Kayle set her helmet on the table, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath and exhaling again, letting a soft incantation pass her lips. Jarvan could not make out the words, but he heard the words begin to swirl and warp into an inhuman moan, as if they had been picked up by the wind and whipped into a twisted whisper. The heavy canvas of the tent rustled playfully, dancing on the gust of wind that swirled around the room before suddenly settling, as if some power had instantly frozen the air. Jarvan glanced around the room, feeling the dead air suddenly pushing in on him, leaving him short of breath. He exhaled slowly and then inhaled again, letting his breathing become slow and deep and after a few seconds his ears popped, like when climbing along the jagged cliff of the Demacian coastline as a boy. He had to swallow a few times to try and rid himself of the odd feeling that was pressuring his eardrums, as the ethereal being let her attention settle on the prince.

"The sensation will pass in a few moments." Kayle said, exhaling inaudibly, a thin but knowing grin lighting upon her lips. The prince turned to look at her, his cheeks start to flood with color, his chest starting to burn as if he were drowning. The ethereal being's head fell, her fingers lacing together in a silent prayer. Jarvan watched incredulously, the realization that she was casting a second incantation only dawning upon him after he opened his mouth to use his last breath to cry for help. As if on cue, the air suddenly shuddered, and it began to flow around the prince like normal. "Now, we can speak at length without anyone overhearing us. Less we are physically interrupted, our conversation will not carry further than this tent." The prince sucked in a breath, the cool air tasting sweet upon his tongue as he gasped, panting softly as he gripped at this throat, his eyes lingering on the winged creature with disbelief, tugging at the collar of his tunic beneath his cuirass, loosening it slightly.

"You're being much less discreet this time." Jarvan muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he grumbled under his breath, rubbing his side where the burning had struck him. The shortness of breath and his labored breathing had caused an ache in his side where he had been afflicted, and now a stitch seemed to be glowing red hot along his side, curling up from his waist to his shoulder blade. He grunted, shifting uncomfortably. "Last time you froze the entirety of the Demacian Legislative Council and this time you magically assaulted the crown prince." Jarvan let a crooked grin slide onto his face. "What's next? A personal duel with the king for the right to speak with me?" Jarvan grinned wryly as he looked to the Judicator, wondering how she would react to his biting words, but what he saw surprised him.

Kayle had settled on one of the cots, her wings drooping slightly as she sighed, hanging her head, running her hands through her golden-blonde hair, letting it cascade around her face. She sighed softly a second time, looking up at Jarvan, her azure eyes alive with electric color as she offered him a thin, tired smile. There were more creases in her face, lines hardened by stress and effort, and it looked as if the immortal being had aged a hundred years in a matter of a few months. The skin was hardened around her eyes and bunched up, as if she had seen too much and had gotten too little sleep, however the tired look about her did not diminish the energetic spark that danced in her eyes. "You have this much cheek after my Reckoning?" She chuckled softly, her voice as rich and as full of strength as Jarvan remembered from his previous encounter. "Perhaps next time I should hit a bit harder so it is more convincing."

"No thanks." Jarvan said curtly, shaking his head. "I can still taste the blood." Jarvan snorted, looking over to the winged being across from him, a frown sliding onto his face. He laid his lance down at his feet, just before the cot behind him.

Kayle gestured for the prince to come closer as he started to drop down to sit upon the cot opposite the judicator, patting the cot she sat upon, right beside her. "Sit so I can tend to your wounds while we speak. It would appear suspicious if you left my care without any change to your health." Jarvan frowned slightly, but the Judicator cracked a warm smile, looking up at the towering Demacian prince, seeing his hesitation. "And do not worry, my healing magic is far more advanced than that of the peoples of Runeterra. At most, you might feel a little warmth."

Jarvan was wary, but he nodded, dropping down onto the seat next to the Judicator. "My apologies if I seem reluctant; I have learned to doubt medical treatment offered by others." Jarvan said, watching the Judicator's expression. "I prefer the old fashion way, compared to something quick and painful, if you do not mind."

The Judicator laughed softly, nodding at him. "I understand the hesitation, but you need not worry." Kayle said, scooting over slightly as Jarvan dropped to the cot. He groaned softly as he leaned forward, his shoulder protesting. Kayle gently ran her hand along the surface of Jarvan's armor, a slight frown creasing her brow. "May I remove your armor?"

"Do what you must." Jarvan said, exhaling slowly, sitting up and starting to release the leather straps that held his armor in place. He paused, turning to look intently at the winged being. "Before we go any further…"

"You wish to see proof of my identity, correct?" Kayle asked, anticipating his question, folding her hands into her lap. Jarvan frowned, watching the even expression upon her face but he finally nodded.

"Yes." The prince was still watching her, vigilance in his eyes. "My apologies, but everyone tells me I must be wary of those who surround me, and those who I surround myself with."

"That is wise." The Judicator paused for a moment, her even brow furrowing slightly. "I do not know what I can offer to prove my identity, but if it is any comfort to you, if I wished you dead, you would be dead." Kayle's words were serene, a blank, emotionless expression appearing upon her face.

The prince shivered, seeing the cold, almost calculating, look in her eyes, crackling with azure fire that gazed upon him as though he were a bug to be squashed. Jarvan felt cold fear grip his heart, clutching tight around chest with an icy grasp. I have seen eyes like that before, the eyes of a creature who is neither human nor knows human fear. Kampf had those eyes. Jarvan scoffed, trying to hide his trepidation, putting on a false grin, but the Judicator had already read the moment of weakness in his eyes. The corners of her mouth quivered, as if she were trying to suppress a smile. "And how would you do that?" He chuckled softly. "I see no sword and your magic merely slowed me before."

"You must be wary, prince." The blonde said with a sly smile sliding across her face. "Magic comes in many forms, and while you have likely seen many forms of it, there are magicks the likes of which are foreign to even you."

Jarvan felt the cot he was sitting upon shift underneath him and his arms shot out around him, as if to steady his balance. "Wha-…!?" The prince barked, but as he looked down, his voice caught in his throat. A shimmering, golden liquid was slowly starting to widen and spread under his feet, rolling over his greaves, arcing slowly up all around him, as if it were dripping upward from the ground along some large spherical shape, slowly forming a bubble. "What is this!?" Jarvan hissed as he jumped up, but the bubble was liquid and as he tried to step from the encroaching danger, the material stuck to his armored greaves like tar, binding him stickily to the material, holding him down. "Stop!" Jarvan hissed, the material rising further around him, expanding and slithering up about him, hissing, bubbling, and humming softly as it coiled and rose, forming a sphere. The material rose and coiled around him, shivering angrily as it coiled around the prince. He reached out, trying to grab and push it back, but the material simply flowed around his fingers, continuing to close the orb, wrapping tighter around him, binding his hands. "Kayle!" Jarvan shouted. "Enough!" The material stopped moving, forming a hollow, perfect orb around the prince, the surface smooth, almost like glass aside from the subtle ripples in the surface.

Kayle stood up, stepping forward to the prince, the orb humming louder and louder as she stepped closer, both the angel and the orb starting to glow with a soft, warm, golden light. Fire hissed around her head, sparkling brilliantly as it carved a halo through the air, wreathing her head in flames. The halo flickered and crackled, burning brightly above her as she looked imperiously down at the prince. "Now you see my true strength." Kayle whispered softly, her hand descending in front of her and wrapping around an invisible shape. She lifted it up, a brilliant, fiery light gleaming as she pulled her sword from thin air, the golden blade glimmering with dangerous but just power. The Judicator lifted her flame-wreathed blade and held it to the prince's neck. Jarvan could feel the warmth of the flame licking his skin, but they were not hot, merely tepid against his skin. "If I wished you dead, you would have dropped instantly when you stepped into this tent. But I do not wish you dead. I wish for your help."

Jarvan glared back at her with defiance in his eyes, though he sighed softly, hanging his head and shivering as the material flowed around him. "Very well. Release me and let us speak."

