A/N: A rather large time skip happens here from the previous chapter - approximately two months forward. I'll leave this quote as my note until the end.

"And thus, the hands of fate begin to turn."


Since joining the Illuminators, it took a few days to adjust to long stretches riding horseback.

Fiora slid off the back of Lucette, handing the reins over to the stable keep. She lingered a moment to inquire about his morning up to that point. Her visits grew frequent enough she didn't mind him slipping up and calling her by her first name, but at this point in time familiar faces earned that right – if she trusted them enough of course. The blonde probably had a sizable influence with her lack of courtesy from the get-go.

Weeks of fitting excursions into a tightly packed schedule taught her patience.

She fiddled with the rolled-up parchment in hand. If Lux sent word of a new mission, usually Sayo, Noah, or even Eyrin arrived at her doorsteps to notify her of such. A few times she made a trek to the Crownguard residency to request assistance directly. She tried to avoid having to do that as much as she could – the atmosphere surrounding Lux's home was dead weight at best and suffocating at worst. All together however, none of them require a formal summons meaning this had to have come from someone outside of their secret group within the order.

It took two months since Terbisia for Fiora to overcome the ugly twist in her stomach anytime she approached the Illuminator headquarters.

Fiora hurried up the steps. She was late – reasonably so, given she just spent an entire night catching up with Nera who took oversight of certain matters the duelist couldn't spare time for. Kahina nearly collided into her when she opened the oaken doors, and they both stopped themselves only to give courteous apologies of being in the way before continuing on their business. She watched his retreating form as a memory resurfaced much to her dismay.

She never did quite get over the fact he kissed Lux on the cheek the first time they met.

"Ah, morning's greeting to you." Kahina vanished completely from her conscience when Noah approached her from one of the side halls.

"Good morning Noah. I hope I'm not terribly late."

He shook his head and smiled warmly. "Not at all. I believe Miss Buvelle just arrived mere moments before yourself."

"Miss Buvelle?" So it hadn't been Lux that sent the summons, but House Buevelle. She doubled her pace to match his, the urgency in his step hinting at the gravity of the situation. "I assume Sona."

"Yes." Only one door was cracked open, enough to allow the morning light from inside the room to filter through. He knocked once before pushing it open, stepping back to let Fiora through first.

The duelist spent the better part of the first month getting around his overly-dramatic episodes to appreciate the genuine sincerity not many knew of. The second month was her actually thanking him politely whenever he considered her before himself.

If only he wasn't such an ass at times nor the fact his preferences lie with other men, he wouldn't be a bad suitor.

"Good morning Fiora, glad you could make it." Fiora wiped Sayo's shit-eating grin off her face with a glare pinpointed at her propped feet on the table. "Alright, alright, mom."

"Ahem," Noah cleared his throat and swept his arm to the final occupant within the small meeting hall. "This is Sona Buvelle. It would seem you and her are well acquainted?"

The duelist and the healer met gazes, though Fiora answered only. "Oui."

He sat down in one of the chairs around the round table. "Good, introductions aren't necessary. Sayo, if you will?"

"Miss Buvelle came this morning with a time-sensitive request, and along with it asked for you specifically." The duelist glanced over at Sona, but the mute had her gaze trained on her hands. She recognized the nervous twiddle of her fingers. "Unfortunately Lux won't be available for this particular mission due to the Prince requesting her audience for official business."

This was news to her. "Of what sort, do you happen to know?"

Noah answered. "The Illuminators is a large organization with wide influences in every part of the kingdom. Much of our comings and goings deal with a general broad of issues the Crown is directly involved with, and as such a representative is sent to help advise the King and the Prince on what actions to take next. More often than not Crownguard regularly volunteers, as is expected of her name and duty."

That would make them one hand short, but Fiora managed with far fewer hands in more dangerous endeavors prior to her joining the Illuminators. "Where are we headed?" she inquired.

"Cloudwoods, we're looking for a specific person who goes by the name 'Wisteria.'"

"It's a pseudonym." Fiora felt all pairs of eyes land on her, but she locked with Sona only. "You're asking about Mina Winstrom, aren't you?"

The mute nodded enthusiastically. She began making rapid gestures, all of it lost to them except Sayo.

"She says she lost contact with Wisteria some three weeks ago. They usually exchange communications twice a week since Miss Buvelle regularly trades for her herbal wares. She's concerned the revolts have led to something happening to the town she lives in."

Fiora stared at Sayo, a bit slack-jawed. "You understand her?"

The white-haired woman affirmed her question with a few similar gestures, bringing a smile to Sona's face as she held her hand up in silent laughter. "I act primarily as Miss Buevelle's translator when she requires assistance from the Illuminators. Not many known sign language due to its unique need, but I learned it quickly enough."

The duelist leaned back in her chair, tucking one hand under her arm while the other drummed fingers along her temple. She would have to pester the woman at some point to learn from her – being able to converse with the mute was a much better prospect than guessing her messages.

