Forbidden

Chapter 11

Sorry I haven't been writing, guys! Between school and work, I've been up to my eyes in stuff I have to do. But, I finally found time to write, so here we go! This is for you (:

Chapter 11:

"No," Talon paced back and forth in front of Jarvan's wooden desk. The four adults watched as he moved back and forth, his hands over his head, trying to process all the information they had learned. "How? How could he trick the people of Noxus?"

"The same way that Hitler tricked the Germans," Garen mused. When all the eyes in the room turned to stare at him in astonishment and wonder, he put his feet on the top of Jarvan's desk and took a bite of a green apple. "Old folklore. Don't tell me you've never read it… Okay, so Hitler tricked the German people into believing he could save their way of life and culture, and began to brainwash them with lies and promises that never came true. Behind the scenes, he was actually killing millions of Jewish people, even though Hitler himself was a Jew. Now, when it all boiled down and the war he began was coming to an end, he was the only one who held the vital information his enemy needed to win the war. So, he ended up killing himself to protect it. My point is… it's extremely similar to what Swain is doing."

Jarvan stroked his blonde beard and hummed thoughtfully. "Garen, I remember reading something about that story long ago. It does seem very similar."

Garen took another bite of his apple. "I know. I'm too good."

"He tricked the people of Noxus into believing he could change the evil that laid inside, but he did the exact opposite!" Katarina screamed in outrage. "The people are brainwashed. They think this war is happening; they think we have to fight!"

"Marcus was smart to escape it," Jarvan said and nodded his head to himself. The five stood in silence for quite some time until Jarvan spoke. "If Swain wants a war, we'll give it to him."

Garen spit out the little bit of apple he had in his mouth while everyone's mouths dropped in shock and awe.

"Jarvan, what did you just say?" Garen sputtered.

Katarina crossed her arms. "And now he grows a pair of balls."

"Katarina – don't talk to me that way," Jarvan said as he came out from behind his desk. She sighed as he walked over to his parchment containing the battle plans and poured over them. "Garen – you will back me on this, will you not?"

As Commander, Garen could not refuse. "Do I have a choice?"

Jarvan snickered. "No. Katarina, Talon, I will need your help on this. There is no doubt about that. Will you pledge your allegiance to the Royal Vanguard?"

"Of course we do," Talon said before Katarina could say anything. "We want to bring down Swain just as much as you do, Prince Jarvan."

"Good," Jarvan nodded and began tracing patterns on his map. "Garen, I will give the order. We march at dawn. You have tonight."

"Sounds vaguely familiar," he sighed and motioned for Katarina to follow him. "I will return at dawn, Jarvan."

With a nod, he went back to his battle plans. Lux sunk down to the chair behind Jarvan's desk, her wand straight in her hands, unmoving and unlit. Talon's face softened as he went to go stand by her: Demacians didn't know war, unlike Noxians. Behind them, Jarvan's face was cold and uncanny. He knew there was no more time for playing games; for beating around the bush.

It was time to end this. Now.

Katarina stood on Garen's balcony, brushing her long red hair. Garen watched as a little smile played on his lips. She wore a short pink sheer robe with one of his long white t-shirts. Somehow, she was still stunning, regardless of what she wore. It seemed as if her emerald eyes gazed into the city that she had grown accustomed too, but yet there was a parachute of thoughts jumping from the balcony, one by one. Garen didn't notice that every so often, a tear or two of rage would fall from her eyes, but she did a good job of hiding the tiny water droplets.

Garen's mind, however, was far from war. He was focused on the woman in front of him: something he never thought he would be, indulging in worldly pleasures instead of his line of duty. Jarvan, however, had given him until the morning and he intended to use every moment he could of that time. When it came to battle now, he wasn't so vicious, but more of a kind-hearted and wonderful person. As much as he swore he would never become soft, it seemed as if his feelings for Katarina had wounded his ego and made him think twice about killing… hurting… maiming… and anything else evil, basically anything else Demacia had taught him.

It wasn't long before his arms were wrapped around her waist and he was leaning his chin on her head. With relief, Katarina fell back into him, breathing heavily. But, it wasn't because of pleasure or adrenaline… she was scared, and Garen knew it because he was just as scared as she was. Her red hair whipped around his face as they stood, staring at the water lapping against the sand. It was hypnotizing: just as it was weeks ago, when they had first stood here.

Katarina turned around in Garen's arms, staring into his blue eyes. Her emeralds stared deeply into him, reading into his very soul. At first, it was a horrific feeling, but soon Garen became quite accustomed to it, happily staring back, even though she was not an easy book to read. With no remorse, Katarina opened her mouth, her lips forming into the perfection revealing of feeling that ever was created.

"Our lives are about to be destroyed," came the painful words.

Garen couldn't help but agree. "I know."

"We don't stand a chance. He has witches and wizards and monsters at his command," she said sadly, her emerald eyes drooping and her lips falling.

"But, we have one thing they don't have," he said and put his hand on her shoulders. With a small, but convincing tone, he whispered, "You."

Katarina buried her face into his chest, happily smiling into the fabric caressed over the muscles of his body. He wrapped his arms around her, the feeling of him against her making everything in the world go away. Below him, he saw the men of his army shutting their doors and turning off their lights, preparing for their last night before battle. To his right, he saw a figure leaning over the balcony of the castle and knew it was Jarvan. A hand was on his shoulder: Shyvanna. He heard gentle laughter and saw Lux and Talon strolling through the garden Katarina had used to sneak to his balcony on. Everyone was with their loved ones tonight, and nothing but peace could be found within Demacia.

With a swift motion, Garen quickly pulled her around his waist and with her shift shriek, he pulled her into his bedroom. With a clumsy push of his right foot, the right balcony door closed with a thud. Katarina's neck was almost wet with kisses by the time he laid her down on his bed, smiling and whispering how much beautiful she was. With no obligation, Katarina pulled off Garen's shirt, suddenly the mood changing and her fingernails scraping his back.

But, then… she stopped. Garen looked into her eyes, waiting for confirmation to why she had stopped their passionate love making. She only tilted her head and stared into his blue orbs before slowly pressing her finger against his lips and a slow smile twisting across her lips. Garen tilted his head, trying to read her… but she was too quick for his mind to follow.

"I want you to know something before we march to our deaths tomorrow," she said softly. Garen's breath caught in his chest and turned to ice crystals, swirling around his heart and through his veins to his fingers, where they held Katarina's red hair and the others wrapped behind her back. But, no matter what he did to warm himself, nothing could have prepared him for what was about to happen or what she was about to say. "I love you."

Garen's lips parted slightly, and before he knew it… "I love you, too!"

The two stared at eachother wildly before Garen went onto explain. "I mean… I have for awhile now. I just didn't know when would be the right time to tell you."

"I know," she said and ran her fingertips over his soft cheek. "I think now would be a pretty good time, don't you think?"

Without another word, Garen kissed her full on the lips, putting every apology, ever regret, every happy memory into an action instead of his words. It was how the Demacians were taught to fight so well; so why wouldn't you turn that around to love? Katarina matched his passion and pulled him down on top of her. Tonight was a special night; probably the last one they would truly have together… alone… in Garen's bedroom.

Where their romance all began.