(Jarvan IV- PoV)

Just take a break, Jarvan. You can't push yourself too hard. It'll be fine. The kingdom won't burn down without you in a week or two. We'll take care of things.

The memories play out in my head as Shyvanna and I stomp through the shining white halls of marble and petricite.

A week. I was gone, a week. And then I get a letter informing me that Garen Crownguard, Might of Demacia Garen, my best friend and most trusted confident Garen, has been declared a traitor to the kingdom, along with his little sister. And they sent Vayne, Vayne to bring them in.

My grip tightens on my spear. Technically I shouldn't carry it with me to this meeting, but to hell with protocol. I am very, very tempted to shove it up the backsides of every one of the councilors at this moment.

Slamming the reinforced doors open I march into the room. Grand Marshal Tianna Crownguard, Garen's aunt and member of the Council, is waiting for me in one of the seats. The others are currently empty.

I stride to my own seat and drop into it with a resounding thump, slam my spear down beside me, and glare at Tianna. Shyvanna takes position just inside the door, standing with her arms crossed while giving the woman a look that has literally sent men to their knees.

"What in all the hells happened Tianna?" I all but shout at her, in no mood for pleasantries. "A week! I was gone a week! I hope you have a damn good explanation for this because right now I want nothing more than to let Shyvanna rip apart every damned member of this council."

Shyvanna's deep growl of agreement is enough to cause many knights to void themselves.

Tianna glares back at me.

At least she's not a coward.

"You think I am happy? Garen was my favorite nephew, and now our family is shamed with having traitors to our name." She slams her fist on the table, the wood splintering as her hand sinks deep into the surface. "Crownguards, turned traitor! Madness. I...ugh."

She shakes her head.

"You want an explanation? Fine. The Council was called after ridiculous reports from several agents that Garen helped a Noxian agent escape."

"Nonsense," I whisper.

"Exactly. What possible reason could he have to do such a thing? It only got as far as it did due to several separate Demacian agents reporting it. We did know he was in town, so we would ask him to rebuke the rumors."

"And his answer?" I demand.

"He could not be found." She states, her voice hard as petricite, looking me in the eyes. "We discovered that he had visited the Academy and had retrieved Lux. She was reported as having difficulties settling in, so he claimed to be taking her to tour the city, to remind her of her duty and status, to help her acclimate. He was supposed to return her within two days.

Suspicious. Incredibly so, for anyone else. But given his history, his name, and reputation, it was agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt. So we waited the full two days, and extra besides. And he never returned, nor has anyone seen or heard from him since," she states with finality.

"Garen would not suddenly betray the country, betray us, join Noxus, grab his sister, and run for nothing." I lean over the table. "Do not try to give me the runaround Marshal. What are you not telling me?"

Finally, she looks away, clearly ashamed of something.

"Lux's enrollment in the Academy was not entirely...voluntary. She has always been..different, difficult. I thought little of it, the silliness of youth, but it drove her parents mad. When it was discovered she had magic? That was their last straw."

I narrow my eyes. That...doesn't sound good but nothing to cause...this. She must be understating things. What exactly was happening in that house?

"I recently spoke to them. My brother mentioned he had sent Garen a letter after sending Lux to the Academy. Garen arrived in the city four days later. He must have left as soon as he got the letter."

I close my eyes. It still doesn't explain the why, but it does not paint a pretty picture for his innocence.

Tianna sighs. "So no, Garen did not betray Demacia to randomly join Noxus. He did it for her. For Lux."

"That...I still find it hard to believe."

I know they were close when growing up but...

Tianna shakes her head. "You didn't know him very well back then. I saw the way they interacted. He doted on her, utterly adored her. He was such an exemplary example of our ideals in every other respect that I thought he had grown past such childishness but I was mistaken. It seems for whatever reason he felt he had to choose between his country and his sister, and he choose her."

I...will need time to dwell on this. But there is still the other matter.

"I see. And Vayne?"

Tianna's face hardens.

"Something had to be done. I didn't like it. I still don't like it. But we couldn't just ignore the situation."

"Vayne is a barely controlled monster only one step above the ones she hunts." I ground out. "And you sent her after your family? You know she is going to kill Lux right? No matter what orders you gave?"

Tianna once more looks me directly in the eyes. "I know."

...

"Why?" I can't fathom it.

"Lux was always different. Never quite fit in. I always expected she would adjust eventually, and become a proper Crownguard. But now? It's too late. At this point, she is just a shackle, holding back her brother. Once she is removed, there is at least a chance we may be able to bring Garen back to the right path. Vayne will give him an easy target for his ire, and leave us with plausible deniability, we did order her to capture, not kill, after all."

...

There's so much more to do. More plans that need to be made, more questions that need to be asked, more work to be done, but I can't. I can't do it. I stand up and leave the room, Shyvanna following me.

I cannot sit there and look that woman in the face after she calmly arranged the murder of a family member, a child even, to maybe, possibly get a more useful one back.

She has always appeared so reasonable. Hard, harsh even, at times, but fair. But inside, she must be broken.

I've always focused on Garen, and haven't really considered the others, but now I have to wonder, are these really the people father trusts our lives with?