So I've been tossing around ideas for this next story and I was considering different pairings, but I felt it most appropriate to write the one I had in mind in light of the recent Freljord patch. (Needless to say, I'm trying to be able to keep this gorgeous Avarosan icon, but I haven't really played much lately since most my friends are busy and I don't like solo queuing during the volatile period of time when a new champ is released.)
Still writing this on my phone so typos incoming. 8D
And finally after cameo-ing in every one shot so far, I'm focussing this one on Ashe and Katarina. (Sort of. POV is out of whack third person as usual)
The Ashe in my one shots will be something in between the current canon Ashe and the previous one. I'll be combining elements such as events of the current lore with the personality of the previous Ashe. She's still Queen of Freljord in my stories.
I am also adding the pairing tags at the beginning of the chapters since it's pretty dang obvious fluff anyway.
Ice Queen
Main pairing: Ashe x Katarina
Guest starring: Diana, Lissandra, Akali x Nidalee
Diana rubbed her shoulder, trying to rid the soreness that settled over her entire body. She was more tired than usual today, having had an unfortunately long string of matches, most of which hadn't gone too well. A few more unfamiliar summoners had taken the liberty to call upon her today, and most of which turned out to be less than competent. Their lack of skill, however, didn't impede their more vulgar verbal advances at her during the match. Needless to say, she coldly put them in their place threatening their lives and their more sensitive areas as well. Regardless, the entire day had put her in a mood and she needed to wind down.
Normally, especially as of late, she would have gone directly to see Leona. Diana wasn't much for complaining or sharing her day with others, but the company of the Solari warrior was always welcome, and Leona tended to understand the situation and quietly accepted the presence of the other woman without any more words than necessary. It was exactly that type of companionship that Diana enjoyed and it secretly made her all the happier that Leona understood that about her. Though Diana wouldn't be caught dead admitting that aloud. Unfortunately, Leona had been called back to Mount Rakkor for a monthly solar worshipping ritual. It had been a long time since Diana had participated in one, so she could hardly remember what was involved. It also often failed to hold her interest, so she never really listened to the ramblings of the elders each month. She remember that changed ever the slightest when Leona had arrived among the Solari and her attendance to every ritual was deemed absolutely necessary. Diana remembered that from that moment on, she spent those times focused on something (more like someone) else other than idle daydreaming.
Diana scowled at the memory as it only served to further her frustration as Leona wasn't at the institute to serve as a distraction for her fowl mood. She considered her options: she could go to rest early and relax, let off some steam in the training compound, or she could go get a drink. That last option wouldn't be such a bad idea, she decided. Alcohol didn't solve every problem but it would certainly help her take her mind off things.
Unlike a large portion of the League of Legends, Diana was unaligned to any political faction. Her mistress was the moon, and her purpose was to spread truth and dispel the lies and misconceptions that people, blinded by the sun's light, had created about the moon's power. (As always, Leona was different. However attuned to the Sun she was, she saw so much more than your average commoner or close minded Solari acolyte. Perhaps it was her Rakkorian upbringing or just Leona being Leona. Either way, the Chosen was among the few that Diana didn't deem a blinded moron.) Being unaligned had its perks sometimes. She didn't exactly have to sneak around in certain corridors like certain people had to in enemy wings. She could go wherever she so pleased (even if slightly unwelcome in certain places) as she had no political ties that would put her in some sort of scandalous nightmare should she step a toe in the wrong area. This also meant she was welcome to frequent whichever bars she wanted. The institute had two bars in its building. Once being a single pub co-owned by Singed and Gragas, the ensuing brawls that occurred between different factions were so property damaging that it was concluded that each owner was to open their own establishments in the Noxian and Demacian wings respectively. Although Diana could visit whichever one she wanted, which she constantly did as she loved the selection if drinks from both bars, she decided she was going to have to avoid Gragas' bar for the time being. As much as she liked Graggy Ice, she didn't exactly want to bump into Garen as she had started a brawl with him he last time she was there. She had been doing particularly well in a match against Lux prior that week, and Garen, in a slightly drunken stupor, picked a fight with her about it. Needless to say, she wouldn't be exactly welcome there for at least a few weeks, so to Singed's bar it was.
The frequenters of Singed's bar were to be expected: Noxians, Zaunites and their allies alike. The barkeep even had a small section portioned off specifically for serving the void born as well. Most people tended to avoid that corner as it was often swathed in ooze and no one knew if they might accidentally lose some limbs to a starving voidling. Otherwise, though, the ambience of the establishment was unexpectedly clean and bright. The atmosphere, however, was a slightly different story. Some of the battle hardened champions and summoners had a hard time trusting one another, glaring at each other with hard looks. Others were a lot more carefree and created a ruckus with their cajoling. It was basically an amalgamation of people who could either barely trust each other, or care less about it, thrown together in one room. The one thing they all had in common with one another was that they were all here for a drink.
Diana slid herself on an empty barstool at the counter, waving over the wiry mad scientist. Singed, who was in the middle of polishing a glass, slinked over to take her order. He gave her a funny look over his mask as she ordered his signature Insanity Potion (Thankfully a completely different recipe that the one he induced upon himself).
"I heard about what happened at Gragas' bar." He commented as he began making her drink. "Good job putting them Demacians in their place. Though I don't know why you still go there all the time, Graggy Ice isn't that worth it."
