"Damn you, Erwin! This is getting ridiculous, every time I see you, you bring me the worst news!"
Commander Erwin Smith listened in composed silence as the military tribunal, which was meeting privately within a mansion inside of Wall Sina, berated himself and his companions.
Levi and Hanji sat to his left, Levi listening with his usual bored expression, and Hanji strangely having a rather serious expression. Her wounds from the battle with the Armored and Colossus Titan still had not healed completely in the weeks since.
He glanced to his left, and saw that Eren Jaeger was sitting rigidly within his seat, his fists clenched. His two usual cohorts were absent however.
His eyes returned back to General Zacklay, who was rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"So," He began, after putting his glasses back on, "You report that not only has the Scouting Legion, not to mention the Military Police forces you took, been massacred once again for no gain, but that you were unable to capture these two other Titan Shifters."
"Yes, General."
"This is added on to the report that the Female Titan, Annie Leonhardt," Zacklay flipped through a sheaf of papers in front of him, "Has escaped from her underground prison, and fled past the Wall Rose."
Erwin could feel Eren tense next to him.
It's a good thing I withheld that information from him, he might have been more insistent on returning outside the Walls.
"That is also true, Sir."
"Well, do you have anything good to report…?"
Erwin was about to report about Eren's newly discovered ability, but he was cut off by Niles Dawk with another questions.
Another half hour passed, with the other members of the tribunal questioning them about all that had transpired.
When they reached the part about Eren's ability to control a group of Titan's, most of them scoffed.
"But it's true!"
Erwin winced as Eren finally let loose, unable to control himself. He was standing, shaking with anger.
Levi shifted in his seat, and Eren swiftly sat back down, his face still angry.
I truly hate these meetings…
Ragnar cracked his eyes, peering into the darkness that was his room in the Royal Apartments.
I could've sworn I heard something.
After his and Annie's… activities, during the day, they'd slept undisturbed until now. She was still curled up next to him, sleeping peacefully.
But Ragnar knew he'd heard something, and quietly looked up.
He jumped when he noted a pair of figures standing at the end of his bed, the total darkness obscuring their faces.
"Who are you?"
Annie awoke, and sat up, the blankets falling away from her naked chest. The two figures immediately turned away.
"Ragnar, get dressed," He heard his brothers voice say.
Suttungr… what in the hell are you doing in my room, and how did you get in? I didn't hear the door open…
He quickly grabbed his shirt and pants and slipped them on in the darkness, then threw Annie her dress, while she held a blanket over herself, glaring at the two shadowy figures.
When they were both dressed, the second figure, the one that hadn't spoken, struck a match and lit the table lamp.
"Father?"
What are my father and brother doing in my room at this time of night?
"Yes, Ragnar," His father said, stepping totally into the light, "We need to talk candidly."
So he found himself in some kind of bizarre dream, sitting at a table with his father, Annie and Suttungr.
"Now, I want to start off by allowing you to ask me any questions while we are here in private."
Ragnar knew exactly what he wanted to ask.
"Why do you hate me?"
His father's blue eyes, twitched, and a look of genuine hurt crossed his face.
"Ragnar… You are my son, I could never hate you."
"Then why did you exile me?"
"To keep you safe of course," His father said, gesturing to Suttungr, "You see, Suttungr isn't the only one with problems concerning your birth. When you went on that first rampage, you killed quite a few nobles, the only family you didn't take at least one family member from were the Hninga's, and that bridge was burned earlier today."
His father paused, rubbing his hands together.
"I had two choices, execute you on the spot, or exile you. I kept you here as long as possible, but as you know, when you turned two the pressure against me mounted. And in public functions I cannot show you any warmth, even now."
Ragnar snorted. His lip curled distastefully.
"Then why are you here?"
"To apologize and attempt to make you understand me," He turned to Annie, "And to speak to your wife-to-be about her people."
Annie looked suspiciously at the King.
"What do you know of my people?"
"You're a Myrmidon, correct?"
Both Ragnar and Annie stared in shock.
How did he know that, she only told me a few days back…?
Annie nodded though, suspicion flickering behind her eyes.
"Sort of. How do you know that?"
"Girl, I'm quite a bit older than I look," He pulled out a necklace, with the arrow through a circle symbol of a Myrmidon hanging from a golden chain, "I was once in love with a Myrmidon, before I fell in love with your mother and the Queen. And yes, I remember the founding of your Homeland, a hundred years ago."
Ragnar exhaled suddenly, disbelieving.
