Desperate Times

a League of Legends fanfic

Chapter 10: Alliances

"You have a great deal of nerve, thinking you could hide Demacia's actions from us Lightshield!" One of the hooded figures spoke, his voice echoing across the chamber. "Did you truly believe that we would remain unaware of your preparations for war?"

Prince Jarvan flashed his most charming smile, "Of course I knew you would notice. Why do you think I came to the Institute of my own accord? I am here to lay your fears to rest." Turning to the far wall, the prince activated a small device, bringing an image up on a large screen set into the wall. "While the world is indeed experiencing an era of unpresidented peace, thanks in no small part to this council and the Institute of War, Demacia values it's military strength." Images of Demacian soldiers in formation, and practicing drills continued to flash across the screen. "As you are no doubt aware, almost a year ago, I was the target of a brutal and devastating terrorist attack. That attack made me realize just how vulnerable Demacia is, and as such, I have been drilling my soldiers almost nonstop ever since. Working to improve every aspect of their talents." Turning back to the council, he smiled once more, "The raising of the shield is simply another drill. The exercise will be completed soon, and once it is, the shield will be lowered immediately."

The hooded members of the Summoner counsel stood in silence for several moments. Finally, the middle one spoke, "Very well Prince Lightshield. See to it that your exercise is completed soon, Demacia's actions of late have been making several of the other City-States nervous. Grand General Swain has sent word that the armies of Noxus have been readied for the eventuality of an attack."

A twitch was the only indication of the Prince's true thoughts on the news, "I've no doubt he has..." He said. "If the council has no further questions for me, I am afraid I must leave. I have several duties and matters of State to attend to while I am still here at the Institute." Bowing slightly, the prince turned and made his way from the chamber.

After he was gone, the council turned to each other, "Well? What do we truly think?" Asked one.

"There is something odd about him. However, I cannot place it." Spoke the middle figure.

"We should have questioned him further." The last one said. "There is an aura of magic about him, I would like to know what it was."

Jarven walked through the cavernous hallways of the Institute of War, a small smile on his face, he nodded to the various summoners and dignitaries he passed until finally he turned, entering his personal stateroom that was always made available to him while at the Institute.

As soon as the door closed, Le'Blanc let out an exhausted sigh, "Ugh... I thought they would never shut up..." She said, her disguise sliding away. "But it doesn't matter, those old fools can't stop me now." Turning to the device that had been placed in the room at her order before she had even come, the Deceiver ran her fingers across the edge igniting the runes along it.

The device hummed to life, gathering up power for a few moments before flashing brightly. Le'Blanc smiled as the portal opened before her, it had taken her years to perfect the device's design. A portal generator that could operate within the Institute, without attracting the attentions of the mighty Summoner Council. Without any more thought, she quickly stepped through the portal.

The room she appeared in was dark. So much so that she would have sworn she had gone blind were it not for the dim glow of the portal at her back. Smiling in satisfaction, she turned to her only exit and murmured a small warding spell before turning back to the pitch blackness... And then gasped in pain as something impaled her through the stomach.

The being lifted the woman off the ground, hauling her up using the massive blade as leverage. It reached up, curling it's black fingers around the back of her head, "Hello little girl..." It's wispy voice echoed lightly through the empty space.

"Hello Nocturne." Le'Blanc said, appearing to the shadow-beast's right, the illusion of her dying body vanishing from it's grip. "It's been some time."

Nocturne lunged at her once more, attempting to cut the woman in half. He came up short however, finding some wall of invisible force blocking his path to the illusionist. Howling in rage, the being flew upwards, trying to find a way through or around, anything to get to the mortal that had invaded his sanctuary. However when no path presented itself, he paused, considering the woman as she stood, smiling coyly up at him. "What do you want human?"

Le'Blanc's smile widened into something almost predatory. "I want to make a deal."

Draven stood, casually spinning one of his signature throwing axes, watching his sparring partner's eyes. Garen slowly circled around the famous executioner, his blade held in front of himself, point down and aimed across his body to provide an effective shield. Katarina lounged nearby, a bored look on her face as neither man would attack yet.

"Oh for fuck sake... would one of you two just make a move?" She finally sighed in frustration.

Beside her, a sensual chuckle escaped her sister. "Oh come on Red, you know how 'warriors' are," Cassiopia laughed in a mocking tone. "They're probably scared of messing up and looking stupid in front of two ravishing beauties like us."

