"So where are we headed?" Shyvana asked as she stared skyward, watching as heavy snowflakes twirled down around her. She wore a large smile and she opened her mouth every once in a while to let a snowflake land on her tongue. Jarvan grinned as he watched her bounce about, doing her best to catch snowflakes, but the heat of her breath often melted them before they landed, clouds of steam emanating from her mouth as she huffed angrily when a large one completely floated past her tongue.
"Just to visit some old friends." Jarvan said softly, still watching as Shyvana danced ahead and struggled to catch a massive snowflake. She giggled happily as she finally caught it, though it melted almost instantly on her tongue. The streets weren't heavily packed; many people not willing to venture out in the heavy snow. Though it had been falling through most of the night before and into the midday, there wasn't much upon the streets. The Demacian Works Department was doing their best to keep the streets open and clear, using magic to move the snow out of the streets. Jarvan could see that the snow was nearly knee deep off the beaten path.
"So. Where are you from?" Delancey strode slightly ahead of them and she looked slightly bored as she walked down the street.
"How about you explain why you're following us?" Shyvana said with a frown on her face as she wrapped an arms tighter around Jarvan's arm, gripping his hand.
"Well, technically, you're following me." Delancey said with a cheeky grin. Shyvana stamped her foot, but Jarvan cut her off before the dragoness could snap a retort back. Jarvan chuckled softly and gestured to Delancey.
"Shyvana, meet Sergeant Vivian Delancey." Jarvan said, coming to a halt outside a large gate. Shyvana frowned slightly at the blonde haired woman who's obnoxiously blue locks bounced with every step. Shyvana watched it with a bit of annoyance in her expression, but Delancey turned to face the dragoness and smiled. "Delancey, meet Shyvana."
"It's a pleasure to met you, ma'am." Delancey said, bowing. "Please, just call me Del." When she stood back up straight, she extended her hand from beneath her cloak, revealing her armor and uniform.
"Hello." Shyvana said hesitantly, but she accepted Delancey's hand and shook it. Shyvana glanced uncomfortably at Jarvan who was watching the exchange. He could see that Shyvana was frowning and offered her a smile that withered quickly.
"Sergeant Delancey is on my staff." Jarvan said trying not to look too grim as his face fell, looking up at the gate.
"What he's trying to say is that I'm his bodyguard." Delancey said with a grin. "One of them at least."
"Bodyguard?" Shyvana said with a frown. "Why do you need a bodyguard?" Shyvana wore a worried look as she gazed at Jarvan. He looked a bit sheepish but shrugged.
"I don't need one to be honest." He chuckled softly. "But it was something my father insisted upon, and it's not like I had a choice."
"Whatever you say, sir." Delancey shrugged. "We have arrived though. Perhaps we should go and pay our respects?"
"Oh... yes, of course." Jarvan said, the enthusiasm draining from his voice. Shyvana looked up at him and frowned. Jarvan's gaze passed over top of her head, looking as something distant. Shyvana squeezed his hand but Jarvan's hand remained still.
"What is this place?" Shyvana said, her voice small. Delancey looked to Jarvan, but his expression had hardened and his mouth had thinned out into an impassible line.
"This is the Memorial of the Fallen." Delancey said reverently. "This is where Demacia pays in memoriam to those who have died away from Demacia on the field of battle. It is a sacred place for sending off the fallen and serves as a reminder to those who have served Demacia to the fullest, paying the ultimate price. To us Demacians... it is tantamount to holy ground."
Jarvan started slowly up the sloping path as it wound up the snow covered hill. Shyvana followed him as they ascended the cliff, letting him lead her up the path. Jarvan paused part was up though, there was someone already standing at the summit of the hill. Jarvan's hand twitched slightly, and Shyvana looked up at him, seeing pain thick in his eyes caused a pang of grief to strike her heart. The person who was standing atop the hill slowly moved past them, down the hill.
"Jarvan?" Shyvana said softly, tugging on his arm under his cloak.
"Hmm?" Jarvan looked down at her and she could see tears starting to form in his eyes. He wore a smile, though it was cold and distant as he looked upon her. Shyvana felt her throat begin to thicken.
You're supposed to be the strong one... Shyvana shook her head and gently wrapped her arms around him, remembering how he had comforted her in the past. It was now her turn to return the favor. "It's alright, Jarvan." She said softly, looking up at him again. The pained look on his face had deepened, but his eyes were a bit warmer, as if the hug Shyvana offered him reminded him that he wasn't alone right now. "Take you time. There's no need to rush this, we have all day."
"Thank you." Jarvan said as he wrapped his arms around Shyvana, holding her close, nuzzling her hair. Shyvana couldn't help but blush, but at the same time she felt fuzzy and warm inside. "I think I'm okay now." The prince said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. He released Shyvana from his embrace, but he held kept a firm grasp on her hand. Shyvana could see part of herself reflected in his eyes now as he looked back up to the summit of the monument: he looked like a young child, afraid of everything around him. Shyvana knew that terror, that feeling that the entire world is out to get you. Shyvana gave his hand a squeeze and Jarvan closed his eyes for a brief moment before he started back up the steps.
