A/N: Sorry about the longish wait since the last chapter, I've been doing exams. I have to mention that my exam tomorrow is for Latin Sources, and it's this exam that inspired me to write this story, and has also been a wonderful revision aid, so thank you for supporting this story so that I was motivated to continue it :)

Thank you as well to everyone who has reviewed this story so far - maybe this chapter will make it to 60 reviews?

Warning: More semi-violence from the gladiator fights in this chapter, so I hope that's okay!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

The four boys in the crowd watched in horror as the huge gladiator plunged the sword downwards.

But Thad saw it coming and rolled quickly out of the way. Grasping his sword in one hand, he stood up again. A gasp went up from the crowd, as the wound began to bleed, a few drops of blood dripping onto the sawdust on the floor.

"He's hurt," Hunter observed, even though it was clearly obvious to everyone.

Down in the arena, Thad called to the referee for a break, and he was sent off to have wound looked at, while the Murmillo was handed some water to drink. Nick watched Thad disappear with growing worry; Thad needed to win this fight, because the Emperor was unlikely to be in the mood to spare the loser, considering how bored their ruler currently looked. Nick knew that he considered the amount of bloodshed that had occurred pitiful, and so he would be looking for any chance to change that.

Eventually, Thad re-emerged from the tunnels underneath the amphitheatre, his wound cleaned and no longer bleeding. He looked even more determined than he had done before, and he faced his opponent with increased vigour.

Hunter was so caught up in the action, that he was leaning forward in his seat, and gripping the low wall in front of them with such a great force, that his knuckles had turned white.

"Come on," he was muttering repeatedly under his breath as he watched, "Come on, Thad."

"Hunt," Sebastian tried to calm him by placing a hand on his arm, but the other boy didn't even appear to register his presence, in fact, he tightened his grip on the wall when the Murmillo went in for some more heavy blows.

"Yes, that's it, Thad," Hunter said, watching as the smaller boy darted around the larger fighter, and gave him a few cuts with his own sword. "Go on, Thad."

"Hunt, really…" Sebastian tried to get the other boy's attention again.

"Not now, Seb," Hunter replied, "Thad is having to make some very important tactical decisions at the moment."

Sebastian rolled his eyes, and turned to Nick and Jeff.

"Seriously, you two can sit there and be all coupley," he complained, "Yet I've managed to lose Hunter's attention to some tactical decisions, I mean, how can they be more interesting than me?"

"I have no idea," Nick said quickly, and then he turned back to whispering with Jeff.

"Fine," Sebastian huffed, turning back to Hunter. "Hunter, dearest," he said in the most sickly sweet tone he could manage, "I think the sun is getting to me, and if I stay out in this heat any longer, I may just collapse."

"Of course, Seb," Hunter nodded, clearly paying no attention to the other boy at all.

"And I also think I'm going to move in with Nick and Jeff," Sebastian carried on regardless, wondering how long it would take for Hunter to notice him, "Nick says it's okay, but I don't think he realises that I plan to run away with Jeff at some point."

"How nice," Hunter said, his eyes watching Thad's every move as he darted around the arena.

However, despite Sebastian's jests, Nick was not going to stand for that joke about running away with Jeff.

"My Blondie," he said possessively, wrapping both arms around the other boy so that he was practically squashed against him, "Get your own, Sebastian."

"Nick, as lovely as your protectiveness is," Jeff said, "I can't breathe, and Sebastian looks like he's about to actual hurt himself if he laughs any harder."

"Mine," Nick reiterated, still glaring at Sebastian, but he loosened his grip on Jeff anyway, mentally thanking whatever fate had meant that his parents were sitting somewhere where they couldn't see them.

"Will you please focus?" Hunter asked in annoyance, suddenly paying attention to them, "Unless you three haven't noticed, one of our friends is currently down there, fighting some monster of a man who is double his size."

Sebastian quickly stopped laughing, Nick gulped, and Jeff went pale. They'd all been messing about so that they wouldn't have to think about the danger that Thad was facing, but now they were being forced to watch the fight again.