"You only reveal more of your own foolishness Snake." Cassiopia hissed in fury, turning to the new voice, but coming up short as Darius approached, his customary scowl turned on her. "In a battle with two as experienced as my brother and the Demacian," He spit the final word as if it left a foul taste in his mouth, "A battle can be decided instantly by a single move. For example." He nodded in the direction of the two combatants, drawing the Du Couteau girls' eyes back just as Draven lunged forward.

The executioner hurled one axe at Garen as he moved, following up with the second throw almost instantly. Garen shifted his sword slightly, the first axe glancing off it and bouncing up and away. He then shifted slightly, allowing the second axe to fly past him, he stepped forward bringing his sword up and around in a massive cleaving blow.

However the blow struck only air, as Draven leaped up, over the strike, his hand closing on the handle of the first axe as it began to fall back to earth. He then came hurtling back down, bringing the axe down in an overhead chop to strike towards Garen.

Garen reacted by dropping into a crouch, and bringing his sword up. The two landed with Draven's axe holding just between Garen's eyes, and Garen's blade positioned directly over Draven's heart. Cassiopia felt her jaw drop slightly, "A tie?"

Draven laughed, stepping back and offering a hand to Garen to help him up, "No. It's my loss."

As the serpentine woman looked confused, her sister clarified for her. "Garen's sword had the longer reach. If they had actually been trying to kill each other, all he needed to do was extend it a little further forward, and Draven would have been dead before he landed. Not to mention that the idiot wasted his second axe rather than save it for a more effective moment."

"Which only proves how much my foolish brother still has to learn." Said Darius, "Losing to a Demacian, I'm disappointed Draven."

"Ok Brother. If you're so damned perfect, why don't you step in the ring and show us how it's done." Draven smirked, retrieving his other axe from where it landed. "I'm sure Garen won't mind another match."

Garen regarded Darius with a mix of caution and reserved respect. "Sure." He said at length, "If you feel like a match, I'll fight you Darius."

Darius hefted his massive war axe, a strange look in his eye. "I can't promise that I won't take your worthless head off Crownguard." He said as he stepped into the arena.

At that, Garen smirked, "You won't kill me here. Because then the only people who would know are standing here, and of course Swain would know. But I get the feeling that you'd rather kill me where the whole world could watch."

Darius paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face for a moment. "I suppose you are right." He said at last, taking up his position to begin the match.

Garen raised his sword into a guard, and watched his new opponent. The two stood across from one another, the moments stretching out into an eternity. Cassiopia started to grow bored, however, it was then that she noticed the tension in the air. Returning her gaze to the two men facing each other, she saw what almost could be described as phantom images of the two playing across her eyes, clashing in battle as the two simply stood there. "Wha-" She started to ask, then both Garen and Darius lunged, and the tension exploded into an air of raw violence.

The two warriors clashed, locking their blades between each other. Garen quickly tried to break the stalemate by bringing his leg up in a brutal kick to Darius' side, but found his leg then locked in place as the Noxian general caught him, pinning the leg to his side. Darius then stepped, turned and threw Garen across the ring, lunging after him, axe raised once more.

Garen managed to recover as he tumbled through the air, landing and reversing direction almost instantly. Getting inside his opponent's reach, he reached up, catching Darius' axe by the hilt. Then, unable to bring up his own blade in the tight reach he had, he drove his knee up into his opponent's gut, winding him and forcing him back.

The two paused, taking a moment to recover, before lunging in again. Their blows began to move faster, and faster, until none of the other's present could easily follow them. Finally, they both lunged forward, their blades stopping scant inches from each other's neck.

The tension in the air instantly broke, and the onlookers felt themselves release a breath than none of them had realized they'd been holding. Darius and Garen both stood there, breathing heavily, neither one of them wanting to lower their weapon first.

Finally Garen broke out laughing. "Now that was a tie Cass." Lowering his sword, he held out a hand to his opponent, "Good match."

For a moment, Darius looked almost shocked, then he finally smirked, and took Garen's hand in a strong grip. "Yes. It's been a long time since I've had a fight like that." Then, he turned and began to make his way out of the arena, "Perhaps we'll do that again."

Garen paused for a moment, hardly able to believe that he'd just shared a moment of almost comradery with Darius of all people. Then he shrugged, and made his way over to the bench, sitting down with a slump, still breathing heavy.

