Ragnar was in intense pain. He'd been crushed within the grasp of this titan for at least a day, as it ran at top speed towards a distant mountain.

Periodically he was able to see the Horned Jotunn, whom he thought he recognized from his childhood, and the limp form of Annie within his fist. He felt rage building within him, a terrible storm that kept beckoning for him transform and defeat these bastards.

But he relented, he knew he couldn't defeat these thirteen Jotunn. And they had Annie, who was unable to transform.

Weakling!

So he simply took advantage of the situation to sleep.

When he awoke, they were climbing another cliff, with several titans looking down upon them from above.

Atop the cliff was a sprawling village, centered upon a large hall. Jotunn were all about, most dropping their tasks to come over and gawk at them.

This must be Muspelheim. The former furthest town from the capital... until Vanirheim had been built thirty years ago.

Most of the thirteen Surtr peeled off and headed for what looked like a barracks, but the titan that held himself and the Horned One proceeded on towards the hall.

They both knelt, dropping their passengers unceremoniously on the ground. Then the massive forms began to disintegrate as the two Jotunn inside tore themselves free and proceeded to climb down.

Ragnar made a beeline for Annie, but was blocked as a sword blade came out of nowhere, nearly taking off the tip of his nose. It came to rest in the hollow of his throat, its tip pressing against his skin enough to draw a drop of blood.

"Well, hello there."

He turned to find himself looking into eyes the same color as his own, set in a face that would look like his own in a decade or so.

"It has been quite a long time, little brother," Suttungr, former Crown Prince of Jotunheim and leader of the traitorous Surtr, and also Ragnar's eldest brother, looked down upon him. "You've grown into quite a man. It's nice to see you."

"I can't say I feel the same," Ragnar growled, pushing the sword blade away from his throat, "Now let me see to her."

He made another move to get to Annie, who was groaning, but once again the blade was at his throat.

"No, brother," Suttungr said, his eyes full of mischief that Ragnar remembered so well, "You must prove your worth before you get to see her. Stuart, chain her up."

The rage that was building within him snapped, and blazed as bright as a star. He drew out the pair of short swords on his belt and charged. Steel met steel, sending a shower or sparks as they ground together.

They pulled back from one another, Suttungr taking up a high stance.

I can't beat him, Ragnar thought to himself, Suttungr was the one who loved swordplay so much, I never quite got the hang of it.

But he buried those thoughts and let his rage drive him. He danced forward, driving one of his blades forward for his brother's gut while slashing the other from overheard. His brother countered, deftly parrying the strike towards his gut, while turning the slash. Then Ragnar was moving backwards, just trying to defend himself...

One of his blades clattered to the ground, his twitching hand still wrapped around the hilt. Ragnar recoiled as his brother advanced, barely being able to hold him off… He lost his entire right arm on the backstroke.

Suttungr's blade plunged to its hilt through his chest. He felt his legs go numb, and all feeling below his chest ceased. A scream escaped his lips, the crowd that had form about them cheering as he fell.

He collapsed like a ragdoll, the blade still sticking out of his back.

Damn...

"I can see you haven't been practicing your swordplay, Ragnar," He heard his brother say distantly, "I guess you've spent it chasing beautiful girls."

"Y- You're a bastard."

Suttungr grabbed the blade and twisted it.

"What did you say," His brother yelled, his composure fading, "I wasn't the one who killed our dear mother! So don't you dare call me a bastard!"

He felt a boot smash his face, again and again, but he held on to his consciousness.

"Take my brother to the Cave, and take his girlfriend with him. Bring them to the Great Hall when they awake. No harm to them!"

And with that he was dragged, sword still within him towards an unknown destination.

"Ragnar, Ragnar wake up."

Annie shook him, as she pulled the blade out of his chest. They'd been taken into a dark cave, not too dissimilar to the one in which she had awoken a seeming lifetime ago.

His eyes opened weakly, trying to focus on her face, but they were foggy. His mouth worked, trying to form words.

"An-… Ann-…"

She shook her head.

"No talking, concentrate on healing, like I showed you."

She'd caught the end of his duel with the shifter who had grabbed her, and had been stunned by the skill with the sword that he had displayed. The sureness of his movements, the speed with which he moved. Annie had only seen that level of skill a few times.

