Author's notes: Yes, another Ashe x Katarina story. I really like this pairing, it's strange and unusual, but they have the best stories. I hope mine will be at least comparably good, though I have noticed, that these stories have certain clichés, so I'll try to avoid them. Those clichés are for example:

- Ashe being abused by her husband Tryndamere – I have reviewed their lores and backstories on both the LoL website and LoL wiki and I haven't found, that they are actually married, so in my story they won't be.

- Swain plotting world domination – I think he is smart enough to realize that he can't go against the rest of Runeterra plus the Institute of War at once. Though he will definitely be plotting something, because he is the ultimate plotter, what will it be might surprise you.

- Katarina teaching Ashe how to fight, or offering to teach her – this is only a way how Ashe could protect herself from her abusive husband, so it will not be necessary.

This story will be very long and I will split it into several parts focusing on different champions. It will take years to complete, although I will try to update at least once a month. It will be very complicated and I had it plotted out entirely even before I posted this chapter. To make it authentic and not some weird AU, i have reviewed a lot of League materials and backstories. I might have changed som things, but mostly I used plot gaps and the fact that the events in champion lores are not presented in chronological order, to make it plot-wise. The biggest change to the original story I had to make was to alter the order in which certain several champions join the League (and that one will not join it at all). As the story will unfold, you will certainly find out, which champions have I meant.

This is a prologue and chapter one, I wanted to publish them separately, but the prologue was too short. It's a slightly altered version of Ashe's lore, and if you'll be wondering what the other character is doing there, don't worry, you'll find out soon.

Also I have one strange rule, I don't publish a chapter until the next one is completed, this is the way I can keep myself from abandoning the story for the sake of my other Works. So, by the time the first of you are reading this (and I hope more than one person will read it) the chapter 2 is already done, waiting in my computer to be uploaded here.

It will also contain several pairings (at least six, but I might do some minor last moment changes to add drama) of which not all I ship, but they will be important for the plot.

My last note: I am not a native english speaker, so sorry if my english isn't very good. If you see any mistakes, feel free to correct me. So, I wish you a good time and pleasant reading, until I kill off some of your favourite characters.

Prologue

Some call it a chance, others call it fate. Maybe it's just one thing, for which we made up two different names. How else could you describe the meeting of two souls from the most distinct backgrounds, only with an astronomical odds for reunion, but it still happens?

For example a young and scared girl, fleeing on the back of her horse through the woods, and a shadow watching her from the treetops. Her horse's legs are sinking deep into the snow, and the horses of her pursuers too. She got far from her tribe, too far for anyone to come and help her. Even if she didn't, no one would help her. This land has only one rule: the rule of strength. She thought she was strong enough to rule her tribe, but now it seemed that she wasn't. Despite everything she still clinged to hope, hope that she will run away, that she'll save herself.

Strong wind pulled her cowl and revealed snowy white hair. The girl looked back, she almost noticed a figure hidden on a nearby tree. The enemies were approaching, she saw their drawn swords. She forced the horse to run faster, as fast as it could. She hoped to get rid of them in the woods, so she led her horse towards the mountains, instead of the valley. Soon she found herself surrounded by sharp rocks covered in ice. While running up a hill, the horse slipped and started to run wildly. She tried to calm it down, but the stubborn animal didn't react to its rider. The shadow was still following her. The horse ran towards an obstacle, something, probably a large rock lied in the way. It was the same white colour as its surroundings and the horse noticed it in the last moment. It jumped over, while its rider fell from the sadle.

The girl hit a hard and flat surface and fell down from it, while she pulled down a thick layer of snow from it. She noticed, that the stone formation is probably a crypt or a cairn of some kind. Its top was decorated by a single rune, that the girl could read.

"Avarosa."

She put her hand on the rune and the crypt opened. Inside were centuries old remains conserved in frost. The dead woman was buried due to ancient customs – with her jewels and weapons. On top of the body lied something the girl knew only form old fairytales, a beautiful bow crafted from blue ice. She picked it up, marvelled at it, examined it down to the details. Right then her enemies showed up. She thought that they had lost her, but obviously they followed her tracks in the snow. She didn't panic, but firmly grasped the bow and felt its magical power. An icy arrow formed itself in it. The girl pulled the string, aimed at the closest attacker and released. He collapsed onto the ground and a sheen of ice covered his body. Other enemies appeared, the girl was outnumbered, but she killed them all with a volley of frozen arrows. When she was passing by the corpses, one of them clumsily stood up and knocked the bow off of her hands with a strong blow. He grabbed his sword and tried to finish her, but suddenly a throwing knife dug into his neck. The girl looked in the direction from which it came and in the nearby bushes she saw two bright green eyes and a flash of crimson that vanished immediately.