Small but strong hands landed on his shoulders, kneading at a couple of knots gently. "Good fight 'Gerad'." Katarina almost purred from behind him, "I'll be honest, I really thought Darius was going to try and kill you."

Garen groaned a bit as the woman's hands worked, "Never even crossed my mind. Darius want's to prove to the world that Noxus is the greatest, he'd never kill one of his biggest enemies in a match where no one could know about it." He chuckled lightly, "I guess he's more like you than he knows, Draven."

Draven burst out laughing, "Oh gods... don't ever let him hear you say that. He'd kill you on principle. Even if it's totally true." The executioner then stood up and made his way out, "Well, I've got some stuff to do, I'll beat you next time 'Gerad'." He called over his shoulder with a chuckle.

Cassiopia glanced over at her sister, then smirked, turning to leave as well. "I suppose I'll be going as well Red. Try not to have too much fun on your own you two."

Katarina chuckled a bit as her sister left, then stepped around in front of Garen, "What do you say Crownguard? Got enough left in you for one more match?" She smirked, "Or did big bad Darius tire you out to much?"

Laughing as he rose, Garen smirked, "I may have been in bad shape a few months ago, Kat. But even I'm not in that bad of shape that I'd be done after only a couple rounds with Draven and a single fight with his brother. You're on." He said as he grabbed his sword once more.

Katarina laughed happily, bending backwards into a backflip and landing in place in the arena. "Well then, show me what you've got tough guy."

Almost an hour later, the two sat back to back, breathing heavily and laughing.

"I thought I had you there for a bit, damnit. How did you manage to get around behind me?" Katarina panted.

Garen shrugged, chuckling. "I'm not even sure. Luck maybe?" Suddenly, he stopped, his laughter replaced by tension. "I know you're there." He suddenly called out to the apparently empty room. "Were you planning on just watching, or can we talk?"

"Do you have any idea how worried I have been?! And here I find you laughing and making nice with this Noxian whore!" A voice rang out across the room, as Lux stepped out from behind a curtain of shimmering light that had masked her presence. "You had better have a damn good explanation for all of this Brother."

Katarina rolled her eyes in disgust. "Oh great, the Girlscout's here. I thought that today was going too well to be true."

Garen stood up, helping Katarina up as well, "Kat, can you give me a bit? I guess I need to have a talk with her."

"Fine. You know where the estate is. Just try not to let her get seen, the High General's protection is extended to you, and no one else. And I'd hate to see anything happen to the little bitch before I get the chance to gut her myself."

"Kat." Garen's voice took on a stern edge, one that the Du Couteau hadn't heard in a while. Shrugging Katarina made her way out of the arena, raising a finger towards Lux as she passed her. Garen then made his way over to his sister, "Lux... It's good to see you."

The slap rang out across the room. Garen hardly reacted to it however "How dare you?" Lux hissed, "How dare you make me worry like this?! And consorting with Noxians?! Have you gone insane Garen? Do you have any idea-"

Her words were suddenly cut off as her bother pulled her into a hug. "I've missed you." He said. "I'm sorry that I made you worry. But it was either that, or die for something I didn't do, without the chance to clear my name." Lux's small fists beat against his chest, as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I wanted to get word to you... tell you I was ok. Tell you not to worry. But I couldn't let them find me."

Lux slowly wiped away her tears. "Who?" She asked, her voice so dangerous that Garen almost didn't recognize it. "Who did this to us? Who am I going to have to kill for this?"

Garen stepped back, taking in the sight of his sister. She wore a strange mix of what looked like her old armor and a Zaunite stile outfit. Her gaze was hard, and her expression was absolutely murderous. "Come on," He said, "Let's go to Kat's estate. It's where I've been staying while I was here, and I doubt she'll try to kill you yet. We've got a lot to go over."

The Ionian afternoon was beautiful. Jay stood in a grove of cherry blossom trees, practicing with a spear of beautiful craftsmanship. As he went through the motions, he struggled to wrap his mind around all that he had learned over the past three months.

His memories still hadn't returned, yet, but he had knowledge of who he was. And what he had learned felt... right. It felt true. He was Jarven Lightshield IV, crown prince of Demacia, and Champion of the League of Legends. And someone had tried to kill him, and had stolen his identity.

No. Not 'someone'. He thought, his grip tightening on the spear's haft. Le'Blanc. She is the one behind this. With a grunt of frustration, he suddenly turned and hurled the spear as hard as he could, embedding it deep into the trunk of one of the trees. "Le'Blanc." He said to himself, "Just the name makes me angry right now."

