Surprise! I'm not dead! Just very busy. But I finally managed to finish this chapter. I'm hoping you'll enjoy it and as always, feedback is very much appreciated!

Chapter 6

Hydrangeas and Hyacinths

Lux

I always enjoyed the quiet of the Garden in the morning. When no one except the staff was up yet, Crownguard Manor seemed like a place I could feel safe at, even though I had to admit I felt a little bad for thinking that to myself. They were my family after all.

The morning dew on the flowers looked incredibly beautiful and it made me feel at peace a little. I almost didn't want to end the sight of it, but it hadn't rained in quite a while and the flowers needed watering. A calming, almost therapeutic exercise which was the one thing I insisted on tending to while I wasn't allowed to ride back to the capital. "That's what the staff is for" aunt Tianna always said, not wanting me to dirty my hands and knees in the flower beds, and although I appreciated her concern, I was sure that it wasn't towards me but the Crownguard reputation, which made me enjoy the task even more. It felt so… down to earth to do something as mundane as watering the flowers in the garden.

I found the watering can next to the pond where I could fill it with water. I didn't fill it up all the way, as always, since I liked taking my time with this. My petite statue only allowed me to carry so much. I did have combat training, Kahina had taught me, but that was more about speed and precision rather than heavy lifting. Speaking of Kahina, I missed him a little. It was in this garden that we had often sparred to improve my combat skills. I smiled at myself at the thought of the cherished memory before I lifted my watering can to water the hydrangeas.

"Need help with that?"

Startled, I spun, accidentally dropping my can in the process. The water spilt all over the gravelled path.

"Better be careful."

I grunted. "When did you get here, Jarro Lightfeather." It wasn't really a question and he understood that perfectly. The smug idiot answered anyway.

"Oh, I just arrived. You know, you're not making this easy for me, Lady Crownguard." He put emphasis on the last two words, as if he humoured the fact that I instructed him to not call me by my first name.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, picking up my can and refilling it. I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was avoiding him on purpose. I purposefully rearranged my schedule so I could evade my guard's watch for a little every now and then.

He sighted, although he seemed rather amused than defeated. "You're gonna cost me my job, you know…" As if, I thought. Tianna made it rather clear that she was very content with her choice as to who would pose as my guard.

"I'm sorry but I do not really care." I stated, tending to the hyacinths. "I'd rather have you respect my privacy and not follow me around."

"You know I can't do that." Jarro responded in a sing-song voice.

"Maybe that's why I'm trying to get you fired."

He laughed at that. Actually laughed. It made me furious.

"C'mon, Lux, you're breaking my heart here." He said, but I could hear the big idiotic smile on his face.

"It's Lady Crownguard! I'll have you know that your behaviour is most unprofessional. You would do well to learn on how to behave around the members of the Crownguard family." I wouldn't usually say anything as elitist as this, I absolutely resented using my family name as a way to get what I wanted, but this guy was getting on my nerves.

"I most humbly apologize." Said Jarro Lightfeather, still grinning as if he was the one in control of the situation. "I should have watched my tongue in the presence of thou, fair Lady Crownguard." He mocked.

"Okay, stop that." I replied, rather annoyed now.

"I am afraid I cannot stop that, for it is the truth."
"You're being ridiculous."

"Oh, but fair Lady Crownguard, is it not that, my humorous nature, which you like most about me?"

"No, I don't. You're embarrassing yourself."

"I'm joking, I'm joking." He laughed. Then his face went dead serious for a second and he added: "or shall I say: I jest, my Lady, I jest."

That was it. Did he really think he could just mock me like that? I held my can in both hands and emptied the rest of its content in Jarro Lightfeathers face. The water (and the shock) finally wiped that stupid grin off his annoyingly attractive face.

"What was that for?" he almost whined.

"What? Never heard of classical conditioning? You know, with the water spray bottle?" now it was me who was looking smug. Two can play at that game, my friend.

"You call that spray? Do you have any idea how long it took me to do my hair?"

Oh boo-hoo princess, I thought. Served him right, the self-centred prick.

"Why do you hate me so much?" he asked, wiping wet strands of his blond hair out of his face. "I'm just doing what I'm being paid for, you know."

I lifted an eyebrow at him. "I didn't know being awfully annoying was a paid job nowadays."

He looked a little frustrated now, which made me feel slightly triumphant.

"Okay, I know you didn't ask for this, but you have to work with me here. I need to pay my bills, too." He exclaimed.

I shrugged and refilled my watering can. "Then maybe you should stop being so unprofessional."

He looked like he wanted to say something but ultimately didn't respond. My anger died down and I felt a little bad for being mean. When did I start taking my anger out on people who aren't responsible for how thing are? Although, I had to admit, his personality was awfully infuriating. No, he definitely deserved it.

Shaking my head, I decided not to dwell on it and instead turned my attention to the roses. Their petals were turning dry.

"What happened to you?" Garen asked, raising an eyebrow as I returned inside, Jarro always walking a few feet behind me. I was confused, since Garen knew I would tend to the garden and get dirt on my hands every now and then. It only occurred to me that he wasn't talking to me when Jarro was the one to answer the question.

"I slipped and fell in the pond. The stones are treacherous."

