Ripple of Kindness(Attack on Titan)

[Akumakami64]

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

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-Fritz, 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.

 

[Akumakami64]

In the dungeons of Nagrindr, the Eldian prison, the soldiers of Marley sat in despair. Their great armies had been destroyed by a monster, their proud nation defeated by those they deemed barbarians, and their last attempt to slay the chief-turned-king had failed miserably thanks to that...thing wearing the skin of a woman.

They could only sit and wait, stripped of their armor and weapons down to loincloths, waiting for whatever agony the Barbarian King would deliver upon them for their attempt on his life. Would he burn them alive? Have them hung by their entrails? Or were the stories true? Would they be fed alive to the Titaness herself?

One soldier was worse off than the others; their commander, the schemer of this plot, their last hope against the Eldians. He had his own cell, opposite of his soldiers' own, chained to a rack for all to see.

How had it come to this? Why had their gods abandoned them so against such a terrible enemy? Be she demon or goddess, she was clearly an enemy of their gods, was she not? How could the slaughter and destruction of all they had built go unanswered by the divine?

Their prayers and lamentations were brought to an end as they heard the doors open, many guards filling in with spears and blades. And with them came the barbarian himself: King Fritz.

He walked forth with a frown upon his face, paying no attention to the glaring men cursing under their breaths in one cell, the guards looking all too eager to stick a spear through the gaps if provoked. Instead, the king came before the commander's cell and stared in.

"Caius Liberius Lebienus," Fritz addressed authoritatively, a cold and cruel anger in his voice. "You're a very foolish boy, you are aware?"

The man of twenty some winters looked up with his ginger mane atop his head. His stare was defeated yet hard, refusing to give Fritz any more than he already had taken. "I suppose I should feel impressed you can speak the tongue of Marley," Caius remarked evenly.

Fritz gave him a stare of mocking, but did not smile. "I've heard all the tales of the genius of Marley, the one who was leading armies before his boyhood days had ended. Yet for all of that, did you even consider that plan through to the end?"

"I am fully prepared to die for Marley, Fritz," Caius spat, matching his tone. "All of us are willing to die for the Empire, and we will never surrender to your ilk."

Fritz stared for a moment...and then he laughed. He laughed long and hard, eliciting anger or fear from his captives. "Oh, you don't even see it, do you?" Fritz asked in genuine delight.

"See what, Barbarian?" Caius demanded, refusing to be shaken by the display. "All I see is an Eldian upstart losing his mind with power."

"Never surrender to your ilk," Fritz repeated, shaking his head in dark amusement. "Do you have any idea how many reiks of these lands have said those exact words, in defiance of your precious empire, Boy? Forgive me if I can't help savoring such a ...proud and accomplished Marleyian general being on this side of Victory and Defeat for a change."

"If not for that witch, we would-" Caius spat, snapping his jaw shut to reel in his anger.

"If the storm had come a day earlier, if the winter had just been less harsh, if the plague been more treatable," Fritz listed off mercilessly. "It's never about what would have been, Boy. Only what can still be. Life as a "barbarian" teaches that you rather well, if you want to survive."

"I grow weary of you, Fritz. Just deliver our fates and be done with it," Caius egged on. "I already said we have all been willing to die here."

"Yes, you are," Fritz remarked, a smirk creeping across his lips. "Which is why you're going to live."

"...What?" Caius remarked, not sure to be skeptical or dreadful of the implication.

"Believe me, Boy. I would love nothing more than to make you beg to die here, far from your homeland and never to see the light of day," Fritz said venomously. "But I left the choice to another, and she has asked me to give you mercy."

"Mercy? She?" Caius repeated, scowling as the pieces fell into place. "You're lying. The Titaness would never show us mercy."

"No, boy, "I" would never show you mercy. But since it was she you injured, however fruitless that was, I thought it fitting to let her decide your punishment. Imagine my surprise when she asked for mercy on your part! Ha! But unlike you, I am at least a man of my word. So you will all leave here, and return to Marley without further injury."

"...Why?" Caius asked with a scowl. "Does she just want us humiliated, disgraced?"

"Her? No. Me? Very. Which is why I had my own condition to add. If the living can't punish you, I'll use the dead to do it," Fritz remarked grimly.

"And how would you do that? Feed them to your pet witch?" Caius asked sarcastically.

"No, you foolish boy," Fritz denied. "You led those men to their death here. Now you will carry them home. In pieces."

"...You wouldn't," Caius said with wide eyes even as his men started to yell in anger or cry in despair for the fallen, doomed to a limbless fate in the underworld.

"I'd do worse usually," Fritz answered honestly. "Your fallen soldiers will be chopped into pieces, bit by bit. They will be stored in urns, strapped to the backs of you and your men. You all chose this path, now you will carry the load to your homelands. There, you can tell their families what they died for, and tell them that it was that so wretched Titaness that begged me to spare your worthless lives."

"Those men died proudly to give one last defiance against you, Barbarian," Caius seethed.

"Yes, and unlike what you feared, you'll actually have corpses to bury when you arrive home, even if they are in pieces," Fritz remarked with a smirk, turning to glare at the onlooking captives in the other cell, their faces a mixture of disbelief and relief and anger. "And while you're waiting to go home to your families, do recall just who had mercy on your pathetic lives while your general withers in his utter defeat."

With that, the king left them all to stew, the group of guards leaving with him.

"Well, that's unusual for you, Alareik."

Fritz paused in the halls of Nagrindr, spying a dark haired woman, fully dressed in chainmail and leather armor, leaning on her spear. Men of Marley would and do indeed call her ugly for her obvious muscles and less than soft appearance,accented with a few small scars, but Fritz knew a third of his men would give an arm for a night with her.

Himself not so much, but that had little to do with her body.

"If you weren't Reik of the Jarnvidr, I'd probably have you in a cell with them for refusing to call me King," Fritz remarked, more annoyed than angry, his men obviously eyeing her; some with caution, others with lust. Most of the smart ones did both.

She shrugged uncaringly. "Former Reik. And call me old fashion, but I like our traditions and titles more than those of the southern rats," she remarked, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "So, what's this about me not being allowed to torture them? I mean, some of us were hoping to practice our blood-eagles."

"And some still wonder why you were chosen to be the Warden of Nagrindr," Fritz said in jest before sobering. "Lady Ymir desired mercy for them, I decided to give it."

"Lady Ymir, eh? Well, if it's the Titaness, I suppose it can't be helped," She accepted with overdramatic disappointment. "Still, I'm not the Grief-Bringer for nothing. I'll be sure they get a clear view as we...prepare the bodies of their comrades."

"Just don't lose any of the pieces-and no castration this time," Fritz ordered with a headshake.

"Oh, take all the fun out of it, Alareik," she said with a grin. "If that'll be all."

"There is one other thing..."

Meanwhile

"Mother, you don't know how to read?" Maria asked in surprise, her and her sisters sitting on her bed around her mother, who held a parchment in her hands. "Or is my hand writing just that bad? My teachers said it was good."

"I can. Read," Ymir assured, looking neither angry nor embarrassed by the question. "Everything. Looks. Strange. On. This. Goatskin."

"Our teachers call it vellum?" Rose stated questioningly.

"Is it. Not. Goatskin?" Ymir asked in confusion.

"I think it's made from calves?" Maria answered uncertainly. "They say it's a better kind of parchment."

"Poor baby cows," Sheena remarked with a small whine.

Ymir stared at her daughters for a moment before returning to the parchment. "Strange name," she murmured as she studied the writing. "Maria? That's. Not. How You. Spell. The word. For wedge."

"I know," Maria said with a small smile.

Ymir looked to her in confusion than back at the paper. "Then. Why did. You. Write. Cunt?" she asked in confusion.

"Maria!" Rose said in embarrassment, uncharacteristically loud and making her mother flinch. "Why do you know that word?!"

"Why do you?" Maria countered.

"What's a cunt?" Sheena asked curiously.

"I made the mistake by accident, and I asked Father why one of the servants got all embarrassed reading my letter to him out loud at dinner once," Maria answered with a grin. "I like adding in little "mistakes" like that sometimes."

"Doesn't. Your. Teachers. And. Father. Get. Mad?" Ymir questioned with a small frown.

"My teachers do, but Father just laughs when he hears about it," Maria answered fondly.

Ymir hummed. She had expected as much, but she was glad her children seem to be confirming it: Fritz wasn't a horrible or cruel father.

"Mother, why is Father always so busy?" Sheena asked curiously, looking up with wide and innocent eyes.

Ymir wasn't sure what to say. She probably should say something that sounded complimentary to Fritz. But she wasn't sure she knew the words to explain what ruling meant, least of all to children.

"There is. A lot. Of things. That need. To be. Done. Around. Eldia's. Lands," Ymir answered vaguely. "It. Used. To be. A lot. Smaller."

Maria looked understanding, but Sheena looked like she was just accepting it as something she'd understand when she was older.

"What happened to your voice, Mother?" Rose asked softly against her back, feeling her mother stiffen. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you!" she apologized quickly.

Ymir felt rather strange, someone trying to apologize to her, even if it was her daughter. "I am. Not. Upset," Ymir said over her shoulder. "I. Just. Do not. Want. To talk. About it."

"Okay," Maria said, relieved but still sounding sad. "I was just wondering why you talk slow like that?"

Ymir decide that was something she could answer, at least. "It. Feels. Strange. To talk. After. All this. Time," she admitted, having been silent and obedient for well over thirteen years now. She knew the words, even if many felt foriegn to her tongue now. Or maybe it was because this was her second tongue.

"You have a beautiful voice, Mother," Maria said with a reassuring smile.

Ymir genuinely looked surprised by that, almost feeling embarrassed. It was...a feeling she didn't have much experience with. "I do?"

All three of them nodded, Sheena much faster than the others. "Very, very pretty!" she said, as if her judgement was undeniable.

The other two sisters giggled.

"It. Is. Late. I need. To go," Ymir warned abruptly as she gave the parchment back to Maria.

Sheena looked like she wanted to protest, but the image of their mother with a spear running through her was still too vivid in their mind to be too selfish. If she wanted rest, they wouldn't keep her as much as they wanted her to stay.

That didn't stop them from giving her another hug from all sides. Once more, Ymir was left uncertain by the action, but wrapped her arms around them as well.

The embrace broke, allowing the Titaness to rise from the bed and head for the door. "Good night, Mother. We love you!" Maria called after her.

Ymir stopped at the door, freezing at those words. She didn't turn around, hesitating between leaving and speaking. Ultimately, one of them won out. "I. Love. You. Too."

If Ymir had looked, as she would have seen the faces of three little girls glowing in joy, to finally hear those words from their mother. But she didn't turn back, leaving the three to their own happiness.

"We...we should return to our rooms soon," Maria remarked, unable to stop smiling.

Sheena just kept grinning while Rose wiped away her own tears. A comfortable silence followed over them, enjoying the cherished memory that had arisen out of this terrible day.

"Maria?" Rose spoke up suddenly. "Do you think Mother and Father love each other?"

Maria opened her mouth before closing it again. She was the eldest daughter, she had been taught things that they weren't yet. She knew that most marriages for those of their station were more about politics and benefits rather than about love. Love could exist, true, but it usually came after the marriage, instead of the marriage forming from love.

"Of course Mother loves Father!" Sheena answered strongly, glaring at the middle sister as if it was obvious. "Mother almost died saving Father! Why would she do that if she didn't love him?!"

Maria had to admit, that was a good point. People didn't leap in front of spears for people they didn't like. Maybe their mother did love their father after all. Still, he was the king. Love or not, maybe she was just that loyal to him? And their father was clearly distressed when she had been injured in saving him.

Still, she didn't want to get their hopes up about finding any notion of true love when they grew up. But she couldn't find it in her to crush their spirits right now, after everything that happened today. So she didn't say anything.

"Hey, wait," Sheena said with a pinched brow. "No one answered my question. What's a cunt?!"

Meanwhile

Ymir found herself in her own room, on her own bed. It was large, but furnished sparsely due to her own lack of requests for anything. But the furniture present was of the finest quality they had. Much of it loot from the victories against cities of Marley along their border. The bed and clothes had come from some place far south, having been bought by a Marleyian Governor before the Eldians attacked. There was also a metal device she could hold in her hand to show her reflection with its shiny metal surface. It wasn't perfect, but it was something many women used to make sure everything was in proper order. It had a handle in the shape of a woman; a nude woman at that. A depiction of a goddess judging by the near impossible beauty of the figure. There was also a marble table with three legs. Why three legs instead of four?

And, more tellingly, were the...trophies mounted on the walls. Swords, shields, spears, helmets, even pieces of armor. All kinds of things to mark as a reminder of a victory she had been responsible for.

She didn't particularly like them, being reminded of the people she had killed in the name of Fritz.

Thoughts of her master dragged her away from her idleness. Nothing in her life had really changed. From the day she was enslaved, to the day she fell into the Ash Tree, to this very day that her life nearly ended. No matter what clothes he wore, how large his realm became, or even what title he had...her master was still exactly that, her master: He commanded, she obeyed. No matter how good her meals were, how soft her beds were, or how clean her clothes were...she was still his slave.

And then, she had been about to die today. She would have too. She just didn't have the strength in her soul to keep on going if nothing changed. She was a terrible mother, she supposed. Even the thought of leaving her children behind hadn't been enough to rouse her spirit. Even if Fritz commanded it, she wouldn't have been able to bring herself to push on, to survive, to keep moving forward.

Yet, all the same, she had done just that.

Why was she alive? What prompted her to live?

Unlike her master, the question was one she easily knew the answer to.

He asked her to come back.

Her master never asked for anything, least of all from her. He was the ruler, the Reik and now the King. She was his slave. He ordered, and she obeyed until she couldn't.

Still, he asked. He pleaded for her to stay.

In that moment, her heart latched onto that. She wanted, needed to know why he asked that.

Everything after that just confused her. He saw her mind, her soul? He thought she wanted to kill him, all this time? He actually asked her what she wanted?

It was all too confusing. She didn't know what to think about any of it.

All because he couldn't believe she risked her life to save him.

It wasn't like it was the first time, not from her perspective. She had defended him and his tribesmen a few times from catapults and...whatever those things that shot giant spears were called, among other things. True, she had been in her other form, what all called the Titaness, but the distinction didn't feel that important to think about at the time.

After all, she could have let him die all of those times too. Pretended not to notice an attack going in his direction, let it slip by her hands. But she didn't. She knew she could have, but she didn't feel the temptation.

She didn't want him to die. Regardless of everything he had done, that didn't mean she wanted him to die. And if she didn't want him to die, then killing him herself was not even a consideration.

Still, something seemed to be changing. She didn't...dislike it, but didn't know what it meant yet. What did he mean by seeing her mind or soul, exactly?

Whatever it meant, he now seemed almost...grateful to have her, more genuinely. Before today, everything had been simple. He commanded, she obeyed. Fritz had regarded her like one would a sword…which was better than one might think. A warrior used a sword, did as he needed and did as he pleased with it, but he didn't treat it poorly. Swords had to be maintained with care to not get dull or stuck in the sheath or break over time. But that care was minimalistic in most cases, both with a weapon and with herself.

Just enough to live without feeling alive.

Yet, now he was asking what she wanted instead of just giving her a reward of his choosing.

He...Wait, did he actually agree to let the soldiers of Marley return? She couldn't recall. The conversation seemed to twist and turn in her memory. Neither of them had ever been particularly open with each other in such a way.

She brushed her tongue over her teeth, reminding her it was still there. Memories of her original tongue were faint at best, before being a slave. She only barely remembered the day she lost it, fearfully waiting in line for a man to pull out her tongue and cut it out.

There was a lot of blood.

She didn't recall much after that, days of slavery just blurring together until the attack on Eldia from another tribe, and then the incident with the pigs.

Then the Ash Tree.

She winced, grabbing her head as a pain rumbled through her for an instant. Trying to remember, thinking too hard about what happened down in the depth of that tree gave her headaches. She fell into something, almost like water, but maybe not? All she saw was some strange thing that had...connected to her, on her back.

There was nothing on her back now, she used the reflection metal to make sure, and she was sure someone would have reacted at least to something unnatural being in plain view on her.

What was she now, really? The giant body she formed, her body regenerating, the strange substances she could create. What was she?

They called her a Titan, a Giant. Something like a God. But she didn't feel like a God. Even with all her powers, she didn't feel different at all from before her fall into the Ash Tree.

After all, Gods weren't slaves.

And she was a slave.

Wasn't she?

Yes, she was, she decided. If Fritz ordered her to do anything, anything at all, she would do it. That was a slave.

A small smile came to her face as her time with her children echoed in her ears. They loved her. That at least made sense to her.

The smile vanished as another thought came to her mind. It had been five years since she bore a child. And Marley was now defeated. Fritz would probably want her to have more children without Eldia's major enemy to threaten them. She was in her prime, or so she had heard. And if the healers were to be believed, she had very easy and safe births. Another benefit of her powers, maybe? Either way, she didn't think dying in childbirth was a worry.

So, she could have many more children still if her master wished.

Sheena would probably like not being the youngest. Rose she wasn't sure about. Maria almost seemed to enjoy taking care of her siblings.

She was grateful for the lives her daughters lived. They never wanted for anything and would likely learn things she still had no knowledge of. Eldian warriors were mainly men, but they had women that fought too and even women who were Reiks. One of them might be Queen of Eldia someday. Being a king's concubine was something even most freewomen would want.

Her master hadn't been lying when he called bearing his child a reward, in that sense.

She curled her legs up again, wrapping her arms around them.

She didn't dislike children, let alone her own, but she wasn't sure about how she felt about...having them…making them.

Maybe it was just because she didn't fully understand it from the start? After her people became slaves, the old healers at the time didn't really care if the young slaves really understood what sex was or the importance of it. And even if someone would listen, they couldn't really ask without tongues.

It'd be nice if there was a way to speak without speaking. Writing wasn't always an option.

Ymir glanced out her window. She hadn't been this thoughtful in a long time. There was never much to think about. She just obeyed. She still did, but things felt...complicated now. She didn't know why. Nothing was really diff-

"If you wish to be free, you may."

Those words hit her as if for the first time. Was that it? She never had a choice in anything before, but...did having a choice really mean anything if she only chose to obey? If she chose not to have a choice?

Ymir crawled on top of her bed, not even bothering with the covers. Thinking was getting her nowhere. Sleep was a more appealing option right now, after everything.

End of Chapter

I got the term "Reik" from the series "Barbarians" as a Germanic term for Chief. Part of my efforts to make this feel like its set 2000 years ago. Looking up a lot of Norse/Germanic and Roman stuff for this, obviously.

So, yes, Fritz is still the cruel bastard we know he is, I'm making constant efforts not to make him feel like he's suddenly turned good or anything overnight. But while he's not the most attentive or affectionate parent, he tries not to be a horrible one- you know, since Ymir didn't die like in canon, so he doesn't have to desperately try to find a way to make them inherit Ymir's power to make sure Eldia doesn't get destroyed without her.

Ymir herself had an interesting time with her daughters, but is very lost and confused while trying to process and understand everything.

Hope you all enjoyed this!

 

[Akumakami64]

AN Something new, going to be posting these little snippets at the beginning and end of every chapter from now on. These are inspired by the "Currently Publicly Available Information" bits from the anime.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

The Culture of Pre-Ymirian Eldia is largely unknown, as few Eldian texts existed prior to approximated year in which the Eldian Empire was founded. Philosophers of Helladi and surviving Marleyan records are mostly tinted through a cultral lense to portray Pre-Ymirian Eldians as barbarians and savages, as well as many other races and societies. Filtered through accounts recorded in ancient Farisa, Kankaraa, and other cultures support the less bias truth behind these facts: a scatter collection of tribes steeped in a warrior culture. Most Eldian Historians agree that, regardless of advancement, cruelty was the currency of this era for all nations.

The wails of Marleyian Soldiers echoed from the depths of Nagrindr. Wails not of pain, but of sorrow. Wails as they watched their brothers in arms chopped to bits by the troll-hags that guarded over them. Not one piece of them was to be left behind; all would be returned to Marley.

Tales of their cries reached the rest of the city in three days, including within the palace halls of Fritz.

It was not surprising that King Fritz found himself preparing for a long, possibly all-day meeting with his council…again. After recent events, they had much to do. Like planning what message to send to Marley, how well they could defend their territories from minor skirmishes and attacks if Marley tried to push their luck. The Titaness was great for decimating armies and towns, but she could not be everyplace at once.

That said, Fritz was more than a little surprised to find that he was not first to the meeting room.

"Ymir?" he said in surprise, the woman standing to the side of the table, as if she was supposed to be there. But she wasn't. She had never attended a war meeting except for three or four times, and those were only because he had wanted to keep her close by at those times for various reasons. It wasn't like he was opposed to her attending, but it was still the first time she had come without him ordering her to come along.

Curious.

"May. I. Speak. With you. Master?" Ymir asked submissively, not meeting his eyes.

Ahh, so perhaps this wasn't about the war meeting. "It will be sometime before the members of my council arrive," he answered, wondering where this was going.

"What. Was done. To. The. Soldiers?" Ymir asked with a rigid look about her.

He rose an eyebrow before understanding set in. "You believe I had them tortured despite your wishes?" he asked neutrally.

"You. Never. Said. If you. Would. Or. Would not," she retorted in some form of acceptance, not surprised her request would go ignored. "I. Just. Want. To know. What. Happened. To. Them. Please?"

Fritz stared at her for a moment before shaking his head, moving past her to take a seat at the table, Ymir turning as he did but remaining standing. "I didn't harm them, Ymir. I just gave them their punishment. Their dead companions were dismembered. The Warden of Nagrindr decided to do it where they could watch. The remains have been sealed in barrels for them to carry home and lay to rest. They'll be sent on their way today."

Fritz wasn't sure what he expected from that. Sadness or outrage for twisting her desire for mercy? Nothing at all, Ymir just desiring to know the truth of the matter?

