This chapter is dedicated to reader, stefan94 who managed to get me out of my writer's slump. He's review and private messages made me want to keep updating it.

Stefan94 chapter 1 . Sep 20

I love this story

Please, follow/review/favorite/even PM me if you have opinions pretty much anything. Thank you!

They walked down the hall the sound of the celebration emanating from the grand ball room grew lauder.

"I'll leave first then you exit a minute or so after me, I should go anyways (not wanting to stay at the wedding)." He spoke softly to her.

"Where, do you want to meet, tonight?" He raised his brow to her.

"Can't we meet at your house?" she replied nervously.

"Well, you know I live with my family at our estate. So it might not be a good idea. Every hotel in town that isn't a slump is taken up by every delegate visiting…" he let the sentence run off, unsure of what to say next.

"Well, I do have a small apartment I've been renting. You can meet me there, I guess." Her cheeks flushed at the thought of inviting Garen, over to her apartment. She gave him directions.

Garen, turned to walk away but quickly turned around, he looked her in the eyes and smiled. Before pressing her against the wall, his lips found her neck and slowly made his way to her lips and gave her a soft reassuring kiss. Only mere feet from the door to the ball room, it was a sense of dread and excitement that filled them both. At any second any party guest could stumble in on them but he didn't stop. He dug his face into the side of her neck her fiery red hair pressed against his face as he took a deep breath of her hair.

"See, you tonight."

He turned around with a smile on his face. He's tears now long dried and opened the door, his senses were overwhelmed with the sound of music, laughter and people.

….

The last anyone saw of Garen, was Katarina sitting at a far table filled with Noxian diplomats and some intoxicated Demacian's who had enough drunken courage to sit and annoy them. She watched as he made his way through the crowd. The tall, broad shoulder man was not hard to miss in any room especially one filled with champions. She had learned and remembered every one of his features from years of fighting in and out of the sheets. But like all their happy memories when he opened the door and walked out both were gone.

Not a few minutes later she saw Shyvanna, dressed in a simple red dress with a smile on her face. Holding her purse close to her almost nervous and happy like a giddy little girl and she too had left. Two of Prince Jarvan's closest friends had decided to leave he's wedding party. Yet, she knew why Garen had left. With a furlong look she knew, It's because of me.

Rumors from paid informants had hinted that Shyvanna was in love with Jarvan, but informants would say anything for coin. But she did feel some sympathy for her if it were true. No wonder she left.

But questions, aroused in her mind. "Why was she happy? She was smiling and didn't look devastated."

As, Daruis walked back with a glass two glasses full of some Demacian fizzy clear wine. He started slurring his words.

"They might be pompous, but at least they know how to party"

He sat next to her and slumped in his chair and started rubbing her thigh. He was not a loving or affectionate fiancé, why would he be? Love and Noxus were like oil and water, she suddenly started to miss those moments with Garen. He's words, and touch ever so much caring than anyone had been to her.

"I need to freshen up" in a nonchalant tone. She rose and walked towards any direction to escape Daruis.

She saw Jarvan walking about the smile he had kept on his face while at his brides side was gone. Just a cold steely look as he towered over the crowed. Scanning as if looking for someone. She decided to approach him and at least congratulate him, anything to delay her return to her "loving" fiancé. She tapped him on the shoulder she looked up at him almost straining her neck.

"Congratulations, on your wedding!" She spoke half forcing herself to sound gleeful.

"Thank you, I'm sure you and Darius will be just as happy." He hid his despair with a forced strained smile.

"You look, worried are you looking for someone?" She replied with a hidden sardonic tone.

"Oh, no one. Thank you for attending" he looked flustered and quickly excused himself through the crowed. Not making it 10 feet before being stopped by other guests who wanted to congratulate him.

….
Garen, was making his way walking home deep with his thoughts. How did he and Shyvanna end up sleeping together? It all happened too quickly, he wasn't even sure how he felt about her. He started thinking back about the days when she first arrived, to Demacia. How Jarvan would always be sent out on emissary missions or meetings with his father.

Garen and Shyvanna found themselves spending time together training and eating lunch at the barracks. Then the few moments when she had confided in him, when Jarvan had been forced to date woman he's father had set up for him.

After one duel he could tell she wasn't concentrating her mind wasn't in the fight.
"What's wrong, you seem distracted?" He had, his sword up to his face cocked back ready to strike.

"None of your business!" She hissed, as she parried strike after strike with her dragon skulled gauntlet.

He could tell she was constantly on the defensive her fiery spirit was subdued. He managed to land a strike at her jaw and instead of receiving an angry counter attack, he saw tears in her eyes. In the quiet and secluded training arena she got down on both knees and started weeping. The quiet sound of her sobbing panicked him.

He quickly ran by her side and started rubbing her back comforting her.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" he found the most caring tone he could muster.

She kept weeping for almost a minute as he held her tightly, she turned and pressed her face onto his chest.
"Would it make you happy if I let you win next time?" he said trying to cheer her up.

She chuckled in between her crying.

"No, it's not that" her crying stopped."

Garen, found himself softly stroking her neck running his fingers through her vibrant red hair.

"It's Jarvan, I don't think he loves me anymore" her tears started flowing again.

The mere mention of his best friend shook him from the moment and he found his hand leaving her hair. He slowly pulled away from their embrace.

"I'm sure he loves you. I've known him since our days at the academy. I can tell he cares deeply for you." He gave her a furtive look. As he backed away and decided to leave her be. He wasn't much for dealing, with a woman's emotions let alone woman.

He's new forte into sneaking around with Katarina was still new to him and he still found woman difficult to deal with.

He turned his back to her and started walking away, but he could hear her sobbing again.
"Garen?" she called out to him in a meek tone.

"Yes?" he replied without turning to see her.

"I really don't know many people or have any real friends since I arrived here. Would you..?" He could tell her voice was unsure and was unable to finish her though out of fear.

"Would I, what?"

"Well I haven't seen Jarvan in weeks and he's always busy. I have the weekend free from training and I don't like sitting around in the barracks alone reading. Would you mind spending time with me, or eating a meal with me?" She sounded nervous finally opening up to someone besides Jarvan.

Garen, turned and saw her, still sitting on the dirt covered arena floor. Her gazed fixed on the ground as she nervously rubbed her fingers, her red hair covering her face like a veil.

"Well, yeah I'd love to. I mean what are friends for, right?" He spoke in a cheerful voice.

She looked up at him with puffy watery eye, yet she was sporting a wide genuine smile.
"Thank you, Garen."
…

The first memory of their first encounter that had led to the moment they had just shared early was cut short as Garen found himself walking quietly into Crownguard manner. Luckily for him everyone was at Jarvan's wedding and he quickly went to his room to get ready. He had to wash the smell of alcohol and musk of him and Shyvanna. As he rinse shampoo from his face, he leaned against the shower wall and felt tears swell from his face. Feeling as if he has betrayed his best friend coupled by his own feeling of anguish. Yet the tears and grief disappeared quickly when the image of Shyvanna's nervous yet innocent face, her eyes shifting into vivid hues of red and magenta as she looked into he's. He found himself smiling as he showered faster in an attempt to hasten he's and Shyvanna's rendezvous.