"Garen is participating tomorrow?" Katarina questioned a quizzical look appearing across her beautiful face, eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Yes," replied the cool collected voice of Ashe, the Frost Archer. "Or so Galio states," a moment of silence embraced the two women stood in the League's exaggerated gardens. Many different types of life grew here; some Ashe recognised from the Freljord, other's seemed to be from some far exotic jungle. It was a very alien place to be for those knowledged in nature, but a breath taking experience of contrasting colours and life for those who remained ignorant.

Shattering the silence like the ice she commands she playfully asked "I hope it doesn't affect your performance, it's been a while since I have had the privellage to battle against the blade of Noxus. I hope there will be no animosity between you both."

"If you, Queen of the Freljord, can stand here with me, without us baying for each others blood, I assume me and Garen will be fine," she replied with a smirk growing on her face. Some found her smirk utterly tempting, it accented her beauty and made her seem irresistible. Others despised it and could not be any more disgusted, disturbed and in some cases petrified of that smirk. Tension sprang between them suddenly like a pair of parallel magnets and any respect, admiration or even liking they had for each other was lost. The playful nature upon the archer's face had long faded, the harsh stories Tryndamere spoke of for his people at the hands of Noxian troops resounded within her and she grew visibly cold.

"You are quite right," her voice stern capable of freezing any lesser person with fear, but she spoke to the Sinister Blade of Noxus who was very acquainted with the harsh cold herself. "I have no need for your blood; it's worth less than the ground it would fall on. Hopefully Garen will realize the same" she spun on the spot her cape lashing violently behind her inches in front of Katarina's face.

"Good luck tomorrow, Queen Ashe," the smirk still strong upon her face, revelling in the satisfaction of Ashe's mood shift. She enjoyed reminding Ashe of the enemies they should be due to her alliance with the feral barbarians that Noxus honourably tried to pacify.

Garen. What game is he playing?

"You're not very good with making friends are you Katarina?" said a cold mocking voice from a far. The General of Noxus, Master Tactician, Swain, her father's successor after his "mysterious disappearance" approached her with his usual limp. Dressed in his usual noble officer attire of Noxus, the kind of uniform her father used to proudly wear with the addition of a scarf tightly wrapped around the lower half of his face, despite the moderate temperature of the sunny day.

"I'm not here to make friends, and I prefer Miss Du Couteau if you do not mind" she replied arrogantly her disregard for Swain clear in her voice, refusing to catch his gaze until he stood just a metre in front of her. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm here to inform you with the utmost apology that there is still no sign of your father, Miss Du Couteau, although the matter is still being looked into of course" he said taking a supposed sympathetic bow. Ire grew inside her at this obvious insultingly performed bow. Anyone else would not have dared. Anyone else would not have survived.

"Of course. I imagine my father eagerly awaits his return to his position. Don't you think Swain?" She said her eyes revealing no sense of sadness or anger, her heart wilfully containing it all.

"I prefer General Swain" he took a moments pause before politely adding "if you do not mind."

"Of course you would." She said her emeralds trying to pierce through the aura of mystery and the masque that surrounded this man, her annoyance now on full display at what she considered this unsavoury character.

He let out a small chuckle before turning away from her. "Remember what I said about friends, Miss Du Couteau. Oh, and of course be careful! We wouldn't want one of the former general's daughters going missing as well would we?"

Katarina's stare looked as deadly as the many blades she carried. Her fists were fully clenched, her dislike for this man had occurred before he had succeeded her father, but she always respected him as a brilliant tactician and former soldier of Noxus. However, now something was just off with him and she knew it. Once she was comfortable he was out of range, with a flick of her wrist one of daggers flew across the garden, decapitating flowers as it travelled with tremendous speed.


Are you ready Garen? Questioned a voice inside his head.

"The Might of Demacia always stands vigil!" he replied. "Who is to be our laning partner?"

There was silence and just as Garen went to repeat himself the voice replied with Katarina.

"I see" he replied a small swarm of butterflies invading his stomach for a reason unknown to him.

Is that a problem? Obviously the Kinkou want to lane together and the dark child is demanding the middle. The voice spoke nervously.

"No it will be fine, if I have to lane with any Noxian I would probably pick her" he replied his voice trailing off slightly.