The summit was sparse, but the tracks in the snow showed just how many people had been up here despite the heavy snow that was coming down. Jarvan paused for a moment pulling the bottle he was carrying out from under his arm and glancing at it before he took a deep breath and approached the edge of the flat, open area that marked the monument. Two guards stood at attention on either side of a flag pole where the Demacian Flag whipped and snapped in the wind. It glowed brightly with some sort of magical illumination as Jarvan ground to a stop and snapped off a stiff salute. He held it for a long period of time before he dropped the gesture, a weary look passing over his face.
Shyvana hugged his arm encouragingly and Jarvan nodded his thanks, stepping past the flag to where the monument began to crumble away to the sheer cliff. The waves crashing against the rocks below reverberated up through their boots periodically, the sound and smell of the surf below cathartic in nature. Jarvan stopped mere inches from the hundred foot drop, simply staring out over the sea. Shyvana leaned forward and looked over the edge, surprise showing on her face.
"You mean every one of these flowers..." Her voice trailed off.
"Every flower is a life that was lost for the glory of Demacia and the protection of her people." Delancey said after a few moments of silence from Jarvan. Shyvana glanced back over her shoulder at the blonde woman who stood off to the side, her arms crossed over her chest. Shyvana slowly let her hand slip out of Jarvan's hand and went back to stand beside the sergeant, fidgeting nervously as she tried to hold her hands in front of her. She shook the snow from her hood as glanced back at Jarvan.
"Jarvan has lost more that most men of this age." Delancey said quietly, so as not to disturb the prince as he stood at the edge of the cliff, letting the sea wind caress him.
"There are millions of flowers down there though..." Shyvana said softly, glancing towards the ocean. Flowers floated along the surface of the water as far as the eye could see, drifting along the surface in an almost solid sheet as the waves slowly dispersed them.
"Demacia's past isn't without blood or conflict." Delancey said as a bit of sadness washed over her. "We say we're better than everyone else... but when it comes down to it, we're just a violent and bloody as anyone else in Valoran." Delancey shrugged.
"What about you?" Shyvana said quietly, looking at Delancey. Surprise crossed her face but Delancey offered the dragoness a small smile.
"I lost my mother to an attack on a field hospital many years ago." Delancey said with a shrug. "My father raised me the only way he knew how." With a small jerk of her arm, a slender blade slid from her sleeve. She palmed the blade and twirled it around her index and middle fingers, carving a glittering series of loops in the air before it vanished back up her sleeve in another quick, clean motion. "I long ago got over my grief, though."
"Oh..." Shyvana said quietly, looking back to Jarvan.
"The Lieutenant Colonel, the prince, he carries a burden much heavier than most in this day and age." Delancey said, watching the prince as he stood at the edge of the cliff still swaying slightly.
"What do you mean?" Shyvana said softly.
"Sometimes it may not appear like it, but this is an age of peace and prosperity for Valoran." Delancey said, a small frown crossing over her face. "Her people are rich in character and possession, and there is little conflict to stain the ground with blood. In that regard, Jarvan is a bit of a pariah. He is still loved by his nation, of course, but in this world, there are those that resent him for what he did to their families."
Shyvana stared at Jarvan, her heart aching in her chest. "You mean..."
"Yes. Exemplar company." Delancey said softly, nodding. "I believe he carries survivors guilt for the loss of his company. He's haunted by the loss of the men he saw as brothers and sons, and the frustration he faces is like getting mocked by his very survival."
"I see..." Shyvana said softly. "I wish I knew what I could do..."
"Don't worry about it." Delancey said, putting a hand on Shyvana shoulder and offering her a brave smile. "Jarvan's been happier seeing you than I've seen him in the last week. If your presence is all it takes to put a smile on his face, then all you need to do is be there for him." Shyvana blushed but nodded. The popping of the cork drew her attention back to the edge of the cliff. Jarvan extended his arm and held the bottle of wine out and slowly began to pour it out. The wind stole the stream away, shattering the flow into thousands of small beads of liquid, each like a tiny gem stone. Jarvan watched them fall out of sight, lost amid the blowing snow. He turned and set the bottle down next to the flag pole, kneeling for a few moments before he pushed himself back to his feet with a heavy sigh.
Jarvan turned towards Shyvana when a voice called out to him. "Lieutenant Colonel Lightshield?"
Jarvan paused and looked back over his shoulder.
"Valentine?" Jarvan turned, surprise on his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." The young blonde woman wore a heavy cloak that had obscured most of her form, the heavy hood pulled low over her face against the wind and snow. She pulled it back to reveal emerald green eyes and brown hair that was pulled back into a bun on the back of her head. She smiled softly at the prince.
"Who is that?" Shyvana said, pointing to the woman that Jarvan had now begun talking to.
"That's Valentine Isaacs." Delancey said, glancing over at Shyvana. Shyvana felt shock wash over her. Valin had a daughter?
"I..." Shyvana felt conflicted as she watched Jarvan smile at the young woman and give her a hug. He waved goodbye and then turned back to where Shyvana and Delancey stood waiting.
"Thank you for waiting." Jarvan said with a smile. There was sadness in his eyes that Shyvana hadn't seen before, and as Jarvan took her hand in his and started to lead her down the hill, Shyvana couldn't get the green eyes of the woman from her mind. The soft brown hair, delicate skin and emerald eyes, everything a man could want in a normal young woman. Shyvana was amazed at how cute the young woman was. Valin had been hard and crude with good intentions, but the young woman they had just parted ways with was anything but. Shyvana felt something dark in the pit of her stomach as she glanced back over her shoulder to where the woman was left standing alone on the cliff.