What he got was something in between the two. Ymir looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time with eyes that were wavering back and forth between surprise and confusion. "But. They. Are. Unharmed?" she clarified.

"Yes," Fritz admitted bluntly, almost annoyed he had to say it any blunter. Either from his tone or her own satisfaction, she lowered her eyes again yet seemed relieved at least. "Was that all you came for, Ymir?"

"Yes. I am. Sorry. To. Bother you," she said, bowing her head, than holding her pose for a moment. "Thank. You. For. Sparing. Them."

Fritz watched as she turned to leave, watching her with interest. "Ymir, I-"

"Umm, King Fritz? Lady Ymir?" one of the guards called, opening the door slightly. The man barely resisted flinching at the king's glare. "Apologizes, but Princess Sheena is here and she is very adamant about seeing you, King Fritz."

Now he was the one confused. Him? Not Ymir? A quick glance to Ymir told him she was uncertain as wee. "Send her in," he granted, wondering what his youngest could be wanting. The only one that eager for his attention was usually Maria after impressing one of her teachers. Or frustrating them.

The guard let out a grateful noise before opening the door and letting the princess barrel in like she was possessed. She scanned the room with hawk-like scrutiny, instantly being surprised by her mother's presence. "Mother?" she said before looking to her father with eyes somehow both relieved and incredibly sad. "Father!"

Fritz and Ymir shared mutually bewildered looks as Sheena ran over to the king and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Sheena? What is wrong? Why are you crying?" Fritz asked in confusion.

"I had a nightmare," Sheena answered in a whimper.

"That's all?" Fritz asked, perhaps a bit callously, but not cruelly. Ymir said nothing, merely observing the exchange.

"I-I'm sorry, I just...I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Sheena answered into his side.

"Why wouldn't I be okay, Sheena?" Fritz asked in surprise.

"T-that day? When that man hurt Mother with the spear? I-I was so scared for Mother, that I f-forgot! I forgot he was trying to hurt you!" Sheena cried, her body trembling. "And...and last night, I dreamed about it. Only Mother didn't block the spear in time. And...and you didn't get up."

Fritz's eyes widened briefly before settling, his gaze warmed over as he ran his fingers through Sheena's hair in an effort to comfort her. "All is well, Sheena. Dry your tears."

"I-I know. Princesses shouldn't cry," Sheena said with a hiccup.

Ymir felt both relieved and lost. On one hand, she was happy that there was a relatively good bond between her daughters and their father, her master. After all, children with nightmares tend to run to the one they believe will protect them.

But...she felt a little out of place, standing there, watching this scene. Was there something she should say? Something she should do?

Ultimately, she did nothing before Sheena pulled herself back, wiping her tears to give a trembling smile to her father. "I just...I really wanted to see you, Father. And I wanted you to know that I don't want you to die."

I don't want you to die.

The familiar words echoed in the air as Fritz shared a look with Ymir.

That proved to be a mistake.

"Huh?" Sheena said, looking between her parents curiously, wondering why they were staring at each other like that. "What? Were you two doing something important before I got here?"

"And just what do you think we would be doing, my gracious little princess?" Fritz asked wryly.

"Well, you are both alone in a room together...am I getting a new sister?" Sheena asked with curiously, looking at the room again as if searching for something. "I thought you needed a bed to make a baby?" she questioned rather bluntly.

"Not always," Fritz muttered, obviously finding the topic amusing. "And who told you about that, I wonder?"

"Maria says she heard mothers have to lie on a bed so the healers can put the baby in. Or did she say to take them out?" Sheena asked, her face pinched together thoughtfully.

"Sheena, you and your sisters will not need to worry with that for many more summers and winters," Fritz remarked with a headshake. "Now, run along Sheena. This room will be very busy soon."

"You've been busy every day since Mother was hurt," Sheena said, frowning angrily. "Is it about the people that hurt Mother?"

"I suppose you could say that, yes," Fritz admitted, patting her on the head, smiling a bit at her fury. "My though, I didn't know you had a temper under that pretty face, Daughter! Careful, you might scare all my soldiers away with that look."

Sheena couldn't hold her rage, giggling and blushing under the words of her father. "Okay, I'll go now, Father. But Maria is getting worried about you! You haven't been to dinner with us since then either. Are you even eating?" she asked before blinking, doing a double take at the room again. "Wait...is this like a special dining room?"

"No, but we do eat here if things take too long," Fritz admitted calmly. "That's enough for now, Sheena. And I'll try to make time for you and your sisters very soon, I promise."

Sheena nodded, hesitated for a moment, then hugged her father again before rushing over to her mother, hugging her around the legs too. "I don't want you to die either, Mother," she said into her mother's clothes before heading off, the door closing behind her.

"That girl will be the death of someone someday. Either myself or her future husband," Fritz remarked in jest, glancing back at Ymir, who was watching the door still. His brow furrowed; surely she hadn't literally meant that she thought he himself was the only one she was important to, right? She had to know she was important to their daughters by default, right?

"Is she. Wrong?"

"Hm?" Fritz came out of his musing, staring at Ymir with a lost expression of his own. "You'll have to be more clear, Sheena mentioned many things."

"About. A new. Child?" Ymir stated, glancing at him with an uncertain expression.

Fritz had both eyebrows rising at that. He hadn't laid with Ymir in close to half a year now, both because they had been busy with Marley and because he was actively trying to NOT get Ymir pregnant again when her powers were rather important to the survival of Eldia.

Still, he couldn't help considering the pros and cons of having his council walk in on him taking Ymir, the Titaness, right on the council table. There was a certain appeal to that...

"Will she. Have a. New. Sibling. Soon?" Ymir asked cautiously.

Fritz hummed at her question, trying to make sense of it. Was she weary of having more children again after years of raising the other three? Or was Ymir one of those types that grew restless without a babe to care for after so long? Had her near-death made her want to have another child, her own mortality pressuring her to do it sooner rather than later? It made sense. Many warriors, men and women, often had a new sense of priorities after returning from a close meeting with death. But did that apply to Ymir? She hadn't just almost died, she had been about to give up on life.

Speaking of children, he needed to eventually discuss with Ymir figuring out if and how her powers could be awakened or inherited to their daughters. They truly needed to have that talk one day, if their children's children, and their children, were to have a future.

He shook his head, both to himself and her. "Not just yet, no. While Marley appears defeated, I would rather not give them the window to attack while you're with child," he answered, watching her reaction. She only nodded, not showing any disappointment or relief. A thought came to his mind. "Would you like to remain for the meeting, Ymir?"

She only looked slightly surprised by the offer, than unsure on how to reply. "Is it. Important. That I. Stay?"

"No, it isn't," he admitted, pausing to see if she would accept the offer, but he only received silence. "If there's nothing else, Ymir?" he asked, gesturing to her that she was free to leave. She bowed her head before leaving silently.

Fritz leaned back in his chair. Ymir made much more sense to him now, but the mysteries were still there. He had seen inside her...being, he supposed, but it had only been an instance. Enough to know the important parts: She had always wanted to be important to someone. She had indeed wanted to save him. Yet she had been ready to give up on life. Everything else was a blur, like some long dream he could only remember the most vivid parts of.

He held up his hand, staring at it curiously, wondering if there was a way to do that again, without one of them nearly dying. Ymir's powers were immense and still unknown in most respects. And to know one another's thoughts was a useful ability, limited only by how close they needed to be.

His gaze drifted down to the round table. A trophy of sorts from the first major Malayan city they laid siege to. It had been a rather splendid table. Had being the keyword. It once had a vibrant and detailed map of the known world painted on its surface. But warriors were occasionally idiots, like not bothering to cover the damn table when transporting it back to Eldia in the middle of the raining season.

He'd like to have it repainted one day.

A smirk came to his face. Maybe he'd wait until after he did that to mount Ymir on the council table. There was a fitting imagery, the King of Eldia fucking the Titaness on top of a map of the world.

Meanwhile

"Who are you?"

Sheena didn't know everyone in the palace. But she recognized most people that were present day to day. The servants, the guards, the people that helped her father run the Eldian Empire and of course the cooks. But she knew that this person was not usually here.

It was kind of obvious though. She had seen women in armor before, but they weren't in the palace all the time like the guards. This one wore a helmet that covered everything but the mouth, with a slot for the eyes, and curled horns on the side. Sheena was bad at guessing, but she thought she was a bit too young and slim for a warrior, even a woman-warrior. She was also holding a spear and, until Sheena spoke, had been pacing nervously outside her mother's room.

Now she was looking at her with shock, standing straighter. "Princess Rose?"

Sheena giggled. "That's my sister. I'm Princess Sheena!" she said before scowling as she looked at the spear. "Why are you outside Mother's room?"

"I'm terribly sorry, Princess. This is my first day here," the warrior said respectfully. "I'm supposed to report to your mother. Do you know where she is?"

"What for?" Sheena asked distrustfully.

The woman looked confused before glancing at her spear- then going rigid. "You think that- Oh, I am so sorry for worrying you Princess!" she apologized profusely, realizing what a child must think from recent events, still so fresh in a young mind. "I swear to all the realms that I mean no harm," she assured, dropping to one knee, giving a smile to the little girl. "I'm here to serve and protect your mother. I want to make sure that never happens again to her."

"You're going to protect Mother?" Sheena asked with wide, awed eyes. Then she blinked. "But you look so small! I thought warriors were big! Even the Iron Women are big!"

The woman looked a bit struck by that. "You mean the Jarnvidr? Princess, I am a Jarnvidr," she stated firmly.

"..." Sheena stared at her, not looking impressed.

The warrior was starting to feel insulted now, but wisely didn't say anything rude to the princess. "Ahem. Besides, my unassuming size is why I was chosen, Princess. If I slip into servant clothes, no one would guess I was a warrior of any sort," she stated as an attempt to defend her honor from the youngest child of the Titaness. "That way, they never see me before I get them," she added with a small smirk.

And just like that, Sheena's eyes lit up again. "Ahhh, that sounds amazing!" she said childishly.

Syn almost sighed, albeit fondly. Children could be so easily impressed and disappointed, it gave her whiplash.

"Mother is with Father in the room with the circle-table," Sheena answered, humming apologetically as she saw this didn't help this woman any. "I could take you there if you want?"

"Thank you, Princess, but I'll wait. I won't be a very good guard if I can't stand and wait for a few hours," she countered lightly. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Princess Sheena. My name is Syn. Syn Brunndottir."

"Syn," Sheena repeated with a nod. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Syn. I hope Mother likes you!"

"So do I, Princess, so do I," Syn said with a wary smile, watching as the Princess left down the halls to her own room. "Disir give me strength," she said to herself as she rose up to continue her vigil and wait.

Or she would have, had she not looked down the other direction of the hall.

Her body instantly tensed, falling back down on her knee and bowing her head low as the Titaness herself walked up to loom over her.

Syn felt a rush of awe and fear. She knew all too well the might of Ymir, all of the Ironwood did. One wrong move and King Fritz would not have the time to order her execution. Yet, still...

"Lady Ymir, it is a privilege to be in your presence!" Syn declared enthusiastically, keeping her eyes cast down on the feet of the veritable Goddess. There was silence, but that was to be expected. "My Titaness, I am Syn Brunndottir. The King has tasked me with the honored duty of guarding over you and your children."

She knelt there, unwilling to move unless she had a sign that she was given leave to rise. She only dared to glance up to Ymir's hands, to see if there were any gestures. There was none. Was she doing something wrong? Was she supposed to kiss her feet now? It was a bit more of a Marleyian custom, but it would seem like a fitting show of respect from a mortal like her to one such as Lady Ymir, to properly lower herself bef-

Her thoughts were interrupted as the Titaness walked into her room without any form of acknowledgement. "My Lady?" she said in surprise, but got no reaction as the door closed. She knelt there, stunned, before smiling softly. She was just here to serve Ymir, her very body to be a shield if any would dare to lay harm on her human form. Perhaps no words were needed.

With that, she returned to standing and guarding the doorway.

Ymir, meanwhile, was more than a little confused by what just happened. She was used to servants attending her; she was her Master's concubine after all. But that was...different.

The least but most immediate issue was that she had confirmed something about herself: She wasn't ready to speak to others if she didn't have to. Fritz and her own daughters were one thing. She still hadn't brought herself to speak to any of the long-time guards or servants. People she just met were a definite no.

But even if she had been willing to talk to the woman, Ymir was at a complete loss for what she would have said. Her master had assigned this warrior-woman to her, to guard her and her children? Wouldn't he have told her that? Or had it slipped his mind?

Still, she didn't appear to be lying, as she hadn't tried to harm Sheena while Ymir watched from around the corner. But that led to the strangeness of this Syn's behavior. She had heard others tell Fritz what an "honor" it was to serve him or meet him. Some meant it; many were just trying to flatter him. Syn seemed genuine in her desire to serve her.

To obey her.

Had her master given her, his slave, a slave of her own? Was that...allowed? Even if it was, she didn't know how to process that idea. She had always been the one doing the obeying, not the one being obeyed.

Even if she was just an overeager guard, Ymir wasn't sure she liked the idea of having this Syn around all the time. There was just a sensation in the back of her head that made her uneasy around the woman...

Hours later, the city gates were surrounded by people, kept back by two lines of soldiers. The crowd yelled, booed and tried to throw whatever they could at the soldiers of Marley. Of the forty-nine who had come to give their false-surrender, thirteen had been slain. One for every year of the Titaness, some noticed. And so, thirteen sealed urns were strapped onto the backs of thirteen soldiers. The defeated captives were given two wagons and the horses for them, but each wagon was already filled with the food and water they needed to make it home.

If they wished to ease their burden, they would have to abandon their supplies or their dead.

The soul crushed men took one last look at the City of Eldia, the citizens cheering for their suffering. Less than two decades ago, this was a fractured land of huts, villages, and barbarians. Lands they raided, pacified, and believed their empire would eventually subjugate. Now? Many of them couldn't help thinking just how similar the city looked to one of their own, of finely crafted stones, defended by well-equipped warriors, with a proud and mostly united people under one powerful leader.

And now, they would march home in defeat.

Caius Lebienus, the mutilated remains of the would-be assassin sealed within the container on his back, traveled his eyes further away…to the palace, to the balcony. He glared with cold hatred as he saw...them; The Barbarian King and the Titaness Witch, watching their humiliation and their hopelessness.

Never before had Caius hated something so much yet had no way of striking at it.

But if his mind had been less focused on his rage, he might have noticed his men. Many of them were just relieved to leave these lands, to see home and hearth once more...

"Will. They. Survive?"

With anyone else, Fritz might have suspected she doubted his word, but he could read the more thoughtful and curious tone in Ymir's voice. She honestly didn't know if they had enough supplies to make the journey. "Unless they're completely without brains," he answered apathetically. "There is enough food to make it to Marley on foot, but they'll likely take the river to the south. They should be able to find a ship there and sail homeward with ease. As long as they don't break those containers, they should be safe from any disease from the rotting corpses."

Ymir nodded in understanding as she watched them tread out across the fields before the city, to the wastelands between Eldia and Marley, just barely visible on the horizon.

"Are you upset I added a punishment to your mercy?" he asked curiously.

Ymir paused before shaking her head. "No. I. Understand. You. Wish. To. Make. Marley. Scared. Of. Trying. Again," she acknowledged softly.

"I'm hoping fear of you will do the bulk of the work there," Fritz remarked grimly. "How have you faired since your...injury?"

Ymir was briefly surprised by the question, the concern, but tried not to read too much into it. "I am. Unharmed. Now," she answered truthfully.

Fritz hummed, glancing at her briefly and then his hand, giving it a considering look before shaking his head. "Myself and the council believe we need to focus on our defenses now."

Ymir searched her mind for what he meant. "You. Wish. Me. To use. The. Flesh Stone. Again?"

Flesh Stone. That was the name many had come to refer to the strange substance that Ymir could produce as the Titaness. She used it to make bridges in the past, among other things. It moved like a substance akin to clay or wax, but it hardened to become nearly as strong as metal, turning from a pale white to an unassuming gray. And they seemed to resist the wears and tears of time, unchanging even a decade after their creation.

Fritz nodded. "We need defenses to hold back any invaders. And a proper defense means that a proper band of warriors occupying the defenses could repel many enemies even without you needing to come to the front."

Ymir blinked in surprise. The Eldians being able to turn away an enemy without her needing to assume her other form? That would be...relatively nice, in a way. She wouldn't say it, but she appreciated it when she wasn't the only one getting her hands dirty.

"I. Will. Try," Ymir answered in concern, both of them recalling the time she tried to make a very large bridge for the first time, nearly passing out in her giant form. Producing Flesh Stone was very draining for some reason. It got easier after a while. From her age or from practice, it was hard to say.

Fritz didn't say anything to that. They had time, and they still had to plan. Perhaps test on how fast could Ymir create certain defensive structures in different sizes. Then they could weigh the pros and cons between how long it should take Ymir to finish the project, how effective the plans would be as defenses and how long they would take to complete. After all, Marley was in no shape to go on the offensive right now.

"Why. Did. You. Send. Me. Syn?"

The change of topic almost threw Fritz off completely. "Syn?" he questioned, searching for the name in his memories.

Ymir glanced behind them out of the corner of her eye, dragging Fritz's attention to the supposed-servant girl standing at the door way, just out of earshot for the most part.

"Ahh, her," Fritz said in understanding. "I decided it was best to have a guard with you in case someone thinks to attempt what Marley did by mistake," he answered, getting a confused look for his answer. "In case someone tries to attack you outside of battle."

"Oh," Ymir couldn't help saying. "Why. Her?"

"I left that decision up to the Warden," Fritz answered offhandedly before finding Ymir's question odd. "Why, do you take issue with her? Or do you not like having a bodyguard?"

"I...do not. Know," Ymir admitted with a frown.

"If you decide you do not like her, she'll be dismissed and replaced," Fritz assured, quirking a brow at Ymir. "But it would be best to discover what you don't like about her before another is picked."

Ymir nodded, her head dipping deeper. "I. Don't. Like. Talking. To. Strangers. Yet."

Fritz supposed that wasn't unreasonable. She hadn't spoken in well over fifteen years, but she had been perfectly able to for thirteen. Perhaps she would grow accustomed to it again with time, perhaps not. "You know, despite how hectic things have been, I have had some time with our daughters," he mused with a small smirk. "They all love hearing your voice."

Ymir smiled ever so slightly, recent memories coming to her mind. Time surrounded by her children as she shared her first conversations with them. They were the warmest memories she had ever possessed in her cold life.

A hand on her shoulder jerked her mind back to reality.

"I'm growing fond of it myself," he admitted with a chuckle as he stared out at the mighty realm he ruled.

Ymir had no reply, staring at him in surprise before turning her gaze back over the city as well

Syn watched all with vigilant, neutral eyes.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

Ymirite or Flesh Stone, as it is commonly called in the present and past, is matter of great scientific debate even eighteen centuries later. Most scholars choose to call it Titanite or Ymirite, also Titanstein or Ymirstein. Some believed it was the Flesh of the Gods, turning to stone when detachted from the source. Many scholars and alchemists declared it the fabled adamantine before seeing it. Ymirite looks no different than ordinary stone, outside of its near unnatural smoothness. Its true power is the ease or quickness it could be used. And that erosion has very little effect on it, of course. Despite what the legends would have us believe, Flesh Stone is actually less durable than the concrete used by ancient Marleyans. However, this is only true on its own. In the state of Titanite, or Flesh Steel, that is another story entirely...

End of Chapter

So, yeah, Less Cruel does not mean nice. Fritz is still an ass in a lot of ways, and his best moments are usually for his daughters. But he at least tries with Ymir. Also, now Ymir has a guard. I hope you all enjoyed Syn. I figure after that little incident with the spear, Fritz giving Ymir a personal bodyguard seemed like a good course of action.

And my first installments of Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries. I'm mainly trying to keep them related to the chapter in one way or another

 

[Akumakami64]

Ripple of Kindness

Disclaimer: I do not own AoT

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

The Jarn or "Iron Women" are one of history's great mysteries. An allegedly all-female tribes of Eldian Warriors that were said to live in a place called Jarnvidr, or the "Iron Woods," a common nickname for many forests. They were commonly thought of as a myth for hundreds of years until their existence was confirmed just short of a hundred years ago. The skepticism was in large part to two things: One being that there are no known ancient texts by the Pre-Ymir Jarn and another is the old tales of Jarn, my both Marley and the Pre-Ymir Tribes, paint them in monsterous light: sodomizing and castrating men, killing their own sons, and kidnapping daughters to indoctrinate. How much of this is exagerrated or outright untrue is still unknown.

However, calling a woman a Jarn in the early centuries of Post-Ymir Eldia was considered a compliment, as "Iron Women" were regarded as some of the best of the best before the rise of the Ackermans. While the truth of them is still mysterious, current discoveries paint them as simply another warring Pre-Ymir tribe, who became rather famous and prestigous in Post-Ymir times.

Syn wasn't sure what she expected from the children of the Titaness, but she had to admit that...normal was not it.

They were currently in the garden behind the royal palace. It wasn't much, a simple stretch of green grass with a handful of trees with wide canopies, the entire area surround by the palace halls and the clear sky above.

By one tree sat a trio of royal girls before an old, bald man, all sitting in foldable seats.

"Maria, you know very well that it's Skirr, not Skitr," the elder scolded knowingly. "Granted, I must praise your creativity for turning "I went to Clean in the stables" to "I went to Shit in the stables,"" he remarked with a snort.

"I'm sorry, Elder Od, I was just thinking about the time I had to use the stables once," Maria said innocently.

"Maria," Rose whispered with a sigh.

"Gross," Sheena stated with a disgusted look before looking rather proud of herself. "I Always use the urns."

"Please keep doing so, Sheena," Od said with a grateful smile. "I'm glad at least you and Rose take my lessons seriously."

Maria did not look apologetic in the slightest.

"That will be all for today. Maria, you'll be excited to know that tomorrow's lessons will be about history and legends," Od instructed, the eldest princess beaming a bit.

