Levy's pov

I sat next to Gajeel in awkward silence, glancing up at him every few minutes as he avoided my gaze. He seemed lost in thought, sometimes staring at me and quickly looking away when I turned. I sighed. The trip to Bashan had taken too many unexpected turns, I just couldn't wait to get to the palace and give Lucy the letter from Natsu. I couldn't open it without her, I felt her eyes should be the first to see its contents

******
I ran into Cana when I got into the palace, she was drinking as usual and looked up from her bottle grinning when she saw me.

"Levy, didnt know you were coming today, how was Bashan? plenty time for you to cosy up to that handsome hunk of a husband huh?"

I blushed "Cana! Why are you drinking so early in the morning? If mother hears this, she'll..."

"She will what? Punish me? She does that even when I don't drink, its not like she notices anymore anyways, she is too busy trying to stop a damn war from erupting, and failing miserably" She said bitterly

I was stunned, I have never heard Cana speak that way about mother before
"Cana... What happened while I was gone?" she avoided my gaze, pausing for a second before she said

"Erza got attacked in the north"

"What? Is she OK?" I asked terrified

"She is fine, just wounded, it would have been worse if Jellal didn't get there on time."

"But I thought Erza was supposed to be hisreinforcement, she shouldnt have been on the frontlines!"

"she wasn't, that's whats strange about it. She was patrolling a part of Erebus, and only the high commanders knew her location. It was very unlikely any of the rebels could have discovered her by accident, unless..." she paused looking down

"Cana? "

"Unless it wasn't an accident"

I stared at her in shock, a traitor in the Asterian Army? It was too horrible to imagine, Asterian soldiers were loyal, and more so to the future Queen."

"What is more frightening is the report brought in by Jellal, he said the rebels seemed to attack only Erza, ignoring most of her platoon. They were determined to kill her like..."

"Like it was an assassinaton attempt" I said not knowing what to make of this information.

"What did mother say?" I asked, she frowned, suddenly furious

"Nothing, she just turned away and went back into the war council room, making plans for a war when her house is falling apart! I told her to send me atleast, to take some men and assist Erza,but she said I would only be a burden!" she spat angrily

I tried to console her, but she turned away and continued drinking.

"Where is Lucy?" I asked when in had nothing else to say

"She said she would be going to Maple place to wait for your return"

"Okay and Cana, I am sure Erza will be fine." I quickly pulled her into a hug from behind and dashed out the door.

I saw Lucy at the swing in the garden, humming and reading a book, she seemed so peaceful I didn't want to disturb her, she looked up and her face lit up when she saw me, running and pulling me into a hug. I closed my eyes and smiled, I didn't realize how much i had missed her.

"Levy, I am so happy to see you, it's only been a week but it feels like forever." she made me sit beside her on the swing and we swayed gently for a while enjoying the breeze and the peace.

"I met Natsu" I said softly

Her eyes widened as she looked at me, I smiled at her, I knew she was preparing herself for the worst earlier and I could feel the tension leave her shoulders

"He was injured but he was fine, Strong enough to even hurt Gajeel" I said giggling

"Oh dear Mara, I have been coming here everyday Lev, you have no idea how worried I have been, I feel like I can finally breathe" she said, tears falling to her cheeks.

"But how did you meet him?"

I chuckled, narrating the story, watching as her face switched from surprise, to horror and finally amusement. She smiled when I was done and took my hand in hers

"Thank you Levy, I can't imagine what I could ever do without you"

I handed her the letter, she opened it, motioning for me to read it with her

My dearest Lucy,
Let me start with an apology for the state I must have put you in with the contents of my last letter, I confess I was in a very bad place and I really didn't see a way out at that moment but as always,thinking of youand writing to you put me in better spirits and though I was lucky to escape alive, I am quite well.

As much as I just want to come and see you and talk till the stars cover the sky, I am needed here, now more than ever. I have something I must tell you, and you must tell no one for your safety and theirs. I do not wish to alarm you my love but I feel I should atleast tell someone and there is no one I trust more in this world than you.

I have told you how the rebellion began, right? I hope you remember, the death of my older brother and the misery of my father. Now I think it was all a plan, someone wanted to incite a war and I think I know who.