Yet, another uncertainty tickled the back of her mind. Every time they convened, she learned something quirky about the mysterious Illuminator. She seemed to have an answer for questions confounding them, or brought up a hidden talent useful to whatever predicament they were in. Sayo proved an invaluable ally, albeit a reclusive one, and she had striking similarities to Nera.

Subservient, inquisitive, and thoughtful. Were all Ionians like this?

"Is it difficult to learn?" the duelist asked before she had a chance to stop the question from leaving her lips. Sayo smirked and nodded. "Very. You are learning an entirely new language, like learning Noxian or any from the First Lands."

Fiora narrowed her eyes. "How did you find the time?" And that was something that bothered her – where did Sayo find time to harness all these abilities? For someone who could hardly be older than herself, she exceeded even the breadth of knowledge Nera possessed; that said a lot considering the snowy-haired woman was probably the smartest woman she knew to date, save Sayo.

"Time is always on my side."

"Ladies, please," Noah interjected impatiently, rasping his knuckles across the wooden table. "The matter at hand? We can discuss semantics later, but right now we have a duty to fulfill."

"My apologies."

"Pardonne-moi."

Fiora bit back a smile – she could feel Sayo glaring daggers at her accent.

"Since you are most familiar with the involved party, would you be comfortable being handed the reins for this mission?" Usually Lux or himself led their group and played the diplomat with those they came in contact with. Fiora's directness and Sayo's lack of tact usually put them at odds with each other let alone their charges. But this was the duelist's field of expertise out of the three.

"This is as much a personal matter to me as it is for Miss Buvelle, I'm certain," Fiora combed a hand through her hair. "We should depart immediately."

The other three agreed with solemn nods.

"I'll send word to Lux then to let her know we'll be unavailable for the time being." Noah found a spare sheet of paper and a quill and scribbled something hastily. "I hate to bother you Miss Buvelle, but if you would be able to find the time to deliver this..."

Sona accepted the folded note. She turned to Sayo with a few signs.

"She wishes us the best and hopes good news will come of it."


Requests from the Crown rarely surprised her, in fact she expected a summons a couple times a month if enough turmoil troubled the crown. From that fact alone, it made this particular instance incredibly odd.

With revolts going on around the kingdom, Lux half-anticipated Kahina to notify her if the King or Council required their input yet nothing came for quite some time. Even stranger yet it was Prince Jarvan IV who asked for her, and her specifically.

She had maybe a fleeting chance to send Eyrin with the message to the Illuminators she wouldn't be available for an unprecedented amount of time before being ushered into a whirlwind of preparations for his visitations. Why is he coming here directly anyway?

This was far from the normal business she had with the Crown.

Nevertheless, the blonde prepared herself accordingly and donned her best uniform. Everyone else seemed more frantic and uncoordinated as she passed the chaos in the halls and headed for the entrance. If she was right...

Lux cracked open the front door and peeked outside.

Sure enough, she spotted the familiar standard bearing the crest of the royal family, the Lightshields. She giggled and slipped unnoticed by the rest of the servants in the mansion, hopping down the steps to run full speed at the entourage.

The guards prepared for interception, but a single, raised hand from the Prince stopped them right as Lux barreled into him with a fierce hug. "Jarvan!"

Jarvan laughed and secured an arm around the blonde as he swung her around in a tight embrace. "Lux, it's been far too long since we last talk. How have you fared?"

She was all grins and giggles when he set her down on her feet. "Well enough. Busy with Illuminator work, but all the same otherwise. What brings you around to our home?"

He smiled, and her own faltered slightly. It was forced, stiff. "I was hoping we could speak somewhere comfortably. I do not wish to spread misinformation, lest we already add to the chaos engulfing our kingdom presently." Lux grabbed his hand without hesitation and led him towards a side path skirting the mansion. He stopped in his tracks briefly to address the guards moving to follow him.

"I am in safe hands, there is no need to accompany me."

"But sir-"

"I am in the care of Miss Luxanna Crownguard. You know, Crownguard?"

The heavy emphasis on the 'guard' part of her surname instilled enough embarrassment to halt their advance. "What shall we do in the meanwhile then, my liege?"

He waved his hand. "Shoo, go guard the gate or something. I won't be long."

They grumbled and ambled back towards the entrance to the estate in a symphony of metal plates clanking. "Undignified, the lot of them. I'd rather have Xin Zhao at my side."

"Well you can't always have him with you, as much as I would prefer his stuffy no-nonsense attitude to their overzealous dedication." Lux carried on with her lead and they meandered through the pebble pathway to the gardens. Not a soul breathed in the vicinity, in part thanks to the announcement of the Prince's arrival, which made this the perfect place.

"Now," she began, sitting down on one of the stone benches. Jarvan followed suit, albeit a little more slowly. "What is this super-duper important piece of gossip I need to hear from His Highness?"

