As Jarvan carefully stumbled up the steps, he was doing his best to support Shyvana, trying to keep himself from falling and bumping the young dragoness into anything. He finally found their room and fumbled with door key. He opened the door wide and stumbled in, the room swimming around him. He froze, scowling at the underhanded Isaacs. In the room, a single large bed was against the far wall. He carefully set Shyvana on the bed, her face blushed with the alcohol and the heat of her own excitement. She slumped backwards, sprawling out over the bed, her mouth agape in a wide smile.
"Lightweight…" Jarvan slurred with much effort, a goofy grin on his face.
"Shu… up…" Shyvana mumbled as she rolled over. Jarvan noted with mild satisfaction that their packs had been brought up to the room. As he stripped down out of his armor, Jarvan heard a few clunks and thuds as Shyvana shucked her armor. He caught a full view of her pale backside as she ducked underneath he covers and pulled the blankets high above her head, the cold night air pouring through the open window.
Jarvan sat on the edge of the bed, letting the cool night air sober him. He closed his eyes and sat there with his hands perched upon his knees pensively, considering what exactly he had been presented with and how to best handle the situation. He was both simultaneously cursing and blessing Isaacs, but it was a spine chillingly cold brush of fingers upon his back that caused a jolt of electricity to run up and down his body the brought his mind back to the predicament at hand. He looked over his shoulder to see a pair of vibrant magenta orbs looking up at him from under the edge of the blanket.
"You look conflicted." Shyvana slurred, a small frown creasing her brow.
"And you look exhausted." Jarvan said, smiling drunkenly. Shyvana yawned, trying to hide it with the back of her hand. She blinked a few times and nodded.
"I feel exhausted." She said with grin. She rolled over and pulled the blankets to her chin. "You going to join me?" Jarvan considered it for a few moments, but now was neither the time nor the place for such things. They had just kicked the tar out of a platoon of a squad of Noxian Legionnaires and he did not exactly want to get caught in a moment of passion with his pants down when the Noxians came calling.
"Please tell me this isn't your first time drinking…" Jarvan muttered, shaking his head.
"Maybe." Shyvana said, glancing away, blushing slightly.
"I think I'm going to take in some of the night air." Jarvan said.
"Suit yourself." Shyvana said, a pixie-like grin appearing on her face. "I'm cold though, are you sure you wouldn't like to keep me warm?" As attractive as the thought of getting tangled in an embrace with the gorgeous young dragoness under the covers was becoming, Jarvan knew that it wouldn't be good for either of them. It had been less than a week, and while many of his conquests at the academy had burned just a bright, like a nova, they had a habit of burning extremely hot and then fizzling out. This flame they had now was something he didn't want to risk for a single night.
"Are you sure you know what you're asking?" Jarvan said softly, pulling himself to his feet.
"I think so…" Shyvana murmured, glancing away, her cheeks burning bright red.
"Then yes, I'm sure." Jarvan said with a tired grin. He paused halfway to the door, turning back and meeting thr dragoness's gaze. He watched her as Shyvana looked back at him for a few more moments. "You must think me crazy." He snorted.
"A bit." Shyvana said, sighing. "Though your stubbornness is endearing." Jarvan had never heard it described as 'endearing' before, usually it was 'aggravating', 'annoying', or 'frustrating'. He blinked a few times, trying to remember if he had heard her correctly. "Jarvan?" Shyvana said quietly, batting her eyes at him as she set hand on his arm.
"Hmm?" He said glancing at the floor.
"Could you close the window on your way out?" Shyvana asked sweetly. Jarvan chuckled and nodded, rising to his feet and stepping into his armored boots. He stumbled slightly, eliciting a giggle from the dragoness as he caught himself on the edge of the bed. Jarvan grumbled quietly to himself as he slid the boot on properly, tossed a cloak over his bare shoulders, and tightened the straps down on his plates. Jarvan leaned over the bed and shut the window before heading to the door. "Thanks." Shyvana said from the bed.
"For what, the window?" Jarvan asked as he opened the door.
"No, just… all of this." Shyvana said, sitting up and holding the blankets to her chest. "Tonight was amazing… and I don't think I'd have ever experienced anything as fun if it weren't for you. So thank you."
