Chapter Six: Zeymah

Garett rolled onto stomach and pushed himself up. He touched his face and flinched as sharp pains exploded through his head. He looked down at his hands they were covered with blood his own blood. He blinked several times trying to clear his vision to no avail. Swearing under his breath he looked around the battlefield for his brothers in arms. Blood and gore surrounded him the earth torn asunder dragon fire destroying much of the surrounding forest. He took a deep breath ignoring the greasy smell of burnt meat and the taste of iron in his mouth and set out to look for survivors.

Jarvan looked at the ground grabbing a fistful of bloodied earth and clenched his teeth. This is the blood of Demacian's my brothers in arms…..my friends he thought to himself slamming his fist down. He closed his eyes and stood bracing himself for the disaster that surrounded him. He grabbed his lance and pulled himself forward.

Garett could see the glistening of gold in his peripheral vision and turned to look at Jarvan. He started to approach but stopped short of the other man the look in Jarvan's eyes giving him pause so empty.

"Sir are you alright" he asked.

Jarvan snapped out of his stupor and looked at the young man in front of him. Garett suffered from a massive laceration on the right side of his face his eye swollen shut. He was limping but stood to his full height when Jarvan approached him.

"I'm fine Garett, can you walk I need help finding the others" he tried to offer the solider a smile but it faltered when Garett grimaced.

"Damn dragon got me pretty good, tried to take my head off ended up slashing me. Almost crushed me the bastard" he gestured to his face turning his head to give Jarvan a better look.

Jarvan winced when he saw the full extent of his soldiers' injuries. The laceration stretched from the top of Garett's head down across his right eye splitting open his lip two small cuts ending on his chin. Garett coughed spitting up blood scowling. Jarvan reached into a pouch in his armor and pulled out a small flask of red liquid handing it to Garett.

"Thanks, Cap I'm not sure how many of us pulled through, Argyle and Darcy didn't make it fucking dragon ripped em apart" he took the flask from Jarvan shook his head and downed it in a single swallow.

Soft green light began to envelop the young man as his wounds slowly began to close and his bleeding stopped. He touched his face it was tender and hurt but he could live with it. Jarvan looked at him his face would have massive scaring and the vision in his right eye would be greatly impaired but he would live when they got back to Demacia he would ensure he received proper medical attention.

The two men silently walked around the battlefield stopping to close the eyes of their fallen brothers. Garett stopped when he heard coughing coming from the great scar of fire scorched earth. He singled to Jarvan with a flick of his head and they approached a burnt mass of armor. the sting of burnt flesh clung to their noises and Jarvan exhaled sharply. He slowly moved around the armor still glowing a soft red and his breath caught in his throat. Sitting in front of him was his lieutenant Dagonett clutching his side. Dagonett was badly burned on his upper body, parts of his leather armor still smoldering. Jarvan kneeled and approached the other man shock evident on his face.

"Lieutenant can you hear me" Garett asked as he moved around to see what Jarvan was looking at.

Dagonett looked up at the two men and smirked.

"Course I can hear ya, you stupid bastard I'm burnt not deaf" he tried to chuckle but winced.

Jarvan smiled and turned to Garett "go find some medical supplies and report back" he flicked his eyes towards the edge of the area where several bags lay smoking. Garett nodded his head and walked off.

"Now Lt you want to tell me just how busted up you are, move your hand" Jarvan asked taking on a serious tone.

Dagonett rolled his eyes but obliged. As soon as the pressure was off he began to bleed heavily and he winced. Jarvan removed his gauntlets and placed them on the ground beside him moving to Dagonett's side he started removing debris from the wound site.

"Jesus Cap didn't know you could be so gentle" Dagonett said fluttering his eye lashes at Jarvan.

Jarvan snorted and pulled a piece of metal out of the wound. Dagonett winced and started laughing blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Jarvan smirked and moved away from his lieutenant wiping his blood off on his armor.

"Help me up, I don't feel like falling on my face if I can help it" Dagonett smiled up reached a hand out for Jarvan to hoist him to his feet.

Dagonett started to tumble but quickly regained his balance waving Jarvan off. He sighed and looked down at his torso and flinched. Three small holes decorated what was left of his leather chest piece from the dragon's talons blood trickling down his leg pooling at the ground near his feet. Jarvan suggested that he should sit back down but a firm look from Dagonett shut him up. Garett came walking back with a bag in hand and threw it at Jarvan's feet.

"That's all that's left sir, most of our supplies burned up and I'm no doc neither are you sir, Argyle was the medic of the group what are we going to do" he gestured toward Dagonett.

Dagonett threw his hand up and shook his head "Don't worry about me lads, just give me a health potion and I'll be right as rain let's not waste what supplies we have left".

Jarvan wanted to protest but he knew how stubborn Dagonett could be. Garett handed the lieutenant a potion and watched as it enveloped him in a green glow. Dagonett's abdominal wounds began to bubble and he flinched the bleeding slowly stopping leaving pink scars. The burns surrounding the shredded leather armor faded however the skin was still stretched and uneven.

Dagonett shrugged and rubbed his arm that was badly burnt. "Seems fine to me, a bit stiff and not pretty to look at but I'll manage. ladies always liked me for my irresistible charm anyway" we winked and laughed as Jarvan shook his head.

The rest of the afternoon was spent gathering what supplies they could find amongst the rubble and burring the dead. They had found Conners and Hart unconscious with a few scraps and bruising but otherwise unharmed. Three men had been killed during the fight with the dragon.

They had just finished burying his friends and the rest of his company had gone to rest before heading out Jarvan decided to stay awake knowing he could not sleep. He sighed and looked up at the stars hoping they would offer him some comfort. The night was quiet and he leaned his head back against the cool bark of the tree he was leaning on.

I have already lost more than half of my men, I couldn't protect them, hell I can't even protect myself. What was I thinking when I decided to go on this fool hardy journey it has brought me nothing but pain. Have I learned nothing from my time away from my home. Can I even call Demacia home would I be welcomed back the exemplar of Demacia who led his men to their deaths. I'm not the example of a shining solider I don't deserve their praise. I don't deserve anything he pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. He removed his helmet and looked down at the glistening golden armor. The azure gem glinting in the star light. He rubbed his thumb over the gem smearing mud onto it dulling its beautiful shine. He wore a sad smile remembering how proud he was to wear the helmet in his hands a crown fit for a prince. Now wearing it almost felt out of place among his companions he was no prince here just another man they were all equals.

Garett awoke to the sounds of a beast in distress the wailing sending shivers up his spine. Never had he heard something so sorrowful so demonic. The crying was almost feminine but with every wail the forest shook. He quickly jumped to his feet and looked around to find his captain.

"What in the world is making them bloody noises" Dagonett sat up and scratched his head blinking away his exhaustion.

Jarvan approached the group and stood beside Garett nodding as the other man looked at him.

"Dragon" Garett said looking to his group of companions.

"Well what are we waitin for let's go kill us that bastard" Dagonett said jumping to his feet grabbing his great sword.

Jarvan nodded and the group set out to following the sounds of the distressed beast. Before he left the clearing he turned for a final time and looked out over the unmarked graves of his friends.

"Farewell brothers" he saluted and turned following the others.