Author's Note:

Inspired by nearly a year of epic mini- Role play sessions, this story is meant to detail an alternative storyline to the Freljord's Queens. There will be laughs, there will be tears, and there will be sexy times...all good stuff. Have fun!

Story will contain sexual content (later on) and minor points of violence. Viewer discretion is advised.

Chapter I - The Freljord Queen's day off.

It's been 2 months since the supposed war of the Freljord has been called, and tensions could never be higher between the 3 main tribes of the Freljord. The Avarosans proclaim the need to unite under a single banner for peace, and move forward with the Freljord, rather than sit around warring with each other. The Winter's Claw proclaim unity through strength. Those who cannot survive don't deserve to call themselves of the Freljord. And the Watchers proclaim nothing, hiding in the shadows until the time is right to reveal themselves.

The Avarosans are led by a young but headstrong leader - Queen Ashe, and her husband King Tryndamere. Ashe did everything she could in her power to prevent fighting this petty war. Despite Winter's Claws attacks on outlining villages and constant proclamations that the Avarosans are no good for the Freljord, Ashe has refused to send warriors after them. She holds out, hoping to talk some sense into the stubborn leader of the Winter's Claw and her distant cousin - Princess Sejuani.

In a desperate need to escape from the stress of being a queen in wartime, Ashe decides to take a vacation. Luckily, Nami, a fellow champion of the League of Legends, was throwing a pool party for any and all champions to come down and relax. Despite Ashe having no real swimming experience, she figured it might be a nice way to unwind and meet with some of her other champions...she just hoped not all of them would be there.

Ashe put on the only real beachwear she had. It was a somewhat loose fitting frost-white two piece bathing suit, which did very well to showcase Ashe's pale white skin and even whiter hair that was normally hidden behind her dark black hood. She thought about wearing her normal hooded short dress over the bathing suit, but it was an unusually warm 80 degree day today. While most in Runeterra might think of it as a wonderful summer day, those of the Freljord, especially in its official capital of Rakelstake, it was a scorching heat that was unbearable for most. With no real way to cool themselves down, most in the town had to resort to stripping down to bare necessities in order to avoid overheating. While she didn't grab her hood in the end, she did remember to bring her bow, just in case. As Queen of the Freljord, Ashe was conditioned to be ready for anything that could attack her at any time.

Tryndamere did not accompany Ashe when she departed for the pool party. Someone had to stay behind and make sure the Avarosans would not get taken in the absence of a leader. It was the first time she was on vacation away from the Freljord without her husband since the two had become married.

The trip wasn't that long, as it was mostly cut short by a teleporter in the town of Rakelstake that connected to one in the Institute of War nearly half a continent away. From there, Ashe could easily find her way through the many halls to the public pool room.

Champions and summoners were already inside, but there was far from a full house. Ashe estimated there was probably no less than 10 people here, including 2 yordles. She recognized Sona, playing the party music in the corner and providing the room with the appropriate atmosphere. Next to her, Akali sat in a long chair, sunbathing in what Ashe described as a skimpy green bathing suit. On the other side of Sona, a summoner sat next to the pool. Ashe would describe him as the summoner version of Darius, bulky and dangerous looking, and not at all amused. He stared at the two yordles talking. One was unmistakably Lulu, the Fae Sorceress. Ashe would recognize her hair and hat anywhere. But she didn't quite know who she was talking to...it was a red furred male yordle, definitely not a champion. Perhaps a friend of hers. Nami sat in the center of the pool, providing the realistic waves in the water and making sure everyone was having a good time.

Ashe scanned over the rest of the guests. The rest were just summoners she didn't recognize. But there was one familiar face she spotted in the pool...Sejuani! She had her back turned, probably wouldn't even recognize her if it wasn't for the unmistakable one horned helmet she wore.

Ashe was just about to back out, hoping Sejuani didn't spot her, when Nami called out, "Hey Ashe! Come on in! The water's just right!"

Sejuani instantly turned her head to see her distant cousin and rival standing in the doorway. Ashe stepped forward and waved timidly to Nami, trying to avoid any contact with Sejuani. She headed over to one of the long chairs along the side of the pool and set her ice bow down beside it. Before she could sit down though, Sejuani's voice called out behind her.

"Well well...look who's arrived," Sejuani taunted, "Long time no see...cousin.

Ashe sighed, "Hello Sejuani. I didn't expect you of all people to come to a pool party."

"I had some free time," Sejuani joked, "I'm guessing you did too."

"Can you not?"

"Not what? Cuz'?"

"Not start anything," Ashe turned around to face Sejuani, "I don't care if you have something against me or my people, but please don't start anything here."

Sejuani smirked and stepped forward to Ashe, "Alright...Tell you what. If you can beat me in a race across the pool, I'll leave you alone all day."