Kayle smiled, looking at the prince, her azure eyes sparkling like lightning. She lifted her blade again, letting it fall in her hands, rotating around the hilt till she held it down. She closed her eyes and below her, a brilliant light erupted, sparkling and burning brilliantly. She slowly pushed the blade back into the ethereal sheath, the handle disappearing when the burning golden light touched the hilt of the weapon. The halo of flame hissed softly as it disappeared, leaving only the vague warmth curling slowly through the tent. Kayle stepped forward, reaching a hand out and tapped the golden orb with a single finger. A wave of ripples rolled over the entire surface of the orb as if it were the surface of a glassy body of water, the bubble shivering slightly before retreating the way it came, returning to nothing.

Jarvan exhaled explosively, dropping down to his knees, panting softly, grasping at the ground in disbelief. He raised a hand to his neck, holding it there as he looked at the judicator, a newfound fear and respect for her terrifying power. "What was that?" Jarvan hissed softly, trying desperately to regain his composure, though as he pushed himself to his feet, his knees were still shaking. He had not known fear like that since he and Shyvana had faced Kampf the first time together. She is on a completely different level. It… she is terrifying.

"The physical appearance of my divine power, the last strength afforded to me by my world." Kayle said softly, lifting a hand and closing her eyes. She began to glow a soft golden color for a as a small golden orb appeared in her palm. It flowed and bobbed like a liquid, but it shimmered and gleamed like pure, polished gold. She gestured her hand forward and the orb floated towards the prince. Jarvan frowned as it approached, involuntarily taking a half step backward, earning him a soft laugh from the Judicator. "Do not worry, it will not harm you." Kayle said, gesturing to the orb. It bobbed serenely, like an apple floating in a bowl of water. Jarvan frowned back at the woman but reached cautiously out and poked the small golden orb. It made a sound like a drop of water when touched. "It is my intervention, an ethereal embodiment of my power and will. It obeys my every command, be is to shield an ally… or to crush a foe." The quiet fury in her voice sent a shiver up the prince's spine.

"I pray I never face you in a fight." Jarvan said softly, grimacing as he looked back to the ethereal being.

"You need not worry." Kayle said, sinking to her cot, her shoulders sinking slightly as she exhaled softly. "I come to you with many things I need to ask, and the hope of finding at least some answers to my problems." The Judicator's light seemed to ebb slightly as she sat down, breathing slowly, closing her eyes.

"What ails you, Judicator?" Jarvan asked, looking evenly at the winged being, an even expression upon his face as he glanced about. The air had gone very still again in the absence of the golden power, and his voice sounded slightly muted, but he could only chalk it up to the effects of the judicator's earlier spell fluctuating with the power in the air.

"Please, enough of the formalities." The ethereal being said, offering the prince a soft, almost pained smile. "Judicator is merely a title afforded to me by my position within the Institute, and it has been far too long since I've had a friend with which I could converse without having to watch my own back." There was shaky exhaustion slowly creeping into the beautiful being's voice as she looked up at the prince. "Please, address me as you would address a friend."

Jarvan watched her, pity settling in his stomach like ice. "Very well, Kayle." Jarvan said, turning slightly so he could better look at the woman. "I do not think I have ever seen you looks so weary before."

"There is much that weighs heavily upon my mind." Kayle said, shaking her head and pushing herself up slightly. She rested her elbows upon her knees, lacing her fingers before her, perching her chin atop her hands. "The recent strains upon the Institute has brought painful memories back to mind, and I am not terribly fond of the recent past."

Jarvan set his jaw, looking intently to the Judicator. Kayle noticed his serious glare and sighed softly, a look of finality settling upon her face, as if something she dreaded was fast approaching. "I do not wish to cause you undo emotional distress, but there is one thing I must ask first before we continue."

"I knew this question was coming as well." Kayle said sagely, nodding somberly. "Do not despair, not all of the memories are painful." She paused for a brief moment, her expression slowly smoothing, as if she were gathering up her courage. "You wish to know why I am helping you, to know what possible reason could I have to assist you, correct?"

"Yes." Jarvan said simply, not letting the intensity of his glare falter.

"Very well." There was a thin but tired smile upon her face. "I respect your honesty, prince, and in interest of said honesty and trust between us, I shall explain my reasoning in full." The Judicator paused, taking a slow, calming breath before looking back up to the prince. "The short answer is my sister."

"You have a sister?" Jarvan said, blinking slowly, frowning. "But I thought you came from another dimension… another world completely?" Jarvan frowned and then shut his mouth, shaking his head. "I apologize. That was a tactless question."

Kayle chuckled softly, raising a hand and waving the prince off. "I do come from another dimension, a world far, far away." Kayle nodded, her expression turning dark and haunted. "And once upon a time, I did have a sister who I loved very much. In my world, I was the general of my world's army, protecting a race of immortals, my forces committed to destroying evil wherever I could find it. For tens of thousands of years, I fought for my peoples, wielding my sword and a furious might to strike down darkness, shouldering the burden of my people alone. But darkness is found wherever there is light, and while it might not always been seen, it always creeps back, oozing and filling every space it can. I fought and I fought, and in my quest for victory over darkness, I was merciful. I lifted every being I could from the darkness to return them to the light, but sometimes, there were those who had fallen so far to the darkness that the only redemption they could be offered was death." The angelical being exhaled slowly, letting the many millennia show in her expression.

"A decade ago, my sister, one who had never agreed with our society's moralities, decided that she was tired of the bonds of our people and shed her ties to our world, casting herself out, a pariah. She embraced the dark magicks, calling us tyrants and dictatorial monsters, growing in immense power as she channeled the darkness through herself." Kayle paused, looking to her hands in regret. "She threatened to destroy our world with her desire for rebellion and thirst for power, and responsibility of dealing with her fell to me, the last peacekeeper in a world where peace was almost a right, guaranteed to all. On that day, my sister died. She shed all ties to our family. Her body was twisted by the dark magicks, and there was a terrible power brewing, one that threatened to tear our world asunder. I went to confront her, and as we battled, I incinerated her wings with my sword, wreathed in flame, destroying the last vestiges of her attachments to our society and our family. Freed of these bonds, she fled our dimension, fleeing to a small wayward world known as Runeterra. Your world." Kayle looked up at the prince. While the energy hadn't returned, there was a fire in the woman's eyes that sent a shiver up the prince's spine.

"With devastation wracking my world caused by her reckless magic, a massive portal left own, ripped through space and time, my people were faced with horrific magicks we had never encountered before, cast upon our world by my vengeful sister, seeking her retribution. I summoned the last of my power afforded to me by my office, and cast myself to that same world, chasing the pariah, the Fallen Angel, to put an end to her maniacal desire for power. I sought my sister out, but she had aligned herself with a powerful faction, one that I could not challenge alone, the Empire of Noxus."

Jarvan's mouth fell open as he looked at Kayle in disbelief. The judicator nodded slowly. "When you found her…" Jarvan said, frowning. "Why did you not come to Demacia for assistance?"

"Your people had just found an end to your conflict, which had raged for mere centuries." Kayle said, smiling weakly as she looked up at Jarvan. "For me, that is barely a day's time for a human's lifespan. I did not wish to perpetrate conflict for the sake of ending conflict on my own world. I sought out information, and from there, I found the Institute of War, the organization that had ended the conflict upon Valoran. There, I sought help from High Councilor Reginald Ashram. I traded him a thousand years of servitude for an end to all magicks sent to my world. With the threat of the fury of an entire race of immortals to back him, Ashram was able to coerce the Noxians into quelling my sister's actions. With his help, the connection to my world from this one was severed, closing the portal, saving my world from the encroaching doom, however, I was trapped here."

"Your purpose here was fulfilled though, was it not?" Jarvan said, frowning slightly.

