Hi everyone !

I'm not used to write in English so that fanfic will most certainly contain an insane amount of mistakes and I'm very sorry for that. Scholastic English isn't really suited to write fanfic, but well, I've done my best with what I know.

First one shot, at least two more will come by, one day ^^

This one is centered around Riven, although maybe in a light that may be a bit new (don't worry, the other characters have their share of that too xD), so it probably results in OOC moments.

Feel free to leave reviews, commentary or corrections (this text is unbeta'd) !

Please enjoy !


Thorn Garden

'May you live long'

Noxians usually saluted with scorn.

Not Talon.

His tone was surprisingly neutral, even a little kind. Which was weird, considering he was greeting a former Noxian.

We crossed paths, every now and then, either on the Fields of Justice or in the corridors of the Institute of War. While we had little to not influence on our moves in the Summoner's Rift, we were free to do as we pleased, provided we didn't damage anything, outside. And every single time the assassin greeted me, it was during our spare time. Always the same wish, not exactly with a friendly tone, but one that showed he had faith in what saying.

Genuinely intrigued, and still bothered by it, I decided to wait for him after he was called on the fields. I put my broken sword against the wall, leaned against it and let the time tick by. After some time, I heard footsteps coming towards me and try to see if Talon was among them, to no avail. I sighed and waited a little more, eyes closed.

'May you live long.'
'May you live away from the blades of your enemies.', answered Riven mechanically.

A few quarter of second later, I finally realized what was happening. I straightened my posture and tried not to look too startled. He tilted his head a little, so apparently, it completely failed.

'May I help you, Riven ?'

'I only have one question for you... Why do you keep saluting me ?'

He smiled. I was having a hard time seeing his features under his hood, but his smile seemed sincere. He wasn't mocking me, he was simply amused. I felt embarrassed but I understood his reaction. My question was quite strange, thinking about it. Or at least, it was strangely worded. While it didn't seemed to disturb him, he probably though the place wasn't a good one to talk :

'Do you want to drink something ? The summoning always leave my thirsty.'

The situation was getting weirder with every passing second. He himself seemed quite worried, though I supposed it was because he feared I would misinterpret his intention. I followed him warily at the bar. He took a fruit juice, a little something to eat and went for a table for two. This was awkward, painfully so. I grabbed a drink at random and rejoined him. We sat in silence for several minutes, sipping on our own drinks. He then tore a bit of his bread and broke the silence.

'Want some ?', he saw her hesitate. 'Believe me, it's not a trap of some sort.', she hesitated a little more. 'We are in the Institute, on neutral ground.'

'Thank you.'

Even with the little reminder, I felt ill at ease and took the offered bread with cautiousness. I ate it in silence and he did the same. He almost startled me when he spoke again.

'How was it ?'

'What ?'

'The Ionian campaign.'

The name alone was enough to make too vivid images dance in my head. Frightened screams, painful coughs, air contaminated with the smell of death, chemical ans disease. The soil itself seemed to revolt, reject man's creation. The land would be unfit for human life for several months. I think I almost suffocated back then, and maybe that's what saved me. But I would rather not remember what was suffocating me : the agonizing bodies of my fellow brothers in arms.

I shuddered. It was already too much to remember. Last time I tried to, I got nauseous. The stench never really left my nostrils, nor the petrified expression of the corpses.

'I'd rather not talk about it.'

'It's alright. How about the political situation in Noxus ?'

'You mean... Darius bloody ascension to power ? And Swain crowned Grand General ?', he nodded. 'That axe-wielding guy is a barbarian...'

He fell silent, pondering his next words. I was under the impression he expected me to say something along those lines, but he was still not prepared enough for a come-back.

'Think of a garden, left alone for ten years', he assessed her reaction. 'Wild thorns, weeds and roots have grown undisturbed and invaded the place.'

'Sounds like Zyra, to me.'

'Well... it's almost that, just imagine different kinds of Zyra, like she had sisters, suffocating the small flowers that once bloomed here.'

He seemed quite found of his metaphor and continued. A man, who walked near the garden everyday, suddenly recognized the garden where he used to play back in his childhood. So he decided to take the matter in his own hands and searched for a gardener, since he had no real abilities in gardening. Together, they cleaned the garden. But it was still far for its former beauty. So they searched for young people who had knowledge of flowers in their surroundings. They found someone, recruited him and on their way back to the garden and cast their gaze on a very well kept flowerbed. However, the person that was taking good care of it was very wary. So they only send their newest recruit as to not frighten her and convince her to join them.

