Author's Note:
Hi All - This is my first time writing a fanfic. I've recently started playing League of Legends and I've really been enjoying it. I'm not sure if all the facts are correct, but this is for fun.
Disclaimer: All characters so far are property of Riot Games and I'm just borrowing them for this story.
Please review!
Summoning the Reluctant Hearts
Chapter 1: A Chance Meeting
Sona Buvelle wandered listlessly through the unusually quiet Summoner's Rift. Being early in the day, the grounds were empty with the turrets stilled and the jungle camps abandoned, leaving her blessedly alone with her thoughts.
Although not a Champion, her musical prowess and fame had caught the attention of the Institute of War's recruiting department. They had approached her several times to join, but each time Sona politely demurred. The Institute can be relentless, however, and this latest time they tried another tactic by going directly to the Demacian Council for assistance. The Council had asked her to tour the Institute and report back her concerns.
It wasn't that Sona was averse to joining – it was considered a great honor to be a Champion and represent Demacia. Since her adoption to Demacian life several years ago, Sona had seen many battles and she had to privately admit to herself that it was flattering and thrilling to even be considered. Still, Sona hesitated in giving an assent.
As such, Sona had arrived at the Institute the day before intent on having all angles and possibilities looked into. She committed herself to the tours given by the Institute and had sat through the meetings pitching the perks and benefits of being a Champion. The culmination of the prior day was her introduction to some of the current Champions and Summoners. The Institute had skillfully kept her so occupied that she had not a moment to reflect or consider. All in all, it was a fairly large waste of time.
Determined to understand her hesitations and reservations with accepting while she was still on Institute grounds (and hopefully get better answers), Sona had risen early to do her own tour. Which is what she was doing now - walking around the battle arena to get a greater understanding of what it means to actually be a Champion. Her largest reservation at the moment was the logistics of playing a musical instrument while running into battle. The etwahl, though sturdy, was on the bulky side and to carry it while maneuvering in tight corners? Sona heaved a sigh as she turned aside from the silent turrets to go into the jungle.
The gall of these people, he thought to himself as he spied an unfamiliar woman through the jungle. Talon kept himself out of sight in the tall brush, scowling at her as she drifted past the brush he was in. As was his usual, he helped himself to the battle arena to get practice and training in. While the Institute grounds had training areas, he preferred to train in the real thing, the better to hide and ambush. But now, he had an intruder to deal with. He cocked his head as he trailed after her silently. As a Champion, he was used to fans throwing themselves at him. He was used to the candied smiles and suggestive demeanors. But this was going too entirely too far for a fan to invade his privacy and to try to spy on his training.
A fan that isn't encouraged will soon give up and depart, he thought, so I just need to say out of sight. And maybe scare her along,he thought with an inward evil smile.
He had studied her from where he hid, moving on silent and practiced feet to avoid detection, to always remain hidden. She was a slight woman, pretty from the glimpse he got of her face, with long pale blue hair which was oddly blonde towards the end. Unusual, he decided.
Talon took pride of his ability to read people, and he decided that she did not have a sinister objective in the jungle. He observed that she was just wandering without aim, which piqued his curiosity about her. It took a dedicated fan to trespass the Institutes of War, but unlike most of his fans, she wasn't partially dressed. Unless she had a surprise for him under her cloak, he thought with a wicked smile.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here" he asked, his voice low and menacing, as he dashed around her in a blur before stopping in a brush nearby. He knew that in this area of the jungle, where noises echo easily, it would be impossible for her to identify where he stood.
Sona froze as a voice cut into her thoughts and movement that she could not identify circled her. She looked around cautiously, uncertainly. A faint frown touched her brow as she glanced to the horizon to note the position of the sun. While the battlefield was often booked for practice skirmishes, she hadn't thought that it would be booked this early. And of course, the Institute would want to keep track of her.
Moving tentatively, she looked around her, trying to peer into the shadows cast by the jungle trees. Was the voice was imagined or real? Although she saw no one, it was not outside the realm of possibility that there was someone there. Being alone in the battlefield while a skirmish played out around her, while exciting, was above and beyond the sort of tour she had in mind. Especially when she was unattended and defenseless without her etwahl.
