A/N: Time for chapter 2! :3
I hope just as enjoyable to read as it was for me to write it.
Near the edges of the Kumungu Jungle, Teemo was picking ajunta plants to make his well-known poisonous mushroom traps. Unlike his usual trips, today he was being given a hand by Poppy and Garen, as a gesture of goodwill between Demacia and Bandle City. Teemo led the way, as he was the one who knew the perfect plants to use in order to deliver the strongest effects. Behind him, Garen and Poppy were struggling to keep up.
"What's his rush?" The Might of Demacia asked, quickly ducking to avoid a low hanging, vine.
"It's Teemo, when he's out doing his missions, he becomes a completely different person." Poppy huffed, it was her first time in the jungle and she was not accustomed to the many roots and other vegetation that impeded the path.
Teemo then suddenly stopped for them to catch up. Upon their arrival, he quickly turned around and handed them ten paper wrappings each, they were filled with ajunta.
"You are both tired...Rest here...I'll get more…Ajunta." Teemo laughed, which to everyone else sounded much more sinister. Without a chance for Garen or Poppy to respond, Teemo had already run off to collect more of his special ingredient.
"I'm glad I don't have to fight him outside of the League" Garen said, shivering at the thought of his last encounter with him in the top lane.
"Isn't everyone?" the ambassador responded, stuffing the ajunta wraps into a large bag Teemo had supplied her with.
"Will this really help improve relationships between our cities, we do already have you for that right?" the Demacian questioned.
"Well that's true, but if you are on good terms with Teemo, then things become a lot easier."The yordle then quickly took Garen's wraps from him, placing them also into the knapsack. "I'll take these back to Bandle City, Teemo is going to come back with quite a bit more, and last time I helped him there were about ten that couldn't fit into the bag."
"Well what exactly am I supposed to do?" Garen questioned.
"I don't know, stand there?, stay resolute?" I'm sure you'll think of something, Teemo won't take forever." with that, Poppy made her exit from the jungle scenario.
It had been about an hour after Poppy had left. Teemo had still not come back yet, so Garen had begun to busy himself by trying to recreate his usual sword with a wooden version. He figured it would help pass the time due to the extensive effort and detail. The Might of Demacia finally put down his hunting knife to admire his handiwork. It looked very similar to the original, although he was unable to recreate the sapphire on the guard. Garen gave it a couple of experimenting swings in a clearing of grass, before sticking the point of the blade into the soft earth.
"So how long are you Noxians planning to watch me mess around before actually doing something?" Garen taunted. In a flash, five Noxian assassins surrounded him in the clearing, each armed with a variety of daggers and dirks. One approached behind him, preparing to lash out. In response, Garen spun around and gave his attacker an uppercut. While the assassin was dazed from the sudden hit, the Demacian took the wooden sword and ran him through. The former Noxian assailant now crumpled to the ground, dead.
"Demacia"
The remaining four attackers were then upon him. He quickly dispatched the first with an upward arc of his real sword, then took out another with a horizontal follow-through of the swing. Left with only two assassins, he turned his attention to the one in front of him, riskily turning his back to the other. The frontal opponent made the first move, slashing 2 dirks, one in each hand, horizontally at the Demacian soldier. Garen blocked the left one by grabbing the opponent's wrist; the right one was blocked by his sword. But, it was a distraction, and Garen grunted as he felt a dagger pierce deep into the flesh of under his right shoulder blade. He kicked the man in front of him onto the ground, winding him, with his hands free, he used his left to remove the now blood covered knife. Swiftly, the Demacian slashed at his attacker, it was blocked and in the split second that their blades were clashing, another knife had pierced his back. Frustrated, Garen smashed the pommel of his sword into the standing assassin's head, causing him to lose grip of his weapons. Then, he was quickly picked up by the Demacian captain.
"So you want to play the blade game I see." Garen said in a forced calm voice. "Let's play". The man was then thrown onto the winded adversary still laying on the grass. They were both too weak to move. Garen then stabbed his sword into the ground.
"Justice!" he shouted, and out of the heavens, a giant golden sword dropped, crushing them both, killing them instantly. The Demacian dropped to one knee, put his hand on the hilt of the blade lodged in his back and in one firm motion it was removed. He then slowly rose to his feet, careful not to move suddenly because of the open wounds that still needed to heal. "I should be a little more careful next time" Garen panted.
"No Garen, now you're exactly how I wanted you to be." purred a familiar, deep and sinister voice. The captain turned in the direction it was coming from to see the leather clad Katarina standing before him.
"Oh... hey Kat, what brings you to the jungle? Really wanted to see me perhaps?" He said casually, ending in a flirtatious tone.
"Cut the crap Demacian, you know why I'm here.."
"Well.. If I had to guess.. Judging by the blades, you want to fight me again?"