'So, you mean Darius is the gardener.'

'Swain will like your intelligence.'

'But if Darius is the gardener, shouldn't you be killed near the moment he cleans weeds ?'

'Good remark. But that would ruin the metaphor, right ? So let's just say I had to take care of the garden and neglected my task ?'

'It'll have to do, I guess. What about Katarina ?'

'She doesn't know yet. Besides, the League is protecting her and her sister. The Du Couteau family has virtually no leader right now, so it's not a threat.'

They had thought everything through. And I could guess they had an informer close to the powerful Noxian family. It bothered me. Noxian were proud, rarely resorted to spying , or at least, that was what I was taught. But I wasn't surprised. When politics when involved, traditions and valors tend strangely to disappear from people's mind.

'And the General ? You are rumored to be very loyal to him, if I recall correctly.'

'I don't feel like betraying him. And my new allegiance doesn't hinder my researches. I think they know it too and expect me to act accordingly if he was to reappear.'

'And you have any ideas of how you'll react ?'

'I'll try to make him join us. And if he doesn't want to, well... Maybe I'll have the opportunity to duel him again and emerge victorious. But I still have a lot of time to think about it, haven't I ?'

He never showed that optimism on the battlefield. Maybe he didn't really had reasons to. But I felt he aspired to a little joy in his every day life and he seemed happy to have someone to talk to, although it was an important conversation. Maybe he would appreciate more light-hearted chatter ?

'I hope you didn't choose the garden metaphor because I'm a girl.'

'Of course not !' He chuckled. 'I have a green thumb.'

'Come again ?' Riven asked. 'One of the master swordsman of Noxus has a green thumb ? How many flowers are there in your garden ?'

'I lost count.', he answered very seriously. 'I can make so many different poisons that I can't even recall.'

I should have expected it, why would an assassin have plants if not to make poisons ? Why would he have confided in me something personal like "I do some gardening, sometimes." ? That Noxian alliance seemed like a big viper nest to me. Yet, it could also be my best opportunity to change my homeland efficiently. Most of the time, the heads of a society are the most difficult to dislodge and thusly hinder its evolution. Were the risks worth it ? I finished my drink and waited several more minutes. As I was about to go, he cleared his throat and started :

'I know our methods may put you off, because I'm an assassin, because Darius is always eager to draw blood, but I believe that in the end, we work for the same goal : restoring Noxus. Riven, would you accept to meet the Grand General ?'


'Swain, tell me one more time why we need to see this girl ?'

'Because, Darius, I refuse to let Noxian lives between your brother's hand.'

'I don't see any redeeming quality in that girl. She deserted. She betrayed Noxus.'

'That battle was poorly led. Noxus never needed the help of Zaun. The fools in charge of that battle were the one who betrayed Noxus.'

The Grand General quarters were modestly decorated and quite dark, to be honest. They didn't lack any lighting, but the long corridor's hanging were either a dark red or a dark brown. To a stranger, this place would be ominous. But it resembled our homeland with its dark pine forests, swamps, cliffs looming over the raging sea... so I felt at ease here. Talon and I finally reached the massive wood double doors. He knocked and a unclear voice invited us in. The assassin held the door for me and we entered the room. To the left, Darius waited, his hand hovering dangerously over his axe handle. I felt Talon presence behind my right shoulder. And behind the desk, a man whose age I couldn't tell rose, grabbed his cane and limped around the furniture with his tree-eyed blue raven on his shoulder pad.

'Jericho Swain, I assume ?'

'Watch your words around the Grand General, woman.'

'Darius, that wasn't necessary. I'm pleased to meet you, Riven. Talon already explained everything to you, did he ?'

'Yes, he did. But I must warn you. If one of your orders doesn't suit me, I won't obey it. And I won't have a second thought defying you if this happens too often...'

'Is that a threat ?!' asked Darius with indignation.

'Darius, stop this farce at once. As a matter of fact, it is a threat. But she is only following Noxian customs. Please finish your sentence, Riven.'

'If your orders are dubious, I'll defy you. Until then, my sword is at your command.'

The Grand General gave a approval nod. The Hand of Noxus frowned. Talon let out a very discreet sigh. I glanced at the tactician as he retreated behind his desk. He was a secretary bird in a viper nest. He didn't fear any of the snakes individually but knew if they were to group, he might be endangered. So he naturally called a mongoose at his side.