"Believe it you two, it will make everything much easier. There are several things I must reveal to you."
"But how could that be?" Ragnar blurted out. "How can you remember something from so long ago?"
"Actually, I'm over eight hundred years old," He flexed his arms and cracked his knuckles, "Pretty spry for an old timer like myself, I suppose. I was born during the beginning of the Titan Holocaust… At that time we fought them with guns and great machines that moved like caterpillars, and I joined the Titan Hunters," His father paused, looking down at his hands, "We fought hard, but every time we made progress, more Titans would appear. Eventually, we were able to Wall them in, but they broke out, again and again. They appeared where we thought they could not. We never did figure out where they were coming from, but we did learn how to harness their power. By that time I had established myself as a leader among the remnants… And here we are."
Annie shook her head. A scowl was set pretty much permanently upon her face.
"No we aren't, you skipped pretty much everything! Like how you have the sign of a Myrmidon around your neck!"
His father waved his hand dismissively.
"A magician can't reveal all of his secrets!"
Puzzlement creased the others brows.
"Magician? What the hell is that?"
King Hoenor rolled his eyes.
"It doesn't matter, what matters is getting you, Ragnar, into the good graces of the people. I shall share with you one of the greatest secrets I have kept."
He sat back into his chair and stared at Ragnar. He began to speak, and his voice changed, deepening strangely.
"Time in future spent,
When those in hell shall repent,
So will come the one who represents Death,
And the one who represents Hope,
Death shall seek hope,
While Hope shall seek death
And in their rage,
They shall lay waste
Until unbeknownst to them,
Love shall intervene
At the time of their final battle,
And so the End of Sorrow shall begin."
"Father, what was that?" Ragnar asked, as his father closed his eyes, seeming to rest for a moment. Suttungr answered for him.
"That was a prophecy given to our father by our mother, the night that you were born," Ragnar's eyes widened, and he felt his heartbeat increase, "She said it sometime before you transformed."
Ragnar reached a hand under the table and grabbed Annie's hand, squeezing her hand gently.
I'm going to need her strength…
His father looked up finally, his eyes noting how Ragnar looked over at Annie for a moment.
"Ragnar… Since that sorrowful day, I have believed that you are the one who represents Death. Which is why I gave you Luigi as a Guardian, one of my best men, and told him to take you to Vanirheim and raise you," His father looked away, unfallen tears clinging to his eyes, "I am sorry every day that I had to do that to you. But it was for your own good. You must be prepared to confront the one who seeks death!"
Annie squeezed his hand hard, and he looked over. Her eyes were wide and her jaw was slightly agape.
"I… I believe I may have an idea of who Hopes representative is…"
"I can't believe she escaped! What in the hell were those fools in the underground doing!"
Eren Yaeger kicked out, hitting a nearby stump.
"You really shouldn't kick things like that, Eren. You'll hurt yourself."
Mikasa sat on a chair near him, while Armin was speaking with a pair of men in the uniform of the Legion.
"Whatever," He said, but the heat had gone out of his voice, "I just can't believe that Erwin kept it from us for so long."
"When was he supposed to tell you," Mikasa chastised him quietly, "Was he supposed to yell it to you while you were in Reiner's hands?"
Eren snorted and looked at her.
"You know what I mean, Mikasa."
He sat down across from her, as the clouds swept across the blue skies above them. Armin came over with the two other Legion members.
"Eren, Mikasa," He began, gesturing to the two men in turn, "This is Team Leader Sturgenson, and Louis Ryder. They lead the team that tracked Annie to the northernmost town of Wall Rose. I've been talking to them at length, and you may want to hear what they have to say…"
"So, Annie, what you're saying, is that this Eren Yaeger that you've just described to us is Hope's representative?"
Annie nodded, looking at Ragnar. His face was drawn, his lips mashed tightly together… She knew that last few days had been getting to him, but with all of these new revelations he must be having a real crisis of his conscious.
"I do, Sir," She began, her memories briefly flickering back to Eren, "He fits the prophecy that you just gave us, I think."
His father folded his hands on his stomach, seeming to ponder all that had been said.
"Well," He began, pulling out a small folder, "It seems that you will need to make a trip to the wall. Also, you need to go visit Master Leo, maybe tomorrow. Just the two of you."
His eyes flashed up to Ragnar and Annie, seeming to emphasize the point he'd just made. He then threw the folder towards Ragnar.
Why does he want me to visit Luigi's master? Does he wish me to learn more of the Way of the Fist?
