Thank you so much for your reveiws. I am so happy.
I am glad you like my story, so go for chapter 3.

In this chapter a litle less Quinn/Talon, a little more Lux/Darius. XD

Enjoy. ^^

Chapter 3:

The sudden move on her left interrupted the one-sided chat between Lux and Sona. Turning her head, she looked as Quinn stood in silence before bringing back her tray and leave the room. A worried frown appeared on her usually playful face. Quinn had never been her more sociable teammates but Lux was proud to be one of her few friends. She knew the scout well enough to see that something was wrong.

Lux knew that Quinn had not lightheartedly agreed to join the institute. She did because she thought it was her duty. The falconer did not consider herself worthy of such an honor and thought that hers place was on the battlefield, behind enemy lines. But with the uneasy peace established by the Institute, there weren't enemy lines anymore. The war had moved on the Institute's Fields of Justice. However, sometimes, Quinn seemed preoccupied, lost in thought, sometimes furious without saying why. Lux was more perceptive than some wanted to believe, and she guessed that Talon was somehow involved. She did not know what was going on between the scout and the assassin but it had repercussions on Quinn's mood. Normally, she would rush to the culprit to say to him what she was thinking, but Talon was a Noxian and she doubted her intervention would do anything good. It could only to make things worse.

A little worried for her friend, Lux threw a glance at the Noxian table and was pleased to see Talon sitting in his chair, showing no desire to follow Quinn. She then turned to her comrades.

"Don't you find Quinn strange?"
Garen and Jarvan interrupted their chat and turned toward her.

"She seems depressed," the blonde said.

"You're right," agreed the prince. "I think it's hard for her to get used to the League. She seems to miss Demacia."
Lux was both appreciative of Jarvan's attention toward his companions and amazed by his lack of discernment. Or was it his love for their country who makes him that blind?

"May be she needs a little vacation," said Garen.

"May be," Lux answered evasively while thinking it was probably better if Quinn stayed within the Institute.
It would be easier to look after Talon here than in Demacia if he decided to follow the scout to torment her.

"I should spend more time with her. I think I'll invite her to the party tonight."

"It might be a good idea," Jarvan nodded.
The topic dropped with Shyvana's sudden arrival. Lux cheerfully greeted the newcomer before losing interest in the discussion. The half dragon was engaged in the same match than Jarvan, later in the day, and both quickly began to talk about their teammates and opponents and evoke both their strengths and weaknesses.

Lux finished her breakfast chatting with Sona. Or rather talking and looking Sona nodding while smiling. The Lady of Luminosity seemed to have recovered her cheerful self but the musician still felt the concern the blonde was trying to hide. She knew how her friends were important for Lux, but she did not know what she could do to help her, except to be there and bring the blond her support as best as she could.

The two young women brought back their trays and headed for the door, walking from tables to table so Lux can greet her friends and invite them to Gragas' party. None of them refused, which Sona found fun. It was hard to say no to Lux's big smile when faced it. It was probably the blonde's most dangerous weapon. She joyfully walked through the door, hopping in a perfect imitation of the young Annie.

"I wonder what Gragas has in mind this time," she said with enthusiasm. "It will probably be a big surprise. You think there will be a snow fountain, like last time?"
Sona shook her head as a sign of ignorance.

"Ziggs had used it to throw snowball on everyone. It had nearly turned to brawl. He spent the rest of the night with hanging by his shirt on a peg behind the main door."
she tried to choke back her laugh with her hand, embarrassed to find funny the yordle blaster's little misadventure, but he had bring it upon himself.

"Poor Ziggs" she said, calming down. "I wonder who could do that to him?"

"Your brother, I fear," said a deep voice behind her.
Lux jumped with a surprised cry. Her enthusiasm and joy escaped her like air from a deflated balloon when she saw who was standing behind her.

