Ripple of Kindness
Summary: One act of kindness can beget another. For all his cruelty, King Fritz find himself stunned after he is saved from assassination by Ymir, his slave. A woman that should hate him, he know. And in that instance, Fritz has a different reaction to Ymir's sacrifice. One that may ripple down the centuries. After all, sometimes, just making the world a little less cruel is good enough.
Disclaimer: I do not own AoT
AN Reposted due to the site issues from the past few days
King Fritz could only stare in numb disbelief at the sight before him. He was completely deaf to his soldiers killing the Marleyian soldiers and generals after their failed assassination attempt on him. He paid no heed to the cries of the on-looking commoners. He hardly even noticed his own crying daughters right in front of him.
His attention was solely and only on Ymir.
The one on whose back his new empire had been forged, the mother of his children and the vanquishers of his enemies.
The Slave with the power of a Goddess.
The woman that should hate him most in the world.
The woman that saved him from certain death.
The woman that lay dying with a spear through her.
No matter how many times he played it over in his head, it didn't make sense. Ymir had been far away, and he too shocked to even think to call for her help. The aim had been true; it would have killed him without doubt.
He would have died here, on the throne Ymir had created for him in every sense besides literal.
But she saved him, for some reason. Why? That had been his question for thirteen years. He had enslaved her and her people, cut out their tongues and hunted her with spears and arrows through a forest. Then she emerged from the legendary Ash Tree as a giant creature beyond all imagination. He thought he would die that day, in that forest.
That was the way of this world. If you win, you live. If you win, you're the stronger one, the victor. If you're the victor, the weak and defeated can only accept their fate or die. That was the way of things in this age of blood and steel.
Yet, when that great beast came before him, it bowed. He often recalled that moment with amusement, knowing many of his men had literally emptied their bowels, thinking they would be devoured. Then the little slave girl emerged from the beast, her wounds healed, and Fritz had been resigned. The slave he had "freed" had more power than he thought existed and would now wreak vengeance on him and his tribe.
Or, that's what he assumed she was going to do. That she had only emerged to let him know who his executioner was.
Instead, she knelt before his horse, head bowed with her arms held out in submission.
His men retold the story grandly, how the mighty Ymir recognized her rightful place as his slave, how he wasn't shocked by her continued servitude. In truth, he had been shocked. Was this some sign from the gods? Or was Ymir just bidding her time for vengeance?
He commanded Ymir to do a great many things, and seeing her loyally and obediently use her great and titanic powers to his design gave him an almost godlike standing among his people. But in the back of his head, as he watched her, he kept waiting for the day she would rise against him.
But years went by, and nothing changed. Well, everything changed, except Ymir. Eldia grew in power, wealth, size, architecture, everything. He traded a helmet for a crown, his men gained better weapons and armor, his people walked stone roads instead of dirt paths and he lived in marble-carved halls instead of wooden ones. They never had to fear another bad winter, for Ymir helped make sure there was so much cropland that they'd always have surplus. They never had to worry about their greatest enemies raiding or wiping them out.
It was a golden age for Eldia that he would have never seen in his lifetime any other way.
But Ymir remained the same. She grew, but she was still a slave, just with finer clothes. And all the time, he watched her; watched if there was any sign of rebellion. Or, at the least, something she had or wanted that appeased her. Something that would make sense to him, explain why this woman never turned against him. He had never had her beaten or punished, officially because she had never given him reason to, but mostly because he expected her to retaliate the moment anyone tried.
He pondered if she had been indeed a gift from the gods, bound to serve him.
He thought that "rewarding" her by letting her bear his children would be the deciding point. She didn't even look shocked, let alone wanting to declined. She just...accepted it. She never resisted him.
Though, he had learned that her tongue had indeed grown back.
She was officially his concubine after that. If she had shown any desire or ambition, he would have even named her his queen, but she didn't. If she wanted to be free, he wouldn't be able to deny her, but she didn't express any desires at all.
He had no idea how her powers worked, but he had made use of them as infrequently as possible after the pregnancy had become obvious. Not even a goddess should go into battle pregnant.