"Thank you, Elder Od," the princesses all said, some more sincerely then others.

Syn had been watching the lesson from many paces back. It was interesting; the three of them were all just ordinary girls, normal sisters in most respects…truly not much different from other happy children. They played, they laughed, and they pouted. If she didn't know better, she would have never guessed they had the Blood of the Titaness.

But she supposed everyone, no matter how great their potential was, started out small and relatively normal.

"Princesses, if you'll indulge an old man, would you wait a moment while I converse with your lovely servant?" Od requested with a grandfatherly idleness to him.

The three sisters looked surprised, curious even, but nodded as they headed over to a tree to converse about one thing or another. Syn gave the old man a curious look. "Is there a problem, Elder Od?"

"No, it's just not every day I see one of the Jarnvidr pretending to be a soft servant girl," Od commented knowingly.

Syn's entire body language changed to be tense and coiled, fixing the man with a sharp glare. "How did you know?"

"Please, you're many moons too young to be fooling me," he stated without fear. "I have not braved wastelands and cannibals to cower before one barely out of girlhood."

Syn relaxed a bit despite the insult. "I apologize. I have been given the duty of guarding the princesses in secret," she explained.

"And the less they know, the better," Od acknowledged. "As curious as I find this, I only wished to speak to you in an attempt to offer advice."

"You know Jarnvidr don't take kindly to men presuming to advise us, correct?" she asked neutrally.

"And yet, you kneel to King Fritz," Od observed.

"And to the Titaness," Syn amended strongly.

Od hummed before nodding, as if conceding the argument. "On how you fight or live, I am not here to educate you," he stated blandly. "But you have never disguised yourself before as this, have you?"

Syn did not answer, which was answer enough.

"You still walk and stand like a warrior. It gives too much away. If you wish to remain a truly hidden blade to protect the royal family, you must learn to make yourself appear weak and humble, to appear relaxed. Lean upon a tree or wall; make your watch over them less obvious. Because any soldier that has seen battle will take notice of you as you are."

Syn looked away, in thought, before nodding respectfully. "Thank you for you wisdom, Elder Od," she said in thanks.

Od watched her go with a calm, deep look around his ancient eyes.

"Pardon the delay, Princesses," Syn said with a deep bow of her head to the young children.

"Are we in trouble?" Rose asked curiously.

Syn forced a giggle from her mouth. "No, no. Elder Od believed he met family of mine years ago, and wanted to discern if I was the same Syn they spoke of," she lied on the spot.

"Is that the polite way of asking if she's his bastard?" Sheena asked curiously.

"Sheena?!" Maria asked in surprise. "How do you know about that?"

Sheena shrugged. "Father and the warriors always call the people from Marley "bastards" so I asked Elder Od what they were. I guess Marlayeans never get married?"

Maria just shook her head in amusement as they started walking off towards the main building of the palace.

Syn had only been briefly surprised by the exchange before taking it in stride. The princesses were normal, but very interesting little girls.

Meanwhile

"King, I'm telling you, getting a proper army together like what you're asking will take the better half of a decade. Especially with Marley defeated, most won't see reason to make such preparations."

Fritz rubbed his skull at the words from the man of middling years with dark blonde hair and a nearly trimmed beard. "Galzt, I know for a fact that you are not a fool," he said, both of the men sitting amongst the other council members of Eldia at the round table. "While the Titaness was not the true target, her intervention against the attempt on my life reminded me of something important. Most other powers in the world still view us as Barbarians; a non-threat without the Titaness. We defeated Marley without many problems mainly because their emperor, their lords and their great generals all refused to believe the Titaness was as powerful as the survivors claimed. Some didn't believe she even existed at all. By the time they realized the truth, we had destroyed half their armies and pushed their borders back. It's only a matter of time before someone tries to attack us from two or more different directions. One to distract Ymir, the other to attack our lands in her absence."

"You're not wrong, Fritz," another man agreed, a man with far more hair on his beard than any of them, all but a few black hairs long turned grey. "Our saving fortune is that with the tribes united, we have only the sea to our backs, making it harder for them to pull that off without the Titaness being in running distance from one army to the next."

"I thought you were agreeing with me, Buri?" Fritz asked in annoyance.

"I am," Buri said with a shrug. "Marley will eventually come by boat; the sea is in their blood like the cold is in ours. They will need to brave the icy waves of the north, but they will eventually."

"What do you propose then, you senile old boar?" Galzt asked with a scowl.

"Care to say that again, Whoreson?" Buri challenged, hand on his sheathed sword.

"Enough."

The room settled as Fritz made his ire known, the king glaring at the table filled with former rivals and allies.

"We're all Lords of Eldia, former Reiks of warring tribes, but can we have one Great Thing without threatening one another?"

Many of them straightened at that. Fritz and his Titaness had united them, but old grudges were hard to toss aside still.

"There might be a way, involving the Titaness, King," Galzt spoke up in concession.

"Speak your power, Galzt," Fritz prompted impatiently.

"The issue is paying for that kind of force, a way to entice them to not just return home to their old livelihoods," Galzt mused before shrugging. "And one of the bits of lands we got from Marley happens to have a mine of gems."

"And you want us to mine it?" Buri guessed.

Galzt shrug. "I was actually thinking of Lady Ymir just grabbing a handful of it out and let workers sift through the dirt for anything valuable," he proposed.

"Not the most effective mining method, but it would be a quick way to fill the coffers," another lord remarked.

Fritz contemplated the plan before nodding his acceptance. "Find me a map of exactly where this is. We'll take care of that while we're making the defenses."

"And just how is the Titaness doing, Reiking?" Buri asked with a small smirk.

"Did you really doubt Ymir would recover?" Fritz asked, not even as a challenge, but as if it was an obvious event.

The more people that believed that sentiment the better.

"I don't believe that is what he means, Alareik."

Every eye turned to the only woman currently present at the council. "And just what are you implying, Warden?" Fritz asked stoically.

The leader of the Jarnvidr just chuckled in amusement while Buri barked out a laugh. "Oh, don't be so Mar-ish, Fritz!" Buri said jovially. "Marley is defeated, you survived an assassination and Lady Ymir shrugged off a spear to the heart! I know how most of us would celebrate. Tell us, are we expecting a fourth titanling yet?"

Fritz snorted. "I want to make sure Marley is truly whipped for now before I add another to my bloodline," he said dismissively. "Or do I need to remind you all what happened just before Princess Sheena was born?"

That darkened everyone's mood.

"We lost a lot of warriors, all thanks to an early spring," The Warden of Nagrindr remarked with bitter amusement. "The one time we didn't want one."

"Brothers, sisters, sons, fathers, husbands. Wives," Buri recalled with a dark look. "Fritz, can you end this damn Thing? I need a drink now."

"You always need a drink, Buri," Fritz muttered before smirking. "But gods damn me if I have to spend another evening eating with your ugly mugs instead of with my girls. We're done here."

The council of Eldia all started to file out until it was just Fritz and the Warden. "So, how is Syn fitting in, Alareik?" she asked with a curious smirk.

"Horribly, apparently," Fritz answered bluntly.

"Really?" she asked, looking completely surprised. "Strange, she is one of the least abrasive women we have. What seems to be the problem?"

"Ymir doesn't like her, for some reason," Fritz admitted. "And I'm inclined to trust her instincts."

She stood up with a defensive look at that. "If you're implying I sent her to be anything except-"

"Will you shut up," Fritz demanded, only barely raising his voice as he rubbed his stiff neck. "I'm implying nothing on your part, Warden. Your warrior? I don't know. That is why I told Ymir to give her a chance until she knew what she didn't like about her," Fritz explained.

The former Reik held her ire for a moment before sighing. "That is reasonable. I just have a hard time fathoming what Syn could have done. She is one of those that reveres the Titaness more than anything. Knowing Lady Ymir disapproved of her would be worse than a lashing to that girl."

Fritz hummed without much concern. "If it is nothing treacherous, it could just be like I am with you. Every other man wants to take you to bed, while I would rather hit you with the blunt end of a spear."

"The two aren't that dissimilar, Alareik."

Fritz rolled his eyes at the joke, rising from his seat. "I'll keep you informed about if Ymir wants Syn replaced," he stated, before leaving the room.

He made his way to the dining hall without interruption. This was very traditionally Eldian in design, if a bit grander; a great wooden table, clothed in the skinned pelts of wolves and bears, with a great hearth burning to the side to warm the room.

From here, he could see the back of Maria and Rose's heads as they conversed with Sheena and Ymir on the other side of the table, framed and illuminated by the flames of the hearth. The youngest was playing with the paw of a wolf pelt, pretending to snap and bite like the furry predator.

Ymir was the first to take note of him, looking towards him in half-surprise, melting away into her usual expression. But for a moment before that, he wondered if it was just a trick of the light, or had that been a smile on Ymir's face?

"Father!" Sheena greeted enthusiastically, drawing the other two sisters to look over their shoulders at him.

"Girls, Ymir," he greeted with a small smile on his bearded lips. He moved to his chair at the head of the table, donned with the great horns of an enormous moose.

He paused only briefly, taking notice of Syn standing beyong the hearth. If he hadn't been the one that called for one of the Iron Women to guard Ymir and their children, he might have mistaken her for an idle and ordinary servant.

Good, that was how she needed to appear.

Taking his seat with a content sigh, he removed his crown and placed it on the table. "I will never know how those southern pricks stand wearing these all the time."

Sheena and Maria giggled at his choice of words while Rose just smiled.

"I don't suppose any of you know what we shall be dining on tonight?" he inquired idly.

"Camel. Bird," Ymir answered.

Fritz scrunched his brow at that. "Bird I understand, but camel? Those hunched back horses from the scorching lands of Farisa?"

"A what-back horse?" Sheena asked in confusion.

"Camel-Bird, Father. One word," Maria explained, getting a strange look from her father. She returned it with a helpless look. "That's what the chef called it. They said it was like a Turkey, but very big."

"They also called it a bouquet for some reason?" Rose supplied in equal confusion.

Fritz just stared before shaking his head. "Strange name," he remarked, Ymir nodding in agreement. He wondered why Sheena started giggling again but ignored it. "Still, a giant bird? This I must try."

No sooner had he said that did the doors open, and the royal family was treated to the bizarre sight of two very strong men shuffling in a large plate, covered by a cloth held in place by amused kitchen servants, male and female. "What is...?" Fritz questioned with a scowl.

"Sorry, King, but we had to show you this whole before carving it up!" one of the large men said with a grin, the servants pulling the sheet away to reveal the thing in question.

Even the Titaness herself was taken aback by the size of the creature. Its legs were relatively scrawny for its overall size, but they were as long as spears! The body itself was a huge mass of meat, maybe larger than a boar!

"Those legs are bigger than all of me...," Sheena whispered in awe.

"I think they're bigger than me," Maria stated in shock.

"Should have seen the head on this thing, Reik- Er, King!" one of the servants said jovially. "It was like a third leg."

"Well, let's carve this bird and see how it tastes!" Fritz called out.

"I don't think we can eat all of it," Rosa observed to herself.

"The rest probably goes to the staff or the guards," Maria whispered.

"Okay, King, Titaness, Princesses? Any preference on where you want the meat from?" one of the big men asked, pulling out a carving knife.

Fritz pretended not to notice Syn leaning forward.

"I like eating off the bone," Sheena remarked, eyeing the legs warily. "But I can't hold any bone on that bird."

The servants laughed, as did Fritz. "Anywhere is fine, Storn. I just want to know what this beast tastes like."

"Alright then. Just be careful, your majesties. We definitely cooked it all the way through, but we're not sure how many little bones may or may not be in these bastards," Storn warned as he sliced off large chunks for each of the royals, the kitchen servants also bringing out plates of bread, apples and cooked carrots.

Fritz wasted no time taking a bite, nor did Sheena. "Hmm, very lean," Fritz remarked.

Sheena swallowed her first mouthful with a considering look. "Tastes like cow."

"I suppose they should call it the Cow-Bird instead," Maria joked, getting some chuckles.

"You all did a grand job with this...unusual thing," Fritz remarked in amusement, turning to congratulate them. "We have more than enough here to fill us all twice over. Take your fill of it, all of you. No sense in wasting it."

"Oh, I'm bringing some of this home to my boys," one of the women said with a grin as Storn and his companions took the huge amount of food back to the preparation room. "And they thought being a palace servant would be boring..."

"Hm, doesn't taste as good, but it is nice," Maria accepted idly.

"Maria, Daughter? I love you, but you have a spoiled tongue," Fritz remarked in playful exasperation.

"You've made that very clear, Father," Maria answered cheekily, half glaring at her currently carnivorous younger-sister. "Sheena, drink some water before you try to drown yourself in the meat."

They all swore she actually growled through the meat.

Fritz shook his head. "And they wonder why I'm happy with only daughters," he murmured. He enjoyed moments like this. It almost seemed like they were a normal family for a moment. And that was about all he could do for his daughters, let them believe that for as long as they could.

He glanced to Ymir, who was idly eating her own food while glancing at the children routinely. She had a lot of carrots and bread and barely touched the meat.

"Father, have you ever hunted something like that thing?" Rose asked curiously.

"No, I can't say I have. I imagine they're from the South. Probably something Marley hoarded to themselves," he murmured, taking another bite. "On this one occasion, I can't blame them. I wonder what an egg from this beast would taste like?"

"Have you ever gone hunting with Father, Mother?" Sheena asked with great interest.

Fritz kept chewing as he glanced to Ymir, who paused with a fork of carrot just outside her mouth. Memories from thirteen years age flashed before both of them in an instant. A girl fleeing through the forest, dogs barking, arrows flying and then a tree falling...

"No," Ymir answered simply.

Fritz swallowed. "Unless you count the Marlayeans," he jabbed. "So, children, what'd you learn from Od today?"

"That Shit and Clean are almost the same thing," Maria said with a straight face.

Ymir gave her a strange look while Fritz shook his head. "Maria, I pray you apply that gift of yours well one day," Fritz stated in amusement. "As opposed to trying to kill your tutors by frustrating them."

"But Father, isn't that what you do with your advisors?" Maria asked innocently.

"Only the stupid ones," Fritz answered, taking a long gulp of ale. "Rose? As amusing as Maria's antics are, never try to take after your sister. I prefer having at least one well-mannered daughter."

Rose smiled at the rare praise.

"What about Sheena?" Maria asked, as they all turned to the youngest.

Sheena said nothing, pausing her eating once she realized she was being stared at. She grabbed her plate and pulled it towards herself possessively before she continued eating.

"Where does she put all of that food when she's so tiny?" Rose asked in amazement.

Fritz nearly made a joke about Sheena inheriting her mother's appetite but decided against it.

"Did you have a nice day, Mother?" Rose tried, feeling a bit more talkative from her father's approval.

"A. Nice. Day?" Ymir repeated in surprise.

"Huh. Haven't you been with Father and the council, Mother?" Maria guessed.

Ymir shook her head. "No. I have. Not," she answered, growing a bit uncomfortable as all eyes were on her, even her master's, but she was unsure what to say. "It was. Nice. I just. Did not. Do. Anything. Today."

Besides spend time with their daughters, but that was normal. Even before she started speaking, they were with her often. That had changed only slightly since their lessons started, so there was a larger time of the day now when she was alone.

The girls were rather disappointed by the uninteresting answer, but were going to accept it.

"Did you want to?"

Ymir blinked, looking to Fritz in shock. "What?"

She actually didn't know what he meant. He already asked her once if she wanted to attend a war meeting and she declined because she was not needed. What was he asking now?

"Was there anything you wanted to do today?" Fritz clarified idly, casually.

She didn't answer at first. She was...so unused to this still; Him or anyone being that considerate of her.

"I...Do not. Know," she answered uncertainly.

Maria and Rose looked confused by that, Sheena just accepting it at face value.

Fritz hummed. He was probably to blame for that. In the first years of getting her powers, Fritz had Ymir watched and guarded like she was the most valuable thing in the tribe. Which she was, to this day. Still, it wasn't like she had any time or chance to find things she took any enjoyment in. And apparently she hadn't taken any chance to do so during her time as his concubine.

"Father?" Rose spoke up. "Mother told us Eldia use to be a lot smaller. Is that true?"

Ymir was more than a bit relieved at the subject change.

Fritz chuckled. "You wouldn't believe it, daughters, but thirteen years ago, we were only a village. My entire home and hall from then was made of wood and could fit in this one room!"

Sheena looked around the large hall, as if trying to imagine a home that small for them. "But...we couldn't play hide and seek indoors then?" Sheena asked, as if that was a fatal flaw in the concept.

"You'd be surprised, Sheena," Fritz said knowingly, not letting his own distaste show on his face from long buried memories.

The children didn't see the momentary look in his eyes. But Ymir did.

For a brief moment, she saw once more the reason she didn't hate Fritz.

Syn silently watched on.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

Due to the similarity in the ancient Eldian word for "Ostrich" and "Bouquet," some part of the Eldian Empire created the tradition of eating Ostriches at weddings. Much like a bride might throw a bouquet over her head, a groom will throw the neck of the bird over his head. Whoever catches it gets to carve the bird, and is seen as a similar honor to catching the bride's flowers. Not only will they be the next to marry, but if both traditions are followed, it is generally assumed that pair will marry each other one day and has been the start of many famous and infamous romances.

End of Chapter

And there we go, another chapter to this lovely little look into an Ancient AU. Hope you all liked this chapter, and all the original characters that showed up. Also dropping lots of hints.

And, yes a meeting was called a "Thing" in ancient germanic societies.

 

[Akumakami64]

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

The ancient name for the Eldian homelands was actually referred to as "Theudo" or the "Theudon Lands" by the tribes themselves. Even the tribe of Eldia used this term, which simply meant "The People." While wanting to unite the tribes into one cultural identity played a part in all being labeled as Eldians, Marley itself was partially to blame for this. The Eldians were their most frequent contact among the ancient Pre-Ymir tribes and thus they often referred to all tribes as simply being Eldian. Even some Marleyian maps of the Pre-Ymir world use the label of "Eldia" instead of "Theudo" or "Theudon".

Ironically, it's commonly theorized that this helped the fractured tribes unite under the Eldian Empire more easily...

Maria didn't like brooding.

She was very aware of how blessed her life was: She was born the eldest daughter of King Fritz of Eldia and Ymir the Titaness, the two that united the all the tribes within the Lands of Theudo and crushed the accursed Empire of Marley. She lived in a palace with people serving and bowing to her every day. A girl in her position could have or do just about anything she wanted, within reason. And she could probably convince her father to grant a favor or two slightly beyond the normal bounds of reason. It was like a story for most children, a fantasy, but it was her reality.

She also did not have to conform to the strange rules she heard most Marleyian girls had to adhere to- apparently, most teachers only taught boys there. And girls weren't allowed to be warriors. Or have any important jobs like a counselor or advisor.

Eldians weren't sure what Marleyian women were allowed to do, really.

But as a Princess of Eldia, she had more freedom than any other child in the lands, equaled only by her sisters. As such, she often thought it was silly to be unhappy with her life.

Yet seeing her mother appear to be at the doorsteps of death on the day of the failed attempt on her fathe'rs life, she found something swell in the pit of her stomach. She ignored it, waved it off, swallowed it down. But it was a stubborn little thought that wouldn't leave her mind. A dreadful, awful one she didn't want to contemplate, but felt a growing responsibility to consider it.

Her father was the king. She was a princess. The FIRST Princess.

What happens after her father does die?

She didn't know if her mother would rule as Queen or Regent or whatever the title was going to be, but even if she did, the throne would eventually fall to Maria herself. Eldian culture had no issue with women fighting and leading. There had never even been a different term for a female Reik. A Reik was a Reik, as she overheard some of the guards and servants say. True, whoever her future husband turned out to be could be more fit to be a ruler than her, but...

"I've longed to see such an attentive look on your face, my princess."

She startled from her seat on the parapet along a hall facing the palace garden. Looking over, she saw her teacher, Od, standing there and watching her. "Elder Od," she greeted curiously.

"It's just a shame I never find it during my lessons," he remarked with a hum.

Maria didn't respond; which was response enough.

"I hope you don't mind sharing the view, Maria?" he asked patiently. She nodded slowly, watching as he sat on the stonework with her, looking in towards the garden where they often had their lessons. "You seemed quite fond of the lesson today."

"The Helladi are strange, but their history is fantastic. The Ilium War, their bouts with the Scolotian Lords, the Lakonikes raids against the Farisan Empire," Maria mused fondly.

"Yes, well, they spent so many centuries fighting with each other, so they tend to be a tad less biased in their history keeping now," Od agreed idly, waiting a moment before changing the subject. "May an old fool ask what actually has your utmost attention, Princess Maria?" Od asked in interest.

Maria glanced down for a moment, thinking, before sighing. "I'm going to rule Eldia someday."

Od rose a brow at the uncertain tone. "Yes, that is your father's intention. I do not foresee him passing over the birthright of his eldest," Od acknowledged. "What, may I ask, is the issue with that, Princess?"

"I...don't know what kind of Queen I should be. Or even can be," Maria remarked with a grimace. "Father is a warrior. He and Mother united the tribes. So, what kind of Queen will I be? What kind can I be?"

Od looked momentarily surprised before a small smile appeared on his wizened face. "I've always known you to act older than you are, Princess. Your jokes alone sound like they belong to one twice your age. But I was beginning to doubt there was a mature and responsible aspect to that as well," he stated, leaning against a pillar. "Have you spoken with your father about this?"

Maria shook her head. "I've tried not to think about it at all, but..."

Od nodded in understanding. "The assassination attempt. So fortunate we were that it failed, "he remarked. "Tell me, Princess? Why does this weigh heavy on you. Are you seeking your father's approval? Your people's prosperity?"

"My own power?" Maria finished, smiling half-heartedly at his confused look. "Father lets me read the Marleyan scriptures taken in the war. Sometimes we help each other read it, since, well...cunt and wedge are almost the same words," she reminded with a small smile.