Ashe debated whether or not she should go through with this challenge. She should know better than to stoop to agreeing to Sejuani's petty challenge, but she was more worried about her inexperience with swimming. It wasn't often water was liquid in the Freljord, and even less often was it at a comfortable swimming temperature. She never really needed to learn to swim.

"Well...I'm waiting..." Sejuani stepped closer, now only half a step away from the Frost Archer. She was clearly the taller of the two, towering over the Queen by at least a head.

"...F-fine," Ashe caved under the pressure.

She immediately regretted her decision, but she figured there was no way Sejuani was going to let her have some peace without at least going through with this.

Sejuani smirked widely and patted Ashe's hair roughly, "See you in the pool, cuz'."

Ashe sighed and followed the Winter's Wrath to the edge of the pool. She stared down at the crystal clear water hesitantly.

"Hey Nami!" Sejuani called out loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, "Queen Ashe and I are gonna race. Mind counting down for us?"

"Ooh a race?" Nami asked in her happy mood, "Sure!"

Sejuani patted Ashe's back roughly, nearly pushing her in, "Good luck..."

Ashe tilted her head and looked up to Sejuani. She wasn't one known to wish luck...to anyone. It must be a trick.

"On your mark..." Ashe snapped out of her train of thought as Nami started counting down, "Get set..." She readied herself to jump in, but she really had no plan of action after getting in..with only a vague clue as to how to swim, there was no way she could match Sejuani's speed or probably even finish the race, "GO!"

Sejuani dove head first into the pool, creating quite a splash. The others in the room cheered as she did so. It didn't take long for her to resurface and start racing to the end of the pool quickly. Ashe, meanwhile stood on the edge, stunned with fear of not being able to swim.

"Um...Ashe...Go!" Nami exclaimed.

"Oh...um..." Ashe hesitated as much as she could, until finally jumping into the pool half-heartedly. She landed with a loud splash, followed by the smaller splashes of her arms as she tried to steady herself. She gasped for air as she just barely stayed buoyant above the surface, but quickly she started to sink. Panic washed over the Frost Queen's mind as she dipped below the waterline. She flailed around helplessly, trying to find some way to keep her head above water, but the pool was too deep.

Ashe sank to the bottom of the pool, still flailing around. She bounced up to try to get back to the surface but only made it long enough to grab another breath of air before her body lowered again. Ashe was trying hard just to grab onto anything that would keep her afloat, but the wall was too high, and any pool rings left were far too far away to grab.

In her panic, someone grabbed Ashe, causing her to stop her flailing. She didn't see who grabbed her, but she did expect them to help her back up to the surface. She opened her eyes to see Sejuani in front of her with a grin, not devious, but small and almost cute.

This is it isn't it... Ashe's mind raced, She's going to drag me down till I die!

Ashe was stunned when Sejuani removed her helmet, thinking she was probably going to strike her with it. Instead, Sejuani pulled Ashe closer, and closer...until Sejuani's lips met with Ashe. She pushed the air in her mouth into the Frost Archer's catching Ashe completely off guard.

Ashe stared in stunned awe as the two essentially kissed underwater. Memories of Ashe's childhood came back to her.

Ashe was close to 6 years old when she first met Sejuani. It was a particularly cold winter day when she finished her very first archer training session with her mother. Rather than be contempt to staying home for the rest of the day, however, Ashe decided to do some exploring when her parent wasn't looking. She scampered off into the forest with her training bow and dull arrows in hand. She practiced shooting the trees in her playtime, each one hitting their mark before bouncing off.

Unfortunately, Ashe was still a learner with her bow. When she fired her last arrow, it missed the tree she aimed for and instead headed for the bush. A loud thud followed by a louder "OW!" alerted the young princess. She rushed over to the bush to see if whoever she hit was okay.

She spotted a young girl, probably a little older than herself, rubbing her head from the arrow's impact. She dropped the stick she was holding, which seemed to have some raw meat on its edge.

"You idiot!" She exclaimed angrily to Ashe as she reached to pick up the stick, "Watch where you're aiming that thing."

"I'm sorry!" Ashe exclaimed, "I didn't see you there. Why…are you here anyway."

"I'm eating, go away," the child replied harshly. She returned to eating her now dirty raw meat, grinding and tearing at it with little success.

"But that meat's dirty…it's not even cooked!" Ashe exclaimed, "You're gonna get sick."

"I don't care," the child muttered, "Leave me be."

"Here…This'll be better." Ashe reached for the small pouch on her belt and pulled out half a piece of bread she was saving for later. She offered it to the child with a smile.

The older girl looked at the piece of bread with wide eyes. She greedily stole it out of Ashe's hand and devoured it as if it was the first meal she had in weeks. Ashe simply smiled, "There…are we even now?"

