Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

THIRTY-SEVEN

'The latest mission outside the Walls brought back success and multiple questions about why it came and why only now. We have gone almost a century without a flicker of hope of real progress. However, this latest mission lit a spark that will not go unnoticed.

The difference, it seems, is the Havasian Ambassador, Lorelai Bervik— a figure of much mystery and distrust. I think it is clear Lady Bervik will become a prominent figure in our politics indeed.'

-An extract from a newspaper article discussing the Survey Corps' recent success and Lorelai Bervik's hand in it.

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THIRTY-SEVEN

Wall Maria, South Region, Port Noaks

Lorelai blinked, a little surprised at Erwin's request. She gently placed her hand in his. "You know how to ice dance?"

"Well, perhaps not in the Havasian sense. Nonetheless, ice skating was a pastime of mine when I was younger," Erwin smiled. "Shall we?"

She took his arm, and he led her towards the rink. They swapped their shoes for skates and gracefully glided out onto the ice, arm in arm. Lorelai was overcome with sudden nostalgia; she hadn't ice danced at Yule since... well, since Warren.

What was she doing? Was she really about to share her country's oldest tradition with this man?

Her worries fell away as she looked up at Erwin's warm expression. His hands were big and soft against hers. They took their places amongst the crowd as a new song began.

"I may have overstated my 'ice dancing' ability," he whispered.

"Just follow my lead, sweetheart."

The music picked up, and the crowd began to glide in circles, spinning and turning as they traced the dance patterns of their ancestors. It came as naturally to Lorelai as breathing. She was beautiful, dancing in the kiss of the moon. Erwin couldn't look away even if he wanted to.

After a while, he found his rhythm and took over the dance like a gentleman, spinning Lorelai out, then pulling her back in again. It was like clockwork. Effortless, easy.

At the side of the rink, watching the dancers, was Levi and Romero.

Romero scowled. "What a chump. A damn Walls idiot ice dancing with my girl, what has the world come to?"

"You have to admit, he figured out the whole ice dancing thing rather quickly."

He was right. Even Romero could see that Erwin fit right in at Lorelai's side; they spun seemingly without a care in the world. Levi thought they didn't look unlike a king and a queen, waltzing in the ballroom of their palace. In fact, Lorelai and Erwin together, however scandalous, seemed almost natural.

Levi doubted he could dance with her like that. He had never taken one step on an ice rink; such was reserved for the privileged of this world.

Romero grumbled. "Maybe— doesn't mean I'm gonna start likin' him anymore."

Looking back towards the frozen river, Levi watched with sudden wonder as Lorelai leapt into the air, as if weightless, spun three times and landed with almost angel-like grace back onto the ice.

"She's always so clumsy with the ODM gear," he mumbled. "I didn't know she could skate like that."

"She's always been good at skating," Romero explained. "Always been a damn show off as well."