Hello everyone! Chapter 12 Heartbeat is finally done! Sorry this took so long but I actually kind of did a chapter and a half and I wasn't sure where to cut it. Hopefully this works and you guys like it! Hope you enjoy and Keep it Classy!

Kat found the campsite that Quinn was referring to hidden under a canopy of trees. Her tent was almost impossible to see with the branches and foliage that was placed over it. Stones placed in a circle for a fire were the only signs that people had even been here recently. She started a small fire and stared into the flames, trying not to think about what was going on a few yards behind her. She had never seen so much emotion from Talon by a simple look. And she could have sworn she heard him laugh. A genuine, heart felt laugh. What kind of sister would she be if she turned him in? It was out of the question. Plus, she wasn't in much of a position to judge him...

But she was jealous. She was jealous that he made a move, jealous that she was receptive, jealous that they even had a chance to be together. She was jealous when she saw them emerge from the trees a few minutes later and she was jealous when she saw the way they looked at each other. She stared at the fire as their footsteps approached.

"It's getting late. We should probably get some rest before we move out in the morning," Quinn said and Talon nodded behind her. She slipped into her tent without another word. Talon crouched across from Kat at the fire and studied her carefully. She did her best not to make eye contact.

"Kat, are you alright with this?" he asked softly.

She sighed. "Talon, you are my brother, and I want nothing more then for you to be happy. You know that."

He visibly relaxed. "I am happy. I promise you that," he replied.

"How long have you even known this woman?" Kat asked.

"Not long, but it feels like forever..." he said, turning his gaze from her into the fire. "She saved my life Katarina."

"How?"

"I had received information that Marcus might have spent some time in Demacia. I wasn't sure how long ago or why but it was the closest thing I had to a lead in a long time," he looked at her with heavy eyes. "I had sent up camp not far from the capitol, and had wandering the streets trying to find any sign of him. During this time, some piddly, sloppy assassin had also arrived, killing all over the city. Jarvan had word that I was near, so he suspected I had something to do with it. He sent a few soldiers to look for me, but they failed. So he sent Quinn. Next thing I knew, a giant bird knocked me flat on my back and I had a crossbow aimed at my forehead." He chuckled.

"Giant bird?" Kat asked.

"You haven't seen Valor yet?" Talon asked and Kat shook her head.

"Valor is a bird? I thought it was a person and they were here at the campsite. When I came no one was here."

"Someone was here alright. You just didn't look high enough," he smirked. He stood from the fire and stepped back a few feet. He let out a low whistle and stuck out his arm. A few seconds passed, and then the sound of rushing wind passed over Kat's head. Bird was an understatement. A large Demacian Eagle perched on Talon's arm, it's wingspan comparable to that of her brothers. It's feathers were an incredible royal blue rivaling even the most expensive fabric. It's eyes watched her closely, but Talon storked his head while making a shushing sound and the fantastic beast relaxed under his touch. He slowly began to lower his arm and the bird perched beside him, coming almost to his waist.

"Kat, meet Valor." Talon said simply.

"This is the bird that had you pinned?" she asked.

"Yeah, but we're friends now," Talon shrugged.

"Well, I guess I would rather have him like me then not..." Kat said slowly and Talon gave a small smile.

"Oh you definitely do. Well, I'm going to bed, good night." he said and turned in the direction of Quinn's tent.
"Wh- wh- wh- wh- wait! You're leaving the bird with me?!" Kat squeaked.

"You'll be fine, he wont hurt you unless Quinn tells him to," Talon said casually and started walking away again with a smirk. "Plus, I know how much you love birds."

She growled, "It pooped on my head." Talon laughed before climbing inside the tent.

She watched the bird carefully and found it staring back at her. It tilted it's head ever so slightly and watched her curiously. "Just don't poop on me and we won't have a problem," Kat said and crossed her arms. The bird blinked.

Kat set up her tent in the fire's light and crawled in ever so slowly, keeping her eyes on Valor the whole time. The bird watched her evenly before launching itself into the sky, making Kat jump at the sudden movement.

She laid down and felt her body begin to relax, and soon she was thrown into a restless sleep.

Talon slipped into Quinn's tent, stifling his laugh at the look of terror on Kat's face when he left her with Valor. His eyes adjusted to the dark quickly and he found Quinn laying on a small cot in the corner of the tent. He pulled his bag off of his back and brought out his own sleeping sack, and laid in on the ground on the other side of the tent. She moved slightly and he froze in place.

"I'm not asleep Talon," she said playfully and he relaxed.

