Memories ~ Attack on Titan

Chapter forty

The last time we saw Historia, all gathered around a long wooden table, my dad sat on one end and Historia said on the other. On one long day sat me, jean, Sasha and Connie. On the other long end across from up say Eren, Mikasa and Armin. Historia let out a sigh. This was the part where she explains everything, "I grew up on a farm in the northern lands of Wall Rose. It was owned by the noble Reiss family. As far back as I can remember, I was helping out around the farm, but my mother was always reading books. She never cared to work and no one ever cared to make her. She was such a beautiful woman. Most nights somone in a carriage would come for her and she's go off into the city, wearing all sorts of fancy cloths. And that was just life as I knew it. But when I learned how to read and write I started picking up books to imitate my mother, and I learned just how alone I was," Historia looked at her hands which where clasped together on the table the whole time she spoke. I tried to keep my head as clear a I possible could while she talked, soaking up ever word of her story. She continued in a soft yet deeply saddened voice, "In all of the stories I read parents cared about their children. They talked to them, hugged them, scolded them. I had never experienced any of those things. One day out of a child's curiosity I decided to try hugging my mother. I guess I just wanted to see what kind of face she would make. She ended up throwing me away from her. But that was she first time mother had acknowledged me. So it actually made me happy. She went to live somewhere else after that. I didn't see her for a very long time. And then, five years ago. Just a few days after wall Maria fell, I finally met my father. Rod Reiss, he was the lord of the land I'd grown up on. The mother I hadn't seen in years, looked horrible frightened. And then, If only you had never been born..were the last words my mother had said to me, before she was killed by the tall man in the hat. Then moments before I was mulled myself my father proposed an idea. That if I were sent somewhere far away to live out a quiet life perhaps they would spare me."