"No." Kayle said, shaking her head. "My sister's magicks laid claim to thousands of my people's lives, and it is my duty to bring her to justice." The Judicator's voice, driven, hearty and purposeful as it was, fell silent, and Jarvan watched as the closest thing to anger he had ever seen burned bright in the Judicator's eyes. She closed them, taking a slow breath before turning and looking to the prince. "And now you know what purpose I serve here in Runeterra and my interests in the conflict." She looked to the floor, breathing slowly, calming her racing heart. "I desire justice for my people, and despite my many efforts, I must must fight against Noxus."

"I understand." Jarvan said quietly, offering no further questions to the Judicator. He knew the pain of loss all too well, but the betrayal of one as close and as dear as a sister must have been devastating. I blamed myself for the loss of Exemplar Company for many years. I can't imagine how many years that Kayle has had to bear a burden so heavy. The prince sighed softly, setting his jaw again. "Thank you, Lady Judicator. You've banished all doubt within me regarding your dedication."

The Judicator looked up and offered him a thankful smile. "Very well. Now that we've put such sad stories behind us, perhaps we should move onto the matter at hand." She looked to the prince and Jarvan nodded, forcibly placing his hands upon his knees. "Firstly, does anyone know the full extent of everything that is at play here?"

"Not in full." The prince said, frowning slightly. "My father knows pieces, but he's more concerned with Demacia's safety right now, and he cannot act when all I can offer currently is baseless accusations. It troubles me that I am unable to offer any proof to my believed theories, but should he act on unsubstantiated beliefs, he could plunge the entire world into the darkness of war, once again." Frustration filled the prince's voice as he growled, shaking his head, his fists clenching, white knuckles showing across the back of his hand.

"You father is a wise man. It is not you he does not believe in, but he must be skeptical and consider his people first. You must understand that." Kayle said reassuringly, peeling's Jarvan armored cuirass away. She froze, inhaling sharply. "And your friend, the dragon?"

"She has more than enough on her hands right now." Jarvan said, shaking his head. He paused, frowning, looking down at his hands, grimacing slightly as he clenched his hands into fists. Kayle noticed the subtle change in his manner in such an unexpected manner, but she did not bring it up, instead trying to stay focused on the conflict.

"I see…" Kayle paused for a moment, looking pennant before looking up to the prince. "Considering I have spent much time relieving my own personal burdens upon, please, fill me in on everything you know and have learned. I wish to know everything."

The prince took a slow, deep breath before exhaling again. "There is almost too much to speak of it in any sensible manner, but I will tell you what I know and what sense I have managed to make of it while trying to keep it from becoming too confusing." Jarvan froze, looking at the ethereal being, and for a brief moment he was unsure if he should, but the intensity of the Judicator's glare and the strength of her expression, reinforced by her previous assurances, he exhaled slowly. "Not long after our previous meeting, I was approached in Demacia by a mysterious figure, disguised as one of my bodyguards. Much of my own knowledge comes from this person." Jarvan said, looking down to the ground, preparing himself for all of the information he would now be revealing. "I must warn you that I do not know what is planned here in Kalamanda, but I do know what the end goal is in this plot. In Noxus, there is a group of dissenters who are unhappy with the rule of Grand General Boram Darkwill known simply as the Black Rose. They view Noxus's empire as waning and fading, and they desire to jumpstart their expansion and to return Noxus to its former glory by forcibly ousting the Grand General, usurping his rule and placing a member of their own in the Noxian seat of power."

"They desire a coup d'état." Kayle said softly, her eyes growing wider. "Who are the constituents of this Black Rose, do you know?"

"Yes, but only some of the cabal." Jarvan said, nodding slowly. "Their leader is an enigmatic woman who was once named Evaine, but she now goes by the name Emilia Leblanc, or simply uses the letter 'L' when she wishes to maintain her anonymity. I am sorry to say I do not know much about her, only of her existence. The only other member I know who was confirmed as a member was General Marcus Du Couteau, a famed Noxian assassin, former head of the Noxian Secret Intelligence and father to Katarina Du Couteau. There is a third member, but it is only a suspicion, not something I know: Jericho Swain. His mysterious background and rapid but troubled rise to power all point to his role in this plot, and his recent promotion to the Noxian High Command can only mean that their plan has advanced to its final stages, despite their previous setbacks." Jarvan took a slow breath before exhaling again. "From what I can gather, they were close to putting their plan into action several months ago with their attempted manipulation of the dragon, Kampf. It is only my guess, but given enough time, they would have been able to control or influence the monster into attacking Noxus, with the end goal of either slaying the Grand General in his keep, or driving him to action based upon new information that was rapidly crossing the land."

"The tales of the Demacian Prince and his draconian companion roaming the wastes of Valoran." Kayle said slowly, looking to the prince. "I remember the rumors when they started to flit through the halls of the Institute."

"Yes." Jarvan said, nodding tersely, a cold expression of hatred distilled to icy wrath burning upon his mug at the thought of being used so.

Kayle exhaled slowly, sitting back and closing her eyes, nodding slowly. "I had heard the rumors even within the Institute of War. I feared the consequences and began shadowing you with what magic I could spare while in service to the Institute before I could seek you out and confront you for myself."

Jarvan grunted as if that had been a revelation he had always wondered about. "I always felt as though I was being watched, but I assumed it had just been Katarina and Talon." Kayle grinned sheepishly at him, but the Demacian rubbed his chin before shaking his head, setting his jaw, sighing thoughtfully as he turned back to the issue at hand. "By blaming Shyvana and myself for Kampf's actions, the Black Rose would be able to hunt us down, or at the very least chase us back to Demacia, and they would have had the fodder they needed to ignite the conflict they so desire." Jarvan grinned thinly. "But someone else found me first, and you were forced to intervene."

"Yes." Kayle said solemnly. "It might not have been ideal, but I think what occurred was beneficial to our efforts." Jarvan shot her a curious look, but the angelical being raised a hand to forestall his question. "It was unfortunate you and the lady dragon were sent through such a crucible at the hands of Katarina and Talon Du Couteau, but because I was able to put you into a stasis that made it appear as if you had met your mortal end, Swain believed you to truly be dead, and it allowed you the ability to get deeper and deeper into his scheming undetected until you were far to close and it was far too late."

"I could have simply laid low." Jarvan muttered, spitting the angel with a slightly cross expression. "You didn't need let me come so close to dying…"

"My power does have its limits." Kayle said, meeting his gaze with an even expression. "It was a choice between a stasis that caused you to appear dead, or death itself. Despite what you may have experienced, I feel that it was preferable to something far more permanent."

Jarvan opened his mouth to protest, but he shut it again quickly, exhaling slowly, nodding. "Yes." Kayle offered him a fleeting smile of sympathy before gesturing for him to continue. "It was not long before we managed to flee Noxus, and reunited with the rest of my forces. We moved northwest to seek out the dragon, Kampf, and sought to defeat him before the Black Rose was able to use him for their own machinations."

"And if stories are to be believed, you did." Kayle grinned.

"We did, but that was merely the very tip of the iceberg." Jarvan said shaking his head. "The following months in Demacia were not easy. An assassination attempt, my own staff trying to kill each other several times, and meanwhile I was trying not to worry about Shyvana the entire time, not seeing or hearing from her for days at a time."

"Separation is never easy." Kayle said softly, obviously trying to sound reassuring. Jarvan grunted, his brow furrowing slightly at the topic of the dragoness. Kayle noticed the dismay on his face, but said nothing, instead trying to remain on topic. "What of this assassination attempt?"

"It was not against me, but aimed at Shyvana." Jarvan said, his brow furrowing further. "I took a crossbow bolt made of a dark, terrifying material, some sort of malicious ice that did not melt." Jarvan's fists formed again, shaking violently before he forced himself to take a deep breath. "At this point, one of my subordinates disappeared. At first I wondered if he was responsible for the attack, but as I pieced more and more together about his disappearance and a finally got a few leads, it led me to the missing piece of the puzzle, and the source of most of my information."

