Well...I'm back from the dead. I can't apologize enough for disappearing off the radar. Senior year got busy, I got bored with this story and had to do some fandom hopping before remembering how much I love writing this baby. Anywho, this is officially an active story again. Updates will be slow as I'm nearing the end and I need to make sure to tie up all loose ends in the best way possible. Also, I'm considering a name change to "Reign of the Raven". Please let me know what you think. And all the PMs I have totally ignored (sorry TehDARKTemplar! D: ) I'll be efforting to answer them...probably only the ones most relevant to this story.
Enjoy, and have a DRAVEN day~
Cassiopeia waited until she heard the latch of Katarina's door click closed before she emerged. The hallway was dark; not a soul stirred. She slithered up to her sister's door, arm poised to knock. She hesitated. Another shadow roamed the corridor.
"What are you doing out so late?" Cassiopeia asked the shade innocently.
The shadow in question, Talon, paused, "nothing."
"Doing nothing and headed nowhere, " She searched Talon's face for answers, "aren't we all? Lost souls floating aimlessly through life, inventing purpose, crushing failures."
"I don't...I'm not sure what you mean."
Cassiopeia laughed lightly, "Of course not, you're in the midst of it all; you haven't removed yourself so far from life's scope that you're merely a spectator." She glanced over Talon again, searching for any trace of intent, "Well then, you'd best continue doing nothing."
Talon nodded and began treading down the hall.
Then his expression clicked to Cassiopeia.
"You're jealous."
The assassin spun around, "What?"
"If there is one thing I'm good at, it's reading people. You're a tough one to crack, but I can see it clearly in your eyes, you're jealous."
"Of Katarina? I am no-"
"No," Cassiopeia interrupted, "of the Demacian."
Talon narrowed his eyes.
"The Demacian that is the object of Katarina's sentiments."
"Garen," Talon spat venomously.
Cassiopeia's green eyes glowed with interest, "interesting...Well, what are you going to do about it?"
Talon looked annoyed, "nothing. It's her problem."
"Oh, Talon, love doesn't work like that. You can't wait it out, sink into the shadows until you think you have an opening. Love isn't something you can stab, it's not decisive or swift. You're going to look up one day and you'll be too late."
Halfway through her speech, Talon had begun to stalk off. When she finished, he paused for a moment, clenched a fist, and said quietly, "shouldn't you be going wherever YOU are headed?"
The smile fell off of Cassiopeia's face. She turned back to her sister's door, balled her fist, mustered her courage, and knocked.
Cassiopeia didn't know what to think as her sister swung open the door. The more time they spent apart, the bigger the rift grew. What was she even doing here now? Why now?
Katarina regarded her with equal confusion as she peeked out at her sister.
"Did you...need something?"She asked. Awkwardness hung heavy.
"Yes...just to...talk," Cassiopeia looked up, biting her lip.
"Oh...alright. Come in, I guess," Katarina motioned her inside.
Katarina situated herself on her window ledge and Cassiopeia coiled up in the center of the room.
"Father's gone, isn't he," Cassiopeia burst before Katarina could speak, "for good," she added quietly.
"We don't know that for sure," Katarina wrung out her hands.
"Why do you do this to yourself?" Cassiopeia asked, anger hung on the edge of her voice. "You cling to this foolish hope, these pointless leads, it's only going to hurt you more when you face the truth."
"Why do you care if I get hurt?" Katarina demanded, annoyed, "you never did before."
"Because we're family Katarina, the only family you have left."
"How can you speak of family? You've secluded yourself for years, ignored the rest of us because you can't deal with your issues!"
"Of course you'd say that!" Cassiopeia threw her arms up, "coming from father's favorite. Why was I secluded? Because our family's public image was more important than my happiness. Besides, you all thought of me as a monster; it was easier to just shove me under a rug than to face the fact that I became something terrible."
"Father loved us both equally!" Katarina protested, "he was a respected government official, he did what he thought he had to."
"Estrange me from the people who should love me unconditionally? Is that what he thought was right?" Cassiopeia snorted, "I may have changed, Katarina, but I never ceased being your sister."
The assassin narrowed her eyes, "whatever, the past doesn't matter. This conflict isn't about you or me, it's about all of Noxus."
"It is too about us!" Cassiopeia snarled, "I have had it with your emotional constipation; I'm starting to think that you never care about anything because you are incapable of love. When mother died you folded your emotions away, let yourself become as hollow as this household, then when father disappeared you completely shut yourself away. You have become as cold as the steel you wield Katarina; and you can try and hide behind a mask of fire and spite, but you're clear as day to me. And we're family, you can't run from that."