Od actually look a bit shocked by that. "I did not expect King Fritz to have the patience and time for such things," Od mused.

Maria didn't comment on that. "I read some of the things written by Marleyan...I just call them Thinkers," she answered with a shrug. Od didn't correct her, waiting to see where this was going. "They think about a lot of things over there. Weird ideas about Gods, about how people should live. Even how people should and shouldn't rule."

Od nodded slowly. "And what have you taken from these thoughts you've read?" he asked, stroking his beard with interest.

Maria smiled for a moment. "That Father doesn't like Marleyan Thinkers," she remarked before frowning. "I don't know, Elder. About why I'm so concerned about it. I just...Everyone talks about how much everything has changed in the last thirteen years. And I only remember back to...when I was of four or five? I don't really know what they mean by changed, what it was like before Mother and Father."

"History teaches by example," Od stated, staring out at the garden. "It's an expression that Marley took from the people of Helladi. Preparing for the future means understanding the past, to give context to the present."

"...Then why don't you teach us about Eldia's past in your lessons, Elder Od?" Maria asked with an inquisitive scowl.

"Your father instructed me not to. I believe he wanted to tell you, you and your sisters, his account personally before hearing my version of it," Od answered offhandedly.

"I see," Maria said without really meaning it. "Thank you, Elder Od."

"Passing wisdom to children is both my profession and my privilege, Princess," Od stated with the thinnest hint of humor.

Maria smiled before she slid off and walked away.

Od watched her go with a thoughtful look. The first daughter of the Titaness…how interesting but yet, how bizarre. The blood of a man and what all either called a goddess or a demon. He had seen it once, from a distance, during the Battle of Uvik, at the Lake of Drawde. The poor fools thought that they could trick the Titaness into the lake at night. All that resulted in was the Titaness standing upright instead of all fours; truly a terrifying sight, destroying the ships around her and throwing the vessels onto their own camp.

Never had he seen the like of her before and seeing her human form up close was almost surreal to experience.

It was amazing just how within the realm of ordinary her children were.

Years of experience let him know that he was being watched.

He turned and truly wondered if Ymir was something divine or demonic, standing before him in the flesh after just occupying his thoughts.

She was right there, mere feet away from him, but not looking at him. She was staring down the hall where her daughter had gone.

Despite his surprise, he waited silently, to see if she would speak. He sometimes believed she couldn't.

At last, she turned to meet his gaze. He wondered what she saw? A wise elder, a feeble old man with few years left, or just a fool that too many listened to? He had been called all of those things and had felt like each on occasion.

After a long silence, he ventured to break it. "May I be of some assistance to you, Lady Ymir?" he inquired calmly.

Ymir opened her mouth and he thought she might speak. Yet, she hesitated, closing her mouth and looking away. Just like that, she started to walk away.

Some might feel insulted, but he was...curious. "Lady Ymir," he called, standing to walk a few steps after her until she stopped. She turned back to him with an uncertain look, almost perplexed. "Does something trouble you?" he asked softly.

Ymir shook her head, but remained where she was for now. She looked at the ground and Od knew that face. He had seen it across the faces of so many students of all ages. A desperate desire to ask something, but yet held back by one feeling or another. Was it pride? Did she not want to be seen as less by needing to ask for advice? Did she feel like it was something she should already know yet didn't?

It had been a long time since Od was this curious, since a mystery and its answer laid just before his eyes.

Her eyes widened minutely before she shook her head and left, rapidly, to turn the corner.

He frowned. What had caused that reaction? He hadn't done anything to alarm her, and more, what could possibly make the Titaness flee?

"Elder Od."

He turned, stoicism returned, as he saw a rather frazzled Syn. "Yes?" he answered neutrally.

"Have you seen Lady Ymir? I haven't been able to find her in hours," Syn said with a worried look about her.

Now, was this a second mystery or the same one? "I fear I have not, but I have only now awoken from a short nap. I cannot be certain if she passed by," he lied expertly. If Lady Ymir was trying to avoid her own guard and servant, he wasn't about to sabotage that. After all, it was her children he was teaching.

"Skeldmawi give me strength," Syn muttered in frustrated prayer before moving on.

He watched her idly, almost smirking when she didn't make the turn. Well, whatever Lady Ymir's reasons were, that at least gave her a little time.

Meanwhile

Ymir kept walking with no real aim of where she was going.

She had sat in her room with Syn standing nearby for an hour before she decided she wanted to be by herself. She had been by herself often in the past. If not for servants that would leave as soon as their tasks were complete, she was only ever with her master and their daughters for more than a short time. Being around them was fine. Being around them didn't feel...unnerving. But it did with Syn.

She wasn't sure if it was Syn herself or if she didn't like having someone around her like that all the time. She just knew that she wanted to be alone.

It took her a while to get away without Syn realizing it.

Then she had seen her eldest daughter with Od. Maria hadn't noticed her, but Ymir had seen that look in her eye: doubt, worry, maybe even a bit of fear? What put that look in her daughter's eyes? How did mothers normally confront troubled children? How did a good mother help children at times like this?

Maria left and Ymir could only watch. What happened next, Ymir had been entirely unprepared for.

Od offered to help her.

Whenever someone offered to help her, it was a servant with something expected. Clothing, bathing, getting food, finding her children. It wasn't...the kind of help Od was offering, genuine and in general.

If there had ever been a moment she wished she didn't have an issue talking with strangers, it was right then. There were so many things she wanted to ask, to know. But just because she had a tongue and a voice didn't mean she could bring the words forth.

Was she even...allowed to ask the things she wanted to know? She didn't really need to know them. Even if she felt like she did sometimes.

So deep in her mind, she didn't notice running into someone as she rounded a corner, bumping into them- and she grunted as something hard fell on her head and stayed there.

"How dare you, w-!" the familiar and angry voice died off after she flinched, knowing the voice by heart. "Ymir?"

She cautiously looked up and saw the confused face of Fritz. But something was wrong, missing. Where was his crown?

She realized it before reaching up to grasp it. His crown had fallen off and onto her head from the collision, landing a bit lopsided. "I am. Sorry," she said softly. So softly, he barely heart it as she took the crown off, carefully reaching up to place in back on his own head.

Fritz seemed even further confused by this, looking to the two guards flanking him, waving to them to stand back. The two nodded, having caught the meaning. This was a private conversation and he was safer with Ymir than a hundred of them.

As the footsteps fell away several steps, he turned his full attention on his concubine. "What is wrong, Ymir?" he asked, leading her over to the wall to be more out of the way.

"I...don't know," she admitted, to him and herself, as she stared down at the floor. "Master? Do you. Love. Your. Daughters?"

Fritz scowled a bit. His first instinct was that she was accusing him of something horrid and unnatural, but he knew she wasn't. "Yes?" he answered curiously, getting no further reaction. "Maria is clever and intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind. Sheena is somehow the kindest girl I've ever known, yet more headstrong than any boy can hope to be. Rose? She's a mystery to me, I'll be honest. So quiet and worried. I sometimes wondered if I did something to scare her, but she seems that way with most. But I love her all the same," he elaborated. "What brought this on?"

"You said. You didn't Think. That you. Could. Love. Like that," she reminded quietly.

It took him a moment to remember what she was referring to, his mind reaching back to that fateful day. It felt so long ago already. "You...misunderstand," He said with a sigh. "Damn. Why did the gods curse our language by lumping all forms of love into one word?" he murmured before shaking his head. "I meant I don't think I could be genuinely "in love," Ymir. I love them as a father should. I don't show it the best, but I do. They are our legacy and Eldia's future. That much is certain."

Ymir blinked, looking up at him in surprise. "Our legacy?" she repeated.

"That's what children usually are," he answered with a snort, missing the emphasis. "Was that what had you in a hurry?"

She shook her head. "I wanted. To Be. Alone."

Fritz didn't understand. Then the norns decided to explain for her.

"King Fritz?"

He knew that voice by now. "Stay behind me," he muttered quietly, turning to face Syn, who was approaching with his two guards. From the initial distance and the way he turned, she hadn't been able to realize that Ymir was right behind his back. He put forth an annoyed scowl with a hint of tiredness. "Yes? What is it?" he asked gruffly.

Syn didn't react to the tone, as she had already been scowling for another reason. Likely worry. "Pardon the interruption, but have you seen Lady Ymir?"

Fritz raised an eyebrow and made sure not to move. "You've lost your Lady?" he asked in a tone just short of condescending.

Syn might be scowling at him now. "Forgive me, King Fritz. I went to check on Princess Sheena. When I returned, Lady Ymir was already gone," she said, obviously concerned that something nefarious was going on.

Fritz chuckled. "Well, you may rest easy, I saw Ymir heading after Maria not more than a few minutes ago," he said, not entirely lying. He had seen Maria, and Ymir had been going the same direction as her, but that appeared to have been coincidence.

Syn visibly relaxed. "That is a joy to hear," she said before looking suspicious. "May I ask why you are just...standing here, King Fritz?"

The King of Eldia smirked a bit. "Oh, I was just savoring the moment after I...enjoyed myself with a servant girl," he answered brazenly.

"I see," Syn said with forced neutrality. "Well, I shall leave you to your...satisfaction, King Fritz," she said with a small bow of the head before turning around and walking away.

All three men watched her leave, one of the guards snickering. "And what is so amusing, Baugi?" Fritz asked dryly.

"Oh, nothing. Just funny to realize that the Titaness is indeed still a woman," Baugi answered. "Reminds me of my woman wanting to avoid this insufferable wench living near us."

Fritz snorted, giving the other guard, who was trying not to laugh but looked amused none the less, a look. "I will never understand how your brother here survives without you around, Suttungr."

"He doesn't, King Fritz," Suttungr answered wryly, getting a glare from his sibling.

Fritz shook his head, turning around to see Ymir, who was staring up at him in confusion. "Now what was that about?" he asked idly.

"I wanted. To be. Alone," she repeated, surprise and curiosity still on her face.

"You could have just ordered her to leave." Fritz reminded. Ymir didn't say anything to that. He hummed before coming to a decision. "Come with me."

Ymir obeyed without hesitation, the guards following after them, but she remained perplexed. Why had he done that? Hid her from Syn, lying about where she had went even? Why not just order herself to return to her room, to stop avoiding the guard he had placed to watch over her?

All these questions, and she didn't say a word.

It didn't take her long to realize where they were going. She had memorized the palace layout since it had been built a few years ago, with some help on her part…some. The Titaness was a bit too big to be used inside the city too much.

So, she was not surprised at all when they entered Fritz's royal bedroom with the guards waiting outside.

Strange. The only time she had been in his bedroom was when he took her to bed. But he wasn't? He did say he wanted to avoid more children for a short time. Did he change his mind?

Should she...disrobe?

She looked to her master and decided not to do so, as he was not undressing either. "Remain here for as long as you desire. None will bother you while you are here," he offered casually.

Ymir's confusion returned, greater than before. And she voiced it. "Why?"

He shrugged. "You wish to be alone. Most days recently, this room is empty until I turn in for sleep myself. Besides, it's hardly strange for a concubine to be in her king's chamber," he pointed out wryly. She nodded as a silence built over them. "Was there anything else, Ymir?" he inquired.

She was about to answer with a no, but she hesitated as her short meeting with Od returned to her mind. She didn't know if she was allowed to ask these things. But...she faltered. "When will. We leave. To make. The. Defenses?" she asked instead.

Fritz looked unconvinced, but answered anyway. "The true ones? In some weeks, as we hope to complete it before the Vetr month begins. We'll be setting out within a few more days, however, to test some ideas for the shape and size of them."

Ymir nodded before looking concerned. "Who will. Watch. The children?" she asked curiously. Syn? Eir and the other healers? Od perhaps?

"Hm? Ah, I was planning on bringing them with us," he answered idly.

"You...are?" Ymir asked in surprise.

Fritz nodded. "As this is not a battle, it'll prove the perfect opportunity for them to see the power of their mother without any risk to them," he pointed out calmly.

Ymir nodded quickly and in the dim lighting, Fritz didn't notice that Ymir had paled noticeably.

With that, Fritz left Ymir to her thoughts.

And her fears.

Her daughters were going to see her? Like that? The thought bothered her immensely. How would they react? By all accounts she had heard, her Titaness form was terrifying to behold. They said she didn't even have eyes in that form, despite herself being able to see fine as the Titaness.

Would those girls, who smiled so lovingly up at her, that cried in joy when she survived...would they fear her now? Would they scurry away from her instead of running towards her, to hug her? Would she be in their nightmares now?

...Who was she to complain of such things though? She had been prepared to give up on life, to abandon them to whatever fate they fell to without her around. What right did she have to such precious things?

Her shoulders fell in resignation, knowing there was nothing to be done. She would obey and her daughters would react however they would.

Taking her mind off such inevitable things, she looked around the room. She had only been in this room a few times- mainly before she was pregnant with Sheena. And she had never taken the time to make note of the room.

It was...much like her own room, she realized; A large bed, a few luxury items and trophies on the walls. Fritz was a bit more selective with his own collection than he was with hers. She supposed the days associated with these items were important to him in some way. Those victories meant something to him, more than rest, but only Fritz himself knew what.

The room was actually a bit bigger than hers, but looked smaller. Fritz had several desks and shelves filled with parchment and scrolls, giving less open space than hers.

She stood at the desk, glancing over the papers idly. Unless she was wrong, these were all her master's drafts of the message to Marley and its Emperor. There were many of them, all decrying their attempt on his life after claiming to surrender. She supposed the one he decided to send in the end had less cursing in it, because there was a lot of foul words in these papers.

She glanced over to one of the parchments sitting in the shelves, sticking out slightly. She didn't know what these were. She probably shouldn't look. She wasn't given permission to look.

And she wouldn't have ever tried. But one word she could make out instinctually caught her attention:

Ymir.

Fritz had things written about her. That was...expected, she supposed. She was the Titaness. She was their main weapon. The wisemen and wisewomen had been studying her since she emerged from the Ash Tree. And she was his concubine and the one who bore his children.

And first and foremost, she was his slave. The slave he offered to free, but his slave none the less. The slave he pleaded to stay, the slave whose voice he was growing fond of, the slave he let hide in his room because she just wanted to be alone.

The slave that fought, built and almost died for him.

Her life felt like it had gotten better in some ways than it was not so long ago, but it was far more confusing now.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

Though cruelty was common throughout the ancient world, all cultures had crimes they felt truly heinous. The Eldians of old had a hatred that put them at odds with Marley as a culture: Across every tribe, it was considered inhumane and irredeemable to sexual abuse a child- no matter if the child was Eldian or foreign, free or slave. While this is nothing unexpected in modern times, the Marlayans and Helladians by the time of Ymir had gone through a culture degradation, where it was seen as normal and even expected for adult men to 'love' young boys.

This virtue was likely born out of a number of things including protectiveness over the next generation, dreaded tales of Marlayans taking the sons of tribal leaders to "raise" as hostages, and the interesting idea among ancient Eldian cultures that it was a disgrace to have sex before the age of twenty. The third point was less of a moral ideal and more of a folk-belief that keeping abstinent until that age, for men and women, was believed to increase one's potential as a warrior and even their fertility.

End of Chapter

Well, there we go...I really love writing this story for some reason, and building up this ancient, cruel world with its beuatiful aspects.

So, yeah, Maria is having her own anxiety over being the one to inherit her father's throne and Ymir is, as always, a bundle of issues and confused by how things are changing around her. And also terrified that her daughters will be terrified of her other form.

 

[Akumakami64]

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

Pre-Ymir and Post-Ymir Eldians shared a belief that the afterlife held mighty fortresses where souls would be whisked. Which one depended on how they lived and died. There were seven in total, spread across the worlds of the Ashtree. The most terrible of these was Trelleborg, the Fort of Slaves. The armor and weapons of a warrior possessed in life would be turned into the collars and chains of a slave, lorded over by dark spirits that would lash the unworthy dead to work for all eternity in the mines and forges of Trelleborg, supplying the other Fort, and the more worthy dead, through their labor.

There was only two recorded ways to be sent to Trelleborg: The first was to "Fail the Gods." It is unclear all the things that fell under this description, but the most common was to beg for mercy during a blood-eagle.

The second was to turn craven and flee from a battle in fear for your life, abandoning your tribe in the process.

However, Post-Ymir Eldians believed in a third great sin: To be found unworthy by Ymir and her royal descendants. In other words, it was beleived that the family of Fritz could damn or save a soul from this fate on a whim...

Syn hated pretending to be a servant. It wasn't even a matter of pride. True, there was that too, but she could swallow it for the Titaness. Being expected to be seen and not heard grated on her a bit, but she was already one of the less rambunctious of the Jarnvidr.

No, what she hated were the clothes. She was accustomed to the feel and weight of her armor and having her idle hand resting on a weapon. Now it was these loose robes that reminded her constantly of how exposed and vulnerable she was compared to before.

She'd have to find a time and place to slip back into her armor, so that she didn't grow too used to this and lose her edge. True, the Titaness never wore armor, but she was the Ash-blessed Titaness! She didn't need it, obviously, as proven by her taking a spear in human form.

Speaking of Lady Ymir, Syn was on her way to report to her, as she did every morning. Even a Jarnvidr needed sleep.

And that was when instincts took over, dodging a punch to her face as she reached a corner, grabbing the kick aimed at her legs and about to flip her enemy over.

Until she saw the attacker, which made her stop sharply.

"Reik Angrboda?" she asked in surprise.

"Former Reik," the Warden of Nagrindr corrected with a scowl, ripping her leg away. "Glad to see you haven't gone soft, Syn."

Syn snorted as she stood. "Please give me some credit, it hasn't even been a whole moon yet," she said, crossing her arms. "I wasn't expecting a meeting like this. Is something wrong?"

Angrboda scowled dangerously. "I should be asking you. What have you done to displease the Titaness already?"

"What?" Syn asked in disbelief, barely keeping her voice down. "What are you talking about?"

"King Fritz says that Lady Ymir takes issue with you," Angrboda explained evenly, obviously displeased.

"I-that-she-! He must be lyi-" Syn started, silenced as the warden pushed her against the wall and grasped her by the mouth.

"Careful, Syn. Fritz may call himself King all he wants, but he is the Alareik. The Reik of Reiks. Unless you want to lose that tongue of yours, you'll be careful where you say things like that," Angrboda warned sternly before releasing her.

"Y-yes, Warden," Syn answered in submission, flexing her jaw. "But I don't understand. Lady Ymir has never even graced me so much as a word to me, let alone convey that I had displeased her."

"Really, there's nothing?" Angrboda asked, unconvinced.

"No," Syn answered with a troubled, displeased look. "She never talks to anyone. Only to the Princesses and to...King Fritz."

"That is what I've heard from everyone, even the healers," Angrboda said with a sigh. "Syn, be honest with me, one Jarn to another. How obvious are you?"

Syn looked at her in confusion, prompting Angrboda to lean in and whispered directly in her ear

"About how much you wish she hadn't taken that spear for him."

Syn frowned deeply, glancing away in dark displeasure. "I haven't said anything, to her or him."

Angrboda snorted. "I doubt you have to say much with a look like that in your eyes."

Syn bitterly didn't answer, balling her fists.

"You know, it's kind of funny," Angrboda mused ironically. "You were so overjoyed at the idea of serving Lady Ymir, despite that it was Fritz himself that ordered it."

"Ordered," Syn repeated under her breath. "By Veleda, why does she follow him?"

"Why did she save him? That is what you really mean, after all," Angrboda claimed with a knowing, unimpressed tone.

"Reik, we surrendered to her. Not to Eldia, not to Fritz, but to the Titaness," Syn hissed with simmering indignation. "I always thought she was just biding her time..."

"Former Reik. And Lady Ymir follows his will. Like it or not, she made that clearer than ever in saving him," Angrboda stated sternly. "So toss aside that petty hatred of yours."

"Petty? Did you forget what he did to us?!" Syn accused harshly.

"Did you forget why he did it?" Angrboda remarked with a raised eyebrow.

Syn's dark look didn't lessen at that reasoning.

"Lady Ymir killed many more of us than Eldia ever did on its own. Do you hate her as well?" the warden challenged pointedly.

"Of course not! That was different," Syn denied, as if it were obvious.

"How so?" Angrboda asked sternly, getting no answer. "Listen to me, Syn. This isn't about you, it's about Lady Ymir. And if you ever give her or Fritz reason to doubt your loyalty, I promise you, "I" will blood-eagle you myself."

Syn paled. If it was anyone else making the threat, she would not be scared. To suffer the blood-eagle was an agonizing fate, but at least a warrior could earn their way into one of the Great Forts by refusing to cry out from the pain. But if Angrboda did it...if she personally did it, she didn't just want to kill her victim, but to deny their soul passage to anywhere but Trelleborg. To labor forever without ever knowing peace or glory.

"I understand, Warden," Syn answered, trying to hide the trembling in her voice.

"Good. Now, the entire family is going on an excursion today, without you," Angrboda informed bluntly.

"Wait, what? Why am I only now hearing of this?" Syn asked in surprise.

"Because I'm the one telling you," Angrboda stated pointedly. "And by the time they get back, you will have buried and made peace with your grudge against Fritz."

Syn swallowed thickly, nodding under her leader's look. "Yes, Reik Angrboda."

"Former," Angrboda reprimanded, "Now, try not to further upset the Actual Goddess that could literally eat you alive," Angrboda instructed, cupping her chin as Syn left.

That had been far less informative than she thought. It was well known that the Titaness didn't speak to most people, but Angrboda thought for sure that Syn would have some idea of what she had done to displease Lady Ymir.

Of course, she hadn't told her exactly what Fritz had said: That Ymir had been actively avoiding Syn at least once. That troubled Angrboda deeply, to know one of her own had somehow upset Lady Ymir that much, yet had no idea how or when.

Perhaps she was overthinking it. Lady Ymir was loyal to King Fritz, that much was clear. Maybe she simply could sense how Syn felt about Fritz himself?