Jarvan chuckled. "Now that's just the alcohol talking. Get some sleep. We can talk in the morning." Shyvana nodded at him and fell back onto the bed, twisting up under the covers. Jarvan wondered if he was making a mistake by turning her down, but he knew in his heart that Shyvana didn't know what she was asking for. He briefly tugged at the bandages that were still wrapped around his shoulders underneath his cloak and couldn't help but smiling. He slid a blade into one of his boots and then slid out the door, pulling it closed behind him and locking it.
Jarvan proceeded upwards to roof, exploring the now quiet inn. The only sounds were the steady thunk-chinks of his boots as they hit the floor boards. He made his way towards the upper floors of the Inn and found a door that was ajar, leading to the roof. He drew his knife, holding it behind his back and slowly pushing the door open, stepping onto the small balcony. Perched on the railing of the balcony was the young girl from the tavern, a rare Demacian eagle perched on her arm. The bird turned to him and cocked its head at an angle, its golden eyes blinking eerily in the moon light. The Demacian eagle's feathers ruffled in the light of the moon, a deep midnight blue.
"Come for a breath of fresh air, prince?" The girl said, eyeing the knife he held in one hand. Her own golden eyes followed the prince's knife closely as he scratched the back of his head with his free hand, sighing.
"Yes." Jarvan replied, moving to the railing. He leaned on it heavily, the humidity in the air so high that one couldn't breathe it so much as drink the night air. He closed his eyes, letting the cool humidity wash over him. He opened one eye and looked at the young girl. She was still staring at him. She matched his gaze evenly.
"Why are you here?" The young woman asked suddenly. Jarvan sighed, blowing a cloud of steam, condensation forming from his breath. He was getting used to answering that question, though the answer had changed since the last time he had to answer it.
"We're just passing through." Jarvan said. "We are… ah… were tracking a dragon." He noted that the girl's eyes had narrowed.
"And why exactly is the missing Demacian Crown Prince, two of his men and a half-dragon commoner tracking a dragon?" She asked, spitting him with an inquisitive stare.
"What does it matter that I'm travelling with two of my men and a half dragon?" Jarvan snapped back, barely slurring his words.
"Rumor has it that you left Demacia unannounced with twelve men in tow." She said, perching her hand on her palm, still glaring at him. "So you're telling me you lost ten men?" She said with disgust. Jarvan turned to her, his foot slamming down with enough force to shake the entire balcony. The tracker shrunk back, fear in her eyes as Jarvan glared at her, rage contorting his face.
"That dragon, that draconian scum, killed my men and I want his head on a pike to pay for his crimes!" Jarvan snapped, ice cold. His steely reaction startled the girl who had been stroking the Demacian eagle. "Shyvana, not 'that half-dragon' lost her father to that dragon as well, and she fought against him with more passion in her than any Demacian warrior I have ever seen. She is returning to Demacia with me at MY request to join the Demacian Military. I saw her strength and now I want to help her kill the dragon that slew her father." The eagle had yet to tear its eyes from the prince, ruffling its feathers around its neck menacingly. Silence filled the gap for a few minutes as Jarvan calmed himself and breathed deeply. "Sorry about that." He said after a long while. "The last few days have been trying. "
"I can tell." She said, leaning a bit more heavily on the railing as she watched Jarvan for a while longer. She ended up shrugging, letting a sly smile slide onto her face. "I can also tell that's not all you want from her." Jarvan glowered at her and sighed.
"You have something to say or you just going to make this personal?" Jarvan growled weakly.
"That's not what I meant." She said, giggling. She leaned forward, a salacious smile dominating her face. "I may be young, but even I can see the way she looks at you."
"Not you too…" Jarvan groaned as he shook his head. "I don't even know you! Everyone has been riding me about that and it's not like that."
"Yet?" The young woman said, smirking, her smile spreading to her eyes. "Don't lie. And I'll bet everybody has been riding you but her, right?"
"Bite your tongue." Jarvan snapped, shooting her a mean glare. "It hasn't exactly been an easy ride." She snickered at his unintentional joke. She let the atmosphere pass before she sighed and laughed.
"So, you weren't drunk at all." She said, still nursing a small grin after sobering herself from her laughter. "Impressive."
"I was a bit tipsy." Jarvan said, sighing. "But I know to keep myself under control. I also know when to make myself appear drunk."
The young girl snorted. "You're a bit more capable than I thought."
Jarvan exhaled sharply, shrugging. "And you? You're a Ranger, aren't you?" Jarvan said, eyeing the eagle. The young girl turned to the eagle briefly and nodded at Jarvan. The bird immediately turned his head and snapped at her.