That was an obvious lie. Not only to me, who knew what really happened, but also to everyone else, as only his hair and shirt were soaked. Garen just nodded though, as if he knew that getting into it wasn't really worth the effort. "I'll have the maid get you a towel."

"Are you riding back to the capital?" I asked my brother, seeing as he was fully dressed in traveling clothes and was sporting a massive backpack on his back. How a normal human being was able to carry something so horrendously gigantic eluded me.

"Yes, with all that is going on, I'm going to be needed." He said, trying to hide the concern in his voice. Concern not for our country, but our mutual childhood friend.

"I could come with. I can pack really fast and–…" Garen interrupted me.

"Lux, I'm sorry but you're to remain here for a while. It's for the best."

Of course.

"How is keeping me here under surveillance like a prisoner for the best?" There it was again. The anger I had felt so many times lately.

"I'm not starting this discussion again. Especially not in front of the staff."

"How much longer will you keep me hidden away? Don't you realize you can't keep doing this to me forever?"

"I will take my leave now." Garen said, making me even more angry when he started walking away.

"Oh yes, sure, run away from a conversation, very mature of you!" I shouted after him, but of course, he ignored me. The door of the hall slammed shut as Garen left Crownguard Manor. I groaned in frustration. "This is infuriating!" I said to myself and only realized that I had said it out loud when Jarro eyed me awkwardly. "I don't want to hear a word out of you!" I hissed. He put his hands up in mock defence. I was so angry I could feel the light threatening to surface again. Deep breaths, Lux, I thought to myself, remember your exercises. I inhaled deeply and let out an exaggerated breath to calm myself. This was fine. I was fine. I could not risk letting it show in front of him.

"Why did you lie?" I asked, mainly to distract myself from the anger towards my brother.

"Hm? Oh, I figured you were in enough trouble already. You probably don't need your brother thinking you were trying to give me pneumonia. You're welcome." He answered.

"Don't do that again." I said, trying to sound as neutral as possible.

"Excuse me? Way to show your gratitude, princess. I was trying to help." He exclaimed, seeming a bit taken aback.

"I didn't ask for your help. And I'm not a princess. Call me that again and I'll make sure you're not keeping this job." I threatened.

"Aren't you already trying to do that?"

My death glare finally shut him up. He realized that I was about to explode and didn't push me any further. Smart choice. I did not need this right now.

No matter where I went, I could always feel his eyes upon me. It made me uncomfortable to the point where I instructed him to keep at least a five foot distance. He sometimes did, but most of the time, he was being the obnoxious idiot that he was. I thought, as time passed I would maybe start being able to ignore his presence, but after a week all that happened was that his self-absorbed, cocky personality began to drive me insane. It was one thing that my privacy was completely disrespected, with Jarro following my every step except for the bath and my bedroom, where he would patiently wait outside, but it was another thing to be the single most annoying prick to have ever walked Runeterra. His gaze was uncomfortable but his remarks were the absolute worst. I was so close to committing a murder, but had to remind myself that I didn't know how to hide a body, so with the last bit of self-restraint, I managed not to laser him to death.

I hated that he followed me to the garden, commenting on my morning routine of tending to the flowers. "What are you, a grandma?" He'd say mockingly, "do you knit and crochet, too?"

I had learned to simply not respond to his remarks anymore. Sometimes he'd eventually shut up after realizing that I wouldn't talk to him, but other times, he'd just keep going on and on and on.

But the thing I hated most about him was that he was so god damn good at Tellstones. One time, when I was bored and had completed all my chores, I got over my resentment for him for a little while and invited him to a game of Tellstones. Boy, was that a mistake.

He won every single round and he wouldn't shut up about it for hours. Naturally, I challenged him to a rematch the day after but I just couldn't seem to beat him. It drove me so mad, I made it my new temporary goal to beat the smug bastard at this stupid game.

"How are you so good at this, I don't understand." I asked, as I lost the fourth round today. We were sitting at the wooden table in the kitchen after my parents had kicked us out of the study for being too loud. I felt like a child, but I didn't care. I was obsessed with winning at least one round.

"Face it, you just can't beat me. I'm a Tellstones genius." His signature grin was stretching all across his face and I felt like hitting him. With a chair. Repeatedly.

"Where did you even learn to play like that?" I demanded to know. "Tell me your secret."

He laughed. "I'm afraid I can't tell you my secret, but I can tell you where I learned to play. You see, my uncle taught me to play when I was a kid. I think he kinda hoped I'd play with other kids and leave him alone." He said laughingly, but I could detect a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"So your uncle is the actual Tellstones mastermind?" I asked.

"What? No, my uncle is garbage at that game, I said he taught me to play, not how to play well."

"But who taught you to play like… that." I motioned to the result of the last round we had just played.

"No one did. It's skill. I'm just naturally good at the game." He boasted.

"Yeah right." I sneered.

"It's true." Jarro countered but I didn't buy it.

"It's fine. You don't have to tell me. I'll defeat you on my own."

This time, he really smiled at me. Not in a mocking way, but genuinely. For a short second I forgot that I still resented him for being a shitty person.

"Sure you will." He replied, "Keep it up and maybe you'll have a shot at me. In 50 years maybe."

I collected the stones and set up another game.

"I'll beat you. You'll see."