Chapter Four: The Vanguard's Secret

It was way too early in the morning for this. Jarvan knew he shouldn't have had this discussion with both Quinn and Garen in the room. He watched them glaring at each other, feeling the weight of their anger on his own shoulders. The prince even invited Lux, Garen's sister, to try and be a mediator. But, of course, her big brother told her to stay out of it. Jarvan's blue eyes narrowed down at the map of Golden Crossing he had in front of him. He had scribbled notes on the aged parchment, arrows and question marks nearly covering it.

Today's discussion? Tracking down a group of mages that managed to avoid capture. It was a mess of a situation. Nearly a whole block of buildings had gotten burned down before the mages made a break for Golden Crossing. Jarvan knew they would most likely be headed for inner lands of Runeterra. It would be risky to let them free. It would show other fugitives that they wouldn't be pursued and it could lead to an attack. The rogue mages could easily ally with Demacia's foes and sneak an assault on the home they once lived in.

But what was the problem?

As the Captain of the Vanguard, Garen wanted to lead his troops on the trail leading away from the inner lands. He suspected they would head towards the frozen lands of the Freljord. Which was foolish. Quinn mentioned on her travels to speak with the leaders of the Avarosan that they too had a mage problem. Magic wasn't looked greatly upon there either. Quinn suggested they look towards entering the mainlands. No one would want to subject themselves to the harsh colds when warm inner lands were a choice. Garen didn't appreciate her help.

Quinn kept her golden eyes on Garen as he scowled down at her. She could feel the rage bubbling down in herself with each second that passed. The growing silence in Prince Jarvan's study was making Luxanna and the Prince himself uncomfortable. They gazed at each other, mouthing a few questions.

"Got anything else to say?" Quinn snarled.

"I do, actually." Garen's lip curled into a condescending smirk, "Someone like you doesn't deserve to be in our ranks. You have no idea what you're doing."

"Garen!" Jarvan's voice boomed yet his knight didn't flinch. Luxanna's usually sweet smile was replaced with a frown, very unlike her. The prince slammed his hands on his desk, knocking over the stacked papers. He took in a deep breath to calm himself, "I've had enough of the bickering. You two are going to bury the hatchet."

"Going to hard when the hatchet weighs nearly three hundred pounds." Quinn sneered, eyeing Garen's large frame. He glared down at her and her face mirrored his.

"Quinn…" Jarvan warned, "I won't have this kind of hostility in my ranks any longer. You two are going to settle the differences now."

"But Your Highness," Garen now tried to be whiny, that is what Quinn hated. Whenever he knew he was wrong, he would go blubbering to his prince. The Captain of the Vanguard sighed, "I'm sorry for what I said. I was out of line."

"Disgusting." Quinn groaned.

"Don't apologize to me, Garen. Apologize to Quinn."

Garen looked over his shoulder towards the smaller woman, who had crossed her arms over her lightly armored chest. He stood there silently protesting. The prince groaned after a few seconds. He was getting nowhere with them. He glanced over to the younger sister standing beside him, her blue eyes on her brother. She noticed him and turned her attention to Jarvan. With a simple gesture of his hand, he asked for help. The young blonde suddenly felt tense.

"Garen!" She stomped her foot, everyone in the room looking at her little outburst. Lux seemed to be glaring at her brother but her expression was shifting between fear and embarrassment. She took in a sharp inhale, "Tell her or I will!"

"That has nothing to do with this, Luxanna. Stay out of it," Garen warned.

"Tell me what?" Quinn narrowed her eyes, jumping between the two Crownguards.

"It's nothing."

"Is not!" The blonde argued back. She was bright red in the face, "Garen… admit it."

"Will someone say something," The exhausted prince sighed at his desk. "If i need to remind you two, there are apostates plotting something sinister. If we don't act now, Demacia is in trouble."

"Just follow my plan, your highness." Quinn said, brushing by Garen with a hard knock of her shoulder. Their armor clinked together as she stepped in front of him. "Taking the way up to the Freljord is foolish to both those mages and the Vanguard. We will freeze before we even realize they aren't there. They are moving inward."

"Moving to the inner lands isn't what they are planning." Garen growled. "Let me command my Vanguard, scout."