The alternative was that Lady Ymir didn't like the Jarnvidr in general. A very...disheartening notion to consider. Her sisters-in-arms all but worshipped the Titaness, after all. Knowing she disapproved of them collectively would devestate them.

Still, she just hoped Syn didn't do anything stupid. She was wagering that Syn's devotion to the Titaness was stronger than her hatred for Fritz.

If not, Trelleborg always had room for more slaves.

Meanwhile

Ymir was having a stressful morning.

As someone that could turn into a giant monster to smite entire armies, this was a surprisingly rare event for her. After the first few times she transformed, she stopped worrying about it. She just did whatever she was ordered to do. As long as she accomplished her task, there was nothing to worry about.

Realistically, this was no different. But it was somehow very different.

She would be leaving soon; with her master, children, and others to conduct some tests with her powers. And give her daughters a firsthand view of what she could do.

And she dreaded that. She dreaded that more than anything she could recall experiencing. Even the feeling of drowning helplessly was beginning to feel secondary to this.

"Lady Ymir?"

She came out of her thoughts, tilting her head up in acknowledgment. The woman brushing and fixing her hair was a bit older than herself, her own brunette hair up in a bun with a circlet on her brow.

Drifa was her name, if Ymir remembered correctly. They didn't...interact a lot. In fact, Ymir was a bit surprised to be addressed at all.

As if reading her mind, Drifa smiled brightly. "I know me and the others haven't been around a lot...and I know it might sound silly, you being the Titaness and all, but we're all very relieved."

Ymir blinked, turning to face her squarely, showing her confusion. Relieved? Why?

Drifa fidgeted a bit awkwardly, but still smiled. It felt real. "I mean, you saved Fritz! And you've already recovered! I mean, I know it shouldn't be a surprise that you're okay, but-" she stopped and breathed to calm her rambling, steadying her thoughts. "We're all just happy that you two are safe."

Ymir nodded slowly as she looked forward, taking that in. She knew who Drifa was, and who she referred to-the other women that belonged to Fritz…his favored.

There were four of them, counting Drifa. They had never been slaves, but they were Fritz's other concubines. Women from the Snaer lands to the far north, after the Reiks there pledged themselves to Eldia. Those tribes had joined more peacefully than most.

They were also like her own servants at times, helping her get ready. She didn't know why and never really thought much of it.

Still, they were happy that she was alive. That felt more surprising than it should. She supposed they were just happy the Titaness was still around. Not that she could blame them. After all, what other reason would they care about her for?

"...You're very brave, Lady Ymir," Drifa continued with a sigh. "I...even if I knew I could survive that, I don't know if I'd react fast enough to throw myself in front of a spear like that."

But Ymir didn't know she would survive that. She almost didn't. Did that make her brave?

...No, no it didn't. She did it to protect her master, but even then, she almost allowed herself to die if not for Fritz spurring her on. That wasn't brave. At least, she didn't think so.

She certainly didn't feel brave now, knowing her children would see her Titaness form today.

"Thorri is still jealous of you though," Drifa remarked with an amused snort. "She really thinks you cursed us to be barren so you'd be the only one to have Fritz's children."

Ymir turned her head fast at that, genuinely surprised by the comment. They thought she could do what?

"Oh? You haven't heard that one?" Drifa asked, holding in a giggle. "Don't worry, me and the others don't believe that. After all, you wouldn't need to. There's no way we could compete with you."

Ymir was lost at that. Compete with her? What did that mean? Compete for what, in what way?

Drifa didn't elaborate as she continued to straighten Ymir's hair.

"I'm sure the Princesses must be excited though," Drifa mused idly. "This'll be the first time they've left the city, right?"

Ymir nodded slowly.

"They've been clingy, haven't they?" Drifa guessed knowingly, feeling Ymir stop shortly before nodding again. "Don't be too surprised. They're just trying to show how much they love you and don't want to lose you. That's normal for children after...something like that."

Was it? Ymir didn't know. She couldn't know. She barely remembered her own parents anymore, and she wasn't sure why that was. Was it just too long ago? Or did she not want to remember? How they would be if they lived to be enslaved with her? She had seen families turn on each other in desperation, both slaves and freed; Parents who cared nothing for their offspring, children who abandoned loving parents, siblings that would tear each other apart.

Fritz, if nothing else, wanted Eldia and his children to have a future. That, Ymir knew to be fact. That was why they were preparing, doing these experiments.

But why did her daughters have to see this? To come see their mother, like that? She had only just began to speak with them. To speak at all, true, but her talks with her children were, they were...precious, she supposed.

"Lady Ymir, you're shaking? Are you co-?" Drifa asked in concern, stopping as she saw Ymir's balled fist, but not her worried face. "I'm...I'm sorry, if I overstepped, Lady Ymir," she apologized meekly.

Ymir glanced down. She wanted to say something, tell her that she didn't say anything wrong. But she didn't.

The two remained in a less comfortable silence as Drifa finished attending to Ymir.

Ymir hated being this weak. She had her master's permission to speak. Not just to him, but to others. He was even encouraging it. But it was the one thing she couldn't do yet.

She really was a coward.

Later

Eldia, in its recent and rapid expansion had adopted many things from their sworn enemy of Marley. This was a principle of necessity rather than anything else. It was an obvious fact that Marley was more advanced than them in various forms. Making things like the Marlayeans did was done simply due to having no other idea for how to do such things. Like Architecture. Making entire buildings of stonework like Marley was something few if any of the tribes had ever even tried at any point in the past. So making it in a Marleyean likeness was the default, even if more traditionally Eldian aesthetics were added on.

Yes, Eldia was adopting a lot of things from their old adversary.

However, some things Fritz refused to take part in.

For instances: Carriages.

"Why does Father hate carriages?" Rose asked curiously as she sat behind Maria, arms clinging around her sister's waist cautiously.

"Something about how they're overvalued wagons that people in the south are idiots for using," Maria answered in amusement. "I think he just doesn't like the idea of us not knowing how to ride a horse."

Rose whimpered, trying not to look down as her sister handled the reins with relative ease. Just about everyone in Eldia learned how to ride from a young age, even those without horses. Maria took to it at about the average speed. She had started two years ago and could ride decently. Rose was a bit slower, but she was still getting over her fear of falling off. Sheena...

Maria glanced over to the horse their mother rode on with the youngest princess seated in front. Maria did not miss the curious look her mother was giving Sheena, who held the reins and was steering the beast rather effortlessly. Granted, she was still figuring out how to make the horse stop and start moving properly, but it was impressive all the same.

Maria took the time to gaze over the rest of the group. The fairly large group.

There were over a hundred people: Them, their parents, several advisors and nearly a hundred warriors. A third of them were from the royal guard, but the rest were common warriors; All on horseback, riding through the forest. They were in the center with their father closer to the front. He wasn't wearing his crown, opting instead for his old horned helmet.

Today was a big day, apparently. They were finally going to see why everyone called their mother the Titaness. Father needed her to help with preparing in case Marley ever tried to attack again. He had been rather...vague about the whole thing. And their Mother seemed unusually quiet today. Which was surprising, given how little she talked already.

They had been riding since just after daybreak, and the sun was beginning its trip down to the other horizon. They would be stopping soon. Traveling at night wasn't the best idea, even in Eldian territory.

"Hey, careful Princess," Baugi warned lightheartedly, making Maria come out of her idleness, realizing she was pulling her horse too close to the side, almost running into the guard.

Maria flushed in embarrassment as she righted the horse, not wanting to look like a fool in front of so many people, let alone Father and Mother. She cleared her throat as she regained her demeanor. "Baugi, correct?" she asked calmly.

Baugi almost rolled his eyes at her attempt to act "royal" all of a sudden. "That would be my name, Princess Maria," he answered in amusement.

Maria ignored the tone. The royal guards knew the princesses well, having been the most trusted of Fritz's warriors. "Do you know where we're heading exactly?" she inquired curiously, Rose perking up from her back.

"A place called Husteinar," he answered, briefly looking thoughtful. "I'd tell you more, but...we're here."

Rose poked her head around the side as Maria's head craned forward. It was hard to get a good view with all the taller people and horses, but...

Fritz frowned as he looked around the desolate village, devoid of all life, or so it seemed. He looked to his guards and gave them a pointed nod. Without a word, two dozen men started to dismount the horses and headed deeper into the village.

Never can be too careful, Fritz decided, as he dismounted his own horse. He smirked as he patted the earthy coat of the beast before turning as he watched Ymir helping Sheena off their horse. Maria was able to get on and off on her own, albeit a bit slowly.

Rose sat nervously on the saddle, hoping her mother would come soon get her off this creature. She could feel it growing uneasy with her, and any moment it would send her falling off and-

"Is something wrong, Rose?"

She started and the horse jerked its head before Fritz grabbed the reins, placing a hand on the mane to steady the beast. "F-father, I'm sorry, I just..." she trailed off insecurely.

Fritz just raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to answer and explain herself. Maria tugged at his clothes, prompting him to look down at his eldest. "She's scared of being off the ground, Father," Maria whispered, trying to save her sister's dignity.

Rose bowed her head in shame while Fritz looked surprised. "Is she? When did this happen?" he asked curiously.

"I think always?" Maria answered, sending Rose apologetic looks.

Fritz snorted as he lifted Rose up from under her arms and pulled her off the horse. "Let me guess, every time you look down, the ground starts spinning?" he asked as he put her down. Rose looked up in surprise, nodding slowly. "It will get better with time," he answered matter-of-factly.

"O-Okay, Father," Rose said softly, clearly uncertain but not wanting to disappoint her father.

Fritz wordlessly passed the reins to Baugi, who led the horse away. Fritz looked over towards Ymir and Sheena, who were watching on.

"Father, where are we?" Sheena asked instantly while holding Ymir's hand.

Fritz hummed, looking out towards the village. "It was once a village called Husteinar, allies and close relative of the original Tribe of Eldia."

"What happened to them?" Maria asked curiously.

"Nothing," Fritz answered idly. "They simply moved to the new city after we united the tribes and this place was left abandoned."

Sheena made a sound of curious wonder. "So, Eldia use to look like this thirteen years ago?"

Fritz shrugged. "This is smaller than our village was, but yes, it is very similar," he explained, glancing to Maria and Rose. "You wanted to know about our history, and it seems appropriate you three see how we lived for centuries."

Maria took on a look of deep consideration, staring out at the village of abandoned wooden homes, varying in quality, and trying to reconcile it with her image of their home, their city: Buildings far and wide being made of fine stone and well-crafted wood. And all that had changed by the time she could retain her own memories as a child.

How could so much change?

"What's Mother going to do, Father?" Rose asked, drawing Maria back to the present.

"You'll see in time," Fritz answered, turning to the woman in question. "Ymir, af-" he stopped when he noticed the Titaness was lost in thought, looking off to the side. "Ymir? Ymir!"

Ymir started abruptly at the raised voice, looking to her Master with a startled expression.

Her daughters looked on in concern, while Fritz gave her a bewildered look. "Is something amiss?" he asked in confusion.

Ymir stared for a moment before shaking her head, slowly.

None of her family looked particularly convinced. "Very well," Fritz said doubtfully. "Once we're sure the village is cleared, you are to ride out so that we can begin."

The princesses looked on with incomprehension as Ymir nodded obediently, but the royal family fell into a somewhat awkward silence as the guards gave them a respectable berth.

Fritz, meanwhile, subtly traced where Ymir's eyes had been lingering before. All he could find out of the usual was a stray, abandoned water bucket lying about.

"King," one of his guards addressed, pulling Fritz's attention. "We searched everywhere. Only a few bodies we had to clear out. The main hall is empty and ready for you."

"Very good, Ullr," Fritz answered, before looking towards Ymir meaningfully.

Ymir looked down to her daughters in response, who looked up at her with unusual expressions. What was that look in their eyes? They looked almost worried for her. Maybe they were. After all, they had no idea what was about to happen.

She dropped to one knee. The dirt smudging her robes, but she cared not as she brought all three of them into an embrace.

"Mother...?" All three sounded off at once, taken off guard by the sudden action.

"I love all of you," Ymir whispered, quick yet clear, before breaking her hold, turning and standing in one motion as she marched to her horse.

"Father, what's going on?" Maria called on in alarm.

Fritz chose not to respond, watching as Ymir mounted the beast and rode off into the forest.

Ymir had done this many times. Her transformation needed a lot of room, or she might hurt somebody by accident. There was nothing new about this time. In fact, it should be better. She wasn't going to kill anyone today.

So why was her heart racing, like it had done that day she fled for her life thirteen years ago? Why did the voices of her daughters ring in her head like thunder? Why was she clutching the reigns of the horse so tightly?

She stopped, knowing she had gone far enough. She brought herself down before slapping the horse on the hindquarters. It was trained specifically for her, for this event, to return on its own; leaving her alone, with her pounding heart.

Why did her master have to bring their daughters to see this?!

That, however, was not the thought as she brought her hand to her mouth. No, that was much simpler:

Why...why was her face wet? It wasn't raining. Was she...crying?

Meanwhile

A great lightning bolt crashed down in the distance, shaking the very earth.

"That's where Mother went!" Sheena cried out in panic as Rose clutched to Maria tightly.

But Maria was more bothered by how unphased their father and the guards were. Even some of the horses barely reacted to the great display of nature's fury. Or, at least, that's what the princesses thought it was, at first.

Fritz watched with a small smirk as the thunder ceased. In the distance, a looming behemoth rose, footsteps causing tremors in the ground beneath them.

"W-what is that!?" Rose cried out in shock, Sheena just stared while being unable to process it.

"Father, is...is that...Mother?" Maria guessed, the dots beginning to connect in her head.

Fritz smiled, patting Maria on the head. "You are correct. Be not afraid, Daughters. She may be the Titaness, but she is still your mother," Fritz encouraged as Ymir carefully walked near the edge of the village, looming above the trees even while on all fours.

The Titaness was always intimidating, no matter how often one saw it: enormous beyond belief, ribs looming out of her chest almost like they were daggers, a disturbing sunken in stomach, a skinless face, and eyes th-

Fritz blinked, realizing he wasn't imagining it. Ymir's Titaness form had eyes now; Purple eyes, with a slight glow to them. Strange.

He also noticed that she wasn't staring at him, but rather their children.

He looked down, seeing that Maria and Rose were stunned, unable to move. But Sheena...

"Mother?" Sheena called out, looking up at the skull, framed by long blond hair. "Is...is that really you?" the youngest called up.

Ymir made a strange noise before nodding, staring down at the small princess.

"You're...you're..." Sheena stammered, her eyes wide. "So...BIG!" she declared enthusiastically.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

The Empire of Eldia has had a long and complicated history with polygamy, falling in and out of favor many times over the centuries. It has never been truly illegal however, even in modern day. Furthermore, unlike other countries, this often meant more than one breadwinner in the relationship and, in recent times, who took which surname was chiefly a personal choice. Inheritance laws were sometimes complicated by these practices, but Last Wills were generally taken as the final-say in all matters.

The nobles and royals often practiced both polygyny and polyandry, and both at once in at least one confirmed occasion. The various Rulers of Eldia have used the Founding Titan to make Subjects of Ymir as a whole immune to newly discovered Sexually Transmitted Diseases, universally considered a global upside even by enemies of Eldia. This, however, also led to various attempts in their history to legalize prostitution. When inquired about the libido that appears to both grace and curse the various bloodlines, all who could answer shared similar yet vague answers that amounted to this:

"We didn't get it from Ymir."

 

[Akumakami64]

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

In most cultures, the term Concubine has some negative implications behind it. Most people saw a concubine as a lesser to a wife or consort, and were often subject to less martial rights.

In Eldia, it was vastly different. Besides the fact that concubine referred to male and females, a concubine had the same legality as a wife or husband. The meaning was only truly used among the wealthy and powerful, as it usually meant the concubine didn't or couldn't take an active role in their spouses duties over land, a business, or similar responsibilities. Eight hundred years after Ymir, and onwards, most concubines were foreigners due old laws prevented non-Eldians to take official roles in the Imperial Government without royal endorsement.

Regardless, insulting a concubine in Eldia was liable to incure the wrath of their spouse. More than one war was started because someone thought it was a smart idea to insult a popular royal concubine. The most famous concubne was an orential, gifted to the Eldian King as a slave girl by the Emperor of Shinxia. Her name was Zhuzi, better know as by the nickname Empress of the Arts for her contributions to music and theater within Eldia.

Fritz snorted as Ymir tilted her head at her daughter's sudden delight.

"You're bigger than the biggest tree! Can you touch the clouds!? Can "I" touch the clouds!?" Sheena asked excitedly, turning to her father with eyes filled with wonder. "Father, can I get big too!? Is this why the servants told us to eat all our food!?"

Fritz busted out laughing, long and hard as he clasped his knees. Maria and Rose jumped at the sudden sound, several other warriors sharing in with their king as Ymir watched on patiently. "Ohh, Sheena, I don't even know why I'm surprised," Fritz said with a headshake.

Maria relaxed somewhat, feeling her nerves lighten. "Father? You could have at least warned us she was faceless," Maria stated over her shoulder.

Fritz hummed in acknowledgement. "I suppose after thirteen years, I forget what it was like the first time I saw this myself," he mused, looking up at the giantess. "Ymir. Follow these men to the field just beyond the forest to the northwest," he said, gesturing to the small group of non-warriors in the group. "They will instruct you on how we wish to attempt creating defenses with fleshstone. And don't overuse it," he instructed, knowing perfectly well that Ymir would keep trying if he didn't set a limit.

Ymir's giant head nodded, and Rose couldn't help shaking a little. Maria did as well, but solely due to the warm breath the Titaness released.

Fritz turned to the group in question. "Are you prepared, Hrimthur?" he asked sternly to the young man of dark hair and blue eyes.

"Yes, My King. We've been memorizing the plans for this. We should have a good grasp for what Lady Ymir can create in a few days at most," Hrimthur acknowledged with determination.

"Very well, head off. I shall be with the princesses for today," Fritz ordered.

Hrimthur nodded, the group of advisors mounting their steeds once more, taking towards the northwest with much haste. Ymir, careful not to cause any debris to fly towards the village, turned to head after them with various trees falling in her wake.

"So, our mother...is a giant?" Maria asked, breaking the silence as she looked up at her father.

The Riek of Rieks took a breath. "It's a long story, Maria. Let's head to the main hall and I'll explain what I can."

The three children followed after the king through the derelict village, passing by huts and houses that had sat empty for years. Maria did her best to ignore the small pile of bones the soldiers had laid out near one house, not wanting to draw Sheena's or Rose's attention to it.

The main hall was the largest building in the village, but it seemed puny to all three girls who knew only the Eldian Palace as their home. It wasn't hard to imagine for Maria, that others lived less than them, but it was strange to think something like this had been their father's home at one point.

Inside was a long table for many to gather at, an empty hearth, and an old yet large chair for the village Riek. It was decorated with elk antlers, one broken off. Cobwebs and other signs of disuse littered the place.

Without a word, Fritz pulled the large chair out, moving it around the table. "Come, have a seat," he ordered, waving to the table stools in front of him as he sat down himself.

Sheena practically hopped into the seat while Rose meekly followed suit, Maria being the last as she took the time to glance around the hall. "Eldia has changed much, Father," Maria noted curiously.

"Still more than you could imagine," Fritz stated bluntly, leaning forward. "Now, I'm sure you all have questions."

"Why were we never told about mother's..." Maria paused to consider the right word. "Power?"

"Most didn't think to explain, thinking you already knew," Fritz admitted with a shrug. "When one speaks of the Titaness, most know the meaning. As for myself, well, it's difficult to put into words without sounding like I am joking," he stated with a smirk. "Imagine if I told you suddenly that your mother could actually turn into a giant many the size of a mountain?"

"That does sound like something out of a story," Sheena opined with a nod, a point Maria couldn't help but agree with.

"Experience is the best teacher. And now you know what your mother is truly capable of," Fritz explained.

There was a short silence that followed before Rose spoke up. "Why does her face look like that? No skin, no flesh? Like a skull?" Rose asked nervously.

Fritz sighed. "That form of hers has always looked like that, Rose. I know it will take some getting used to, but your mother wouldn't harm you, or anyone loyal to Eldia," Fritz promised reassuringly. 'Especially considering she has no desire to kill me.'

"I'm...sorry, Father, this is just a bit hard to wrap my head around," Maria stated cautiously. "What...IS she exactly?"

Fritz paused. Ymir had been called many things: Demon, Witch, Goddess, Titaness, Monster, Abomination, Savior, Slave. But, there was an answer more important at this moment. "Have you gone daft, Maria?" he asked bluntly, as if the answer was obvious. "She's your mother."

Sheena perked up and, for the first time, truly looked at her sisters since seeing their mother's giant form. "Maria? Rose? Are you...scared of Mother?" she asked with a furrowed brow.

Maria hesitated. Rose didn't. She nodded, pulling her legs up to her chest with a tearful look.

"Why?"

Fritz raised an eyebrow as the other two stared at Sheena in surprise. "Sheena, you saw what we saw," Maria reminded, scoldingly.

"Yes?" Sheena admitted, giving them a searching look as if trying to understand their point of view. "Our mother can get really, really, really big while losing her nose. Why would that matter?"

Fritz tried not to snort at the simplified explanation while Rose looked at Sheena in alarm. "Doesn't she look...scary to you?"

"Yes? And?" Sheena answered with a head tilt. "Horses are REALLY scary. They can break people with a kick. But I still like riding! Father's guards are all really strong and carry around big swords or spears all over the palace, and most have mean faces. But that doesn't bother us. And Father is very, very, very scary when he is mad," Sheena stated factually, Fritz giving her a raised eyebrow at that description. "But I still love him and hug him. Why would I be scared of Mother just because she's scary too?"

Maria opened and closed her mouth, no words escaping for several seconds. "When were you this smart?" Maria asked blankly.

"When were my sisters this stupid?" Sheena returned in kind.