Diana shrugged in response, taking a long drawl of the steaming drink Singed placed in front of her. Although she wasn't exactly allied to any one faction, it didn't exactly surprise her that due to her methods and personality, she was slightly more welcome here than the with opposing alliances. She was shaken out of thoughts when someone pulled out the seat next to her own, slamming a coin down on the table, demanding, "I'll have what she's having."
Diana barely looked up from her drink in response, instead she calmly asked, "Long day?"
Katarina placed her head in her arms. "Like you wouldn't believe." She grumbled. "Who the hell let these novice summoners graduate at all? They're beyond terrible and all they do is use illusion magic to place me in skimpy outfits."
Diana tutted, "Well I can't disagree that they're absolutely incompetent, but at least in the situation of outfits you're better off than Riven is."
Katarina merely growled in response, chugging her drink that had arrived. "Is there anything stronger than this?" She remarked, making a face.
"Why are you so determined to get absolutely smashed? We all encounter terrible summoners every so often." She lowered her voice slightly, adding, "Besides, wouldn't you be told off by a certain someone if you get too drunk?"
"She wouldn't care." Katarina seethed, anger clearly evident in her tone.
Diana raised an eyebrow at the reaction, "Woah there, trouble in paradise?"
"Wouldn't you like to know." The assassin snapped, glaring at the bottom of her empty drink glass.
"Because I am sooooo curious about your personal love life." Diana drawled, tone dripping with sarcasm. "Your lovers' quarrel interests me so much. I am so interested in everything you two do."
"I don't want to hear that from someone who can't even get laid."
Diana reddened, rendered momentarily speechless. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"The fact your girlfriend won't put out for you must be a contributing factor to your amazing social skills."
"That has nothing to do with anything" Diana remarked, trying to change the topic, waving Singed back over to order another drink for the fuming Noxian. "But at the very least, you look like you need another another one of those."
Katarina gratefully accepted the drink that was placed in front of her, downing half of it before staring thoughtfully down at the rest of the crimson brew swirling in the glass. When the barkeeper walked out of earshot to serve another customer, she finally spoke. "She's been cold and distant lately."
"The ice queen!? No way." Diana couldn't help making another sarcastic response. Call it force of habit. Needless to say, the glare the Sinister Blade fixed her with wasn't exactly unexpected.
"This has never happened before. This is different. She's never been so detached before and she won't tell me what's going on. She's pretty much ignored me and pushed me away for no reason." Katarina's frustration at the circumstances were extremely evident. Diana had never seen the other woman so worked up over the thought of another person before. "This is just driving me insane because for the first time I really don't know what I've done wrong, and I'm aware of a lot of wrong things I've done. This is so stupid. Why do I even care so much!?" Katarina let out an exasperated sigh.
"This is going to sound really stupid coming from me, but have you talked to her about it?"
"Have I!? I've tried asking her multiple times but get this: Miss Words-are-just-as-powerful-as-actions brushes me off and tells me it's nothing when it's obviously not. Women are stupidly complicated."
"Maybe she's PMSing." Diana remarked, not sure what else to say. Comforting others wasn't really her specialty.
"I'm pretty sure I'd be able to tell. This is just different. It's never ever happened before." The assassin reiterated.
"When did it start?"
"About a little over a week ago." The question got Katarina thinking. Perhaps this wasn't an issue with her, and maybe it was one induced by something else. She wracked her memory, trying to come up with a recent event that could have caused such a drastic change in Ashe's demeanour. This turned out a lot more difficult than she thought it would, as she paid little to no attention to current events and happenings. She was more of one who acted on things as they happened and made themselves aware to her. Events that didn't involve her were often overlooked. Her sister was far better at keeping track of such things than she was anyway. However one particular event suddenly surfaced in her memory.
"The Ice Witch." Katarina said at last. "She'd been like this ever since the Ice Witch arrived at the Institute."
The Ice Witch was the newest addition to the League. Her real name was a mystery, she was supposed to be a Freljordian myth, and yet here she was, among the champions of the League. What she was here for was also a mystery. No one knew anything about her. Or so she thought. Perhaps the Frost Archer knew more about the new arrival than she let on. Maybe she knew the Ice Witch's identity. Maybe...
"You don't think it's a previous lover, do you?" Katarina exclaimed in panic, "You don't think perhaps there is a history between them that Ashe isn't telling me."
"Maybe." Diana agreed.
Katarina glared at the moon warrior, "You're really bad at this talking business. You're supposed to reassure me of otherwise."
"Hey, you suck at it too. No need to get all hypocritical. "
Katarina crossed her arms and huffed.
"Well..." Diana continued, "At least, if there's one thing we're good at, it's taking action instead of using words..."
"What are you implying?"
"I'm saying if Ashe won't give you any answers, we should go find out for ourselves."
The surprised look Cassiopeia gave her sister wasn't exactly uncalled for. It wasn't out of the ordinary for Katarina to seek Cassiopeia for information, in fact it wasn't uncommon for anyone to. The half serpent saw and heard things many overlooked. She lived for information and gossip. Intelligence gathering was her specialty. What Cassiopeia didn't expect, however, was to see her sister with the Scorn of the Moon in tow. Katarina wasn't very well known for making friends, so seeing her in the vicinity of another human being without holding th contempt was a bit shocking to say the least. She stored that little tidbit of information in her mind. She didn't know too much about the inhabitants of Mount Rakkor, exiled or otherwise. Her sister might have unwittingly opened a new channel of information for her.
