Finally, another update. Due to excessive work and exams, Vic shall not be updating for a while. Apologies.

"Letters, letters, letters," Steven muttered to himself.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just can't quite believe the enormous influx of letters of support these days," the silver-haired man replied, his desk buried in piles of envelopes and paper.

"Really?" Wallace mused, trying to sound mildly surprised. "Well, the public's feelings have been running high recently."

"Um, yes. There was that mass protest a couple of days ago."

"And that was only one of the several going on." Wallace crossed the room in a few quick strides to stand beside Steven, and gently put his arms around his neck, resting his chin on his shoulder. He also took this opportunity to glance at some of the letters strewn around the table. Some appeared to be from genuine supporters, but Wallace recognised the majority as being from Silver, albeit in various handwriting and under so many different aliases he wondered where Silver could ever have come up with them. Probably through census documents. In any case, the right person had been chosen for the right job.

Steven sighed, "It's all very well, but it's still a huge and serious undertaking to get rid of one's ruler. And even if that can be justified, why should I be the one to take over. It's - almost - just..."

"It's not going to be easy," Wallace admitted, "but all the same time, there's no better person for the job." And he meant it with his heart.

There was a calm silence filling the room. Then Steven asked, "So must it be - be as you said?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow morning?"

"When else?"

"Have we no other option?"

Wallace shrugged. "Can you think of another idea?"

"It's far too brutal."

"It's necessary."

"We'd be be no more than common assassins."

"No, because the common assassin murders just for personal gain, whereas we are doing this for the people." Wallace knew he had to try to convince Steven as hard as possible, but at the same time he hoped he wasn't sounding too altruistic.

"Still."

"Blood and butchery happens everyday. It's a permanent solution."

"It doesn't justify murder."

"Look, Steven," Wallace said, trying hard to keep his exasperation out of his voice. "People get stabbed, stoned, shot with an arrow or killed in some way or the other, even by accident, almost daily. Such are turbulent times - it can't be helped. What more when it's for the betterment of the people. Even more so for politicians - those who survive long enough in politics don't survive long in the streets. Granted, the top politicians are rarely touched, but it's not like it's never happened, and it's not like it never will. We change with the times and times change with us."

His lover just sighed and let his shoulders loosen. Wallace took it to be a sign of shifting his stance. Thank goodness.

He checked the time. Still several hours away from dawn - dawn of 15th March. The Ides of March. He hadn't forgotten what Shadow had told him. If it came true - well, the irony of it. He could only hope that Red would not take the soothsayer's word for it.

"How long is it going to take?" Silver growled. "Do we get to stand here all night, only to be told that it's been called off and we've been in it for nothing? If he keeps it up - "

"Give him time," Winona chided mildly.

"As if we do," the young man hissed back. "As if we aren't running out of time - how long before someone gets wind of this? We're fools to be still standing here like ducks, doing nothing but getting ready to be caught."

"D'you think it'll come off?" Another conspirator muttered.

"Likely," Shadow replied drily. "From what I hear Lance tell Red - he believes that Steven is not a threat. That he can be trusted, to a certain degree. Can't say the same with what he thinks of Wallace, though."

"If so, then - "

"Speaking of the devil - " Shadow said as she noticed Wallace exit the house through the back door and gesture towards them.

"Front door," he mouthed.

"Finally," Silver sniffed, as the throng of conspirators went in.

"I might as well introduce you to some people here who will - let's say - be aiding you tomorrow."

"Who?" Steven turned around in surprise.

Wallace motioned towards the people who were quietly filing in. "This is Emerald - member of the Upper House."

Steven nodded at the diminutive patrician. "Welcome."

"Diamond - his brother was exiled by Red."

"Yes."

"Shadow - you've met before; Silver, whom you've met again, although not on the same side - " the young man let out a small hiss at that last jab " - Winona, of course, and Brawly."

The seasoned general growled, "So it's all set then?"

"Certainly. By tomorrow evening Red and Lance will be no more then corpses."

"Hang on," Steven protested. "Lance as well?"

"Of course."

"It's far too much."

"It isn't. As long as Lance is alive we will never have a moment of peace."

"It's beyond necessity."

"Lance will fight for Red - and himself - whenever he can."

"With Red out of the way he's unlikely to seize power for himself only. He would need a figurehead - he always does. Besides, it's far too bloody. Enough is enough."

Shadow narrowed her eyes. "Sometimes the worst is left for those who live, rather than those who do not."

Wallace sighed. He didn't fancy arguing any further. "Fine, then." I'll probably regret it.

"May we leave now?" Silver huffed impatiently.

"If you like. We meet at eight at the Senate. Silver - fetch Red before that."

"He's superstitious, not one to be convinced easily."

"I have faith in you to convince him sufficiently."

"If I - "

"Do it."

"Fine." Silver turned his head to glance outside. Rain pounded down as thunder rumbled. "Another unpleasant night, I see."

A/N: The Upper House is like the House of Lords in the British Parliament. In this case, only for nobility

BTW I realize this deviates from the play somewhat...am still stuck in the second act and this is likely to take a long long time...