The early morning sun drifted into Annie's room, rousing her.

She sat up, rotating her shoulders flexing her arms. The training with Astrid, piled on top of this whole being pregnant thing was… troublesome. Especially now that Arnora and Eleanor had forbid them from training. Her belly had begun to swell noticeably, and her ankles were already beginning to pain her whenever she had to stand for long periods.

Ragnar slept heavily next to her. He'd spent most of the last few days doing just that, awakening only to eat and have short conversations with her and his guardians, who had been out 'rattling the houses bushes' for new men, as Tyr had put it.

For all the good it did… Three men, one from each house they spoke too… And they aren't exactly prime specimens either…

Audun Carr, of the House Oswald, was a swordsmen of renown…twenty five years ago, in his youth. Dustin Fell, of House Macdowell was sixteen, and from what Annie had gathered, as much a danger to himself as to others.

And then there was Gustav Hackett, who had been third in command of House Styr's guardians, a man with a nose that was so crooked it looked to be a hawk's talon upon his face, and who apparently had a history with Eleanor and Tyr. A bad history.

Beware the poisoned gift, she though, remembering one of her father's many axioms.

She looked down and noticed a questioning eye looking up at her.

"What, am I disturbing your sleep?"

A semi-muffled response brought her fist down on his head. Ragnar jerked away from her.

"Ouch, what the hell was that for!"

"I heard what you said! And though I agree," She smiled, and he returned the smile, right before she kicked hit him, "But don't say it again!"

He rolled out of the bed, dragging the sheets with him.

"Ugh, can't get any sleep…"

Annie snorted, before standing. She stretched a little more, then walked over to where Ragnar was trying to cocoon himself inside the blankets and kicked him.

"Comeon, you have to get up," She said, "You know what Luigi said, we need to meet them in the courtyard to see the new guardians."

"I know… I know…" Ragnar finally unrolled from the blanket, "I still fill like shit though."

They were silent as they readied themselves, though Annie did let out a chuckle when Ragnar cursed, having put his cloak on inside out.

The courtyard was only slightly habituated, with many people looking over to see the three remaining members of Ragnar's guard, Suttungr and his family, Eleanor stood aloofly to one side, near her grandfather, while the three new members of the guard stood in a line, resplendent in their new livery.

"Salute!"

His guards all saluted, before Luigi bowed to him.

"The new recruits are assembled," He said as Ragnar approached, "I've already sworn them in."

Ragnar nodded to Luigi.

"Excellent," He turned to his three newest guards, "Now, I'd like to see what you all can do. Nick, Luigi, Tyr, would you please put them through their paces?"

Eleanor walked over, followed by Arnora and her brood, and plopped a canvas folding chair down in front of Annie.

"Sit, we don't want you getting tired! You're always cranky when your tired." She laughed when Annie scowled at her, but she still felt thankful as she plopped down into the chair.

And so Annie spent her morning watching the three new guards dueling, more interested even than Ragnar, who stood watching in silence, his eyes partially lidded.

Carr truly was an excellent swordsmen, and his hand to hand was excellent, though not on par with her own or Ragnar's. Against Tyr though, he easily held his own, though she noted that he had a tendency to tire out very quickly, as she expected a man in his forties would.

Fell, well… they'd need to train him. Hard. His fighting technique consisted largely of throwing himself forward, arms flailing. Nick battered him senseless, all the while trying to get him to learn something. He failed miserably.

Hackett was the most experienced out of the three, his swords weaving a deadly web that even Luigi was forced to back away from, that would likely make "humanities greatest soldier" take heed. The man couldn't take his eyes off of Tyr though, and she noted the hate that rolled off of him in thick waves.

Ragnar noted her interest in the man.

"He was to be wed to Eleanor," He said, pitching his voice low, "A week before the wedding… Hackett found out that she had already married Tyr, who comes from a long line of miners. Words were exchanged, and Tyr beat him senseless. You know, the regular stuff that happens around me…"

She eyed him, annoyed with his negativity, but held her tongue.