The child looked up to Ashe and nodded, "…Y-yes…um…do you have any more?"

Ashe shook her head, "Not on me…but I can get some and bring it back for you."

As Ashe stepped off to fetch some bread from her home when the older girl held her arm, keeping her in place.

"Wait…don't go," She pleaded.

"Um…okay?" Ashe replied as she turned around.

"What's your name?"

"…Princess Ashe," Ashe replied in a confused tone. Up till now, just about everyone knew who she was, and she didn't need to introduce herself. Other people usually did that for her for official events, "What's your name?"

"…Sej," She started, "…uani."

"Sej uani?" Ashe asked.

"Sejuani," Sejuani corrected, "Or just Sej."

"Sej…that's a pretty name," Ashe commented.

The two continued talking throughout the day, learning about each other. Ashe spoke about how she was a natural shot and someday she's going to be the best archer in the land when she grows up, and someday lead her people for the better of the world. Sejuani boasted about how she was the strongest girl in her clan, and how she could take down a full grown deer with one punch, and she's going to use that strength to make everyone stronger for the better. While they spoke, the sun started to set. Anyone born in the Freljord knows staying outside at night is a death sentence.

"Oh…it's getting dark!" Ashe exclaimed, "I should probably get home…before my mommy gets mad."

"Wait!" Sejuani held up her hand and beckoned Ashe, "Come with me first."

Ashe tilted her head but followed the older girl. They walked through the tree line for a good half hour, the sun just barely hidden behind the mountain line already. They came across a hot spring, a cloud of steam hiding it from the outside.

"What is this place?" Ashe asked as she looked around without penetrating the invisible wall of steam that covered it.

"It's my secret spot," Sejuani explained, "I come up here to escape the cold. No one else knows about this place."

"So why show me this place?" Ashe questioned.

"Because… I like you Ashe," Sejuani muttered, "I just…figured…I don't have too many friends...so..."

Ashe smiled widely and giggled, 'Oh I see." She reached over and hugged Sejuani, "Of course we can be friends."

Sejuani was reluctant but returned the hug.

"Hey listen, I gotta go or else my mother will kill me," Ashe replied, "But I'll come right back here after training. I promise!"

Ashe stood up and dashed off as fast as her little 6 year-old legs could run, leaving Sejuani in the foggy mist of the warmer spring behind her. When she returned, Ashe was in big trouble for running off. Half the guards in the camp were in a panicked search for her.

The next day arrived and Ashe was about to go see Sejuani in the same place as last time, but the combination of her mother keeping a close eye on her and Ashe forgetting the way she ran last time, meant she couldn't make it.

A brush against her leg brought her back from the flashback. She looked around her immediate area and spotted something she never expected to see - a shark!

Sejuani barely noticed it in time to move Ashe out of the way of its jaw line. Ashe's leg collided with the shark's teeth just enough to cause her to bleed. The blood flooded the water like red dye, calling it back again, and Ashe's panicked reaction of flailing around again didn't help matters.

The shark was determined to attack Ashe once more, but Sejuani moved in between Ashe and the shark, guarding her. When it came close, she smacked it hard across its nose with her horned helmet, sending the shark away long enough for Sejuani to pull Ashe up to the surface. Ashe coughed significantly as she gasped for air.

"Are you two alright?" Nami exclaimed as she swam up to the two.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Sejuani screamed into the room as she looked around, "Who the FUCK summoned a shark?"

"It wasn't me..." Nami assured, "I think it was Rift..."

"Leo!"

Just then, the red yordle that Lulu was talking to before was pushed (or more so punted) into the pool by the hulking summoner Ashe took note of when she first entered. Lulu rushed in after her friend and helped him back up to the surface. The shark noticed the red furred and purple haired yordles and rushed to attack them.

Fortunately for them, Akali was ready to attack. She grabbed her dual Kama weapons from beside her chair jumped into pool. It was difficult for Ashe to see, but judging by the red color in the pool and Akali resurfacing next to Lulu and the red yordle, A The shark sank to the bottom of the pool, leaving behind a bloody trail.

Lulu and the red yordle swam up to the wall of the pool and pulled themselves up.

"You big meanie!" Lulu exclaimed to the summoner, "You almost hurt Leo!"

The red yordle rushed over to grab a couple towels for himself and Lulu. Akali resurfaced and simply shook her head at the hulking summoner.

Sejuani dragged Ashe, who still had a large cut on her thigh, back to the poolside and lifted her up out of the water with no difficulty. Nami stayed with Ashe and helped heal her wound with soothing waters, while Sejuani rushed off to confront the bulky summoner.