I sat with my head resting on Jeans shoulder as my father and Hange entered the room. Hange started with five words that instantly made my stomach drop. "They plan to eat Eren?" Armin said in shock, making sure we all heard them right. Hange continued, "it appears so. Eren remembered s conversation he heard between Ymir and Bertoholdt."
You hold that against me?
I don't think so, I mean I don't know. Suppose I have to believe you didn't want to eat anyone.
"Based on this we can speculate. Ymir used to be a mindless Titan just like the others until she consumed someone. Someone from Bertholdt and Reiners group. We've never seen a Titan turn back human by eating one before. But that said, Reiner's comrades aren't normal humans. And their has to be a different set of rules for humans that can turn into titans. My thought is that if a Titan eats somone with that power then they'll transform back into a human. What's more, they'll obtain whatever power that human had. I'm that battle the other day Reiner was throwing titans at Eren as he tried to run away. He knew that Eren had the power to take command of feral titans with his scream. If Eren's death mean the power was lost he wouldn't have risked it. I think he hoped that one of those titans would eat Eren and take his power. My point is, if the government has a Titan of their own they'll use it to eat Eren." My heart dropped and I felt the color drain from my face. Mikasa spring up from her place on the wall and begun to storm out only to be stoped by Levi, "calm yourself. I know you want to get Eren back but going on a rampage won't help. Anyway, we're heading to Rod Reiss's estate. Prepare to leave at once." Everyone started to leave for their sleeping chambers to collect their gear but I stoped when my father and Hange started walking the other direction. Jean also stoped and looked down at me, "what? What's wrong?" He asked clearly anxious. I looked up at my boyfriend, "I need to talk to Levi and Hange. I need to see Erwin." Jean grabbed my hands in his and looked into my eyes. We didn't have many tender moments like these, but the ones we did have still gave me goosebumps. "Rin. I know anything I say won't make much of a difference, so. Please be careful. I'll be here when you get back." I felt my cheeks go red and my heart speed up. He wasn't trying to fight me or change my mind, he clearly didn't want me to go but he supported me anyway. I stood on my top toes and planted a small kiss in his lips. The sight of his red cheeks made me giggle, "I'll be back soon," I said lightly as I slowly let go of his hands and ran in the direction of my father and Hange. I walked down the stair well until they were in sight, "hange!" I yelled as I ran up to the pair. The stoped and looked up at me. "Oh Rin. I expected you'd be getting ready to leave, what do you need." I finally reached the two adult and was slightly out of breath when I spoke, "one of you is going to see Erwin and I'm assuming since we're Levi's squad that'll be you Hange, right? Take me with you." Hange and my father exchanged a look, Hange looked unsure but Levi nodded. That took me off guard, I honestly didn't think they'd be this so willingly. Hange smiled, "alright then, come on!"
Hange, Moblit and I mounted our horses and headed for Erwin. As we rode through town we saw something, blood, and people gathered around it. "Damn. Too bad," Hange said. I looked over at Moblit who had visible distress on his face, "section commander that was-" but Hange cut him off, "I know. Just keep moving." I didn't press the matter and did what Hange ordered. We finally reached the building where Erwin was held up and quickly made our way to room, Hange knocked before quickly entering. I felt a rush of relief when I saw commander Pixis and Erwin sitting in the middle of the room. "Commander. It's done," Hange announced as we walked towards the men, they bend down and whispered something in the commanders ear that I couldn't hear. Erwin nodded, "looked like my gamble might pay off commander. Might. One of the first interior squad just confessed. The current kind is a pretender to the throne. Reiss is the true royal family." I stood next to Erwin and straightened my back. Pixis's eyes widened, "are you sure?" I looked down at Erwin as he responded, "I've deployed my scouts. They're working to retrieve Eren and Historia. Once they're secured we'll declare that Historia is of royal blood and crown her this country's queen." Moblit, Hange and I all gasped at once. So this was Erwin's grand plan? I trust the man with my life but these seems like their is a lot of room for error. We have no idea what's waiting for us at the Reiss estate. Pixis looked away and sighed, "know this is true. The ersatz king will have no choice but to give up the throne." Erwin continued, "assuming that he does, we'll have staged a bloodless coup. Then we'll go to the people and expose the system that claimed to protect them for all its lies." Pixis stood up without a work and walked to the other side of the room. He thought about Erwin's word for a moment before responding, "I'm convinced. You have my support. That said, we could be in the wrong. The final decision is out of our hands. You understand that, don't you?" Commander Erwin looked up front his lap, making intense eye contact with Pixis, "I do." Pixis chuckled slightly and walked towards the commander, extending his hand,"May the odds be in our favor." Erwin took his hand and shook it tightly, "may they be." Pixis pulled back and headed for the door and left without another word. When Pixis was gone Erwin put his hand on my shoulder. I jumped slightly from the surprise. "Can't say I'm surprised to see you, Rin, however I am surprised Levi allowed you being here." I laughed a little, I missed Erwin, "honestly me too, Levi never really approved of me doing this sort of thing." Erwin smiled slightly down at my before moving his hand and picking up a book, "now then, Hange, I've found out as much as I could involving the Reiss investigation, but theirs not much to speak of. Just one curious incident." He handed Hange the and they took it with a short "hm," Hange opened it and then called out, "Moblit, Rin, come look at this," I stood on my toes and looked down at the pages. Suddenly the door to the room busted open and my eyes draped up. A soldier who's name I couldn't remember started shouting at us, "Commander! The interior squad has put out a warrant for you! They're making a scene in the middle of the city, sir. Saying you had someone murdered!" I immediately stood up straight and jumped the the commander's defensive, "what the hell. I'll fucking kill them. Why the hell do they think they are Framing the commander," I felt slightly dizzy from the rage, I felt my whole being go dark. If anything happened to the commander I would kill any man who laid a hand on him. This is my family, I lost my family once, I lost Miche, I'm not losing the Commander too. Erwin broke me out of my thought, "it would appear the enemy has been making plans of their own. Hange, Rin, leave town at once." "WHAT," I yelled. Hange look just as confused, "Huh?! What do you plan to do?" The commander walked to the over side of the room but I followed after him, "Erwin, I won't let them kill you." Erwin put on his coat and continued talking, ignoring hange and I, "I need to be the face of the Scouting Regiment. I trust the two of you to act at your own discretion. Also, I've chosen the scouts next leader. And it's you, Zoe Hange. The scouts are in your hands." Hange and I both stood there, shocked and confused. Once Erwin opened the door and walked out I snapped out of my daze and ran after him, "ERWIN!" I screamed as I ran up to him. The commander sighed and stoped, turning to face me. "It doesn't matter who the next commander is. No body gives a single fuck. You aren't leaving us, not now or ever. Commander, I'm going to fight them. I'll kill every man who tries to take you from me. I need you to stay alive." I jumped as I felt liquid of my cheeks, I was crying. The thought of losing someone so important had brought me to tears. "Rin. I don't plan on dying. But if someone breaks into my room tonight and tried to kill-" I shook my head not wanting to hear the rest of his sentence, "THEN I'LL STAND GUARD! I'LL KILL ANYONE WHO ATTEMPTS TO ENTER PLEASE ERWIN!" I screamed, face red and tears running down my face and chin, "don't do this to me,"I whispered. Erwin put a hand on my head and I allowed my head to rest of his chest while I cried uncontrollably now. I screamed and cried while Erwin staid quiet. I couldn't tell you how long we staid like that. And even after he left I felt no better. This pit sat in my stomach. "I'll see you soon Rin, you still have my pocket watch, don't you?" I pulled the necklace that I had tucked in my shirt out to be visible. Erwin lightly lightly, "I'll be with you okay," was the last thing he said before walking off. I watch him go, holding the watch in my hard, silent tears streamed from my eyes. I wanted something. To scream? Fight and grab his legs and beg him to stay? Maybe, but I have to trust Erwin. I looked up to my left as I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Hange," I said quieter then a whisper." Hange kept their eyes fixed on the floor, "common Rin, it's time to go."

Hange, Mobile and I looked out of the window of the room we were staying in. MP's, busting down doors and attacking scouts in the streets. My felt my heart accelerate. "What the-" I didn't even get to finish before Hange was pulling me out the door, "it's time to go. Stay close and run." And so we ran. Ran out of the building and through the alleyways, but I stoped dead in my tracks when I saw the horrific sight. I heard sped up and I felt my mouth go dry and head spin. Erwin was being pulled away in shackles. Hange noticed my stoping and looked to see exactly what I did. But they remained cool and grabbed my arm pulling me away, "I know. But we have to keep moving." I ran alongside them but it felt so wrong. Suddenly we turned into another alleyway and stopped along the wall to rest. "What should we do," moblit whispered." But neither of us responded. I felt to sick to talk. I imagined running out with a gun and mowing down all those soldiers. Cutting the chains and saving all the scouts and all of us rising agains the Military police. It excited my mind but my body felt almost in some sort of shock. I felt the chill bums on my body, a fever was coming on me, my head was dizzy. Damnit Erwin, you really do put us through hell.