"That's enough you two," Fritz stated, just firm enough to get both of their attention. "While that is a very...mature way to look at it, Sheena, your sisters are not...stupid," he said, turning to the eldest and middle daughters. "Yes, Maria, Rose, I don't blame you for being a bit overwhelmed by your Mother's form. I was the first time. But I meant what I said: It's important to remember that she is still the same mother you've had since birth."

Rose bowed her head while Maria reminded herself of all the times she remembered and cherished being with their mother, even before she started speaking. She was the women that held them in her arms, held their hands when they walked, and put them to bed. This didn't change any of that. Or it shouldn't at least. She envied whatever Sheena had that made her so...Maria didn't even know what words would describe the third princess, really.

"Yes, Father," Maria intoned in acceptance, with Rose nodding quietly. "...Can we do that too?" Maria couldn't help asking after a moment.

"I have no damn idea," Fritz admitted with a thoughtful scowl. "Many of the wisemen have been studying Ymir's powers since she got them. In truth, everyone has been watching you three for any sign of inheriting your mother's powers."

Sheena looked amazed and excited while Rose seemed uncomfortable. Maria, however, was thoughtful. "Got them, Father? She did not always have them?"

"Clever as ever, Maria," Fritz acknowledged with a snort. "There was an ancient, giant tree near our village. We called it the Ash-Tree, for some legends say it was a root of the World-Tree itself. Your mother fell into it one day, thirteen years ago. We thought she had died, honestly, but then she emerged in the form you just saw," he elaborated carefully, leaving out certain details they didn't need to hear. "Some say she and her powers are a gift from the gods, others think she is a goddess herself. If you asked the Marlayeans, they'd call her a demon or a witch. In truth, your Mother doesn't seem to be all that certain of what happened herself."

"What happened after that, Father?!" Sheena asked excitedly, all three listening with rapt attention.

Fritz smiled, just a bit. "Over the next few years, Eldia expanded greatly and flourished through Ymir's power and hard work. She made roads and bridges across entire mountains, uniting us as never before with more and more tribes joining under our banner. Enough land was cultivated through her power that we never had to worry about a food shortage since. And, most importantly, she opened the path for us," he answered.

Rose looked up curiously. "The path?" she asked in quietly.

Fritz nodded with a grim look about him. "For over a hundred years, Marley has plagued all the tribes of these lands. They would raid us, pillage us, steal our food and enslave our people. They even tried to make us have "peace" with them while forcing us to give them tribute. In hindsight, it seems likely that they were preparing to conquer us all soon. No one had any real hope of defeating the Marlayeans. Drive them out for a time, maybe, but truly defeat them? Take the fight to them? That wouldn't have been possible without Ymir," he paused, taking a deep breath as his shoulders sagged. "Your mother is our people's path, to victory. And to a future our ancestors could never imagine."

There was clear awe and wonder in their eyes now at the shortened history of their mother and the rise of Eldia.

"Is...that why you married Mother?" Sheena asked curiously, eyes twinkling with some childlike innocence.

Fritz chuckled under his breath. "In a way, yes. I made her my concubine as a reward for all she had done."

The three looked up in wonder at that, obviously imagining something more romantic than the reality. Until Maria looked confused. "Umm, Father, can I ask a...sensitive question?" she asked slowly.

Fritz raised an eyebrow. "I'm almost worried that you of all people are wary of asking me a question, Maria," he noted, wondering what could make her wicked tongue hesitate.

Maria grimaced. "It's just...why is Mother just a Concubine instead of being called "Queen" or even "Princess?"" she asked curiously.

"Ah, that, yes," Fritz realized, stroking his beard. "There are a couple reasons for that, but honestly? Our people already had trouble accepting calling me King instead of Alareik. I took up that title primarily to spite the southern pricks, who see us all as brainless savages. Prince and Princess were easily accepted. To us, they're just a title for sons and daughters of the King, a Reik's heir. But as you know, there is no female term for Riek, so the term queen is strange to the average Eldian. I'm sure Od and your teachers educated you better on what the words of Marley truly mean, but most of our people just accept the word "Concubine" as something to call the spouse of a Riek or a King."

"Ohh. So...um does that mean I'll be called King one day, instead of Queen?" Maria inquired with a hum.

"I have no damn idea," Fritz repeated with a smirk. "I'll let you three sort that out."

Maria tried not to wince at the implication of their father's eventual death.

"Another reason is that, to my knowledge, your mother has no interest in being more involved with the ruling of Eldia," Fritz admitted, leaving out that he was fairly sure that Ymir had only a very limited knowledge of what ruling entailed. It was a lot more than just ordering people to battle; Laws, balancing the needs of each town and city, preventing and dealing with disasters, appeasing allies and enemies alike.

Having a Titaness made many issues simpler, but it didn't make everything easy.

"She doesn't?" Maria asked with a considering look.

"If she did, I'd say "fuck it" to everyone else and call her queen," he said with a smirk. And he meant it. Sharing the throne of Eldia with Ymir would be a small price to having it at all.

"Yeah, that sounds like you, Father," Maria mused fondly, while Sheena giggled and Rose gave a small smile. "So, what is going on here exactly? You said something about...Flesh-stone?"

Fritz nodded. "We are testing some ideas for making defenses with an ability of your mothers, to mold a form of stone she can create from her Titaness body. Just in case Marley tries to attack again before we get word of them."

"Flesh-stone? That...sounds like it hurts," Sheena said with a concerned scowl.

"More like exhausting, if she makes too much. But the last time that happened, we tried-" he cut himself off, realizing he was rambling. "My point is not to worry about your mother. This is nothing dangerous for her."

There was some relief, though, Rose bit her lip. "Was that how she...survived the spear?" Rose recalled. "I always knew Mother was important and special, but..."

Fritz nodded shortly. "Healing is another power being a Titaness awards her."

"Ohhh, so that why the healers tell us to come to them if we get scratches!" Sheena speculated.

"No, that's so you three brats don't make your wounds worse," he corrected knowingly. "You wouldn't believe how many idiots get sick because they don't clean a wound the right way."

"Oh," Sheena said sheepishly.

"That said," Fritz paused before pressing on. "Do you recall what happened after I removed the spear?

Rose looked down, trying to block the memory out while Sheena shifted uncomfortably and Maria glanced away.

He sighed in understanding. "I know, it is not a memory you want to dwell on. So I'll be blunt and get this over with: do you remember the smoke coming off your mother?"

They all looked thoughtful at that, before nodding slowly. "Y-yes, Father," Maria answered, swallowing her unease. "Where the spear pierced her."

Fritz nodded, deciding to push their minds onto the true matter. "Have any of you ever seen that coming off yourself after hurting yourself?"

All three princesses looked surprised before gaining expressions of deep thought as their minds gladly moved away from the horrible memory that haunted their nightmares. "...I think I did?" Sheena answered after several moments of silence.

Fritz stared at her for a second before a memory of his own flashed in his head. "Do you mean that time you ate a potato that was too hot?" he recalled evenly, getting a very serious nod. "No, Sheena, that was the potato, not you."

"Oh," Sheena said in slight disappointment. "Then I don't think so, Father."

"We're sorry, Father," Maria offered with a bowed head, feeling like they were somehow letting their parents down.

Fritz shook his head. "Don't be. I can hardly understand the power myself. We just need to be careful since, well," he paused with a dry smirk. "You can guess why you've never seen your mother transform at home."

All three blinked as they imagined their mother transforming back at the palace. "...We would need a new home," Rose noted owlishly.

"I think we would need a new city too," Sheena added in.

Fritz decided to not point out that it would also probably kill all of them.

"Is there...anything else, Father?" Maria asked curiously.

"For today, no. I'll teach you more about the past of Eldia and the other tribes while we're here," Fritz explained before scowling sternly. "But, I would ask that you not pester your mother with questions about what she can do and has done as the Titaness."

Fritz wasn't an idiot. Ymir had been anxious about this outing, for one reason or another, and was already going to be dealing with the wisemen trying to direct her. Ymir didn't need a thousand and one questions from these three.

"...Does that mean we can't ask to ride on her head?" Sheena asked in disappointment.

Meanwhile

"A little higher! A skin mooooo-Right there, Lady Ymir!"

Ymir dutifully followed the instructions of the advisor, her enormous hand hovering a short distance off the ground. Well, short for this form. In reality, it was over twice the size of a large grown man.

Without further prompting, her hand started to glow as the advisor moved away. Soon, the Flesh-Stone began to form in her hand, and rapidly expanded and grew, turning into a thick wall that stretched on for about a fourth of a mile. Or so she was told. Trying to figure out how far something was as a human was hard enough, let alone with having to compare it to the much larger body she had right now.

Regardless, the structure formed, perfectly shaped with a surface void of flaws, the runny mass hardening into a stone-like form. It was alongside two other similar creations she had made on prior directions. The very first was twice as tall as the one she just made, but also only half as long, with the height and length of the second being between the other two.

She watched as a rider went out to survey and confirm just how far the new wall went. The idea was simple: Find out what size of defensives walls would be the best to work with. She wasn't sure how well this would work. Couldn't an army just go around the walls?

But she conceded she didn't know much about armies, besides...destroying them.

She shook her head of that, seeing the rider returning to convey the estimates to his fellow advisors, beginning a discussion in earnest. About what, she didn't know. Probably figuring out how long she could make each version. Which was...somewhat easier to figure out, she supposed? She could only make so much of Flesh-Stone in a single "Burst" as they were calling it, her making Flesh-Stone. And she could only make so much Flesh-Stone in a day. Currently nine full bursts worth. After that, she got very tired, and trying to make ten bursts was when things got...painful.

And her master ordered her not to do that.

So nine of each of these walls. She leaned her head up, trying to imagine that. It would go far, but how far was enough?

Maybe that was what they were figuring out? How many days it would take her to complete this, whatever King Fritz had planned.

She shook her head, her smaller one, from inside her giant body. She shouldn't bother thinking too deeply about such things. Or perhaps she was just trying to distract herself from when she'd have to go back and see...them.

Her children.

It had not gone as terrible as she dreaded. Sheena was...By the gods, her heart warmed so much at Sheena's genuine delight at this form. No fear, not even shock, just...excitement. But Rose? Rose looked so scared, so pale. And Maria...she couldn't tell what that one felt beyond being stunned. At least one daughter wasn't terrified of her, but to think that Rose and perhaps even Maria might never want her close again...

Why did they have to come? Why did they have to see this?

"Lady Ymir?! Lady Ymir!?"

She refocused, looking down at the head advisor, Hrimthur, calling up to her. She turned her head, making it clear she was paying attention now.

"We are done for today! We are returning to the village!" he called up, motioning to where his fellow advisors and the few soldiers with them were preparing the horses.

Ymir found that surprising. She still had six more. Was there not more they wanted to do? But then, she glanced towards the horizon, and realized how late it was getting. They had spent a good portion of the day just to get here. Time was strange, creeping and crawling, then soaring and rushing.

With that, she placed the head of her Titaness body to the ground, almost looking like it was kneeling and bowing, before she pulled herself loose and emerged from the neck. Steam rose all around her giant body after separating the fleshy tethers that connected her face to the Titaness body. With that, the enormous body began to dissolve and vanish.

She had done this countless times now. The best way to get to the ground was to climb and slide down the hairs of the Titaness. Her own hairs, she supposed, but it was a bizarre thing to think about, emerging from one's own other body.

Hrimthur was there waiting for her, holding the reigns of two horses. "Are you well, Lady Ymir?" he asked courteously, obviously not trying to stare at the markings around her eyes.

She nodded, taking the offered reigns, glad the horse did not try to leap from her grasp. Most used to do that. The horse-masters believed it was just that she was still hot to the touch when she emerged, alarming the horses.

Hrimthur mounted his horse as she did her own. "Lady Ymir, a moment," he called with interest. Ymir turned to face him again, but said nothing. "Did you...know you had eyes?" he asked carefully.

Ymir furrowed her brow.

"Your Titaness form. It had interesting eyes, but I was told they were always hollow sockets?" he clarified in confusion.

Ymir glanced back to the head of the Titaness. They were shriveling away, into dust and nothingness, but there were indeed some form of eyes disappearing from that form. That was, strange. When and why had that happened?

Regardless, she shook her head to Hrimthur before turning to ride off. The advisor hummed in thought, before following after her, as did the rest of the group.

Out of habit, she reached up to wipe her hand across her mouth and nose. No blood. In the past, she bled a great deal from using her Titaness powers too much. It used to be that every time she transformed, her nose would be running with blood afterwards. If she really pushed it, there would be blood in her mouth too. That stopped after a couple months. She hadn't bled like that in almost four years, since she tried transforming too many times in one day due to raiding attacks on their camp.

There were limits to what she could do, but they grew all the time, to the fascination of the wisemen and advisors of her master. And herself, for that matter. It confused her, really; was the power getting stronger? Or was she herself getting stronger and able to use more of it? She had been young when it all started. Was this power something she had to grow into?

How much more would it grow? How much more could she do?

Her mind shifted back to what Fritz had said the day of the assassination. He had seen inside her...mind? Soul? Something like that. Was that another new thing she could do as the Titaness? She stiffened, and hoped no one saw, as a thought ran through her head.

Could she...give this power to Fritz?

It would make things easier for him, she was sure. He wouldn't have to rely on her, being a Titan himself. He would never be in danger again, and he could destroy his enemies with his own hands now. A notion she knew he would enjoy.

But would that mean she wouldn't have it anymore, that she wouldn't be the Titaness? What...would happen to her after that though? These powers were the only reason she hadn't been killed. They were the only value she had. Without them, she'd be-

Her thoughts ended, hearing the pop of a fire.

They were reentering the village now. Some of the soldiers had made a campfire already to cook hunted animals or makeshift stew. Everyone looked up at their return, every soldier giving her a nod or a salute as she passed.

She didn't know what to do in response, so she did nothing, just continued toward the center of the settlement, near the main hall. "Would you like me to take your horse for you, Lady Ymir?" a soldier offered, standing up from his seat on a convenient rock.

Ymir nodded, in answer and in thanks, dismounting the beast before handing the reigns over to him and continuing on.

"Lady Ymir," Baugi greeted, standing guard outside the hall with several others.

Ymir accepted that with a nod as well before entering the building and was instantly met with a loud voice. "What the hell do you- Oh, Ymir, it's you," Fritz greeted, annoyance leaving his body in an instant as she closed the door behind her. "I take it all went well?"

"I. Believe. So?" Ymir answered uncertainly. "They. Had me. Create. Walls."

"I'm aware," Fritz answered with a nod. "I decided to help the girls get settled in after I...answered some obvious questions."

Ymir nodded quietly as she sat across from him at the table. "How. Are they?" she asked, rubbing her hands nervously under the table.

"Sheena wants to ride on your head," Fritz answered bluntly.

Ymir opened her mouth and found herself at a loss for words as she tried comprehended what Fritz just said. "She can't," she decided after a second.

"We're of the same mind," Fritz said with some amusement. "Maria is...trying to understand. Though, I think she's trying to wrap her head around it means."

Ymir frowned. "What. It. Means?"

"Who knows?" Fritz answered honestly. "I love that girl and her wits but sometimes I can't tell how smart she really is."

Ymir suppose that made sense. So, Sheena was excited and Maria was thoughtful. That just left one more daughter. "And Rose?"

Fritz frowned. It wasn't angry. What was it? Ymir wasn't sure. "She'll come around," he said simply.

Ymir's shoulder slumped. "She's. Scared. Of me," she said under her breath.

Fritz resisted the urge to point out that being afraid of the Titaness was a perfectly sane reaction to have. He wasn't sure what he could say to assure her, knowing it would probably sound like dung. With that in mind, he chose a different topic. "So, the Titaness has eyes now?"

Ymir blinked before she settled in recognition. "I. Suppose?" she answered uncertainly. "I could. Always see. Before. Nothing. Felt different. This time."

"Truly? Hm. Strange."

"What. Did they. Look like?" Ymir asked curiously.

"That is the odd thing," Fritz admitted as he grew closer, staring at her eyes pointedly. "They weren't like these eyes of yours. They were glowing, and purple."

Ymir stared without comprehension. Eyes? Glowing? How did eyes glow? Was it like the eyes of a dog or cat in the dark, when light shined in their eyes? Why would they do that?

"Well, it's of no matter for now, I suppose," Fritz decided, nodding to the hearth over his shoulder, a pot over the dimming fire. "There's still plenty for you."

Ymir nodded, grateful. Transforming always made her hungry.

It was an hour and some later that Fritz led Ymir back to the bedroom of the main hall, four guards outside the door. They entered and she was immediately surprised by the two large fur pelts on the floor; one had the three princesses sleeping under a blanket with their straw pillows. The second one, she presumed, was for herself and Fritz, despite there being a bed.

A large bed at that.

Seeing her look, he grimaced. "Bed was fucking filthy." That was his only explanation and Ymir chose to accept it as good advice to not try laying in the deceptively comfy looking furniture. If Fritz of all people chose the floor over it, than it was bad.

She looked to her daughters again, all three of them completely peaceful. Sheena's hair was down and splayed about, sleeping on her stomach. Rose was curled up in the center, nestled against Maria's side. The eldest was lying crooked, her legs poking out of the sheet.

Ymir had the barest of smiles. Maria tried to act the mature one, but she tossed and turned about the most in her sleep. Not because of nightmares, thankfully, she just didn't stay still in her slumber.

"Why she isn't in the middle, I'll never know," Fritz murmured, giving the foot an annoyed look. With a roll of his shoulder, he took his helmet off and placed it on a table before nodding to their sleeping pelt.

Ymir moved to obey, but quickly doubled back to gently nudge Maria's foot back under the cover. She almost expected him to scold her for it. And he did, in a way.

"Both feet'll be out by morning," Fritz predicted with an eye roll as Ymir laid down.

This was...different. Before her powers, she had lived with the barest of everything, as did all slaves. Afterwards, especially upon becoming Fritz's concubine, she had been attended to all the time she wasn't using her powers, alone, or with Fritz.

These pelts and sheets were better than a slave's. Better than most, but it wasn't what the palace had been like. There, all five of them normally slept in different rooms. This was the first time all five of them had slept together like this.

It felt...pleasant.

Maybe this trip could be better than her fears.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

Before the modern standards of kilometers and miles were formed, Eldia and Marley both had very different measurement systems, both using the term "Mile."

A Marleyan Mile was used by the legions of the Marleyan Empire to track distance while their armies marched, and was summarized as a thousand paces of a Marleyan soldier, eventually standardized as 1.48 Kilometers, or 0.919 Modern Miles. Despite Eldian supremacy, this did become the common definition of a mile.

This was because an Eldian Mile varied tremendously. The lowest recorded measurement was exactly one kilometer, with the longest currently being over ten kilometers. The most common was referred to as a Fritzmiele, or the Royal Mile, which with 7.5 kilometers.

While it is unclear how the Royal Mile was established, it is believed it involved some feat of the Ymir herself, as all other forms of "miles" usually originate from the actions of one titan-shifter or another. Such as how far a titan could throw a stone.

End of Chapter

Okay, there we go! The kids are getting use to the whole Titaness thing, Fritz gives a...watered down history lesson, and Ymir might be making a mile long wall.

And this chapter was an unintentional reminder that Sheena is Sasha's ancestor, and Fritz is Levi's. Did not plan that, but its fitting. I also have fun with the Eldian Discovery things too.

But yes, for now, Ymir is actually having a ice moment. Lets see how long that lasts.

Until next time!

 

[Akumakami64]

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

"Where the Power of the Titans came from is a heavily debated topic in history, and religion, making it a very sensitive topic to address. However, most agree that at some point, Ymir was a human, or lived as one in any case. Thus the question becomes, where she came from. Most that know not all Eldians are of Ymir's blood just assume that she was a member of the original tribe of Eldia. After all, if she was from another tribe, that tribe would unlikely to be forgotten, being the birth place of the Primordial Titan herself.

However, another plausible theory is that she came from another tribe that was absorbed into Eldia. It is impossible to know if Eldia was already absorbing other tribes into their own before the time of Ymir began. Yet depictions of Eldians from Pre-Ymir times and the early days of the Empire describe most Eldians as being dark of hair. Ymir's blond hair places her origins to the south-southwest of Ancient Eldia. It is not unlikely that Ymir came from a dying village and came to start a new life in Eldia, and thus the name was forgotten even in her own time.

A third possibility is something much less realized; It was very common in this era for both people and places to have names ending in -mir. It is entirely possibly that Ymir's name was similar or even the same as her birthplace, and thus was unintentionally phased out as languages changed and records were misinterpreted as meaning something else about Ymir the person rather than a location."

Ymir found herself laying listlessly as the moonlight shined through a window, moving slowly as the hours passed on. She couldn't sleep. And trying to force it only made her more awake.

With great care, she slipped from the sheets next to her master. The children were still asleep and, true to Fritz's word, both of Maria's feet were out from under the blankets. She gave a small smile at that before silently leaving the room. The guards gave her curious glances, but didn't stop her. She didn't explain, giving them a gesture to remain quiet as she slowly closed the door. They nodded in apparent understanding. Disturbing the king AND the princesses wasn't a danger anyone wanted to risk.

A short walk later, she found herself outside. "Lady Ymir?" one of the guards addressed in surprise, keeping his tone low. "Taking a stroll?"

Ymir paused in consideration before nodding. She supposed that was true. The guards did not pry further as she walked off to the side, her path lit only by the moon's pale light.

This village really was just like Eldia use to be. Just like hers use to be as well.

She didn't remember her parents well, but she recalled many things about her village. Little details, scattered memories with only vague contexts. The empty old well nobody was suppose to throw rocks into, for some reason, but everyone did so anyway, for no reason at all. A wedding performed before a wooden carving of a bear someone had made a long time ago, to honor the god Bjorn. A strange dog no one owned but everyone took care of. A tree that somehow grew lopsided enough to have its "top" branches pointed downward. Children whose names she couldn't remember. And the grave of someone she couldn't recall.