Jarvan smiled at her humor, much more relaxed than the earlier formalities. "You never fail to amuse me. I'm glad that hasn't changed."

"Oh, you wouldn't believe everything I've been through in the last few months."

He chuckled and leaned back on his hands. "I'm sure I've heard it all before Lux. Just please, no more explanations of double rainbows. I think my own father could recite that by heart how many times I've told him, from learning from you."

Lux rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm, and he played along in mock-hurt. "How scandalous! The Crownguard inflicting harm upon the Crown!?"

"Oh shut it." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "You know Laurent, right? Fiora, specifically?"

"I've not interacted with her in many years, but she was courteous enough towards me at that time. I know of the rumors that spread and her reputation of disposing those that try and sully her name however."

"Well she isn't quite like that. She's actually pretty nice once you get to know her..."

An awkward silence fell over him, as he struggled to voice the phrase he rehearsed so many times in his head before making the choice to come out today. Days of pacing, weeks of choosing the right words, and months of mustering up the courage to follow through. She was a bright light in the midst of darkness swallowing their kingdom whole, and a shining beacon of hope through the tireless efforts in reaching out to as many of their citizens as she could. The more he thought about it, the clearer the picture and sounder the reasoning. There was no denying that a union between their homes would unite their power in an unshakable force for anyone to reckon with.

Garen made that much clear from day one. He was still his ally, his best soldier, his confidant, and most importantly his best friend.

Yet, deep within his heart, he felt nothing more than platonic love for the blonde who entertained his younger days with an overbearing zeal for knowledge.

It made it that much harder then, listening to her speak so avidly about the duelist she must have grown close to as of late.

He saw the admiration within her eyes – it reminded him of his own unfulfilled desires and wishes.

Jarvan swallowed thickly, mustering past his inhibitions and closed his eyes to steel himself.

His father's face flashed in his mind's eye.

For the King... and for Demacia.

"Lux?"

The blonde stopped mid sentence, looking over at Jarvan curiously. He had been silent the entire time yet when he grabbed her attention, there was an ominous weight to his tone.

"Luxanna Crownguard, Lady Crownguard, you vowed to uphold the pillars of which our kingdom rests on, to fight for justice in the good name of Demacia. You have sworn unshakable fealty to our King, and have honored your duty as per dictated by the house you were born in. There is yet, one more favor I must ask of you, and you alone."

He rose from the stone bench and poised himself in front of Lux, dropping to one knee as he reached into his pocket.

Blood drained from Lux's face. She already knew long before he procured the singular object sealing her fate. Please, don't do this Jarvan-

Jarvan's voice remained strong despite eyes full of regret.

"Lux, would you marry me?"


A/T: Whew. Okay. Time to break a few things down.

As you guys have noticed, I changed the title of this story as well as its synopsis. I wrestled with the idea of changing those for quite a few chapters now (actually since chapter 3-4ish), but didn't commit until now seeing as more plot points are coming through. I wanted to set a proper tone and for those of you unfamiliar, a song I hold close to my heart has major influences. Look up 'Ursine Vulpine ft. Annaca - Wicked Game' and you'll get a good idea of where this is probably headed. How so, only time will tell but this particular version of Chris Issac's original touches on the exact feelings I have for what happens.

Secondly, this chapter was the most difficult for me to write. The first draft sat on my desktop for a good couple of days or so with a very rough structure of how I wanted it to go, but ultimately it ended up being split up and some scenes rearranged accordingly. And to be honest, I wasn't happy with the direction it went, so I spent sleep-deprived nights wracking my brain over how to proceed. The previous chapters were more of an organizational issue but this one falls into the category of "it-burns-a-lot-but-it-needs-to-be-done" sort of deal.

On to slightly-more 'positive' notes:

Gimp1000: Thank you for continuously supporting me! Actually, this extends to everyone who supports me by checking this story out. I don't feel like I'm a blessing at all, since I still have many areas I can still improve upon. But it helps to hear that so many of you enjoy it, and being my first official LoL fanfic dealing with a pairing that doesn't receive as much love as others, it keeps my mind going.

Liryda: It was an unexpected surprise honestly. I hadn't planned on sitting down and writing, yet there I was at the smallest table in the corner of the food area of my grocery store furiously thumbing away at my phone while listening to Awaken on repeat. This usually happens when I'm at home, sitting in the dark of my room with nothing but my laptop light and a fan blowing in my face (because fuck this heat) at like 2 AM. Maybe I do need more lunchbreaks instead of super late nights/early mornings.

Locke03: This is what I love most about the current situation in regards to lore and biographies - it's vague enough to where certain things are possible, but detailed enough where we're not having to come up with crazy ideas for the world. And with enough research, you can find some odd bits of extra information not found on the wikia yet confirmed through Rioters in the past.

Until next time - you guys will be seeing me very soon again.