"You found someone." Kayle said softly, frowning thoughtfully. "Your subordinate?" She tones the question, curiosity thick in her voice. The prince shook his head, the angel's brow creasing prettily in a curious gaze. "Not your subordinate. So who then?"

"General Marcus Du Couteau himself." Jarvan said softy, watching the shock roll across Kayle's face.

"But I thought…" She furrowed her brow, shaking her head in disbelief. "I thought Du Couteau was dead or missing? News has said he had been attacked in Noxus and hadn't been heard from since. "

"Not entirely untrue." Jarvan said, shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders. "He went into hiding after there was an assassination attempt against his life when his dedication to the Black Rose faltered. They'd likely been tracking him through their own sources within the Noxian Empire in addition to employing their own forces. It is unfortunate, but I think it was my fault that he was forced out of the darkness, but without him I would most likely be lost right now." Jarvan paused, looking to Kayle, letting his expression darken. "Du Couteau was originally charged with the assassination of Darkwill himself, but when he realized that failure was unavoidable and the threat faced to his daughters if he did not prevail in his endeavors, he knew that they would be held accountable for his betrayal. When he realized this, he knew he had to disappear, without telling anyone, including his own daughters. From there, using his new found freedom, the General began his attempts to seek refuge in Demacia after escaping Noxian clutches, and ever since, both factions have been searching for him."

"So that's why Katarina sought you out." Kayle grimaced, tapping her chin. "Then you antagonized her into attacking you, and that led to all of the problems that followed. So in a way, it was a mixed blessing I suppose. …but how did you find him?"

Jarvan barked a sarcastic laugh. "In the end, I did not find him, he found me." There was a thin but almost unpleasant grin on the prince's face, as if the thought almost made him sick. "However, there were a few dozen of his friends following him that my men and I got to tangle with, and it's thanks to Du Couteau that I'm alive. I owe him my life several times over now, and before you ask, while I do not know if I can or cannot trust him, his information thus far has aligned with my own, so I have been using it though I have been proceeding with extreme caution in doing so."

"I see." Kayle said softly, frowning. "Is there anything more he said to you?"

Jarvan frowned softly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well… there were a few things he said that only seems to drive my theories approaching Swain further."

"What, exactly?" Kayle said, looking intently at the prince.

"Shyvana is many things." Jarvan said softly, his hands muddling together as he sighed. "She is powerful, beautiful, brilliant, and she is her own woman. She shares the immense power of her father as well as the resilience, cunning and ingenuity of the human race. It is this union of dragon and humanity, distilled into a single being that reminds the Black Rose of their failure. Swain, when he captured me, tried to have me put to death at Shyvana's hands, but we escaped with quite the show." A brief smirk flashed over his face. "Swain was obviously sore about that one. They tried to use Kampf to kill their target, and then they tried to frame Demacia using Shyvana. It was with her help and the sacrifice of one of my oldest friends that we foiled that plot. Shyvana now is more of a symbol to the Black Rose. She stands as a personification of their failure and their frustrations towards their goal. Du Couteau warned me of Swain's vengeance against her being swift and painful."

"That only makes her that much more of a target." Kayle murmured, watching the discomfort flowing through the prince's shoulders as he spoke about the dragoness. "You seem bothered, prince." Kayle said softly. Jarvan could easily hear a concerned frown in her voice. "What irks you so that even the very mention of the dragoness seems to irritate you? It was my impression that things were well between you two."

"They are." Jarvan said tersely, though there was a moment of hesitation that came right after his worse. "I think they are. I do not know right now. This afternoon… there has been a rift that was not there before, and I fear there are things she is not telling me. I worry something might be wrong."

"Have you considered that perhaps it is something that she thinks does not concern you?" Kayle asked gently, watching the grimace forming on the prince's face. "You must trust in your partner, even when things are difficult."

"Yes." Jarvan said softly, letting his head sink to his hands. "I know. I just… I have so much to think about right now, and now I feel as though I must worry about Shyvana again." There was a pain in his voice as if he thought something had suddenly gone horribly wrong. "I'm being torn from both sides. I want to spend time with her, and I very much desire and need someone I can trust by my side, but…"

"But you also want to keep her safe, don't you?" Kayle said softly. "You said it yourself. She may well become a target." The silence was very still and almost painful as it drifted through the tent.

Jarvan exhaled slowly, nodding his head. "Yes. I fear that her very presence by my side might put her in danger, but I do not want to distance her or pull her too close to try and protect her for fear of pushing her away." The prince shook his head, his shoulders shaking as he exhaled heavily.

"Perhaps the distance would be best." Kayle said gently. There was a moment as she sunk back, expecting a biting response, but none came, only a soft, sad sigh. The judicator frowned, looking down at the prince, waiting a moment before continuing. "If you wish to keep those around you safe, you should be wary of the tactics of those who would look to harm you. Most will not be as forgiving or as just as you, so you must be careful to protect those around you, and if you care about those people, sometimes, distance is the safest way to protect someone." Kayle looked down at the prince below her, her azure eyes looking over the scarred, muscled body as she pulled the cuirass free, setting it aside. There was a vicious looking series of scars that ran along his neck and over his shoulder, a number of smaller, older nicks and deep cuts, but the most gruesome was a massive circular burn in the very center of his back. The feathery marks around the edge and the reddish color of the center marked the burn as recent. The skin was tightened around edge, the scarring stretched tight across his back. Jarvan hunched forward, resting his elbows upon his knees, his shoulders rising and falling slowly as he inhaled and exhaled.

"This burn…" Kayle said softly, running her fingers slowly over the prince's back. "Did she give it to you?"

"No, that was given to me by the dragon, Kampf." Jarvan said, his voice tight. "With Shyvana's help, we slew the beast, but not without great cost." Jarvan held his hands before him, both of them trembling as he clutched a fist in the other hand. "It seems like it was just yesterday that I was given those scars…" His voice faded fondly off.

Kayle nodded, seeing the aching attachment in the prince's expression. Worry. She turned to his back, laying her hand upon him. "This should be quick and completely harmless, but for your safety, please, remain still." The prince grunted something inaudible, but remained still, his gaze fading off somewhere across the tent. The angelic being exhaled slowly, closing her eyes, her body beginning to glow with power. Her hand grew warm, and while Jarvan had previously felt sore from the fall and burned from the burning of the Judicator's reckoning, this sensation felt warm and soft, like heat was starting to pour through his body, warming and strengthening him. He turned to look back at the judicator over his shoulder. Kayle's body glowed with a soft, warm light, her golden locks billowing slightly as she whispered a silent incantation. There was an ethereal beauty about her, and Jarvan forced himself to look away, lest he was caught staring.

After a few moments, the warmth started to fade and Kayle exhaled softly. Jarvan turned and looked back at the Judicator again, and what he saw caused him to take pause. She had looked radiant and inhuman when casting her spell, but now, she looked almost dull. Her hair had faded from a shimmering gold to a pale yellow, her eyes had faded from an electric azure to a dim pale blue, and her wings seemed to hang lifelessly behind her. Her shoulders were slumped as she sat on the cot, breathing heavily as she finally looked up at the prince. "All finished."

"Kayle…" Jarvan murmured. "Are you…"

"Do not worry, I am well enough. Merely tired." The Judicator said softly, exhaling, offering the prince a tired smile. "It tires me to use my magic away from natural sources of power, so I must conserve what little I have stored within me. Between concealing my voice, all the small charms, and then the reckoning and the divine blessing I have bestowed you with… I will need a little time to recuperate."

"Very well." Jarvan murmured softly, raising his arms slightly as Kayle began again, starting to put plating back in place upon the prince's body. She worked for a moment in silence, returning the sleeve that formed the undersuit of Jarvan's armor, slowly pulling more and more plating till all that remained was the cuirass that cover his torso. She stopped, looking to the pennant prince, seeing the concentration marring his face as he stared at his lance, lain before him. "You spoke of a dark plot that loomed over Kalamanda. Have you uncovered something new since we last met?"