"That contains directions to Master Leo's shack. And also my writ ordering you to raise a hundred man force from Vanirberg to assist in the war with the Surtr. Oh, by the way, your brothers will be arriving the day after tomorrow. Be careful around them."
His father stood, and Ragnar and Suttungr also stood while Annie remained seated.
He walked around the table and put his hands on Ragnar's shoulders.
"Once the Founding Festival is over, and I expect you to take part in the ceremonies this year, you are to send for your forces at Vanirberg. We will be beginning the war soon after the end of the Festival. You must make a name for yourself, Ragnar. As a good man, and a good leader. Now, goodbye, My Son. And my lady."
Annie watched as the King and Suttungr disappeared into a secret door in a wall, which Ragnar was unable to open from the outside. He gave up after a few minutes, and sat on a couch. Annie sat in a chair near him.
"Annie… what was your relationship with this Eren Yaeger?"
She hesitated, her cheeks flushing. Ragnar noted the redness in her cheeks.
"He was a member of my training class within the Walls… We worked closely together, especially in hand to hand combat training. I taught him most of my techniques."
"Did you have feelings for him?"
"No!" She protested, but she knew it wasn't true. Her heart felt a little cold.
I didn't feel for him as I do for you… But I did feel something for him.
Ragnar smiled at her, and she felt her heart warm again. He got up and crawled back into bed, groaning as he did.
When she didn't join him immediately, he sat up.
"Are you coming back to bed, woman? I've sort of gotten used to you being here next to me… Oh yeah, did you have fun earlier?"
"Fun" he says, I feel like I got beat with a chair!
"It was alright."
He laughed, and then smiled at her.
"Only alright?" He looked disappointed even though he smiled, "Maybe we could…"
"No, not now. I'm tired."
But he winked at her, and she finally joined him in bed once again.
She slipped away thinking about what the King had told them that night.
Death shall seek hope.
"What do you mean there were other Titans like me out there?"
Eren looked incredulously at the two older men as they told him what they had seen.
"That's exactly what I said," Sturgenson said, looking down at the young upstart, "We watched from the wall as she was caught by a dozen or so Titans. Watched her be caught and had her leg bitten off. But tthen, right as we were riding the elevator down the side of the Wall, we saw a few small explosions on the field next to where she had fallen. Next thing we knew, a massive Titan with four arms came whirling onto the scene…"
Four arms? That's strange. Eren's thoughts chopped off as Ryder took up the story from there.
"A few other Titan's followed that one, and they took down all of the Titan's around her," He paused, shuddering at the recent memory, "Once the other ones were down, we were able to see a man exit the big ones neck, and grab up the girl. Then he was gone on horseback."
Eren's curiosity redoubled.
"What did the man look like?"
The two turned and conversed with each other in a whispered voice.
"He was big," Sturgenson began, but Ryder finished the sentence, "But not tall, he was just really wide. Looked muscular. Blond. That's just about all we saw. By the time we reached where the battle had taken place, all we could find were a blood trail and hoof prints."
Looking over at Armin and Mikasa, Eren saw that their eyes were wide at that revelation.
More Titan shifters like myself… More enemies to kill…
They stood in silence for a time, before Sturgenson and Ryder excused themselves and walked off towards their barracks in Wall Rose.
"Well, we should be getting close now, Annie."
Ragnar lead Annie down one of the trails that was marked by his father. They'd left Yggadrasil early in the morning, with a promised word to Luigi that they'd be well behaved.
"Good, I'm looking forward to getting off of this horse," Annie said from behind him, he looked back to see her scowl under her hood off into the woods, "Let's just get this over with and get back."
He watched her for a moment, until she looked back at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
They ascended a steep path, lined with rocks, and then the hovel was in sight. Three men stood outside the door, banging on it.
"Come out, come out, old man!" A large red haired fellow yelled, "You won't be stopping me from taking whatever I want out of your garden ever again!"
One of them produced a metal crowbar, and began to wedge at the door. None of them noticed Annie and Ragnar ride up. Almost immediately he could smell the strong stench of liquor wafting up from them.
"Excuse me," Ragnar called to the men, who turned drunkenly, their eyes flashing in anger, "What are you doing?"
"None of your business, asshole! Now go away so we can kill the old man!"
Ragnar clicked his tongue, and dismounted.
"Annie, I'll take care of this one, my love."
She rolled her eyes, as Ragnar walked towards the drunken would-be murderers.
"Well, it's my job to keep your from killing the 'old man'," Ragnar squared his shoulders, as the one man stopped trying to pry the door open and instead hefted it into his hand threateningly, "So, you have two choices. Run, or die."
