Disclaimer: I'm not an owner, I'm just a Yordle with a hammer.
The Hero and the Champ
Jax slipped into the throne room unnoticed just in time to hear the announcement.
"Presenting to His Majesty, King Trundle I, the official ambassador of King Jarvan III of Demacia, Poppy!"
Trundle cut quite the impressive figure, sitting on the elaborate throne of True Ice with a regally bored demeanor, one elbow on an armrest to prop his chin up with a raised fist, Boneshiver leaning against the throne within easy reach. On the smaller side for Trollkind, he was nonetheless massive enough to make the already tiny Yordle look as small as a bug, especially with the throne standing on a dias. The mere sight of him in all his trollish glory would no doubt send even the most hardened and experienced of diplomats into incomprehensible stutters.
"Hiya, Trundle! Haven't seen you on the Rift in a while! Busy with, uh, government stuff?"
The Troll King sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. His announcer was scandalized. "Ambassador Poppy! You are to refer to His Majesty as KING Trundle! And do not waste the King's time with small talk!"
"Oops, sorry! I forgot." Poppy rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "So, King Trundle, whacha been up to lately?"
"Ambassador Poppy! You-"
"Forget it. You're not getting through that thick skull. Believe me, I've been trying for years. Not even Boneshiver can do the job. Leave us." Trundle waved his announcer off. With the other troll gone, he turned his attention back to Poppy. "Yes, I've been busy. No, I'm not planning to hit the Rift soon. Small talk over. Now hurry up and present the annual terms. Every minute you're here hurts my image."
"Sorry." Poppy said contritely. "I do TRY to remember all that official stuff. Really. Okay. Terms. Terms. What are the terms? I was sure I knew them. Did I write them down? Where-"
Trundle let out a groan of incomparable suffering. "Your left pouch! Why do I have to remind you EVERY SINGLE TIME?!"
"Oh! Right. Sorry." Poppy opened a pouch on her hip and pulled out a scroll with the official seal of Demacia's royal house. Puffing out her chest, she began to speak in as official a manner as she could muster. "The renewing of the terms of the annual treaty between the Trolls of the Freljord and the state of Demacia has been approved by King Jarvan III, signed and sealed. The terms are as follows:" She deflated. "Do I have to read this part? It's really long and boring. You already know everything in there anyway, right?"
"Fine. Whatever. Let's just throw the whole book out. I should be used to this by now." Said Trundle long-sufferingly. "I assume it's all the same as last year. The trolls shall not cross the borders in numbers larger than fifty without advance notice and consent. Consumption of livestock by individual trolls shall be compensated. Consumption of citizens of Demacia shall be considered an act of war. I still think I should've pushed for more lenient terms on that last one. What's wrong with eating a serf or two along the way? Share and share alike, I say! Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. These terms shall be upheld and punishment enacted by Poppy the Bearer of the Hammer, as the Hero of Demacia has not yet been found."
"Oh! I've got a...what's it called...a, a, an alteration! I've got an alteration to this year's treaty!" Poppy said excitedly. "I found the Hero!"
Jax, who had been so bored he had nearly fallen asleep standing up in his shadowy corner of the room, perked up at that.
"Did you." Trundle said complacently. He began pulling on a fang with his finger. "Good. I hope he's as tasty as the last one was."
Poppy scowled. "Okay, so maybe I was wrong last time, but this time it's really him! He's the real Hero! I'd like to see you try to eat him."
"So would I." The Troll King gave a ghastly grin. "As per the treaty, attacks on the Bearer of the Hammer shall not be considered acts of war against Demacia. I can't wait to meet him."
"You've already met him." Poppy said proudly. "It's Jax."
Trundle went expressionless. "Jax." Poppy nodded. "The Champion." She nodded again. "Is the Hero of Demacia." A third nod. He exploded with laughter. He laughed so hard he bent over double.
"What? What's so funny?" Poppy said defensively.
"Jax is the Hero! Does HE know that?"
"Of course!" She retorted. "Kind of. I mean, I told him he was, but he didn't actually-stop laughing!" Trundle laughed even harder.
"Oh! Oh! This is good! I'm glad you came today after all, Poppy! I needed a good laugh! Jax is the Hero of JAX!" Trundle's laughter died in an instant and he curled back up on his throne in terror as the subject of conversation finally decided to show himself.
"Oh, hi Jax. Fancy meeting you here...heh, heh." Poppy said guiltily. "Ummmm...how much did you hear?"
"If you're asking whether or not I heard you trying to make me out to be the Hero of Demacia without me knowing, the answer is yes."
"I can explain! I just-I was trying-I-I-I'm sorry." She hung her head in shame.
"It's okay. I'm not mad." He patted her head. If anything, he was amazed she was capable of this kind of duplicity. "Just don't do it again."
"Okay." Poppy raised her head with that signature determined look in her eye. "But mark my words, you will accept it one day. You are the Hero of Demacia."
"But you're not, right?" Trundle broke in. "You're not aligned with Demacia, are you?"
"No."
"Oh, thank Lissandra!" He let out a relieved breath. "I though I was in real trouble for a minute there. So, Poppy. No alterations? We have the same treaty as last year?"
"Fine." Poppy growled. "Same treaty as last year. No alterations. Already signed and sealed by King Jarvan III, now awaiting the signature of Trundle, troll chief of the Freljord."
"Not troll chief! Troll King! KING!" Trundle roared. Then he glanced at Jax and recoiled. "I mean, that is to say, I would prefer it if you would use my official title when addressing me. Please."
"Right. I knew that. Sorry." Poppy knocked herself on the head. She handed the scroll to Trundle, who signed and sealed it and shoved it back to her as quickly as possible. "Alrighty, I guess I'm done here. See you out on the Rift next time, Trundle?"
"That's-" But she was out the door before he could finish the sentence. "Whatever. Good riddance." He turned to Jax. "Why are you hanging around that little insane asylum anyway? If you don't mind my asking."
"I have no idea." Jax replied honestly.
"Hmm. You know that she's actually-"
"Of course I do."
"And she has no idea. There's something wrong with her head. I don't think I'd want to eat those brains even if I could break through that thick skull of hers."
"It's actually a bit amusing." Jax admitted. He leaned forward infinitesimally. Trundle drew back in fear. "Also, if I were you, I'd cut back on the breaking her skull open and eating her brains talk. Amusement in any amount is a rarity for me. Interfering with anything I am even mildly entertained by is not what I would call an intelligent life choice."
Trundle swallowed hard. "Noted."
Jax made a swift and silent exit. Trundle did not relax his tensed muscles until many long hours after he was out of sight.