One daughter became two, then three. Before Ymir, he and others would have taken it as a bad omen that he had sired no sons. But any child of Ymir was considered a blessing by all of Eldia, and fathered by him meant a powerful warrior-queen might be in their future.
But now, here she lay, looking as frail and helpless as any other of hundreds of people he had seen impaled with a spear.
How could something so simple kill Ymir?
How could he hope to maintain power without her?
How could she possibly try to save him?
She was staring at him, her eyes weak and barely staying open.
And all he could think was that one question.
Why?
If she had let him die, she would be queen. It would have been easy to take power with his death. It'd be easy to flee with the children if she didn't want to rule, for whatever reason. Yet, she leapt to take the killing blow meant for him.
In numbness, in shock, his first instinct was denial. To command her to get up, to stop acting like such a mortal death could be her end.
But as if guided by the gods, he reached down to past his daughters and touched Ymir's shoulder-
-and lightning danced across his finger.
He was instantly aware of Ymir. Of all she was, all she had been, and perhaps even all she still could be. He didn't understand it, but perhaps he didn't need to.
She was a child of a conquered land. Her earliest memories were being put into chains and led out of her burning village by his warriors.
She didn't want freedom because she didn't know what freedom was.
But she did want something, a single image burned into her memories. A wedding between two of his tribe, a bride and groom locked in a kiss. Was it love she wanted?
She had to know she wouldn't find any as his slave. He wasn't sure if he was even capable of love like that. Yet still she served him…built for him…destroyed for him. Bore children for him.
Years flashed by, right to that moment. And some part of him hurt with shame when he saw her expression when the spear was about to fly. The fear for him, the worry of losing him.
He didn't deserve that, not from her.
Unlike those of his tribe, he had done nothing to earn her loyalty. In this cruel world, Ymir made no sense to him. Until now. Now, he felt the one question she was begging him to answer in in her final moment, that she had been silently scream to world for an answer.
'Was I important to you?'
Everything fell into place; he saw what Ymir wanted in life. It wasn't freedom. It wasn't love, exactly. This girl, this woman, this goddess...her only desire in all of this was hoping that her life had mattered to someone, that she had been of true value to someone.
People like that were only supposed to exist in legends.
Ymir was dying; he could feel all of the...possibilities slipping away.
It wasn't even that she couldn't be saved. She just didn't have the will anymore. Not like this. Not if a disposable tool was all she was to anyone.
The connection ended, and he was touching her shoulder once more, knowing that he was at a vital moment in history.
"Ymir," he whispered. It wasn't...loving or kind, per say. But it was firm and understanding. And pleading. "Please don't die."
Ymir's eyes widened for an instant and he never before realized how deep her blue eyes were before this.
Steam began to rise from the wound.
"Mama!" Sheena cried out, the youngest being held by Maria as Rose cried into her own palms.
"King Fritz!" one of the guards rushed over.
"Give me your sword!" Fritz ordered swiftly before turning to his daughters. "Get back, all of you!"
The children obeyed fearfully as the soldier quickly gave up the weapon. Anyone that had been to battle knew what he was about to do.
Ymir laid on the floor, letting out a startled scream as the blade hacked through the staff of the spear, as close to the wound as Fritz was willing to risk it. He tossed the sword aside afterward before grabbing the spear from Ymir's back and began pulling it out.
For anyone else, this would be extremely dangerous. Only the best healers, the blessing of the gods, and a lot of luck could save someone from a wound like this. Unless, of course, they were Ymir.
The slave girl gasped desperately for air as she clutched her wound when the weapon was removed, more steam rising from her. She curled into a ball, gritting her teeth, and became still. There was a brief, horrified moment when no one spoke. Everyone looked on, thinking the mighty Titaness had actually been laid low.
Then she breathed.
Fritz allowed the tension to fall off his shoulder as she slowly rose to her knees, her shoulder bloody yet now devoid of any and all wounds.
"Mother!"
Ymir almost fell over again as her three daughters rushed to her side and wrapped their small arms around her, tears running down their faces and paying no mind to any blood that might stain them. The slave-titan looked surprised, uncertain for a moment by the sudden embrace before returning it softly. She looked to him, as if waiting for him. No, not as if, she actually was waiting for him.