"Now tha' don' seem like a proper way ta treat no tree." A voice laughed from behind him, "Still, Notta bad throw. I take it ye were imagining lil' miss Le'Blanc's head there aye?" Gangplank stood at the entrance to the grove, a jug of Ionian wine in one hand and a pair of small saucer-like drinking cups in the other. "Come on Jay lad, ye need a drink."

Jarvan sighed, sitting down in the grass, "I'm just so frustrated. None of my memories are coming back, even though I know what should be there now. From an intellectual standpoint, I know who I am, what I've done in my life. I know everything. But it's all just that. Intellectual knowledge. No feeling, no emotions. No actual memories." He sighed again, accepting a cup from his friend and tossing back the first drink like it was little more than water.

"They'll come lad." Gangplank smiled, refilling the prince's cup, and then filling his own. "Ye know what ye need ta know. Now it's all just a matter o' makin' it all feel right. Somethin' will click sooner'later. An' till then, at least ye have a target te go work yer frustrations out on."

Jarvan nodded, his expression growing dark. "Le'Blanc. She is the one behind it all. The one pulling the strings."

"Aye. So, what do ye plan on doin'?"

"I plan on cutting her hands off so that she cannot pull any more such strings."

The pirate let loose a belly laugh. "Gahaha, tha's the spirit Jay me boyo. Well then. If'n ye'll have me along. I'll offer ye tha Deadpool ta get ye home. An' I'll toss me own blade inta the mix too. Sounds like it's gonna be one hell of a good fight."

Jarvan flashed a grimly determined smile. "My thanks Captain. But one condition."

"Oh?"

The prince raised his cup in a toast to the gods of battle. "When we find her, Le'Blanc is mine."

Gangplank's grin widened. He raised his own cup to join the prince's. "Ye've got yerself an accord."

It was well past midnight by the time Garen had finished telling Lux everything that had happened to him over the past several months. When he finally finished his tale, his sister locked eyes with the red haired woman who lounged on a nearby couch in the chambers that Garen had been using.

"I guess I owe you an apology Katarina. Thank you for saving my brother's life."

Katarina blinked in surprise at the sincerity in Lux's voice, then cleared her throat. "Yeah... well... if he died, I'd have no one to really have any fun with in League matches anymore. So... you're welcome... I guess." She looked away from the two Demacians, getting up to grab a drink.

"So, now you know the whole story." Garen said from his chair. "At least, as much of it as I know. There's likely more to it since this is Le'Blanc we're talking about, but so far, that's what we know."

Lux nodded, "Mmm, it fits with what Fiora told me before I left to try and find you. Apparently, there are a few Champions in Demacia who know that something is wrong, and they're working to figure it out as well. So we aren't exactly without allies back home." She then went on to tell her brother about the 'alliance' that Fiora, Poppy, and Galio had made.

Garen let out a small sigh of relief. "Good, I'm glad to hear that Poppy is ok. What about Shyvanna? I had to hurt her pretty badly during our fight... Is she ok?"

"She's alive, last I heard." Lux said, placing a reassuring hand on Garen's arm. "Of course, that was a few months ago. And nobody would tell me anything because I was your sister. But from what I understood, she was healing quickly, and burning for payback."

Garen rolled his eyes. "Great... now I have an angry Half Dragon hunting me... Just what I needed to hear." He then started to laugh, much to the confusion of the two women present. "I'm sorry... I just think that this whole situation has just gotten comically out of hand."

Katarina then let out a laugh of her own. "Yeah, I suppose you're right." She was brought up short by a soft knock at the door. Glancing around to Lux, she motioned for the blonde woman to get out of sight, and moved to the door, opening it slightly. "What?" She asked briskly.

"Forgive the interruption mistress." A servant said, eyes cast down in deference, "However this just arrived by courier, it is marked as urgent, and bears the High General's seal."

Katarina blinked in surprise, taking the small rolled letter from the servant and dismissing him with a wave of her hand. She then turned back into the room, closing the door behind her and opened the letter. Several moments later, she threw a worried glance towards Garen and Lux, then handed the letter to him.

Garen quickly scanned the letter. General Du Couteau it read, Some interesting information regarding the Demacian situation has just come to light, please join me in my office at High Command. Bring 'Gerad' and your new guest with you, as they will both find it very interesting.-High General Jericho Swain.

