Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God… Yes, I am here to finish the story. Calm down, calm down and read it you crazy hooligans.

Chapter 27:

Garen moved steadily with his Vanguard behind him, slowly but surely checking the castle for traces of Swain's men. Marcus held back behind the Vanguard, keeping his eyes peeled for his daughter. Something sat terribly wrong with him since she had gone off by herself. He never enjoyed having his daughter leave his side, especially when he knew she could possibly be killed in the process of doing whatever she was doing. Ashe looked up as they passed through a hallway with the ceiling exposed to the open starry sky, noting a slight shift in the darkness. Her crystal blue eyes moved only rather moderately, studying the space between spaces that had just been disturbed. She laid a hand on Garen's shoulder, halting him. He stopped abruptly, holding up a hand to the Vanguard who stopped in his wake before they crossed into the hallway.

The Might of Demacia turned around, only hearing the squawking of seabirds in the distance. He looked up to where Ashe's eyes were staring, feeling as if something was only slightly off. He looked down to her, as she slowly pulled an arrow out and loaded it into her bow. She kept it drawn, but downwards, moving silently over the hallway and crossing to the other side gracefully. She crouched down and drew her bow, her blue eyes on Garen as he drew his sword ever so gently, not making the slightest scraping noise from it.

He knew all too well that someone was lurking above them. He stepped back into the shadows of the hallway, signaling to his men to get into attack formation. The Demacian Vanguard were no stranger to ambushes. Ashe pulled the string of her bow tightly, ready to let go at moments notice. The two waited patiently, drawing whoever was above them into their well-planned trap. Gangplank moved through the soldiers next to Garen and drew his gun, cocking it and aiming at the nothingness in the between the Ice Queen and himself. Caitlyn cocked her gun as well and balanced it on her shoulder, staring down her sights to where she was sure the intruder would land.

It had seemed like an eternity of waiting before there was only a slight shift in the air above them. A figure in all black fluttered down effortlessly, not even making a thud with his boots as he landed on the tile below him. Garen was sure that if his troop weren't alerted by Ashe then they would not have noticed the presence of the man. Garen held out his arm, halting his Vanguard until the man noticed they were there. Ashe aimed the arrow of her bow, narrowing her eyes at the perfect shot in the man's chest. However, he was turned ever so slightly that a precise shot to the chest was impossible. It only dawned on the Ice Queen at that exact moment that the man had known they were there, and he was planning on intercepting them. She locked eyes with Garen, her concern inevitably showing.

The man was built slim, and was positioned just so that any attack from any angle would not fatally harm him. He slowly raised his arms, to which Garen only lowered his sword slightly. His long fingers slowly lowered his hood to show a familiar face. His eyes never widened in surprise as he looked around to the sight of the people who had their weapons drawn on him. He turned to face Garen, who immediately lowered his sword and began walking to the man. The others, however, were not so keen on the idea and kept their weapons drawn, just in case he decided to double-cross them.

"Talon! What are you doing here?" Garen demanded, clasping the man's shoulder.

"I came to find Katarina," Talon replied crisply, looking over the Vanguard. "I heard from a little birdie that she went off on her own."

"She did," Garen said slowly. "We are also trying to find her."

"It seems as though we share a common interest," Talon said rather softly, as if he was contemplating something.

"Yes," Garen nodded once.

"Is the rest of the castle secure?" the assassin demanded, looking over the walls with a newfound interest.

"Yes…" Garen replied, his blue eyes studying Talon intensely.

"Where is your sister?" Talon asked, still studying the walls as though he needed to memorize every crack, every design on their exterior. Maybe he did.

"At home, with my mother," Garen answered, completely unsure of what Talon was trying to get at. A sense of dread came over him as he realized that Talon, the man who "cared" deeply about his sister, would ask such an absurd question.

"Don't be so sure, Crownguard," Talon said, his attention back on the Commander. "I took the liberty of checking before I found you."

Garen's eyes widened. "She must have been taken!"

"That's the assumption," replied Talon softly. "It seems as though things have gotten a bit more complicated, Commander."

Garen bit his bottom lip at the newfound news that was just shared with him. The love of his life was missing, but now his sister was too. Swain must have taken Lux as a bargaining tool, and Katarina didn't know the trap she was walking into. It seemed as though Talon wanted to help – otherwise, he would've been in Noxus or on the other side of the lines. He noticed that all around him, weapons were still drawn on his friend. He held up a hand, but directed his words to the Ice Queen, whose lips were pursed and a look of hatred bore in her eyes.