Kayle sighed softly, pausing, resting her hand against Jarvan's pauldron. Even through the armor, the prince could feel her warmth radiating towards him. "There have been many different problems arising, and I hate to admit, but even knowing now what you have told me, I cannot tell what is related and what is simply unfortunate coincidence." There were a few moments of silence before Kayle exhaled softly, leaning forward against Jarvan's shoulder, letting her forehead rest against the prince's warm skin.

"Lady Judicator?" Jarvan said in surprise, turning slightly, looking back at her. Kayle's entire being seemed to have dimmed. Her azure eyes had faded to a dull, pale blue, her golden hair that hand gleamed like polished coin had faded to a dull yellow, and her wings drooped tiredly behind her. "You truly look unwell."

"I am weary from all this." Kayle said softly, leaning against Jarvan. "In my world, evil is not so subtle as it appears in the hearts of man. It manifests and festers like a disease of darkness. Here, you can hide it with ease." There was a pause in the Judicator's voice before she exhaled, raising her head and setting about slowly examining the prince's many wounds. "With the disappearance of the High Counselor of the Institute of War, Reginald Ashram, several years past, my connection to the Institute has weakened significantly, and I fear that without Ashram, the Institute is slowly deteriorating." There was frustration in Kayle's voice as she continued. "Now that Ashram has been replaced, the institute has descended to chaos in his absence. A new High Councilor was chosen by the remaining council of equity members, but I believe at this point, I fear the worst. Without Ashram pushing the equity of nations, I do not believe that peace will last. The new High Councilor, Heywan Relivash, is not completely incompetent, but he does not seem interested in actually equity so much as his own power. His grabs for position and radical new ideas have left the Institute in complete chaos. I do not know what lies in the future, I do not think the Institute's time will last long in this realm."

"Someone wishes to destroy the Institute of War?" Jarvan asked softly.

"No, someone wishes to use it, and I fear that it will be destroyed through this deception. When its constituents are turned against it, all hope for peace will truly be lost." Kayle said, her voice and her eyes sharpening as she looked at the prince. "It is only an early suspicion, but I believe that Relivash is involved in this somehow. All of my own investigations seem to only lead to more questions, and with Ashram missing, I face a serious threat." Kayle said softly.

Jarvan paused, frowning, looking back to Kayle. "You said you swore a thousand years of servitude to the Institute. But with Ashram missing…"

Kayle anticipated the rest of his question again, nodding. "Yes. My agreement with the Institute may soon be null and void if Ashram remains missing. The new High Councilor, Heywan Relivash, is not so accepting of my people's plight, and has stated in so many words that he will terminate my agreement with the previous High Councilor if I do not bend to his methods." There was disgust and revulsion in the woman's voice as she took a slow deep breath, grimacing as she looked back to the prince. "And it is with that revelation that I must ask an immense favor of you, prince."

Jarvan frowned, sitting up slightly, turning to face the Judicator sitting next to him. He looked into the Judicator's eyes, looking deep and seeing the almost deathly serious gaze that came back at him. "Of course."

"I fear for the future of the Institute of War." Kayle said softly, looking down at the cot. "I do not know if it is simply changing, or if it is on the brink of destruction, but I dread the thought that soon I will find myself without home or position." Kayle clasped her hands together, both shaking softly before her. "If something happens to the Institute of War, I beseech thee, will Demacia accept my services? I do not wish further harm to come to my world, and no other nation has the power or position to negotiate with Noxus, where my sister resides. If-…"

Kayle's voice stopped as the prince set his hand atop the Kayle's clasped fingers, halting the tremors in her hands. "Demacia will welcome your strength and wisdom with gratitude and thanks. I cannot guarantee that your requests will not be met with conditions, but a being of your power and strength will be welcome in Demacia."

Kayle exhaled slowly, taking a deep breath, her shivering hands stopping before her. She looked up at the prince, the azure energy having almost fully returned to her eyes as she beamed back at him. "Thank you." She said softly, shaking her head slowly. "Truly, prince, thank you. My people are in you and Demacia's debt."

Jarvan nodded, smiling coldly and thinly. "Do not celebrate just yet." Jarvan chuckled gravely. "I have merely offered you residence in Demacia and our assistance, I cannot yet guarantee the safety of your people, especially if the institute were to fall."

Kayle nodded, knowingly, some of the dread and tiredness gone from her body replaced with a serious but intense energy. "Whatever the Black Rose intends to do, they wish for open war, and if the carnage is started with such malicious intent, where the effects will be so far reaching, I fear that even the Institute may not survive. If their plans succeed… this might mark the beginning of the fall of the Institute of War."

"If it came to that, do you think them desperate enough to directly attack the League if necessary to move their plans forward?" Jarvan asked, frowning, his gaze narrowing thoughtfully for a second. "Do you not think that they would prefer to try and bend the influence of the Institute to allow their conflict instead?"

"I think that they intend to discredit the Institute by warping it's appearance." Kayle murmured, her fingers strumming along the armor plates in a slow rhythm as she worked. She froze, her eyes suddenly widening in shock, the revelation of something striking her suddenly. "They need not attack, merely warp the institute's image so badly its constituents withdraw. If they managed that they could attack with impunity, no fear of reprisal."

Jarvan's eyes widened slightly. "My accusations were bold yes, but do you know the implications that could bring?" His hands fell to his lap as he blinked, shaking his head in disbelief. "It could be war across the entire continent if the Institute was found to be favoring a nation or purposefully assisting in fueling the fires of war. The backlash would be immense."

"Yes." Kayle agreed, shaking her head. "But until I am able to prove it, my theory shall not leave this tent, do you understand?" Jarvan nodded immediately, the gravity of the idea still rolling over him, dawning like the sun breaking across the horizon on a clear morning. Kayle sighed softly, the frustrations flowing in the tired tone. "Heywan Relivash has already stated that my position as Judicator is that one on a short leash. He has only encouraged the buildup of forces here, pushing not for league intervention but presence within the region, as if he were a faction vying for the rights as well. Those are not the actions of a man who desires peace, and it fits only too well with the Noxian agenda."

"Agreed." Jarvan said gravely, thinking to the kindly old man who had come to call only hours previously. Could even one as innocent seeming as him be involved in the conflict? Just how far does the Black Roses' tendrils reach…? Jarvan pounded his fist against his thigh, grimacing as he ran a hand over his mug, running it up and over his head, scooping his mane of black hair over his head with a disgusted sigh. "I have yet to receive any sort of break, or even the slightest bit of good news regarding this entire fiasco… I'm supposed to be trying to prevent a war!" Jarvan let the vehemence slowly fade in his throat as he sighed, casting Kayle a weary glance. "Sorry. If it isn't obvious, I'm under more than a little stress right now, and I have no idea what I can even do to try and prevent it. Everyone things I have all the answers… but everything I have, everything I know is almost useless to help me save anyone at all!"

The ethereal being paused for a moment, letting the prince's frustrations fizzle out for several moments, the anger starting to fade to a weak grumble. Jarvan finally sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face, his half-armored torso clattering with the flapping of the unsecured plates. "Is there anything else that you know?" Kayle asked softly, a frown on her face as she tried to drag the prince back to the tent.

Jarvan looked at her, surprised for a moment before realizing that she was talking to him. He paused, his mouth open, about to talk, but he shut it again, nodding slowly, acknowledging the Judicator's question, letting it draw him away from his brooding. "Well, there is one other thing…"

"If there is anything you know that could be tied to them or this place, do not hesitate in telling me." Kayle toned seriously, her azure eyes training on the prince uncomfortably, as if she were peering into his very soul. "Anything at all, do not hold back even your wildest accusations. We still know nothing of what the Black Rose plans here other that they aim to try and fan the fires of conflict…"

"There is one last thing." Jarvan said softly. "Part of this will likely be something you need to see to believe. I fought against the monster, and sometimes I still think that there is no way that it could have been real and not some figment of a nightmare." The prince exhaled slowly, gathering his courage and his wits about him. "There is a company of Demacian infantry missing."