"Sister. Diana." She greeted each curtly. "What brings you here?"
"Information. May we come in?"
Cassiopeia slithered aside to let the two into her room. Instead of chairs, her room was furnished with soft lounge style seating that was easy to lean into, probably a lot more comfortable for the half serpent to seat herself in. Cassiopeia motioned for her guests to take a seat.
"What do you want to know?" She asked at last when everyone had made themselves comfortable.
"The Ice Witch. What do you know of her?"
Cassiopeia stroked her chin thoughtfully. "She's new here, so I really don't know much. What is it you need to know?"
"Anything you can tell me."
Perhaps it was the desperation in her sister's tone that got Cassiopeia thinking. She picked her next words carefully, unsure of whether she would spark something she didn't want to if she wasn't careful. "Is this about the Frost Archer?" She asked tentatively.
Katarina pursed her lips, her brow creasing with her growing frown. "You knew." It wasn't a question. She wasn't surprised, to say the least, but she also wasn't happy about it.
Cassiopeia hissed uncomfortably. Her elder sister's wrath was something she wasn't too keen on being on the receiving end of. "Worry not, you are my sister. I can read you more easily than others are able. I didn't glean the information from an external source, only from my own personal observations." She shifted awkwardly in her seat as Katarina's glare remained unchanged, "I haven't told a soul, if you're wondering. I thought you would appreciate that."
Katarina bit her lip, "... Whatever. What can you tell me about the Ice Witch?"
"Not any more than what I know from hearsay and legend." Cassiopeia took a swig from a nearby pitcher of water before continuing. "For centuries her existence was a myth. There are ancient Freljordian tales of immortal beings called the Frozen Watchers. Sinister creatures. They grant power for a price. Tales talk of the Ice Witch being in league with them, betraying her people to them. She isn't supposed to exist. From what I understand, the stories of her were often told to frighten young Freljordian children into behaving."
"So that could mean maybe Ashe is acting funny in that maybe it's because her childhood horrors have come to life and are now here to haunt her?" Diana suggested.
"That doesn't make sense. That sounds nothing like her." Katarina replied, still frustrated. Things were still not adding up.
"Well that's all I'm able to tell you, I'm afraid."
Katarina sighed. She had hoped Cassiopeia would have more information for her than that but at least it gave her some background information. She stood, making to leave, Diana tailing behind. They were halfway to the door when Cassiopeia's words stopped them.
"She's different. Isn't she? Ashe, that is. I've never seen you like this ever before."
Katarina hesitated mid step, not responding.
"You do know the perils of keeping such a relationship, don't you? Not just for you but..."
"I'm aware, Cass, thank you very much." The Noxian assassin responded curtly without turning around.
"Good luck then. Be careful sister." Cassiopeia responded. "Oh and Diana, feel free to visit again." She added with a smile. Diana couldn't help but note the similarities between the two sisters in that aspect. They may be completely different in many ways, but they had the same cheeky, knowing grin that suggested more than their words let on.
"Yeah, sure..." Diana replied warily as she followed the redhead out of the room.
"That was a lot more useless than I anticipated." Katarina noted with a slight tone of defeat. "I thought she would have more for me to go off of. I feel like we're still at square one."
"Maybe not exactly."
"What do you mean?"
"You have a match tomorrow afternoon, right? On my team I think?" Diana asked. She didn't usually care about her teammates, but circumstances were a little different when it involved her friends(? That was still a weird concept to her). "I think I vaguely recall the Ice Witch being drafted onto the enemy team. Perhaps we can find out more information during tomorrow's match."
Katarina sighed, "I don't know what else there is that we can find out that Cass doesn't already know."
"It's worth a shot." Diana shrugged.
Katarina regarded the former Solari with an indistinguishable expression. "You have no reason to still be here and yet..."
"Better than you having to run around like a headless chicken through all this... Or should I say headless cat?" The last comment earned Diana a light punch to her upper arm. "Besides, I sort of owe you one anyway." She added quietly.
"I didn't intend to collect on that, but if you feel so inclined to aid, just don't get in my way."
"Touchy~"
Diana and Katarina were summoned to the waiting lobbies at approximately the same time. Their summoners were probably slightly impatient as they were the only ones in the room besides Vi who was lightly dozing on the provided couches.
They didn't need to wait much longer for the arrival of the rest of their team, as the air shimmered and Sona and Vayne materialised into the room. The former played a sort tune in what, Diana could only assume, was a greeting. Likewise, the Night Hunter gave the pair the slightest nod of acknowledgement.
Diana didn't know Vayne well, but from what she could tell, the grim Demacian didn't seem to like her very much. Then again she seemed to have a deterrence from all things magical and not-quite-good. Still, the woman was extremely reliable and could almost always be counted on in a match, so they often got on just barely enough to cooperate.
Vi stirred from her nap as soon as she heard more people arrive. "Morning." She greeted groggily, rubbing her eyes before she picked up her gauntlets and began to strap them on. "Looks like we have a good line up today."
Vayne nodded in response, of all the people in the group besides Sona, Vi seemed to be among the few that the surly woman seemed to tolerate.
