Author's Note: Okay, so umm...there's a long explaination as to why it's taken me OVER AN ENTIRE YEAR to upload one chapter, and I'm REALLY sorry about that. It was mostly due to running into real life troubles (IE: School, work..none of the fun stuff). I've barely the time to go through and edit the chapters, let alone rewriting some of them like 5-6 times. But from here on, I'm gonna do my best to keep up the work.
Rise of the Titan
Chapter 4
Fear Within the Heart
The more Ashe spoke and explained everything that had happened to her the more it was obvious she was regaining her strength. Jarvan was amazed at the wonders that Twisted Fate's magic had and began to wonder just where it extended to. The Demacian prince observed the situation as he listened to Twisted Fate and Ashe talk back and forth about the woman in the white dress. According to Ashe it was because of her that the queen was hauled away by the bandits, but wasn't sure why. She also ran on to explain that the woman kept asking her about the legend of the Seed of the Oracle. Ashe was never really able to answer any of her questions considering the state she was in the entire time she was there. It seemed that Twisted Fate had his own questions for her but he'd save them for another time until she would get stronger, this wasn't the time or the place until they were all safe. Ashe and Twisted Fate had gone on for a while asking each other about the woman in the white dress, it was quite clear that Ashe was captured because of the woman...but why did the mention of her put the gypsy on edge?
Before the Demacian prince could ask his own questions the sound of shouting and panic could be heard outside the tent. Suddenly the two burly bandits that were guarding the entrance had ran off in the direction of the shouting. The word "intruder" could be heard a lot in the midst of the panic. Twisted Fate poked his head out of the tent to see what was going on during all the confusion when all he caught was the sight of a black cloud, and as quick as the bandits were running away the fortune teller ducked back into the tent in a cold sweat, "We need to leave now," he said rather quickly.
Jarvan noticing the worry in Twisted Fate's voice only told him it wasn't just bad...it was beyond. He looked down at Ashe once more contemplating her state as well as the state of the situation. They had to get Ashe out of there. Jarvan couldn't quite wrap his mind on what was happening though, There obviously was an intruder but it wasn't them looking at the direction they were all running. Who else was here? Were they followed? Was it rival bandits? Jarvan explored the options in his mind, and didn't like any of them. It was already hostile territory and was only getting worse. Turning his attentions to Garen he motioned for the swordsman to take a peek at what was going on. Carefully, Garen stuck his head out the tent to see where it was all the bandits were running to. His eye grew wide at the sight he was looking at.
Garen watched a part of the bandit camp was engulfed in a cloud of black smoke. It couldn't be seen at all through that black fog. Every time one bandit had ran into the cloud the same one was being knocked out with his skin pale as ever as if he had seen his greatest fear. Garen remembered a champion of the league with the same powers over darkness and fear. "Nocturne," he spoke quietly to himself remembering the champion's name. With the Institute all in disarray the champions they held prisoner must have been freed, whether or not it was on purpose was not the time to think about it, but someone have had to free them for them to just be running out of control like this. The Demacian swordsman could only watch as the black fog made it's way closer to them. Ever so slowly he could hear a sinister laughter getting closer and closer. It had no remorse...and no mercy. It was a sound to be terrified of. Garen, not wanting to look at it anymore ducked his head back inside the tent to report his findings to Jarvan, Twisted Fate, and Ashe.
"This isn't good," Garen started in a panic. "Nocturne is free and is headed this way. We need to get out of here."
Jarvan's eyes grew wide hearing the name of Nocturne. He remembered fighting him on the fields of justice before...to Jarvan's memory it wasn't a pretty sight. After a duel with him Jarvan recalled having been taken away in the arms of his comrades bedridden for days because of the nightmares Nocturne had shown him. He let fear overcome him once while fighting this monster he wouldn't let it happen to him again. Once more his attentions were turned to Ashe who had taken another grip of his arm, but only this time using Jarvan to help herself stand up. It was obvious that she was still a bit shaken and her legs looked like they were just about to collapse under her but he refused to sit back down, it was a firm stance that she wouldn't back down. He knew the Queen of Freljord was strong but, he wasn't aware that she was this strong.
After Ashe got up Jarvan had noticed everyone had turned their attentions towards him awaiting a plan of action. Had they already seen the prince as their leader of their party? Even Twisted Fate had his eyes on Jarvan. The prince could feel the gypsy's compassion in his eyes, as well as his determination. Jarvan could tell that Twisted Fate had absolute trust in him that he'd make the right decision. Time had just seemed like it was slowing down for Jarvan and the weight of the party was on his shoulders. The prince took a moment for a deep breath. "We have no choice to fight. If we choose fear now...then we'll fear what lies ahead."