He didn't smile, but he certainly didn't frown as he rose from his feet. "Rise, Ymir."
She looked surprised, by his words or his tone, before obeying. She gingerly rose from her knees...
And was met with thunderous applause.
Fritz looked out and saw that the people were cheering at the sight of Ymir rising, alive and unharmed. The soldiers beat their spears against the ground and swords against shields. The captured Marlayeans looked on in despair, seeing the King lived and his unholy witch survived.
Fritz did smile now. The people loved Ymir; it was hard for them not too after all she had done for Eldia. It was why he once feared her growing ambitious. Yet looking back, he frowned briefly at the uncomprehending and uncertain look on her face.
"Ymir," he addressed, drawing her attention instantly. "Go to the healers, make sure you are well."
Ymir nodded slowly and began to walk away, the children following happily after her.
The king watched her leave, his mind stewing over what just happened. He'd have to deal with Marley's attempt on his life and the endangering of Ymir, and do it brutally. But that could be dealt with later.
For now, he had a lot to think about...
Hours later after a speech to the people and speaking to his generals and advisers about how to respond to Marley's attempt, he found himself speaking to a healer after a wait that felt longer than it was.
Rulers were powerless before healers in many ways. No matter how one commanded or threaten them, a healer could only do so much in a given time.
Still, the smile on the old woman's face was rather assuring as she gave a bow to him. "Lady Ymir is well, My King. Tired, perhaps, but there is no wound and I can find no flaw or sign that it healed incorrectly."
"Thank you, Healer Eir," she said solemnly before moving past her to enter the room.
Ymir sat on the bed, her children gathered around her. Sheena was practically latched onto her waist as if afraid she would disappear. Rose looked as if she was about to pass out on Ymir's shoulder. Maria was just smiling, softly and gratefully, while studying her mother's expression.
But Ymir's face yielded little, a blank visage while she rubbed Sheena's back soothingly.
It struck Fritz in this moment, from that breif connection, why Ymir was so uncertain with her own children. She had been enslaved as an orphaned child with the tongues of her people removed. She had never been taught how to be a mother, never seen much of motherhood before experiencing it. And Fritz had left it in her hands, assuming she would raise them well.
Because the only example of fatherhood he had experienced was something he would not inflict on a son, let alone a daughter.
He never realized there could be some truth to the old jokes about ruling being easier than parenting.
His presence didn't go unnoticed for long.
"Father!" Maria called happily, drawing all attention to him. "Mother's okay!"
He smiled softly at Maria's obvious joy. Rose was shyer around him, never sure what to say to anyone, but offered him a small smile all the same. Sheena looked to him curiously. He hadn't spent much time with his youngest, making them mutually inquisitive and uncertain of each other.
Ymir just looked surprised to see him there. He had never checked on her after a battle or using her powers, so this was a first on his part. Why would he? It was always a forgone conclusion in his mind that Ymir would be fine no matter what happened.
But today, despite the impression of her rising without a wound, he knew how close he had come to seeing this woman die. That she had been ready to die, to let go of life.
"I can see that, Maria," he said softly. "Take your sisters and yourself back to your rooms, Maria. I need a moment with your mother."
"No!" Sheena cried out, latching onto Ymir desperately. "I...I don't want to leave Mother! Please don't make me go, Father!"
"Sheena," Maria whispered in concern, Rose pressing against their mother but not vocalizing any resistance.
"Sheena," Fritz spoke up sternly, making the younger daughter stiffen and look up at the king that was her father. "I know your mother has been through much. You and Rose may stay together in Maria's room, and when we are done, you may stay with your mother as long as she wishes."
"O-okay," Sheena said reluctantly, pulling herself off Ymir, offering her mother a tearful smile before Maria led her away with a hand around shoulder, almost a hug, while leading a tired Rose by holding her hand.
Fritz watched them go, and waited for a few seconds to let some distance build between them and the room, before turning back to Ymir.
She was just staring down at the bed with her head bowed.
Fritz sighed as he took a seat on the stool near her bed. It was small and uncomfortable, and he would have scoffed at using such furniture this morning. How quickly things change.