"I'm not running!" Katarina snarled, leaping to her feet, "all this time I've been the strong one, the one keeping this household from crumbling! If I'd folded up into an inconsolable heap, where would we be then?"
"The strong one. Yes. Of course you think that," Cassiopeia shook her head.
"Yes, you heard me," she narrowed her eyes.
"If baseless bravado and blades are all one needed to be strong, why isn't the world composed entirely of strong men and women?" the Iamia sighed, "Katarina, when it comes to assassinating, you are one of the best; but when it comes to people, you're clueless. The world isn't composed of targets, Katarina, it's made of people, and you can't avoid your life touching the lives of others."
"What does this have to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with anything. Maybe you should try feeling something for a change; not doing all your work with blades, try using words."
"Because words never failed you," Katarina said sarcastically.
"They didn't. A blade did."
Katarina glared at her sister, "all this talk of words over blades...you're starting to sound like Swain."
Brazenly, unashamedly, Cassiopeia replied, "maybe he has the right idea."
"How can you say that after everything he's done?!" Katarina marched up to Cassiopeia and glared down at her.
"You don't have a shred of proof that he's done anything directly to us. He's simply advancing the Noxian Machine, a deed normally lauded by any obsessed with power. As for Darkwill; sure he made Noxus into what it is now: a terrifying military regime. But...he was a poison to Noxus. Don't try to argue with me," Cassiopeia raised a hand to silence Katarina's retort. "Out of the two of us, I'm the one who knows poison."
She slithered around and headed for the door.
"What lives am I changing Cass, tell me that," Katarina implored.
"Mine, for one, and Talon's." Cassiopeia paused to hear her reply.
"Talon?"
She rolled her eyes and groaned internally, "You really don't know a bloody thing, do you?"
Without waiting for a reply, Cassiopeia slithered back to her room.
As much as she wanted to feel what it was like to have a family again...why was it so much easier to embrace loneliness?
The next morning, Katarina received a strange, encoded message. Instantly, she recognized the encryption as being the same used by her father in his correspondence. In a flurry of action, Katarina decoded the letter, hoping it was something related to her father.
It wasn't. Rather, it was a note from the last person she expected: Jarvan IV. He was requesting an audience with her and Talon in Demacia.
Katarina gathered Talon hastily and showed him the note.
"You're going to acknowledge this?" he asked with contempt.
"Of course; perhaps Jarvan has some follow up information regarding our search."
Talon was still skeptical.
"He wouldn't have summoned us if it weren't important, not this soon after Swain's coronation when we could fall suspect of treason."
"Fine," Talon said briskly, "but how are we expected to get there?"
"Through the portal in Vexus Nirac's shop." Katarina affirmed.
They crept through the back alleyways surrounding the Ivory Ward, careful no one followed them.
Talon pried open the boarded up window at the back of Nirac's shop (deserted still), and ushered Katarina inside the shop. Then, in a flash of light, they were gone.
A pair of carefully measured footsteps crept into the shop minutes later. Dressed in shabby clothing, Nirac appeared to re-enter his shop for the first time in months. But the facade stayed only a moment once the shadows within the shop crisscrossed over the figure. With the end of an ornate staff, the intruder lifted the corner of the rug and peered at the faintly glowing runes.
"So that's how they've been doing it," she murmured.
The blame game continued. It didn't matter that the perpetrators had been caught, no one at the Institute of War would believe that Farnsley and Relivash were the only culprits. No two individuals could have caused the damage they managed.
Vessaria needed a scapegoat. She had unearthed nothing remotely incriminating of anyone (perhaps there was a bit of dirt on Bob Nashahago, but Vessaria easily passed it off as blackmail, or perhaps he was covering himself to avoid Nidalee's wrath). The High Council members felt the same collective tension; so long as the Institute believed there were more culprits, a victim needed to be brought forth. If not...then the High Council would fall under suspicion, and the whole Institute would be rent asunder. Vessaria couldn't let that happen; the League was the only thing keeping a new bout of Rune Wars in check. If it were to become the source of chaos... Vessaria shuddered to think of the futility of finding peace in the aftermath. If a single, unifying, impartial force could not create lasting peace, what could?
A knock at her door jolted Vessaria from her troubled thoughts. It was only Erida Maude.
"Miss Kolminye, I have the latest batch of paperwork," she said formally.
"Leave them on the table, thank you," Vessaria replied curtly.
Erida turned to leave, "do you have any...SPECIAL jobs for me?"
