AN: Sorry for taking so long with this chapter guys :) I'm preparing for my first semester in the collage. I'm starting tomorrow… anyway thanks for reviews and I hope, you'll like this chapter

Erwin was sitting in his chair. He was currently in the senate, looking around. His spot was in the highest point of the senate. He preferred it this way – he had no one behind his back and due to the structure of the building, he could see every other consuls and senators. He could see everybody's faces.

The emperor was on a stage in the middle of the room and he was furious. The taxes were a problem and he hated problems. And now, he let everybody in the senate to know what exactly he thought about the whole situation. While he was talking… no, he wasn't talking, he was shouting and nobody else dare even move.

Senate had about six hundred members but usually only about one to two hundred arrived at the meeting. Today, there was over three hundred. If this didn't show how much the emperor was angry, he couldn't imagine what else could.

Erwin listened to the emperor but his head didn't stop moving. He was looking…. looking for the enemy because he had no doubts that the man responsible for the current situation with taxes was here. The blond desperately wanted to find him.

There were three hundred men. And the blond did not believe any of them. Anybody could be the traitor. True, some of them were more trustful than the others (like Pixis or Nile) but Erwin had to suspect everyone if he wanted to figure out who was the enemy.

If there was any wrong trait of character which most of the Romans had, it would be that they all were greedy for more and more power. And who had the greatest power in the whole Roman Empire?

Everybody wanted to be the emperor, even Erwin. But Erwin knew his place and his potential, he was down to earth. He couldn't be emperor but that wouldn't stop him from gaining as much power as he could. That was why he was the consul, he had a small army to his command and he was one of emperor's favorite.

The emperor ended the meeting with few very critical words and then left.

Nobody moved until the emperor left the building with his guards. After that Erwin intended to go home where he could thought about everything. But he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder in the halfway to the door. When he turned around to see who that was he blinked surprisingly. "Dallis Zackley." he greeted. Another of emperor's favorite. "How are you today?"

Dallis frowned and asked: "I need to speak with you about an urgent matter, Smith." completely ignoring Erwin's question.

"Of course." Erwin smiled falsely. Dallis Zackley was the Legatus thus he had much more power than Erwin and was Erwin's superior. Erwin and his legionnaires were under his command.

They stepped a bit aside and the blond realized two things – first, the older man was holding parchments and second, they were not alone. Next to him were also Pixis and Nile. Both were frowning and seemed to be very nervous.

"Few hours ago we received a message from Gallia." Dallis said. "We thought the rebellion was over when Pixis returned to Rome but now the tribes in the west started it again. They slayed the messengers who were sent to find out what's wrong and they impaled them on a poles and let them slowly die in front of the gates of the village that leads the rebellion. And I'm afraid that the rebellion is still expanding to other tribes as we speak."

Erwin frowned. This was very disturbing. First the problems in Macedonia and now this. "Did they say the reason?"

"They said they want to be free." Dallis clicked his tongue, clearly not agreeing with them. Well, who from Rome would agree?

"Freedom is not a reason to impale someone on a pole!" Nile hissed.

They used to have a friend back when they were in the legion. This friend met his sad fate just in the same form as the messengers.

"Anyway, Smith," Dallis cleared his throat. "Our emperor wants you to go to the Gallia and crush the rebellion.

Erwin's eyes widened in shock. "Now?" he asked. Now was completely unfitting time for this. He still hadn't tamed Levi! The emperor was in the danger because of the stolen money. There was an enemy in own their ranks and he was supposed to leave the heart of the Empire and go so far away. There were many other people who could manage a rebellion. Why it had to be Erwin? It was… illogical!

"Dallis, I think that's not wise." the blond managed to keep his voice calm. "In this time of crisis I should be right here."

"I had to agree with Smith." Nile said. "He is more useful here."

Dallis frowned at the raven-haired man. "You said that the money from taxes were enough to hire small army, didn't you?"

This time it was Nile who frowned. "I did."

"And don't you think it's too much of a coincidence that several tribes in Gallia is a small army?" Dallis raised his eyebrows.

There was a silence for few seconds, then the legatus continued: "I'm sending you, Smith, so you can investigate this matter. I want you to come back as soon as it's possible. Your abilities on battlefield are magnificent but your abilities in the senate are even better. Here-" he handed him the parchment which summoned him to military service.

"I understood." Erwin nodded. "I'll be on my way in few days."

"Good."

This… this wasn't what Erwin had planned! He was so frustrated right now. After all that time he spent with Levi, trying to tame him, trying to make him trust Erwin, he had to leave Rome.

