Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

FIFTY-NINE

'I, Lady Lorelai Bervik of Havas, do proclaim that I, along with my supporters, have unified the remainder of humanity.

With the recent closure of my negotiations with the Walls government, our nations may begin a time of prosperity and peacetime. Havas and the Walls may move forward, not as enemies, but as brothers, united as one race.

Wars do not disappear overnight; I do not underestimate the heartache that came of the Underground Siege. And thus, I would like to issue a heartfelt and sincere apology to all those whose lives have been affected by Havas.

I recently shared a metaphor with someone close to me: the forest of hatred must be felled. However slowly, however gradually, I hope this deal wins us the power to do so.'

-An extract from a recent newspaper contribution made by Lady Lorelai Bervik, the Havasian Ambassador.

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FIFTY-NINE

Wall Sina, Interior, Mitras, Royal Palace

After returning from the Krüger Tunnels, everything had begun to move quickly.

Two weeks had passed. Two exhilarating weeks in which Lorelai attended meeting after meeting, chasing a glimpse of true peace. She had debated her ass off, social networked until she was blue in the face. And finally, finally, it was all paying off.

Her deal for peace had been accepted yesterday. With the gold Thomsen's team had retrieved and her tireless efforts, Lorelai could finally say her people were safe. Havas was now officially under the protection of the government. Anti-Havasians had lost all acceptable excuses for committing hate crimes. Her people would be safeguarded; finally, no one could touch them. It was an enormous relief. Lorelai hadn't felt so at ease in the six months she had been in the Walls.

What she was most pleased with, however, was the result of her deal regarding the Briggs family. A team of MPs was heading to Islet in the North to arrest them at that moment. The source of her worst nightmares would, at last, be locked up far away where he couldn't reach her. Aksel Briggs, and all he stood for, would be but a bad memory.

From that moment on, the Walls and Havas might finally let go of old hatred and begin a new age of prosperity and peacetime.

She had proclaimed so in the Mitras City newspaper. A bold move. Then again, she had never been one to put stock in subtlety. Lorelai's article had swept the nation; it reached every home and every eye in the Walls.

The last time she had done something so noticeable was when she had given up her seat on the Havasian Council— some eleven years ago. There was one key difference, however. This time, the news declared the fruits of Lorelai's courage rather than her shortcomings.

She rounded the corner of the palace corridor.

Lorelai had been away for three days getting her deal finalised, leaving Levi in the palace. He was steadily recovering from his injuries, but Lorelai still insisted he avoid the stress of the courtroom. She was eager to see him— and had something of a celebration planned.

All that she had intended to accomplish this month was complete. Now, all she had left to do was enjoy her last few days with Levi in the capital. She knocked, trying and failing to contain her excitement.

He opened the door, newspaper in hand. A broad grin broke out on Lorelai's face.

"You're so goddamn overdramatic," teased Levi, pulling her into a tight hug. They stumbled backwards, laughing, into Levi's rooms. "I mean, 'unified humanity,' really?" he laughed. "You're something else, Lorelai."