"I figured as much, I just didn't want to disturb you, my love," he said and made quick work of his own sleeping arrangement.

"I don't think you ever could," she replied thoughtfully.

He smiled to himself in the dark, and stripped to his underclothes before crawling inside his sleep sack, the fabric was always cold when it first touched his skin, but he had grown accustomed to it. The sounds of the room shifted as Quinn left her cot and closed the distance between them. He lifted up the edge of his sack without a word and she crawled inside, laying her head against his chest. His fingers began to trace along her shoulders.

"Quinn, what is Jarvan planning to do with us?" he asked the darkness.

She sighed against his chest. "I'm not entirely sure, love. He made it clear that it was a need to know basis."

Talon knodded. "Do you trust him?" he asked, feeling like he had asked the question a hundred times.

"I do, but I'm also not a Noxian," Quinn said slowly.

"Quinn, whatever happens. Promise you won't follow my fate," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"If they decide that I am to die, you let me die. Do you understand?" he asked.

"Talon, I don't know if I can do that..." Quinn said quietly.

"I will not have you dragged down because of me."

She sat quietly against his chest. "I will try."

He knew she was lying, but he felt some semblance of assurance as he held her in his arms, and let the darkness overwhelm him.

The next morning Kat woke up to a clear sky through the treetops. The others were already packing up their things, and soon Kat was not to far behind. When they looked behind them, their campsite looked undisturbed.

Quinn led the way north from their position and they walked in comfortable silence for a while. Over the next few days, they talked about their families, battle stories, and the things they spent the most time thinking about when there was nothing to do. They got into a routine when it came to setting up camp and such. It was nice to not have to lose sleep to do watch. Valor watched everything with a keen eye, which at times left Kat a little unsettled, but not nearly as much as Swain's raven. Plus, it was nice to have someone watching from above.

Occasionally she dreamt of Garen. Since being away from him and Kalamanda, the pull to him was significantly weaker. She hoped it would stay that way when she saw him in Demacia. More like if... she thought. She couldn't decide if the thought of not possibly seeing him was a relief or not.

Quinn had said they were within a day or so from their destination. They only had to cross a large river. The river that Quinn was definitely large. A rickety bridge spanned about a quarter of a mile, held together with nothing but large twine rope and flat wooden planks.

"Is this the only way?" Kat yelled over the roar of the turbulent water.

"Valor can't take all of us across! And because this way isn't very popular, they haven't bother upkeeping it!"

"Is it safe?" Talon asked.

"It should be! None of us are particularly heavy! We should be fine!" she said and picked her way across the bridge. Talon followed behind her closely and Kat hesitated. She tested the plank in front of her and it held steady. The next one was the same and she focused on each as she stepped. When she was half-way across, the bridge shook and her eyes lifted from her footing to see Talon shaking a little and her weight crashed through the board below her.

She tumbled forward and he bag caught on the jagged wood above her. The bag began to put pressure on her neck. Her instincts kicked in before she could think and her dagger cut the strap, sending her towards the water below. Her hair whipped around her face and she saw the water fast approaching. She closed her eyes, crossed her arms over her chest and brought her feet together. The sharp impact of the water knocked the air that she had saved from her lungs. The water was icy and everywhere her skin was bare, the water froze. Her fingers clung on to her dagger and she tried to open her eyes to orient herself but it was near impossible. She was tossed around like a paper boat on the water and she broke to the surface after what felt like forever and made out the bridge shrinking from her. She gasped for air before she was thrown under another wave. Her back hit something hard and she clawed the rock behind desperately but the force of the water was to much to fight against and she was tumbling through the cold darkness.

After what felt like eternity, her face felt air and she gasped for as much air as her lungs could carry. But the water in her lungs threatened to choke her and she fought desperately to clear them. Her body was still moving up towards the sky and she soon felt ground beneath her again and she clung to it. She coughed and with the help of a strong force against her back, she could soon breathe without water in her lungs. She rolled onto her back and found Jarvan looking at her. She sat up and looked at him.

"You know, if you wanted to swim, there are much safer places then a river leading to a waterfall," Jarvan said. Kat looked past him and saw the ground disappear a few yards away. She swallowed hard.

"Good to know."

"All joking aside, are you alright?" he asked and Kat nodded.

"I'll be okay," she replied and started standing. Her back and legs were sore and bruised and her right shoulder ached, but she was alive.

"Where are Talon and Quinn?" she asked.

"Well, seeing as how I pulled you from the river, I'm assuming you fell off the bridge." Kat nodded. "So they should be here within the hour. Until then, let's see about getting you dried off."

