Cataclysm: Kalamanda Rising

by ValkyrieLead

Drawn into a plot by his arch nemesis, Swain, Jarvan IV now faces tensions growing across Valoran and a powder keg developing in the sleepy village of Kalamanda. With the death of the Dragon, Kampf, Jarvan and Shyvana are set to return to Demacia, but their adventure has only just begun... - Sequel to Cataclysm of the Dragonborn. - Rated T for violence, gore, and suggestive themes.

45. Chapter 44: Afterparty

Shyvana padded slowly along the massive terrace that wrapped about the rear side of the main entrance hall. It overlooked the main courtyard and gardens at the heart of the palace. She paused, looking down at her ruined gloves and the shoes she had kicked off and grabbed as she had left. She frowned, sighing softly, but as she looked as her soft, pale palms, she felt heat and bile rising in her throat and the sting of tears in her eyes. She ripped the gloves from her hands and tossed them, along with the high-heeled shoes over the edge, leaning heavily on the railing as she ran a hand over her eyes, exhaling heavily, her shoulders shuddering as she did.

She shivered in the cold, her breath clouding before her. She looked up as something descended just outside her view of the courtyard below. Snowflakes descended down around her. She spun, holding her hands up in front of her face, dropping into a fighting stance.

"It is odd you see such a beautiful creature out here in the cold." A deep voice rumbled, stone shifting subtly from above. "Shouldn't you be inside with your people?"

Shyvana dropped her guard and exhaled as she looked up and back at the massive stone golem that descended from his perch to sit upon the balcony next to her. The golem looked up to the sky and then shifted slightly, extending out a massive wing to cover her from the falling snow. "Galio... what are you doing out here?"

"My duty." Galio laughed softly, his gravelly voice shivering through his entire stone body. "I am the Sentinel of Demacia. I stand guard and stand vigil over the Palace and city when my duties do not call me further away than the parapets of the palace." He looked down at Shyvana, dark eyes gleaming in the dull evening light.

"It must be nice to have such a clean cut job." Shyvana sighed softly, leaning her weight upon the stone railing that protected anyone from the massive drop the stone and grass below. "Those are not my people... I am as much an outcast to them as you are."

"It can be simple, yes." The golem rumbled thoughtfully. "But it can also be lonesome, especially considering what I am."

"A gargoyle?" Shyvana prompted, looking over at him.

"Yes, but I was implying how different I was from everyone else." The gargoyle golem chuckled again, shifting to look back over his shoulder towards the door. "You and I are different from everyone else, and it drives us apart from many that would often see us as friends otherwise. Simply for our appearances, people judge us and abandon us as sub-human."

"How do you deal with it?" Shyvana asked softly. "Do you try to fight it?" She looked down as her fists and frowned, looking back at the golem, waiting for his answers.

"I've had other creatures tell me I should fight it, attack the humans who look down on me militantly, for I am every bit as sentient as they are, and I deserve what they call 'basic human rights'." The gargoyle grinned, the massive jaw the stone golem possessed sitting at a crooked angle. "However, I fear that violence only begets further violence, and while my post is lonesome, save for some friendly pigeons, I love this city. A skin of stone and a stout heart are necessary in this world, and it is my opinion that acceptance begins with understanding."

"How do you put up with the attacks then?" Shyvana said softly, hugging her arms around her body.

"As I said: I have a skin of stone!" The gargoyle boomed a massive laugh and pebbles dropped from his body in places, bits of stone drifting from his joints. "Their words do not hurt my body any more than arrows or swords would."

"Then how do you bear is all?" Shyvana asked somberly. She dropped down, her back against the railing as she formed a small ball of flames in her hands, letting the warm flames dance along her skin. Her palms and her hands turned an eerie blue in the dim, starless night, the orange flames giving her blue skin a gray cast. "How do you withstand the hatred and the slander they throw at you? The anger and fear they show you..."

"As I said, my skin is stone." The golem said softly. "My mind, though it might not be made stone, has been hardened by years of tempering. My lonesome post is cold at times, but that is how I want it. You and I are alike, in how we came to Demacia. My father… he was a renowned artificer by the name of Durand. My brothers and sisters, we watched over all of the border towns of Demacia, for he loved this city and all her lands above all else. I came to love these lands in the same way that he did, as we crossed their beauty back and forth. My father was a kind man, he accepted no pay from any of Demacia's people for his services, and instead he took his payment in the safety and happiness that his creations brought to the people of the land. He loved us all, and he instilled this sense of love for Demacia in all of us. However, he earned the ire of the Noxian High Command after his years and years of defense, his creations, my brothers and sisters, opposing Noxus at every step. That was why I was created. I was my father's greatest creation, forged to protect him and his work as he traveled within Demacia. However, after years of work, Durand and I were set upon by Noxian Assassins in force. As we crossed through the Howling Marsh, I was outnumbered and overwhelmed, and had to watch in horror as my charge was cut down in his path. Durand, my master, my father, was cut down and murdered, and they returned to the mists, vanishing again into the nothingness."

