After a day or two of traveling with Hanji, Armin, and Mikasa, Eren made it back to the castle safe and sound. He has completed his task and delivered the cure that saved the king from death. The head knight's body was never found and Nile was pronounced missing in action and most likely dead.
The brunet was knighted a few days after the event but even after his success and the praises he'd received he didn't feel like he deserved it.
"Hey Sir Dumbass."
Eren rolled his eyes when he heard Jean's voice call out to him. The dual colored teenage boy had got into the quick habit of calling him 'Sir Dumbass' ever since he was knighted.
"What is it, Sir Horseface?" He snorted back.
"Marco and I are going to Trost for supplies. Join us?" Jean asked before he pointed to three tacked up horses behind him.
"Sure..." Eren said with a sigh.
He pulled his hood on and mounted Nightrider.
"Levi's cave is somewhere in Trost..." Eren thought as he rode along the forest path with Jean and Marco.
His hand lowered down to his pouch, which held Levi's flute. Tears pricked in his eyes as he recalled the dragon playing the instrument to lull him to sleep at night.
"Hey... You alright, Eren?"
Eren snapped from his thoughts when he heard Marco call his name.
"Huh? Oh! I'm fine." Eren replied as he lowered his head.
"You don't really talk about your journey..." Jean said as he glanced over at the brunet.
Eren nodded slowly before he snapped the reins and rode on in front of the two, getting into Trost before the pair.
"Hey Eren."
Eren whipped his head around to spot Armin running up to the brunet. The blond teenager, Hanji, and Mikasa had moved into Trost by the king's orders after he had found out it was the witch who had cured him.
"Hey." Eren said as he dismounted his steed, "Where's Mikasa and Hanji?"
"They're back at the house." Armin replied, "I'm just collecting a few herbs for Hanji's stock."
Eren nodded, as he tied Nightrider to a post, somewhat paying attention to the blond as he looked around the village. Armin couldn't help but smile at his friend. He knew where and what the brunet was looking for. He started humming the familiar tune that caught Eren's attention almost immediately.
"How you-?"
"Levi would use to play his flute by the fire... I know where his cave is too..." Armin stated, "I was actually going to stop by it before returning to Hanji."
"Can I-?"
"You don't need to ask, Eren." Armin said as he cut the brunet off for a second time, "I had a feeling you'd want to anyway."
Eren nodded slowly as he pulled out Levi's flute from his pouch. He had kept it all this time to have something to remember the dragon by, despite how much it hurt to look at it. He wet his lips before he pressed the mouth piece to them. The brunet had taught himself how to play that one song and that song alone ever since the dragon's death.
"Through the dark caverns
Knowing his deeds
Throughout his travels
As the wounds still bleed
Spreading his wings,
He starts to sing.
And the dragon's roars go on.
Armin started to sing and lead the brunet to the said cave as he played the flute. Eren continued to play, despite his chest starting to hurt and tears stinging in his eyes as he remembered Levi.
Abandoned the blade...
Traded for fang and flame...
For all the blood that stained...
The hands that are to blame..."
Armin continued to sing as he watched Eren play. He could see the brunet starting to look upset but he didn't stop, knowing that Eren would want him to continue as they walked.
"Steel turns to scale...
As yowls turn to snarls...
The innocent thrown in jail...
Fire springs forth from the dragon's jowls...
Now...
The freedom to fly...
Is nothing but a memory...
And the friends left behind...
They've all died..."
The blond could see that they were coming up on the cave. He knew that the unfinished song was coming to an end as Eren slowed stopped playing and removed the mouth piece from his lips.
"But it's not the end...
My spirit remains strong
Oh my dear friend
I'll correct all my wrongs
If this is goodbye...
And this song is done
Just know that you're mine...
Because of the dragon's song..."
Armin blinked in surprised when the unknown verses suddenly escaped Eren's lips.
"Levi told me the song was never finished so I figured I'd finish it... in honor of him..." Eren explained as they stopped at the entrance of the cave.
His ears pricked at the sound of something or someone stirring inside the cavern. Eren squinted ever so slightly before a pair of metallic grey orbs stared back at him. He shook his head, thinking that his mind was playing tricks on him. Armin smiled at Eren before looking into the cave as if there was something he wasn't telling the brunet. Eren blinked when the orbs didn't go away and were in fact getting closer to them.
"L-Levi?" Eren asked, his voice cracking a bit in pain.
"What do you want... Shitty brat?" A familiar voice echoed from inside the dark cave before a huge pitch black dragon head crept out from the shadows.
Eren took a step back, all the color drained from his face as his gaze locked on the familiar narrow metallic grey eyes of Levi. His body trembled slightly. He had to be dreaming or just going crazy because he saw Levi die. He [watched] the sword go through the dragon's stomach! He glanced over at Armin, who smiled before waving at the dragon.
Eren cautiously stretched out his arm and pet the dragon's muzzle. His eyes wandered down before they zoomed in on a large wound on the dragon's stomach that was in the process of becoming a permeant scar.
"It's really you... b-but how-"
"You. Apparently that healing spell you tried to cast was so filled with emotion that it was strong enough to heal me. It just needed a little more time than usual." Levi answered as he nudged Eren's head.
Tears pricked and stung in Eren's eyes as he smiled. He wrapped his arms around the dragon's muzzle and buried his face into it as he cried.
"I l-love you... L-Levi..." Eren managed to say in between sobs.
Levi cracked a small smile as he wrapped his tail around the brunet's body.
"I love you too... Eren..." The dragon whispered back as he pulled the new knight closer to him.
END
Author's Note: Thank you all who have stuck by to see this story to the end. I'm sorry for the pervious chapter and making you cry (if you did). If you enjoyed this story, send me a PM or review and be on the lookout for the squeal. That's right… Dragonsong is getting a squeal in the near future. However, I will not be updating the squeal as fast as DS due to school staring up soon.