He is quite impressive, although his swordplay stinks... Understandable when he holds that Titan of his within his grasp.

She examined the thick bars of their cell as best she could in the light of a single torch. They were too thick to do anything with, even using the sword they had as a prybar.

There was no guard that she could see, but he could be just around the corner from them.

Turning her attention back to Ragnar, she noted his eyes were closed once again, but steam was emanating from most of his wounds. The hand he had lost was already mostly regenerated, and the arm was making good progress… better progress than she herself could likely do. He was a fast learner.

She sat down next to him, watching his wounds intently. There was no way to tell what time of day it was or how much time had passed, but it seemed that within less than an hour he was fully healed.

His eyes fluttered open.

"Annie, where are we?"

"A cave within that mountain behind the village."

He sat up, coughing as he stressed his newly regrown limbs. She pushed him back down.

"Stop Ragnar, you're still injured."

Am I truly concerned for him? She thought to herself, I… I don't know anymore. But he is my mission, so I must be concerned. He is my key to going home.

A heavy door banged opened, unseen in the darkness behind the torch, and several people shuffled in. They opened the door to their cell, and restrained them both with metal shackles on both hands and feet.

Then they were lead outside, where the sun nearly blinded both of them.

Ragnar lead the way, holding his head high, and doing his best against the pain, but she saw him shudder several times.

They entered the edge of town, and found a large group of men and women waiting for them.

Angry eyes seemed commonplace, especially when the eyes rested on Ragnar. Several of the men made moves towards him, but were restrained by their more level headed colleagues and the guards. But that didn't stop them from spitting and throwing expletives.

"The Prince of Death must die! He is a monster," One particularly animated member of the crowd began to scream, "You guard, draw your sword and kill him! He does not deserve to live! My children's blood is on his hands!"

What is he saying…? The Prince of Death? Ragnar?

Annie watched Ragnar's shoulders slump as the man's word struck him.

She herself was targeted quite frequently as they traversed the towns packed streets.

"Look," An average looking man, his brown hair tied back in a ponytail, yelled, "The Death Prince has found himself a whore! Hey, bitch, look at me, do you enjoy laying with a murderer? With a kinslayer? Does that get your rocks off? Huh, does it?"

Her eyes widened as Ragnar stopped, she knew that all of this crowds accusations were baseless, and he did too. But he was going to defend… her honor.

What a silly concept, she silently derided.

He reached out with both hands and grabbed the man, who had mistakenly positioned himself as close to his targets as he could get, lifting him off of the ground by his neck. The man immediately began to turn purple and attempt to scream, but Ragnar's fingers dug in with a viselike strength.

"You may attack me with your words, sir," He gritted out, as the guards turned and saw what he was doing, "But you shall not attack her with your baseless lies!"

The last word came out as a bellow, and he head-butted the man as hard as he could. Then released him to crumple to the ground.

Without another word, he turned and began to walk again, as a much more subdued crowd eyed them cautiously. The guards, confused as to what had occurred, simply allowed him to. While standing slightly further away from him.

They made it with little more fanfare to the huge hall at the center of town. Once there, they were led inside, and treated to the sight of nearly three hundred men and women all wearing the same thing.

Brown cloaks covered most of what they wore, but she was able to see the faces, for the hoods were drawn back. They all looked towards them with differing levels of disgust.

One of the cloaked figures, an average looking man with long brown hair tied up in a ponytail, stepped forward.

"Approach."

She followed Ragnar as they walked the length of the hall, to the end, where the man who earlier had savagely hurt him sat upon a well-appointed throne of stone.

His face... its cut from the same cloth as Ragnar's... High cheekbones, a thick jaw, the shape of their nose...

"Well, little brother, I see that you've healed rather quickly," The man said, and Annie noted that he looked almost exactly like Ragnar, "Excellent. And you've brought your girlfriend."

Annie glanced over at Ragnar, who seemed to be seething with rage.

They're brothers?

"She is not my girlfriend, Suttungr."

A chuckle went up from the assembled Surtr, and Suttungr smiled.

"Then why did you try so hard to protect her," He said, standing and walking down the steps towards them, "Is she your lover? Your servant?"

