Author's Note: Well, school's done, and I'm back from the dead. This is the concluding chapter to Act 2...sorry you had to wait so long to get to it. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! I've been talking with a few folks behind the scenes to make this something good. Just as a side note, this chapter is likely gonna be pretty choppy. I'm effectively having to learn how to write again, as well as remember what my plans were with this story.

If anyone has read my other fic, A Ballad of Ice, do note that this is not canon with what occurs in that fic. The portrayal of the Frostguard Citadel and surrounding areas will be different, as I need the structure to serve a vastly different purpose. I would like to think that this, as well as any future stories, occur in separate universes, as it gives me more freedom.

Also, because I intend to finish this before I return to school, this chapter will *not* have a conclusive feel to it, as I had originally planned. That'll happen at the end. :-)

On a side note, now that I'm not in the 50k rush, chapter lengths are going to start varying a tad bit more. It was really easy to write 6 pages a day and publish a chapter every 2 days, but I could feel some chapters rush/drag as I tried to make the thought fit.

I opened my eyes again to find yet another battlefield, along with Bristle at my side. He was already deep in the throes of combat and I joined him, pulling out my flail and sending it through someone's head. I turned back towards Bristle, a thought crossing my mind.

"Let us both give in today. I know we are so close to her...but if we give in, it is only for this one night." After the horrors that befell me last time, the truth was that I didn't want to undergo that again. Her methods had proved drastic, far too drastic for my liking. However, even if I gave in to a quick death tonight, I wouldn't be her servant...that would take time that she did not have.

"I have been willing for many moons, Sejuani. I am glad that you have finally seen the truth in Queen Lissandra's wisdom." I knew that his words weren't his own...the Bristle I would wake up to had fought just as hard as I have, if not more. This shadow before me wasn't Bristle, it was what that witch wanted me to believe he was. I wouldn't argue with this puppet, I would simply assume that he would do his part.

The two of us continued the battle until I could feel her icy stare on my back, and the warriors around us took several steps back, allowing her oversized steps to come to a stop before us. She knelt down, staring at me behind that fiendish mask of hers. "What will your answer be this time, Sejuani?" The question was short and succinct, though I needed no more explanation.

"I...I obey, Queen Lissandra." I tried to make the act as sincere as possible by taking a knee and bowing my head slightly. Inside, however, I was filled to the brim with disgust, barely able to keep sarcasm out of my speech.

A slight chuckle fled her lips. "How predictable...you think you're so close, how much could one slip hurt you? You are weaker than Serylda ever was…" She looked over towards Bristle, before turning back to me. "You are not ready to obey, but I'm feeling particularly devious right now. I want to see how long you last when it isn't your life on the line." With one swift move she picked up Bristle, and a sharp wind pushed me against a wall, which immediately sprouted icy shackles to keep me in place.

Lissandra brought Bristle over and dropped him right in front of me, before she knelt down, forming a myriad of icy daggers from thin air. She turned up to look at me, a malicious smile painted across her lips. "You two have grown so close...I want to see just how close that is." In a blink of an eye she gripped one of the daggers and stabbed it into his hand, pinning the appendage to the ground. A pained grunt filled the air as Bristle registered the pain, and he reflexively leaned over and tried to grasp at the bleeding appendage.

"Nah-ah-ah, you don't have permission to move, slave." Lissandra took another dagger and plunged it into him, this time at his elbow. I watched with revulsion as blood began pumping from the wound, flowing out from his armor and pooling around on the floor.

"Lissandra, stop this! He has been loyal to you, it is I that you want!" I leaned forward to shout the words out, feeling cool ice pressing against my neck. Perhaps...perhaps I could end this before she ended Bristle. I thrust my neck forward again, feeling my gag reflex kick in as I tried to flush the air from my lungs.

Lissandra turned back towards me and I drew my head back, hoping that she wouldn't notice. "Sejuani, that is exactly why I'm doing this. You care more about him than you do about yourself, whether you are willing to admit it or not. My spies have seen more than you wish to know." She plunged another dagger into his shoulder, completely pinning his right arm to the ground. On his left, his left arm was beating the ground repeatedly as he tried to cope with the pain. Fear, anger, and pain was all filling my mind and battling for control as I watched the horror play out in front of me. I thrust my neck back forward as I tried again to suffocate.