"Did you do that on purpose earlier?" Fritz asked tiredly, rubbing his eyes, but knowing that she wasn't looking at him. "When I saw inside your mind, or soul, or whatever I saw. Was that on purpose?" he repeated, looking up to see her reaction. She was looking at him, but her expression was almost surprised. "I'll take that as a no."
Ymir said nothing, but watched her master's unusual behavior intently.
"For thirteen years, I've been waiting for you to kill me, Ymir," he stated, and was rewarded by seeing her blink. Was it really so surprising to her? "I never dared believe the gods did anything to make you obey me. So I always expected that you were just waiting for something. That you would kill me with all that power you possess and...well, I never knew what you might do after that. Run away? Take the throne? Kill everyone? But for thirteen years, you never did. You served me, obediently and faithfully."
Ymir had a confused, sad look about her face now. As if she found what he was saying illogical, strange even.
"And then, despite every reason you have to hate me, you saved me. You nearly died for me," Fritz remarked with a head shake, hand wipping over his face. "If you had let me die today, I would have not blamed you. So why did you, Ymir? What save a cruel man like me?'
There was a strange silence around the room that seemed to stretch on for eternity.
"Are. You. Cruel?"
Fritz froze, blinking slowly as he comprehended what had been said, and by whom. The words had been slow and careful, but the voice was strangely beautiful for being so out of use. "Ymir?" he asked in surprise.
"Are. You. Cruel?" she repeated, looking out of the window sorrowfully. "If. You are. Who. Is not. Cruel?"
"I...I don't understand," Fritz repeated in disbelief. "Are you saying you...you don't hate me?"
Ymir shook her head slowly. "I. Saw. You."
"Saw me?" Fritz asked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"The year. After. We. Became. Slaves," Ymir answered solemnly, looking back to him with an almost knowing look in her sad eyes. "Your. Tribe. Was. Attacked. And. You all. Had Eyes. Like Ours. Even. You," she explained, looking down to the sheets again. "Would anyone. Have been. Less cruel. To us? Would we. Have been. Less Cruel. To You? Would Marley. Show mercy? Would anyone?"
Fritz could only stare, transfixed by the first words he had ever heard Ymir speak.
"I did not. Release. The Pigs," Ymir stated softly, a hitch in her voice. "I just. Did not. Want. Anyone. Else. To hurt."
Fritz wiped a hand over his face. He often had thought Ymir was probably innocent of that crime, years after the fact, the girl just a convenient scapegoat for her fellow slaves. "...Why did you stay? Why serve me?" Fritz asked, trying to wrap his head around this woman.
"I. Was. Scared," Ymir admitted, trembling ever so slightly. "I. Did not. Know. What. I had. Become. I. Did not. Know. What. I could. Do," she explained.
"Ymir, you...you could have killed me. You could have done whatever you desired," Fritz pointed out, despite how foolish it sounded, as if he was asking her to kill him here and now.
Ymir merely shook her head. "I am. Not. Like you," she admitted. "I. Do Not. Want. To Hurt. Anyone."
"...Why didn't you let me die today?" Fritz asked with an empty voice.
"Because. You Are. The. Only one. I am. Important to," Ymir explained in resignation.
That struck Fritz in shock. Did Ymir really not realize how most Eldians viewed her?
Slowly, numbly, King Fritz of the Eldians dragged the crown off his head. He examined it in his hands. Despite the fine quality, it was easily destroyed and ruined if someone actually wanted to. Any hard or blunt enough object and it would be bent and broken within a few blows from the average man.
Oddly fitting, when he thought of Eldia without Ymir, without its Titaness.
"Ymir," he spoke up, still studying his crown. "You have done well."
He could hear her straighten. He knew she was recalling how he said those words several years ago.
"You've crushed the enemies of Eldia, you've bore me three beautiful daughters, and you risked your life to save mine," he said with a small smile, looking over to her. Her face was reigned, expectant. "You deserve a reward."
The last time he rewarded her was with bearing his children.
"What do you desire?"
There was a long, long silence in the room.
"...What?" she asked with wide, confused, lost, almost terrified eyes.