"Hey, did y'hear that the Ice Witch is going to be on the other team? I wonder what she's like."
Vayne rubbed her chin, "I had a match against her last week. That witch is troublesome. Her damned ice sorcery is enough to render you immobile."
"Well that just means I'll have to smash that ice." The Enforcer grinned, locking her gauntlets into place.
Conversation ceased when the five champions felt the pull of summoning magic. The familiar feeling of their world distorting around them overwhelmed them as they were transported to the fields of justice.
Diana turned to Katarina, "I think you'll be against the Witch. I double checked the roster last night. Their team consists of Riven, Master Yi, Graves, Karma and the Ice Witch. From the sounds of it, they'll probably place the witch in your lane. This is perfect opportunity for you. Just remember to be careful."
"I'm always very careful." Katarina retorted before taking off towards the central lane.
Not surprisingly, Diana had been correct in her assumption, and Katarina was left to fight the mysterious witch, leaving Diana to duke it out with Riven. The two fighters had been trading back and forth, absorbed in their small skirmishes when suddenly Diana felt a wave of emotions through the team's mental connection. Moments later, the first kill was announced, going to the Ice Witch.
"What happened?" Diana inquired through the link when she felt Katarina regain consciousness.
"That crafty bitch. I can't get close to her." Katarina cussed, sending waves of anger through the link.
"Do you need help?"
"I can take care of myself."
"I'm coming to help next time Riven makes herself scarce."
Diana ignored the string of cusses directed at her. She watched her opponent teleport back to her base before she began to pick her way down the river in the direction of where she could sense Katarina and the Ice Witch fighting.
As the two came into view Diana could immediately see the problem in their matchup. The way the witch conjured ice made it a problem for Katarina. As mobile as the assassin was, the witch used her ice to slow the assassin, occasionally freezing her on the spot. Diana winced as the witch even managed to disrupt a flawless death lotus, and then somehow warped to another location out of Katarina's reach.
Even from her spot in the bushes, Diana could feel a cold chill that seemed to permeate from the witch. The witch herself was almost like a sculpture, carved from dark ice. She even carried herself like a statue, standing inhumanly still when she was idle. Diana felt a shiver run down her spine, there were few people that could unnerve her, but this sorceress made Diana feel extremely uncomfortable.
Diana watched for an opportunity to jump in, spotting one when the Witch engaged on Katarina. Diana entered the fight, barely managing to dodge an ice spike aimed at her face, before retaliating with her own lunar energy. She aimed a slash at the Witch's neck, fully expecting to connect, only to stagger off balance when her blade met empty air.
"What the f-"
A strangled scream from behind Diana erupted and was cut off almost immediately after, causing her to whirl around, weapon at the ready. She found that she had reacted far too slowly, as the Witch had already taken advantage of the confusion to warp past the warrior and had frozen Katarina solid. From how wounded the assassin was from the previous exchanges before Diana's arrival, Diana had a feeling the redhead probably wasn't alive in there anymore. Sure enough the kill was announced seconds later.
Diana assessed the situation quickly in her mind, the Witch didn't seem fatigued in the very least, but having just output all her magic on Katarina, she probably wouldn't be able to able to defend herself as well. The magic inhibitors placed on the fields would ensure that. Pulling up a barrier of lunar energy to protect herself, Diana engaged once again, this time her sword hitting true. She wasn't sure what was more unsettling, the eerie screech of metal meeting ice or the lack of an observable reaction from the Ice Witch. Either way, when her small victory was announced, Diana felt thoroughly discomforted.
The match continued onward, Katarina struggling the entire early game, only being able to catch up later on by targeting people other than the witch. The ice that the Ice Witch commanded posed a major problem for the assassin who had to rapidly learn to adapt her fighting style in fights with the mystery Freljordian. The goal for their team in most fights quickly turned to them having to protect Vayne in their skirmishes, whose silver bolts tore through the enemy defences. Sticking with this strategy, their team barely managed to pull through with a victory.
The ten champions reemerged on the summoning platforms in the exiting lobbies, each slightly worse for wear, muttering customary th congratulations to one another. Diana quickly took the opportunity to pull Katarina aside.
"We should follow her." Diana muttered, watching as the Ice Witch left the room without another word, leaving a slick trail of ice in her wake.
Katarina nodded in response, teeth slightly chattering from the chill she had suffered on the fields. The nature of her fighting style tended to put her right in the centre of most of the action, which also resulted in her taking most of the brunt of enemy attacks as well if she wasn't careful. Diana had been slightly more wary than the redhead and was only dusted with a thin later of frost and ice, while Katarina seemed to be suffering from a mild case of frostbite.
"So one thing's for sure." Katarina whispered as she rubbed her hands together vigourously, trying to regain their warmth. "She creeps the hell out of me."
"Me too." Diana replied, "You okay there? One would assume you'd be used to the cold."
Katarina smirked, "Well Ashe, for one, retains heat."
"I don't want to know how you found that out."
The assassin suddenly halted, putting a hand up to slow their progress, before tugging the white haired warrior with her under the shadows of a nearby statue. The pair watched from their hiding spot as the frozen witch turned into the Freljordian corridors and into one of the first doors.
"Well that was absolutely pointless." Diana deadpanned, a little bit disappointed end that their adventures ended so fruitlessly.