He began to walk away from the river and Kat followed. Eventually they game to a tent and Jarvan stepped inside. He came out with a brown robe that was as long as a dress, with patches and dirt stains. There was also a simple peasant blouse and patch covered pants. Kat's nose upturned and she looked at the clothes before her in disgust.

"I think I'll wait for my clothes to dry off, but thanks for the offer," she said.

"Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to work," Jarvan replied. "If I'm going to be sneaking you into the city, you're not going to be able to wear those clothes." He gestured to her silver armor and leather attire.

She scowled, "So I'm to wear a peasants outfit?"

"Prisoner," Jarvan said and Kat's heart dropped into her stomach. She instinctively took a step back and looked from the clothes to Jarvan.

"This is a trap..." She said and Jarvan held his hands up.

"No trap, just a plan. You have my word," He replied.

She watched him carefully and he met her eyes evenly.

"Will you please put these on? Your lips are turning blue, and I'm not sure how that's even possible with bright red lipstick." he said and she frowned as she took the clothes from his hands. He opened the flap of his tent and gestured her inside.

"There is also a blanket if you need it," he said behind her. Kat rolled her eyes.

She set to work at peeling her wet leather off and found the wool clothing comforting to her clammy skin. She emerged from the tent with her wet clothes in hand and laid them in the grass to dry.

"Get some rest, I will inform you of the plan once Talon and Quinn join us," he said.

Kat shrugged, "I'm fine, really. I think I'll stay out here and wait for Talon if that's alright." She sat in the grass and looked out towards the river. "Thanks, by the way."

He scoffed in response, "Did you think I was going to let you drown?"

"I wouldn't have blamed you," she looked at him steadily.

"Well, I can't just sit by and watch you die. If we are going to figure out what is going on, then we need each other. So, until you give me a reason otherwise, you are under my protection as long as you are in Demacian territory."

Kat stayed silent and watched the path for any sign of Talon and Quinn. She wasn't sure how long she sat before the Demacian eagle flew over their camp. It perched next to Kat and tilted his head before launching into the sky. Past the spot that the bird perched, Kat could just make out the two figures. She stood and brushed off the dirt and loose grass from her robe and started closing the distance between them. Talon looked at her and smiled.

Kat put her hands on her hips. "Took you long enough," she said with a smile before Talon embraced her.

"You scared me for a second there Kat," he said into her hair.

"You should know better then to think something as trivial as nature would bring me down. Plus, having a 6' 4" Demacian prince looking out for me helps," she said and Talon looked past her to see Jarvan watching from the tent.

"Thank you Jarvan," Talon said stoutly and Jarvan nodded. He brought out clothes similar to Katarina's current ensemble.

"Put these on, Talon," he said and Talon nodded before disappearing into the tent. He emerged with a similar brown, hooded shirt and patchwork pants.

"What is the plan Jarvan?" he asked as he started packing his belongings into his bag. He wrapped his wrist blade in linens carefully. Quinn handed Katarina her pack and Kat began to pack her mostly dried clothing.

"Well, you and Katarina are under arrest. You will cuffed and pulled behind my horse into the city. Quinn will have Valor carry your things to my castle personally. Once we are in the city, you will change into civilian clothes and request entrance into my castle at the gate and we will bring you to my office where you two will be staying."

"Seems simple enough," Kat said.

"You bringing in two prisoners will bring in a lot of attention, and I'm sure the prison will be expecting you to bring newcomers. What is your plan for that?"

"They will be told that you escaped but you were simply petty theives and you pose no threat to the city, assuming they even ask."

"We will have to hurry if we are to make it to the city with light still in the sky," Quinn said.

"And discussing the plan isn't going to change anything," Jarvan added. Jarvan packed up his tent and the Noxians handed their belongings to Quinn. She nodded at Valor and he launched himself into the sky and turning west towards the city. Jarvan pulled his horse forward and began strapping their hands together with thick leather cord.

"I want this loose enough that you can break away if you have to. But don't run unless it is your only option." He attached their wrists the long chords on the back of his horses saddle. Then he mounted and pulled the chords. "Well, let's go then."

He tugged the chords and they began their trek. The city gates were not far from where they were and soon the tall, white stone loomed before them.

"Keep your heads down, I don't want anyone recognizing you. Especially you Katarina," Jarvan said and Kat nodded. Quinn pulled up their hoods.

"Good luck," she whispered and then disappeared in the forest.

Kat and Talon gave each other one last look before Jarvan continued on, leading them into the city.