"You have a warrior's heart. I think I'll take it."~ Rengar, The Pridestalker
I swear to god I hate this website. It keeps deleting drafts and placing older ones. Half a chapter. Gone. At least I remember it this time. FFS man.
Since I wrote this earlier you get it earlier!
Enjoy and comment!
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"Eileen." Gregori called as they walked up to her.
With a jolt Eileen turned to them and gave a smile, "Gregori." She nodded to him. "Kids." She smiled at them.
"Hello Eileen." Daisy waved.
"Good morning." Wished Briar.
The rest just smiled at her. Except Annie and Sydell who just looked at her with an expressionless face.
Eileen didn't mind the look however, "Well... I hope you are ready for today then?" She asked almost excitedly.
"Who are we meeting?" Gregori asked.
"Why are you so excited?" Faye asked.
Gregori turned to his daughter with a confused loon on his face.. Faye shrugged, "She looked very excited and I wanted to know why."
Both their heads turned to Eileen who seemed to have a bashful expression.
"I don't need to be with the Dragonguard and I get to meet my sister." Eileen answered. "Pretty good deal if you ask me..." She raised her hand as if to placate them, "Aaand.... Garen and his group weren't willing to take the credit for escorting you here. So I'm taking it.... with zero shame." She finished her words with her hand forming a circle.
Gregori eyed her, "You didn't think that they were not taking credit for a reason?"
"Oh I know the reason they didn't want to associate with you. Garen saw it important enough to let me know." Eileen answered with a knowing look. "But I respect your actions more. You took revenge for your family. If someone killed my future partner and child..." She shuddered. "I would probably do worse."
Gregori stayed silent. Her words creating waves within him that he did not know existed. His youngest sister had grown up better than he had imagined. And she seemed to be closer to his older sister. And if she was like this.... then his older sister might be different from the one in his memories. His brother though..... chances were that he was still the same. Maybe worse.
"And that was all you relied on to base your decision?" Gregori asked her.
She shook her head. "Your brought your children. That was the only reason I needed. The other one was just for respect. This one." She pointed to the kids. "No one with intent to cause harm would come all the way here with children."
He was about to reply but was cut off, "Don't tell me that they might not be your children.... I have seen how they look at you. You are the only thing left for them and by the way that you look at them... it is the same for you." She bent forward with one hand on his hip and the other poking him in the chest.
Gregori stood in silence unable to come up with a retort. instead he gave her a smile and spoke, "I guess you got me.." He raise his shoulders.
"Coming back to your question..." She pulled back. "We are going to be meeting your apparent childhood friend." She said as she made air quotes.
"Tianna?" Gregori blurted out.
He did not want their meeting in this way. He wanted control over the situation. It wasn't his domain or even a neutral domain. It was a reunion surrounded by strangers.
The same with his family. He wanted the meeting to be under his power.
Maybe he wasn't in the right mindset of dealing with the situation. Maybe he was still in pain from being thrown away.
But he just did not want to surrender control to them.
Everything needed to be done on his terms.
GRIP
Annie had come up and grabbed his hand.
Gregori smiled at her and then turned to Eileen, "Lets get going then shall we?"
It might not be what he wanted but he would win in the end.
Eileen nodded and began leading them past the statue to the palace grounds.
-x-
"Is that the messenger?" A man asked as he stood leaning on one of the palace windows. His brown eyes sharp and face clean shaven.
Another man that stood behind him replied, "Yes Milord."
The man straightened himself, his tall and built frame growing to full size, "And he brings tidings of war?"
"Our information indicates that Milord."
"Have you verified the message?" The man asked as he adjusted the cuffs on his clothes.
The shook his head, "Our scouts have been dispatched to check for any traces of an incoming army as soon as we received the news."