"How... how did you survive?" Shyvana said in horror, a hand over her mouth.

"For years, hundreds of years, I despaired, standing vigil over his bones, long after they had gone, disappeared from the face of Runeterra." Galio sighed softly, more dust fell from his joints as he shifted slightly. "I was lost, unable to move, unable to stray for I feared I had failed everything my father had stood for. I stood there as a monument to my own shame, stripped of my reason for being, an idol to Durand."

"You're just like me..." Shyvana said softly, running a hand along the golem's wing above her. "You lost your father and you lost your purpose as well. But how... how did you overcome it?"

"Yes." The gargoyle nodded. "My salvation came in the form a small Yordle girl. She took shelter under one of my wings from the rain one lonesome day. She carried with her a crown, but she also carried a massive burden upon her shoulders. As quietly and as quickly as she had arrived, she left, heading in the direction of Demacia, continuing her journey, carrying her charge and her burden. While I had failed my charge, I had failed further in my duty. I chose to defend what little remained of my father, carrying on his legacy and his name. I was the Idol of Durand, defending his legacy, but that day, I became something more. I had become a legacy myself, and it was then that I chose to carry on his legacy, rather than continuing my pain. I chose to serve Demacia in my father's stead, becoming the city's silent guardian."

Shyvana looked up at the golem with sadness in her eyes, feeling the creature's pain. She had felt it before as well.

"That was many years ago, however." Galio said softly, shaking off the weariness in his voice. "You, young one, shouldn't have to suffer the years of isolation within Demacia, by choice or otherwise, and if the yelling that can be heard from within the palace is any evidence, I don't think you shall have to suffer any fate similar. I've won my acceptance among the Demacian people through my service and my loyalty." Galio said, nodding slowly. "But it took me many years to so much as gain the trust of the many palace guardsman and the officers and leaders of the city. But because I love Demacia, and with it all of her peoples, they came to respect me as well."

"People regard me with fear and disgust." Shyvana said softly, holding her knees to her chest. "They fear my anger and they distance themselves from me."

"But you have friends despite that, yes?" Galio suggested. "Humans can be fickle and fearful beings, often concerned with their appearances and status more than their moral or mental health. They squabble and argue and fight amongst themselves. It is one of many things that simply comes second nature to humans."

"Dragons are not so different." Shyvana said softly. "My father was killed, hounded till his death by a dragon who let his petty nature get the best of him. My simple existence drove him to madness, and it cost my father his life."

"That shouldn't mean you need to suffer later in life, now should it?" Galio rumbled. "He would want you to be happy." Galio grinned crookedly. "You must find what, or who, makes you happy?"

"What do you mean?" Shyvana said, looking up, her ears perking up as she listened to the voices she could hear now that she was paying attention. One voice carried above all the others. "Jarvan?"

"Exactly!" Galio exclaimed loudly, startling the dragoness. "He may be rough around the edges and a bit hard headed, but the prince is a good man. I've watched him grow from a boy to a man here as sentinel. He is your salvation, young one. Do not listen to the others who scold and talk down to you, they are but fools."

"But they do not accept me." Shyvana said, frowning slightly, looking at her hands. "How am I supposed to be happy when I am shunned and attacked, simply for being myself?"

"You mistake happiness as the approval of others." Galio said firmly. He raised a massive, stony fist and tapped Shyvana on the breast bone. "You must find what makes you happy, young one. For me, that was seeing Demacia be successful and happy. Decide what it is for you and follow that, do not let the judgment of others decide for you." A brief moment of silence hung in the air as the golem leaned down towards Shyvana. He gestured towards her hip. "If my eyes do not deceive me, there is something hidden in your sash, is there not?" Shyvana looked down, running a hand over the pale blue and yellow sash, the familiar weight of the dagger she had commissioned weighing upon her hand.

Jarvan's dagger...

Shyvana nodded silently, looking from the metal up to the door, watching and listening as the yelling finally died down. An eerie silence followed as she watched the door. A shadow lumbered into view, cutting through the light that shown from within. Jarvan stormed into the cold air and Shyvana quickly tucked the knife away. Galio cast her a curious look but said nothing, instead turning to the prince. He stopped just outside the door, looking skyward, taking a brief moment to suck in a deep breath of the cold air.

Shyvana got to her feet, holding her arms close. "Jarvan..."

"I suppose that is your answer, isn't it?" The golem said softly, chuckling to himself as he turned to face the prince. "Good evening, my prince." Galio bowed deep, sweeping and arm and a wing across his body as he did so. "I take it from the yelling and present company that the party did not go nearly as planned."

"Politicians are pigheaded, slow witted, greedy, self-absorbed and detached." Jarvan growled, sighing softly as he shook his head.

"Ah, but my prince, aren't you a politician as well?" Galio said, an almost mocking tone in his voice.

"My opinion stands." Jarvan grumbled, shrugging his shoulders, he glanced at Shyvana and then moved towards her and then stopped next to her.