He's been acting strangely since he got back… What happened to him?

Hackett landed a particularly powerful combination, with Luigi falling backwards from the snaking blades, and it brought him near Tyr. His lips moved, but the words were lost to the wind by the time they reached Ragnar and Annie.

They weren't lost to Tyr, who whirled, enraged. He cocked back one of his fists, and threw a devastating punch. Hackett expected this, and ducked under the blow, slamming his own fist into the larger man's stomach. Then his blades came up, scything towards Tyr's neck.

"Stop."

Hardened steel slammed into crystal, as Ragnar stepped in, his two knives plucked from their scabbards.

How… I didn't even noticed him move… And his eyes…

They seemed to glow, like she had seen them do before, but they seemed to take on a more golden hue… But the next time he blinked the glow was gone.

Hackett froze, seeing the angry set of his new lord's face. He stepped back, disengaging their blades.

"Good choice," She heard Ragnar say, "Now, I think we should make it clear who is in charge here. Tyr, Luigi! Step back, I shall duel him now!"

"Ragnar, that may not be the best idea!" Luigi said, concerned.

"It shall be fine, Luigi," Ragnar sheathed his knives and drew his blades.

Annie had only seen those swords from a distance, and never noted the beauty of their construction. Their double sided blade glinted in the sunlight, and the blood channel that ran down the center of the blade tapered off towards the tip. They sat well in Ragnar's hands.

And I've never seen him sharpen them either…

"My lord," Hackett said, "I do not wish to fight you."

The man's blonde hair, longer even than her own, fluttered in the wind, even as Ragnar eyed him.

"I wish it," Ragnar finally said, "You must understand that you cannot go around picking fights with other guards. Even ones you dislike. Now come, let us settle this!"

"My Lord, we should only have a few more miles. Please my lord, just hang in a little longer!"

Eric was hurt, but Sigmund was hurt even worse. A group of Surtr had caught them about halfway to the capital, and it had taken all of their abilities to fight their way out. Even Eric's armored Jotunn, one of the reasons he was so feared, was not able to handle the onslaught, and Sigmund had received a grievous wound to his chest as they struggled to escape the attack.

And it's not healing properly either.

He looked over his shoulder, shifting his Prince in the process, noting the smoke on the horizon.

The Surtr are coming. I have to move faster!

"Mikasa, comeon, you need to go to bed. I'll keep a watch over him while you rest."

Armin stood at the end of Eren's bed, but instead looked at Mikasa, who had dark bags under her eyes.

Since Eren's episode a few days past, during the rescue operation, he hadn't woken up. His wounds had all healed, and he'd been breathing normally… But he just stayed sleeping.

Mikasa had taken it the hardest, sitting by his bedside as she usually did. For three days, with little or no sleep.

"I… I can't… what if he… he," Her eyes began to water, as her heard bobbed back and forth, "Armin, I have to protect him. But I don't know what to do."

He didn't know what he needed to do, and that was the problem. Armin had absolutely no idea what to do in this situation.

It's got to be something to do with those visions he's been having, but what could cause him to not awaken?

Mikasa's head hit the side of the bed with a muffled thump, and Armin sighed. He walked out into the hallway of their hideout, a small house in the middle of nowhere near Wall Rose. Connie and Sasha had gone out to look for supplies in a nearby village, while Jean, Christa and himself had remained behind. Captain Levi was out with Hanji patrolling the area.

"Hey guys, could you help me get Mikasa to bed?" He said as he entered the large main room. "She finally passed out."

Jean looked up from the book he'd found in the old house, and Krista put down her sandwich.

"Finally? For all that is good in the world," Jean slapped his forehead, "She watches over him like a mother bear with her cub…"

With their help, he was able to get Mikasa to her bed. As he turned to follow Krista out, he saw Jean turn back and look into the room, a sad look upon his face.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just… everything's changed so much since our days in training," He rubbed his temples, something Armin had seen him doing as of late, "But still, her devotion to him has never changed, never wavered…"

Armin reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, knowing what he was thinking.