"She is nothing to me."

For some reason, when she heard those words, her heart sank.

Suttungr grabbed her by the chin, rotating her head back and forth, studying her face.

"Then you won't mind if I take her as a concubine," Annie recoiled from his grip, and took an involuntary step towards Ragnar, her fists clenching, "Or maybe I should just put her to death?"

"No!"

"Then admit what she is to you! Why should I not kill her now?"

Ragnar stepped between her and his brother, and Annie could see tiny wisps of steam escaping from different points on his body. His voice was nearly a growl when next he spoke.

"She is a Jotunn from the Wall, the first we have found. I rescued her from a pack of wild titans and soldiers of the Wall," He paused, and some of the anger dispelled itself as he exhaled, "She is also… my favored companion."

Favored companion, she thought to herself, What does that even mean?

"Ah," Suttungr said, approaching his brother and looking him in the eyes, "What does she know of you and your past?"

Ragnar broke eye contact with his brother, his shoulders dropping slightly.

"Nothing," He mumbled.

"Then let me elucidate her to your past, oh Death Prince."

He turned and walked back to his throne, but instead of taking the seat, he sat on one of the arms. His right hand on his knee and cradling his head, a position she had noticed in Ragnar also.

"What is your name, girl?"

"Annie Leonhardt."

Ragnar looked towards her, his eyes surprised. She'd never told him her surname before.

"Well, Annie, Ragnar here is my youngest brother. The Seventh Prince of Jotunheim. And also the Death Prince, for what happened on the night of his birth."

"I remember it well, our lady mother had had a rough pregnancy," Annie looked at Ragnar, who had his head buried in his hands, "Ragnar being such a strong willed baby. But when the time came for her to give birth, as she lay in her bed, Ragnar transformed and became a Jotunn. While still inside our mother!"

What a terrible fate, She thought to herself, But... Ragnar's powers are even more unstable than I had imagined... That could be good, or it could be bad.

She heard an anguished cry, and found Ragnar on his knees beside her, tears streaming down his face. He shook, his shoulders heaving as he likely relived what had happened.

"He then went on a twelve hour rampage that killed nearly fifteen hundred men and women," Suttungr's bronze eyes were cold as he looked down upon his brother. "It took the combined might of our father and twenty of his men to finally control and cut young Ragnar out of his Jotunn. Father nearly killed you out of hand, but like myself, you had Mother's eyes."

"I… I couldn't control myself, I don't even remember it happening!"

His voice was pure desolation, and she nearly reach out and touched him, but held herself back.

"So you see, Annie Leonhardt," His brother continued, "You are favored companion to a monster. To the Death Prince of Jotunheim! To the Kinslayer!" He pointed at her, and then at Ragnar, "You are the reason that we are here, Ragnar. I formed the Surtr and rebelled against Father because he was too weak to slay you! That is why you shall now stand trial, for you are of my blood, and though I disdain you, I shall at least honor our mother by not killing you out of hand!"

He sat upon his throne then, and called out to the brown cloaked men and woman arrayed about him.

"We, the Nobles of Muspelheim, shall now cast judgment upon my brother, Ragnar Mosher. Prince of Jotunheim. That he is responsible for the Queens death, and the deaths of fifteen hundred other innocent souls, most of who have family within this room. Cast your votes yay or nay!"

Annie wasn't surprised when the vote came back unanimous.

"Then let it be so, who votes for death?"

Once again, unanimous. It was at this point that Annie could no longer hold her tongue.

I must complete my mission!

"Sir, may I speak?"

Suttungr's eyes snapped to her. He nodded his consent.

"I have known the Prince for a short time," She began, looking down at the now still form beside her, "But in that time I have come to treasure his company. He was under no obligation to rescue me, and yet he did. He then risked his life to get me away from those pursuing me, against the wishes of your Father."

She paused for a moment, feeling her skin prickle as every eye seemed to bore deeper and deeper into her.

"Ragnar has cared for me unconditionally, and has shown me nothing but kindness. He has requested nothing from me. Your brother is a good man."

Suttungr sat back, steepling his fingers in front of his face.