Chapter 1: Consequences

For many it was just a game, maybe a bit barbaric and uncivilized, but still just a game. But not for her, for her it was a fight, a fight for everything, until the very end. Only one could win, and Katarina knew, it's going to be her. She was good at it, in fact, excellent, she was born to win. She looked at her opponent, he was doing way worse than she did, the game took its toll on him.

"This will be easy," she thought to herself. She took a shot of the infamous Noxian booze and downed it. Then she smacked it onto the table upside down, where another seven were already standing. On the opposite side of the table sat Draven, noxian executioner with a ridiculous moustache. He also picked up a shot and drank it, when his hand found its way to his mouth on the second attempt. The empty glas slipped from his hand and shattered upon hitting the ground. Katarina laughed, he didn't.

"No one beats Draaaaven, bitch!" he barked at her. She kept laughing: "You have no chance, fucker!"

It wasn't a very lucky day for Ashe. She hasn't been summoned since morning, so she spent the entire day with her books, lying in the bed and reading. In the evening she started to crave company, she left her room and wandered the empty hallways of the Insitute of War. The training area was still alive with sounds of clashing weapons, some champions spent entire days training. Others, like for example creatures from Shadow Isles trained during the night and slept during the day, or not at all.

Ashe passed the League's library, which she visited quite often. But not today, the last time she went there she had borrowed enough books for months. Besides, in this hour she would have to go there with a candle, and bringing fire among so many old, dry books and dust definitely wasn't a good idea. Instead she headed to the common area of the Institute. When the dinner time was over, the large dining hall was transformed into a bar and a game room for the champions, where they could spend their free time as they considered best. It was busy when Ashe came in. At a nearby table sat the witches, women interested in dark magic and gossip, who always tried to look like the League's upper class ladies. In the moment there were Morgana, LeBlanc, Zyra and one of Ashe's biggest rivals Lissandra, who had joined the League only recently. Ashe knew that Diana and Elise were also invited to join the group, but they refused it.

The witches were drinking fancy colourful drinks from tall glasses and laughing at some joke. Excapt for Lissandra, who was carefully watching the Frost Archer, and when Ashe was passing their table, the two of them exchanged very cold glares. Champions and summoners from all Runeterra were sitting in the room, in the far corner Noxian general Swain played chess with a high ranking summoner. Close to Ashe a group of Demacians was discussing some tactical matters with prince Jarvan IV, Xin Zhao and Garen. Or at least they tried, because something else caught his attention. The biggest table in the middle of the room was occupied by a group of Noxians. They drank, they revelled and made more noise than everyone else in the room. There were also people from other city-states in the crowd surrounding them, Ashe even recognized two of her allies among them: Braum and Tryndamere.

"What's going on here?" she asked, when she approached them. Just as she stood between them, Katarina sitting at the table turned her head in Ashe's direction and looked her right in the eye. It lasted only for a second, but the archer felt, that it meant something.

"Damn Noxians have a drinking game again," tryndamere responded.

The crowd was shouting and cursing at each other. Ashe was most surprised by seeing Lux among them. An empty bottle lied on the table, someone just brought another one and the game could continue.

"I wanted to bet, but I didn't know on who, so I bet on the one I hate less," said the barbarian.

"So Draven then?" Ashe asked.

"Yeah, that guy is fucking annoying, but at least he's not a moody bitch."

"Watch your mouth," Garen scolded him, "Katarina is a lady from an old and noble house."

Everyone in the League knew, that Garen was madly in love with Katarina and that she ignored him completely outside the Fields. Also everyone knew, that Katarina was interested only in women.

"I am gonna speak as I damn well please!" roared Tryndamere, "and what are you gonna do to me, spin me to death?"

"Stop it," Ashe said to the barbarian, "why don't you and Braum go and take a beer?"

She meant it as a request to leave, and he also took it as one.

"Fine, but bring me my money if I won," he murmured upon leaving.

Ashe suddenly became the only Freljordian among foreigners. Mostly among those, with whom she didn't talk too much outside the League matches. She had no other option, than to stand silently and watch the scene in front of her. There were glasses turned upside down on both sides of the table. The contesting champions could drink from the same ones over and over again, but this was the best way of counting how much each of them drank. Some champions, especially Noxians, could be very agressive, when money was involved. That might be the reason, why Cassiopeia was holding the bets, she didn't need much to deter the others. Ashe decided to bet something herself. After all, a bit of contact with the Noxians couldn't hurt her. She came closer to the serpent woman and spoke: "I want to bet."

Cassiopeia raised her eyebrow, but that was her only reaction to the Freljordian's presence.

"How much?" she asked in a cold, formal voice, most likely reserved for those, who aren't from Noxus.

"One hundred gold, on Katarina," Ashe responded equally formally.

"You seem quite confident in my sister's victory."

"Of course, Draven is barely standing, well, sitting."

The serpent woman chuckled, then quickly hid it with a cough.