"And who might that be?" spoke a playful feminine voice from behind him, he instantly turned to see Katarina stood fully equipped for battle a smirk wide across her face, the rest of his team mates filed into the staging room after her, the two Kinkou Akali and Kennen and the one known as the Dark Child, Annie.

"Summoner, how do I reply to that?" Garen thought frantically.

Huh? Swiftly responded the summoner. Why are you asking me?

"It's not important. I understand we are to be laning together?" he asked trying not to involuntarily join her in smirking. For some reason he found her smirk infectious, probably because he enjoyed that look upon her face.

Oh. I see. The voice in his head piping up again.

"Yes that's quite right, Garen" she replied the smirk fading as she adjusted her bracers. "Most likely against Ashe and Sona" no sense of fear or apprehension was in her voice, but hidden deeply was a tinge of excitement that Garen barely picked up on.

"Sona?" he questioned for a second. "I didn't realise she was in this fight." The guilt of fighting a fellow Demacian sank to his stomach eradicating the swarm of butterflies that protested against their swift genocide. He hated fighting against another Demacian, especially the beautiful and talented Sona. She was fortunate in the sense she mainly supported the other champions on her team so hurting people wasn't something she was expected to do often, but Garen. His role was the damage.

The doors opened in front of him and the platform for Summoner's Rift blue team awaited him. He, along with rest of his team mates stepped onto the cobbled platform. Ok. I'm buying your things, you can pick it up in a second, once Sona's Clairvoyance has worn off.

"Ok" he replied in his head. Katarina stepped in front of him and his eyes willingly followed, she began to taunt at the watchful eye of clairvoyance, knowing the summoners of the enemy team would be watching. He gave a small smile at her insults, especially taunting the Frost Archer, Ashe to hold nothing back.

Don't get distracted. The summoner said to him forcefully.

"What do you mean?" a look of confusion appearing across his face.

You know exactly what I mean. Grab your items. Garen shook his head in a lack of understanding and walked over to the shop keeper, picking up a pair of boots and some potions. His eyes again wandered to Katarina who had positioned herself next to him, picking up her items too. He noticed her eyes glanced sideways. "What is it?" she said turning to him, a look of annoyance appearing across her face. "You don't have to watch me every second, it's impossible for me to harm you here."

"No, no it's not that!" he hastily exclaimed. "I was uh, just looking at your starting equipment. It seems a bit strange" glancing at the longsword and potion in her hands.

"Yeah. I think my summoner wants to rush a sword of the occult" she replied turning away from him and taking a slow walk towards the bottom lane, the disapproval clear in her voice.

"I thought soul stealer would have suited you better" he said catching up with her.

Her head span to face him; the look of anger indistinguishable, a lesser man would have probably taken a few steps back foolishly thinking they would be safer with distance. "What does that mean Demacian?" she spat, her hands shook very slightly in anticipation and anger at the blatant insult, she had thought the general to be slightly different, but apparently he held his prejudice just as high as any other Demacian dog.

He continued to walk and strode right past her trying not to catch her obviously angry gaze. 'I didn't mean that!' forgetting his summoner could hear his thoughts, 'I just meant most summoners get that with her. What do I say?' The summoner responded with Apologise. He turned to face her, "I'm just kidding Miss Du Couteau, please forgive my bad jest" he stated bowing apologetically.

A small smile appeared across her face realising she may have overreacted to his comment slightly, she considered how interesting he was for a Demacian, not like all the other unskilled imbeciles that seemed to dominate their forces or the other ones who definitely wouldn't have apologised for their foolish mistake. "Garen, call me Katarina. We are laning partners for the moment, it would be inappropriate to call me 'Miss Du Couteau' in the midst of battle, don't you think?" he stood straight again spotting the smile upon her face, she was perfect. The first time he had seen her smile and he enjoyed every moment of it, even the scar across her face just seemed to add to the beauty she possessed.

"I do agree Miss... Katarina" he returned her smile and the two stood smiling at each other before a voice in his head screamed GET MOVING!

He hastily headed up the lane towards the first tower as he saw the minions coming forwards, Katarina behind him. "I'll take the hits" he stated with slight pride in his voice.

"I intended to let you" she said the playful, smirk reappearing upon her face and they both stood ready for the intense battle ahead.