ymir.

"Sure, I'll even pair with you if you want." Elsie offered sweetly, signing in cursive below Ymir's.

Ymir stared at her name before smirking, "Can't wait."

Hange was quick to lean into Elsie's personal space, "I'm putting money on you, Gunther said you could fight."

The compliment smothered the amicable feeling that had been in her chest.

Levi was in bed when Elsie came to the room. The candles were unlit, the room in total darkness, and Elsie winced when her big toe hit the bed. She hopped on one foot to sit, rubbing her toe, blindly searching for the clothes she'd seen earlier.

Levi punched her in the back, "Ow!"

"You woke me up." He muttered, husky with sleep.

"Sorry," Elsie whispered, a little too late. "I'm going to change."

"I can't see anyway."

She meant in the bathroom. It would be easier to change here, though, instead of stumbling across the room and making more noise. She kept her back to the bed as she lifted her shirt and wiggled out of her pants, hurriedly pulling the baggy shirt and pants on. Levi pulled the blanket back for her and she softly thanked him, getting into her normal back facing position.

"Did you eat?" Elsie thought to ask on the brink of sleep.

She didn't hear his snores, she knew he was awake. The mattress dipped as he moved, the blankets shifting.

"I had a head ache and came to rest, must've missed it." She cherished the sleepy voice she was privy to hear.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yeah."

It had to be an hour later and they still laid awake. She didn't know what was keeping Levi from sleep but she couldn't relax with him thinking behind her. His body was stiff, she could feel it in the sheets, and it made her feel for him, wondering what could possibly be going through his head. She suddenly recalled their conversation over tea, that today had been the day the squad had been sent home. She had been so wrapped in the church that she had forgotten.

Elsie turned and reached into the darkness, finding his hand resting by his waist. She timidly curled her fingers around his, pulling it to her chest when he squeezed back. She cradled his arm, holding it to her like she would her pillow, and closed her eyes, breathing deep. In minutes Levi's snores soothed her to sleep.