Of My Love

Treason/Care

Reiner: what? Where is he?

Annie: he's not here

Guard: he's been taken away to get his lashes

Reiner: dammit, Bertholdt

Guard: follow me, to the field

*Reiner and annie follow the guard to an open field and they are shocked*

Annie: people? Is this.....a show?

Reiner: i...i cant believe this, this is humiliating

*1st lash*

Bertholdt: ...

*the first one wasnt a shock, he knows what it feels like now,he was prepared for it, he braced himself, he can adapt

*2nd lash, the second did nothing, 3rd lash, the third stung a bit, 4th lash, 5th lash, he can feel his skin starting to break,there is blood now, 6th lash, he stays silent for them, nothing, he thinks this is nothing*

Annie: STOP!

king leonhart: annie, why are you here

Bertholdt: ....? no

*7th lash*

Bertholdt: ...annie

*8th lash*

Bertholdt: annie

*9th lash*

Bertholdt: annie....

*10th lash*

Annie: Stop!

King leonhart: Do not stop, braun, take annie and go, ill fulfill Bertholdts request, annie will not be permitted to watch

*reiner looks over to Bertholdt, stripped of his upper clothes, his back slashed with marks of blood, he feels pain even while not being lashed, it lingers, he turns a bit to look back, reiner sees Bertholdts eyes telling him to keep annie from watching this brutal scene*

Reiner: ....dammit

*Reiner nods at Bertholdt and changes to a look of determination saying he will come back to save him, Bertholdt smiles in pain closing his eyes to brace for more*

11th lash, 12th lash, 13th lash

Bertholdts pov

.....this....is nothing....pain is nothing....i did it because she asked.....and i would do it again.....annie...go with reiner....leave....dont look at me....please, you cant see me this way, i don't want you to

Reiner: still think he can be reasoned with?

Annie: ....i cant leave Bertholdt like this, he's hurting because of me

Reiner: might not have a choice

Annie: then lets hurry and get him

Reiner: hey wait, if the king sees, you might cause more harm than good....just...let it go for now, this wont affect Bertholdt, he can manage this

Annie: he shouldn't have to

Reiner: lets go meet with ymir

.

.

Ymir: wow, the whole town was there?

Reiner: enough of the town

Ymir: he's not the type to hold a grudge is he?

Reiner: about this no

Annie: about anything

Reiner: some things, not this

Annie: oh

14,15,16,17,18,19,20

Bertholdt: ............just....5...more

*he can feel his blood rushing throughout his body hoping he doesn't go into shock from the ongoing whip, he cant see reiner anymore, he knows he has taken annie away, such a sight he would not allow her eyes to witness, he thinks back to his father, what advice would he give? Would the father have done the same? Was this a small thing? Was this a heavy thing? Just 5 more*

King leonhart: what do you feel now hoover, regret? Anger? Sadness? You may speak freely

Bertholdt: ....

*21,22,23,*

King leonhart: Bertholdt, you will no longer defy me or question my judgment towards annie, you can have your opinions but they are just opinions, in the end mine is the word that matters, you will not die yet, on the battlefield, for me, that is your grave

*24,25, Bertholdts back pulses in pain, he stares at his hand, open,close,open,close*

Bertholdts pov

I....can still....move...annie...dont worry....i can still...move....i can still...be your knight