"Your words are well spoken, and I believe they bear true, but Ragnar must pay for his crimes. I am sorry."

Ragnar stood, his face set. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she felt a jolt of electricity at his touch.

"Brother, I admit that the crimes you put forth I am guilty of," He took a step towards the throne, "But I request a trial by combat."

Suttungr smiled as Ragnar said the words. A murmur swept through the cloaked figures.

"Hmmm… I like the sound of that. Your trial by combat shall be tomorrow at… noon," He gestured to the brown hair man again, "Stuart, my brother and his companion are to be treated with the utmost respect. Prepare a room for them immediately, and get them more fitting clothing. We dine at eight o'clock. He shall die a Princes death, the death that a Mosher should be proud of."

Her restraints were opened, as were Ragnar's. Stuart then led them through a corridor that led to the outside.

The sun was still high in the sky as they walked into the open air, but the threatening crowds had dispersed thankfully.

They were led to a large mansion, which, when asked, Stuart simply stated it was Suttungr's home. It was many times larger than Ragnar's own home in Vanirberg, and was wrought in stone, with large marble columns lining the façade.

Their room was lavishly appointed, quite possibly the finest one she had ever been inside of.

"I shall return with clothing for dinner soon," Stuart said, his voice deadpan, as he was leaving, "Please do not try to escape."

As soon as the door was closed, Annie felt a pair of powerful arms wrap around her.

"Thank you, Annie," Ragnar said, his voice huskier than usual, "I don't think my trial by combat ploy would have worked without your words. They would more likely have just killed me on the spot."

This feels… okay. She thought, then chided herself, But he is your misson, and you must remember that. You are not a moron like Reiner.

"I couldn't let you just be put to death, that… would not be good."

"And you'd lose your meal ticket."

Damn, he's already back to trying to be humorous.

She snorted.

Ragnar sat down on a couch, and looked up at her as she sat down on the edge of a chair.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my past… I tried to tell you earlier but, all of this happened. But, I am the Death Prince of Jotunheim."

"You seem to act like you remember the night you were born, explain."

Looking uncomfortable, he sat back into the couch, and seemed to shrink. His eyes closed, and she saw that tears still stained his face.

"I remember my time as a Jotunn… It was... There's a reason I don't like to sleep."

"Ragnar… I'm not a good person," She said after a moment, "Not like you. I may not have told you the entire truth, before, I mean."

He looked up, interested.

"I'm not… from within the walls," She began, and watched his face relax, "Not originally anyways. I come from a "village" on the other side of the walls from your home."

His eyes flashed with suspicion, and she felt the distinct need to turn away from him, but she held his gaze.

Why must his eyes look at me like that?

"So your mission, what was your mission, Annie?"

"To locate a particular coordinate, a young man about my age, named Eren Yaeger. And, along with a pair of allies, to exterminate all the men and women within the wall."

"Exterminate?"

She nodded, and felt a pang of sadness as he looked incredulously at her.

"Yes, Ragnar, I spent five years of my life infiltrating the wall. Attempting to get close to my target, a boy named Eren, I followed him wherever he went. And when he decided to join the military, I was forced to follow him," She paused, and they were both silent for a few minutes, "But… I failed in my mission to capture him, and was ambushed by himself and the Scouting Legion. They nearly captured me."

She felt herself slipping, losing her usually steadfast control of her emotion. A laugh bubbled out of her lips.

"They, they tried to capture me!"

She stood and guffawed several times, much to the horror of Ragnar, who approached her and grabbed her.

"Annie, what is going on with you?"

Laughter was her only answer.

"Ragnar, I was almost killed, they came after me with the 3D maneuver gear and, and Mikasa, Eren's adopted sister slashed my fingers off as I tried to climb the wall. Then he pulled me down and, and I had to protect myself, so I coated myself in crystal! I waited, but it took weeks for them to let their guard down! And now, now I can never go home, or else they'll kill me! The Council can never allow a failure like me to live! I just want to go home…"

She stopped laughing, and tears stained her own face.

"You are my only hope of ever going home, Ragnar. And now you probably think I'm some kind of monster…"

He reached out and touched his fingertips to her face.