"Ah! Valor!" She squeaked as the eagle flapped his wings defiantly. "I…" The bird turned his head away from her and the girl looked a bit saddened when he did. Her shoulders heaved in a long sigh and she frowned, looking away. "No, I'm not a ranger." Jarvan frowned. She smiled brightly at him, dimpling prettily. "I want to be a ranger, though."
Jarvan paused, looking at her carefully, narrowing his eyes. The young woman had sharp golden eyes and a slim nose, with sharp eyebrows that were delicately perched upon her brow. Jarvan looked back into her eyes, the bright golden orbs steadied on him. They were both cold and calculating, as if she had seen too much tragedy in her already short life time, but there was also a youthful spark to them that glinted as she turned. The color accented her face well, and Jarvan suspected that when she grew up, she'd a beautiful woman. He eyed her equipment slowly, starting with her boots. She wore lightweight leather grieves that ran up to her knees, a leather holster holding her crossbow at her waist. She had lightweight leather plating on her chest, hips and shoulders, hardened from what Jarvan could see, and it covered most of her body, aside from her thighs and her shooting arm. She had an intricate leather guard on her right arm where the eagle, Valor, sat perched, his eyes back on Jarvan now.
"How good of a tracker are you?" Jarvan asked. Her ears perked up at the question, her eyes narrowing.
"The best in the region." She said proudly, dropping down off the railing and standing proudly. She barely came up to Jarvan's chest. The prince stood up next to her and looked down his nose at her.
"Ever tracked a dragon?" Jarvan asked crossing his arms.
"No…" She said, looking over her shoulder. "I don't think it'll be too… difficult..." Jarvan followed her gaze over his shoulder as her voice trailed off. "Valor." She whispered. The bird snapped its head directly over his shoulder and took off over the building, diving off the balcony before fighting for altitude. The young wannabe ranger stepped briskly towards Jarvan, gently pressing her arm with Valor's perch against his chest pushing him back towards the door.
"What is it?" Jarvan whispered, as she shoved him silently back through the door, leaving just a sliver of a crack behind her. She pressed her a finger to her lips, looking up at the prince, jerking her head back towards the balcony. Jarvan heard the heavy thunk of two boots and then a much lighter pair of clicks landing out on the balcony.
"What the hell was Bart thinking?" A man's voice growled with a deep draw and a heavy timbre.
"He chose to pick a fight with the wrong person." The other said with a smirk audible in her voice. Jarvan recognized the voice but he couldn't place it from sound alone. "That fat pig of a legionnaire was a corrupt bastard anyways." A pause followed with what Jarvan could only assume was a shrug from the female voice. "The Demacian prince did us a favor."
"You could say that." The male voice said thoughtfully after a few moments. "It could prove problematic in the long run though." An inaudible grunt followed.
Another pause.
"What's the word on the Prince and his trophy bitch?" The male voice said. The female voice snickered. Jarvan heard a rustle of a cloak that he could assume was a shrug.
"Drunken, probably screwing themselves senseless right now." The female said. "I had a few people make sure they were completely tanked before they retreated to their room. I'd be surprised if our good prince wasn't busy burying his lance deep in the dragon right now. Some dragon slayer he is..."
Jarvan felt his face burn with anger as the young tracker looked over her shoulder at him with a recusing look on her face. She glared at him, and Jarvan shook his head taking a deep breath. He resisted the urge to sigh and gestured back to the door. The tracker hung her head, shaking it dismissively.
"Nothing happened." Jarvan hissed. She pushed another finger to her lips and silenced him.
"So what do we do about the prince?" The male voice asked. "I'm getting tired of following him around." Jarvan froze.
"We keep tracking him." The female voice said. "If he becomes a threat or shows knowledge of my father, then we move on him." A sigh. "Until then, we keep following him."
"Yes, Mistress Du Couteau." The sarcasm was think in the male voice, but Jarvan ignored it. Ice had shot through Jarvan's veins at the name.
Du Couteau? As in Katarina Du Couteau? What was she doing here?
"I have to make a report to Noxian High Command, Talon. Stay vigilant in the meantime." Jarvan heard a swirl of cloaks and then several moments later the swish and a click of talons signaled the return of Valor.