"Ashe, he is not a threat," Garen said, with the commanding tone he could muster towards his superior.

"He is Noxian," Ashe gritted through her teeth, her bow drawn tighter, finger threatening to slip for a near perfect shot to Talon's back left lung.

"Not all Noxians are enemies," Garen reasoned, and held his hand to his Vanguard. "Stand down your weapons." They begrudgingly did as they were told; their eyes showing what they could not say for respect of their Commander. The leaders of the differing city-states, however, kept their weapons drawn on the assassin.

"Just as I expected," Talon said coolly.

"Put down your weapons," Garen commanded them. He knew that his authority did not preside over them, but he prayed that they respected him enough to do what he was asking. "If we do not accept Talon's help, then we are no better than the Noxians."

Caitlyn blinked, the words hitting her close to her heart. She knew it to be true. With ease, she lowered her gun and stood. Gangplank wasn't so quick to follow suit, but turned to Marcus, who was standing behind the Vanguard, eyeing his adopted son to see if he wasn't playing a cruel trick on the Demacians for Swain's sake. Now wouldn't be a good time to reveal his presence, so he simply shook his head at the pirate. Gangplank holstered his pistol, staring at the Noxian, daggers in his eyes.

"So what do ye plan to do then, mate?" he directed to Talon.

Talon didn't skip a beat. "I am taking over this operation."

Garen's eyebrow raised. "Excuse me? I didn't mean by accepting help that would mean you taking over my mission."

"Do you want to find Katarina and Lux?" Talon asked. He knew taking control of the brigade was a tricky and risky shot, but it needed to be done in order to accomplish the task at hand.

"Of course I do, don't test me," Garen growled. He didn't like where this was headed and was beginning to think differently about allowing his men to lower their weapons. This smelled of "Trap" all over it.

"Then, you will allow me to take control of the operation, Crownguard," Talon shrugged. "There is not one person here that is more experienced than I when it comes to Swain."

Garen shrugged, visibly weighing the options. "I suppose that's true…"

"How an oaf like you ever made commander of the fearless Dauntless Vanguard is beyond me," Talon mused.

Garen's eyes shot to the assassin, ready for a verbal confrontation. "I know the castle."

"Don't assume I've never been inside this castle before," Talon growled, low and alarming.

"Boys, please," Caitlyn said forcefully. "Before I start shooting you both."

Garen side-glanced the Noxian man beside him before sighing. "Fine, the floor is yours, Talon."

"Thank you, Crownguard," Talon said ever so politely before looking to his forces. Talon was no stranger to commanding, however, these people were Demacian. He reassured himself that it wouldn't make a difference. "Knowing Swain, he will have found a spot secluded yet strong enough in case he needs to make a stand."

"The North tower," piped up Captain Blake from behind Garen. Talon's eyes wandered over the second in command, waiting for him to continue. "It makes sense, sir. It is truly the perfect place to make a stand, but safe from the inside out. It is designed for that type of siege."

Garen nodded. "Blake's right. I suggest we move on that location immediately."

Talon looked back to Ashe, who had finally lowered her bow. As the forces began to move out, he stayed behind as he approached her, not sure of what to say. He didn't know how to express his hate for the attack on her home, or how he had seen so many of his friends die by her arrow. She was a brave warrior, a good Queen, and a trusted woman. She wasn't afraid of him; that much was clear as he approached her. Garen led the troops down the corridor past them.

"I hope that we can work together, for the sake of the parties involved," Talon said softly. He looked in her eyes, not at her weapon, to show he was sincere.

"I as well. But, know this, assassin. If you step one toe out of line, I will make your death a slow and painful one," Ashe replied hastily.

"The warning has been noted," Talon nodded, and allowed her to walk off before bringing up the rear.

He felt a familiar clap on his shoulder and turned around only for his heart to drop. Marcus.

"Hello, son," Marcus said warmly. Talon only blinked, hardly believing his eyes. "You've done well."

"Father!" Talon exclaimed. "You've returned; where were you?"

"Serving the same madman you were, however, he had need for me far from here. I am so proud of you, boy," Marcus gave his son's shoulder an affectionate squeeze. "Hopefully, through all of this, we can end this war and rid the world of Jericho Swain forever."

"That is the plan, father," Talon nodded. The time to catch up would have to wait until later, providing both of them made it out alive.

"Let's move out then, Talon. We have a battle to win," Marcus pushed him forward lightly, and followed his son down the dark hallway.