The journey back into the city had been a quiet one, Jarvan strolling a bit more carefree, his attitude decidedly brighter and cheerful. Delancey looked conflicted about something, lost in thought. She was constantly glancing over her shoulder, but she looked unconvinced about what ever she was worried about.
They ended up on Merchant's Street, the colorful decorations and bountiful smells serving to improve Shyvana's mood as she and Jarvan strolled along, arm in arm. Though Shyvana was busy taking in the beauty of the decorations and the festive cheer, she had started to notice that people were staring at them as they walked down the street. Shyvana blushed and tried not to notice it, but the staring and comments were getting louder and more brazen.
"Um, Jarvan, people are staring." Shyvana whispered, pulling herself closer to him.
"Just ignore them." Jarvan said with a confident smile, glancing down at the dragoness. Though Jarvan tried to play it down, he was obviously enjoying the attention, smiling proudly as he strode down the street with Shyvana on his arm. Shyvana blushed a bit deeper shade of red, trying to sink her face inside her scarf as they walked, pulling her hood a bit lower over her face.
"They're not staring at you." Delancey said, trying not to grin at the dragoness's embarrassment. She patted Shyvana on the shoulder and tried not to laugh as Shyvana glanced back at her, red faced as steam rose off her head. "Well... maybe they are a bit. Mostly him." She said, pointing at Jarvan.
"Jarvan?" Shyvana said, frowning slightly, still trying to hide in her scarf.
"Hmm?" He mused, grinning.
"News about the Prince travels fast here in Demacia. Especially considering he was gone for two years and suddenly turned up again." Delancey smiled. "Rumors about his personal interests travel almost as fast. You'll probably be the talk of the city as of tomorrow morning."
"I... I don't know if I like the sound of that." Shyvana said nervously.
"Don't listen to her." Jarvan said, waving Delancey off and grinning crookedly.
"What would you know, you haven't been in Demacia in two years." Delancey said with a smirk. "News about the royal family travels faster than news about the Institute of War. Everybody cares and doesn't care at the same time." She shrugged. "It's a rather silly obsession of ours."
"Oh be silent." Jarvan said, rolling his eyes.
"See, it's true and he can't deny it." Delancey said, chuckling.
"Well, considering the gossipy tendencies of Demacian residents didn't change in two years, I'm surprised that the role of a bodyguard changed so much! Here I thought you were supposed to be protecting me and my date while we enjoyed ourselves, rather than making derisive joke after derisive joke! Oh how the times have changed." Jarvan said, injecting sarcasm into his voice.
"I have to ask, does he treat you the same way he treats his subordinates?" Delancey said rolling her eyes with a playful grin. "Lots of huffing, yelling and way to much arguing?"
"Well..." Shyvana said glancing up at the prince and then letting an elfin grin slip onto her face. "There's always a lot of attitude, but then again, he's a prince. Our arguments tend to involve decidedly less clothes though."
"Shy!" Jarvan said, blushing as he glanced down at the dragoness. She wore a proud smile as the prince tried to appear angry but he couldn't keep the smile from his face as Delancey nearly collapsed from laughing so hard.
"Oh wow." She said, clutching her stomach as she struggled to catch her breath and stay on two feet. "I don't think I've ever seen you so out of your element, your highness. I am loving this." Delancey turned to Shyvana. "Any time you guys go out, make sure I'm there to watch. This is so much fun."
"I'm going to bust you all the way back to private, Delancey." Jarvan growled, frowning slightly as he raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Delancey. She shrugged and struggled to regain her composure.
"Apologies, sir." Delancey said, grinning unapologetically. "It's just good to see you in such high spirits and all."
"Yes, well, thank you." Jarvan said, clearing his throat nervously, though both Delancey and Shyvana could see a smile on his face.
"So, Sergeant, where were you stationed before you were assigned to Jarvan's command?" Shyvana said, turning to look back at Delancey. She looked surprised, but smiled and shrugged.
"Nowhere important." Delancey smiled. "I served a few months with a border patrol unit, but I got shifted rearward after an incident with my commanding officer. There was a bit of a disagreement in the unit and, well, it didn't turn out great." A bit of a frown passed over her face and she glowered for a moment. She perked up immediately though, smiling overly cheerfully, but Shyvana could see a bit of frustration bunched in the corner of her eyes as she tried to keep her smile. "I got busted down to sergeant and was stuck, bouncing around from unit to unit in Military Command before I was assigned to Prince Jarvan." She chuckled softly. "I've been working under him for the past two weeks, more or less since he returned."
"I see." Shyvana said nodding thoughtfully. "What happened with your commander? It was my understanding that Demacia didn't tolerate insubordination..."
"There were... extenuating circumstances." Delancey said defensively. Shyvana frowned, curious, but she decided it was better not to push. Delancey looked hesitant at best. As if he could sense the conversation turning south, Jarvan slowed to a stop outside a shop and gestured to the building.
"We've arrived." Jarvan said proudly, looking up at the sign that hung over the door. Though it was colorfully decorated like all the other shops, trimmed with holly and fir, candles burning brightly in the windows, there was a decidedly older feeling to the building, as if it were slightly grayer than all the other buildings.