Jarvan stumbled out onto the deck and sat down heavily on the ground, leaning up against the railing. The Demacian eagle cocked his head back and forth, looking down at Jarvan curiously. Jarvan breathed deeply, his eyes on the ground. He put both hands on his head and tousled his hair furiously, letting out a weak roar of anger. "Just what I need." The prince spat. "I finally decide to go home and now this." He gestured into the night air.
"Who were those two?" The tracker said, perching herself on the railing. She raised her right arm, presenting the perch for the eagle. "Valor?" The bird paused, continuing to look at Jarvan before it hopped onto her arm. The girl ran a hand down the bird's chest as it ruffled some of its feathers. The bird shook his head from side to side, showing that he didn't recognize the Noxians.
"I don't know about the man, but I think I recognized the name that he spoke." Jarvan let his shoulders sink and he sighed again.
"Du Couteau?" The tracker asked.
"Yes." Jarvan said, looking up over his arms. He remembered the vicious redhead he had seen across the council room when he had gone with his father to a meeting hosted by the Institute of War when Demacia had sent its first representative. Due to the complicated political situation, the Demacian hadn't joined the Institute initially, but soon afterwards, they had begun sending representatives, an old friend of Jarvan's the first to go. "She's the daughter of the infamous Noxian General Marcus Du Couteau."
The young tracker's eyes widened. "So why is she following you?" She asked, stroking Valor, his beady golden eyes still glued to Jarvan.
"I have no idea." Jarvan grumbled, his head dropping again, his exhaustion rapidly catching back up with him. He frowned. "She mentioned something about 'knowledge' about her father. I've been away for civilization for nearly two years. What the hell has happened in Noxus that there is a Noxian General's daughter roaming about the wilds watching over absentee nobles?"
The tracker frowned. "There hasn't exactly been much news coming out of Noxus for the past few months." She scratched the back of Valor's neck. "Something major went down a while back and Noxus has been bottled up ever since."
"Oh great." Jarvan muttered, sighing. "What the hell did I miss?" He shook his head and the night air was silent, only the rustling of Valor's feathers. He looked up to the young tracker, but she merely shook her head apologetically and shrugged.
"Sorry, that's all I've heard out here near the border." She frowned. "You can always ask Mayor Ridley if you can talk to Bart. He might know something…"
"No, if I do that I'll have to open a political discourse." Jarvan grumbled as he ran a hand along his stubble covered jaw. "That means letting people know I'm here."
"And proclaiming who you are in the middle of a bar fight isn't?" The young woman retorted.
Jarvan snorted and nodded. "It adds to the reputation more than anything. Any involvement with the mayor means actual records of my being here. I'd like to avoid that if at all possible."
"Suit yourself." The young woman said, shrugging. Silence followed.
"Well I'm exhausted and thoroughly confused right now. "Jarvan grunted scratching his head. "Can I hire you to track this dragon down for us? The sooner we leave…" The tracker's eyes grew wide and she nearly fell over backwards. She waved her arms wildly through the air, trying to catch her balance. Valor screeched at her and hauled her up by the collar. She sighed heavily and leaned forward as Valor landed on her shoulder.
"Thanks Val." She murmured as she exhaled heavily in relief before turning back to the prince, beaming. "It would be an honor." She hauled herself to her feet and bowed, looking and up grinning as Jarvan wiped a hand down across his face at her deep bow.
"Enough." Jarvan said, waving a hand at her dismissively. He tried to haul himself to his feet, struggling as his tired joints resisted the movement, the cold seeping into his bones. He was starting to feel infinitely older than he was as the political tensions managed to find him even here in the sleepy mining town of Kalamanda. The young tracker stuck her hand into Jarvan's face. He looked up to her and smiled wearily, shaking his head. He grasped her hand and she struggled with his weight, taking his hand with both of her and helped him to his feet. "Thanks."
"Should I meet you in the pub in the morning?" She asked, looking out over the city. Jarvan nodded, pulling a few gold pieces from a pouch tucked into his belt. He tossed them to her and she looked surprised. She looked at the gold pieces and her eyes turned to the size of dinner plates. "This is far too much!"
"I know." Jarvan said. "Get us some horses and some supplies. Keep the rest for yourself and Valor." She nodded blankly and Jarvan reached a hand out hesitantly. The bird flipped his head, side to side, eyeing him and then his hand but not retracting his head. Jarvan slowly continued to and managed to touch the bird. He rubbed the underside of Valor's neck, the bird closing his eyes and twisting its head a bit. "But for now, I need to get some sleep."