"If she wins, you'll get one hundred and fifty back," she said to the archer.

"You haven't bet on her?" Ashe asked interestedly.

"I don't have to, whoever wins, I get the money of the losers."

The exciting duel was coming to an end, both champions were visibly drunk and the crowd crazed with anticipation. Darius saw his brother doing miserably and tried to cheer him: "Come on, bro, don't do the family shame!"

Draven answered something about shame and family packed in a stream of swearwords. Lux responded to that: "Don't listen to him, beat that bitch!"

Then she looked around, if anyone saw her say it and blushed. One of the Noxian summoners did and asked her brother: "Hey, Garen, shouldn't that baby sister of yours already be sleeping?"

Noxians laughed and the Might of Demacia just sadly waved his arm. Meanwhile Draven picked up another shot, spilled a half of it, drank the other one, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and fell face down on the table. This was the end and people understood it. Some were angry, others left richer than they came. Katarina clumsily stood up, looked at Ashe again and slurred: "Hello, ice queen. I'm sure I can make you melt."

Then she smiled dizzily and fell down, knocking down a chair in the process. By the time her sister already gave the winners their money and kept the biggest part for herself. She slithered to the assassin and tried to pick her up, but her serpent body didn't help her with it.

"I'll assist you," Garen shouted enthusiastically.

"No, not you," Cassiopeia hissed, "last time you touched her ass."

So the task was up to Ashe, she grabbed the Noxian's right arm and put it on her shoulder. Cassiopeia did the same with the left arm and together they headed for Katarina's room.

Katarina was again in Noxus, by the time she was ten. She was standing in a muddy street amidst a backwater part of the city. She was surrounded by another kids, dirty and rugged. They glanced at her as if she was something they had never seen before. She didn't belong in there and she knew it as well as they did. The group of kids had a leader, a boy missing his front teeth, too burly for his age. He was standing right in front of Katarina, piercing her with his gaze. She was piercing him too, they were both showing, that they are not afraid of each other.

"I know her from somewhere," exclaimed one of the boys.

"She's a lady, she lives in a big, fancy palace," said another one.

"No, I don't," Katarina opposed, "I ran away."

"Why?" the pack's leader asked her. She saw that all of them had the question written all over their faces. Why would anyone exchange a palace for streets? Why would anyone give up what others crave so much?

"I hate it, I hate when they tell me what to do, what to wear, what to say and what not. And I hate my spoilt whiny sister as well! You are tough kids, you do whatever you want and I want to join you."

"Let her fight!" yelled one of them. Others supported him.

"Yeah," the oldest boy agreed too, "you're a girl,so you'll be fighting a girl."

A girl, that looked like a boy approached her. She had short unkept hair, that had to be quite pale under a layer of dirt. Katarina used to watch her father, when he was practicing Noxian martial arts. She tried to mimic some of his stances and punches while fighting the street girl, but it did not help. She had no chance against the other girl's brute strenght, fueled by her hatred towards Noxian aristocracy. She left Katarina lying on the ground, in the mud with torn clothes, anger and tears.

When Katarina woke up, real hell expected her. Someone has opened her curtains, the bright daylight blinded her, so she jumped out of her bed to close them. Then she realized her terrible headache. She roared and let herself fall back onto the bed.

"Good morning, sssunshine," said her sister, who was watching her from the corner.

"What the fuck do you want, Cass?" Katarina asked.

"Nothing, I just wanted to thank you for your marvelous performance yesterday."

"Cut that bullshit and give me my share."

"Oh, it's already on your table," said Cassiopeia, "and next time, try not to faint in front of four summoners, it might harm your reputation."

"What? Did anything happen?"

"Yes, they gave you a day off for today, they said it's for your own well-being."

"Why are they fucking with my life?" Katarina sighed.

"I don't know, dear sister, maybe you should ask them yourself," Cassiopeia mocked, "and Swain wanted to talk to you."

"What does he want again?"

"Well, he definitely saw you yesterday, so I guess he wants to scold you. He seemed rather impatient when I met him, I had to persuade him not to come here as soon as he woke up."

Katarina raised from the bed, went to her bathroom and poured herself a cup of water. The mere thought of having to listen to the Noxian general's ranting hungover made her despair. Swain cared for her and her sister in a way, he tried hard to support them after their father disappeared years ago. He tried, she had to admit that, though she couldn't get rid of feeling that he just plans to use them in his schemes and discard them. Katarina wanted to ask her sister something more, but in her current state she could not remember what it was.

"He helped you to get me in here?" she asked instead.

"An old man with a limp?" the snake woman laughed, " you're too heavy for that."

"It's muscles," Katarina spat, "it's heavier than fat."

"If you think so. How do you know it was me who carried you all the way here?"

"You wouldn't be so cocky if you didn't believe I owe you."

"You are right, but it wasn't Swain, I had other help."