"'Blomgrum's'?" Shyvana said, reading the name on the sign. There was a faded Demacian crest on the sign, though there was something slightly off about the crest that Shyvana couldn't place.
"Yep." Jarvan said, grinning, leading her inside by the hand. "Come on, I have someone I'd like you to meet." As Jarvan started to lead her into the small shoppe, Shyvana stopped and peered through the window at intricate, inlaid swords, decorated with large gems that glimmered every shade of the rainbow, though much of it was covered in a fine layer of dust. Shyvana hesitated, but Jarvan's insistence finally won her over. They entered the small shop and were assaulted by a solid wave of warm air and the smell of coal smoke, iron and sulfur.
"Welcome to 'Blomgrum's' Armor shop." A small, large headed creature said from behind the cluttered shop counter. She disappeared behind the counter then reappeared from the side, pushing a pair of goggles up onto her head. She pulled a pair of heavy leather gloves off her hands and offered her small blue hand to Jarvan and then Shyvana in turn, nodding a wary greeting to Delancey who had followed them into the shop and stood waiting off to the side. When Shyvana took the diminutive blue creature's hand and shook it, she was surprised. While the creature's hand was just barely large enough to grasp Shyvana's palm, she had an incredibly strong grip.
A Yordle? Shyvana had heard stories but she had never met one before.
"Prince Lightshield." The creature said, after eying Shyvana up from the top of her head to her toes. She turned back to the prince and gazed at the crown he wore. "Problems with your armor?"
"None at all, Ambassador Poppy." Jarvan said, smiling. "It's in perfect condition, as always."
"Is that perfect by my description or by your description." The Yordle said with an even voice, not a trace of malice or annoyance in her voice. "You tend to return things broken and smashed to bits. I don't appreciate it when my armor that I work so hard to craft gets smashed." Jarvan grinned mischievously, and the Yordle shook her head. "I should have known. Bring it down here one of these days and I'll repair any major holes in it."
"I'll do that." Jarvan said nodding. "But I didn't come to inquire about my own armor."
"Oh? Not shopping for yourself?" Poppy said, narrowing her eyes and raising an eyebrow. "Then what brings you to my little shop here in the middle of Demacia?" She paused for a moment and then looked back to Shyvana. "I assume you're reason for coming involves this one then." She wiped her hands on a rag and then lifted a chest plate from a pile of armor. She handed it to Shyvana. She gestured to Shyvana and then paused, and taking a step back looking, Shyvana up and down again as the dragoness held the plate to her chest. "Armor or Arms?" She frowned and gestured for the plate back, which Shyvana handed over.
"Armor, actually." Jarvan said with a grin. "I take it you've heard the rumors?"
"Aye, but I've never been much of one for gossip." Poppy said, nodding slowly as she disappeared behind the desk and popped back up into view after what sounded like climbing a few stairs. She had already begun to browse the shelves behind her, looking for armor that would fit Shyvana.
"Point made." Jarvan said evenly, a thin smile on his face. "I'd like to commission a full set of armor for her, full steel, and a full dragon's skin mail liner. Poppy paused and glanced back over her shoulder at Jarvan and frowned just a bit.
"So, I suppose the rumors are true then." Poppy said, looking back to Shyvana with an almost mystical smile on her face. She hopped down from behind her perch behind the counter and reappeared in front of the desk much quicker than before, a smile on her face now. "Are you really a dragon, young lady?" She said, taking Shyvana's hand, turning it over and inspecting her palm as if she were going to find a label that titled her as such.
"Well, half dragon, half human." Shyvana said indignantly. She blushed a little bit, but there was enough offense in her voice that Jarvan grinned and Poppy took a step back, smiling.
"Pardon, Ma'am." Poppy said bowing. "I meant no offense. Dragons are merely a fascination of mine, their armored skin at least. I am Poppy, only daughter of Blomgrum, and appointed ambassador to Demacia from the Yordle capital of Bandle City."
"And you run an armor shop?" Shyvana said, surprise clear on her face. Poppy laughed and nodded happily.
"Indeed I do!" Poppy said with a proud smile. "My father, Blomgrum, taught me the trade and even though I am appointed to work with the Demacian Legislative Council, I spend my spare time crafting armor. Some of it I sell, though most can not afford my rates." She shrugged. "It helps me think." She disappeared behind her desk, but this time she did not reappear. Rattling metal and quaking piles of armor could be heard as she shuffled through pile after of pile of various armored bits and pieces.
"So," She said, sticking her head out from behind the counter, a small grin tugging at the corner of her calm face. "You came with the block headed prince," She squinted at Shyvana once more and then here eyes opened wide. She turned to Jarvan. "That must make her your new consort?"
"Indeed." Jarvan said in a measured tone.
The Yordle chuckled, looking to Shyvana. "Tell me, has the prince managed to ruin my armor yet again?"
Shyvana nodded, glancing up at Jarvan with an imp-like smile showing on her pink, wind kissed face. "Yes." Shyvana laughed. "It's hardly recognizable."
"Bloody hell." Poppy said with a forlorn sigh. "Anyways, I suppose you wouldn't have come to me if you needed simple armor. Tell me about your fighting style and what you need in a set of armor."