"Yes, sir." She said nodding her head. She still was staring at the gold pieces, as if she had never seen so much gold in her life. Jarvan turned and walked towards the door.
"Oh." He said, pausing, his hand on the door. "I never caught your name."
"Quinn!" She said, nervously, her voice catching in her throat. She cleared her throat. "Quinn, my name is Quinn!"
"Well Quinn, we'll meet you in the tavern in the morning." Jarvan said. She nodded and smiled happily, dimpling at him. Jarvan waved over his shoulder as he dragged himself back into the room. He locked it behind him and used a chair to barricade it. As he drew a large overstuffed chair over towards the bed, he kicked off his boots and pulled a spare blanket from the shelf.
He sat on the edge of the bed as he pulled off the tunic and began pealing the bandages from his back. He piled them on the overstuffed chair and shivered in the cool air.
"Everything alright?" Shyvana mumbled, her face still blushed from the alcohol, a subtle smile playing out on her lips as she raised her head from the pillow and poked it out from under the blanket. "You look troubled."
Jarvan chuckled. "And you look comfortable." Jarvan said smiling tiredly back at the dragoness. She rolled her eyes back and sighed contently.
"This bed is amazing." Shyvana said, her smile growing.
"It's the little things, isn't it?" Jarvan said, grinning. Shyvana closed her eyes and nodded, stretching her arm out under the pillow like a cat. Jarvan could have sworn she was purring.
"Are you well?" Shyvana asked, the content melting from her face and worry began to show in her eyes.
"I'm confused and tired." Jarvan said. "I've been out in the wilderness for years and now I'm sitting here trying to figure out what exactly is happening in a world that I've spent so long avoiding." Shyvana furrowed her brow as she tried to comprehend his words. She rolled over, exposing her chest to the cool air. She blew out a breath of air, breathing deeply, the swell of her chest rising and falling. Her hair was spread out beneath her, cascading around her like water. Jarvan caught himself staring, his mouth barely hanging open. He clicked it shut as Shyvana caught his gaze. She blushed and looked away, but didn't cover herself.
"Maybe you should sleep on it?" She suggested.
"That sounds like a decent plan." Jarvan murmured with a grin. He started to get to his feet but felt a small warm hand snake into his own.
"Don't go…" Shyvana whispered wait a small voice. "I don't like being alone." Jarvan paused. Since he had found the dragoness alone at the top of the monolith, they hadn't been apart for more than a few minutes at a time. "When I woke up and you weren't here… I was afraid."
"I won't go far." Jarvan said softly. Shyvana's grip on his hand tightened slightly, and Jarvan patted the back of her hand comfortingly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Please…" Shyvana said, tugging him down. Jarvan resisted the effort though.
The thought of slipping under the covers into the warm, soft bed with the fiery, redheaded beauty was more than tempting. She was offering herself up to him, letting him gaze upon her in such an intimate, unprotected moment. She looked up at him with soft eyes, her sleek pale skin inviting him to enjoy a hidden pleasure he had been deprived of for a long time. His body ached at the thought, and deep in his heart he knew he wouldn't regret it, but something felt wrong. He didn't want to jump her bones too early, especially in such an unguarded moment, the copious amounts of alcohol she had consumed still hanging in his mind. He knew that he would enjoy it and he knew she wanted it, he could read the desire on her face. As tempted as he was, Jarvan pealed the idea from his mind and stood up. The look of sadness on Shyvana's face was almost unbearable, but Jarvan knew that it was the right thing to do.
The prince dragged the chair closer and dumped the bandages on the floor. He wrapped the blanket around himself from the floor and kicked his feet up on the bed. Shyvana watched him and rolled over, pulling the blanket over top of her. She looked at Jarvan with those magenta orbs, the spark of mischief still in her eyes. Her feet snaked through the heavy blankets and kicked them out over Jarvan's legs. He felt her warm feet brush against his, her eyes sparkling as she tangled her feet with his. Her eyes were testing Jarvan's resolve and as he sat back in the large, overstuffed chair, sinking into the plush lining, and he could only imagine how comfortable it would be to wrap his arms around Shyvana and taste her spicy embrace. Her eyes sparkled as Jarvan smiled at her, and they slowly disappeared as her eyes fluttered closed, drifting back to sleep.
Jarvan watched her for a few seconds and as the exhaustion washed over him, his eyes shut and he fell asleep immediately.
