First contact with the fortified port of Paradis was tense but amicable. It was obvious that even though the Jaegerist units patrolling the harbor still had anger raging fresh in their minds, they also felt handicapped by the lack of knowledge they possessed. At the very least, this would allow them to speak their piece in the Capitol if they stuck to their itinerary and remained out of the public eye. Whether it amounted to anything… well, that was still up in the air.
Historia and Armin had agreed that any form of personal security for the group would be unwise. The less they seemed like a threat the better, and it went without saying that escape -if that was necessary- would go more smoothly if it was only the six of them that they had to worry about.
The first step was to make for the Queen's newest compound northwest of the ruins that used to be wall Rose to prepare for the meeting. The Marlyean government had argued ceaselessly against Historia's return to the island, but their pleas were not nearly as strong as her resolve. If the Queen felt it was best to influence her people from the inside, who were they to stop her?
After conferring with her they would make their way north to the city of Mitras, that stood at the center most location within the wall Sina. If the peace talks went well, or at least didn't end in bloodshed, they would head back south to their vessel, updating the Queen as they left. The plan itself seemed laughably easy, but everything, including their lives, was riding on that meeting in in the Capitol.
The trip was slow moving without access to a railways system, but it was all painfully familiar to them. The track of land they travelled on had been smoothed away to allow for easier resource delivery between the southern-most Eldian cities and the port, but to the east and west the land remained marred by deep colossal footprints, a constant reminder of the not so distant past.
A squad of soldiers had accompanied them from the harbor to escort them to their next destination and onwards, and although this was to be expected, it did nothing to lessen the discomfort and tension for everyone involved. Yet the time passed quickly, too quickly. Before long the terrain on the horizon started to shift, giving way to the crumped outer edge of wall Maria and the ruins of Shinganshina.
Despite the thick growth covering almost every inch of the city, the path through the districts remained mostly open to them, and it was certainly the fastest route they could take. Time seemed to move more slowly for them once the passed through what was left of the outer gates; the place where it all began. Silence laid heavily over the company; even their escorts seemed to talk less as they passed through the overgrown roadways and townships that used to stand tall.
Armin studied the buildings intently as they made their way through the overgrown city. He was both amazed and deeply saddened by how different it all looked to him. He had a difficult time recognizing anything at first, until a unique mass of roadwork all converged on one spot up ahead. Instinctively, he pointed towards one of the eastern passages.
"There is a wide enough path here to our right that will help us cut a decent chunk of time off our route."
He said this softly, but the quiet of the nature-reclaimed city seemed to amplify his voice. Their security escort frowned at him but followed his lead as their convoy cut through a set of tighter alleyways, anxious to put the city behind them.
Why am I taking us this way? What could I possibly gain from seeing this again?
There was no reasonable explanation for changing their path, and yet he continued to steer them forward. Suddenly, the reason for his change of course was in front of them. As they trailed by, Armin stared transfixed at the set of stairs leading down to a now wild and flowing waterway; the place where Eren, Mikasa and himself often sat, pouring over -at the time- illegal texts containing secrets of the outside world. The very place that he and Eren had sat three years ago, in the conversation Eren willed him to forget.
He barely recognized it. The brush had overgrown so much that the stairs were carpeted in a soft layer of moss, the cobblestone barely visible underneath the sprawling foliage that had turned his childhood home into a sea of lush abandon. Armin ripped his misty eyes away from the stone steps and focused adamantly on the neck of his horse. Annie, who was riding just behind him to his right, glanced over at him.
This was stupid. he chastised himself. The worst part was still ahead, and this is what broke him?
Get it together. He willed himself to keep a trained eye forward until the steps had disappeared behind them.
Armin was right, the worst places were still ahead, and not just for him. As they went by the inner gate, Reiner ducked his head, eyes pressed tightly shut as they passed through the archway that so many years ago it seemed like another life, he had broken down as the Armored Titan. Waves of guilt washed over him as he studied the back of Annie's head.
How different would this world be if I had listened to her and went back to the mainland? If I had taken the time to listen to the doubts in my head? Reiner couldn't answer that; maybe there wasn't an answer at all.
The moment they were clear from the inner wall of Shinganshina, Armin angled their path slightly west of their expected route.
"Hey traitor, where the hell do you think you're taking us?" One of the guards snapped at him, noticing the change in direction.
Armin only half turned to him in response. "We can get a better lay of the land if we crest that western hill first. It ends up being a straight shot to the Queens' complex from there."
"Pfft, she's no queen of mine, but if you wanna slag the horses up some god-forsaken hill, be my guest."
The tree had been visible from the second they exited the city, but as they laboriously urged the horses over the tall grass, not a single member of the allied forces said a word. Armin has told them this was where he would be. There was no way to do anything without tipping off their patrol to the significance of this plot of earth, and no one wanted the Jaegerists to know what rested at the tree's base. The thick trunk was in full view of their convoy now, but no one so much took a second glance at the tree, fresh spring leaves holding strong in the light breeze.
But as the six of them passed just out of reach of the wide branches, each of them in turn bowed their head.
Time resumed its normal pace as they travelled northward through the once lost lands of Maria. It was Jean who noticed it first, after several hours of riding: the western most edges of a huge forest. The sun was moving toward the edge of the horizon quickly now. They would make it to Trost just as night fell; from there they could get an evening's rest before continuing onward.
The city remained much as they remembered, though now large farms reached out in veins leading up to the edges of the city instead of walls. This place was full of memories just as Shinganshina had been, but somehow lessened by its constant activity even after the sun had set.
It was Jean who found this place particularly unbearable now. The streets of his childhood enveloped them, familiar sights at every turn, yet Marco's innocent face was everywhere he looked. Reiner could feel the anger rolling off Jean's shoulders, and guilt stole over his heart once more. He didn't blame him for a second. If Jean wanted to beat him to a senseless pulp again, he would gladly let him.
Now that they were back in a truly civilized portion of Paradis, they could see and feel the influence of the Jaegerists at every turn. Enlistment posters hung on every free-standing building, flyers reminding citizens of the threat that was on the other side of the sea littered the ground.
The Allies looked on in stunned horror as they passed a Jaegerist church on the corner of a busy intersection. Eren's face, both human and in titan form, was plastered on the large open side of the wall. The people they saw all looked terrified, withdrawn and on edge. Historia's messages had all been accurate: Eldia was preparing themselves for something.
Little rest was too be found once they reached the barracks in which they were to stay under close guard. They took to sleep in shifts, though most of them either tossed restlessly or left one eye still trained on the door.
Jean was peering out the window just before dawn broke when Armin approached behind him.
"It's really as bad as Historia says, huh." He muttered as the first early risers started milling about in the streets below.
"So it would seem. Yet if this whole thing goes well, maybe these people can finally get some peace. Us to." Armin responded, looking vacantly at a crack running up the opposite side of the wall.
Jean turned to face him; eyes unreadable as he regarded his commander. "Do you really think we can do this… sir?" Armin didn't respond, but his chosen silence was answer enough for Jean. He gently shook Pieck and the others awake. They had no time to waste.