She remembered her mother's smile and long flowing hair. Her father's beard was prickly and he smelled after a day of work.

The only thing she couldn't remember at all...was the name.

It saddened her, not being able to recall the name of her homeland. But that wasn't what was keeping her from sleeping tonight.

It took her a little while to find them in the darkness, but she did: the pile of bones that had been placed out to one side of the path. The remains of some nameless souls that had the unfortunate luck to die out here, likely alone. Were they murdered? Was it a sickness? An infection? No one would know now, save the gods.

It was a pointless, meaningless thing. But she felt a desire to do it. Besides, she was helping in a way. She was sure no one wanted to see these bones laying about.

She certainly didn't want her daughters to see them either.

Meanwhile

Fritz frowned as he realized that Ymir hadn't returned yet. That was a long trip to relieve one's self. Not too long ago, his first instinct might be to assume she was trying to run away. But that was a foolish notion even disregarding his new insight into her. She had a great many chances to flee before now. She was the Titaness for the sake of the gods! And he knew that Ymir wouldn't abandon her daughters, or Eldia. No, this was something else.

With a grunt, he stood and shrugged off the blanket, looking over at his daughters to make sure he hadn't woken them. They were still dreaming the night away, and he decided not to dwell on why or how Sheena ended up sleeping upside down.

"Morning, King Fritz," the guards greeted quietly as he stepped out. "Everything well?"

"Where, by the Forts, is Ymir?" he asked gruffy while massaging his temple.

"She was taking a walk outside, King," one of them informed calmly.

Fritz nodded. That was good. If his guards didn't know where she was, then they wouldn't be doing their job right. With a mighty yawn, he walked outside, being greeted by the guards there as well. He grunted, giving this one a very pointed and curious look.

The guard didn't need further prompting, knowing exactly what Fritz wanted to know. He tilted his head to the side and pointed down the path to his left. "We have another two keeping an eye around the back side," he answered vaguely. Fritz didn't like his guard being cryptic, and his frown showed it. "Lady Ymir is...well, we offered to help, but..."

Fritz shook his head and decided to go see for himself, heading off down the path. He spied two guards standing by a house, staring at the last building on this edge of the village. He was about to address the soldiers, who were glancing between him and something else, when he heard it.

The sound of soil being dug up.

He hummed, brow furrowed, as he changed course slightly and headed around the corner of the final building.

He rose an eyebrow at the sight of Ymir the Titaness, wielding a shovel as she poured dirt over a freshly dug hole. "Ymir?"

She looked up in alarm at his voice, holding the shovel close and looking very unsure of herself.

He frowned harder, looking down at the hole. It was dark out though, and she had already started burying whatever was in it. "What are you doing?" he asked, regarding her intently.

"...Grave," she answered softly, nodding down to the hole. "Bones."

Fritz rose an eyebrow. "You wanted to bury the bodies we found?" he supplied, getting an nod. "Why?"

"Someone. Should," she answered softly, looking down. "I'm. Sorry."

"You could have told someone else to do it," Fritz pointed out idly. "I was thinking about burning them, but...well, I suppose this is less noticeable for the girls than a fire."

Ymir nodded, glad he shared her thoughts on this. Slowly, hesitantly, she returned to burying the bodies. Fritz watched her for a moment, moving the dirt one shovel-full at a time, before sighing. "Where did you find that?"

Ymir stopped again, tilting her head to show her lack of understanding.

"The shovel, Ymir," he explained with a groan as he massaged away some grogginess, wishing she had at least picked a different hour to do this.

Ymir's eyes widened and, for some reason, she suddenly appeared uneasy. Carefully and silently, she placed the shovel against the wall. He grew very interested as she looked around cautiously, bringing one hand forth...

Fritz bit his tongue to hold back his alarm when Ymir's hand started to glow softly. Before his very eyes, flesh-stone began to spread out of her palm. It formed a staff, a handle and eventually an entire shovel. It turned from white to grey, before resting in Ymir's hand.

"...How long have you been able to do that?" Fritz asked in an entirely level tone.

"Just. This. Night." Ymir answered honestly, bowing her head. "I'm. Sorry."

"If you only figured it out now, why are you sorry?" he asked with a scowl.

"You are. Upset. With Me," she answered meekly. "I. Should have. Figured. This out. Sooner. Master."

Fritz gave her a strange look. "Ymir, I wasn't angry that it took this long for this...new power to show itself. I just thought you were keeping it secret."

Ymir looked surprised by that. "Master. I. Do not. Have. Secrets," she answered, as if she was stating the obvious.

Fritz rose an eyebrow. For a woman with no secrets, she was a grand mystery at times. "Give it here," he prompted, taking the shovel from her and holding it experimentally. It was a bit heavier than a normal shovel, and the balance felt off, but it would do. "Well, let's get this over with," he said with a sigh as he began to shovel the dirt himself.

"Master?" Ymir asked in shock.

Fritz sighed. "Ymir, I don't give two shits about whoever is in this grave. But this is obviously important to you. So let's get this over with," he stated bluntly.

Despite the tone, Ymir didn't flinch. She almost smiled even, as they made short work of the pile of dirt.

"There. Gods, why couldn't you have done this at dawn?" Fritz grumbled as he wiped the dirt from his clothes.

"I'm...sorry."

Fritz's grogginess vanished instantly, replaced by alarm as he noticed Ymir panting heavily and leaning against the wall. "Ymir? What's wrong?"

"I. Don't. Know," she answered, looking very exhausted and pale. "Flesh-Stone?"

Fritz scowled. "It must be harder to use that like this instead of as the Titaness," he guessed, reaching his hand up to her nose before examining it. No blood, so that was a good sign.

"I'm. Sorry," she said, leaning fully against the wall now. "You. Told me. Not to. Overdo it."

"Yes, and neither of us knew you could do this at all when I said that," Fritz reminded with an eyeroll as he grasped her arms and helped her take a seat on the ground. "Is there a reason my Titaness went through all of this?" he asked idly as he sat beside her.

Ymir took soothing breaths, feeling her body calm down. It was like she had ran a great distance in a single instant, and now her body was trying to readjust. That gave her time to ponder his question, and her answer. Why was this important? For all she knew they were murderers and thieves. But by that same token, they could have just people that got lost between someplace else and the capital.

"Master? May I. Ask. A question?" she requested softly, longingly.

Fritz looked very interested by her tone. "Yes, Ymir?"

"Do you. Remember. My village?" she asked distantly. She knew she was ignoring his question, and she shouldn't do that, but...It felt like this was somehow the answer, in a way.

Fritz froze, completely motionless and expressionless. "...Yes," he answered without infliction. "What of it?"

"Can you. Tell me. The name?" she requested, bringing her legs up to her chest and hugging them.

"What?" Fritz asked in shock, head turning to her in a snap.

She was staring up at the sky, her beautiful face marred by melancholy. "I can't. Remember. The name," she repeated, feeling ashamed. "I do not. Even remember. When I. Last Heard it."

"That's...that's all?" Fritz asked slowly. "Just the name, nothing else?"

She finally looked towards him, in confusion. What was he saying? What was she suppose to be asking?

"You aren't going to ask me why?" he asked, utterly baffled.

Ymir didn't blink, or even look shocked. Her eyes just softened into a sad, knowing look.

"I know why."

The answer came so soft and certain, Fritz couldn't believe she said it, even as he stared into her solemn eyes.

"...Himir," he answered after a second. "Your village's name was Himir."

Ymir nodded slowly. "Himir. Thank you."

Fritz stared at her as many old questions resurfaced in his head. What was going on with her head? Why didn't she hate him? Or at least get angry over the memory of her village's destruction? She just sat here and thanked the man that destroyed her li-

"Master?" Ymir spoke up again, pausing his thoughts. "Did. Himir. Have. Slaves?"

And suddenly, he was reminded of who Ymir was, who he knew her to be. "...Yes, they did."

Ymir looked up at the moon. "We are. All. Very. Cruel," she mused to the heavens.

Fritz watched her for a moment before gazing up at the moon with her. "Do you remember the day you became the Titaness?"

Ymir lowered her gaze, pushing away the memories of arrows, dogs, running, and blood. "Yes," she answered, hugging her legs harder.

"Do you remember when you came back to the village?" he continued.

Ymir stopped, blinking as she flowed through her memories. "I. Think. So?" she answered uncertainly. She remembered most of it. The whole thing had been a blur after she fell into the tree.

Fritz snorted. "Everyone thought we were going to die," he stated bluntly. "We thought this giant...thing was here to destroy our village."

Ymir didn't say anything, letting him talk. If he was going to punish her for scaring the old village, he would have done it all those years ago.

"I knew it was you."

Now she looked to him with a stunned expression.

Fritz shrugged and explained. "It seemed a strange chance, a slave girl sent into the forest, then a female giant with the same hair color emerges from the Ash-tree."

Ymir stared for a moment before nodding. She supposed it was a good point and an obvious conclusion. She just...had never thought about what that day had been like for everyone else.

"I said it once, I'll say it again: I thought you were going to kill me. I was prepared for that," he admitted before smirking. "The giant kneeling down, you emerging from the neck, and falling onto the ground? That caught me off guard. Then I saw your wounds healing as you-

"I stood up. I walked. To you. And I knelt," Ymir finished in a lost tone, deep in her own memory.

Fritz nodded. "For the next three days, I swore I would wake up one day and the whole thing would be a strange drunken dream."

Ymir glanced to him a few times before carefully adding in something of her own. "I thought. I was. Dying. And. Imagining. Everything."

"That was my second guess," Fritz remarked, giving a half smirk. "Though, you would have already been a full grown woman by then if it had been my dream."

Ymir said nothing to that, wondering where this was going. Where had it even started? What...was this, this moment? She didn't know, but she was sure it would end if she asked.

"All I dreamed of for the first year was using you to destroy all of Marley, lay every city to rubble and burn the rest," he admitted darkly as Ymir bowed her head.

She'd do it too. Ymir knew she'd do it if he told her to. Marley was suppose to be the biggest empire in the world. How many people would she have to kill, to kill them all? How much more blood would she have to spill until it was enough?

Fritz suddenly sighed before shaking his head. "But then I stopped being an idiot."

Ymir looked to him in surprise. "Master?" she asked in concern, never hearing him speak ill of himself.

"Don't mistake me, Ymir. Marley could sink into the sea and I wouldn't shed a tear for the bastards. I'd probably finish off the survivors. But..." he paused, weighing his words. "At some point, between uniting the tribes and decimating Marley's armies, I figured something out. Right now, conquering Marley wouldn't work. We just don't have enough people and warriors to keep control of that much land. So, I had to pick between my two greatest desires: Destroy Marley or create a future for Eldia."

"A future," Ymir repeated, her mind drifting to Maria, Rose, and Sheena.

"That's why I accepted their surrender," Fritz explained. "They relinquish some nearby territory, stop raiding our lands, and I don't unleash you on them."

That made sense to Ymir. And if the threat of her led to less fighting, she supposed that was a good thing. Except for one detail: The Assassination. "And now?" she asked, knowing Fritz was a cruel and vengeful man to his enemies.

"I don't know," he admitted stoically. "I'd rather avoid restarting the war, but that's in Marley's hand now, and how they react to my warning. Either way, I just want to leave as few problems for Maria as possible."

"Maria?" Ymir repeated curiously.

"Yes? She is the oldest," Fritz reminded, wondering why that wasn't obvious. He also had no particular reason to think Sheena or Rose should be given the throne over Maria. Yet at least. Who knew how those two would turn out later.

Ymir paused before looking to him curiously. "What. About. Rose. And Sheena?"

"One day at a time, Ymir," he said with a headshake. "For now, they are just children."

Ymir almost smiled at that.

"Come on, lets get back to bed," Fritz grumbled as he stood up, Ymir following suit as well.

Without another word, they began to head back to the main hall. Ymir paid it no mind, but Fritz couldn't help noticing the interesting looks the guards gave them as they passed. They thought they were being discrete, but they weren't. As did the guards at the main hall, but one of them was at least brazen enough to voice their suspicions.

"King, Lady Ymir," Baugi greeted, leaning next to the door, eyeing their dirt-stained clothes with a knowing look. "Glad you're enjoying the night,"

Fritz rubbed his head as Ymir looked unfazed by the assumption. "Why again, did I leave your brother behind for this trip, Baugi?" Fritz grumbled with a sigh.

Baugi just chuckled as the royal pair passed him, as did the other guards.

Fritz didn't have the energy or patience to care at the moment, so he ignored them in favor of returning to the bedroom.

He and Ymir returned to bed, only pausing to glance at their daughters quizzically.

"Now. They are. All. Upside down," Ymir observed in confusion, wondering how all three of them ended up sleeping on the opposite ends of their makeshift bed.

"First time in less than a bed," Fritz murmured, waving her to bed.

They still had a few hours before dawn, thankfully...

The call of a raven, its eye staring upon her.

Hands of dying men reaching to her desperately, pleadingly.

A room of trophies, each pedestal dripping with blood.

A white tower in the midst of a desert.

Lightning striking a city, shattering it to ruins, and then it was naught but ash.

A giant wolf, bigger than any horse, stood viciously over the corpses of Eldian warriors. Fritz alone stared the beast down without fear, a sword in his hand.

A cold voice in her head, and in her heart:

"You should have let him die."

Ymir awoke in a cold sweat, gasping for breath as she clutched her chest. Her eyes darted frantically around the room.

This was the bedroom she and her family had been staying in. Right, they had left the city to do some tests with her powers.

Her breathing slowed to a more normal pace. It was just a bad dream, just a night terror. A strange one, admittedly. She hadn't any in a few years now, and those had always been less...cryptic.

Shaking her head, she looked around the room again and confirmed what she saw the first time: she was alone. Her daughters and Fritz were already up, and had left her to sleep.

She wondered why that was, but didn't dwell on it as she rose.

She used to be very sore when she laid on the floor, when she was younger. But after becoming the Titaness, that didn't really happen anymore. Any stiffness in her joints vanished as soon as she opened her eyes every morning, unless she overused her powers.

She wandered out and the hall was empty as well, meaning they were outside. She exited the door, finding a few guards gathered near it.

"Lady Ymir," they greeted, standing a bit straighter.

She looked from them to the abandoned village, seeing some warriors wandering about or doing some task or another, and hearing noises not too far off in the distance.

"King Fritz has the princesses practicing their riding skills," one of the guards supplied after a moment of silence..

Ymir glanced to him and nodded minutely before heading down the path. Her gaze drifted towards the sun. It wasn't that high in the sky. Mere hours had passed since dawn. Why wasn't she awakened? Then again, they were not at the palace anymore. She had awakened every day, just as the sun rose, with servants bringing her breakfast, and news of anything Fritz might have planned for her today.

Given the nature of their stay here, she had assumed she would have been awakened at dawn to begin the tests again at the earliest chance.

She found her way to the edge of the village, and saw the soldiers and wisemen were eating a stew, the large pot steaming over a fire.

Not only them, but two of her daughters as well.

"Lady Ymir," Baugi greeted with a nod from his seat on a log, drawing the attention of Sheena and Maria, who were sitting next to him.

"Good Morning, Mother!" Sheena greeted with a smile, almost spilling her bowl of stew in the process.

"Mother," Rose gave as well, more quiet and uncertain.

Ymir almost smiled, but looked around at the others in obvious search for her eldest, or for Fritz.

"Father took Maria horse riding," Sheena supplied, pointing out to the forest. Sure enough, through the trees, Ymir could see two horses riding along, one of their riders distinctly smaller than the other. "Rose is next, and I already went," Sheena said proudly.

"Our smallest princess actually tried to race Fritz back here," Baugi said with a laugh.

"I would have won too, if I had a better horse," Sheena protested with a pout.

"Ha! Good luck finding a horse better than Blood Hoof!" Baugi said with a laugh.

"Blood Hoof?" Rose asked in confusion. "Is that what Father named his horse?"

"Huh? You mean to tell me you never heard the story of Blood Hoof?" Baugi asked in surprise, looking between the two as if they just told him the sky was green.

"I have!" Sheena answered eagerly. "I heard the people that take care of the stables talking about it! They said Blood Hoof smashed the head of a Marleyan general!"

"Well, that's the short version of the story," Baugi murmured to their interest.

Ymir's as well. When had that happened? The only thing interesting she remembered about Blood Hoof was that time the Marleyans tried to burn her with catapults hurling flaming boulders at her. That had been a bad day. She was fireproof as the Titaness, but the Eldian warriors were not, and they hadn't been expecting the flames. She spent most of the battle trying to keep her master and his army from being burned. Blood Hoof had been one of the horses unafraid of the fire.

Baugi grunted as he rose from his seat. "Sorry for rambling a bit, Lady Ymir, I'll go let the King know you're here."

Ymir watched as the man headed off towards the tree line. With nothing to do, she looked to her daughters who were watching her curiously. Ignoring the feeling of everyone else's eyes on her, she took a seat with them, Sheena promptly moving aside so that there was space between the two sisters for their mother.

Sheena looked between her silent mother and her uncertain sister with a frown before deciding to break the quiet herself. "Mother, did you eat anything yet?" she asked curiously. Ymir looked to her and shook her head in negative, prompting Sheena to jump off her seat. "I'll get you a bowl!"

Ymir watched as her daughter walked away for a moment before looking back to her second born. If they were alone, she would ask what was wrong. But speaking with so many others close by made her hesitate, watching as Rose fidgeted under her gaze. Was she making Rose feel unsafe? She didn't like that thought, but she didn't want to make Rose feel like that.

What did mothers do to comfort scared children?

There was one, obvious answer.

Rose froze as she felt her mother's arm wrap around her shoulder and pull her into a soft embrace. She quivered and shook before latching onto Ymir desperately. "I love you, Mama," Rose whispered into her robes, soft tears staining the cloth.

Ymir's only response was to hold Rose tighter, resting her forehead against her daughter's.

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries

One mystery that may never be solved is the origins of Blodughofi, the Blood Hoof. There are many tales of this horse throughout the histories of Eldia, supposedly having riders across the centuries. Where as Ackermans are best described as Titans in human form, Blood Hoof was often dubbed as a Titan in horse form, having allegedly slain great foes, even without a rider. Obviously, the general consensus is that there were many Blood Hooves, all named after the legendary figure, but the original Blood Hoof is hard to place.

The only clue to a potential origin of the tale is a fragment of a Marleyan text, telling how a "Stallion of Bloody Hooves bore Fritz from the battle." However, the fragment is only a copied piece, the original having been lost to wear and tear long ago. As such, it is impossible to know if the original was authentic and when it was written, let alone which member of the royal family this refers to.

Some believe it was ridden by Ymir herself when not in Titan form, given as a gift by a suitor. Others believe it was a horse raised by Sheena herself. It is entirely possible that Blood Hoof was just a folktale that became so popular that it became a part of history. Whatever the case may be, many have been named in honor of this perhaps mythical steed. The most popular are the Blodug cavalry from the sixth and seventh century of the Eldian Empire, Bloody Hooves the race horse, and a Blodhofi Academy created to train those aspiring to join an illustrious cavalry unit.

End of Chapter

Aaaand there we go. Oi, I did not mean to put off this chapter for so long. But here we are. Ymir and Fritz had an odd moment together in the middle of the night, Ymir had a strange dream, and things are improving between Ymir and Rose.

Hope you all are still enjoying this piece of mine, and are enjoying the anime. I'll say it again, I've been enjoying building up this ancient world.

 

[Akumakami64]

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

While the Power of the Titans is often feared for its ability to take lives, it's power to save lives should not be understated. From the earliest ages of the Empire, the Kings of Eldia have doctors possessing the Blood of Ymir, who the founder can make immune to any disease. This allowed them to treat those without Ymir's Blood, Eldian or otherwise, regardless of the danger of a plague.

In later ages, when the number of Subjects of Ymir grew, this also made it possible for the Kings of Eldia to heal any soldier that lost a limb in war. Indeed, even without bringing Titans themselves into the fray, Eldia's Armies held a great advantage in how much harder it could be to kill even the common soldier.

Maria didn't crave attention, not really. She learned to appreciate what she received from a young age. Her parents were often busy in her youngest years, in the war against Marley. And by the time she could truly remember anything, Rose had already been born and she quickly learned to help care for her, and later Sheena.

So, Maria didn't realize how much she'd enjoy this. Spending time with just herself and her father, and it having nothing to do with Eldia, the future, or anything else. Just the two of them, doing things families normally did. Or what she thought families normally did.

She smiled brightly as her horse galloped through the forest, her father keeping pace just behind her. He seemed pleased himself, as he watched her steer the beast rather well.

The horse suddenly came to a stop, rearing back on its back legs with a loud and frantic neigh as Maria clung tightly. "Wow, wow, easy! What's gotten into you!?" Maria said, trying to calm and sooth her mount.

Fritz's Blood Hoof came to a much easier stop than Maria's. "What's wrong, Maria?" Fritz asked, looking at the fitful beast his daughter rode on. It was calming, but decidedly still spooked.

"I don't know, I just-" Maria stopped, hearing a rather violent hissing noise was in the air. Not like a snakes, no, more like a cat.

"Forts be damned, haven't seen one of those in a while," Fritz remarked as they spied a small black and white creatures.

"What is it father? Some kind of cat?" Maria asked, curiosity battling against her worries.

"No, that is a badger, Maria. We call these ones Hondahs," Fritz explained, keeping a pointed eye on the very angry animal. "You have a very smart horse there, Maria."

"Father?" Maria asked in confusion.

"Whatever you do, do not get down. These things are very vicious. Even horses don't want to fuck with these bastards, and I don't blame them," Fritz remarked dryly.

"But...Blood Hoof isn't afraid?" Maria pointed out, watching as her father's horse lowered its head and looked directly at the badger.

"Yeah, and Blood Hood bit a wolf once," Fritz countered, Blood Hoof snorting, chopping its teeth at the honey badger a few times, angrily. The smaller beast tried to keep up its bravado, but ultimately fled when it looked like Blood Hoof might actually try to bite.