Jeff looked nervously down into the arena, just in time to see the Murmillo hit Thad with the edge of his shield, and to send the smaller boy stumbling across the sawdust. He shivered unconsciously as a chill rushed through him and he was reminded that if Nick hadn't bought him on the day of the auctions, he would have been one of those fighters down there in the arena. He could have been one of those who died down there. He tightened his grip on Nick's fingers and the other boy squeezed back tightly, clearly thinking about the same thing.

Nick could sense that the end of the fight was drawing near; both gladiators were becoming tired and weary from the constant darting about and avoiding blows from the other's weaponry. The Murmillo was tiring faster though, his shield was heavier and weighing him down more, as well as his lack of agility, meaning that Thad was now almost dancing circles around him. But it was also clear that Thad was exhausted as well, he had a few new cuts on his upper arms, and one across the back of his legs, but he didn't appear to be going anywhere without a proper fight to the bitter end.

The Murmillo lurched forwards, slashing at Thad with his sword, and swinging his shield down as well, but Thad was too quick, and he ducked underneath the other man's blade and sent his shield flying from his hands. The force knocked the larger man from his feet, and on impact from the fall, his sword also left his hands, leaving only Thad standing above him, his own sword pointed at his throat.

Slowly, the Murmillo gave the signal that he was surrendering, and the referee hauled him to his feet, before forcing both gladiators to face the Emperor.

Now came the choice of whether the loser forfeited with his life, or was allowed to live to fight another day.

Jeff closed his eyes and attempted to block out the sound of the jeering crowd, he could hear what they were shouting; they wanted blood, and the Emperor was bound to agree with them. The blonde boy opened one eye cautiously, just in time to catch sight of the Emperor decisively giving the referee the thumbs down signal.

Death.

Jeff squeezed his eyes tightly shut again, as the cheering of the crowd rose higher and higher, until it reached its peak, and began to fall again. When he reopened his eyes, the Murmillo was lying slumped in the sawdust, while Thad was waving wildly at the crowds. In utter disgust, Jeff watched as a number of slaves ran out from the sides of the amphitheatre, and began to collect as much of the dead gladiator's blood as they could.

"What are they doing?" Jeff hissed to Nick, as he pointed to the slaves at work below them.

"Gladiator's blood is supposed to cure epilepsy," Nick explained, "So they're collecting it to sell. I'm not sure why anyone would want to buy it though." He made a face that summed up how he felt about the practice.

"At least Thad's okay," Jeff quickly changed the subject to something more positive.

Nick nodded.

"Thank goodness," he said, "And now we don't have to pay any close attention to the rest of the fights."

Jeff smiled.

"Good," he said, "Because I'd much rather be paying attention to you."

Nick blushed, as Jeff leaned in closer to him.

"We're still here, you know," Sebastian cut in sharply, "As are the rest of these spectators around us, no one wants to become ill from the cuteness that's practically radiating from you."

Nick stuck his tongue out childishly at his friend, and pulled Jeff closer to him.

"No, stop right there," Sebastian continued, "Do you see me doing that to Hunter? No, you don't. So stop being so touchy-feely with each other, otherwise I will sit in between the two of you and just make love-struck expressions towards Hunter, while you have to watch."

Both Jeff's and Nick's eyes widened, and they quickly moved a little further apart, neither of them particularly wanted to be separated by Sebastian, and they definitely did not want to witness the older boy attempting to turn into a hopeless romantic; the thought itself was mildly creepy.

"I call this meeting of The Warblers to order," Wes said, once again hitting Sebastian over the head with the gavel in order to begin the proceedings.

"Will you stop doing that?" Sebastian asked, frowning deeply and rubbing the side of his head.

"I would," Wes said, "But for some reason, out of all of the things to save from the fire, David chose this gavel, and I am going to get some sort of use out of it." He placed the gavel on the table, before addressing everyone again. "As I'm sure you've all realised, today we're joined by my father, who has agreed to help us with our cause."

"Thank you, Wes," his father nodded, "I feel that what you boys all want to achieve is a step forward for our country, as it shows that the future of this empire also wishes for a change, and that you all understand the wrongdoings that have occurred. Unfortunately, there have been many recent attempts within the Senate to get the Emperor to change his ways and his rulings, but he refuses. I fear that he is slowly being driven insane by the need for more and more power, and that he is too set in his ways to be guided in the right direction; the only way to prevent more madness is to get rid of him completely."