"Not quite… You'll see" Katarina shunpoed, appearing behind him and slashing at his arm with her dagger. Before it made contact, Garen grabbed her arm, suspending her in the air. The Sinister Blade twisted her body, using the momentum to land a hard kick to his forehead. He winced from the pain, and used the last of his resolve to throw her to the ground.
"You know, that really hurt" The Might of Demacia laughed as he rubbed his most recent injury.
The female assassin smiled in return. "Oh don't worry, there's more where that came from." Suddenly, she was once again on her feet and running towards him, blades brandished. Garen, given his previous battle with the five Noxians and sustaining injuries that had not yet healed, was tired and barely managed to block the hits. Katarina sensed his weakened state, in an instant, she came at him with full force, causing him to block the hit with his remaining strength. Immediately after, she shunpoed behind him and using the pommel of her dagger, hit him in the temple, knocking the Demacian captain unconscious.
Garen woke up inside of a carriage, chains bound his legs to the bottom of it, his arms to the seat and a pair of reinforced handcuffs bound his forearms together. He turned his gaze forward to see Katarina sitting in front of him, legs crossed with an amused look plastered across her face.
"How was your nap?" The crimson haired woman teased.
"Oh it was great, perfect sleeping environment" he jiggled the chains to emphasize his sarcasm. "So, I'm guessing we're off to Noxus, how far?"
"About a day's ride." She answered, not surprised that he knew their destination.
"Sound reasonable. So… do you have a deck of cards or something?"
Katarina gave him a bewildered and semi-annoyed look. "Why on earth would I have a deck of cards on me?" she grunted.
"Well I don't suppose you sat there on the ride to the jungle with your arms and legs crossed and a scowl right?" the Noxian guards to the left and right of Garen held back a laugh, as they knew it would be the last thing they ever did. Katarina continued to stare at him angrily. "Oh loosen up Kat, it'll be fun." the Demacian assured her.
"We don't even have a deck of cards Garen"
He tilted his head towards the soldier to the left of him. "He does." the Noxian stiffened, evidently being found out. "C'mon soldier, pull them out" Garen pressured. The soldier eyed Katarina for the okay.
"Do it." She ordered, finally giving in. Slowly, the man reached into his breast pocket and presented a stack of playing cards.
"Perfect" Garen exclaimed enthusiastically. "Let's play Big Two." Each person in the carriage interior shifted to the corner, the card owner dealt 13 cards to everyone, then they began to play.
"I'm done" Katarina yelled as she threw her cards onto the floor of the carriage. She had come in fourth every single round of the game.
"Oh Kat, it's not that big of a deal." Garen tried to make her feel better, however he was the wrong person to do so because he had won every round.
"Shut it Garen, we're here anyways." she grunted.
"Oh my, time flies when you're enjoying yourself" the Demacian smiled absentmindedly, not noticing the pair of daggers eyeing him from the opposite corner of the room.
The carriage slowed to a subtle stop, the two guards began to undo the chains fastening the prisoner to the interior. He was then walked outside and began to follow Katarina into the back door of a large building that resembled a city hall. On the other side, he could hear the loud assembly of voices, as if a crowd was gathered.
The inside of the building was more intricate than it appeared. The small group had ascended and descended several staircases as well as walked through many different hallways. Then, they finally were in front of their destination, a large rosewood door. The voices were now ear piercingly loud. Katarina turned to look at Garen, she wore an evil grin.
"It's time." she opened the door and walked through, The Might of Demacia was urged to follow by the guards in front of him.
The door led outside onto a medium sized balcony with a low railing. On it, stood Draven, Darius, Swain, Leblanc and now on the opposite side of them, Katarina. Also, an array of deadly weapons and other painful devices were well organized on both sides. Garen was brought to near the edge of the balcony, and the guard behind pushed him onto his knees. In front of him, a large mass of Noxians jeered their desire for his death. However, Garen showed no fear or weakness, like any proud Demacian soldier.
It was Swain who took charge of the situation: "Well Katarina, you've brought, of all enemies, The Might of Demacia back home. As you know, I'm true to my word, so what will his fate be? We're all dying to know." he put emphasis on the "dying", as if to foreshadow Garen's fate.
"Hey Kat! Would you like to borrow my axe and kill him with style?" Draven cut in.
The crowd began to chant: "Kill him! Sever his head!" over and over again. Draven spun his axes wildly in front of the crowd, giving him the cheers that he craved.
Katarina glanced over at the group of notable Noxians on the stage, then the crowd, and lastly at Garen, who was now staring at her like everyone else. She held up her hand for silence and took a deep breath. What came out of her mouth shocked everyone, including Garen himself.
"From this point on, Garen Crownguard will be my personal servant in the Du Couteau house."