"Point, my prince." The gargoyle rumbled, grinning crookedly. "With that, I take my leave." He bowed again in his overtly fancy flourish and then again to Shyvana. "If you ever need to talk, you can always find me here." The stony creature grinned and turned, moving along the balcony. Shyvana nodded as the gargoyle spread his wings and took to the air, circling about before disappearing above them and the roofline.

Shyvana squirmed anxiously where she stood, looking down at the prince. "Jarvan, I-..."

He held up a hand and cut her off, surprise clear on her face.

"If you apologize to me, I swear I'm going to kick your ass." Jarvan growled, leaning back against the stone column his back was to as he looked up at the sky above. Snow drifted down around him. "God I fucking hate politicians." Jarvan muttered, shaking his head again as he dropped his gaze to Shyvana and then to the ground. "I just wanted to apologize."

"For what?" Shyvana said, again taken by surprise. "I was the one who disgraced you in there..." She said softly, looking down at her hands and frowning.

"How?" Jarvan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"By losing control..." Shyvana said, looking down at her hands. "I let your trust in me go to waste! I nearly attacked a councilor!" Jarvan laughed aloud, letting his head hang back as he did. His voice echoed around the courtyard and bounced off of towers, and the hurt expression that Shyvana tried to hide hardened slightly. "Jarvan, it's hardly a laughing matter..."

"Shyvana, you really need to calm down." Jarvan said with a grin.

"Calm down?" Shyvana stammered, struggling to find words to express the despair she felt. "If we're separated over something like this... I don't... I don't know what I'd do without you!"

Jarvan blushed, blinking lamely a few times. He reached out and took Shyvana's hand, tugging her after him. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" Shyvana asked, looking towards the doorway they had emerged from. Jarvan pushed past it, tugging her along. They moved swiftly through the castle, finally arriving at the prince's room. He pushed into his room, ensuring the doors were closed and locked behind him as she stepped into the room behind him. She looked about the open bedroom, glancing about. The last time she had been in here, Jarvan had gotten shot. Shyvana sniffed the air briefly and noticed that a plate of chocolate chip cookies that had been lain out on the table.

"You were planning this, weren't you?" Shyvana said, looking about. Shyvana suppressed a smile as she grabbed a cookie and chewed on it. It was still warm. The room was slightly chilly, though the idea of sharing it with the prince was still warm and inviting. "What are we doing here?"

Jarvan grinned as he tossed several pieces of his armor aside, the metal clanking against the ground and clattering away. He had stripped down to just his tunic and pants, though he struggled with the boots, he finally managed to kick them off, turning to Shyvana. He had pushed the door part way open, and he wore a crooked smile. "Let's go a round." He disappeared into the bathroom, the door nearly swinging shut behind him.

Shyvana's face immediately burned a fierce red. "W-w-what!?" The sound of running water could be heard from within the bathroom, the prince having left the dragoness standing alone in the room, bewildered and embarrassed. She looked about at the clothes, uniform pieces and armor the prince had strewn about, her face still burning red. She shed her gown, leaving the light weight tunic that ran along her chest and fell over her stomach, ending high on her thighs. The chill of the evening air sent goose bumps running up and down her arms as she moved timidly towards the bathroom.

"Jarvan?" Shyvana gently pushed the bathroom door open, revealing the pale, polished stone. Ornate and overly opulent, the suite's bathroom was just as decadent as the rest of the rooms. It had a massive soaking tub that looked as if it could fit ten men, and large shower and plenty of space. She stepped down the short corridor that opened into the main open area of the bath, the stone uncharacteristically cool underfoot. "Jarvan?" Shyvana repeated himself, slightly louder this time. He stuck his head out as if he halfway expected an attack. He looked both ways, the bath to the right and the shower to the left. Steam rolled out from the shower, condensation making the stone wet and slick. Jarvan paused in the doorway, one hand upon his hip as he ran the other through his hair.

"In here." Jarvan's voice was drowned out by the sound up burbling water. "I had originally wished to ask you to dance in the more traditional sense, but I think this will have to do." Jarvan chuckled softly. "It has been said that dancing was an art that stemmed from combat, refined to accept the body and show off the human form. Though, I personally always preferred fighting to dancing... I was never good at dancing."

The prince had submerged his head under the water spigot of the sink, and was running cold water over his head. Shyvana paused in the doorway, leaning upon the frame. Jarvan cut the water off, but remained with his head over the sink bowl, letting the water drip from his long hair and down the drain. He sighed, pushing himself up. He tousled his hair with a towel till it was moderately dry, still rubbing the side of his head he turned, leaning back against the counter the sink basin sat on.

"Fighting?" Shyvana repeated softly. "What are you talking about?" Shyvana clutched her hands over her chest, her face burning red.

"I'd ask where your clothes went, but... y'know, I'm just gonna sit here and enjoy the view." Jarvan said with a cocky grin. Shyvana held her hands over her chest, blushing.

"Don't look..." Shyvana said softly. "You said you wanted to go a round... you're still wearing your clothes..." Jarvan blanched for a moment and then bellowed a hearty laugh, shaking his head. "What!" Shyvana stammered, her face again burning bright red.