"Well..." Shyvana said hesitantly. Jarvan put a hand onto her shoulder and nodded, smiling. "I think it will need to stay with me when I transform. It will also need to be heat resistant to a high degree." Shyvana frowned. "Flexibility is also important."
"I see." Poppy said nodding. "Dual stage armor?" She frowned and glanced around the shop, looking for various pieces she could use. "This will be a rather difficult set." Poppy mused as she looked Shyvana up and down. She stepped around her and looked her back up and down and then frowned. "Two stage armor is not overly difficult. High ranking paladins and knights have often come to me for armor that can change its form when mounted or dismounted." She paused, tapping her fingers along a steel breast plate. "I suppose it would be prudent to get a look at this transformation before I get too far ahead of myself. I prefer knowing what exactly I'm working with."
"Uh... well." Shyvana said nervously, glancing around the shop.
"Perhaps it would be best not to do it in the shop." Jarvan said grinning.
"Yes, of course." Poppy said, nodding and tapping her finger upon her chin now. She glanced to the back of the shop and then waved for them to follow. "This way. There is a decent sized courtyard that we can use. It's secluded enough that we won't panic anyone."
"That sounds perfect." Jarvan said, chuckling. Shyvana nodded nervously but followed as they picked their way deeper into the shop. They passed a staircase and then emerged through a doorway into a large stone-flagon lined courtyard. They stood under a large awning, a glowing furnace, anvil and other pieces of smithing equipment stood warmed and ready for use along the wall. Snow had mounted up in the courtyard and was just starting to spill into the workspace that Poppy had set up for her smithing.
"Is this big enough?" She said, gesturing to the courtyard. Jarvan looked to Shyvana as she surveyed the area. She nodded as she glanced around and frowned slightly. She sighed and pulled her cloak from her shoulders and starting unbuttoning the blouse.
"Hold on a second..." Delancey said, her eyes growing wide, waving her hands slightly to forestall the stripping. "What are you doing?"
"Taking my clothes off?" Shyvana said, blinking, surprised. "I don't want to ruin them by transforming while I'm wearing them." Shyvana spoke as if absolutely nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Well don't do it here!" Delancey protested, fitting Jarvan with a glare. "Ambassador, is there somewhere she can change?"
Poppy looked surprised as well, but burst into laughter after a few moments, nodding. "Sure. This way." She said gesturing for Shyvana to follow her. Shyvana blushed slightly but nodded, holding her cloak to her chest as she stepped after the Yordle back towards the building. When they were gone, Delancey turned towards Jarvan and fit him with a disapproving glare.
"I can't believe you were going to simply stand there and watch while she undressed herself in public!" She exclaimed. Jarvan blinked a few times, as if absolutely nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Why wouldn't she undress?" Jarvan said with a frown. "It's plenty secluded back here..." He glanced around the courtyard. Not a single exposed window could be seen, they had all been shuttered closed against the winter storm. "...Besides. If she doesn't undress before transforming, she'd rip the clothes to ribbons and then what will she wear when we're done here?"
"Yes... but..." Delancey began to protest again, her face slightly flushed as she glanced away.
"If you think it indecent for her to expose herself to me, I've seen it all before." Jarvan said, frowning slightly.
"Sir!" Delancey snapped, her face now flushed. "I really didn't need to know that."
"What?" Jarvan said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I've seen her transform a number of times before..."
"That's not what I meant." Delancey said, running a hand over her face and sighing. "Sir, you need to keep it confined to the bed room now that you've returned to Demacia." She frowned. "You're putting undue stress on Miss Shyvana and you're going to make it difficult for yourself if you intend to have a future with her." Jarvan's gaze darkened.
"You seem to know something I don't." Jarvan tried to keep the menace from his voice, but there was more than enough growl in his voice to cause her to frown.
"To be blunt sir, I do'" Delancey said evenly. "You've been gone for a matter of years, so perhaps you've forgotten some of the responsibilities that come with being a nobleman. You are under scrutiny from all sides: your family, your people, the other nobles... you need to be mindful at the very least that anything that would draw attention to you normally will probably draw large amounts of trouble for you and Miss Shyvana."
Jarvan sighed, his shoulders sinking just a bit. "Yes, I suppose so." Jarvan glowered as he leaned against one of the wooden beams that held the shelter up. "It may be because I'm so used to being out in the wilds and small towns where people only see me as a warrior, not a leader, not a prince... but I became so used to being as intimate or as relaxed as I wanted to with Shyvana and the others." He frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath and expelling it explosively. "After all the stress of dealing with my father and the council I wanted to finally relax and spend some alone time with Shyvana." He wore a sad smile.
"I'm sorry about having to follow you around all day, sir." Delancey said, realizing just how out of line she had been. She snapped to attention. "Apologies sir! I didn't mean to speak out of place!"
"Forget it." Jarvan said, grinning wryly. "I believe the saying is 'It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission'?" Jarvan shrugged. "You're right though, I have been playing much too fast and loose with the rules." He chuckled. "I suppose I've already started to pay for it with that nice long stint locked away under house arrest."
"Perhaps, sir." Delancey said grinning. "If you have any questions or anything you would need to know about the world, please, don't hesitate to ask."
"I'll keep that in mind." Jarvan said smiling. The door behind them opened and Shyvana emerged, dressed in her cloak, using one hand to hold the cloak closed and holding her clothes in the other. "Welcome back." Jarvan said, grinning. "That took a bit longer than I expected."
