Just a short story that kept popping in my head and I finally got the chance to put it down on here. Please review with any criticism or helpful remarks, as this will help me become a better right and might give me the motivation to possibly add another chapter if this one is received well. thanks
(The last rune war has just ended, and casualties from all the city states could be counted up in the thousands. Well known and celebrated champions all across Runeterra could be counted among them, devastating some and causing a celebration for others. General Swains forces have been stopped and the mass chemical warfare that had been intended for the nations of Demacia, Piltover, Ionia, and Bandle City had been a failure. The time has come for swords to be put down, treaties to be signed, friends to re unite and relationships to be found.)
Pivot, step, lung, repeat became a mantra to the once glorified Noxian soldier. Ever since taking a hit that nearly crippled her, Riven worked out every day to ensure that her weakness could be overcome. There's nothing like having your enemies exploit your weaknesses and to Riven this was UN acceptable. Being so young had its perks but right now she was feeling none of them. Even though she was nearly 25, her body had taken countless blows and she was sure it would taken countless more.
"Pivot, Step, lung, Repeat" Riven murmured to herself as she slowly twisted her back and hips in a way that made her wince in pain and then lunged at the tree. "Why don't you take a break for awhile, and let that poor innocent tree rest. Come here and let me check your bandages" Riven turned shielding her eyes from the glaring sun to see Irelia standing there with a bottle of water, and what looked to be bandages and some gooey paste in a jar and grinned. It was a common occurrence for the two of them to be found together now. At first the villagers were hesitant to welcome Riven, but with the help of Irelia and some of the others everyone eventually came around.
Trading in her typical captain of the guard outfit, Irelia had a casual red and white outfit on that did nothing to hide her figure…though it seemed to Riven that the other woman had no idea that what she wore accentuated the body she normally tried to hide. "Sounds like a plan, so what's in the jar?" asked Riven as she walked over and slowly sat down. Wincing a little as she did so. "Is your back bothering you more today?" Irelia said with a small frown "And this is some paste Soraka made for you. She said to put it on and it will help speed up your body's natural healing process. If you don't mind ill help you with the dressing"
Riven sniffed the contents in the jar which smelled like a mixture of mint and clover, But had a funky looking green tint to it. Gazing at Irelia with a razed eyebrow she sighed and began the daunting process of taking her borrowed shirt off "Its not to bad right now, but its hard to move certain way". With Irelia's help she managed to get it off in a reasonable amount of time. Underneath the bandages Riven sported a still healing scar that crossed from her left shoulder down to her right hip and was at least an inch and half wide…a gift she received from General Swains right hand man Darius the hand of Noxus.
Irelia worked in silence for awhile before she murmured "Thank you for saving me by the way" as she rubbed some of the paste on Riven and started wrapping the bandages around her. This was the first time in almost a month that the incident was spoken of and Riven could tell that it wasn't an easy subject for Irelia to talk about. "Though I would have been fine, and you wouldn't be sitting here suffering". Irelia's face maintained a calm look, but Riven knew the other woman well enough now to hear the emotion in her voice and besides her blades where moving in such a way that betrayed her feelings.
"Your welcome, I'm just sorry I couldn't have been the one to kill him and his brother" said Riven, declining to comment on the last part.
(Flash back) Irelia had been caught off guard defending Soraka from an attack by Draven, when she was flanked by Darius who raised his axe intending to finish her off by using his famous Noxian Guillotine. Catching this out of the corner of her vision Riven saw Darius positioning himself for the flank and started running with all her might to intercept the blow. Nothing mattered more to Riven in those precious moments then getting there before that axe descended on her newly found friend. It all happened in slow motion really. As the axe descended on Irelia, she caught the look of astonishment in Irelia's eye, but when Riven pushed her out of the way and took the blow across her back She heard an unholy sound and was thankful that she wasn't on the receiving end of it. Then blackness descended amd clouded out everything else that was to happen. (End of flash back)
Having been invited to stay with Irelia after the war, Riven had taken the opportunity to heal and to better understand her growing feelings for the other woman. She wasn't sure if her feelings for her where ever going to be returned but right now she was content to just help out in rebuilding Ionia any way she could. She owed so much to Irelia and Ionia in general for taking her and showing her what it meant to actually matter. The people accepted her even though she once fought against them and they even tried making her feel welcomed. The only person who showed any signs of displeasure to her being there was Master Yi, but even he was beginning to come around.
"Done, how does it feel?" completing the wrap Irelia stood up and examined her handy work. Nodding with approval she helped Riven get up from the bench. "It actually feels pretty good right now, remind me to thank Soraka later" said Riven while she did some casual stretches to make sure everything was fitted right.
"I want to show you something, it's not far off" said Irelia as she began to head towards the surrounding trees. Not really given much of a choice Riven gently pulled her shirt back over her head and picked up her sword before moving towards the tree line with Irelia.
The foliage was a lot denser then what she was used and the climate was a lot different as well, but to Riven Ionia was a place of peace and it helped to lift some of the burden she always carried around with her. Glancing to the other woman she noticed the sly glances that were being directed at her. Cheeks a little red she looked forward and concentrated on not tripping or being smacked by anything.
"Here we are" Irelia said as she pushed the last branch out of the way. They came up to the edge of the tallest cliff in Ionia, and seated there was what looked to be a naturally made bench carved out of a giant rock over looking the Guardian's sea. Taking a seat she motioned Riven to join her. "I love coming here when I just need some time to my self, The view is breath taking is it not?" looking to Riven as she said the last part. "It surly is beautiful; we don't have many places like this in Noxus".
Gazing out across the ocean Irelia said "This place became a refuge to me after my father died and my brother took over. We used to come here every year on the summer solstice and just sit here and watch the waves" silence lapsed between the two as they just took in the view. To Riven this was a treasure for she was sure that Irelia never did this for anyone. She was always expected to be the Captain of the Guard and was never treated as a woman who longed for some form of independence and was allowed to be her self. "I never really knew my parents, other then the fact that they served in the army. I was always being pushed around to other people before I was old enough and decided to take up the sword and join them" said Riven looking to Irelia "But I no longer have any desire to lift my sword for any other reason but my own. I saw how corrupted my leaders where, but it was almost to late and I almost became just another mindless war casualty after what singed did to everyone…no one was left unmarked after that"
"Your right no one was left unmarked, but time heals wounds. I hope your time here will help that process along. The war is over and we are at peace now" She smiled at Riven as she said the last. Smiling back a little "yeah, thank the gods the war is over. I'm ready to relax and to just do nothing for awhile. Have you ever thought of how exhausting it is to carry around that ridiculously huge sword?" Riven said and the two of them laughed a little.
Nodding her head in agreement "Thanks for staying" and then Irelia did something that Riven never expected, and laid her head down on Riven's shoulder. Blushing furiously Riven just sat there as the sun began to sit over the horizon lighting up the entire area in a soft orange glow making everything feel that more magical. The tightness in her chest eased a little and for the first time in what seemed like forever she was content with her lot in life...so she let her body relax and gently rested her chin on top of the other woman's head, and thought to her self
"Time does heal some wounds, but thank god I met someone who's willing to help heal the rest"
The end