"If you are a monster, Annie, then I am one too," That sly smile crossed his lips, "We are just two monsters, and I wouldn't have it…. Any. Other. Way."

With each of the last words he tapped his index finger on her face, and she felt her face color as she noted how close they were…

"Annie, whether you have any affection for me," He began, stepping back after noting her colored complexion, "My affection for you is real. I swear, as Prince Ragnar Mosher, Seventh Prince of Jotunheim… And as the Death Prince that I shall return you to your home."

Her head snapped up, their eyes meeting, and she saw truth within his.

"You would truly do that?"

"Yes, Annie."

"Do you love me?"

Her question caught him off guard.

"Yes."

"And yet you know I don't love you."

He nodded, his head dipping only slightly.

"Maybe in the future I will… But not now," She got up, "I am going to take a bath or whatever."

She felt his eyes upon her as she walked away.

Ragnar looked at the clothing Stuart had passed to him when he returned. He knew whose wardrobe it had come from.

"Boy, there are very few men of your dimensions," Stuart said, a little contempt dripping into his voice, "And there are no tailors who would be willing to work with you, Death Prince. So yes, these are clothes that your brother has given you. And the young ladies clothes are from his youngest wife, Griselda."

"It's just… He wants me dead."

Annoyance flickered across Stuarts blue eyes.

"Suttungr may wish you dead, but you share his blood. He shall not have the family name tarnished with a bad death. So you will be treated fairly."

Ragnar nodded.

"Well, for what it's worth, thank you, kind sir."

Stuart nodded and left.

He placed the clothes on the back of the couch, and sat down. He removed his boots, something he hadn't done, he noted, in literal days.

His mind wandered to his conversation with Annie earlier, who seemed to have barricaded herself in the bath.

All that she had said… her mission had been to exterminate humanity. All of the people within the Walls, people who had no realistic ability to protect themselves, how could she do that? She'd have to have someone powerful enough to break through those gates. So one of her allies had to be a Collosus.

Musing, he didn't notice Annie dart out from the bathroom and snatch the clothing his brother had provided her. He only looked up once the door slammed shut.

"Annie?"

But she didn't answer him, and he sank limply into the couch. Everything he did seemed to make her distance herself further from him. He wished he had Luigi or Eleanor hear to help him.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, an angry looking Annie was standing in front of him.

"What in the hell is this?"

His brother's wife was luckily of similar size to Annie, for the blue dress she had provided her with fit well… very well in Ragnar's opinion.

"It's a dinner gown…"

"I hate dresses."

"And I dislike wearing court clothes also, but you must wear them. Now I'm going to hope you didn't use all of the hot water."

He brushed past her, but felt her hand grab his arm.

"Listen, Ragnar, about earlier…" She began, but he cut her off.

"I understand, Annie. It's okay."

She nodded, but looked at him sharply when he didn't move on in to the bathroom. Ragnar opened his shirt, and pulled a necklace she had never noticed from around his neck.

It was simply a beautifully wrought gold ring with a golden chain looped through it.

"In all likelihood, I will die tomorrow," He said, feeling an unbearable pressure in his chest, "This was my mothers. My father gave it to me when I was young… To always remember her."

He put it around her neck, coming close to lock it.

"There are ears in the walls, so, If I fall, use your ring and run northeast," He whispered into her ear, she shivered as his breath caressed her neck, "Just show the seal on that ring to any of the local men and women and they'll escort you to Vanirberg. Tell Luigi what happened, and he will take you home. By the way, you look beautiful."

Then he kissed her cheek, winked, grabbed his borrowed clothes and walked into the bathroom.

He didn't notice Annie touch her cheek where his lips had brushed her, or how her eyes seemed to soften as she watched him enter the bathroom.

Stripping off his clothes, he sank into the hot water, feeling his muscles unknotting beneath his skin. It had been at least a week since last he had bathed, since water had been a pretty precious commodity during his trip to the wall.

When he exited the restroom, he was in the regalia of a Prince. A knee length blue cloak with a raised collar, with a darker blue undershirt and blue pants. The entire ensemble was highlighted with gold.

Annie eyed him as he came out.