Everyone looked down after Jarvan's little speech, thinking about the words he had said. It was true if they had began to show fear in the face of what could be considered fear itself it would cause for a troublesome journey in the road ahead. Each of them wanted to get down to the bottom of what had happened to the League of Legends and the only thing that was holding them back was fear of the unknown. If someone was powerful enough to put the summoners in a panic it was someone to fear, but for Jarvan it didn't seem to matter, his mind was focused on the safety of Valoran. The prince took a hold of his lance on his back and bolted out of the tent in a hurry staring down the black cloud. He didn't look back to see if the others were following, if they didn't it meant that they were scared and was letting fear control them.
An eerie voice echoed as the black cloud moved leaving dead bodies in it's wake. "Darkness!" it shouted. The sinister laugh sent a chill down the prince's spine but he held steady still gripping his lance tightly. In a flash Jarvan watched as a figure shot out of the cloud in a blinding speed. It aimed to strike him and just as quickly Garen stood in the way blocking the figure's blade with his own. The Demacian guard looked over his shoulder at Jarvan with a grin, before turning his attentions back to the figure throwing him off his blade. The figure raised it's blade blocking the arrow and the card that flew past the two warriors that were headed towards them. The figure stared the four down with blood red eyes.
"Talon?" questioned Garen after getting a good inspection of the figure. As he walked, as he moved a thick cloud of black smoke followed behind him. It was obvious to them that some how Nocturne had a control over the assassin. The normal purple garbed assassin was dressed in black and the blades on his cloak were all red, but even still he held that killer instinct in his eyes. The Might of Demacia's eyes shifted down to Talon's blade on his arm seeing the fresh blood drip down from it caused him to wince just a bit. The very thought of how many dead bandits that could be in that black smoke wasn't a pretty sight that formed in his head. Knowing he might be counter attacked with swift movements Talon jumped back away from the group. He lifted his blade like he was going to strike when suddenly he lowered his weapon.
The four watched carefully, as they studied Talon's movements. Why did he suddenly stop attacking? Still they held their weapons up as another silhouette came into focus from behind the thick cloud. Judging by the hourglass figure and stance there was no doubt it was a woman, when she emerged from behind, she was grinning at the sight in front of her. By now they all recognized her white flowing dress and her ruby red lips "Champions of the Institute, fighting one another. It looks just like the fields of justice. Demacians on one side," she pointed to Jarvan's company, "...and Noxians on the other." she finished placing a hand on Talon's shoulder. With slow and languid movements her other arm moved up removing the hood on the younger male revealing his shoulder length brown hair. Her hand moved down dragging long red nails across his cheek. There wasn't enough force to make blood, but enough to make the other group shiver and question her motives, as for Talon...he stood there motionless as if nothing was happening. "You'll be surprised what fears and secrets lie beneath the coldest of assassins. To try and overcome fear, they try and become fear itself."
Jarvan held his lance up waiting to strike, but he was also well aware that he could not. He wasn't sure what it was he could do to Talon. Would Nocturne take the damage or would he injure The Blade's Shadow. Although Noxus and Demacia were enemies, angering their enemies in this current situation wouldn't be the wisest of choices. So all he could do was stare and watch the woman's hands wander all over Talon's face. Oh how he wanted to break every single one of her fingers right now. There was no doubt that the Demacian prince was showing signs of his anger rising. The more they watched her, the tighter his grip on his lance got. Jarvan hated to feel so helpless. He could only watch as she continued to eye the group, as well as circle around the still Noxian assassin. As he watched her his gaze slowly shifted to the black cloud that was still behind him it was moving closer and closer as she spoke.
When the woman finally stopped moving she leaned into Talon's ear. They couldn't make out what it was she said but suddenly the cloud disappeared after a few seconds the thick darkness was thrown at them. Jarvan looked around through it all he couldn't see anything, not even his allies who were standing close. The Demacian prince held up his lance defensively waiting an attack only in hopes that he wouldn't be struck from behind. The prince suddenly felt a heavy blade against his lance, looking up he could barely make out that it was Garen's blade that had collided with his own. He figured that in all the confusion Garen must have mistaken him for Talon. Knowing it was his fellow Demacian there he was still worried about where Twisted Fate and Ashe were. Neither one of them recovered enough for fighting. Just as he was about to tell Garen that it was him he was attacking the cloud had disappeared. The two took a moment to separate only to find that Talon had Ashe at neck point with his blade and Twisted Fate no where to be found.