"Darius," she stiffly bowed her head.
The Noxian General stared at her in silence before slightly tilting his head as a salutation. Lux was not at ease with him. Not only he was a Noxian, the most powerful after Swain, but he was particularly impressive. Firstly by his stature. Garen and Jarvan were tall, well-built and broad-shouldered, but Darius seemed much more impressive, even without his heavy armor. Secondly, unlike the two Demacian, the Noxian never smiled, well except his sarcastic and arrogant smirk when he killed one of them in a fight. He always seemed moody, as if to dissuade others from getting too close and disturb him for nothing, although Lux had to admit she had never seen him really angry. He was always calm, cold and distant, which did not make him the most sociable League Champion.

After looking both Demacian down in silence for a moment, Darius walked past them and down the hall with a firm step. Unlike other members of his faction, he was not interested in small corridors quarrels. Although taking Demacia and all its representatives as the opponent to crush, he preferred to do it on the Fields of Justice where he was always merciless. Lux frowned, thinking he was part of the opposing team in the game she will play today. Usually, Garen would face him one on one to protect his comrades, but their fight always leave him utterly exhausted, as his opponent. The Institute had quite terrifying champions, like the Void's monster, but Darius was part of the most fearsome, in Lux's mind.

Lux took a few steps in the hallway, staring at the Noxian's broad back. She would never admit it out loud, not even under torture, but his dark red uniform fitted him particularly well and helped to make him even more impressive. It was perhaps the long jacket or his way to wear it; she did not know and did not want to know. It was already shameful enough to admire an enemy; she did not need to know why. She did not want to think about what Jarvan Garen would say if they knew. It might not be pretty! She admonished herself in silence when suddenly an idea struck her.

"How stupid I am!" she exclaimed, slapping her forehead.
Sona looked at her in surprise, but Lux did not care.

"Hey, Darius," she called, rushing behind him.
The Noxian general had reached a cross between two corridors and was about to go back in Noxus area when he turned to her, raising his scared eyebrow.

"Is there a problem, lady Luxanna?" He asked in a neutral voice.
Always this cold and insolent politeness which meant there was no possible agreement between them and that if he did not just crush her on the spot, it was because the League prevented him to. It was clear that he felt superior to her.

"It could be," she said, stopping in front of him.
He was towering her, tall and proud, and gave the impression of being able to crush her with his bare hands; but the petite blonde was determined to not let him intimidate her. She planted her blue eyes in his gray green ones. Sona remained cautiously behind her.

"I noticed that Talon took particular pleasure in harassing Quinn," threw the blonde in a firm voice. "It has to stop."
Giving orders to an enemy general who was more accustomed to giving than in receiving them, was probably not a good idea, but Lux did not care. Darius crossed his arms over his broad chest and Lux wondered how he could fit his muscles in his jacket without ripping the seams.

"I don't see why I should care," he coldly replied, displeased.
A shiver went up along Lux's back but she was not going to back out now.

"You're the Noxian high general, aren't you?" she replied in a voice colder than necessary. "You know how to make your troops obey, I guess."
Darius' sharp gaze grew colder.

"If Talon obeys someone it's Katarina, and I'm not even sure. It's to her you should go talk. Frankly, if your friend is really unable to fend for herself, she should perhaps consider giving up her position as champion."

"I don't ask your opinion," threw Lux, offended.
Darius gave her a cold smirk.

"True. You're just asking for my help."
Lux clenched her fists, ready to answer back when a voice interrupted her.

"Oh, you're here, Lux."
Both turned in the direction of the newcomer to see Ezreal. Purposely ignoring Darius and Sona, the blond piltovian threw the Demacian a confident smirk.

"I was looking for you, babe. Ready to make some jealous and spend the best time of your life? You will have the luck to go to the party with me. Class, huh!"
Without waiting for Lux's answer, he put an arm around her waist and pressed her against him before dragging her toward the dinning hall.

"Ez?!" She protested, taken aback.