"...Father, how do you have all your fingers with that horse?" Maria asked in awe and a new found wariness for Blood Hoof.

Fritz shrugged. "I've been asking myself questions like that for a long time, Maria."

As much as she didn't want to ruin this moment, she knew there might not be a better time to speak with him. "Father? Can I ask you something, about being King?" Maria asked cautiously.

"Maria, you're my daughter and my heir. Ask me anything," he answered calmly.

She took a small breath to ready herself. "What is...the worst thing you've ever had to do, as King?"

Fritz scowled before glancing to his daughter with a curious look.

"I know that...being in charge, leading means having to make hard choices. And sometimes, you have to do things for the good of Eldia that you don't like. I understand that. I just...don't know what those things might be," she answered solemnly.

Fritz paused in thought. He could tell her any number of things. Even how he originally sent Ymir to die in the forest. Or how he slaughtered so many Marleyans to send a message. Or any number of people he sent to be blood-eagled. But he didn't. Not because he didn't want to, but because they weren't the truth.

"Are you sure you're ready to hear that, Maria?" he asked warily.

"I don't know," she admitted softly. "But I want to know anyway."

Fritz remained silent for so long, she thought he might not answer.

"I killed a child, Maria."

The eldest daughter of Fritz paused, blinking at that blunt but impossible statement. That was terrible, true, but there had to be more to this story than that.

"He was about your age," Fritz continued, turning to see Maria's face go ashen. "Do you still want to know?"

"...Yes, Father. Please," she answered, grabbing her reigns tightly.

"There was a sickness in the lands. I had only become riek a few seasons ago. People died pitiful deaths in their beds, choking on their own blood, covered in festering boils. And there was this boy, limping towards our village. But even from that distance, we knew he had the sickness."

Maria watched her father grow silent.

"There are plenty of reasons people kill children, Maria. Sometimes just to hurt the parents, sometimes because they're a threat to your rule by existing. But that boy trekked for miles. Hoping for anything. And all I could give him, was to be struck down by a spear before he ever reached the village."

Maria trembled at the thought, the imagery her father painted.

"We used arrows to light his body on fire. Not even sure if he was dead before he caught fire. Because that was how we survived the sickness, we didn't let it in," Fritz said with a frown. "I don't regret a lot of the people I've killed or had killed, Maria. But that boy? After everything? I wished, at least, I could have given him a more peaceful death. A last meal and a warm bed."

"You..." Maria took a breath. "You did what you had to do, Father. If you hadn't, Eldia...might not be here today."

Fritz nodded. "I pray it is many years before you and your sisters have to consider such things, Daughter."

Maria smiled with familial love. "We do as well, Father."

"Come on. It's time we head back," he instructed, turning Blood Hoof around, Maria following after diligently.

"Father?" Maria called after. "Do you think I can be as good a reik as you one day?"

"Maria, when you're older, I expect you to kick in the teeth of anyone that suggests otherwise," Fritz said in a blunt form of affection.

Maria smiled. "I think Sheena would do it for me before I got the chance."

"Ha!"

Meanwhile

"Lady Ymir."

She turned from where she sat with her Rose and saw the young Wiseman, Hrimthur, offering a bowl to her. Sheena was next to him, and promptly retook her seat on the log. Ymir stared at the offered food for a few seconds before taking it.

"It's not much, but it is filling," Hrimthur stated conversationally. "We've been going over the plans for today's tests, would you like me to go over them?"

Ymir rose an eyebrow. This was starting to sound like one of the longer plans or strategies Fritz had to explain to her during the war against Marley. Often, he just had to tell her the general idea of what to do, and she did so. But some things needed to be done a bit more carefully, so the plans were explained to her more thoroughly before the fighting started.

Still, Fritz told her to listen to Hrimthur and the other advisors for these experiments. If he thought she needed to know today's plans in advance, than she supposed that would be for the best.

She nodded and began eating, while Hrimthur smiled for some reason. "Excellent. For today, we'll be starting with attempts to mold the walls you made yesterday."

Ymir glanced to him, hoping her question was easy to guess by her face. It was, by Hrimthur's expression.

"Well, we know you can, shall we say, re-bond with Flesh-Stone, but the uses of that were never experimented with, besides the Eldbru bridge," Hrimthur explained idly.

Ymir knew what bridge he spoke of. The Eldbru Bridge was first time they found out her powers had limits. She used her power as much as she could every day, for three days, making a massive bridge piece by piece. Every time, she would come out of the Titaness with a bit of blood coming from her nose and mouth. The third day, she vomited and passed out. Fritz avoided pushing her that much after that.

"Among other things," Hrimthur continued, recapturing her attention. "We'll be attempting to see how well Flesh-Stone can be molded after its already been "set" for lack of a better word, and if you can link two different walls together."

Ymir understood that all, more or less, but didn't see the point in telling her.

"Well, they're on their w-" Baugi started, only to scowl as he saw Hrimthur with the royal family.

Ymir might not have noticed it, but many of the soldiers nearby had stopped all other activities and were watching Hrimthur pointedly. Hrimthur noticed, however.

"Just conversing with Lady Ymir about the plans for the day," Hrimthur answered neutrally.

Rose and Sheena looked between the warrior and the advisor. While they noticed the tension in the area, they didn't understand it. The man seemed nice.

"Of course you are," Baugi said with an odd tone. "Shouldn't you and your lot be getting ready to leave for those tests soon? The King is on his way, after all."

"A valid point," Hrimthur accepted calmly, heading off into the town. "Until later, Lady Ymir."

Baugi looked from his retreating form, then to Ymir, who was finishing the last of her stew.

Before he might have said anything, a short scream interrupted them. Ymir was instantly on her feet at an alarming speed, all the men either on their feet or grabbing their weapons.

"Father! Father, stop. I'm fine," Maria's voice called as she came into view, carried by her father in both arms while she clutched her nose.

The soldiers relaxed some, if only because of Fritz's lack of alarm.

"Maria, are you okay?!" Rose called out in worry as she and Sheena raced over with worried looks, Ymir just ahead of them.

"What happened?" Ymir asked, looking her daughter over in distress.

The whole area went silent, save Maria's soft groans, as every warrior suddenly looked to the Titaness. For most of them, that was the first time they had heard her speak.

"Maria got her foot caught on the saddle dismounting. Landed on the ground, her nose first to the dirt," Fritz explained bluntly. "She'll be fine. She just need to sit down and pinch her nose for a bit."

Ymir sighed in relief, looking between her daughter and Fritz meaningfully.

Understanding her desire, Fritz allowed Ymir to take Maria in her arms. Despite her unassuming appearance, Ymir had no trouble holding the eldest of her children.

"Mother, please, I'm fine," Maria protested weakly as Ymir sat her down. Ignoring her protests, Ymir pulled up the bottom of her own dress, using a discarded knife near the camp fire to cut off a strip, using it to help clean and hold Maria's bloody nose.

"Baugi, go off and find the wisemen, tell them to send back one of the healers, to give Maria's nose a look over," Fritz instructed.

"Maria, are you okay?" Sheena asked softly, gazing up at the bloody nose with a sad kind of fascination.

"I will be," Maria said softly. "I'm sorry, Mother. I was excited when I saw you, and got careless. I should have been more careful."

Ymir didn't say anything, merely pulling Maria closer and stroking her hair.

"Now I'm ruining both of our clothes," Maria said in apology and shame.

"Not important. You are," Ymir said in a quiet, firm voice.

"Fritz, my reik, is it too bold to say she has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard?" Ullr questioned in astonishment.

"Only if you don't mind me telling your wife and daughter. Which one of them loved to sing again?" Fritz asked bluntly.

"I take the question back," Ullr conceded, knowing not to pick that fight.

Fritz watched his daughters around their mother, as Ymir held the cloth to Maria's nose firmly. He squinted his eyes. Was the sun playing tricks on him, or was there a small glow under that fabric?

"My King, you called for me?"

Fritz glanced back as he saw one of the wisemen approach with Baugi, before nodding to his family. The instruction obvious, the man moved to kneel down next to the Titaness and the princesses.

"Please let me look, Lady Ymir," he implored respectfully.

Ymir accepted the instruction, slowly removing the cloth. Maria winced but otherwise only wrinkled her nose. The healer tilted her head up, peering into the nostrils.

"Princess Maria, I'm going to touch your nose, to see if it's broken. Tell me if there is any pain," he informed, giving her an instant to prepare before placing his hand on the nose. He hummed and Maria blinked. "There doesn't seem to be any issue. Princess?"

"It feels...a lot better now," Maria admitted, somewhat surprised as well. "There, um, wasn't any steam, was there?"

"No, Princess. Sometimes, these wounds just bleed a lot before closing themselves," the healer assured, looking to Fritz with a nod. "She should be fine."

Normally, Fritz might have threatened the healer, but he was of the same opinion if not for the same reasons. "She'll be okay now, Ymir. You should head off with the wisemen."

Ymir nodded, leaning forward to kiss Maria on the head before placing her on the log, her sisters taking up spots on either side of her.

"Was the horse ride fun at least?" Sheena asked hopefully.

"Yes. We saw a honey badger," Maria informed with a smile.

"Do...do they eat honey?" Rose asked curiously.

Ymir walked away with the healer before glancing back to the girls. "Don't worry," Fritz said from next to her. "I'll keep an eye on her."

Ymir looked relieved at that before turning to leave fully.

"Any trouble while I was gone?" Fritz asked to Baugi.

Baugi glanced to the princesses, mindful of his volume. "Nothing this time."

Later

Ymir felt very, very stupid.

She knew she wasn't smart, but she didn't think of herself as a brainless fool. Until now, that is.

Today had started about how she expected: She had breakfast with Fritz and the children, listening to what he and the advisors wanted her to do today and then she rode out to turn into her Titaness form.

That was how she found herself at the test-walls she had created yesterday. The plan was simple: While they didn't expect her to finely craft entire structures like this, they did want to see if she could add on useable stairs for soldiers to get to the top of the walls. Ymir had her doubts she could make steps small enough for humans to walk up instead of climb, but she would try her best.

Or, she would, if she wasn't so stupid.

She forgot how to mold Flesh-Stone after she seperated from it! She had done it before, years ago, when she made the mountain-bridges. But she hadn't done that in at least seven, maybe eight years?

So, the enermous Titaness was currently on all fours, grasping one of the walls, and doing absolutely nothing because she couldn't remember how to do this!

She frowned to herself, thankful that the wisemen weren't geting impatient yet. But what would her master think? She didn't think he'd be disappointed that she couldn't make these steps at the right size, but because she couldn't remember how to do something they both knew she could do? He'd be displeased, maybe even angry with her. What would he do? He had been...different lately, towards her. Considerate? Curious? Patient? She didn't know, but she couldn't imagine it would stay if she failed like this.

Ymir came back to her senses, a segment of the wall crushed in her hand.

"Everything alright, Lady Ymir?!" one of the wisemen called up curiously.

"It's been nearly a full day since she made them," Hrimthur observed thoughtfully. "Maybe it can't be changed after so long."

"I suppose that makes sense," another mused, scratching at his beard. "We'll have to be more conservative with these tests then, or the area will be overrun with these Flesh-Stone walls."

"Should we tell King Fritz?" Hrimthur wondered allowed. "Or should we just-"

He paused as Ymir's giant hand hissed with steam, for an instant, before the large slab of stone turned into it less-solid, white state.

"Ah, there she goes," Hrimthur said with a smile.

Ymir felt a touch of relief at finally being able to reconnect with her Flesh-stone. It didn't drain her any to keep it in this malleable state, but turning it back to this state did feel like it drained some of her strength. Not enough to be of any concern, but it was there. She supposed she never noticed with the bridge because she had been adding to them immediately instead of just changing what was already there.

With that moment of worry out of the way, she fixed the damaged wall and began to mold it. Or try to at least, her hand cleanly swiping away a layer on the wall, then using one of her large fingers to push and mold the substance like it was clay. The curved indents shifted at her will, forming into straight lines to make a set of steps.

Three of the advisors approached when she retracted the oversized digit. She knew the verdict just by looking at the "steps" in relation to humans.

"These are definitely too big," one observed, looking at the stairs with each step being higher than his knee.

"Perhaps one of us should stay next to this wall?" Hrimthur suggested, wipping his brow from the heat the Titaness was currently giving off.

"Are you volunteering?" the other asked with a smirk.

Hrimthur just waved them off, looking up at the eyes of the Titaness. "Ready to try again, Lady Ymir?" he called up with a hand to his mouth.

Ymir quirked her head internally- as in, inside her giant body- as the man's clear intent to stay where he was, but didn't dwell on it. She focused on the flesh-stone, using her fingers to shorten the height of the steps. Having someone of normal sized helped a little, but...

Adding on something like stairs to the walls was, in a word, bothersome. She kept making the stairs too tall per step, even with someone standing nearby to remind her of the scale. But the comparison to a normal sized person helped at least a little. Putting battlements on the top of the walls was easy enough though.

Hrimthur stroked his chin at the steps, seeing that the stairs were shorter, but not by much. Still too high to reasonably be used regularly, let alone with weapons and equipment. It was becoming obvious that Ymir's amazing form was just too big to mold something for a single human to use, at least not quickly.

He was about to call up to her again, before the Titaness continued her work, shortening the steps again. And again. It took nearly half an hour, shortening the steps and adding more so that it would reach the top, but she did it nonetheless.

Finally, with her latest adjustments complete, Hrimthur stepped forth and started to climb the steps towards the top of the test-wall. The advisor grinned in satisfaction. "This is perfect, Lady Ymir!" he called up to her, descending down the steps as the others approached.

"So, it can be done," one of them noted in approval.

"A wall like this would take months or even years to complete," Hrimthur stated in excitement as he rejoined them. "But Lady Ymir could make and complete one in a day or two."

"I remember when it took her the better half of a month to complete a bridge," an older one stated with an amused snort, making Hrimthur frown.

Ymir listened to the animated discussion. She was surprised by their reactions. She thought they would be annoyed it took her so long to complete the steps. Instead, they actually seemed pleased.

"Okay, Lady Ymir, next we're going to try to connect two separate walls together," Hrimthur called up.

Ymir's Titaness form grabbed two different lengths of flesh-stone walls, pulling them together. The earth groaned as the structures were dragged across the ground. With some mental effort, she was able to meld them together. It took a bit longer before it became seamless, but it was successful in the end.

"Very good, Lady Ymir!" Hrimthur called on up in congratulations. "Now, let us try the next part."

She nodded, both forms of her. She held her arms wide apart, as wide as she could while nearly bowed down and keeping her hands near the ground. She looked upwards as she began to channel the flesh-stone, forming it into a curved wall, almost a half-circle. Leaning herself back up, she grabbed the center of the curve and use another burst of flesh-stone to form a straight line of wall that intersect with the curved wall, emerged from between her fingers.

"Interesting," Hrimthur mused, looking over his scrolls while tapping his chin.

"Careful, Hrimthur, you know she can only make nine a day," one of his peers cautioned.

"Stairs can be built on the old fashion way if needed, if making small changes will tire her out as much as the big one," another murmured.

Ymir continued to follow their instructions, trying not to let her mind wander to her Maria. Or Rose. Or Sheena. She couldn't keep her mind off Fritz, obviously, he told her to listen to these men after all.

She ultimately grew a tad frustrated with the task at one point and, instead of forming more stairs next to the side of the building, tried to make them descending away from the walls like a long, shallow ramp. Each step was a bit too wide, but one could make it up the walls well enough.

"Hmm. We'd definitely have to build more stairs on our own, but these would be useful all the same," Hrimthur said, nodding in appreciation as he stood at the top of one such set. "Lady Ymir, are you tired? We can take a break if you grow weary of this task."

Ymir had grown tired of killing, but fulfilling "tasks" was something she was used to. This was far more peaceful then other things she had to do in the past.

Somehow, her larger and terrifying form conveyed some of her feelings, Hrimthur nodding with a smile. "Very well, let's continue."

Eventually, it was time to stop for the day and head back to the village. Once more, Ymir emerged from her Titan and slid down it, Hrimthur bringing her horse closer even before she finished sliding down the hairs. She took the reigns with a nod before they all made their journey back.

"Mother, you're back!" Sheena called, racing over from the fire. "We're having deer tonight."

Ymir nodded as she slid off her horse, furrowing her brow as she looked to the rest of her children and noticed something important.

Maria was still wearing a bloody robe.

"Ymir, there's a lake nearby for you and the girls. I'm sure you would enjoy a dip, and Sheena will eventually insist on jumping into the river anyway," Fritz explained.

Ymir nodded in understanding, taking Sheena's hands as she collected her daughters.

"Ullr, you're in charge while we're gone," Fritz ordered. "Baugi and I will go along, just in case. Keep an eye on everyone. We'll be back before that deer is ready."

"Aye, King," Ullr acknowledged.

Ymir tilted her head. Her master was coming to make sure nothing endangered their children, because Ymir couldn't transform near them without killing them. He was bringing Baugi along as extra protection. Was there something to worry about or was he just concerned about their daughters and their safety?

She hoped it was the latter.

The lake was very closer by, and very small. More of a pond than anything.

As Ymir and her daughters disrobed for the waters, Fritz sat down with his back to a tree, his family at the corner of his eyes. Baugi was sitting on a stump.

"Baugi, I know you're not looking at my daughters, but you best not stare at Ymir right in front of me," Fritz warned causally.

"Wouldn't dream of it, King," Baugi assured with an almost distant voice. And not the pleasant kind of distant.

He glanced to Baugi and then followed his gaze. He wasn't looking at the bathing Titaness and princesses, but at the fields visible just beyond the trees from here. "What is it?"

"My father joined the tribe of Eldia after his own was destroyed. He took my brother and I to that field one day, telling me about the battle that ended them," Baugi explained grimly.

"Marley?" Fritz guessed expectantly.

"Yes. And no," Baugi answered with a frown.

Fritz paused, looking to the field again. "The Battle of the Great Veld. Where five tribes united to push back a legion of Marley. But one tribe sold them out, becoming "mercenaries" for Marley," he recalled darkly. "The Svikari."

"Damn them to Trellborg. May all the other Forts spit on them," Baugi growled.

"Pretty sure they're already there," Fritz said with an huff of dark amusement. "Marley would have sent them to their deaths against us early on."

"Good," Baugi said, before a scream of delight drew their eyes to the pond breifly, seeing the girls splashing innocently in the shallow water with Ymir watching. Baugi looked away, but caught Fritz smiling just a bit as his gaze lingered. "So, did you ever imagine you'd have only daughters?"

"I didn't care," Fritz admitted gruffly. "As long as they survived leaving the womb and their first winter, I didn't care if they were a boy or a girl."

Baugi grew silent at that for a moment. "Sheena is definitely your daughter though."

"Is there something you want to actually talk about?" Fritz asked bluntly. "Or do you just hate being sil-?"

Baugi stiffened but didn't move as Fritz stopped.

"Ymir!" Fritz called out suddenly. "We should head back. The food will be done soon."

He saw her nod but wasn't looking in her direction as they start to come out of the pond, wipping the water from their skin before grabbing the clean set of robes they had brought.

"How many, which way?" Baugi asked, resisting the urge to look around.

"Just one, right of the pond from here," Fritz answered tersely, glancing without turning his head and pretending to adjust his helmet. "Don't do shit until I make a move," he ordered as he casually lowered his hand as he pretended to start to get up.

Only, when he got to one knee, he quickly and skillfully threw his spear across the distance, hitting a tree with a shadow behind it.

The girls startled in alarm at the noise, Ymir looking to the spot instantly with alarmed eyes as something jumped away in alarm. Baugi was already drawing his sword and running towards the bushes and trees as Fritz walked over to his family.

"Father! What's happening?!" Maria askedi n alarm.

"Someone was watching us," Fritz answered coldly. "Stay close to your mother while we deal with this."

The girls grouped around their mother for protection and comfort, Ymir stroking their heads while letting her eyes wander around for any signs of movement, of danger.

After another moment, Baugi came back, all but dragging someone by their dark cloak. A rather old someone.

"It was just this old hag," Baugi explained, pulling the hood down to reveal an wrinkled face and white hair.

The tension in the air relaxed some. "You should be careful whom you intrude upon, crone."

The woman lowered her eyes. "I mean no offense, but I am no crone, O Reik of Reiks."

"Hmm? You know who I am?" Fritz asked in wary curiosity.

"I know the Titaness," she answered, nodding over her shoulder to Baugi. "And I knew this oaf could not be the Alareik."

If Baugi took offense to that, he didn't show it, eyeing her mistrustfully.

"State your name and business while I still have the patience to hear it," Fritz ordered dangerously, his daughters looking up at him in surprise or alarm.

"I live in a hut just outside this forest. I was beginning to wonder what all the commotion was," she answered, bringing her green eyes up to meet Frtiz's gaze. "I am Giri, a volva."

Ancient Eldian Historical Discoveries:

Volva is a term that was used to refer to many women of soft power in in the centuries before and after the founding of the Empire. The word had many potential meanings: Seeress. Prophetess. Sorceress. Witch. Priestess. Wisewoman. It is hard to label a Volva as any one of these things. It was said that these women were able to commune with the divine, see visions of the future, and practice a form of magic called "Seidr"

Regardless, they were considered figures to respect and heed to for hundreds of years. But the dawning of the Eldian Empire showed a sudden turn of opinion against those claiming the title of Volva. It is hard to say why, as many accounts of them have been conflated with stories of "Witches" with evil schemes against the Empire. They would be ostracized by the Empire for hundreds of years before public opinions began to level out. Some to this day claim to be volva, either as scam artists or genuinely trying to follow an ancient belief system.

End of Chapter

Well, that's another chapter. Bit o drama and tension, a bit of wandering down memory lane. Also, the Anime is finally over. Still not happy with the ending, but I'll be the first to admit it was better than the Manga.

Hope you all enjoyed the update, I missed working on this fic.