Forbidden

Chapter 19

Good evening everyone! :p I come at you with yet another chapter in the infinite war against Noxus. Let's do a quick recap: Last two chapters, Noxus attacked Frejord. Piltover and Demacia are going to their aide, and Garen w/ Katarina are going to Bildgewater for Gangplank's assistance. They end-up getting him to agree. Meanwhile, Karthus and Nocturne struggle with getting to their mortal friends because LeBlanc sealed the passage to the underworld. As it turns out, the attack on Frejord is a ruse and Swain is at the front gates of Demacia, ready to overtake the city. xD

Chapter 19:

The smoke from Frejord rose steadily over the water. Even at a distance, one of the pirates had yelled "Frejord ho!" from the watchtower. Gangplank, Katarina, and Garen stood at the bow of the ship. Gangplank's fingers thumbed the curved handles of the wooden wheel. He watched as his pirates ran around the deck. Garen was making battle plans up in his head, and Katarina had her arms crossed over her chest.

"Aye, we'll be there in about an hour now," Gangplank informed the two. "What is your plan, mate?"

Garen kept his eyes on the smoke bellowing over the land. "If we split-up, we'll be able to assess the situation better. Your pirates do realize that it'll be… cold?"

"If they don't, they'll know when we get there," Gangplank left out a hefty laugh.

"Katarina –" Garen turned to her. Her emerald eyes shown blatantly up into his. "Maybe we should have this conversation elsewhere…"

"If ye want privacy, go below deck," Gangplank told them and spun the wheel. "Don't be too long now."

Garen led Katarina down the stairs to the cabins below deck. From experience, he chose Gangplank's quarters first and pushed open the door. Katarina followed him inside to see the room littered with loot and a large bed. When she looked to Garen questioningly, all he did was shrug.

"You know you don't have to do this, right?" he asked and closed the door behind him.

"Garen –"

"No, hear me out. I know this must be hard for you. This is your home we're attacking – I don't care if you changed alliances and you hate them and you cut down a few soldiers during our last encounter. A part of you will always love them, Katarina. I don't want you to do anything you don't want too, especially for me –"

His words were silenced by her kiss on his lips. Within a moment, he kissed her back, his hands sliding up her shirt to the bare skin of her midriff on her back. The kiss spoke for itself: shut up. Garen took it literally, and when she pulled away, he pulled her right back. Their lips moved in harmony until she emitted a small groan. Without opening his eyes, Garen raised an eyebrow. When he came to the chambers they were in, he never intended on doing this…

But, he didn't question it either. With a swift movement, he raised Katarina around his waist, savagely kissing down her neck and chest. She grabbed the back of his hair and pulled gently every time he made her breath catch. Even though they hadn't reached the cool shore yet, Katarina felt as if her blood in her veins had chilled and turned to slush. Garen's very being made her tremble, as it had done so since the moment they had locked blades. But, this was different. What they were doing wasn't because they were perfect opponents on the battlefield… it was because they were a perfect match in real life as well.

Garen's kisses turned into rapid breathing. Katarina's eyes were tightly closed as he lowered her down onto Gangplank's bed. With a gesture of his soft hand, Garen pushed the sheets to the side. With a thud, Katarina hit the matress. But, as Garen's wandering fingers reached underneath of her shirt, she opened her green etyes. Garen looked into hers, his breathing heavy, his heart racing, and his eyes eager.

"Not here," she whispered.

"Yeah," he nodded and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Later."

"Later," she promised with a breathtaking smile.

"Dammit," Karthus swore as he looked up to the sky. "Curse you, gods! Why did you make only one way out?!"

"Maybe because we were supposed to be the only ones going in and out?" Nocturne hissed.

"Nocturne, if you're so smart, then you figure it out," Karthus grumbled in a bitter tone. "Our friends are in horrible danger and you act as if we can just sit back and watch!"

"Is there anything else we can do?" Nocturne demanded.

With no options laid in front of him, Karthus sank defeated down to the chair behind his desk. "We have to keep trying."

Frejord was bitter. The cold wind chilled the blood in the veins of everyone who stepped ashore. Garen's blue eyes scanned the area: he had never set foot on the frigid land in his life. Suddenly, his longing for Demacia was stronger than ever before. As Gangplank scanned the area, he couldn't help but miss the haven of Bildgewater as well.

"Straight east then," Garen pointed.

His boots trudged through the snow, but the cold was not enough to break through his Demacian armor. Katarina held her body close to her; as she was not dressed for the weather or the snow falling down on top of her. Garen put his arm around her but he felt as if that didn't do much. Her body was already trembling hard enough and the cold metal probably didn't do her any favors. By the time they heard shouting and screaming of "DEMACIA!", the little battalion had almost frozen from the cold. The Demacians had taken the palace, but were having a hard time driving the Noxians back.

Garen led the troops to the left side of the buildings, where he saw people from Frejord shooting frost arrows at the black-clad enemies. With a smile, Queen Ashe spotted Garen. She ran toward him, her white hair blowing fiercely in the wind behind her. When Garen saw his dear friend, a look of hope spread across his face.

"Ashe! Take Katarina inside! Get her some warm clothes! Where is King Tryndomere?" Garen demanded.

Ashe took Katarina from Garen, noting the ice cold feel of her skin. "He's fighting near the west quadrant." When Garen made a step in the direction, Ashe added, "Be safe, Garen."

With an nod, Garen pulled his sword from his scabbard and charged into the ferocious battle. Ashe hoisted Katarina up so her arm was around her shoulders and quickly brought her to safety. Gangplank motioned for his pirates to follow Garen into battle, and with a roar, raced after The Might of Demacia.

"Took you long enough!" Jarvan yelled and knocked a sword from one of the Noxian's hands.

"Couldn't do it without me, huh?" Garen asked and knocked down one of the Noxian mages.

"You wish, you cocky bastard! Did you bring Gangplank?"

"Yes," Garen nodded to the right, where Gangplank was atop a tower with Caitlyn, who was lying on her stomach, sniping Noxians. "I see Caitlyn has joined us."

"Of course," Jarvan laughed and punched a mage across the face. The mage fell at his feet. "Her and her whole army."

"GAREN!" Tryndomere boomed.

He approached the Might of Demacia with a smile on his face. Garen shook his hand quickly and disarmed a Noxian over their outstretched hands. Tryndomere laughed and brought his hand atop the Demacian's shoulder: a sign of thank you. Garen clasped Tryndomere's shoulder, and at the same time, they angled their swords and charged into battle, roaring their famous battle cries.

"Queen Ashe, may I have a word?" Jayce asked from the doorway to the infirmary. Ashe looked-up from beside the almost unconscious Katarina. A worried look flickered across her blue eyes.

"Something terrible has happened," he said softly. Ashe felt her lips open to question, but nothing came out. "A message was intercepted from Demacia. This attack is just a diversion. Swain has overtaken the city."

Ashe put her hand on her heart and sunk down to the bench below them. "You're sure?"

"Yes, ma'am. What shall we do?" he asked solemnly. It took awhile for Ashe to reply, but when she did, it shook Jayce greatly.

"We'll have to split our forces. I will tell the Demacians to go save their city. Please fetch Prince Jarvan and Commander Garen for me. This won't be easy to tell them."