Knights of Shiganshina

Marriage

          "What?" Mikasa asked, completely and utterly stunned.

          "I don't remember stuttering, you need to marry. You're eighteen years old now, that's far more than enough time to find a respectable suitor. Your mother and father should have had you wedded years ago." Mikasa's grandfather said, cutting a piece of his ham from his platter and slowly placing it in his mouth while he stared at her. "Do you disagree?"

           "Of course I do. I-I'm not ready for that, it's too soon." Her hands were trembling now, barely able to hold the utensils straight. She looked over at her uncle, who had been standing against a pillar completely silent. His eyes were fixed on the ground, avoiding the entire discussion. Guess looking for help with him would be pointless.

           "Too soon," he scoffed at the notion. "Your grandmother and I were wedded at the age of fourteen. This is far from due, we will marry you to a respectable house, preferably that of the royal blood. It would solidify the union between the Ackerman's and Reiss's even further considering what happened with your cousin." Her stomach began to churn. The thought of vomiting was slowly beginning to find its place in reality. "Her royal highness seems to be quite fond with you already. So, I'm sure it will be no problem at all to get to know her brothers."

           Mikasa grabbed her cloth and slowly spit a bit of her food into it. She slowly got up from her chair and looked towards her grandfather. "May I be excused, please?" He waved his hand, and she walked with haste towards the door.

           "You are my family girl, this is best for you. You'll realize that in time." She pulled the door open then ran to her room. She shut the door hard and pushed her back against it. Undoing the braids in her hair, she stood, staring at the tiled floor.

           Marriage? Who the hell would she even marry? She was pretty sure every one of Historia's siblings was under the age of twelve. Why did her word in any matter equivalate to that of a fly?

           After a few minutes of sulking, she heard a knock at her door. She opened it slowly, and her uncle walked in.

           "I didn't invite you in."

           "I ain't invited to a lot of things, what makes this different?" He walked up to the foot of the bed and took a seat. He pushed down a few times on the large wool stuffed mattress. "Sure you won't sink in this thing? I ain't even sat long and I feel like I'm gonna fall right through."

           Mikasa wasn't very amused with his gests by this point and quite frankly wanted him to leave as soon as possible. "What do you need Kenny?" For the first time, she thought she saw a bit of discomfort run across his face.

           "Look, he can be rough around the edges, but—"

           "But what? He's trying to sell me off like I'm cattle. What's redeeming about that?"

           "It ain't fair, I know, but it's the hand we were all dealt. You're gonna have to deal with it, again, ain't fair, but it is what it is." Mikasa scrunched her nose and scowled at him.

           "Life's seemed pretty fair to you." She mumbled under her breath, his brows burrowed at that notion.

           "No, it hasn't." He said, staring at her. He got from the bed, walked to her, then let out a deep sigh. "But, if you don't like it, well, you could always try your luck past the wall." She looked up at him curiously.

           "Past the wall?"

           "Yeah, if you stay here, you'll be pawned off. But if you leave, well, how'll they find you? I figure the closest place would be up north to Sheena." He made his way to the window and looked out. "Then again, battles in the lands between have been riling up as of recently. You got the wild folk who've lived there for centuries, stupid fuckers know nothing, but killing, taking, and well...I'm sure you could imagine the rest. And that's on top of the thousands of soldiers from Sheena and Maria fighting. Not very good odds if you asked me." He said, shrugging his shoulders.