Kayle's eyebrow went up in an inquisitive glare. "Missing? How does an entire company of Demacian infantry just go… missing…" Jarvan's sudden melancholy caused her to pause, working her jaw contemplatively before realizing her words. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to imply…"

Jarvan raised a hand, silencing her, trying to wipe the tired look from his face. "It doesn't matter, now. There are more pressing issues at hand." Jarvan grunted, sighing softly, earning a curious look from the judicator. "When we found the company… the remnants of the company, we were able to connect the unit to their assignment. They were escorting a column of Kalamandan Refugees headed to Demacia."

"What happened to the refugees?" Kayle murmured softly, her voice reverent and scared, her azure eyes wide with outrage, anger sparkling violently like electricity coursing back and forth between the two loci of power.

Jarvan simply shook his head, grimacing, his hands shivering before him in anger.

"All of them?" Kayle murmured quietly, her eyes going from wide and shocked to narrowed and cold. "How many?"

"Fifteen hundred." Jarvan murmur softly. "We don't have a set number, the records were unclear, lost in the confusion, as if someone merely hoped that they would be overlooked, but not a single soul was spared. And we know almost nothing about what happened."

"How…" Kayle whispered. "How goes this happen, one thousand and five hundred people gone, hundreds more of Demacia's elite with them. And nothing? Nothing at all?"

"We found a creature." Jarvan murmured. "Eight legs, many eyes… you could call it a spider, were it not four or five times the size of a man."

"A spider, many times the size of a man?" Kayle murmured, her eyes narrowing. Jarvan turned, looking to Kayle, seeing the brooding but thoughtful look upon the angel's brow. She tapped her chin with a thoughtful expression for many moments, the prince leaning forward slightly, watching as Kayle opened her mouth as if to speak, then shutting it again.

"You have the look of a woman with something weighing heavily upon their mind." Jarvan said, his manner turning as sharp and a deadly as the razor blade of a knife. "You agreed to honesty, Kayle. It is your turn to divulge any information you have with me."

"I know." Kayle said, sighing softly, the thoughtful look slowly being replaced with an annoyed expression. "First you must know something about the Institute of War." Jarvan said nothing, but the gravity of his glare told the angel that he was willing to listen to anything so long as she gave him the information in the end. "At any one time, there are hundreds of mages, scouts and observers scouring the face of Runeterra for those who might be valuable to the Institute to be recruited and those who are dangerous to the Institute who must be watched. As one of the Judicators, I am privy to most of these assignments and the profiles and investigations into the many we evaluate come across my desk. There is one such character I know of… a spider charmer from the Shadow Isles."

"This was no average spider I fought." Jarvan growled, the anticipation draining from his expression, replaced with annoyance.

"The spiders she tames oft seen are the size of large dogs." Kayle murmured, her gaze sill even. "Rumor has it that she has monstrosities the size of horses and larger at her beck and call. Some even say she can turn into one of the beasts when provoked."

Jarvan opened his mouth to protest, but he let it fall shut, thinking of the creature he shared a bed with. Shyvana is half dragon, half human. It is only logical that there could be other creatures who share that same trait… Kayle interrupted the prince's brooding, handing him back his tunic. The prince glanced at it, a concerned look on his face for several moments before he sighed, lifting the tunic over his head and sliding it down into place. Jarvan tugged at it for a few moments, unbuckling his belt and starting to tuck the tunic into place.

"Here, lift your arms." Kayle said, pushing herself up and stepping towards where she had lain the prince's cuirass beside her. She lifted it up, wincing slightly at the exertion. Jarvan saw the look in her eyes, standing to help.

"Here, let me…" Jarvan said, starting to take the cuirass away from her, but the withering glare from the angelic being silenced him. "Tell me this." Jarvan growled, his voice tired, rumbling under his breath. Kayle paused, looking at him with a curious gaze as if waiting for his question. "Where is this creature? Does it still reside within the Shadow Isles?"

"No." Kayle said tersely, a serious and thoughtful expression upon her face as she looked up at the prince's cuirass, tapping the armor with an impatient manner. "We started tracking her when she was discovered in the docks of Bilgewater, preying upon sea weary brigands." Kayle lifted the cuirass away from him, stepping up onto the edge of the cot and offered him a sardonic grin. The prince sighed, lifting his arms, letting the winged being raise it over his head and drop it into place. She set about securing it in place. "It got so bad, Bilgewater requested the aid of League assistance to clear out the infestation. There were hundreds of them, most the size of common house cats, but some of them were the size of small schooners. A band of Bilgewater Pirates under command of Gangplank, son of Vincent the Shadow, was assembled finally to banish the foe, but by the time the Institute was able to send assistance, all that remained were shrunken husks and the haunted tales of half-dead sailors who said a beautiful witch who could turn into a spider enthralled them, letting her pawns drain their life essence. The men were found dehydrated, drained near completely of blood." Kayle tugged the belts around his side taunt, reaching up, pulling the band around the prince's neck to hold the armored collar in place. She laced her arm around the prince's neck, pulling it around, lacing the strapping through the loops that held it down.

"She was after their blood?" Jarvan muttered, growling, disgust thick in his voice, thinking back to the scene he had seen previously, blood spread and spilled across a snowy field. The rustle of the tent drew his attention back to the information Kayle had presented him with. He blushed slightly, looking down into the face of the beautiful blonde woman, blushing slightly.

"Yes." Kayle said, frowning slightly as she leaned against the prince, struggling to feed the leather band through a loop. "But that's all I know, unfortunately. She disappeared from Bilgewater and I haven't heard of her since. It is possible that she could be working with the Black Rose, but it could be merely coincidence that she ended up here in Kalamanda. Dark creatures are often drawn to strife because if supplies them with whatever feeds them, be it blood, anger, pain or any other sources of dark power."

There was silence as she continued to struggle, leaving the prince to continue wondering, thinking of what possible reason could someone have to kill thousands of people for their blood. I have to wonder if that is really what happened too, cause for now, all I have is hearsay and rumor to base my assumptions off of, and even then, who could possibly need such vast quantities of blood? What possible use could blood be for the Black Rose? Jarvan mulled this over in silence for several moments before opening his mouth. He worked it slowly, frowning, shutting it again, his mind turning back to the creature that had terrorized Bilgewater, anger building at the thought of something coming to so mindlessly kill a company of Demacian troops. His frustration and anger was almost palatable. "So she's a damned, vicious half-breed, only obsessed with death, destruction and murder. That's fucking perfect."

There was a moment of silence as a cold shiver of air told the prince that the protective barriers around them had been breached.

Jarvan turned.

Shyvana stood in the doorway, looking as if she had just been run through with a sword.

"What do you mean you have something to show me?" Shyvana asked, looking at the young officer who stood across from her, his arms crossed over his chest, a thoughtful but serious expression across his face. "No offense, Tunis, but what could you have to show me?" The man had dark skin, his eyes intense, cool, and dark, his black hair shorn short and close to his skull. He was the complete opposite of the prince, his manner warm and open, his friendly and inviting smile coming easily to his lips. He wasn't much taller than Shyvana, but he was lean and muscular, matching the intensity of his dark eyes.

"Just something I found." Tunis said, leaning casually against one of the tent poles as he crossed his arms across his chest. "Something I thought you would find interesting."

Shyvana gave the Lieutenant a withering gaze, getting a chuckle and a warm smile from the Lieutenant as he looked into her eyes. There was something dark and entrancing about his eyes that brought color forward in the dragoness's cheeks. She looked down, wincing as the medic finished tying a bandage, giving the wrapping on her arm a gentle tug. A knife of pain spread through a bruise forming on her shoulder as she glared at the medical officer. "Ow. No need to be rough, doctor." Shyvana growled, casting the man an annoyed expression.

