Hello fellow league lovers. Another semester has come and gone and now I have some free time. With that free time, I am hoping to finish this story; start part two and do a Vayne/Evelynn and see where it goes from there. Enjoy chapter 26 and keep it classy!

Katarina shared an uncertain look with her companions. "Explain yourself," she said to the old man. He licked his lips and continued.

"The Black Rose is one organization we watch closely. It is a powerful group and an ancient one, as far as any of us can tell. We see its influence in many ancient texts and manuscripts." He shuffled to one of the book cases and pulled out a book on ancient Shurima. He flipped to a page that was bookmarked and on the page contained a picture of a ceremony of great importance. A man being lifted into the sky by a giant sun disk. His bony finger pointed to the corner of the picture, revealing a figure with short hair and a black veil smiling ruefully. A delicate gem rested on her forehead.

He grabbed another of an ancient tundra known as the Freljords. A battle was taking place in the valley and a similar figure can be seen on the edge, a top a large furry creature. He pulled out more and in each there was a picture or a description of a woman in black.

"They have always had a thirst for power, by manipulating things and people with magic, politics or more brutal methods, if necessary. We thought it was destroyed during the last Rune War because we didn't see much from them and so we began turning our attention to more pressing matters, such as helping to found the Institute of War or trying to stop dangerous schemes wherever possible. But we were all blind," he said the last sentence with anger and pounded the table with his fist.

"There was one more member of the Black Rose. She joined as a champion in the League and we kept a close eye on her, but little did we know that her reach was already farther than any of us could have anticipated. She is old, older than any of us in this room thrice over, and she shares the consciousness of all who came before her in a gem that she keeps on her head and with an ancient staff that can hold much more magic than any magical instrument I have ever seen. She can perform magics that have been long gone such as mimicry, invisibility and the likes."

"I believe she may have taken the form of Prince Jarvan to start a war. But why?" Katarina asked.

The old man looked at her and furrowed his brows. "I'm not sure, but to make such bold moves means she is close to completing her plans. We know she has influence in the higher ranks of the Institute, but we don't know who or how high up. She could have all three of the High Summoner's in her pocket for all we know. She could have none." The old man gave a defeated sigh.

"Then we'll have to find out," Talon said simply.

The group nodded. The old man tapped his chin and went to the files by Jarvan. He pulled a thick one out and started humming as he rummaged through the papers. "We think we might have found a connection to High Summoner Kenneth, but it isn't strong. If I were you, I would start there."

Talon nodded. "How big is this 'Crimson Feather'? Do we have any connections in the Institute we can pull to get closer to the High Summoner?"

The old man gave him a hard look. "We are everywhere and nowhere. And it will stay that way."

"So, what he means is he knows if there are or not, he just won't tell us," Garen said, crossing his arms.

"Think we could convince him?" Talon asked, barring his wrist blade.

"It won't be necessary. Plus, I doubt you could get him to talk anyway," Jarvan replied.

"You underestimate my persuasion skills," Talon said dryly.

"You didn't kill anyone did you?" Jarvan asked the old man.

The old man gave a wry smile, "A true pursuer of truth. You are correct young man."

"I'm also guessing I cannot ask you to leave," Jarvan replied.

"Correct again."

Jarvan gave an understanding nod before turning to the ladder. "So, is that a no?" Talon asked. Katarina and Quinn shot him a look before following Jarvan, followed by Garen. Shyvanna escorted the prisoner and Talon was the last to leave, giving one more hardened look to the secrets around him. Marcus had been here, he knew it.

Katarina pulled the hood back up over her face but took in a chest full of fresh air when they exited the prison. Garen strode next to her silently, despite Jarvan's glance. She did notice the color in his neck though. When they piled into carriages to head back to the palace, Jarvan was very careful to join them in one. The sheer size of the two men made it impossible for her to sit comfortably and when they returned to the palace, she stretched her limbs.

Together they sat in Jarvan's office and the mood made her chest tighten. "So, what do we do now?" she asked the room.

"Well, I'm pretty sure no one here is going to let this continue to happen." Talon said.