"I was thinking fighting." Jarvan said with a crooked grin. "Just burn a little energy, cool off a bit, but you know, if you'd prefer that, you can go ahead and blow m-..."

"Jarvan Lightshield, you jerk!" Shyvana shouted, turning away. "Just... just get out!"

"If you really want me to..." Jarvan said in a singsong tone, taking a half step towards the door.

"Wait..." The voice was fierce but desperate, as if Shyvana was afraid he was really going to leave. Jarvan sighed, his shoulders drooping as he stepped forward, pulling the dragoness into a hug, wrapping his arms around her. He set a hand upon her head, still chuckling softly as Shyvana punched him gently. Jarvan patted her head a few times, and watched as she blushed and glanced away. Jarvan chuckled; he knew that despite the childish nature of the gesture, that it was immensely comforting to Shyvana. Jarvan let his head fall back as he took a few deep breaths. Shyvana avoided looking at him, rubbing her nose quickly as if she had to hide something. Jarvan smiled to himself as Shyvana tried to peek at him from behind her bangs. She made a small sound when he caught her and smiled, watching her as she tried to hide her surprise.

"So like I said, let's go a round." Jarvan said, resting a hand upon the counter top. Shyvana paused, surprised. "We've got nothing better to do right now."

"I can think of a few things." Shyvana said with a mildly entertained grin as she watched Jarvan peel the soaked white dress tunic off his chest. "But I'll humor you if this is really what you want to do." Jarvan took a hold of a corner in his mouth and ripped a strip of fabric off the tail of the shirt and then another, wrapping both of them around his hands and cinching them tight. He cast the shirt aside as he walked up to Shyvana and leaned down to where his lips hovered just a few millimeters away from Shyvana.

"You once told me that you and your dad used to fight to blow off steam." Jarvan said, taking a step back, a relaxed smile on his face as Shyvana tried to follow him as if she had been looking for a kiss. Jarvan rolled his head about, cracking his neck. "So, let's go a round. After that shitshow, I need to blow a little steam off." Jarvan eased into a loose fighting stance, his feet vaguely shoulder width apart and his arms up in front of his face in defensive positions.

"This is hardly the place..." Shyvana said, looking around and then looking down at her hands hesitantly. She tucked her hands under her arms and glanced away, still looking hesitant.

"So you're chickening out then?" Jarvan said, bouncing back and forth from foot to foot. He smirked. "I guess I win by forfeit then."

"I don't want to hurt you." Shyvana said softly. "I've come so close to hurting people recently, if I keep doing that then-..." Shyvana threw up her guard as Jarvan swept forward, throwing a sharp jab at her. A burst of flames shielded her from the blow, and the sizzle and steam of Jarvan's fist wrappings caused her more pain then anything. "See!" Shyvana said desperately. "I won't fight you."

"I don't care." Jarvan said, his guard still up, watching Shyvana with an even glare.

Shyvana looked annoyed as she glared at the prince. "But Jar-..."

"I told you, I don't care!" Jarvan said, gesturing for her to put her dukes up. Shyvana refused, starting to turn away, and the prince sighed. "No flames, no magic, no shields, just you and me, love. Our fists, our bodies, close and fast, simple kick boxing, that's it."

Shyvana blushed softly, looking the prince up and down. "But-..."

"I told you, I don't care!" Jarvan shouted, the dragoness finally grimacing.

"If you're going to ride my ass about this... the least you can do is pull my hair." Shyvana said stretching out her legs. She leaned on one leg and then the other, pulling her hair out and letting it fall behind her. "Don't blame me when you get hurt..."

"Oh yeah?" Jarvan said, a wide grin on his face, raising his hands up and starting to move back and forth from foot to foot again. "How about this... you win and I'll do whatever you want... I win and..."

"I do whatever you want." Shyvana said, mirroring his grin. "Fair enough." Jarvan jumped forwards, striking quickly with two low jabs that were aimed at Shyvana's stomach. She dodged the first and knocked the second aside, but she wasn't able to follow up quick enough as Jarvan brought his knee up and across, stopping just inches from Shyvana's side.

"One point." Jarvan took three steps backwards and resumed his guard, keeping his fists high and ready to block. "You're distracted, Shyvana." He smiled as a frustrated look turned to determination. "Forget about everything else, about everyone else. I want all of your concentration here on me." Shyvana smiled toothily at him as she fixed her foot work and started pacing in a circle. Jarvan matched the circling motion, never dropping his guard.

Shyvana launched her attack as she slid forward along the slick stone, striking once with her right fist, Jarvan taking the blow with his forearm. She quickly followed up with two more strikes that went high left and then low right, with her right and left hands, striking across her body. She jumped backwards as Jarvan tried to strike back with his elbow, his footwork quickly shuffling forward and then backwards as Shyvana advanced and retreated, matching her aggression with aggression. Jarvan slid forwards quickly striking out at her legs with his foot, trying to trip her, but she stepped backwards quickly and then back in to go for a strike. Jarvan parried the four strikes she launched with his arms again, taking some of the hits directly and knocking some aside. He ducked the last one, dropping low and sweeping Shyvana from her feet, sending her to her butt. He swept in and struck at her head, stopping the punch just short of striking her again.