"I don't think that will ever change, my friend."

"So you're saying that the entirety of the Scouting Legion has disappeared? After wreaking untold havoc upon the towns and villages within Wall Sina?"

Niles Dawk stood before General Zacklay and the full military tribunal that had been gathered against him. The burning anger in Zacklay's heart matched the fires that raged in several areas, most unoccupied.

"I…I… yes sir," Zacklay eyed the cowardly man in front of him, "But they caught us by surprise! And they had help from men in this very room!"

Zacklay smashed his gavel down as the room erupted into pandemonium. He looked to his left, looking at Dot Pixis, who had come under suspicion for possibly providing the Scouting Legion with the weaponry for their breakout of the the Yeager boy. And the dozens strong attack on the jail that had held Erwin Smith that had been the first of the breakouts.

The old man just sat there, his face passive.

We'll need to watch him closely. But, I have to take care of Dawk now.

"Niles Dawk, it is the opinion of this tribunal, that you be stripped of your rank, and discharged from the military police's service, you shall henceforth not be allow to wear the uniform, or draw payment from our treasury," He looked up at the pair of guards who had appeared behind the cowering man, "Take him away."

As the doors were opened to allow the guards to drag Dawk out, a trio of men slipped inside the large meeting hall, stopping the guards carrying Dawk out. Two members of the Wall Cult, and a tall, very lanky man in the uniform of the military police. He wore a strange mask that covered all of his face, only allowing his blue eyes to shine through. Zacklay narrowed his own eyes, for the man wore a complete set of 3D maneuver gear.

Those were the same two members of the cult that brought me the King's order to arrest Erwin and disband the Scouting Legion, they're both Senior Ministers within the Cult… But who is that masked man? I don't like the look in his eyes…

"What business do you have here, priests?" He called out as they approached the panel.

"The King has sent the man he wishes to replace Niles Dawk as commander of the Military Police, this is Lars Lowe. The commander of the King's personal guards."

The man saluted, but his eyes carried an arrogance and vitriol that made Zacklay raise his lip in distaste.

"Why has the King chosen now to send us a candidate when he never has before?"

The General was shocked when it was Lars who stepped forward to speak.

"It is not for you to questions the King's orders," He said, causing the gathered members of the tribunal to watch him with narrowed eyes, "He sent me because of the failure after failure of the Military Police, the men who guard him. I shall take charge, and hunt down these villains who so devastated the King's land inside Sina."

"So you believe you can reform the Military Police?"

"And the Garrison," Lars called, smiling. His eyes darted to Pixis, who scowled back at him, "I was sent to reform the Military, not just the Military Police."

The gathered men of the tribunal erupted into jeering and catcalling at the usurpation of their power, at the man the king had sent. Zacklay pounded his gavel until the room was once again silent.

"How will you go about this reformation?" Pixis called out.

Lars turned and gestured to the guards holding Niles, and after a slight hesitation dragged him over.

"Simply, I shall use the most important human emotion," Zacklay's eyes widened as he saw what was about to happen, "Fear!"

His blades were out in what seemed only a heartbeat, and a heartbeat later he was sheathing them, while the body of Niles Dawk fell into three pieces behind him.

"Failure shall not be tolerated anymore," Lars said into the silence, "Now… Do you accept my nomination as commander of the Military Police?"

"So, my lord, am I to your liking?"

"Yes, Gustav, you are."

Ragnar sprawled on the ground, opposite of Hackett who was doing the same. Their duel had lasted nearly fifteen minutes, with neither being able to best the other. Each of them had received numerous small cuts, but Ragnar's had already healed.

"Excellent, My lord," Hackett said, standing and offering his hand, "It'll be nice to see some actual combat."

Ragnar took the proffered hand and stood, feeling the soreness that was already seeping into his muscles. Nodding to Hackett, he turned to find Annie eyeing him with a raised eyebrow.