There was a murmur of agreement around the table at Wes' father's speech.

"I suppose that explains the rumours that have been circling around then," Kurt spoke up suddenly, "They've been making the Emperor sound as though he has completely lost all sanity. According to some of my father's clients, the Emperor was supposedly playing a lyre and singing while the city burned."

"Well, I also heard that there is a suspicion that the Emperor himself ordered the fire to be lit, just so that he could clear an area for his new palace," Sebastian added.

There were a few shocked gasps around the table, none more so than from Wes, who looked absolutely furious.

"We can no longer stand for this!" he fumed, "How could he just carelessly destroy this city for his own gain? People died in this fire! People now have nowhere to work or live because of the fire! The actions of this man sicken me; he has no care for the life of his people, only for his own greed and foolish desires. Friends, I say that we cannot allow this to continue, we must act immediately."

"Wes, calm down, it's only a rumour," David tried to intervene.

"Do not tell me to calm down, David!" Wes cried, "All rumours must start with a basis of truth somewhere, these ones included." He was so passionately arguing his cause that, in a moment of utter anger, he managed to snap the gavel in half, and the two halves flew across the table.

Sebastian actually whimpered slightly.

"I don't feel safe sitting next to Wes anymore," he said to Hunter, as he eyed the broken gavel warily, "Imagine if he'd broken that gavel over my head, I'd have never recovered."

Hunter patted his arm sympathetically.

"I won't let Wes hurt you," he promised, trying not to laugh at how terrified Sebastian appeared to be.

"That was a waste of a very good gavel," David muttered to himself, but nobody appeared to hear him at all.

"Son, do not be so hasty in your decisions," Wes' father addressed Wes calmly, "Yes, I understand that you are angry, but what can we do at this point? We have only a handful of supporters, you need to wait until this movement has grown in size, and we have the means and manpower to act upon it."

"Anyway, Wes," Nick said, "These rumours are highly unlikely, the Emperor was supposed to be at his villa in Antium at the time the fire broke out."

Slowly, Wes calmed down.

"But this does not mean that he is not going insane," he said, "His rescue efforts are motivated by the plans for his new palace, and despite the providence of shelter and food for those affected, he has decided to raise taxes to pay for it."

"Next he'll be looking for a scapegoat," Thad commented.

"Too late," Hunter replied, "He's started ordering us to round up any Christians, apparently he believes that they lit the fire."

"Christians?" Blaine asked, "Why would they want to set the city on fire?"

"The chances are that they really didn't want to set the city on fire," Wes said, "They're being framed for it."

Another murmur went around the table.

"This new development and prosecution might highlight any opposition that the Emperor has," Nick said, "If people are in danger, then they're more likely to speak out."

"Actually," Hunter said suddenly, "There have been a few negative opinions going around the barracks about the Emperor, I could attempt to find out where they originated from and report back?"

"Yes, that would be very useful," Wes said, "We need to concentrate on building up our support, especially if they are close to the Emperor and hold a position of power."

They eventually concluded the meeting with the decision to wait until they had more support for further action, and everyone was just standing up to leave, when Nick cleared his throat loudly.

"Just to take everyone's minds away from the negativity we've discussed today," he said, as everyone turned to look at him, "Jeff and I have some good news to announce."

"I bet Jeff's pregnant," Sebastian leant over and whispered to Hunter, who smacked him lightly on the arm.

"Shh," he hissed, although he did have to stifle a laugh at the suggestion, "Don't ruin their moment."

"Yes, Nick and Jeff, what is it?" Wes gave them permission to continue, while glaring at Sebastian, who paled when he realised that Wes had overheard him.

"Well, I've asked Jeff to marry me," Nick said, "And he accepted." He grinned happily and slipped an arm around the blonde next to him, as the room erupted into cheers and calls of congratulations.

Jeff blushed at the sudden attention and tried to hide himself behind Nick, which failed due to the height difference. He could see Seb smirking at him, he didn't know why, but he imagined that it wasn't because of something innocent.