He flicked back his hood, dropping his cloak on the ground.
At least they seem to recognize me distantly.
Most people knew the general look of a Mosher, not particularly tall, but thick at the shoulder and barrel chested, with thick legs. Ragnar was a noted example, although he was taller than most men.
Their eyes widened in seeming recognition, but they didn't back down.
"You," The big red head said, "You're that bastard the Death Prince."
Ragnar made no acknowledgement, except to narrow his eyes. He shifted into his combat stance.
"You piece of shit, hey guys, this is the one who killed my Aunt Nelly and cousins. I think it's time for some payback."
They took a step forward, threatening, but Ragnar had already burst forward.
"Wha-" Red said, backing up as Ragnar slammed his fingers into his throat. He fell, clutching it and gasping for air.
Ragnar laced his hands together and swung around, catching the one with the crow bar full in the face. He felt bone crunch as he slipped lifelessly to the ground.
He'd neglected the third man, though, who had grabbed a piece of wood and slammed it down on Ragnar's shoulder. It shattered uselessly to the ground.
"Should've used something heavier, shithead," Ragnar said, his hand flashing out, grabbing the man by the throat. "Now where is Master Leo?"
Annie cried out a warning, but it wasn't soon enough as someone hit him from behind. He released his load and rolled away, coming up to face the bleeding red haired man, who now held his comrades crowbar.
"Piece of shit, I'll show you who to mess with!"
He dropped to the ground suddenly, as a little old man appeared suddenly behind him, and punched him in the back of the head.
"Oh, you must be Master-"
He was upon Ragnar like lightning, raining fists down upon him. Ragnar winced at the numerous blows, but counterattacked with a kick that sent the old man reeling backwards.
Ragnar's hesitation cost him though, for instead of following through, he waited, and the old man came back upon him and jabbed into his eyes, kicked him between the legs and then delivered a kick to the side of his head.
"Do you yield, boy?"
Master Leo's voice was raspy, but his breathing wasn't even ragged or showing any sign of the beating he had just administered.
"Yes." Ragnar ground out.
"Good, I didn't want to have to beat Luigi's student up anymore."
He offered a hand, and Ragnar pulled himself up, concentrating for a moment to fix his eyes. The steam dissipated and he saw the Master Leo looking up at him. His gray hair was long and stringy, and his face was pinched and seemed to have been tanned deeply by the sun. His face was centered on a beaked nose. Ragnar bowed.
"Thank you for that demonstration of the Way, Master. You are every bit as skilled as Luigi told me you would be."
Master Leo bowed in turn.
"It is an honor to meet you, Prince of Jotunheim," He said, "It has been many years since I have seen Luigi, the last time was… six or seven years ago I believe. Now why have you come?"
Ragnar nodded, he remembered Luigi telling him that he had to go visit his master for advice. He'd been eleven at the time. He gestured up to Annie, who had been watching the whole episode in silence.
"This is my companion, Annie Leonhardt," Ragnar didn't notice the hint of surprise enter the old man's eyes, "My father, King Hoenor, directed us to find you and speak with you. He did not tell us about what, though. He was suitably mysterious to my disdain."
Ragnar finally noticed that Master Leo's eyes were locked on Annie, who stared back with eyes that espoused annoyance.
"Annie… Leonhardt?"
"Yes, sir. She is my companion."
Ragnar began to get the sense that he was missing something.
Annie dismounted her horse, and stalked over to the old man. He only barely over topped her by a few centimeters. Master Leo stared down at her, and it was then that Ragnar noted how their noses were nearly identical… and their eyes were the same cold blue…
"Hello, Annie. It's been quite some time since last I saw you. How is your father?"
Ragnar's confusion had reached a peak, they knew each other, but how?
"My father is still a bastard," Annie said harshly, visibly shaking with rage, "And so are you! How could you leave me there with him after mother died and Akilles disappeared?"
I am getting incredibly tired of being left out of the loop…
"Okay, Annie, what the hell is going on," He finally blurted out, "How do you know each other?"
She turned to look at him, her eyes softening fractionally.
"Ragnar… He's my maternal grandfather. Tobias Leonhardt."
Hey everyone, some of you may have noticed that I've been updating my older chapters (I've reread and rewrote up to chapter 7 so far). So you may want to take the chance to reread the first few chapters. I made a few continuity errors in my haste, and some god-awful spelling and phonetics errors, but I've fixed most of them. If you find anymore, feel free to PM me.
-Mosh