When Erwin got back from the town he went into his study and was walking from one corner of the room to the other. Then he sat in his chair and laced his fingers together, thinking about everything.

He should not think about that slave now. He should be worried about the emperor, about the whole Roman Empire! But instead he was thinking what to do with one single slave. And because he couldn't stop thinking about him, he stopped fighting it.

Levi was more obedient than ever but still… he listened to Erwin most of time but still only most of time not always. And Hannes often complained about Levi not listening to his commands. It was clear that Erwin was the wall stopping Levi from trying to free himself and those three children. And if Erwin wasn't here… there wouldn't be any wall stopping Levi. But Erwin couldn't take Levi with him either. It was too risky. Levi would see his homeland and he could suddenly want to break his word about fighting for Erwin.

Erwin wanted to scream with frustration and break something but he kept his calm face even though he knew he was alone.

He also couldn't take Levi's friends with him because there was no place for them on the battlefield and Erwin wouldn't be able to keep his eyes on them all the time. Plus he was sure Levi would escape in order to chase them and free them.

By Jupiter, this was so complicated!

Erwin sighed and closed his eyes, trying to make the least risky decision.

"Petra!" he called.

It took her only few seconds before she was in the doorway. "Yes, master?"

"Send for Levi." Erwin commanded.

The young woman nodded and went to do as she was told. Erwin decided to stay sitting and let Levi standing, not to humiliate him or anything like that but actually to let Levi be more relaxed. People often thought they are in advantage if their head was higher than the head of their opponent.

The barbarian entered the room with his typical apathetic expression and stood in front of Erwin's desk: "What do you want?" he asked emotionlessly.

The blond took his time with an answer and he licked his lips before he started talking: "I have to leave for Gallia. As soon as possible."

There was a sparkle of interest in Levi's eyes but his face remained expressionless. "Why?" Levi narrowed.

"As a consul I have a lot of work, you know." Erwin reminded him, then leaned back in his chair and continued. "Wouldn't you like to see Gallia again?"

Levi seemed to be thinking for few seconds before he said: "You are planning to take me with you? Why?"

"Because you made a deal with me and not with my men. Or would you listen to their commands?"

Levi was thinking again. "No." was his answer.

Erwin smirked a little. "The deal was you'd fight for me. Let's not change that. Only this time you'll kill your own people. Can you do that?"

Levi's eyes darkened a little at the word 'people' and it was exactly what Erwin wanted. The blond wanted to remind Levi that he is not one of them by calling them oppositely 'his people'.

The barbarian said with a challenge in his voice: "And if I refuse?"

"If you refuse you'll stay here." Erwin replied. "I'll tell Hannes to let you in your cell until I'm back and not letting you out no matter what happens. You probably won't be able to see daylight for few months."

Levi's jaw clenched a little although Erwin took care not to say it with a threat in his voice – he said it like a simply statement.

"So, you are expecting me to fight Gauls?" Levi asked and cocked his head. "How do you know I won't kill you instead in the battlefield? Or that I won't just watch someone stabbing you in your back?"

"You won't let me die." the blond shook his head. "Although I'll take you, I can't take your three little friends – they must stay here in the villa. And if I die all my property passes to my two friends and trust me, Hanji is not the type that would set you free no matter what. She loves everything that's somehow connected to other cultures and the barbarians like you. She would never give you freedom. True, maybe you'd have a nicer place to live but a golden cage is still a cage, is it not?"

Levi was watching him for few seconds like a wolf carefully watches another predator. "I truly underestimated you Erwin Smith."

Erwin smiled – this was pretty interesting. "Underestimated me?"

"Yes." the barbarian narrowed his eyes again but there was no hatred, not anymore. He was just being careful. "I thought you were an ordinary Roman when I met you – stupid, only wanting the power, regardless of the consequences. But you are not stupid and although you want power, you very careful watch the consequences. You choose your steps carefully, you don't make mistakes and you don't risk needlessly but when you do, you are not afraid to grab the chance and not let it go. This makes you very dangerous."

Erwin thought he didn't hear so many words from Levi at once. His lips curved a little. "I'll take that as a compliment. And you still didn't tell me how you decided. Will you come with me to Gallia or would you rather stay here?"

Levi gulped. "I'll go with you."

"Good." Erwin was thinking when he stopped being frustrated and became relaxed. He shouldn't be relaxed in Levi's presence. "We'll be leaving in a week or two. So you have enough time to say goodbye to your friends."

Erwin had a lot of work to do. He had to contact his legionnaires in the city and in the country, he had to gather supplies and things like these took a lot of time.