"Two points." Jarvan said, offering his hand to Shyvana. She brushed some water from her chin with the back of her hand and accepted Jarvan's hand. Jarvan hauled her up and Shyvana slid straight into Jarvan's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down into a kiss. Jarvan responded to the kiss in earnest, and Shyvana kicked off of him, sending him crashing backwards into the soaking tub. Shyvana landed nimbly on the edge of the pool a victorious grin on her face.

"One point." She purred watching as the bubbles disappeared from the surface of the water. Shyvana waited for him to surface, watching the dark shape of his body remaining unmoving. "...Jarvan?"

The prince burst from the water like a predator surfacing from the depths of the ocean and wrapped his hands around Shyvana, pulling her into the water and dunking her. He kept his hands wrapped around her tightly as he lifted her clear of the water.

"Three points!" Jarvan proclaimed as Shyvana coughed.

"Eep!" Shyvana yelped as Jarvan grabbed her chest and gave it a good couple of squeezes. "No fair!" Jarvan held on, continuing to squeeze and massage her chest. Shyvana was blushing furiously now as she struggled against Jarvan's grip. She was having trouble finding her strength as Jarvan kneaded her breasts, slipping one hand inside her shirt. The sensation of his rough skin against her delicate chest was enough to get her to moan aloud, her body becoming putty in his hands. Jarvan slid away and pulled himself from the tub, a devilish grin on her face. She was blushing furiously and she had to wipe away a tendril of saliva that had dribbled down her chin.

"You can always just give up now and let me have my way with you if you're really that horny..." Jarvan said with an imperious grin, tapping his head. Shyvana blushed but pulled herself from the tub, swiping water from her hair and looking in the mirror. Horns had formed atop her head and her eyes were orange slits that faded back to their magenta color as she blinked a few times.

"Make up your mind about what you want to do!" Shyvana said fiercely as she settled into a cat stance. "Or are you trying to get me worked up?"

Jarvan snorted and grinned. "Well, yes, and I'm trying to piss you off as well!"

"Well it's working!" Shyvana snarled as she shook the water of her body, noticing the prince's eyes linger a bit on her form. "What's the point of this? Aside from you simply staring at me?"

"Beat me and I'll tell you!" Jarvan said, gesturing her forward with the waggle of a finger. "Bring it, hot stuff. Hit me with your best shot." Shyvana grinned coyly as she raised her hands above her. The white tunic was all but transparent and as she lowered her arms backwards in a languid stretch that showed off all of her assets, she saw Jarvan's guard drop just a bit. She struck fast and quick, ducking low and striking at Jarvan's arms with a flurry of blows, following with a quick strike that glanced off his shoulder. She drove on, following up with a left, waist high kick as Jarvan tried to turn to block the flurry of right hand blows. Jarvan was stepping to the side as well as Shyvana kicked, and she wasn't able to stop the kick. The blow connected, the thud echoing up through Shyvana's body. She hesitated, starting to apologize for it, but Jarvan had already dropping his arm down around her leg. He wore a lewd grin as he enjoyed the liberal view of her legs before he twisted her about. Shyvana spun in the air and landed on both of her hands. She looked back over her shoulder and had to blush as Jarvan was looking down at her.

"Have I ever told you that you have a really nice ass?" Jarvan said, holding onto her leg and twisting it about in a hold. Shyvana pushed off the ground and twisted about, breaking free of Jarvan's hold. She twisted one leg over Jarvan's shoulder and pulled herself up, the look of surprise on Jarvan's face more than enough to give her a giddy smile. She brought her other leg up as she ran her hands into the stunned Jarvan's hair, holding on as she wrapped her long legs around his neck. She rocked once up against his face with a cruel, almost teasing grin before she spun and slid down his back. She grinned and patted his own butt, spinning and kicking, sending him stumbling forward.

"You're not too bad off, yourself." Shyvana mused with a singsong tone. Jarvan spun about as he ducked back, a shiver running down his spine. "I would tell you're distracted as well, and that I want all your attention here on me, but I think that is your issue right now." Shyvana offered him a devious grin.

"Holy shit." Jarvan muttered breathlessly, blinking stupidly, him mind struggling to catch up. "Where'd you learn that and who the hell do I have to beat the life out of?" Shyvana strutted past, making sure her rear bounced up and down just enough to catch his eye. She strutted straight past him, letting a finger drift over his chin as she passed. She flipped her hair over and smacked him in the face with her mane of long red hair, soaking him again. Jarvan barked an entertained laugh, wiping water and hair from his face.

"Here and there..." Shyvana said with a tantalizingly melodious voice. She paused, spinning about and strutting back up to Jarvan. He sucked in a breath as Shyvana walked a pair of fingers up Jarvan's body, brushing her fingers along his abs and his pecs. She ran a hand up his arm and smiled sweetly at him. "Oh and..." She leaned up against Jarvan, letting her chest brush teasingly against him. "That's three." She struck him square in the stomach. The prince hunched over, groaning. Shyvana pushed him gently backwards and watched as he tumbled backwards into the tub, water splashing and sloshing over the edge of the pool.