The doctor waved her off as he tucked the medical materials away, sliding them into his bag and pushing himself to his feet, sighing, shaking his head as he looked down at the dragoness. "More quantity than quality of damage, mostly just scratches, a few cuts, some bruising. I've cleaned and bandaged them all. If you're worried about infection, make sure you keep them clean, change the bandages once a day if you want." The doctor snorted, glancing down at her, checking a few documents on a leaf of paper, tapping the clipboard once before tucking it under his arm, grinning to himself. "Maybe your prince will change them for you if you ask nicely." He shook his head as he turned to leave, Shyvana getting to her feet, grabbing his wrist, glaring at him.

"If you have something to say about me, you say it to my face." Shyvana growled, her eyes swirling with glowing orange temperament, though as the doctor looked on, his posture reeling slightly, shriveling from the pressure Shyvana was applying to his wrist.

"My lady," The man's voice shivered as Shyvana's grip tightened for a moment and the man withered, his knees started to buckle. "My lady!" The doctor pleaded, his voice wavering. "Please! I meant no harm by the comment!"

"Let him go, Shy." Tunis said softly, gently pulling her wrist off the doctor. The man collapsed to his knees, gripping his wrist, all of his materials falling to the ground next to him. There was a red mark around his wrist, pinpricks of blood showing where Shyvana's talons had dug into his skin.

"Damnit!" The doctor hissed, looking at the dragoness in anger. "You-…"

"Easy now." Tunis said softly, watching the fire in the dragoness's eyes die slightly as she stepped back, looking from his wrist to her hand, trepidation written on her face. "Go on, doc, get out of here." The lieutenant said evenly. "Before you really make her mad." The smile on his face seemed to frighten the doctor as the lieutenant picked him up, setting his firmly on his feet and directing him towards the door. The doctor grumbled as he swept quickly out of the tent, leaving the flaps pushed back behind him. Tunis turned and looked at the dragoness, cocking his head slightly to the side, offering her an encouraging grin.

"What?" Shyvana asked impatiently, blushing slightly as she looked at the officer.

"You seem a bit on edge." Tunis said softly, the smile fading slightly though it didn't vanish completely. "If you want to talk about it…" The lieutenant looked hopeful for a moment, but the look on Shyvana's face quashed that as he saw the sadness filling her gaze for a moment. She looked up, catching Tunis staring at her, but this time the officer didn't look away. Shyvana sighed, standing up, gesturing for Tunis to follow as she stepped out of the tent, shielding her eyes from the rays of sunlight cutting through the cloud cover above.

"Alright." Tunis muttered under his breath. "I get you don't want to talk about it."

"I can hear you." Shyvana murmured, glancing back and casting him an annoyed expression. However, the lieutenant only met her with that charming smile. She sighed. "It's not something I can much talk about; it is a private affair."

"Very well, my lady." Tunis said, raising his hands in a placating manner.

Shyvana turned, crossing her arms over her chest, fitting the lieutenant with an even glare. "You had something to tell me, yes? So how about you tell me?"

"Well it was just something I found just outside the city I thought would be interesting to you." Tunis said, shrugging. The expectant gaze from Shyvana told him that she was waiting for his explanation. Tunis took a breath and met her gaze openly. "What do you remember of your mother?"

Shyvana's jaw fell open for a moment as she considered the question, finally clicking it shut. "That is a very personal question." Shyvana muttered, slightly off kilter by the question. "Something only friends should discuss…"

"You said it yourself." Tunis said, offering her that big, charming smile. Shyvana blushed, remembering her own words. Friends. Shyvana seemed to mull it over for a few moments before sighing softly, looking back to him. There was slightly less vehemence in her expression than before, as if one of the walls had been broken down.

"Not much." Shyvana finally said after several long moments, her face falling again. However, this was not the sadness of recent confliction, rather, a long forgotten pain, dulled by time. "I remember something warm, soft and gentle. She was loving and caring, but she died when I was very little, so I don' remember much besides that." Shyvana paused, tugging her long braid over her shoulder, the armored sheath clanking against her shoulder pauldron. Shyvana's hand bumped against it, a frown crossing her face as she let her fingers slowly drag down it, finally finding and tugging affectionately at the crimson locks that poked from the end. "That and red."

"She had red hair like you?" Tunis said, grinning at her, eyeing the dragoness's crimson locks as she glanced at the lieutenant nodding.

"Yes." Shyvana said, blushing, smiling at the fond but faint memories of her mother. "My father always said I was the spitting image of her, save for a few draconian improvements." She offered the lieutenant a thin grin, watching as he roared a hearty laugh, smiling warmly at the dragoness as he looked her up and down.

"Your mother must have been quite beautiful to have such a daughter." Tunis said, watching as color flooded the dragoness's cheeks.

"Thank you." Shyvana said softly, ducking her head, blushing deeply.

"Of cour-…" Tunis was cut off by the clatter of steel on steel the shout of surprised workers and the murmurs of confusion as angry shouts cut through the air. "What's going on?" Tunis growled, his hands straying to his weapons. One of the tents distant along the row of facilities shook violently as if a tornado had erupted inside of it, and for a second after the commotion, the flaps settled, leaving those who had come to call looking for the source of the commotion confused and surprised. Suddenly, the flaps rippled and then Captain Crownguard came flying out, his sword braced across his chest as he landing on his back, skidding several feet along the ground before coming to a rest. "Captain!" Tunis shouted, drawing his weapon, taking off at a run.

Garen grunted as he pushed himself up, looking at the tent. Katarina Du Couteau stood in the doorway, her shoulders rising and falling rapidly as she held both of her short swords drawn, held ready at her sides.

"What in the world were you thinking, putting your hands there!?" Katarina hissed, her voice both white hot and seething with fury.

"It was an accident!" Garen tried to explain, waving Tunis down as he got to his feet, grumbling, sheathing his sword upon his back. Katarina did not look satisfied with his answer, her cheeks the same shade of red as her hair, her emerald eyes narrowed to mere slits as she glared at the knight, the fury fading only slightly.

"An accident is letting a hand brush against it." Katarina said, eyeing the guardsmen that were now moving towards them, weapons drawn, fanning out to surround the Noxian assassin. She sighed softly, breathing a long cool breath of air, shaking her head before sheathing her own blades. "Squeezing it so is a completely different story." Color flooded her cheeks as she shifted from foot to foot, wrapping her arms over her stomach, letting her gaze fall to the ground for a brief moment before looking back up to the knight. "Call your dogs before we make more of a scene."

Garen cast her a withering glare before shaking his head and sighing as he turned to the massing soldiers. "Sheath your weapons, men. It was only a misunderstanding."

A Demacian lieutenant looked on incredulously, his mouth hanging open at the captain's orders. "Sir?" He questioned, bristling slightly as the knight merely sighed. "What about-…"

Garen interrupted him, holding up a hand. "Have your men return to their posts, Lieutenant. I apologize for the disturbance." The men grumbled as they dispersed, the officer corralling them back to their posts. He glanced up at Katarina, shaking his head as he pushed himself to his feet, brushing the dust from his clothes. "You don't need to react so violently." Garen muttered, rubbing his hand over his breastbone, grimacing slightly in pain. "That hurt you know."

"Sorry." Kat mumbled under her breath, blushing again.

Garen scratched his head, watching as soldiers dispersed back through the camp. "How about we-…"

"Hey, Shy." Shyvana's attention was drawn away from the captain and the Noxian assassin, seeing Forsythe offering her a lazy salute and a lopsided grin, two of the prince's new men waiting at attention behind him. Shyvana blinked a few times, surprised to see them here. Shyvana realized they were waiting for them to return her salute. Shyvana snapped off a quick salute, seeing the two finally drop from attention. The two were an odd pair, one a giant of a man with a serene expression on his face and heavy armor, and the other shorter with jet colored hair, thick glasses and a inquisitive smile. They turned to talk amongst themselves as they waited, the shorter of the two tightening the strap for the weapon he carried over his shoulder, the other looking around, turning slowly in place as he took in his new surroundings.