I stumbled on one of the commanders having a closed door meeting with someone wearing a cloak. I found it odd and tried to listen, I could only make out one sentence "no other eyes besides the king must see this lest I hang for treason" . You can imagine my surprise, so I started watching him closely, tracking his movements and shipments and discovered Erebian gold in a hidden chest in his quarters one day and a letter half burned among the wood in his fireplace. Though mostly burned, I could faintly make out the crest of the king of Erebus. And the words 'old friend'. I couldn't bring this to anyone because it wasnt sufficient proof and I think I may have left some clues I was there when I left hurriedly because a few days later my camp was attacked by Erebian soldiers and I barely escaped with my life. Worse still, this person I suspect is one of our highest ranking officials and one of the few that knew my location. When the news of the ambuish got to him, he dismissed it as a coincidence. I have since noticed I am being followed and it has been difficult to track him, but I will not give up. If my people are being used as pawns, then it is up to me to uncover it. You can understand why I cannot mention his name in this letter, but I will when I see you. Unfortunately I don't know when that will be, just know I am doing everything I can to get to you as soon as possible.

I am deeply sorry for putting my burden on you my love, but you must know you are my solace, your words, your smile and your laughter, my only comforts in this terrible war.

Hope to see you soon. I love you

Forever yours
Natsu

Lucy stared at me when we were done reading. We were both silent for a while pondering Natsu's discovery. A connection between the rebels and Erebus? But what could King Balon gain from it? Why send his own people to be slaughtered in a war he instigated? It made no sense. I remembered the letter, how the rebellion started?I turned to Lucy, she was still deep in thought

"Lu, how did the rebellion start?" I whispered.

She turned to me, a sad look on her face

"When Natsu was younger, there was a drought that devastated Magnolia. Being under Erebian control, Natsu's father and friends went to petition King Balon to reduce the taxes and send relief to help the people cope. Balon refused, throwing them out in disgrace. Furious, Igneel, Natsu's father decided to go to Asteria to intervene, but Asteria could not help directly as one of the rules of the two city alliance 'No one, neither king or queen, official or otherwise must interfere in the rule and order of either city, unless a formal petition is made.'
Asteria decided to meet with the Magnolian leaders secretly to discuss aid. On the day of the meeting, as the two parties arrived they were ambushed by Erebian soldiers that had discovered the secret meeting." She paused looking at me sadly before she said

"Natsu's older brother, Zeref...was killed in the commotion. King Balon decided to punish Magnolia by increasing taxes and Asteria did nothing to avoid a war between the cities. Magnolia that day decided that the two cites were unfit to rule fiore, and hence the rebellion."

I stared shocked, when she finished. How was that possible? I couldn't imagine mother letting such cruety slide.

"Does mother... "

"I don't know Lev" Lucy interrupted

"But how could she not know, anything involved with Erebus, mother tries to handle herself. I was surprised too, surely mother would have foreseen a rebellion erupting. And letting innocent people starve...its not something I can imagine her doing." she added

I nodded, the whole situation surprising.

"And now Natsu thinks it was all a cruel plot to start the rebellion" Lucy said perplexed

"I can't imagine wha—"

"Levy!" we both turned to see my oldest friend walk up to us, Lucy quickly hiding the letter.

"Jet!" I screamed, running into his arms. He lifted me and whirled me around before putting me down.

"It's so good to see you Lev, it feels like it's been forever" he said smiling .

"You were the one to abandon me and join the army"
I reminded him.

He laughed but said nothing. Jet was the son of my governess and we basically grew up together, the fact that we were from very different backgrounds never a problem until Jet proposed. I loved him as family but I could never see him as a husband, and mother discouraged the union reminding him of his place, atfirst, he was furious and we didn't speak for weeks but he came back, apologized for his behavior and told me he was joining the army. He left soon after, posted outside the city and I had barely seen him since.

"What are you doing here?" I said before looking down, noticing he had some bruises on his arm. He smiled

"I was with Erza when she was attacked, but I am fine" he said when he saw the worried look on my face

"I came to deliver a message to the Queen, I heard from Cana you had returned, so I came to see you." he added

"What message?" I asked

"Erza is returning to Asteria to properly heal" he said

I sighed relieved, he smiled at me a hand lifting my chin

"I also brought a message from the Queen, you are to attend the Twilight ball next week" he said

"And I want you to have your first dance with me" he added

"I—"

"Her first dance will be with me"

We turned to see Gajeel behind us, his face etched in a scowl, glaring at Jet

"O-ofcourse, your majesty, it is a pleas—" Jet said bowing but before he could finish, Gajeel walked of without another word.

Just want tosay thank you to all my reviewers (Cosmo333, roohoos, piranha pk) and followers, love all your support and encouragement, hope you like this, please dont stop, you have been awesome.