Jarvan thrashed under the surface of the water for several seconds before he finally surfaced, spluttering. He coughed as he cleared his lungs of water, only to get something dropped on his head. He struggled with the wet fabric, finally managing to pull it off, struggling with the fabric for a few seconds before he realized what it was. He grinned, tossing Shyvana's tunic onto the stone as he pulled himself from the water.

"Now it gets really fun." Jarvan hollered after Shyvana. He emerged from the bathroom cautiously, sticking his head out first. Jarvan chuckled as he emerged, posting his fists upon his hips, watching Shyvana with a grin. "I suppose that makes four, right?" Jarvan said, gesturing to the cookie that Shyvana was munching on. She paused, blushing and standing up, brushing the crumbs from her hands. She chewed quickly and then took a sip from a mug that had appeared in their time in the bathroom, pausing then lifting the mug all the way up, downing the entire thing in a single go.

"Your point." Shyvana said, smiling coyly, despite the fact that she was wearing nothing but water drenched undergarment. "But, I want you to explain to me what exactly we're doing here." Shyvana said, eying the tray again, her hand drifting towards it. She shook her head and then looked up at Jarvan. He smiled. The fear and timid trepidation that had consumed the magenta orbs before was gone, replaced with determination and confidence, though not a small amount of frustration as well. "This entire evening… why all the anger, why all the fighting, why all of this."

"It's still only four to three." Jarvan said with a smile. "You haven't won: you don't get an answer quite yet."

"Fine then, let's go." Shyvana said, setting her jaw. "I guess I'm going to have to beat the answer out of you." She grabbed a cookie and stuck it into her mouth, munching on it happily as she lowered herself into a fighting stance again. Jarvan grinned as he lowered himself into a similar stance as he brought one hand up in a guard position, keeping the other loose next to his body. Shyvana noticed the change in stance as she swallowed the last of her cookie, licking her fingers as tantalizingly as possible. Jarvan crossed one foot over the other, starting the slow circle again, ignoring the gesture. "You've been a bit distracted, Jarvan. Maybe you could explain that as well..."

"Maybe. It is rather hard to watch you walk around with your chest hanging out, making such a mess with every single bite of cookie you take. You're getting my room dirty." Jarvan said, grinning. Shyvana simply grinned coyly, batting her eyelids as prettily as possible.

"If you like, I can put them away." Shyvana said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"No need..." Jarvan said with a grin. "You'll just be taking them out later anyways..."

"Funny, I was going to say the same about your trousers there." Shyvana took that exact moment to attack, catching Jarvan with his legs crossed, stumbling as she came. As he stumbled though, he rolled to the side, ducking under Shyvana's overhand strike that was aimed directly for his chest. As he rolled up to his feet, he reached out and gave Shyvana a brisk slap on the butt, causing the Dragoness to jump, turning about to face him. She growled, her brow creased in anger.

"We'll call that a half..." Jarvan said winking. Shyvana gave him a toothy grin as she kissed her hand and blew Jarvan a kiss. She smiled coyly as a small flaming heart floated through the air towards Jarvan. He raised an eyebrow, a sardonic grin on his face as it closed with him. It popped and sparkled, creating a smiley face right in front of Jarvan's face.

Shyvana was already high in the air as the fireworks exploded in his face, distracting him just long enough for Shyvana to launch herself through the air, propelled by her flames. She landed two feet squarely on Jarvan's chest, sending him crashing to the ground, rolling backwards once, and crashing to a halt against the wall. He blinked the pain away though, watching as Shyvana leaned forward towards him, giving him a lovely view of her chest.

"Eyes are up here, your highness..." Shyvana said, raising his chin with a finger.

"Seriously..." Jarvan said, pushing himself up off the ground. "Where did this side of you come from?" He wore a cheeky grin that told of his curiosity and his entertainment at the same time.

"This is what you get when I spend the better part of a month training with a bunch of swaggering block heads with their pricks doing more thinking than their heads." Shyvana, shrugging. "All I hear about is sex, food and how much soldiers hate training. You can also thank Delancey next time you see her, she likes to give me hints about how to endear you."

"I'll make sure to thank her... And sock her in the jaw." Jarvan growled, starting to circle again. Shyvana came immediately though, launching a flurry of blows at Jarvan that he had to step back multiple times, trying to soak up the punishment Shyvana was putting out.

"What's wrong, too afraid to make the first move?" Shyvana snarled between volleys of punches.

"Nope, just thinking about how much I'm going to enjoy this." He raised his arm up and blocked a haymaker that Shyvana flung out, attacking with a step to the side as she tried to maneuver around Jarvan's armor. She took a half step back as she prepared another flurry of blows. Jarvan took this as a sign to attack, stepping inside her guard circle, knocking one of her hands aside as she tried to come up with a block. Jarvan brought up his arm as he tried to land a blow into her stomach, but she knocked it aside, landing a hard punch on his arm that snapped his arm back. Jarvan stepped out of range, waiting for her to come again.