Katarina put a finger to her lips, signalling for Diana to be quiet. The assassin cocked her head slightly, trying to listen to something that Diana couldn't hear. Suddenly, the redhead vanished in a puff of purple smoke. Diana blinked, trying to relocate her companion, finally catching sight of her in the shadows of another statue. Initially it looked as if she was grappling with an invisible opponent, but upon further inspection Diana could make out another person shrouded in the darkness. She took a peek around, looking for observers before dashing over to next statue.
"Why were you following us?"
Now that Diana was within earshot, she could also make out who the mysterious person was. Ninja certainly lived up to their legend of being difficult to catch, but Katarina was a special case.
"I wasn't following you, we just happened to be trailing the same person." Akali replied cooly, hardly looking shaken with a blade at her throat. Though to be fair, her kamas were also poised dangerously close to Katarina's bare neck as well.
The two women continued to stare daggers at each other until Diana tentatively cleared he throat. "Yeah guys, I can totally feel the love going on here because you guys are clearly getting along so well. Maybe instead of ripping each other to shreds, we can compare notes? Since it seems we're kind of on the same page?" Diana had to mentally laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Her, acting as a moderator of sorts between people. She never thought she'd live to see the day.
Akali, not surprisingly, was the first to back down, slowly lowering her weapons, not relaxing until Katarina also followed suit. The ninja's eyes flicked between the two, distrust shining in her eyes. Clearly she wasn't sure whether or not it would be a wise decision to trust the pair. That was alright, Diana wouldn't trust herself and Katarina either, were she in the ninja's shoes.
At last, Akali pulled down her face mask and spoke. "It's not safe to talk here in the open."
A safer place apparently turned out to be Akali's bedroom, her's being the nearest of the three. Thankfully no other Ionians were out and about at the time to need to explain what business the Kinkou heiress had with the Sinister Blade and a heretic. Unsurprisingly, Akali's room was sparsely decorated. An Ionian banner above the headboard of the bed was the only immediately obvious decoration.
The ninja wordlessly pulled two stools over to the bed before sitting down on the mattress. Her visitors looked from one another before respectively taking a seat on the offered stools.
Was it just Diana's imagination, or was she spending a lot of time having discussions in other people's bedrooms as of late? Diana glanced around the room, not sire what to focus her attention on, after all, she was more of a tag-along than anything else. Her gaze settled on the bed Akali was seated on, only just noticing the shape of something large buried beneath the messy green sheets. Diana blinked in surprise when a large feline-like tail poked out from the covers. She didn't recall Akali owning any pets.
It was Katarina who first broke the awkward silence, pulling everyone's attention to her, "Why are we here? What is it you can't say in public. Why were you following the Ice Witch?"
"I hardly think you're in any position to negotiate, Sinister Blade. After all, I'm not required to tell you anything just as well as you aren't required to tell me why YOU were following the witch as well."
Even from a distance, Diana could hear the assassin grind her teeth in frustration. Not wanted to have any part in the possibly ensuing explosion, Diana refocused herself to staring at the tail swaying idly from beneath the sheets. Come to think of it, the patterns on it looked vaguely familiar.
Katarina took a deep break before she spoke again, "My last match against her did not go well. I'm just doing a little observation." To her credit it was a rather convincing sounding excuse, the only issue being that Diana still had no reason to be there as well. Both women being on the slightly more antisocial side. They could only hope that maybe the ninja had noticed they had began to become more friendly with one another and merely accepted the matter as it was. It wasn't really an issue for people to know they were friends(? Still weird), but Ashe and Katarina's relationship remaining secret definitely was. The less they had to explain, the better.
Akali seemed to accept the answer, nodding knowingly. She began her explanation slowly, as if trying to pick out exactly what to tell them. "The Kinkou exist to maintain the balance between harmony and chaos. Our job is to asses anything that my disrupt this balance and bring judgement upon them. Something is stirring in the north and it is my job to find out whether this threat needs to be neutralised or not. 'Pruning the tree' so to speak."
"Uh huh, and I assume there's a catch for you telling me all this? I mean I doubt you're going to just let Katarina Du Corteau and a Solari exile just waltz away with free info." Diana briefly looked up at the mention of her, until the bundle on the bed stirred, and a furry head poked out from under the comforters. Diana almost yelped in surprise when she found herself face to face with startling green eyes and a mouthful of fangs. Her curiosity had brought her forward in her seat, resulting in her being too close for comfort with a large cougar. The feline regarded her with mild interest at first, then it seemed to decide Diana wasn't worth its attention. It rolled over on the spot, resting its large head on Akali's lap.
The ninja barely acknowledged the new presence, continuing on the conversation, "Actually yes. I would like to make a proposal with you. I would like you to give me any and all information on this Ice Witch that you can get or observe."
"So you want me to work for you." Katarina replied, her tone laden with dissent.
"Not so much, for as it will be with me than for me." Akali absentmindedly began scratching the cougar behind the ears, who responded with a contented purr. It wasn't that Diana was that much of an animal person, but something of tinge large creature was familiar that made her couldn't stop staring. Strange considering she never could recall anything in her mind about Akali taming an animal. She wracked her memory, frustrated that the reason seemed to be at the tip of her tongue.
"So then what's in it for me? What do I get out of all this?"
"Nidalee!" Diana's outburst startled everyone in the room turning all eyes on her. Diana blushed, she had been so absorbed in thinking, she had forgotten her surroundings.
