"Katarina." He shakes me awake roughly, the grey light filtering in through the windows tells me dawn hasn't even arrived yet. That softer ambience of the night before has vanished, something ice cold filling it's place. He's standing over me, exuding impatience, his dark eyes impenetrable. He turns away from me as soon as it's clear I'm awake.

"Out, I need time to think." I sit up and absentmindedly run a hand through my hair, trying to erase last night from my thoughts. I hastily dress to leave for my room, needing to put that physical distance between us.

He doesn't turn back to face me, staring out the window at the endless white in the distance. The color rises in my cheeks and I feel like I'm suffocating. I push it down, it's foolishness, I know what we are. I try to focus on that, reminding myself how we came to be where we are now. Still I nearly sprint across the hall, the worn floorboards creaking beneath my feet. As soon as the door shuts I lean against it, trying to recover myself.

"Come on, let it go." I prod myself. I notice at least my trunk got brought up at some point. I dig through it for the white fur set, and change from yesterday's traveling clothes. I can already feel the chill settling into my bones.

I'd made a point before we left of asking Darius about what to expect all the way out here. We'd been in one of my favorite drinking holes, dark and anonymous, the kind of place where you can forget for awhile. We were getting pleasantly drunk, watching Draven fall off his barstool for the fourth time that night and hit on anyone who looked like they might come home home with him.

Darius smiled in a way that was slightly bitter. "The cold is unyielding, the people are fierce and elusive, and it's easy to lose moral." He wouldn't say more, evidently not wanting to relive his time there too deeply. "Truthfully I'm shocked Jericho is taking it on himself to go up there."

I shrugged. "I guess it's important to him."

"Well at least he knows he won't get cold at night." He shoots me a grin. I hadn't told him the whole truth about how our arrangement started so to him it was quite often a source of amusement. The two of us live together and fuck, very funny.

I slug his shoulder, hard enough to dump some of the drink he's holding on him. "Don't"

He laughs loud enough several heads turn toward us. "Hey, can't say I blame him."

I drained my drink "That's it, I'm going home. You can babysit Draven by yourself. By the way he's on the floor again."

"He'll live. Take care of yourself up there, Kat."

"I will." I couldn't actually get mad at him. The two of them were really some of the only people I'd call friends. Unfortunately they were also Jericho's friends, which made things awkward at times.

I ran a brush through my hair, staring into the small dingy mirror mounted on the rough wood wall, and pinned it back. My stomach reminded me I hadn't eaten since before we had arrived last night.

If I hurried I catch the Officer's mess and avoid the chaos of the main camp. Another perk of the job I suppose. Also if I was lucky he'd stay in his room and I could avoid him long enough to finish sorting myself out.

The small hall of the keep was filled with both the Officers we'd brought with and the staff stationed here. I sat as far as possible from any of them as possible, trying to be inconspicuous. I could already hear the whispers. Most of the officers know about my profession but still they wonder if I'm here as part of some plot they don't know about or just for the Grand General's comfort. I wonder the same.

Finally in middle of eating as fast as humanly possible someone dares to sit down next to me. She looks young and haughty, possibly a Shuriman transplant.

"Good morning. I'm Captain Veera." Her accent confirms her birthplace, and her greeting is full of false civility. She's clearly after something, I don't know or care what.

I nod in acknowledgement, trying my best to discourage conversation. She doesn't take the hint though. "And if I'm not mistaken you are…"

"Not interested in socialising, clearly." There's a threat in my tone, there's no denying it.

Her eyes widen a bit. "I guess one can't expect much from the Grand Whore of Noxus."

Something inside me snaps, I was already having a bad morning. I'm out of my seat and behind before she can react. I grab her arm, twisting it behind her, pull her wrist towards her other shoulder. My other hand grips her by the hair, her face slamming into the table, the crunch of her nose is audible. Blackness invades the edges of my vision.

Everyone should be staring at us. I realize with a sense of dread they are staring behind me toward the doors of the hall. "Katarina." His voice is low and dangerous. I bite my lip and suck in a breath.

I release the Captain and turn to face him. He crosses his arms and glowers at me. "A word, upstairs, now."

"Yes, Grand General." I hurry and follow him as the crowd gathers around to asses the damage I've done.

I shut the door behind me when we reach his room to hopefully preserve at least some of my dignity. I find a spot on the floor to stare at. I'm not proud of losing my temper, and even more ashamed that he saw it. It feels too familiar, this sense of failure. "Was that wholly necessary?"

"It seemed so in the moment." I still don't look up.

He reaches out and tilts my chin up to look at him. "Control yourself from now on. I will smooth over this mess. Understood?" He releases me.

I nod. There's no playful flirting in his orders this time, he's strictly my commander at the moment.

"Good. I have a job for you once our guests arrive. Since you're not military, get out among them, be friendly, asses their mood." I feel my brows knit together but I don't protest, I suppose I'm just relieved he's decided not to lecture me. "Don't make that face, I know you hate mingling, but you're here and you may as well make yourself useful."

He suddenly softens though and runs a hand through my hair. "Besides, you're actually quite alluring when you want to be."

I let myself lean against his hand, just a little. "That almost feels like it was supposed to be a compliment." I hate this weakness, this wanting.

"Don't be intentionally obtuse, of course it was." He kisses the top of my head, a gesture I've grown to assume means he's pleased with me. He's so close, I want him closer, to pull me into his arms. I know he won't, now's not the time.

A horn sounds from somewhere in the camp, our guests approach. "Go on, I don't need you to be immediately associated with me."

"Of course." I turn to leave, it feels more like I'm fleeing his presence for the second time this morning. I make way through the fort, now bustling with activity, Noxians hurrying to serve the Empire's interest. Thankfully they're too busy to do other than ignore me as I slip out into the encampment that has sprung up around the permanent barracks.

Snow lightly drifts from the sky as I watch the heavy gates of the walls swing open. In the distance I can make out the band of barbarians approaching. The officer's servants have clustered off to the side of the main stairs, out of the way of the frantic activity. I slip among them, those that notice wisely say nothing.

They enter the gates and I can study them better. Clad in furs, they bear no uniformity in weapons or style, a frozen reflection of the Empire's own warbands in a way. They look hardened and wary, as one would expect from the people that live here. Except at their head is a rather young looking girl, hair as white as snow, on her back the bow of True Ice she's known for. The leader who's gathered these disparate peoples to herself. They cling to her, there's definite fear here, you can almost smell it. They wonder what does Noxus want with them.

General Argos approaches and welcomes them, a good many seem to speak the Common tongue and understand him. Argos is suited to the task, a solid and level man, and a staunch Trifarix loyalist, he manages that first introduction without incident.

And that's when the doors to the Keep swing open, he does have a flair for the dramatic when he wants. The Grand General emerges, black armor polished to perfection, and despite the cold, wearing the coat that is his signature, left arm carefully concealed within. Even here, at the end of the world, the sound of ravens can be heard in the distance.