Shyvana's breathing was starting to grow heavy, her chest heaving with every breath she took. Shyvana launched a high kick that Jarvan blocked with an arm and quickly sidestepped a jab, knocking the quick follow up strike aside with his other arm. He took another step back as he took several punches that were meant to be body blows on the arm, the strikes now starting to add up, the pain of what would undoubtedly be bruises forming on his arms. Jarvan was biding his time though, letting Shyvana wear herself down and soaking up the blows.

"Getting tired?" Jarvan taunted, still moving slowly around the floor, letting Shyvana come as she wanted and poking a few blows back to keep her interested.

"No!" Shyvana said with strained grin. "I just..." She wasn't able to finish her statement as Jarvan immediately stepped in. He shielded off a blow to the shoulder and ducked the strike that Shyvana launched at his head, stepping up to her, practically chest to chest. Jarvan brought his arms up her body and lifted her off her feet, pulling her into a deep kiss. Shyvana wrapped her arms around his shoulder and he could feel a leg getting not so subtly wrapped around him as he pushed slightly deeper, brushing his tongue across her lips. They parted for him and their tongues twisted for a few brief seconds before Jarvan came up for air.

"Mmmm..." Jarvan said with an amused grin. "You taste like chocolate..." Shyvana tapped him on the head with her hand, leaning her forehead against his.

"And I believe that makes five." Shyvana said with a grin. "You can start by fetching me a cookie." Shyvana said, sliding out of Jarvan's grip and taking a step back. "And then you get to explain everything to me."

"How about you fetch me a cookie, instead." Jarvan said, raising an eyebrow, trying not to grin. "I believe I won." Shyvana slunk forwards, walking a hand downwards along his body from his shoulder this time.

"Ah, but that's not the case." Shyvana said, wagging a finger in front of Jarvan's face. "You didn't actually land a blow... you thought you'd just sneak a kiss and grab my butt." Her smile widened as Jarvan frowned. "So technically I won, though."

"Oh?" Jarvan said, grinning as he raised an eyebrow. "How about this: I'll share the victory with you on won condition." Jarvan wrapped her arms around Shyvana and pulled her into a hug.

Shyvana cast him a wary look, narrowing her eyes. "And what condition is that?"

"Just let me apologize for earlier." Jarvan said quietly, resting his chin against the top of Shyvana's head. "I wanted tonight to be fun and enjoyable for you, instead it was an unmitigated disaster." Jarvan hung his head, taking a deep breath of Shyvana's scent. He released her and stepped away, dropping towards the edge of the bed. He sunk down to the floor next to the bed, resting his head against the soft surface, taking a few deep breaths. "Had I known things were going to degrade like that, I would have insisted that father call this off. It was ill timed and poorly executed."

Jarvan glanced at the dragoness, watching as she turned and then shrunk down next to him, her back against the bed. She hugged her legs to her chest, leaning up against him.

"You weren't responsible for it all." Shyvana said softly, shaking her head. "You didn't embarrass yourself like I did... I'm afraid that I'm losing control of myself. My flames are starting to burn hotter than they should... appearing when they shouldn't." She pulled away from Jarvan shaking her head and holding her arms close around her, letting her shoulders rise and fall slowly as she breathed deeply.

Jarvan furrowed his brow and frowned as she shook her head side to side. "What in the world is wrong, Shy?"

She looked over her shoulder at him and he could see tears welling in her eyes as she cowered backwards in fear. "I feel something deep within me... something black and hateful." She shook her head and stepped backwards when Jarvan tried to draw closer to her. "Don't! You'll merely get burned!" Jarvan scruffed his hair, growling as he did.

"Damnit, I don't care!" Jarvan roared, reaching over and wrapping his arms around her waist. He drew her close, tugging her into his lap, glaring intently at her. She looked surprised and afraid, the expression a child wore the first time they accidentally stepped on a new puppy's tail. She clamped her eyes shut, expecting danger.

But nothing happened.

"Jarvan..." She began to say, her voice hoarse as she opened her eyes, expecting a disapproving frown. The prince offered her a crooked but warm grin.

"Silence, Shy." He said gruffly, holding her head with one hand, the other wrapped around her body, holding her tight. "I don't want to hear it."

Her lips trembled as he held her close, stroking her hair gently. She buried her face in his neck as a few sobs wracked her body. Jarvan lowered her to the ground slowly, as she wrapped her arms around his chest and held on tight.

"Now please... tell me what's wrong." Jarvan said gently, letting her gain her composure.

"I just... I don't know what's wrong we me." She said, wiping the tears from her cheeks with her palm. "There is a dark, angry feeling within me... It hates when you look away from me and it makes me feel isolated when you laugh with your friends." She tried to tear herself away from Jarvan's grasp, but he held tight. He firmly grabbed her chin and tilted it upwards, pushing his lips against hers. He could feel the brush of tears upon her cheeks against his own, and her lashes tickled him as they fluttered shut. She had been taken aback, and had tried to pull away, but he held her tight and kissed her deeply till she began to melt into the embrace. He finally had to pull back for air and she gasped, breathing deeply.