"Hi, Forsythe." Shyvana said, smiling weakly at the corporal. "What brings you here?"

The tow-headed noncom's smile drained, his brow furrowing slightly, his one eye glancing over the dragoness's shoulder towards the lieutenant behind her. "Orders from the very top." There was a moment of silence as Forsythe turned, looking about, turning farther left to compensate for the eye patch covering the empty socket. "Where's Jarvan? I've got orders for both of you and Lieutenant Tunis as well."

Shyvana sensed something foreboding in the corporals almost somber mood. "He's receiving medical treatment right now." Shyvana paused, glancing around the corporal, pointing towards a tent yonder. "In that tent."

Forsythe turned, his jaw working, surprise on his face. "Medical treatment?" Forsythe repeated, shaking his head. "You two were gone for a matter of hours. How do you already need medical treatment?" Forsythe turned, pointing to a tent, frowning, confused suddenly, pointing as several other tents in turn.

"Don't ask." Shyvana muttered, a little color flooding her cheeks as she shook her head. "Here, I'll show you which one. What are our new orders?"

"Well…" Forsythe's voice seemed hesitant as he fell into step next to the dragoness, a frown creasing his brow. "You and Lieutenant Tunis are to report to the king for a new assignment. I'm here with Balto and Jericho to take over the Prince's guard."

"What?" Shyvana muttered, surprised, blinking, looking at the corporal in surprise. "Explain the meaning of this right now!"

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger." Forsythe muttered, raising his hands defensively, taking a step back. "I can't tell you any more than that, not because I don't want to, but because I don't know anything else."

"Wha…" Shyvana growled, shaking her head. She growled, shaking her head, turning towards the tent the prince was in, moving towards it quickly, thinking to the king and grimacing at the thought of his previous words. Was a warning not enough? You're going to try and separate us by force? Shyvana grunted, jets of steam expelling from her nostrils. "Jarvan will want to protest this..."

Forsythe followed after her at a jog. "Shyvana, wait-…" He tried to protest, but the dragoness wouldn't listen. I was heeding the kings request, but this is too far. Shyvana swept the tent flaps open, pushing inside.

"…she's a damned, vicious half-breed, only obsessed with death, destruction and murder. That's fucking perfect."

The blonde, winged woman had her arms around the prince's neck, hanging from his chest, pressed against him. Shyvana eyes danced up and down the prince's form, seeing some of his armor missing, removed and now being replaced, his belt undone.

Perfect silence cut through the air.

…

"Jar-… van…" There was a deathly silence as Jarvan turned, finding Shyvana looking at him with a blank expression. Jarvan blanked, glancing down at Kayle before immediately stepping back. "Wha-…" There was a moment of shock on the dragoness's face but suddenly her eyes flooded with cold, vicious fury. Pure orange and golden anger swirled in her eyes as she looked up and down the prince's body, glancing to the judicator and then back to the prince. She looked him straight in his eyes, the anger shooting through him like a vicious sword.

"Is this what you wanted to do when you tried to hand me off?" She hissed viciously. "Couldn't be bothered with the vicious half-breed, could you?"

Jarvan blanked, surprise on his face as if he had just been caught red handed. "Wha-… Shy, what are you-…"

"I guess the joys of our time together have run their course." Shyvana fought back tears as she glared at the prince for several long moments, turning and stomping away. "Come, Tunis, the king is expecting us."

The lieutenant looked surprised, looking from Shyvana as she stormed past to where the prince stood in the tent, confusion on his face. Tunis took the scene in and knew exactly what had happened instantly. He narrowed his eyes instantly, looking at the prince with resentment. "One wasn't good enough was it? Think you get anything you want just because you're a prince? You disgust me."

"Wha-…" Jarvan muttered, shaking his head, looking at Tunis incredulously. "You insubordinate little-…!" The prince surged forward, but Forsythe had already stepped up, imposing himself in front of the prince, holding him back.

"Jarvan!" Forsythe shouted, struggling to hold his friend back. "Argyle! Balto! Help me, damnit!" The two jumped forward, restraining the prince as he struggled to get past them.

"Let me go!" Jarvan snarled, seeing the contemptuous smile of the lieutenant.

"That's right, call your dogs." Tunis growled threateningly. "Crawl back to your mistress, you false prince. To think you would betray someone so devoted to you…"

"It's not like that, you bastard!" Jarvan snarled.

"Step off, LT." Forsythe growled menacingly. "He's still the prince, and you're way out of line." Forsythe saw his mouth open, but the corporal stepped towards him, glaring down his nose at the lieutenant, raising himself up his full height, the appearance of an innocent young man was suddenly gone, replaced with a looming, terrifying brute of a soldier. "Stow it, or I might show you real insubordination when I beat you myself."

The Lieutenant snorted, shaking his head as he turned on his heel, retreating in the direction Shyvana had taken.

Forsythe waved the others down, letting the prince go as he tugged violently out of their grasp, shaking himself free and casting dark glances at them all. "What they fuck is going on, cap?" Forsythe asked, frowning at Jarvan.

"You tell me." Jarvan snarled, looking at Forsythe. "Where did Shyvana go?"

"The king requested her and Tunis." Forsythe said, defensively. "Balto, Argyle and I are your new guard for now. Not my decision, I might add."

"Son of a-…" Jarvan snarled, but he stopped when he felt the warm presence of the Judicator stepping from the tent behind them.

"Wait…" Forsythe said, his eyes going wide, seeing the wings folded behind her back. "Wait, you and Kayle?"

"What?" Jarvan snapped, looking at him incredulously. "No! NO!" Jarvan looked after Shyvana and Tunis, withering slightly, his shoulders falling slightly as realization washed over him. "…Is that what it looked like?"

"Pretty damning if you ask me, captain." Forsythe muttered, frowning uncomfortably.

"It was nothing like that." Jarvan groaning, shaking his head, a look of horror and pain filling his gaze, dread settling in his stomach like a lump of solid ice. "Not in the slightest." Forsythe couldn't say anything, only looking at the prince with a frown, as if he disapproved that the prince had let himself get caught in that position.

"Jarvan." The Judicator's voice was serene as she placed a hand on his arm. "I ask you to listen to what I have to say." Kayle murmured softly, sighing. "I have something to tell you that you will not like."

"Then maybe you should not say it." Jarvan snapped, shooting her an annoyed look. Kayle's expression was soft and serious, and yet it was apologetic. Jarvan let his face fall as he inhaled deeply, sighing heavily. All the anger that had built up previously seemed to drain from the prince, leaving him looking the shell of his former self, as if something had been struck from him with a hammer. "Apologies." Jarvan shook his head, looking down at the judicator.

"It is hard to hear, I will not deny it, but for your safety, and the safety of those you love…" Kayle took a deep breath. "Perhaps it would be best to put some distance between you and the dragoness." Kayle braced herself for an attack, but when only silence came, there was surprise and worry in her expression. She grimaced, watching as the prince looked contemplatively at the floor, his face a mask of worry and frustration. Kayle opened her mouth to speak, but paused, working her jaw slowly, running her hand slowly along it. The prince merely nodded tiredly, stepping back into the tent and drawing the tent flaps behind him.

Kayle glanced at the tall Demacian Corporal next to her, frowning slightly. "That was not the exact reaction I was expecting."

"You expected something explosive, yes?" Forsythe murmured, glancing over at the winged being "Jarvan is not foreign to loss, actually, he is accustomed to it far more than most. Loss and he go way back. They're truly what you would call old friends."

Kayle looked from the retreating form of the Dragoness back to the tent where the prince was now silently dressing, only the soft clink of armored plates now and then. Kayle turned to the corporal. "Will he be okay?"

"Probably." Forsythe shrugged, frowning, the tension tightening in his shoulders as he shifted from foot to foot. "At least, I hope so…"

Kayle grimaced but nodded.