The aforementioned huntress lifted her head, her ears perking at the mention of her name. Then with a mischievous glint in her emerald eyes, almost as if she was smiling, the shape shifter changed forms. Coarse gold fur gave way to smooth dark skin, revealing the prone -and very nude- figure of the Bestial Huntress. Without skipping a beat, Akali calmly tossed a sheet over Nidalee, apparently used to the brunette's antics. A muffled throaty chuckle sounded from under the blanket, indicating her amusement.
"You're trying to find out information about the Ice Witch as well, are you not? I can't imagine what you intend to do or find out, but I have done my fair share of research as well." Akali continued the conversation, to her credit, she was staying remarkably calm even when a pair of arms wrapped around her torso, slender fingers toying with the hems of her emerald uniform. Diana and Katarina exchanged a bemused look when the ninja swatted at lightly at one of Nidalee's hands as she spoke. "In return for any information you can give me, I can tell you what I have managed to unearth as well."
Katarina regarded the Ionian with an expression of distrust. Diana couldn't blame her. Their allegiances clashed often enough, making the strange offer all the more sketchy. Akali sensed this and switched tactics. "Look, okay. You don't trust me, and frankly I shouldn't be placing as much trust in you as I am now. Call me crazy, but I how about this instead: I tell you what I know and then you can decide whether you want to help me or not."
"You're not afraid I'll rat you out to the Witch instead?"
"Oh please, after watching your match with her today? Hardly." Akali ignored the assassin's pointed glare. "What do you think? I'm not desperate for your help, but you still are being dealt the better hand here."
"It depends what information you have to give me."
"Lissandra. I have reason to believe that the Ice Witch's name is Lissandra." The solemn manner Akali had stated the fact comically contrasted the ninja's surroundings, as Nidalee had practically draped herself on the ninja's shoulders.
The name meant nothing to Diana, but when she looked over to Katarina, the assassin seemed to vaguely recognise the name. She seemed to be thinking over the fact presented at her, screwing up her face in thought. "You don't mean..." She began slowly, realisation dawning on her face.
Akali nodded, "Of the Frostguard. You know I'm a little surprised you're aware of the politics of the North."
Katarina seemed to completely ignore the ninja's comments, completely focussed on mulling over the new information. Diana watched, amused as the assassin's face turned from one of deep thought into that of determination.
"I um... Gotta go." The redhead abruptly shot up from her seat and made for the door. Just before exiting, she turned around and added, "You have yourself a deal, Fist of Shadow." And with that, she slammed the door behind her, leaving behind a very bewildered Diana.
"I guess I told her what she needed to know..." An awkward silence filled the room. "... Would you, uh... like some tea?"
Katarina wasn't sure what she was expecting when she broke into Ashe's room. It was probably not one of her brightest ideas. It wasn't as if she hadn't done it before, but this would be her first time doing so without Ashe knowing. Which actually posed quite a few problems. She wouldn't know if Tryndamere was in for the day, if Ashe was even there like she needed, or if she would even show anytime soon of she wasn't. In retrospect, it was a really stupid idea that she hasn't thought through at all until she was halfway through the window of the bedroom that the royal Freljordian couple shared. So she did what any logical person in her situation would do; She decided 'to hell with that' and entered anyway.
Thankfully, the barbarian was nowhere to be seen, but neither was Ashe. Katarina took a few wary steps and took a glance around the room, taking care not to disturb anything by accident. It seemed she was alone. She had wanted merely to talk with the archer, but in her haste and her lack of consideration, she now found herself in the very odd situation of being alone in the bedroom of the leaders of a foreign region. Normally she wouldn't have made such a rash judgement with so much room for error, but the situation and her relationship could hardly be considered normal at all. However now that she as here alone with nothing to do, Katarina was now faced with multiple options: She could take her chances and wait, hoping that the next person that walked through the door would be the Frost Archer (and soon, she didn't want to have to sit around for hours with nothing to do), she could leave and come back later when she was sure it was just Ashe alone, or she could just forget it altogether and ask the other woman to talk when the opportunity next presented itself. Though, Ashe had been so distant as of late and dismissive of Katarina, the assassin decided she would have her talk today, whether the Queen wanted to or not. Now came the question of whether she should wait or come back. She didn't really want to fancy her chances at whomever came through the door next, so perhaps she should try again later.
Katarina was just about to make her way out back the way she came when she heard the sound of muffled voices and a doorknob turning. In her pondering, she had paced the room and she was now across the room from the window she had came into. With literally milliseconds to make up her mind, Katarina concluded that although she was fast, she probably wouldn't be fast enough. With that in mind, she decided that her best bet would be to hide, disappearing and re-materialising among the rafters not a moment before the door to the room opened.
"That's weird, I distinctly remember closing the window before I left this morning." Tryndamere muttered gruffly before slamming said window shut. Katarina mentally strung together a series of colourful curses for the Barbarian King, him having shut her only exit from the room. She had been planning on sneaking out while their attentions were occupied.
"You must have forgotten." Ashe replied from the doorway. The archer looked exhausted and battered, probably having just finished a match. She spoke again after a moment, her tone just as tired sounding as she looked, "Are you going out again tonight?"
"After such a long match? Of course, a man's gotta wind down somehow. Why? Do you have company tonight?"