"You're going to kill them!" She hissed. "Do I have to remind you what I've done in Golden Crossing?" The ranger glared up at him, "I apprehended the Noxian assassin killing the nobel Mageseekers. Twice. Because when he was under your guard, he escaped."

"That was one assassin! We are talking about a group of pyro-mages!"

"Yes, one assassin you couldn't handle." She rolled up her sleeve, showing an old scar going from her wrist to her bicep. It was deep and aged, and would have been fatal if it hit anything vital. "Dealing with him. Twice. With my guidance, a few mages won't be a problem."

"You are not in any position to make demands!" Garen's voice raised, "I'm taking the Vanguard to the north!"

"You're a fool, Garen."

"I lead. You scurry around in the darkness."

"Garen!" Lux shouted again, "I'm telling her."

"No—"

"Quinn, Garen is only being so hard on you because—"

"One more word, Luxanna, and Aunt Tianna is going to deal with you."

The younger girl pressed her lips tightly together, looking between Quinn and the Prince. She hurried out of the study. Quinn tried to follow but Garen blocked her path. Jarvan stood from his chair and walked after the girl. He stopped before exiting the door.

"You two stay here." He said darkly, "And I would advise you to talk like civilized humans before I take things into my own hands."

The study was silent. The scout and knight glared at each for a few moments before Quinn tried to move around Garen. He grasped her arm in his large hand, keeping her from exiting the room. She growled, trying to pull herself from his grip.

"Let go!"

"Prince Jarvan asked us to stay here."

"You're such a squire, Garen." She rolled her golden eyes.

"And you're just a little farm girl." He retorted.

"Spoiled blue-blood!" She growled, getting on her toes.

"Bird-brained peasant!" The knight lowered himself to her eye level.

The grip Garen had on the woman's wrist was crushing, causing a stinging pain. Any tighter and he would snap her bone. She groaned, trying to push his hand away. All of a sudden, his face aligned with hers. His lips brushing past her cheek to get to her soft lips. He pulled the stunned scout into his giant frame. Their armor clinked again, snapping him to reality. Garen gasped as he let Quinn go. She jumped back, wiping her mouth.

"W-What was that?!"

"I'm… sorry, Quinn." Garen's tone was calm. "I didn't mean to—"

"To kiss me?!" She growled, still feeling him on her skin.

"No. I didn't mean to be so rude to you." He admitted, "I don't think you're just a little farm girl."

"What are getting at, Crownguard? You trying to confess something?" Quinn tried to be sarcastic.

"Actually, I am." He said softly, lowering his head.

"Please… don't." Quinn stepped back.

"I can't." Garen stepped forward, his hand reaching out for her. "Having you here in the Capital with us, had made me realize something." His gaze was soft, "You have more heart and honor than anyone I've ever met. You put others before yourself. Not to mention, you have skills no one else has. Quinn…"

"You can't. Not for someone like me." The scout backed away until she hit Jarvan's desk right behind her.

"What do you mean someone like you?" Garen followed her, making her hop over the wooden desk to make more distance.

"My blood has no value. You're a Crownguard."

"That only matters to my Aunt. I was only so hard on you because of her and what she'll think. But, now, I realize that doesn't matter." He smiled down at her.

It made sense now. Tianna held Garen to very high standards. He carried the Crownguard name on him and everything he did. He was the Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard and arguably the strongest man in Demacia. He could easily find a wife worthy of his status. He knew that, if he gave into his temptations, his Aunt would interfere. He was protecting Quinn from that heartache.

As she looked up at him, seeing his sincere blue eyes, she let out a slow breath. She wasn't angry anymore. She understood. He offered his hand out and she didn't hesitate to grab him. The knight led her around the desk to him. Like a gentleman, he bowed and kissed her hand he held so delicately. Quinn smiled before cupping his face. While he knelt down before her, she fell into his arms. She embraced Garen passionately, catching the knight a bit off guard.

They forgave each other in tiny gestures. Quinn pressed herself deeply into Garen while he had one hand in her hair and the other gently on her lower back. With little effort, he lifted her up. She giggled into the kiss, making him smile. They pulled away, seeing each other new for the first time. Garen pressed his forehead against Quinn.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"For what?"

"For leading my men to capture those apostates." Garen grinned.

"We will do it together."