The Honor Guard

Strength & Courage

The damp smell of dew hit the first years noses as they made their way from the dinning hall.

"I'm still hungry" Sasha groaned.

"We just ate..." Mikasa said flatly as the girls made their way to the archery range.

Historia caught up to Sasha. "Here" she whispered, slipping her an apple.

"Thank you your majesty" Sasha said taking a bite. Missing Historia wincing at being address as "her majesty".

"I'm not real royalty" she thought.

"Better finish that before we get to the range. I hear the instructor is strict" Mina said. "Plus we want to make a good impression on the boys"

Mikasa whirled around. "We're going to be training with the male first years?"

Mina jumped a bit at Mikasa sudden interest in their conversation.

"Um-yeah. I was leaving the officers building yesterday and over heard some of the higher ups talking about the training and class schedules"

Mikasa went a little red in the face.

"Why are you so interested Mikasa? Got a boy you wanna impress? Sasha asked toss the apple core into the woods.

Mikasa glared at her.

"Or..shoot maybe?"

"It's nothing, the point is to stay focused, besides I'm not the one with a boyfriend here"

The girls are giggled and Sasha went pink.

"H-he's not my boyfriend...he's...."

"Don't play dumb, I saw the way you too looked at each other" Historia teased.

Sasha bit her lip, thinking about Connie and their time in the forest.

********************************************
"Here they come" Jean whispered to Marco.

The female first years approached the range. Dressed in the same page uniform the boys wore, each girl had a single braid in their hair.

"Ladies! You're late" Sir Dok barked.

"We got a bit lost" a girl named Hanna spoke up.

"Just like a woman to get lost where they don't belong"

Some of the boys snickered.

Nile shot a hard glare at the boys. "I don't recall saying anything funny"

The group went silent.

As the girls gathered in a line, Sasha looked across and her eyes met Connie's. The two exchanged a quick smile, both their hearts beating rapidly.

Mikasa was trying to focus on the instructor, but her eyes were drawn to Eren. He looked a bit sleepy.

"I hope he slept enough last night" she thought.

Eren caught her staring and gave her a quick wave.

"Now! Let's get started".

*******************************************
The first part of the class was focused on stringing a bow.

Some of the girls were relieved to see the boys struggling just as much, and they had been at it for about 2 months.

Sasha had no issues being the first one done, followed by Connie.

"I'm impressed Springer, you're usually not the brightest"

Connie looked at Sasha and mouthed a "thank you". Sasha responded with a wink, she did help teach him after all.

"Arlert! What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry sir, I'm trying"

"Try harder, you're getting beat by the girls" Nile said sharply.

"You said he was strict, but not an a**" Mina whispered to Mikasa.

"I think that kinda goes hand-in-hand"

"Ladies having a chat are we?" Sir Dok was upon them.

"No sir, I was just...admiring Mikasa bow work" Mina said.

"Admire it silently" he growled.

"Everything going ok here Nile?" Erwin asked as he and Levi made their way down the path.

"As ok as it can be. Still thinking this is a mistake" he said gesturing towards the girls.

"Why's that?" Levi asked in a cold voice.

"Well for one thing they were late for training"

"Pages, it would do well for you to be on time" Erwin called out.

"Yes sir!" They replied in unison.

"Is that your only concern?" Erwin turned back to Nile.

"Well...look at them. They don't belong out here. They need to be in the kitchens, sewing uniforms, cleaning"

"Marie must be thrilled when you come home" Levi muttered.

"Levi" Erwin glared at him.

Erwin looked past Nile. "Seems like more of the female students are stringing their bows faster than the males"

"Well this years group isn't one of our strongest"

"That has yet to be seen" Erwin said.

"Anyways" Nile pulled an apple out of his pocket. "Women just don't have the strength, ability, or courage to be a knight"

Nile lifted the apple to his mouth, but it suddenly was speared from his hand, becoming impaled upon a tree.

The three senior officers turned to find the source of the the arrow.

All of the first year pages were staring, some mouths agape, at Sasha Blaus.

She smirked giving a small curtsy.

"How's that for courage...sir?"