Sona moved deeper into the jungle, to conceal herself under the shade of a large tree and reached for her schedule. She was fairly sure that her day wasn't supposed to start until 9 in the morning, so the Institute should not be looking for her yet. Sona figured a contrite apology and a performance would smooth things over with the Institute.
Talon narrowed his eyes as she reached into her cloak. A weapon? He hadn't pegged her as anything more than an overzealous fan, but she didn't exactly rub him as a fan either. She was neither extravagantly made up nor was her clothing revealing and seductive. It seemed utilitarian – an assassin, spy, perhaps, or a personal vendetta against him for his crimes before he joined the Institute?
He darted out of his hiding place and gripped her wrist, hard. Instead of a weapon, as he'd expected, she had drawn papers. Sona gasped, both from the sudden pain, and also from the sudden appearance of a man before her. Without waiting for her reaction, he deftly removed the papers from her and glanced over them, keeping his hold on her. Growing up on the streets, Talon wasn't exactly literate. He narrowed his eyes at the unfamiliar writing and looked at her with hostility. "What is this?" he asked menacingly.
Sona took the time to study him as he perused her schedule. He was roguishly handsome, tall and built, with silky dark hair if anyone cared to describe him in the simplest terms. If she hadn't been so startled and just a little bit frightened, she would have found him appealing.
"Who are you and what are you doing here? What is this?" He towered over her, staring at her with anger and distrust, squeezing her wrist. Sona grimaced in pain and her mouth opened soundlessly, trying to answer. He stared at her, studying her features, before loosening his grip on her just slightly. She was even prettier up close, beautiful even, he conceded grudgingly. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that she had a marvelous figure, albeit hidden under her cloak, and that her gold eyes were strangely alluring to him. She seemed familiar to him, but he could not pinpoint why.
"Trying to find good hiding places to ambush your favorite champion, are you?" he asked with a bit of a sneer, going back to his original conclusion about her.
Sona gently pulled her wrist out of his grasp and reached into her cloak to retrieve her notebook. Talon grasped her upper arm out of reflex and she gave him a wry look. As if she could outrun and hide from him on her first venture in the battle arena. She opened her notebook to write "My name is Sona", and then looked at him expectantly.
Talon looked at her notebook and looked at her again. "I can't read," he said simply, "and I take it that you can't talk."
Sona nodded her head in agreement to his statement.
"Are you here to spy on me, or other Champions?", he asked curiously, the malice leaving his voice. A wicked grin crossed his face as he continued, "I'm normally against fans spying and stalking, but I can see myself making an exception for you."
Sona shook her head, taken aback by his tone and the sudden flush she felt at his words. She tried to take a step away from him but was stopped by his grip on her arm.
"That's a shame," Talon murmured, taking a step closer to her and looking down into her mesmerizing eyes. "Is there another way for you to communicate? Do you have the ability to speak into my mind?"
I wish that I could, Sona thought in response to his question, looking momentarily anguished. Tentatively, she first nodded and then shook her head.
"So you have another way to communicate, but you cannot speak into my mind." Talon grasped the obvious.
Sona nodded again and he unconsciously moved closer yet to her, until she was craning up to look at him. "You'll have to show me sometime, the other way you communicate," he whispered, bending down towards her.
Sona nodded, gazing into his eyes and tentatively touched his cheek. Talon pressed his face into her hand, a grin coming to his lips as he looked at hers. She was so close, and her allure was intoxicating, and Talon got the distinct sense that she wasn't opposed to their close proximity.
A twig snapped from the center lane and she quickly dropped her hand. Talon gave her one last long searing look, practically tasting disappointment, and then disappeared into a nearby brush.
"Sona? Sona, are you here? That Bothell woman is freaking out that she cannot find you." Lux's voice rang out.
Blonde and bubbly with a ready smile and joke, Luxanne Crownguard, the youngest daughter of the Crownguard family, was arguably one of the most optimistic people at the Institute.
"Please be here," Talon heard her mutter as he withdrew and left the woman, Sona, alone.
Sona closed her eyes and composed herself. She was flustered and what just occurred was so far from what she could ever imagine at the battle arena. After a moment, Sona hurried from the jungle to intercept Lux.
"Oh there you are! Thank goodness! Bothell is raising a big fuss that they cannot find you and I honestly think she is on the verge of breaking down. You better get back, come with me." Lux grasped the other woman's hand and pulled her from the arena.