"Don't be shy, I know you want it. Who wouldn't go out with Runterra's greatest archaeologist?"
The door closed behind them, cutting the Demacian's answer.

"Archaeologist?" Darius said, vaguely offended. "I'd rather say tomb raider. This brat is even worse than Draven. I thought that a Crowngard heiress had better taste in men!"
He cast a glance toward Sona who shrugged in ignorance. With a disdainful snort, the Noxian turned and disappeared down the hall, in order to regain his apartment and prepare for the game.

* * The sands of war * *

Once she had calmed down, Quinn walked to the window and breathed a long gulp of cold morning air before whistling Valor. The eagle came after few minutes to land on the young woman's outstretched hand. He allowed himself to be quietly carried in the corner of the room and jumped on his perch without being asked, knowing what that meant. Quinn let him perch wherever he wanted, usually on the head of the bed or on top of the opened bathroom door, but she always used the perch to prepare him for a fight. Valor quietly waited for her to return with his breastplate and did not move a feather as she adjusted it on his chest. When it was done, she walked away to prepare herself for the match. Once she had her crossbow in hand, she felt slightly better. Her situation did not change but she had the feeling of being in a better control.

Champions summoned for the match were to meet in invoking room number three, fifteen minutes before the beginning of the game. One she was ready, Quinn whistled Valor and left her apartment. She met no one on in the hall, but once in the room, she realized she was not the first: Morgana paced back and forth, her withered and useless wings hanging down behind her. The two women greeted each other with a nod. The fallen angel resumed her pace while Quinn did some warm up exercises.

A few minutes later, Darius and Draven entered the room, closely followed by Talon. Still furious, Quinn acted as if he was not there and keep warming-up. She did not have to suffer this too long. Garen came a few minutes later, accompanied by Lux which was reeling off a flood of words at incredible speed. Quinn did not pay attention. The Crowngard siblings joined her and the three of them waited in the opposite corner to where Darius and his brother stood. Talon had slipped into the shadows and only the shimmering blade adorning his cloak allowed Quinn to guess his position.

A group Summoners walked into the room. Those whose champions were already there joined them and began to talk strategy. Others began to prepare everything in silence. The invocations platforms had just been activated when Syndra came in, followed by Miss Fortune few moments later. Finally, more than fifteen minutes late, Ezreal entered the room, with a swaggering pace. He didn't give anyone a single word of apology when he stood in front of Lux, a flirtatious smile on his lips.

"Well," said the clear but authoritative voice of a tall brunette with a long braid.
Quinn recognized Meirin Windhelm, Noxus High Summoner and Darius' appointed summoner.

"Now that we're all here, at least, let's begin, please."
She glanced toward Ezreal who do not make the slightest attention to her.

"The captains may approach."
Darius and Garen walked to her, silently gauging each other.

"Garen Crowngard's team represents the defense," announced Meirin. "The chose is his."
She showed a heavy token the size of a large piece, to the two captains and slowly turned it between her fingers to prove it was not fake and did have two different sides. Then she threw it in the air.

"Sword!" Garen announced before it hits the ground.
The token fell with a loud clatter in the silence of the room. Both general and Summoner leaned over it and Garen let out a curse under his breath when he saw the face decorated with a shield.

"I am sorry," said Meirin without mockery. "The shield provides the side choice to the attacking team."
She turned to Darius, silently questioning him.

"Blue," he tersely announced.

"So be it," concluded Meirin. "Champions, at your bases."
Both team got to the invocation platform corresponding to the base they had to defend. The summoners set up around them, placing their hands on the crystal balls embedded in the platforms. Each of them lit up instantly and runes placed on the ground, under the champions' feet, began to pulsate with magical energy, forming a complex figure. Summoners channeled their magic towards the crystal balls and the platforms to magically link their minds to their champion's for the duration of the match. A bright flash burst out, flooding the room with a wave of white light and the champions were sent across Valoran to the Summoner's Rift.

The match was about to begin.