"Yeah I know, the shoes are a little ridiculous," His brothers clothes included a pair of shoes with upturned tips, and bells that hang from the aforementioned tips. "I'm gonna ditch them and wear…"

The door to their room opened, Stuart peering in.

"It is time for dinner, come with me."

They followed him out the door, Annie trailing behind as her feet caught the edge of her dress several times.

Stuart shuffled them into a large dining room, walls painted with stupendous tapestries, mainly of battles. He then exited and shut the door.

His brother was already seated at the table, with a trio of women and several children spread about one side of the table. Suttungr sat at the head of the table, but stood as they entered.

"Hello Ragnar, Annie, I hope you are both feeling… better."

They both nodded curtly. Ragnar pulled Annie's chair out for her, then sat down himself.

"Ragnar, I believe you've already met my senior wives," Suttungr looked at Annie, "Annie, allow me to introduce my senior wife, Arnora," He gestured to the black haired women nearest to him, she stood and curtsied, "My second wife Fastvi," This wife was a tall, slimly built woman with fiery red hair, "And this is Griselda, my youngest wife."

Griselda seemed to be in her mid-twenties, but was petite, shorter than Annie' own stature.

"My dress looks fabulous on you, Annie."

Annie blushed, something she was truly growing tired of.

"And these are my children, Astrid, Fridrek, Kolfinna and Gudrid," Each of the children curtsied as there name was called. Astrid seemed to be a girl only a little younger than Annie, Fridrek was maybe ten, and the two younger ones were toddlers. "Children, say hello to your Uncle Ragnar and Annie."

"Hello Uncle Ragnar and Aunt Annie."

Annie's blush grew, and Ragnar was now himself blushing slightly.

Suttungr chuckled as he took his seat once again, on Ragnar's left hand.

"Brother, I just wish you too know," He began, Ragnar's eyes locked with his own, "That what has transpired this past day, is not what you think it is. I apologize for wounding you, with both my sword and my words. I forgave you for Mother's death a long time ago, since you were just a child. But, there have been problems within my kingdom."

Suttungr had both Ragnar's and Annie's full attention now.

"What do you mean, Suttungr," Ragnar said, his voice low, "You say one thing and yet mean another, you do something that you say you do not wish to, you apologize to me after nearly killing me. You threaten to kill Annie. And then you order me to be treated as my station warrants, give us clothes and treat us well… Why, Suttungr, why!"

Ragnar slammed his fist to the table, and no one moved or spoke for several seconds, the children looked on with wide eyed fascination from the end of the table.

Suttungr never broke eye contact.

"I will tell you the truth of it," He sank into the back of his chair, "When I left Jotunheim, after, as you remember, attacking father and losing rather badly, I brought with me the dissidents of the kingdom, the young, the revolutionaries, and the fanatics. Life has not been good for me, or my family. I used to have five children."

Ragnar's flashed a look at the children.

"Someone killed my eldest son, and has attempted to kill both myself and my wives. Ragnar, I need your help. I have had to maintain the façade that I hate you, brother. Just to keep my family from death, to focus these barbarians I am surrounded with. I wish to come home."

Nothing could have surprised him more. His jaw dropped, and he stared about the room incredulously, but his Suttungr's wives eyes were hard, and determined.

"Please Ragnar," His brother was pleading with him, "It is two hundred miles to Vanirberg, a two or three day trip for a Jotunn. The problem I have, is that I am the only large form Jotunn, I'd never be able to get away from my pursuers and protect my family. With you, we can finally escape this wretched hell hole. So please, please save my family!"

"I…" Ragnar didn't know what to say, this was all so unexpected, he looked to Annie, but her face was impassive, "Suttungr, of course I shall save your family. Our family."

His brother looked relieved.

"Well, we shall leave immediately then! Everyone grab your things."

Packs full of supplies appeared from under the table, and Suttungr drew a bundle of weapons from under the table. Anne immediately grabbed a knife and began to hack at the bottom of her dress, much to Griselda's dissatisfaction. When she was done, the dress was above her ankles.

"Here, Brother, your blades from earlier.

Suttungr handed him the blades, his treasured short swords that Luigi had had made for him as a coming of age present. Ragnar nodded his thanks.

"Alright, let's get-"

"You are under arrest!"