"How the hell could he know that she's here?" Garen asked quietly, handing the letter back to Katarina.

"He's a genius Garen." The red haired woman said. "He saw through your disguise when you first got here like it was nothing. And he's been monitoring the situation with Demacia since before Jarvan got attacked."

"That, or maybe someone told him."

Katarina's eyes flashed dangerously. "You really think I'm that petty Garen? I may not like your sister, but I've put a lot more than you realize on the line just by helping you as much as I have. I'm not about to risk all of that over a petty little grudge with the Girlscout over there."

"Excuse me?" Lux cut in before the two could get any angrier at each other, "What's going on here?"

"Swain knows you're here." Katarina said, turning back to the door. "I've been ordered to bring you and your brother to High Command."

Lux's eyes widened. "Oh..." Glancing between her brother and the Noxian general, she finally sighed in frustration. "Well then, let's go."

"What?" Katarina whirled back to face the blonde woman. "Are you insane? You really plan to just waltz into High Command?"

"I've done it before on my own. And this time, it seems like I have an invitation. Besides, no one's going to see me. They'll just see you." As she spoke, she conjured a small glimmering light around her body that seemed to make her completely invisible. "How do you think I got across the Noxian border without alerting every military outpost for a hundred miles?"

Garen shook his head, turning to his host. "If Swain actually wanted to capture Lux, I'd assume he'd go about it in a much different way than this. More than likely he'd send Darius in, axe swinging."

Katarina finally let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Lets go. Stay behind us Girlscout."

An hour later, the group found themselves standing outside Swain's office. Knocking once, Katarina pushed the door open and entered first, followed by Garen and an invisible Lux.

"Ah, General, Mr. 'Gerad', Welcome." Swain sat in his usual high backed chair. "Please come in, and do close the door behind you. We wouldn't want anyone seeing out other guest would we?" His eyes tracked across the room and locked with Lux's despite her attempts at stealth. "Yes my dear, I know you are there. Now please, join us in this spectrum. If I wanted you dead or captured, then you would be already."

Lux felt an involuntary shiver crawl up her spine as she released the spell. "You are a creepy bastard, you know that Swain?"

Swain's cheeks rose behind his mask. "Perhaps. But that is neither here, nor there at the moment. What matters is that we are going to be meeting a very interesting pair of guests in a few minutes. Guests whom I am certain will be very helpful in your hunt for Le'Blanc. Please, this way."

With that, he rose, and made his way out of the room through another door. The other three traded confused looks before shrugging and following after the Grand General.

They found themselves in a small hallway with a set of stairs leading up. After several minutes of walking the stairs led out to a large balcony that overlooked the city. The lights of the various buildings and streets winked up at them through the dark night. It was then that Garen realized something, "Where's the moon?" He asked, looking up to where the moon should have been shining down on them as it had been on their walk from the Du Couteau estate.

"Well, well. You really are smarter than you look." A voice called out from the air above them. Slowly descending from where she had been waiting, Syndra landed with a smile. "It's been some time Crownguards."

Garen felt himself grow tense, Syndra was another person who he trusted about as much as he trusted Swain. Which was to say 'not in the least'. "Syndra. What are you doing here?"

"She is here with me General." Garen froze in surprise, and Lux called out in joy as the massive form of Galio dropped down to join them. "It is good to see you sir." He said, extending a hand in greeting.

Garen's mouth gaped for a few moments. "G-Galio?" He finally recovered enough to speak, "Well now, interesting guests indeed." He laughed, taking the golem's hand. "What brings you here of all places? With Syndra as a companion no less?"

"The same situation that has you seeking shelter and asylum in the lands of our most hated enemy." Galio smirked, "I sought out Syndra for her aid in breaking through a powerful barrier that someone has erected around the Demacian palace that denies me entry. She brought me here when the War Shield went up around the nation, in the hopes of finding allies."

"And allies you have found golem." Swain said as he approached. "There is indeed an enemy lurking in the heart of Demacia, one that I suspect you will be needed to help defeat."

Galio's gaze darkened, "Let me make one thing very clear Jericho Swain. I still do not trust you, even if you have kept General Crownguard safe."

Swain's cheeks rose in a grin. "I would be very disappointed if you did trust me after just that."

"If we're all done with the pleasantries," Syndra suddenly cut in, "Perhaps I can invite you all to my palace to discus what is to come next. I am eager to break that 'War Shield' and prove just who truly is the most powerful."