Jarvan began to worry, did the Card Master just leave them high and dry at the first sign of trouble? He didn't believe that to be the case. If that was how he was he could have left Fiora to die on the Crystal Scar, but he didn't. He would have looked around to see where it was Twisted Fate had run off to but he was afraid what would happen if he took his eyes off Ashe and Talon. The assassin stood there motionless, as if he was waiting for Jarvan or Garen to make a move. The prince's eyes widened as Talon drew his blade back. It was now or never Jarvan raised his lance once more to stop the Noxian's blade when a card landed in the middle of everyone. It sat there for a few moments as another card, a gold one, struck Talon in the back. The assassin was stuck there unmoving in the same position with his blade drawn back. Jarvan continued to watch as a ring of cards appeared next to the young Noxian and Twisted Fate came out in a flash.
The gypsy looked to the three grabbing Talon's arm and putting his other arm around his neck. He faced Talon towards the card on the ground. "Shield your eyes!" he shouted as the card finally exploded, in a flash of a extremely bright light. Ashe turned around covering herself with her hood and cloak as the two larger men shielded their eyes with their arms. Although the three couldn't see anything a loud hissing and screeching sound could be heard and Nocturne's voice followed saying the same word from the Crystal Scar. "Oracle." Once the light had faded Jarvan looked to see what had happened. Talon was lying on the ground with his clothes back to normal color and Ashe holding up Twisted Fate looking as if he was about to collapse as Ashe had looked before.
Jarvan's confusion about the gypsy had returned wondering again how much Twisted Fate had pushed himself. He had saved the life of yet another champion at the expense of his own health. As the Demacian prince stood there keeping his eye on Talon, Garen had run over to help Ashe to hold up the Card Master. He walked over to Talon, to check on him to see if knew anything of what had just happened. He turned Talon's unconscious body over, even removing his blade from his aim in case he woke up with hostility. There were no injuries on the young male, but looking up and around one last time the place was deserted. There were no sign of bandits, or Nocturne, and it even seemed the woman had disappeared as well.
"We should rest here." spoke up Garen in the silence. He too had noticed the place was completely empty and seeing the state that Twisted Fate, Talon, and Ashe were in they were in no condition to be moving or traveling back to the Institute. Once it had looked like Twisted Fate had no problems in using Ashe to hold himself up the Might of Demacia bent down and picked up Talon's unconscious body heaving him over his shoulder. He was not surprised that such a swift and deadly assassin was so light. They started moving towards the center of the camp where the bonfire was once lit with Jarvan following closely behind.
Using some flint and steel and some other supplies they had found left behind and abandoned at the camp they were able to relight the bonfire to give them light and warmth as the night fell upon them. Minutes became hours as one by one Jarvan's allies fell asleep around the bonfire. He wasn't surprised that Ashe and Twisted Fate were the first two to fall victim to their exhaustion and Garen only about an hour afterwards. He remained awake to keep watch out in case any bandits left behind or even Nocturne returned. The prince's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of someone stirring awake to his side.
Jarvan didn't pick up lance but he did keep a hand on it as Talon slowly opened his eyes. It was barely a second before swiftly Talon was up and had one of his hidden shurikens at Jarvan's neck and his lance kicked away from him. Jarvan was quite shocked to see how fast someone could move for having just awakened. The prince broke out in a cold sweat feeling the cold steel pressing against neck, but as to not risk his chances of survivability he remained unmoving and kept his voice down as to not alert the others. "If it's freedom you want, you're free to go right now," said Jarvan trying to fish Talon's head for what it is he actually wants.
"What stops me from killing the crown prince of Demacia?" snarled Talon. From the tone of voice the lithe male had taken, Jarvan had felt the power behind Talon's words. What did stop him from having his blood spilled all over the floor? Maybe he should attempt to call out to the others. The fear of dying right there was in Jarvan's eyes, but this also wasn't the first time he was at the mercy of a Noxian.
As the minutes ticked by Jarvan began to wonder if Talon had any ulterior motives. He began to wonder as he and his assailant remained unmoving. He wasn't dead yet and that was some silver lining to his situation but why hadn't Talon killed him yet? Though Nocturne's possession did he remember the mercy he had spared the Noxian hours ago or maybe he even had the same thoughts of not wanting to cause a political incident between the two factions? As Jarvan was about to open his mouth to ask what it was that Talon wanted he felt the shuriken at his neck lowered. Confused the prince watched as the assassin just casually sat down next to him even lowering his hood to letting his brown teruss to take in the evening wind. "You're the second man to spare my life now," he said keeping his gaze on the fire. "I just wanted you to feel the fear I felt, the fear the Nocturne had shown me," Talon took a long pause. "He showed me helplessness, and she showed me destruction. Everyone was dead, and she died in my arms. I couldn't do anything to save her, and I ended up giving in. Who knew that, that black ghost had such a power when not being suppressed by summoners."
