Distance (Aruani - SNK/AOT) ✔

Three

"Good morning sweetheart."

I walked over to my sleeping daughter. She yawned, and moved about. I smiled.

After going downstairs and eating breakfast, it was time for me to leave. I left Emilee while I ran upstairs to tie up my hair and washed my face. I lived in my own house, which Armin and I originally bought together. It was quite big, overlooking the river, only a short walk away from the Military Police base.

I moved downstairs. "Emilee! Where are you?" I walked from the door towards my study. She was sitting there, holding something. I walked in. "What have you got there?" I walked forward.

And gasped silently.

She held in her hands a picture of Armin. A painting the Scouts were always given. It was painted on parchment, the frame dusty. My eyes glistened as I saw her tiny hand touch his proud, smiling face. The moment lasted a second before I snapped out of my daze.

She doesn't need to know about him yet.

"Let me have that. I told you not to play in here," I warned her. Her expression turned sad.

"Come on. Lets go." I almost yelled in frustration. She ran out, and waited by the door. I held the portrait in my hands, my hand also touching his warm, kind face. This was the only picture of him I have, and just like my memory of him, it was fading.

Armin. The only other person I truly love. And he is out of my reach.

As soon as I made it to the base, everything seemed normal. The trainees were lined up against the wall, ready for their activity announcements, and my comrades were working around the place. A group of people were about to leave on patrol. It wasn't until I reached my office door, and saw Marlo standing outside that I noticed something was strange.

"Hey, Marlo? What's going on? Why are you standing outside my door?" I smirked. He looked uncomfortable.

My answer was given when the door opened, and someone from the Royal Council emerged from my office.

"Hello Miss Leonhardt."

I froze. I wasn't supposed to be in court today, and I hadn't received any letters about any visitors.

"Hello. What is it?" I asked, unsure. The council member straightened up.

"The King would like to speak to you. Its urgent."

Emilee was still holding my hand, but upon seeing the stranger, she grabbed my leg, hugging it tightly. Marlo did me a favour by calling another one of my comrades, Tammi, who picked her up gently, smiling at me, before going outside to play with Emilee. I hesitated.

"Its urgent?"

"Yes miss."

"Alright then. I'll go."

* * *

I walked across the marble floor, down the huge hall towards them. They all looked extremely nervous as the King held a letter in his hands.

It was a meeting with the King, General Pixis, and the Royal Council. I smirked, and Pixis nodded in welcome. I bowed to the king and he gestured for me to sit.

The silence that filled the room made things worse. I sighed, sitting on my chair, that sat beside the one Commander Erwin always used to sit at.

"What is it we have been called for your majesty?" I asked. He took a deep breath, before holding up the letter high. He stopped for a second.

Then he answered me.

"This, Miss Leonhardt. Its what we've been waiting for for three years. We've received a letter from Corporal Levi."

I froze. My eyes widened, and my lips parted. Everyone looked from one another. The King grinned thankful.

"The scouts are alive."