"You are a mystery, Ymir. I wondered a thousand times what you might crave in life, but it's never made itself clear to me," he commented whimsically. "You've done more for my people than generations of kings could ever have accomplished. So I ask you, what would you want your reward to be?"
Ymir didn't speak, hardly seemed to breathe, staring at her master as if he was suddenly speaking a new language. "I...don't know."
"If you want to be free, you may," Fritz offered with a sigh.
"F-free?" Ymir repeated with a shuddering voice. "No."
"...Why?" Fritz asked with a furrowed brow.
"If. I. Leave. They will. Hunt me. And. Destroy. Eldia," Ymir answered, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "More tribes. Joined. Eldia. And are. Less. Cruel. To. Each Other. But If. Eldia. Falls. Marley. Will. Be. Crueler. To. Them. All. Now."
"You hate how cruel this world is, don't you," Fritz summarized. "I grew used to it. And after you've tasted victory enough, people like me would rather taste death than defeat."
Ymir said nothing for a moment. "Please."
"Yes?" he answered, leaning forward in case her voice lowered too much.
"Spare. The. Marleyian. Soldiers."
"...What?" Fritz asked in disbelief.
"The Assassin. Is dead. I think? Send. The Rest. Back. Safe. Please," Ymir answered.
"But why? They nearly killed you," Fritz asked in confusion.
Ymir nodded absently. "This world. Is cruel. But. I would. Like. To do. At least. One thing. To make it. Less cruel."
"Ymir," Fritz said, not sure really what to say now.
"Why did. You ask me. Not to die?" Ymir asked, looking to him with the most emotion, the most curious expression he had ever seen. "Why. Did you. Not order me. To get up?"
Fritz stared at her for a moment before frowning. "I was going to. But I looked at you, and realized you had already given your life in service to me and my people. That is all we and our ancestors ever asked of our warriors. I decided that, if you felt that was enough, I would let you go. Let you rest."
"But. You. Did not. Want me. To," Ymir stated.
"I won't lie and say I love you, Ymir. I...don't know if I could love anyone that genuinely," Fritz admitted uncertainly. "But you are correct. If you died today, we might have been doomed."
Ymir nodded absently. "I. Do not. Want you. To die. Either."
Fritz just shook his head idly. "You do know that you don't have to leave if you're free, Ymir," Fritz stated, getting another glance from her. "You'd still be my concubine, live here with our daughters and never want for anything."
"The. Food here. Is nice," Ymir remarked idly.
Fritz raised an eyebrow, wondering if that was an attempt at a jest or a serious statement.
"Maria. Rose. And Sheena. Are happy. Here," Ymir continued, hugging her knees tighter. "And. They will. Never. Be. Lead. Away. From. Their. Burning. Home. In. Chains."
"No, no they won't," Fritz agreed with an absent nod. Their children or grandchildren, maybe, but not them. Eldia should survive that long at least. "Ymir? Why have you never spoken before today?"
"My tongue. was. Cut out. I. Thought. You. Would not. Like it. If I. Spoke," Ymir explained, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
Fritz shook his head. "I suppose I should have expected that. You can speak as you please, Ymir."
Ymir looked briefly surprised by that before nodding in acceptance.
"I will send word to our daughters, let them know they can return when they wish," Fritz stated as he rose to leave, placing the crown back atop his head.
"No."
He paused, admittedly surprised by her refusing anything, before looking at her curiously.
She was tense all over, watching him with the utmost caution "I. Would. Like. To. Go to. Them. Myself," Ymir clarified carefully.
Fritz nodded slowly, seeing her relax. "Very well. Rest well though, Ymir."
She nodded as he left, mind lost in thoughts she pulled herself from the bed.
Meanwhile, Sheena was humming softly as she combed and braided Rose's hair. The youngest daughter was a natural with hair, to her elder sister's fondness, and annoyed jealousy. It was why Maria opted to keep her hair short without seeming improper for a princess.
While Rose continued to try and stay awake, Maria just looked fondly at her sisters. She never really remembered a time when they weren't both there, Rose only being born a year or so after her, and Sheena the same to Rose. And ever since, she tried to be there for them. It was hard for them to understand why their father had many important things to do as King, and that their mother was very important to Eldia as the Titaness. After all, she barely understood it now, just understanding that their mother helped protect the empire.