"Congratulations," Wes said, as he said goodbye to both Nick and Jeff at the door, "I hope you find a way to go through with this plan as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Wes," Nick said gratefully, as he and Jeff stepped out of the door, "We'll see you again soon."

"Of course," Wes said, "I'll get a message through to Sebastian in the next few days."

Both Nick and Jeff nodded, and then began to hurry back towards the Emperor's palace. They were so wrapped up in each other, that they barely registered anybody else around them. In fact, if Jeff hadn't been leaning into Nick so that he could hear what he was saying, he might have noticed the unfamiliar face watching them from afar. And if Nick hadn't been so focused on making Jeff laugh, he might have glanced over and seen the man watching the building that they'd just emerged from, and making a note of its location.

But neither of them turned around, so neither of them saw.

"I wish my father was more accepting," Sebastian said, as he and Hunter were walking through the palace towards Sebastian's private rooms, "Then we wouldn't have to keep looking over our shoulders whenever we're out in public."

"Nick and Jeff have managed so far," Hunter pointed out, "I'm pretty sure that we can too."

"Yes, but Nick's parents pay no attention to Nick, and they just leave him to his own devices, whereas my father's always nagging me about starting a career and settling down by now."

"Too much responsibility?" Hunter asked with a smirk, "Because we all know that you don't do 'responsible', do you?"

"I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you, and you're making fun of me, how is this fair?" Sebastian pouted, pushing the other boy playfully.

Hunter laughed, and gave Sebastian a shove in return.

"You are not going to win this one," Sebastian said, pushing Hunter even harder than previously.

Before long, the two boys had collapsed against the corridor walls in fits of laughter, having actually forgotten what they'd found so funny in the first place.

"Hunt, can you hear someone?" Sebastian asked suddenly, his voice dropping to a whisper as he looked around nervously.

Hunter shook his head, and both boys were silent as they tried to listen out for any noises.

"…no need to worry about them anymore," a new voice said, loud enough for Hunter and Sebastian to hear a snatch of their conversation.

"That's my father!" Sebastian said hurriedly, quickly pulling Hunter up from where he was sitting against the wall, "And it sounds like he's heading this way."

"In here," Hunter suggested, ushering Sebastian into a darkened alcove, just a little further down the corridor. There wasn't much space, and the boys found that they had to be as close together as possible to risk not being seen. Silently, they waited to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Why not?" a second voice asked, easily being recognised as that of the Emperor.

"I have my methods," Sebastian's father spoke again, "And I was informed just a few days ago that they've found their hiding place. I say that if we send in soldiers tonight, then that man and his son won't be troubling you again."

"The punishment for treason is death," the Emperor said, "And I can't have criminals getting away with escape so easily. Yes, I'll order the men to be sent out tonight after dark."

"Very good, your grace," Sebastian's father said, and the smirk could almost be heard in his voice.

Sebastian looked at Hunter in a panic.

"We've got to do something!" he cried, "Wes is in danger!"

A/N: So, the beginning of the end...

Historical Points:

1. In this story, the Emperor uses the thumbs-down signal to mean death to the loser, however, there are still debates about whether thumbs-down meant death or do not kill him; I've used the idea that it means death, just because that is the fact I was originally taught.

2. All of the rumours or statements that the Warblers give about Nero's whereabouts during the fire are all Roman ideas. Popular legend has always claimed that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned, however, fiddles were not invented until centuries later. It is likely that this stems from rumours at the time, in which it was said that the Emperor played the lyre and sung the Sack of Ilium instead, this was claimed by Roman historians Suetonius and Cassius Dio, both of whom also said that Nero was the arsonist. However, Nick's statement that Nero was at Antium comes from Tacitus, who said that the rumours were all false.

3. The mention of Christians as scapegoats here, is also true. One of Nero's most infamous deeds, was the murdering of huge numbers of Christians in blame for the fire, and this is the point at which most historians deem him to have gone completely insane.

3. Hunter's suggestion about looking into opposition in the Praetorian Guard will have a greater meaning later on...

Thank you for reading, and please leave a review to tell me what you thought. Or to ask a question about the story or the history behind it.