They nodded. "Do we go public?" Garen asked.

Talon and Katarina shared a look. Jarvan rubbed his chin. "I think we might have to," he said solemnly. "It might scare her out of hiding or at least put the Institute under some scrutiny."

"Do we confront High Summoner Kenneth first?" Talon asked.

"I can't do it. I've been banned from the Institute," Katarain replied.

"You what?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah… Head Summoner Lucinda doesn't particularly care for Noxians," she said quietly, her stomach turning at the memory of currents of electricity coursing through her veins, she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder and was surprised to find Garen comforting her.

"Then I'll go," Quinn offered.

"What about LeBlanc? I'm getting the feeling she doesn't want to be found," Talon pointed out.

"Kat and I found her house in Noxus, we might be able to find something there," Garen replied. Talon nodded. Jarvan still stared at the wooden patterns in his desk.

"Quinn. Move to the Institute, keep an eye on Head Summoner Kenneth. Talon, I want you to return to Noxus and watch Swain," Jarvan said. Talon crossed his arms.

"Since when do you give me orders? And why Swain?" he asked.

Jarvan gave him an apologetic look. "Swain has obvious connections to LeBlanc, based on the journal Katarina and Garen found. Maybe he will lead you to her."

Talon sat silently for a moment before nodding. "We can try."

"I'll head out right away," Quinn said, her golden, honey colored eyes taking on a new light. She and Talon headed for the door, leaving the original three.

"After I get word that Quinn is in the Institute, we go public," Jarvan said.

"We need to see how Head Summoner Kenneth reacts," Katarina said and Jarvan nodded.

"What about Talon?" Garen asked. Jarvan waved a hand.

"There is no reason Swain would suspect that information of the Institute would affect his plans. And if they do, it will only encourage him to reach out to LeBlanc more."

"We still don't know his end game," Kat pointed out. Jarvan nodded.

"But LeBlanc is using him. Attacking him using my face, meeting with him and your father at the same time. There is a connection, we just don't know how much it ties to the Institute," he sat up and leaned against his desk.

"Quinn should be there within the next hour," Garen said. "Assuming she takes a summoner."

"She will, which means we go public in the morning," Jarvan said. "Will you wish to join us Katarina?"

Kat had been lost in her own thoughts that the sound of her name pulled her head up. "Come out in public with Demacians? I doubt the High Council will look at it positively. I'd be signing my own death warrant. I will be there, but most likely not with you."

Disappointment crossed Jarvan's features but he nodded, "I completely understand. If you change your mind, please meet me on the balcony above the staircase tomorrow at ten."

She nodded, chewing her lip. "We should let you go. If we are doing this tomorrow, you have a lot to prepare."

"I would appreciate that," he said, turning away from them and looking out that large windows behind his desk into his garden.

The pair shared a look before Katarina pulled her hood up and headed out the door, with Garen not to far behind. They cast one more look at Jarvan before closing his office door silently.

"Royalty suits him," Kat said quietly.

"It does weigh down on him pretty heavily. It is something I have never really envied," Garen replied. They strode down the nearly empty palace hallways in silence for a while. Garen saw her chewing her lip, her tell of anxiety, out of the corner of his eye.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I've just got a lot on my mind right now," she said absently.

"Are you going to leave Demacia?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know, if my father was here and this 'Crimson Feather' is a thing-" she used her fingers as quotation marks "-then maybe I can figure out if he really is alive and where he is."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked, and she shot him a look.

"You don't want to be seen with me so I think minimal contact is best," she said coolly.

"Kat please," he said and grabbed her arm. He was surprised when she didn't pull away. He looked around to make sure they were alone and she rolled her eyes. "I've never been great at explaining myself, but please hear me out."

He let her go and she crossed her arms under her chest. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "Kat, I care about you, a lot. But being around you scares the shit out of me." She raised an eyebrow in response.

"I'm scared of what I might say. I'm scared of what I might do. I'm terrified of losing everything because of this but it's like I can't help it."