All of the doors into the dining room burst open, and armed men flooded in. Stuart was at their lead.

"I find it despicable that you, our king, are a coward and traitor." His voice was cold, and his blade shone in the lamplight.

Suttungr's eyes bulged. The children cried out.

"You are the traitor, Stuart. You are my Guardian! You have been for over thirty years!"

"I was your Guardian, coward," Venom permeated his voice, "And I would have remained loyal had you not thought to abandon your post and flee with the Death Prince and his whore! The same boy who killed my family! You all will die-"

Suttungr flashed forward, his swords blurring into motion. Metal met metal as Stuart countered.

"Ragnar, Go! Save my family!"

Ragnar was already moving, he grabbed Annie, who was sliding towards a group of guards, and threw her into the cluster of wives and children. Then he bit down on his hand.

The mansion evaporated as a dozen titan's transformed within its dining room. A cloud of steam rose, and when it evaporated, Ragnar and Suttungr were surrounded by no less than a dozen titans.

Annie and the other passengers were held within Ragnar's lower hands, which he had hardened into a small cavity.

Stuart's titan form, as the steam cleared, held two swords, which upon closer examination looked like crystal. The same crystal which now hardened Ragnar's hands.

Suttungr, seeing this, stretched out his hands, and a pair of curved blade swords manifested themselves. He looked back at Ragnar and nodded, then launched himself forward. Ragnar launched himself to the north, plowing through a pair of Jotunn towards freedom.

Annie had no idea what was going on anymore, the whirl of events taking place were simply mind numbing, and she'd dealt with Reiner's jokes for a number of long trips.

She looked at the terrified faces around her, as she braced herself against Ragnar's constant movement.

"Mommy," The youngest, Kolfinna said, tears in her eyes, "Why is Daddy fighting Mr. Stuart? And why is Uncle Ragnar running?"

Griselda held her, her eyes tearing up.

"Kol, Daddy is fighting to protect us from the bad men. And Uncle Ragnar is doing as your Father asked him. He is taking us to a better place, where you can go outside and play…"

The little girls eyes widened at that.

Annie watched the conversation from the opposite of the little cavity, her heart feeling strange for the little girl… She found herself feeling jealous of them… They had so many people who would sacrifice themselves for them… Unlike her father…

"Annie, help me up," She heard Fastvi say, "We need to see what's going on."

She gave Fastvi a boost, then used her hand to climb out herself. They were able to use a pair of knives to climb to Ragnar's lower shoulder.

What she saw when she looked back chilled her. The horned form of Suttungr was engaged in combat with several titans, his manifested swords glistening with steam. The traitor Stuart stood back, his own blades smoking, allowing the other Surtr to go forward and die.

But Ragnar had other things to worry about, as even more Surtr transformed and made a beeline for him. And they were catching up to him.

"Damnit, this is a shitstorm!" Fastvi cursed, her red hair flapping about her, "Annie, you and Ragnar look like a nice couple. Treat him well, and please, protect my children."

And then she was gone, her slim body diving off of the shoulder. A flash, and then her Jotunn form, all six meters of it, was charging towards Surtr twice her size.

So much sacrifice… Why, why do they care so much about each other? Earlier today they'd been trying to kill Ragnar… Why does he trust them?

She found herself holding on to the necklace he had given her as she watched Fastvi tackle a Surtr, dragging him down, and slashing his eyes. Then she moved on to another, and did the same, and then they got wise, and swarmed her. She was torn out of her Jotnar, and dashed to the ground. But she had bought them just enough time…

Annie found herself airborne for a moment, as Ragnar took a running leap off of a canyon wall, but one of his upper hands reach back and pushed her back down, forming a protective barrier around her. After the jarring impact of landing

She felt helpless as people died around her… a feeling that was unusual for her. She'd never had anything to protect before… Only death, destruction and sadness.

Ragnar loved her, and yet she knew she didn't feel the same for him, although she did feel something, something that invaded her heart like a rebellious army and warmed it. She would return home, she knew, because Ragnar had promised it. But for now, her home was here…

Her thoughts clicked into place. Ragnar made it over a hill, and while they were hidden from the Surtr, she made her move.

She followed Fastvi's example, and fell off of Ragnar's shoulder.