"How was that," He asked as he walked over to her, but noted that she wasn't looking at him anymore, "Wha-"

He turned to find his father standing at the top of the steps leading into the palace, with a red haired man in a black cloak. They walked down the steps to their group, and stood slightly apart.

"Ragnar, Suttungr," He inclined his head to his sons, "I've brought another member for your party. This is Diomedes Johnson, a member of my guard who I've decided to transfer to your own."

Ragnar eyed the other man, noting his pale complexion and grey eyes.

"A pleasure to meet you," The man said, offering his hand, "Just call me Dio."

He shook Dio's hand, then shot a glance at his father. Whose skin was sallow and seemed to sag.

He's lost even more strength… He has maybe a week, if not less.

"Dio here has been a member of my guard for a long time," Ragnar looked into his fathers eyes, seeing the emphasis he was putting on those final two words, "He is very, very knowledgeable in combat and other areas."

This Dio must be an old-timer like Father, but how does he still look so young?

"Well, thank you father, for this mission we shall need anyone we can get."

His father nodded and left, returning inside the palace. When he turned back to his group, he found Dio staring at Annie, who looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"Could you look someplace else, shitface?" He heard her say.

"You look familiar… what's your name, sweetie?"

Ragnar felt a dislike begin to grow in his chest, but that was put to rest as Annie slammed a fist into the man's face. He didn't even attempt to dodge, just took it straight in the nose, grinning.

She then walked over to stand beside him, and he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Her name is Annie," He said, looking at Dio, who was still grinning as blood dripped from his nose, "She's from a village to the south of the Walls. She's also… well, I guess she is sort of betrothed to me, right Eleanor?"

Annie looked at him, while Eleanor nodded.

"Ah, I can see the dynamic now," Dio said, as the bleeding stopped, "But still, you do look familiar-"

They were interrupted by a ruckus at the gates, and Ragnar saw a crowd of guards gathering. Turning from his group, he rushed over.

Eric the Strong stood over Sigmund, both covered in blood and numerous wounds that were only partially healed.

Ragnar looked down at his brother, one who had been the primary source of torment in his youth, and felt only pity. But he looked at Eric, who stood and bellowed.

"Someone help Sigmund, his wounds won't heal!"

He was there in a moment, pushing the large man back, his hands finding the massive chest wound. It looked as if a Jotunn had stuck its finger into his chest.

Heal him!

Warmth and steam exploded outwards, and he felt the wound beginning to close under his hands. It took a handful of minutes for the wound to completely close, but when it did, he could feel his brothers breathing return to normal.

"Death Prince," He looked up into the large face of Eric, "Thank you for saving my Prince. The Surtr are right behind us, they'll be to the city outskirts soon. And I have news of great importance for the King!"

"That Freyr is a traitor? We figured that out, he allowed a group of Surtr to ambush us while we were returning to the capital. My guard has been annihilated."

The giant man just stared at him.

"Then we are well and truly fucked."

The ground rocked under their feet, and a plume of smoke rose nearby. He turned to his party, who were standing nearby.

"It looks like we've run out of time, we need to prepare to get out of here."

As smoke and flames began to rise into the sky, Ragnar raced back towards the royal apartments, where they had supplies cached and ready to go. The rest of his party followed hot on his heels.

Sorry this one took so long! We had a few people at my job quit, and I've had to pick up their slack! As a positive though, I finally got my ankle checked out, and I only resprained my achilles tendon in my left foot. Had to break out my old boot, but it should be better within the week. And hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter cranked out before weeks end.

Another reason for the longer posting time, was that I've been doing some MAJOR housecleaning within the story. I combined several chapters (generally the shorter, weaker ones with the better ones) and I've got some extra stuff I gotta add.

As a note, gonna add it into the story, Ragnar and Luigi use Gladius style blades. All other blades wielded by Jotunheim based OCs are in the form of sabres, scimitars and wazikashis.

Hope you enjoy!