"No, I'm just a bit tired, I'll likely be taking to bed early tonight."
"Alright, don't expect me back tonight." Tryndamere gathered a change of casual robes and wandered into the attached bathroom.
"When do I ever?" Ashe snarked back in reply.
The barbarian poked his head back into the room, an amused expression on his face, "Someone's been touchy lately. Are you sure you're alright?" He asked before resuming changing.
"I'm fine. What makes you think I'm not?"
"Oh I don't know... You haven't been out as much, and you've been a little more irritable as of late." Tryndamere replied before stepping out, adjusting his tunic. "What do you think?"
"The blue one you have is better." The archer replied. Tryndamere twisted his mouth into a slight pout before retreating back into the bathroom. Ashe chuckled at the normalcy of the conversation they were having, "You know, it's funny. We've dealt with each other for so long it almost feels like we're an actual couple."
"This one?" Tryndamere reentered the room with a different tunic, giving himself a once over as Ashe gave him an approving nod. He smoothed is shirt down and continued, "Which is exactly how I can tell there's something wrong. I think you need to unwind a bit, and THAT I can help you with." He grinned, a cheeky suggestive smile on his tanned mug.
Katarina gritted her teeth, and suppressed the urge to draw a blade and slay the barbarian where he stood, League laws and oaths be damned. Thankfully (for his sake), Ashe shook her head, lips drawn thin in mock disgust, "Gross... No thank you. And remove that helmet when you're not on the rift why don't you. I would rather not have you representing me and my people looking utterly tasteless."
Tryndamere guffawed, pulling off the metal helm, "I was merely joking, dear queen. Besides you and I both know I not any other man will be able to please you."
An amused expression danced across the archer's visage as she fought off smile, "Oh? And what makes you think that?"
"Any woman can resist my charms must be batting for the other team." Tryndamere answered simply, flexing his bicep to emphasise his point.
Ashe let out a short laugh, "And you wonder why I'm not interested. In fact, I wonder how you've managed to beguile so many women with that attitude of yours."
"I'm just that irresistible. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some women to beguile." The barbarian joked as he left the room, closing the door behind him.
As soon as the door closed, the slight smirk dropped from Ashe's face. Crossing her arms, and tapping her foot expectantly, she turned her attention upwards. "Katarina, I can see you up there, stop hiding."
Katarina cussed, she had forgotten how good the archer's eyesight and attention to detail was. Of course she would be able to spot her, even shrouded in the shadows. At least, now that Ashe was alone, Katarina no longer had a reason to be hiding.
"Care to explain why you're sneaking around in my bedroom?"
"Care to explain why you've been ignoring me lately?" Katarina crossed her arms.
"I haven't been ignoring you, I've just been busy."
"Busy doing your head in about Lissandra, right?"
Ashe froze. "What are you talking about?"
Aha. That was it. This was what Katarina was aiming for.
"You can't fool me, I'm trained to see fear and hesitation. I'm right aren't I? Lissandra, this Ice Witch, is what's got you giving me the cold shoulder." Katarina began pacing a circle around Ashe, seeming much like a predator stalking its prey.
At every mention of the Ice Witch's name, Ashe grew visibly more uncomfortable. "I really have no idea what you're trying to say, Katarina."
"Really? Do you not? Let me spell it out for you then. You're scared, aren't you?"
Bingo. The look on the Freljordian's face told Katarina everything she needed to know. The assassin continued to circle Ashe, but the Queen no longer followed her movements. Instead a far away look with the slightest signs of distress showed on her face.
"Lissandra of the Frostguard. She's supposed to be an ally of yours. She swore fealty to you and the Avarosans. I'm surprised I remember myself, but I guess it's a pretty big deal when small little tribes band together and are suddenly numerous enough to be a force to reckon with. And yet here she is, as the Ice Witch, the frozen woman of legend that people tell tales of to scare children. You must be wondering what she is here for without telling you."
Katarina made her move, completely taking the archer by surprise when the Noxian wrapped her arms around the other woman's in a gentle embrace.
"You're scared."
No response or movement came from Ashe. Katarina hoped she hadn't gone about this topic in the wrong manner, and that the whole thing might backfire and blow up back in her face. Well, too late to turn back now. She braced herself as she went on.
"You're scared, and it's okay."
The words almost seemed to make the archer deflate in her arms. Ashe's body shook a bit as she adjusted herself to bury her face into Katarina's shoulder. Katarina moved her hand to gently rub small comforting circles on Ashe's back, her other hand tangling and toying with white tresses.
"Once, many many years ago, I was given a task. My first assignment actually. I was assigned to assassinate an officer. I thought the task was far to mundane, too lowly for the likes of me, the daughter of the great General Du Corteau." Katarina let out a bitter laugh before she continued in her monologue. "I let my pride cloud my judgement. While staking out my target, a Demacian General arrived and immediately I jumped on the opportunity for fame and recognition. I slew him instead and left my original target alive. Who knew that decision would eventually come back to bite me in the arse?
"The low ranking officer turned out to be a tactical genius. He was large talked of and was under scrutiny for a fast promotion up in the rankings. Noxus heard of this and of course the decision was made to neutralise him before he became a threat. My decision to not pay full attention to my briefing and to kill a separate target cost us the lives of many soldiers in an ambush the very next day.