"Keep an eye out for mischief...and make sure the Champions don't do any snooping. They can't know the extent of our problems. No one can. Be certain nothing dire gets leaked to the public. And if you see or hear anything suspicious, report directly to me, understand?"
"Yes Miss Kolminye," Erida nodded.
"Good girl," Vessaria whispered once she'd gone.
The moment the news of Swain's coronation reached Jarvan's ears, the prince lurched into a flurry of action. He burst headlong down the streets, desperate to speak to his father; in his mind, Swain was already at the doorstep, about to invade with a thousand troops...
But halfway down the street, Jarvan began to notice that nothing was awry. Children still spun in the streets with wooden swords, merchants went about their work, and clusters of guards doing their rounds gave Jarvan quizzical glances. The prince slowed his gait slightly, but forged onward to the palace.
He was admitted easily into the throne room and approached Jarvan III with a polite bow.
"Father, why has no force been amassed?" Jarvan IV demanded respectfully.
"What is this newfound need for an army, my son?" The king asked curiously.
"I assume you know that Swain was recently crowned ruler of Noxus, I assumed he would be mounting an attack..."
"Ah, my boy, headstrong as always," Jarvan III laughed, "Your rivalry blinds you; Swain is not fool enough to mount a full scale attack, he has too much weighing on him within his own city state. At least," the king added, "I hope he is wise enough to avoid war."
Jarvan IV nodded, not entirely convinced, "but we will be increasing our security, correct? Additional preparation will be made in case of conflict?"
"Of course," Jarvan III said gravely, "do not think that I am taking the matter of Swain's ascension to power lightly. He does pose a threat, more now than ever. But...as always the League is a barrier; I don't think Swain will try a direct assault knowing the League will side with us."
"And if he tries to assault the LEAGUE, what then?" Jarvan IV pried.
"He wouldn't dare presently," the king scoffed, "especially concerning the conspiracy surrounding his rise to power."
"What? This is news to me, father," Jarvan IV said, surprise raw in his tone.
"Have you not heard? Well, not to be one to spread gossip, there have been rumors that Swain willingly participated in the Relivash-Farnsley scandal in order to gain prestige in Noxus."
Jarvan IV's mind snapped instantly to the battle of Kalamanda; he had thought the League started it; had a summoner disguise himself as Jarvan and attack Swain...but if Swain had been a willing participant...could he have masterminded the whole battle on his own? Of course he could, Jarvan IV cursed himself for not making the connection sooner.
"Son, are you feeling alright?" the king asked, full of concern.
"I...there are just some people I need to relay this news to, thank you, father." Jarvan IV left in a mechanical stupor.
Swain had to be the culprit. Just as Jarvan had suspected.
Katarina and Talon landed in the reconnaissance room with a resounding thud. As before, they sent papers fluttering in a whirlwind. At the door, Quinn jolted to life, blinking away the swirling dust.
The assassins noticed her a moment later.
"Don't shoot!" Katarina held her hands up, one held the summons, "we're here in response to a message from Jarvan IV."
"I know," Quinn bobbed her head. "I'm here to escort you. Come with me." She waved a hand, motioning them along behind her.
The trio retraced the somewhat familiar path to Jarvan's study. Garen hung outside the door, much to Talon's annoyance. Moments later, Jarvan emerged.
"Ah, you came," He greeted genially, "I had doubts that it would be too risky to call you two this soon after Swain's coronation."
"It was dangerous." Talon muttered.
"I assure you, this matter is of utmost importance," Jarvan acknowledged Quinn, "if you could, stay here a moment, I must retrieve a few papers from the secret chamber. Katarina, Garen, please come with me."
Talon was about to object; he hated the idea of Katarina going anywhere with a couple of Demacians as he hated being left behind. With a disgruntled snort, he sat down against the corridor wall. Quinn hung in the hallway, keeping guard in case of any unwanted visitors. Her bird, Valor, flapped around before lighting down on Talon's shoulder. The assassin snapped to attention and brushed the bird away.
"Sorry about Val," Quinn apologized an instant later as the bird returned to her shoulder with an offended chirrup. "He gets like this around the anniversary of my brother, Caleb's, death."
Talon looked at her oddly, "oh. I see."
Quinn shrugged, "I don't think too much of it. Val's my family now." She peered down the corridor, "I think they're coming."
"Alright." Talon nodded. He thought a moment, remembering the scout's expression and mannerisms at the Kalamanda prison. The resemblance still remained, but Talon couldn't imagine how he would be in any way connected to a Demacian.
Once everyone recombobulated, Jarvan unveiled the rumors of Swain's involvement with Relivash and Farnsley.