"I took a full set of measurements." Poppy said, nodding. "Armor like this has to be snug or else it can cause problems for the wearer." She paused looking to Jarvan. "You wear a bodysuit that your armor is affixed to, which prevents subtle changes in fittings and other issues. A suit of dragon's skin mail is much harder to craft and requires much more precise fittings."
"Of course." Jarvan said, grinning at Shyvana who blushed slightly. She looked around for somewhere to put her clothes down.
Delancey stepped up, holding her hands out. "I'll hold them for you."
"Oh, thank you." Shyvana said, handing the clothes off. She looked around nervously but took a deep breath. Jarvan set a hand on her shoulder and nodded at her. She smiled barely and the stepped gingerly towards the snow, wrinkling her nose up as she paused at the very edge. She took a deep breath and her cloak began to billow around her, heat beginning to pour off of her. She took a step forward towards the snow and steam began to enshroud her, rising from the ground around her like a veil. The steam began to rise up in a great pillar.
She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath, steam jetting from her nostrils as snow swirled down around her. It twirled and bounced around her like she was encased in a snow globe, the hot air that poured from her body starting to lift the snowflakes and tossing them away like confetti. She grasped at her head and shrunk down a bit, snarling as pain played across her face. Horns burst from her skull, extending and curving back, each one gleaming a boney silver color and razor sharp at the tip. Shyvana looked up and met Jarvan's measured gaze, diamond shaped pupils gleaming. Fire exploded around her and sent a billowing cloud of steam erupting into the air, casting an eerie haze over the courtyard, obscuring everything and anything from view.
"I swear, I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing that." Jarvan said as a shiver rand down his spine.
"You're telling me." Delancey said, her entire body quaking now, her eyes wide. "I had heard the stories... but part of me didn't believe them..."
As the steams settled and thinned, the scaly hide and vicious claws of a young dragon began to take shape as if they were coalescing out of the fog. Leathery skin was covered in places with armored scales, the glossy armor gleaming against the white snow. A mane of ruby red hair ran down the dragon's back and massive wings quivered, folded back out of the way, the massive claws at the front knocking snow aside like it was nothing. She moved forward with her powerful hind legs till her head hovered just outside the shelter, her magenta eyes blinking as she turned, diamond pupils dilating slightly as she looked in at the Ambassador, Jarvan and Delancey.
Jarvan ran a hand along Shyvana's nose affectionately, smiling at the massive dragoness. Shyvana rumbled softly, approvingly, as if she were purring.
"That's stunning." Poppy said excitedly. "I've never seen an actual dragon like this..." She shook her head and smiled.
"Perhaps you'd like to get started?" Shyvana rumbled. "It's cold out here."
"Right away!" Poppy said happily. Jarvan chuckled as Poppy nodded and went to grab a pencil and a pad of paper for notes and a tape measure to reference just how large parts of Shyvana were. She immediately began to scramble over Shyvana, wrapping the tape measure around her arms, her tail, her chest, anything and everything. Shyvana followed orders about 'life this' or 'lift that' as well as she could, as Jarvan stood next to her, stroking her nose affectionately. Delancey hung back out of the way, watching cautiously as if she were afraid. Jarvan waved her over and though hesitant, Delancey approached slowly.
"Shyvana won't hurt you." Jarvan said, chuckling.
"Don't worry." Shyvana rumbled with a nod, pulling her chops back into an admittedly terrifying smile. "I won't bite... much."
"I think I'm going to take a step back now." Delancey said with a nervous wince. Shyvana snorted, a cloud of steam billowing over Delancey like a rolling fog bank. She waved the steam away and coughed, posting her hands on her hips and frowning at the dragoness. Shyvana snorted and chuckled and even Jarvan had to grin.
"Scared, Delancey?" Jarvan said with a grin. "And here I thought you were a top graduate from the Demacian Martial academy."
"Pardon me sir, but I developed a strategy for encounters like this while patrolling the borders: I call it the FEAR contingency." Delancey took a deep breath to try and calm herself and the looked Shyvana up and down again.
"I don't believe I've heard of that before." Jarvan said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Fear..."
"FEAR:" Delancey said with a grin. "Fuck Everything And Run." Jarvan snorted. "If I saw you coming towards me... yeah... I'm gone." She shook her head as Shyvana smiled again, her shoulders shaking slightly with a deep chuckle of her own.
"Some soldier you are." Jarvan said, leaning against Shyvana and grinning at Delancey. "What happened to the Measured Thread? They don't use the little brown book any more?" Jarvan spoke of the handbook that outlined the Demacian Ideology and moral code for new recruits during their three year mandatory service period.
"Oh they still do." Delancey said, running a hand over her head, brushing her bright blue bangs from her face. "But when you're patrolling the border with only small units, it's better to make a tactical withdrawal and call for reinforcements rather than standing and fighting, dying, and then not being able to get any information back to the rest of your unit." She shrugged and sighed. "Luckily we never had to utilize said strategy, but it was always my last resort."
"'Death is inevitable; one can only avoid defeat.'" Jarvan said, quoting the Measured Thread with a think lipped smile.
"Ah, but see, we were avoiding defeat." Delancey said with a grin. "It's wasn't surrender or retreat either." She smiled mischievously. "We were merely advancing in another direction!"