Their mother always felt a bit distant too, but Maria didn't blame her. Their mother had no voice, so it had to be hard to show someone how much you loved them without words. Maria couldn't imagine going one day without speaking. Or Sheena, who always had so many questions. Rose could though, she never had much to say, but Maria believed she was just trying to imitate Mother, as if the silence would make them closer. She knew her sister could speak, just that she didn't want to. That she didn't have much to say.
Soft steps entering their room brought their attention away from the hair grooming.
"Mother!" Sheena cried, gleefully running, almost more like an animal than a princess, rushing to hug her mother. Ymir braced against the impact, hands brushing through Sheena's hair softly.
Maria smiled, thought confused. Mother rarely came to their rooms. Why would she-
"I. Am here. Sheena."
They all froze, as if they had just heard the voice of the gods.
To a child, it wasn't that different.
Sheena slowly looked up with awed eyes. "Mother? D-did you just-"
"I. Am here. Sheena," Ymir repeated softly before looked to the other two. "Rose. Maria."
How? That was the only question through Maria's head. Why now had their mother spoken? Had that...attack earlier, healing from it fixed something with her voice? She didn't know, and quickly realized, she did care. She didn't remember crossing the room, only realizing after the fact that she and Rose had joined Sheena in embracing their mother.
And as Maria stared up at Ymir, she saw only a soft smile and what she hoped to be happy tears in her mother's beautiful blue eyes.
Elsewhere, King Fritz sat alone in his own royal room, letting the weight of things rest on his shoulders in a way he had not felt since he first became the leader of his tribe. He was already past his prime at present, yet he felt ancient, easily twice his age now after everything that had happened, that had been said.
Fritz often wondered how he'd be remembered. In a hundred years, he doubted anyone would ever believe that the great Ymir was ever a slave to anyone. In a few hundred more years, he might not even be recalled at all, absorbed by the legend of Ymir the Titaness. He didn't care, truly. He would rule for as long as the gods permitted his body to last. So long as Eldia, his empire lasted for ages to come, he didn't care what was recalled of him. Because as long as it lasted, in a way, so did he.
But he could no longer assume Ymir's power would be there forever. No, Eldia had to prepare to defend and attack alongside the Titaness, not solely with her. He could only pray that Ymir's children inherited her powers, even if only partially. Without that, Eldia would be lucky to last two generations.
Still, despite all those worries, there was one thing that echoed in his mind. A thought almost foreign to his mind.
"A less cruel world though?" he murmured thoughtfully, wondering if such a thing could even exist. A world where every tribe and every people weren't trying to devour one another with whatever power or advantage they could find. A world where men like him were not the norm. He couldn't see how it could exist, but he wasn't so sure it was impossible.
After all, Ymir and her powers had created many miracles. What was one more?
End of Chapter
Okay...yeah, this has been forming in my head for a month or so now. King Fritz is interesting to me in a way. Yes, he enslaved Ymir, made their children eat her corpse, and is largely considered the root of everything horrible in AoT.
THAT SAID...Considering the time peroid he is from, and this being the AoTverse, I think the sad thing to consider is that he is the norm for the time. In an age where tribes like his fought and enslaved each other, with the constant threat of more advanced and larger empires/kingdoms always hanging over them. Not excusing Canon-Frotz, he was definitely a bad guy, but I'm just of the mind that he isn't special for his time in terms of cruelty.
Still, every now and than, a bit of kindness can change people just a little. And the entire context of Ymir's death, sacrificing herself for Fritz felt like an interesting and believable part for Fritz to have even a little change in heart. That and Ymir looked really scared of the idea of Frtiz dying.
Anyone, hope you all enjoyed this little oneshot. Don't expect to get a lot of attention. Also, how do we have no King Fritz tag yet, lol?
I'm thinking about making a story based off this premise, a "Less Cruel" version of AoT that explores how this change would ripple down to the time of Eren and the rest of our main characters and how it changes everything. Bare minimum the Curse of Ymir is extended if not gone entirely.