"That's what we thought!" Katarina gasped, "Talon and I, we're certain Swain used the scandal to gain influence."
"How did you plan on using this evidence?" Jarvan asked.
"We were going to use it to frame Swain. Right now, he seems invincible. It was our hope the revelation would undermine his authority and leave him exposed for a challenger."
"Were you planning on challenging him?"
"No. I don't want to rule Noxus; I just don't want him in charge. We...we figured there would be a general in the High Command we could use as a puppet until my father is found."
"If he's not?"
Katarina flinched at the thought, "then at least he won't have the throne."
Jarvan drummed his fingers on his desk, "very well. So long as it doesn't threaten Demacia, Noxus' government isn't my concern nor business. However, we do come upon the issue of lacking evidence."
"There's plenty of evidence," Talon protested.
"We need indisputable evidence if we are to definitively frame Swain; if not, he can and will evade conviction," Jarvan sighed.
Katarina sat down with a disgruntled air, "fine. How can we prove it?"
"Ah," Quinn opened her mouth, but shut it an instant later.
"What is it?" Garen asked.
"I know it's not really my business, but you could always try a sting," she offered.
"I had considered that," Jarvan said pensively, "but Swain's too clever to fall for something as simple as a sting."
"Then...make it irresistible. Dangle something of importance - even if it's fake - in front of Swain - leaked intelligence or whatnot. Then he'll have to at least try for it."
"That still doesn't answer how we'll be getting the information out of him," Garen noted.
"Talon or I will be there, we'll corner him and force him to divulge the proof."
"That's shaky," Jarvan argued, "Swain would lie his way out, and if the sting is in Noxus, he'll have reinforcements at his fingertips, it won't work."
"What if...the sting was in Demacia," Quinn interrupted.
"No. Absolutely not," Jarvan snapped, leaping to his feet, "I'm not endangering my people for this intelligence. Swain will not be coming to Demacia."
"Alright, it was just a thought," Quinn said, taken aback.
"Maybe he doesn't have to come completely into Demacia," Katarina started, "The Reconnaissance room! We could lure him through the portal, lock him in, face him with potential capture by the League for 'invading' Demacia."
"That...just might work," Garen ran the plan over in his mind, "but what is the bait?"
"A free passage into Demacia, for one. We'll let him think that the information through the portal will give him a leg up on both Demacia and his opposition in Noxus," Jarvan affirmed.
"Who will stay in the reconnaissance room to apprehend Swain?" Garen asked.
"I will," Talon growled. He turned to leave and Katarina caught his arm.
"Is this about my father?"
Talon shook free of her grip, "of course, who else?"
Jarvan raised a quizzical eyebrow after the shadow disappeared. "We're all set for now, then. You all can return to your rooms for the evening."
All except for Quinn filed out in an instant.
"Did you have something to say, Quinn?"
"Will I be required for the rest of this mission?"
"You don't have to be. I don't want to force you into this battle."
"I'll be here if you need me," Quinn nodded.
"Good," Jarvan followed Quinn out into the corridor.
They walked in silence in the direction of the throne room. As they entered the vaulted chamber, Shyvana crossed their paths, nearly colliding with Quinn.
"S-sorry, your highness," she stammered and hurried along. When she was certain they were out of eyeshot, she peered behind her. An unwanted feeling dragged at her as she watched Quinn walk beside Jarvan.
"I'd better be heading home," Quinn said, "Val's getting impatient."
"Until tomorrow, Quinn," Jarvan nodded.
"I think Shyvana maybe wanted to talk to you or something," the ranger mentioned as she hefted open the heavy doors, "she was certainly waiting for you."
In a strange show of politeness, Katarina agreed to help Garen carry the materials taken from the secret chamber back to it. Since the room was known to only a handful, it was important to keep all the sensitive material it contained out of sight.
While Katarina stacked the remaining sheaves of paper, Garen stood by the door until she finished. The assassin turned around and asked,
"Is that all?"
"Yes." Garen said hastily.
"I'll be going then," Katarina made a move for the doorway, but Garen blocked her path.
"I- I can't stop thinking about you," he blurted.
Katarina froze, green eyes growing wide.
"I know you don't want to hear this...not now...not from a Demacian, but I've tried convincing myself I don't like you, and I can't deny it; it's the truth: I'm in love with you." Garen's hands flopped dejectedly to his side and his shoulders sagged. "I just...wanted you to know." He stepped away from the door.
"I don't know what to say," Katarina admitted after a suffocating pause.
"You don't have to say anything. You know, that's all that matters."