Jarvan merely blinked at Talon for a moment in sheer confusion. He was surprised to see how open that the assassin was being with him. He looked down in thought about how he was going to go about this. This incident stemmed beyond from what he already knew. In frustration Jarvan pounded a fist to the ground catching Talon's attention. There was so much confusion in the air and the people involved seemed to have no connection to one another. If the enemy was trying to throw them off they were doing a good job at it. The only clue they had was the woman in the white dress and a word.
Talon started at Jarvan for a moment just trying to get his own take on the man. Here he thought all Demacians were all stuck up, who talked nothing but the word justice. But as he sat and observed Jarvan, his thoughts began to change a little. This man was as human as they got. Confused, and frustrated when they didn't understand, and not to mention that he even had his own fears. It seemed to Talon there was more to the prince than what met the eye. He simply tilted his head observing the Demacian man more just to get his own take. It was just like the an assassin to observe people on a daily basis. Especially when all you have left is a blade and a survival instinct. To study your target and strike...that's all Talon knew, that's all he knew how to do.
After hours of what seemed like a silent conversation, Jarvan hadn't realized that exhaustion caught Talon as well. He simply stared at the bonfire as it was slowly losing it's light, it was a sign that the prince should probably rest as well. Jarvan sighed he felt they were no closer to finding out what was going on than when they started. All they still had was a word and an ancient legend that seemed so farfetched that he wasn't sure if he should believe it or not. Although he did wonder that the gypsy tribes and the tribes of Freljord told the same tales. Maybe that could be a clue? As Jarvan slowly began to lose consciousness the dim light began to sputter out. Finally the prince had passed out as did the light that kept them warm.
The warm glow of the sun was all it took to jolt Twisted Fate the first awake. He looked around at his sleeping allies letting them rest more. Silently, he stood up making as very little sound as possible. He picked his hat off the floor brushing the dust off of it before placing it on top of his head. He tipped it down and walked towards the sunrise until his allies were no longer in sight. He sat down on the dirt ground with a wave of deep thoughts on his mind. "There's so much that doesn't make sense." he said to himself.
"What doesn't, dear?" said an airy voice behind him. The fortune teller knew that voice by now, and the sense of urgency caused him to stand quickly. He turned behind him to catch the woman in the white dress grinning wickedly at him as usual. "If you haven't figured it out yet, then you're not as smart as I gave you credit for. Sad really." She watched Twisted Fate carefully it was obvious by the stance he had taken meant that he had become quite uncomfortable. The woman remained unmoving as the gambler reached for his card, and soon her stillness became a laugh. "I have some time...amuse me."
Naturally, the gypsy didn't take too kindly to being openly mocked which finally sent the normally calm man over the edge. He had become over come with a wave of frustration and anger a side normally not displayed in the man. He'd let her know he was not pleased with her. Quickly he reached a hand out and grabbed her throat applying enough pressure to let her know he wasn't joking. "What keeps me from snapping your neck right now?" The woman had still remained unmoving not even the hand on her throat wasn't even a threat. Twisted Fate raised an eyebrow trying to figure her out. Was she crazy? She slowly raised an arm and placed a hand on the arm that had her by the throat.
Suddenly, within the blink of an eye they were somewhere else. The skies filled the skies in smoke and the horizon was lit ablaze with fire. They were surrounded by lifeless corpses as far as the eye could see. Some bodies were burnt, stabbed, and even some looked like they had died of shock. The gambler's eyes widened at the sight and the color seemed to just drain from his face. What was it that he was looking at right now? Where were they exactly? The grip he had on her throat loosened and he eventually let go altogether. He backed away from her looking quite shocked at what had surrounded them. "You need me," she said. "There's still so much you don't know about your power." There it was again, the feeling something crawling up his arm like it was under his skin. He knew it could only be the black vein, and the feeling of pain began to consume him once more. Eventually, the gypsy keeled over in pain on one knee taking in deep heavy breaths.
She walked up to him wearing that same vicious smile. "Let me let you in on a secret…" she started as she walked towards him. She kneeled down next to him getting close to his ear. "This is the inevitable...for I am the Oracle."
Twisted Fate's eyes lit up in horror hearing those words, and within a blink of an eye they were back in the canyon. The sun had rose more and he still sat there kneeling stricken with fear. The woman was gone and left no trace, except for a very speechless gypsy.