"HEY!" Sejuani shouted when she was just inches from the summoner, immediately gaining his attention. She grabbed his chest hard and lifted him at least a foot off the ground, "You think that was funny?"

The summoner stammered through his words, barely saying anything of real value. Sejuani threw him to the ground with a hard crash, cracking the cement floor, "Next time you summon a shark in the pool, I'm bringing out the flail." She kicked him in the stomach as a warning before leaving.

The summoner was left on the ground with a cracked rib and broken arm. He was bleeding profusely, enough for the medical summoners come in and take him to the Medical Wing.

Ashe watched this all while Nami healed her, barely even noticing Nami's efforts really. Sejuani returned to Ashe's side and pulled her suddenly into a tight hug, almost too tight for the fragile archer.

"Why didn't you tell me you couldn't swim?" Sejuani asked while still holding onto Ashe.

"*cough cough* I...wha...?" Ashe was still trying to collect her thoughts over what happened moments ago. She assumed her rival Sejuani would have kept her held under water until she drown, or pushed her to the shark to save herself. But instead... she saved the archer's life.

Sejuani simply chuckled at Ashe's confusion, "Well?"

Ashe wasn't sure how to respond here...instead she chose to simply stare at Sejuani's helmetless head. Her blond-white hair dripped down her pale skin. Whether this was sweat or water, she wasn't quite sure. One thing was certain though... she was beautiful...

Ashe shook her head. This was her cousin she was staring at...her rival. She tried to escape Sejuani's grip but she had a strong hold over Ashe.

"Now don't be trying to run off on me again Ashe," Sejuani exclaimed, "Not after I just saved you."

Ashe rolled her eyes but shook her head, "Is that what this is about?"

"How about I teach you how to swim like a warrior," Sejuani suggested.

"Wh-why would you want...to?" Ashe stammered, "I thought...you would kill me...?"

Sejuani chuckled, "Please...If I was to take you down, it would be an honorable duel in the Freljord, not at the bottom of a pool."

"But...You saved me though...why?" Ashe asked, "I...thought you would have...just let me fend for myself."

"I might have," Sejuani leaned in a little closer, "If I wasn't your friend..."

Suddenly Sejuani's lips met Ashe's again, stunning the Frost Archer once more. This time, it was a full kiss, rather than just Sejuani pushing air into Ashe.

While they kissed, the onlookers gathered around the two with peeked interest. Sona's music changed from the active party song to a romantic melody. Nami smiled at the two and used a bubble to keep Sejuani and Ashe afloat. Even Akali watched from the sidelines, along with Lulu and her friend wrapped in a towel together.

Ashe wasn't sure how to react to this at all. Her mind raced with a billion thoughts, but at the same time, it was blank. Nothing made sense anymore. She blushed hard, but didn't pull away from Sejuani's kiss. Even if she could, a part of her told her not to. Sejuani's lips were soft, not like Tryndamere's... it was a unique feeling to her - one that she wouldn't mind given different circumstances.

It felt like an eternity in Ashe's mind before Sejuani broke the kiss, a small smile played on her lips, "Well...?"

"...wh...What?" Ashe blinked as she brought herself back to reality.

"Do you want me to teach you how to swim?" Sejuani offered, returning Ashe's mind back to the current situation.

"O-oh...um..." Ashe was still trying to collect her thoughts. Sejuani, the woman who just 4 months ago swore a war on Ashe's people, just saved the archer's life and kissed her. This has to be a dream or trick. Maybe it was an attempt to break Ashe so when Sejuani does do away with her, it'll be all that sweeter to her.

"Hold...hold on," Ashe started, "Wh...why are you doing this?"

"Because it's improper for a warrior to not know how to swim," Sejuani answered, "Especially one as brilliant as you."

"No, really! Why do you care about what I do?" Ashe asked, "What happened to you declaring war on my people."

"...that...was a...jealous decision," Sejuani admits, "Can we discuss this later?"

"No." Ashe replied, "I don't get it. Why save me when your whole deal is letting people fend for themselves?"

"I guess you could say..." Sejuani leaned in to leave just a small peck on Ashe's lips, "...I've fallen for you."

Ashe immediately pulled back, "You know I'm married right?"

Sejuani nodded, "But if I recall...your marriage is political. No love behind it."

"So?"

"Don't you think you deserve better than that angry bomb of a man?" Sejuani pointed out.

As much as she didn't want to admit it, Sejuani was right. She loved Tryndamere, but it wasn't anything truly special. Sure they had some moments together, and Ashe could tolerate Tryndamere's presence, but there wasn't any real connection between them.

Ashe broke free of Sejuani's hold and stood up, "Look... I should go..."

Before Sejuani could reply, Ashe rushed off out of the room, her mind so filled with conflicting thoughts that she left her frozen bow behind. Sejuani noticed it, and smirked…