"Straight backwards for the sound of it." Jarvan said with a snort.
"Oh and I'm sure you never ran from anything, right?" Delancey said, giving the prince an annoyed expression. Jarvan opened his mouth to reply, but he froze, clamping it shut after a moment and glancing to the ground, a dark frown now marring his face.
Too far, Del! Way too far! Delancey shook her head and stood up a bit straighter, watching as Shyvana nuzzled Jarvan's shoulder gently. The prince sighed and looked back to Delancey, his eyes muted and cold. She felt her heart stop beating in her chest as he glared at her with those eyes, devoid of life and merciless. They weren't normal, they didn't even look human. They were the eyes of a dead man walking.
"I wish I had." Jarvan said flatly. He sighed and then closed his eyes, running a hand over his face. "That was a long time ago." He tried to smile, but Delancey could see the pain in his expression. Shyvana nuzzled his cheek gently, glancing towards Delancey with a mix of curiosity and frustration in her expression. Delancey turned away and decided it better to leave it at that.
"Alright, I'm finished now." Poppy finally said as she flipped through pages of notes. "If you'd like to transform back now, young lady, I have one last thing I'd like to check."
Shyvana nodded and let out a deep breath, steam billowing from her nostrils. Jarvan picked up the cloak and tossed it over her shoulders as she began to shrink. The dark, leathery skin began to pale almost to the color of the snow. Though the cloak barely stretched from side to side of her back, but as she shrunk, the cloak covered her in her entirety. Jarvan helped her to her feet and held her arm as she pulled the cloak over her head. She tugged her braid out from the cloak as well and ran her hands gently over it sighing tiredly.
"Are you alright, Shy?" Jarvan said, as she leaned a bit more heavily on him.
"Yes, I think so." Shyvana said weakly. She shook her head from side to side, "I don't think I've ever had to transform like that though. I usually rely on..."
"Anger?" Delancey said as she held the clothes out for Shyvana. Jarvan gave her an annoyed look, but Shyvana nodded nervously.
"Anger drove me when I was a child and I never learned any other way to control the transformations. Anger and fear, rage... emotions fueled my strength." She looked slightly withered as she tried to take a step and stumbled. Jarvan caught her, lifting her up. "Apologies, Jarvan. I tried to use my own strength this time. It didn't work quite as well as I'd thought. I... I might need to lie down."
"Come on, we'll get you dressed, dear." Poppy said, gesturing for them to follow. "I'll make some cocoa to warm you up."
"Thank you." Shyvana said gratefully.
"We can't impose on you, Ambassador." Jarvan began to say, but the Yordle shook her head and laughed.
"Nonsense." She wore a grin. "As much as you're going to be paying for this set of armor, your highness, the least I can offer you is something warm to drink."
"Thanks." Jarvan said, finally nodding and helping Shyvana inside. They headed upstairs to where the Yordle put a pan on the stove. She poured some milk in and added a few things as well, bouncing around the small kitchen while Jarvan waited in the parlor. Delancey helped Shyvana dress in a side room. Poppy returned to the parlor and set a tray of mugs down on the low table and then pulled herself into a chair that was much too large for herself.
"I must admit, Ambassador, I'm surprised at how well furnished this is." Jarvan said glancing around.
"I make quite a bit on the side as far as my smithing goes." Poppy said, shrugging and gesturing to a loveseat for Jarvan to sit down in. He perched himself carefully as if he was afraid it would break, but as he settled into it, nary a creak escaped. "I sometimes have to receive visitors from Demacia in my private time so I had things brought in that could serve for humans as well as Yordles. When I'm not working with the council or in my shop, and when I don't stay at the Institute, this is as much my home as Bandle city, though I don't get to use it nearly as much as I would like."
"I understand better than you think." Jarvan said, nodding with a bit of a grin. "After I returned, I realized how much I had missed my bed."
"Home is wear the heart is though, is it not?" Poppy said with a wry grin. Her eyes looked to the doors behind which Shyvana had disappeared and Jarvan blushed slightly. "Anyways, It'll take some time to craft the armor." Poppy said, shrugging. "I assume the metal will have to be highly heat resistant?" Jarvan nodded. "That makes it all the more difficult to craft." She shrugged and took a sip from one of the mugs. "There is also the problem of the sizing difference of her transformation."
"You do you mean?" Jarvan said, frowning.
"Well obviously, the suit of mail will have to be enchanted or something to fit her in both forms." Poppy said thoughtfully. "But that does leave the question of how exactly to cause the transformation of the armor when she transforms as well." Poppy said thoughtfully, staring down into her cup. "A heat charm could work perhaps..." The door opened and Delancey helped Shyvana in through the door. She lowered the dragoness down to Jarvan's side and he lifted a mug to her hands.
"Drink that, young one, it'll warm you up." Poppy said happily. "A Yordle secret recipe."
"Thanks." Shyvana said haggardly. She lifted the mug to her face and and sipped at it. She let out a satisfied sigh when she lowered the mug, licking her lips as the steam caressed her face. "It's delicious..." Shyvana murmured, looking down into the steaming mug. She look another sip and let out another sigh of satisfaction.