"Whom?"

"The Frost Archer."

"Ashe?" Katarina wondered, "why would she do it?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe she was thrilled with the fifty gold you won her, or you have charmed her with you romantic venture," said Cassiopeia and her last sentence was pure mockery.

"Shit, what did I say?"

"So you don't remember?" Cassiopeia laughed again, "what a pity, it was so touching, full of the purest emotions. Hell, if I were her, you would certainly get me."

"Go away, Cass!"

"Yes, I was glad to see you too, sis," Cassiopeia said and slithered out. Instead of her Swain came in and stood into the middle of the room, his raven, Beatrice, eyed Katarina instantly. The general took in the view, the room was a total mess, clothes were scattered all around, lying on bed, drawers and even ground. Knives were lodged in all wooden surfaces and the room smelled like it hasn't been ventilated for several days.

"I heard you had a rough night," he spoke, when he looked directly at Katarina. The bird perched on his shoulder loudly squawked.

"I had, and what?"

"Do you know what Talon was doing, while you were poisoning yourself with the most despicable drink ever made?"

"No, and honestly I don't give a single fuck."

"Maybe you should. He was training, almost all night. Do you know what I am trying to tell you?"

She didn't know, but she didn't want to admit it, so she was just glaring daggers at him.

"Your father was one of my most loyal allies," Swain continued, "it was him, who ensured my acceptance to the High Command. And a lot of time has passed since his disappearance, whether we want to admit it, or not. The High Command will soon proclaim him dead. Despite my influence, I cannot restrain them forever."

Katarina got angry at the mere thought of her father, the fact that it was Swain who spoke of him made her furious.

"Get out!" she yelled at him.

Swain didn't even flinch, instead he just eyed the assassin. Katarina drew a knife form her belt and threw it at the general. The blade dug into the wall missing Swain's right ear by less than an inch.

"I am not even slightly impressed," he stated calmly. Then he walked to her table and hit it with his cane with all strenght. The noise was enough for Katarina to think that her own head wants to kill her.

"Will you listen to me now?" asked Swain.

"No..."

He hit the table again, harder this time. Katarina remained quiet.

"Your father," Swain started again, "was our head assassin, the Blade of Noxus. Soon the generals of High Command will proclaim him dead and the title will pass on someone else. It will be either you or Talon. If it was up to me, I'd give it to you."

"Why?" Katarina asked surprisedly.

"You are much more capable, tactical and inventional. Talon is just a pawn, but if he shows that his skills surpass yours, most of the High Command will stand behind him."

"Don't worry, they don't," said the assassin, "and why do you think it will happen soon?"

"Ever since the League was established, I knew it was only a temporary solution. No Institute can hold so many so different individuals long enough to be considered permanent. Besides, many champions desire only blood of others. Many of us first had to prove themselves worthy as legends of the battlefields, before participating in League matches, we have certain reputation and discipline. But now there are no wars, no new legends to be born and the League has devolved to accept rogue mages and Void creatures to its ranks."

Katarina was just listening and nodding, her brain operating on half of its capacity due to hangover and boredom by the general's speech, which made absolutely no sense to her. Swain was still talking: "The king of Demacia is dying,.."

"Well, finally a useful information," Katarina thought.

"...this was confirmed to me by a reliable source directly from his court. His son is a blade-happy idiot, like our mutual adversary, general Darkwill. The Demacians are pulling Jarvan back from the Institute, that's the matter they were discussing yesterday. They want to teach him some more manners and make him a suitable monarch in the short time they have until his father dies, but I am afraid that they will fail. Despite being a champion, Jarvan is not very fond of the League and that is a trait he and Darkwill share. It's only a matter of time, before the peace will be broken and the League will cease to exist. Unless we do something about it."

"Wait," Katarina interrupted him, finally interested and fully focused, she even felt her headache weaken, "you want to preserve the peace?"

"For now, yes, I do," Swain smirked, as he said it, "though Noxus is stronger than any other city-state, maybe except for Demacia, I cannot deny that we're not stronger than all of them combined. And no matter what the High Command says, I don't consider the Zaunites trustworthy allies."

"And what do you want to do?"

"Well, we have two options – seize control over Demacia or seize control over Noxus. From several obvious reason I believe that only the second one is possible without breaking the peace ourselves. I have already devised a plan and I will gladly share it with you. I cannot do so now, but i will be able to explain all the details later, when you are well rested. But for the plan to work, I need you to claim your father's title. Strenght and discipline have always been the defining qualities of Noxians and you will need both to accomplish this task. We must be wary, there's a storm coming to Noxus, which can wipe out everything we know."

"It is? Really?" Katarina asked ironically, "and you have to bother me with it so soon in the morning?"

Swain laughed: "It's almost noon, Katarina."

"Fuck, I haven't eaten since yesterday," she said and then stormed out of her room.