"No fair." Shyvana murmured, blushing as she wiped a tear from one cheek. Jarvan chuckled softly, wiping another away with his thumb as he cupped her cheek.

"All's fair in love and war." Jarvan said gently. "You didn't hurt me with them when we were just fighting did you? Besides, I'm not afraid of a little heat."

"Everyone else is afraid though..." Shyvana said softly, exhaling deeply. "How can we be together when everyone hates me so? You're a prince, and I merely a common dragon. Everyone thinks I'm just your dog… a pet… a play thing… And I killed those men…"

"Shyvana," Jarvan said softly, smiling. "There is nothing 'common' about you. And as far as I'm concerned, many people humiliated themselves tonight, and none of them looked anywhere near as good as you in your dress." Jarvan offered her an easy grin that brought some color to her cheeks. "What those men in there said to you was hardly appropriate the setting and the station they hold, but I've always been told that alcohol only makes someone more truthful in their being. Your anger and outrage merely proved that you were more human than any of them, which is impressive considering you are only half human." Jarvan winked, letting his smile fade. He sunk back against the edge of the bed, still holding onto the dragoness possessively.

"The political scene here in Demacia isn't so clean right now." Jarvan murmured, looking down at Shyvana, the dragoness now curled up into his lap. "The council is split between inaction and action against Noxus. The military can see all the signs that Noxus is beginning to prepare for war, but here in Demacia, the requests for troops and supplies are held up in the council chambers. The councilor who decided to voice his opinions this evening is one of the biggest opponents to my father's requests to requisition troops and supplies. Yankov…" Jarvan started to growl but the sound died in his throat. "He is playing the devil's advocate at every step. Anything he can do to undermine me undermines my father. Right now, the only way anyone can get to me is through you. That why Fury and his goons attacked you. Jormander was trying to strike me where it would hurt the most... you." Jarvan rest his forehead against the crown of Shyvana's head, taking a few deep breaths. "If I were to lose you, if anything were to happen to you, I would be lost, Shyvana." Shyvana pressed against him, a hand resting against his chest, the other laced within Jarvan's grasp.

"Can I get up?" Shyvana murmured, looking up to the prince. There was no regret or fear in her eyes, only happiness, pink tinging her cheeks.

"Sure…" Jarvan murmured, helping her up with a hand. He watched as Shyvana padded over to where her clothes had been discarded and she kneeled, pulling out a long slender knife. She blushed slightly as she looked down at the weapon, moving back to Jarvan's side and sat down next to him, tucking her legs under her as she clutched the weapon to her chest.

"I had hoped to give this to you earlier, but I think this is as good a time as any." Shyvana murmured as she handed the prince the knife, letting him hold the blade up in front of his face. He examined the ornate knife, drawing the blade from the sheath just enough to examine the sheen of the steel. He returned the knife to the sheath, examining the pommel, the snarling dragon's head looking back at him, rubies glinting in the eyes. He ran a finger over the grip.

"This is horn..." Jarvan said, looking down at the dragoness. "It is not yours, is it?"

Shyvana's surprise only served to delay the giggles for a few moments. She smiled broadly and shook her head, though it died slightly as she ran a few fingers on the horn, letting her hand rest on Jarvan's wrist. "It was Kampf's horn... I had Ambassador Poppy forge it so that you won't ever forget what we share. I was told it would be good to commemorate a good memory, but I don't think I could ever just choose one."

Jarvan looked at the blade and then smiled again, leaning in and kissing Shyvana. "Thank you, love. I shall keep it with me always. I only wished I had been able to show you a more fun evening. I had a lot planned, but it seems to have fallen to pieces already."

"I had fun." Shyvana said softly, taking the knife from him and setting it on the bedside table. She poked him in the side, the prince jumping in surprise. "Besides, you already apologized once."

Jarvan looked surprised for a moment and then grinned, letting his head fall back to look to the sky. He held his hand out and caught a snowflake in his palm. "I'm sorry. This evening was supposed to be all about you in a good way. You were to be introduced as both a hero and my consort. Now..." Jarvan exhaled sharply. "Well I think I managed to piss off just about every councilman, politician, and military official in that hall." Jarvan ran and hand over his face and sighed.

"Thank you for doing so." Shyvana said, closing her eyes, and lacing her fingers with Jarvan's fingers.

"For pissing a bunch of really old jerks?" Jarvan asked, grinning as he looked over at Shyvana. "Sure, if that's all it takes to keep you happy, I'll gladly keep pissing people off." He slid towards the ground, laying out on the cool floor. Shyvana dropped on top of him, resting her chin on his chest.

"Can I stay here tonight?" Shyvana asked softly. She turned her head and rested her head on his chest.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, love." Jarvan murmured, running his hand along her hair, stroking it gently.