"The key is dark chocolate." Poppy said grinning. She laughed and pulled out an iron arm guard that looked just large enough to fit around Shyvana's forearm. "I'd like to check something young lady. Just take this and put it on your arm and apply some heat to it." Shyvana looked for a place to put her mug down, and Jarvan held out a hand to accept it. She gave him a smile as a show of thanks.
"Heat?" Shyvana said, accepting the guard from poppy and looking at it. She nodded slowly and then rolled her blouse sleeve up, sliding the gauntlet over her hand. She raised an eyebrow as she looked down at it, but Poppy simply nodded encouragingly. "Alright." Shyvana said hesitantly. She set the mug down and then closed her eyes, her hand beginning to glow a warm orange. Her brow creased slightly as sparks began to flit around her hands, but before the air around her hand could burst into flames, the gauntlet shimmered and expanded to a much larger size. It hung loosely on Shyvana's arm, easily large enough to fit around her thigh now.
"I've never seen armor like this..." Jarvan said, surprised.
"It's special armor that has a second form when it is heated." Poppy said smiling mystically. "It's part iron work and part enchantment magic, and both are difficult to work with." Poppy cackled a bit and then calmed herself. "I didn't think I'd ever actually have a chance to use this craft for anything other than specialty locks, but it seems like it might be the key to a set of enchanted armor for you."
"This is quite amazing." Shyvana said, poking the armor slightly. It rattled a bit and as it finally cooled, it shrunk back to its original size and shape. "It seems perfect." Shyvana said, astounded.
"Ah, I wish it were that simple." Poppy said, chuckling. " I would imagine but there are numerous other charms and enchantments we'll need for it to function properly, but for now, I have what I need to start work on the armor."
"Thank you." Shyvana said, a smile growing on her face.
"I do have one concern." Jarvan said, tapping a finger of the armor.
"What sort of concern?" Poppy said with a frown.
"Well..." Jarvan frowned and then shrugged. "This." He leaned down and kissed Shyvana full on, taking her by surprise, her cheeks immediately flushing a furious red. Jarvan pulled back and watched with a smirk as Shyvana wore a flustered expression, glaring down at the ground, her cheeks now the same shade of red as he hair. The armor expanded again and slid off her arm, clattering as it hit the ground.
"Don't surprise me like that!" Shyvana protested, a mix of affection and annoyance on her face as she glared at Jarvan. He wore a crooked grin and chuckled, Delancey and Poppy joining in as well. Shyvana leaned down to retrieve the armor, fidgeting with it to hide her embarrassment while she waited for it to shrink.
"I see what you mean." Poppy laughed. "I might be able to adjust the threshold to make it hotter. That should solve any problems."
"I will say..." Jarvan mused, looking down at the arm guard as it shrunk back down. "I don't exactly have a problem with self-removing armor." Shyvana's face turned bright red as they laughed at her expense again.
"Jerk." She muttered in Jarvan's direction.
Jarvan smiled. "Well, thank you for your hospitality, Ambassador. I'll sort out the commission as soon as you can get me an estimate."
"I'll see that you do." Poppy said, setting her mug down. "Thank you for stopping by. I'll get to work on the armor right away."
"I appreciate the speed, as always." Jarvan said nodding.
"Don't forget your armor next time you stop by." Poppy said with a snort. "Sounds like it needs just as much work." Jarvan shook his head as they exited the shop. "Take care, prince."
"I will." Jarvan said grinning. "Have a good evening and a Merry Snowdown!" They stepped into the bustling street as Delancey pulled the door shut . The snowfall had slackened, but flakes still fell around the street.
"Anywhere else, sire?" Delancey said, as she frowned, looking over her shoulder. Jarvan frowned as well, meeting her gaze. Her eyes narrowed dangerously and she flicked her gaze to the side rapidly, twice in a row. Jarvan gave her an imperceptible nod and the let a large smile break onto his face.
"Not that I can think of..." He said, loudly. "Shyvana?" He looked down to Shyvana and paused, a frown appearing on his face. "Hey, Shy, you alright?" His voice wasn't loud and boastful, it had hardened and there was concern lacing his face. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked sleepy, as if she were still exhausted from the transformation.
"Is that you, Jarvan?" Shyvana said silkily, her voice fluid as she leaned on him and draped her arms around him and pressed against him provocatively. "It's be so long..."
"Let's get back to the barracks then." Delancey said, a trace of worry in her voice. Jarvan frowned, Delancey's hand had slid to her sword on her hip, resting on the grip with white knuckles.
"Of course." Jarvan said, making sure to support Shyvana. She looked up at him with a smile on her face and fluttering eyelids.
"Jarvan..." Shyvana murmured, resting a hand on his arm and sighing softly. "Something feel tingly."
"Tingly?" Jarvan said, blinking a few times. What? Jarvan looked down at Shyvana as she stumbled a bit, leaning heavily on Jarvan's arm. "Come on, Shyvana, let's get you home." He said with a trace of urgency lacing his voice, pulling the dragoness along as gently as he could.
"After you, sir." Delancey said, her voice now icy. She met Jarvan's gaze, her green eyes sparkling dangerously.
There was trouble in the air and Delancey could feel it as well.
Jarvan paused, looking over his shoulder as if he were simply inspecting the street behind him, looking for someone in the crowd. As if on cue, two hooded figures ducked into alleyways, disappearing from sight. Jarvan felt ice coalesce in his stomach.
We are being followed.