"Erwin!" Hanji suddenly entered the room. The blond had always thought that seriousness didn't suit her and this day wasn't exception. She was frowning and her lips were tightened in a thin line.

Usually, she would completely ignored Erwin like he wouldn't be there and all her attention would be given the Levi but today she completely ignored Levi and headed straightly to Erwin.

"You're leaving Rome?" she yelled and it was more a statement than a question.

Levi stepped aside a little so Hanji could place her hands on Erwin desk and lean forward, interference his personal space.

"Yes. He surely told you, didn't he?" Erwin said, unsurprised by her barbarian behavior.

"Are you kidding me?" she whined. "What am I supposed to do it alone? I mean I love him and I love spending my time with him but enough is enough! Who am I supposed to annoy when you and Mike are both gone, mm?"

Erwin looked into her eyes. He knew exactly what she meant. Him, Hanji and Mike had never been so separated before. Mike was in Macedonia right now, Hanji was going to stay in the Rome and Erwin should be leaving for Gallia. Mike and Erwin were going to be on opposite sides of the kingdom and Hanji was going to stay in the middle. All three alone.

But it was usually Mike and Erwin going in the same area and Hanji waiting for them. And Erwin knew that she hated it. She wanted to protect these she loved and she couldn't do that by their sides. Many a time when she was in a quite drunk state she'd complained for not being born as a man. Erwin thought it was a shame too because although her fragile appearance, she was actually very good with a sword.

"Don't worry. I'll keep sending you letters." Erwin promised.

It didn't calm her but she stopped talking about it because they just couldn't change it. Hanji looked at Levi and grinned. "At least I can take care of your slave while you're gone."

Levi's jaw moved a little bit and Erwin supposed he was amused by her words. "Actually, Hanji," Erwin licked his lips. "I'm taking him with me."

"What?!" Hanji groaned and tugged her hair as a sigh of desperation. "You can't! No one else has such interesting slave! You can't take my last hope away from me!"

"Well, I can since I am his owner."

Hanji looked into Erwin's eyes, frowning. "I hate you. I hope you know it."

"Of course I do." the blond answered and looked at Levi with the corner of his eye. The raven seemed to be very interested in their conversation and the way they talked to each other. "And you can still come here whenever you want."

"And what would I do there if you two aren't here?"

"Well, I'm not taking Armin, Mikasa and Eren so you can talk to them as you please."

There was a sparkle in Hanji's eyes again. "Well, it's not like I imagined it but I guess I can live with that."

"What do you two mean by talk to them?" Levi interrupted their conversation with dangerous, murderous sparkle in his eyes.

Hanji and Erwin looked at him, Hanji clearly confused. Then she started to talk very slowly, like she was talking to a child: "Well, talking to them. You know. You open your mouth; a noise comes out, other human being listen to you and then opens mouth too. We three are talking to them."

Levi still seemed to be a bit unsure, so Erwin said: "Hanji won't molest your friends."

"Molest?" Hanji widened her eyes. "Why would I-"

"Madam?" Moblit arrived in the doorway. "The emperor just sent you a message that he wants to discuss something with you."

Moblit was Hanji's most favorite servant.

"Alright, go check out the horses. I'll come there in a minute." she smiled.

Erwin waited until Moblit was gone and then turned to Hanji: "So you call it 'discussion' now?"

"Aw, shut up!" Hanji laughed. "Anyway I'm leaving now. I'll definitely drop by later before you leave." she leaned closer and embraced him. Then she whispered in his ear: "You should start to discuss some things with Levi, too."

After it she left and Erwin and Levi were alone in the room again.

The raven waited until he was sure Hanji was gone and then said: „You said there are only two people you completely trust. Is one of them this craz... this strange woman? Hanji is her name?"

Erwin already knew that Levi was pretty bright although he seemed to be only stubborn, wild barbarian but he was still surprised that Levi actually remembered this part of their conversation they had few weeks ago. „She is. Beside her there is Mike. Do you remember him? He was the blond which we were with when Balto came to greet us."

Levi nodded and raised his eyebrows: „Why them? Are they special?"

„I grew up with them. We were unbreakable trio." Erwin's corners of mouth curved a bit. „With Mike I also was in the legion. We also used to have a lot of fun during childhood. But I guess I can't say that about our teacher."

Erwin thought the conversation ended with this but Levi softly gulped and said: „Tell me about it."

The blond didn't smirk even though he wanted to.

And so they talked. Erwin told Levi stories from his childhood and Levi listened to, sometimes asked something.