"I swore to fix my mistake, and well long story short... You did always ask me where I got my scar." Ashe by now had stopped trembling and seemed far more relaxed. "What I mean to say is that, duty and emotions are two desperate matters. When duty is required of you and in battle there is no room for emotions, but right here and now, it's just the two of us. Duty is not as important as your emotions. Here you aren't Ashe, the Ice Queen of Freljord. You're not Ashe the Frost Archer on the Fields of Justice. You're just Ashe, that's allowed to be scared and vulnerable."
They had gone a long way since the beginning of their relationship for them to even reach this level of understanding of trust where Katarina could openly admit this all and mean it.
Ashe felt the weight and meaning of the words as well, pulling away every so slightly to wipe her face. Katarina politely looked away to salvage the Queen's pride. The archer cleared her throat slightly, speaking tentatively at first.
"You suck at telling comforting stories."
Katarina blushed, "Well. I can't see you doing much better."
Ashe sniffed a bit, still recovering slightly, "I can actually." She left the redhead's grip and sat down at the end of her bed, patting beside her for the other woman to sit. Once seated and comfortable, she began her tale, "When I was young, we children were told many tales. Some of great wars, years of suffering, horrors like the Ice Witch, among many others. They were passed down within my tribes for many generations. One such tale that particularly took my fancy was the legend of the three sisters of Freljord, the original tribe leaders. They ruled Freljord together. United.
"I knew even when I was young that that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to unite the Freljord into the powerful nation it once was instead of what it is in its current divides state. Freljord is broken. Broken by wars and too many years of pointless rivalry. Of course, many didn't agree with my ideas, and at some point it grew out of hand to the point where my people thought it would be best to perform a coup de tat and topple me over.
"Do you know what I did that night? I ran. I ran for my life because I was scared. Along the way, I was cornered but through some divine providence," Ashe practically spat the word out, "I was granted Avarosa's bow. It served as powerful enough of a symbol for my tribe to rethink my integrity as ruler.
"Do you understand, Katarina? I was handed this responsibility. I ran and yet I was given this chance to prove myself. It's a very gracious gift, indeed, but some days I can't help but wonder if it would have been better for me to stand my ground and die trying. What if I'm not the leader Freljord needs?
"Everyday my actions are under scrutiny. The allies I make, the laws I impose, everything. Everyone is keeping a watchful eye on me, waiting for me to make that mistake that will prove I'm nothing but a fraud granted my title on a silver platter. It does indeed scare me deeply."
Ashe cradled her face in her hands for a moment. Katarina placed what she hoped was a comforting arm over the archer's shoulders. It seemed to work as she looked up and took another deep breath.
"I've known for some while that Lissandra was the Ice Witch. Her initial swear of allegiance with the Avarosans struck me as strange. She had never shown any sign of agreeing with my ideals prior to her appointment. I have visited the Frostguard on a few occasions, and I've managed to see enough and gather enough information discreetly to make the connections. I don't know her motives, but I am sure they are not the same as mine. I've kept an eye on her for the past few years but I haven't been able to discover much. Now that she is here, at the League, I have all the reason to worry. She intends to make her move soon, and I am afraid of what it might be."
Ashe signed deeply, and for the first time, Katarina noticed how exhausted the queen looked. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes looked so devoid of the life the assassin always saw in them. "It's just a bit much sometimes. When the whole of Freljord is watching you and you feel like everyone else is against you, watching you to make your mistake and fall."
Ashe trailed off and rested her head on Katarina's shoulder. Katarina wrapped her other arm around her lover as well. She didn't know what else to say, but she felt that Ashe had felt much better after letting all of that out. A comfortable silence settled in.
"The whole bow incident isn't the reason why you're cold is it? And once said you used to be blonde and never told me the story. Is that the same story?" Katarina asked playfully after a moment.
"That." Ashe smirked, "Is a story for another time."
Katarina pouted (she wasn't THAT interested, but it was always entertaining to poke a little fun at the archer).
Ashe laughed and pulled Katarina closer. "Now is of utmost importance as I do think a certain barbarian won't be coming back tonight."
Katarina grinned and stole a quick kiss, "Well, isn't that unfortunate?"
I've always liked the idea of Diana and Katarina being drinking buddies who get into shenanigans together and then secretly talk about their feels.
And I'm pretty sure I read something from a rioter about the fact that Lissandra is in the League without disclosing her name and is only known as the Ice Witch. At least, I think I did. I usually get my information from Surrender at 20 or Reign of Gaming because I'm not one for sifting through massive amounts of forum posts.
Also the use of b**** in this chapter actually makes me feel awkward because I don't cuss but I felt it appropriate because Kat.
Holy poop, I can't believe I wrote this whole chapter on my phone. Scientific Procedure was about half half, with me transferring back and forth between computer and phone. Sorry if I make a lot of typo derps because my thumbs are dumb and the app starts lagging post-3k-words or so. My tenses are probably all over the place along with perhaps some autocorrect derps. I shouldn't be allowed to write when I'm tired. Or maybe I just shouldn't write at all. (Opening notes and a majority of this was started a few weeks ago. I'm just slow like that.)
Hm, I also have discovered that the talk they had at a certain point bears slight resemblence to the new chapter of Wounded but I swear that was an accident. I saw the update and was motivated to finish writing this chapter to reward myself with reading the new chapter. qq