The assassin nodded and slipped by Garen, thinking she'd found an easy escape. But her mind rifled through unwanted memories: when she'd spoken to Garen after the Noxus-Ionia rematch, during the battle of Kalamanda, and when he'd protected her. She recalled the feeling of comradeship she felt towards him. Could it be possible that in so short of time comradeship could turn to...
Her emotions betrayed her. She paused in the tunnel, fists clenched, "I like you too, Garen." The words fell out of her mouth unbidden, but unregretted. She couldn't stand to face Garen now, but with agony, she turned. "But I can't think about this right now. There's too much at stake, too much I'd be risking...we would be risking everything." She shook her head, "maybe someday...when the world isn't complete chaos..."
"Yeah...someday..." Garen echoed. He looked away, and when he glanced up again, Katarina had disappeared.
In a daze, Garen left the reconnaissance room and returned to the Crownguard estate. Luxanna sat reading in the living room.
"I was wondering if you'd ever come home," she teased, "we made you supper, but it's cold."
Garen muttered a perfunctory "thank you" and proceeded to hang up his scarf; he completely forgot his family had planned an extravagant dinner.
Lux set down her book, "what's bothering you?"
Garen paused; there was no escaping Lux's prying, "I...ah...I kind of...confessed my feelings to Katarina," he winced after uttering the words, waiting for Lux's furious outburst.
"Really? What did she say?!" Lux jumped up, clapping her hands in excitement, "are her feelings mutual? You don't look like you got stabbed, so I'm assuming that's good!"
Garen shifted uncomfortably on his feet, "It wasn't...she seemed confused at first, then she admitted that she feels the same way."
Lux's eyes grew huge, "she didn't get mad? Are you two going to date? Are you sure this isn't a totally bad idea?"
"No...she said she can't worry about love...not until this whole scandal gets cleaned up."
"Well, now that's common sense!" Lux exclaimed , "Speaking of 'commons sense', have you really thought this through? I mean, she's Noxian, and a psycho assassin to boot."
"She is not psychotic!" Garen protested, "but...I know. And I'm Demacian...I just don't know how she could be happy - how I could be happy - living suspended between Demacia and Noxus," Garen sighed and took a seat next to Lux, pressing his face into his hands.
Lux patted her brother's shoulder comfortingly, "but, if you two truly love each other, you'll find a way."
"Why couldn't she have been from Piltover?" Garen grumbled, "that would make everything easier, right Lux?"
She colored slightly, "yes, yes it would. But would you have liked her like you do if she'd been from Piltover?"
"Probably not," Garen stood up, "Thank you, Lux. You always know how to make me feel better."
"What are siblings for?" Lux laughed lightly.
Garen retired to his room, unsure if confessing his feelings had relieved him of a burden, or created a bigger one.
When Katarina and Garen returned to the castle in response to Jarvan's summons the next day, it was as though nothing had happened. The rest of the crew, including Quinn, set about their daily tasks, completely oblivious. Neither Garen nor Katarina gave any indication anything had occurred between them, not even to each other.
Katarina began to feel confident that in no way would anyone find out about her's and Garen's affections.
Until Jarvan looked up and inquired, "Garen, Katarina, a moment if you please."
The two exchanged brief anxious glances, could he have found out?
"I need you two to infiltrate the League of Legends," the prince confessed.
What a relief! Katarina thought, then she realized the implications of what Jarvan had spoken.
"Infiltrate it?" Garen questioned.
"I need to know how far the corruption has spread, if it was indeed just contained to Farnsley and Relivash, or if something much darker is afoot within the League. Not for the sake of Demacia," Jarvan added quickly, "but for all of Valoran. If the League cannot be trusted, we are all lost."
"How do you propose we do this?" Katarina asked, twirling a loose strand of her hair.
"Simple. You and Garen will walk through the front door during the busiest part of the day," Jarvan explained, "as soon as you check in, start walking towards the champion quarters. If my calculations are correct, during the midday rush, you both will be swamped with admirers."
"And how exactly does this help us?" Katarina snorted.
"You can easily slip away from the crowd and leave Garen to humor his fans, then Katarina I'm trusting you to do some sleuth work. This is your area of expertise, check every locked door, every secluded chamber you can. And above all, do not be seen."
"Of course, they won't even know I'm there," the assassin scoffed, "what about the other guards and summoners?"
"Hopefully Garen's appearance will draw the guards out for crowd control, and if you see a summoner, act natural. It's not out of the norm to see champions wandering about the Institute. Satisfied?"
Both Garen and Katarina nodded.
"Excellent, I have a carriage prepared," Jarvan stood, "we leave at once."
Splitting chapter here.