"Right and I have it so much easier," she spat. "Noxus isn't known for charity or understanding. Even standing here having a conversation without trying to lodge a dagger in your throat is enough to justify my public execution. Imagine what they would do about this!" She gestured with her hands to the space between them in a panic motion. Her voice was almost shrill with anger.

"Well what exactly do you want then?" he hissed. "Everything I've ever done you've at least reciprocated. You haven't stopped anything. Not in Kalamanda, not here. Not even when we were in Noxus," he had closed the distance between them and now he towered over her challenging.

She shot him a glare before turning her face away. "You're right," she admitted after heaving a heavy, defeated sigh. "I haven't been. I can't."

He pulled her chin up, so he could see her face. "Then what do you want?" He could feel the desperation in his voice and face and he was painfully aware of the ultimatum he was putting before her.

She stared into his eyes for what felt like hours and he studied them. He could see flecks of brown in the brilliant emerald. And he saw them well up with tears, and he pulled her into his chest. She stayed there for a moment before pulling away.

He watched her for a moment and saw the indecision in her face. "I want something I shouldn't, and I'm still trying decide if I'm willing to die for it…" she said softly before turning away and disappearing around a corner.

It was the second time he had let her walk away, but her words still rang in his head. He risked dishonorable discharge and jailtime, at worse banishment. She risked her life, her family, everything to be with him. And she still chose to.

For all he preached about bravery and courage, he was a coward. And he was getting tired of it. His feet carried him before he even realized he was moving and soon he found himself in front of Jarvan's office. He could feel his heart beating hard in his chest and he had to take several deep breathes before he could settle himself.

He opened the door slowly and Jarvan looked up from his desk. "I wasn't expecting you again Garen. Is there anything I can help you with?" He never looked up from his paper and quill.

"Jarvan…" Garen said and the scratching of quill on paper stopped. His mind searched for any way to break the subject when he found Kat's fierce eyes in his mind. "I wasn't honest earlier."

"When?"

"When you asked me if there was anything going on between me… and Katarina," saying her whole name felt foreign on his tongue. And the words came out behind a clenched jaw. His mouth felt stuffed with cotton.

Jarvan looked at him with hard eyes. It was a long pause before he replied a short and harsh command for Garen to sit. He followed the order and sat in his usual chair, ready for every punishment imaginable.

Jarvan leaned on his desk and studied him. His eyes pierced through Garen and he could feel every inch of his skin crawl. "Garen, why did you come back here?" Jarvan asked.

It wasn't the first thing Garen expected and after taking a stealing breath he met his friends' eyes. "Because it's the right thing to do. You were right, this mission is extremely important, and I have no right to compromise it. And I accept any punishment you deem fit."

Jarvan gave him a face of disbelief. "What do you expect me to do? Banish you?"

Garen felt his strength waiver. "Maybe?"

Jarvan slammed his quill on the table and it snapped in his hand. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face in agitation. "Garen, you are my best friend. My brother. And you expect me to just banish you? Like you mean nothing to me? How can you ask me to do such a thing? Especially within hours of us going public against one of the most powerful institutions of any city state in all of Runeterra. Don't you know what you're risking here?" The last sentence ended in a hiss.

Garen looked at his hands. "I do, but I can't help it Jarvan. Since Kalamanda-"

"Kalamanda? You're telling me this has been going on for a year?"

"Well not exactly…"

"Is that why you wanted to take over your sisters' assignment?"

"Jarvan, will you please let me explain?"

Jarvan's face was stone cold. "No, I think I understand." He said and stood, turning to his garden. When he turned away from Garen his face contorted to pain.

It was some time before he spoke again. "I am going to pretend you never came here and that you didn't admit to treason and fraternizing."

Garen felt his jaw drop. "Seriously?"

Jarvan heaved a heavy sigh. "You know what you're risking and if anyone finds out, I can't help you." He turned with a slight scoff. "Doesn't mean I won't try."

"So, does this mean I'm not banished?" Garen asked.

"If you become banished because of this, it won't be by my hand," Jarvan replied. "But I need you right now."

Garen stood quickly and joined Jarvan. "Thank you Jarvan, really."

Jarvan gave him a stern look. "Let's take down the Institute of War."