I have a mission, but I didn't have a purpose, she thought as she sank her teeth into her hand, and her titan form exploded into being around her. Until now, I will not allow these people to die!

She slid to a halt, before turning on her heel and sprinting after Ragnar, whose eyes showed surprise as she came up even with him. His eyes drifted over her form, seeming to take it all in, then they hardened.

"Take…them." His titans voice was as monstrous sounding as its form, his lower arms separating, and then his passengers were in her hands, and he was skidding to a stop and storming back the opposite direction.

She looked back a final time, at the rapidly widening gap between them, before lowering her head and putting all of her effort into their escape.

Ragnar roared as he charged towards their pursuers. He'd been shocked to see Annie's Jotunn form, and had nearly attacked her, thinking her a Surtr, but her eyes had been the same cold blue as Annie's, and it had stopped his strike in its tracks. He was glad at she would escape. For this charge would likely be his last.

The ground before him was torn and broken, requiring at times for him to use his arms to steady himself. But the Surtr paused as he cleared the hill, leaping over the leading Jotunn.

He came down on a fifteen meter class, aiming his foot for the man inside. With a satisfying crunch, Ragnar crushed the Jotunn's neck, and spun, catching another with the edge of his hardened hand,

His rage was there, leading him. He felt his skin growing hot, but still, he pushed himself to that limit. Surtr died as he spun, as he stabbed, as he gouged, and then they faltered. A twelve meter fled, and then the whole roving mass was running. And he, like a hellhound with eyes aglow and bellowing his anger, pursued them.

The Surtr dispersed around a particular point, where he saw the figures of his brother surrounded by Titans. He had only one blade now, and his horns were battered and broken. But the group Ragnar had confronted kept running.

Slamming into the group surrounding Suttungr, he threw a fifteen meter class forward, knocking down a large portion of the crowd. His brother saw the opening and sprinted through it, Ragnar holding for a moment to kill a nearby Surtr with a kick.

Then he too was off, following his brother into the night.

It felt good to be able to use her Titan form again, sprinting through the night with Suttungr's family clasped to her chest.

Except for the four Surtr pursuing her. They'd come down from the mountain after Ragnar and herself had parted ways.

Annie knew she'd made a mistake when she came down this canyon, attempting to evade them, as the canyon came to an end.

She stopped and turned, unable to climb the wall without leaving her passengers.

A distant, yet familiar roar sounded from the far end of the canyon, but the Surtr didn't notice. They slowed as they neared, walking towards her, their faces smiling.

One stepped forward, thinking to grab for her, but Annie twisted her torso, her leg coming up and back… And then the headless corpse of that Titan smashed into the canyon wall, and the body turned into a steaming pile, and Annie was fighting for her life.

One of the Surtr grabbed her head, reached around to smash her neck, but his fist crashed into hardened skin. So instead he drove his fingers into one of her eyes, and she screamed a high warbling scream as the pain dropped her to her knees. She struggled, but the other Jotun held her.

The same Titan than brought his fist back to punch towards the hands cupped above her chest, and found it was gone, along with his head.

Suttungr stood there, then he moved out of the way, and a demon charged in.

Annie almost didn't recognize Ragnar, his skin was aflame and his eyes glowed with a powerful light from within.

Like Eren…

Ragnar charged in, grabbing Annie and throwing her towards Suttungr, then he was a gyre of death, his fists smoking as they ripped and tore, slashed and stabbed. The final Surtr tackled him, but Ragnar didn't even budge, he simply grabbed it by the neck and lifted it into the air, bringing his other upper hand up, and ripping the titans head off like a rag doll.

Annie stared in wide eyed shock, this was… this was… She felt her skin prickle as he turned to stare at her. She flinched as he came near, her eyes closing.

But all she felt was a hand upon her cheek, and she opened her eyes, looking into the glowing eyes. The monsters lips had quirked upwards.

He's smiling?

She opened her hands, and Suttungr's wives and children looked up with tear filled eyes at the three giant figures around them. Suttungr nodded, seeing most of his family was unharmed.

Annie passed Ragnar the family, and he held them in his lower hands as the three titans climbed out of the canyon, no pursuit in sight.