"Hmm...." He tilted his head sideways to look at the man. "You see Tom. We have been working on something for so long and right when it seems like our plans will come to fruition. "This man.." He looked out the window once more, "This man brings with him word of war. And do you know what is worse?" His fists clenched, "What is worse is MY SISTER leading him here despite Crownguards distancing themselves."
He took a breath composing himself. His fists came unclenched.
"Well." He cracked his neck. "Nothing ever goes according to plan does it?"
"Indeed it does not sir." Tom replied.
The man let out a cold smile, "What say you to derailing everyone's plans for the day shall we?"
Tom knew there was only one reply he could give, "As you wish sir."
With a chuckle the man turned to the hallway and began walking. "Then let us begin."
-x-
Tianna Crownguard looked at her nephew. "Any updates on where your sister might be?"
Garen shook his head as sadness flickered through his eyes, "No. Nothing. There was word of a sighting but it never led to anything."
Tianna's hand landed on her nephew's shoulder, "We will find her Garen. We will."
"Now what brings you here Garen?" She asked finally getting to asking for the reason for his presence.
"The man is going to be here soon." Garen said.
Tianna smiled, "Ah this mystery man. It is very interesting that a messenger would say things like that. Associating himself with me as if that would get him out of any situation. What.... does... he.... want...."
"He kept saying that he would leave as soon as he was done passing the information." Garen spoke. "It makes no sense for him to keep repeating that information if he wants something from you."
"Maybe he is faking?" Tianna spoke. "Have we sent a scout to verify the information with the Avarosa tribe yet?"
"Yes. I have sent Quinn. Three days minimum. She is being taken on a Silverwing Raptor to the edges of the Demacia and Freljord. After which she will continue on foot and return back on the waiting Raptor." Garen laid out their plan.
Tianna nodded. "Well done." Her face softened and a smile shot up, "Anything else?"
Garen stilled but nodded hesitantly.
"What is it?" Tianna coaxed.
"My parents.." Garen began. "After Luxanna's disappearance, they have started to try and force me into a marriage."
Tianna's eyebrows rose. "Any specific names?"
"They are really intent on a partnership between houses Crownguard and Laurent." Garen answered.
"If you do want to get married to her then you have to beat her." Tianna smirked, "You know that right?"
Garen winced. "Fiora is not someone I want to marry or spend the rest of life with. We both have different tastes in most things. The only thing we both agree on is battle and militaristic performance."
Tianna waved him off. "I know Garen. I taught the two of you. I know how different the two of you are." She stepped closer, "Do you have anyone in mind?"
"N..No." As Garen answered for a split second the image of a red haired girl he met months ago flashed in him mind.
Tianna noticed, "You hesitated. That is good. I won't push you further but know that I will support you regardless of what you do."
Garen nodded. But if Gregori's words were not false then his romantic interests would be quite difficult to get accepted.
An assassin.
Garen was mentally berating himself now. What was he thinking? This was almost treason. Almost treachery.
He couldn't do that. Not to Jarvan.
Not to his brother in all but blood.
Tianna on the other hand stared at her ring. Her marriage had been a trap. A failure in every single way.
Her husband had been the leader of the Mageseekers.
He had personally killed many of Demacia's mages. Not only that, he had completely ignored her existence after their marriage.
It was a failing marriage before they had even gotten married.
There was no eligible male in high society other than him and despite her standing being higher from her own merits, she had been forced to settle for the man.
A man who was so focused on eradicating magic that he had not even tried of children.
His desire to stand above all mages ended up dooming him to the very mage he led a crusade against.
Her eyes shook as she looked at her ring. The Mageseeker spiral on it a brutal reminder of her life.
A life as a widow.
"Aunt? Are you alright?"
Garen's voice cut through her thoughts.
She looked up, her blond hair waving due to the movement. "Yes?" She stared at the concerned man in front of her. He had grown up really quickly. With a smile she said, "I'm fine Garen. Just... thinking..."
After which she reached for her blade, "I suggest we get going then?" She started walking toward her destination. "The mystery man awaits."