Lissandra did the same to his left arm, taking three daggers and pinning each of his joints to the ground, causing the pool of blood to grow to the size of his upper body. I could feel his pain, the pain I had suffered for so many times. "Lissandra, take me!"

She looked back towards me and threw a dagger along the way, sticking it into my left hand. "Cease your tongue, Sejuani, it will do you no good. You will watch until I have had my fill with him, and then I will turn to you." Two more daggers, each in his feet, and Bristle was completely immobilized.

Tears began streaming down my cheeks at the sight before me...the sight of my best friend being reduced to nearly nothing. His struggle had ended several daggers ago as I could see the defeat roll across his face...but I hadn't given up yet. The edges of my vision were beginning to fade from my view already, and it wouldn't be that much longer until I was out of this wretched dream.

I stopped being able to notice what was happening as my vision faded further and further from my view, and I continued to put each dwindling ounce of my energy into keeping my neck thrust forward. Even still, I winced every time I heard Bristle cry out as yet another dagger plunged into him...I'd lost count of how many there had been. Lissandra will suffer for the atrocities that have happened during these dreams, whether they were real or not. The Citadel was within a day's walk, and once we got there and found her, I'd…


I took a deep gasp of breath as I returned to consciousness, my heart beating frantically against my chest. I'd...I'd made it out. I looked forward, finding Bristle still sleeping, actually somewhat peacefully. I had to wake him up...I didn't know if he was being tortured himself, or if he was watching me suffer, but either way, it had to end. I slipped forward and violently began shaking his head, waiting until I gained a reaction.

"Wh...What is it...Sejuani?" He seemed confused by my presence, which served to only confuse me even further.

"Bristle...what was your dream?"

There was a long delay before he finally answered me. "...Nothing, for once. It appears that you had one, based on your presence here?" As he rolled over to see my exposed form, his eyes opened wide. "However, I suppose that might be a false assumption."

I covered myself up with a corner of his bedroll, a blush sliding across my face, though it quickly dissipated as I remembered what I'd just gone through. "Yes...Lissandra tormented me again. She tortured you, Bristle, and I had no choice but to watch. It was worse than - " A clawed finger covered my mouth and I could hear him utter a gentle hush.

"I...I don't want to know, Sejuani. However, I must ask, why are you here?" My cheeks reddened even further than last time, but I knew I couldn't hide any longer. My mind drifted back to the previous night, and all my previous longing began to bubble inside me once again.

"I...I'm not ready for you to revert, Bristle. I can't let you go yet, whether you would like me to or not. Please understand this Bristle...I've grown so fond of you how you are now, I'm not sure when I'll be ready to have you as you were."

He wrapped his shaggy arms around me, drawing close. "Sejuani, I can understand the pain you are going through right now, but you must also understand that no amount of worry will change it. I have no qualms with where you are right now, but please, I need you to accept me as who I will become."

"I...I'll try, understand? However, please do realize that it will not be easy for me. You can understand that I've grown...attached, to you as a human, both in and out of combat. You have been an impressive warrior, Bristle, perhaps the best in the entire army. It will be a challenging transition with you gone."

He released his grip on me to put his hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eyes. "But it is a transition that you have gone through time and time again, Sejuani. Warriors do not live forever, and you have replaced countless soldiers with fresh recruits. You will find a new warrior fit to stand in my place, that much I can say for certain. However, I get the sense that this is not truly why you dread my reversion."

I let out a deep sigh...it seemed my words weren't as convincing as I'd hoped. "I…agreed." I tried to bring myself to terms with the roiling brew of emotions that had been stirring within me over the past several moons. Even now, right beside him, I still wasn't sure that I was able to come to grips with how I felt towards Bristle...when we were off the battlefield. I had tried to keep our relationship professional, but I had failed. "Please, let us not discuss this now. Today, we march on the Citadel, and we might as well begin preparations for our departure."

I could tell that Bristle was hesitant, and he had every right to be. "Very well, Sejuani, but I demand that this conversation not be forgotten. You must come to terms with yourself."

"Very well then." I grabbed my armor that I had tossed to the side and slid even further under Bristle's bedroll, carefully donning it despite the uncomfortable position that I had put myself in. I turned my head away as Bristle did the same, an unsettling tension filling the space between us. Somewhere, deep in the back of my consciousness, I knew I had crossed a line, and nothing I could do would change that.

Once I was fully armored, I left the tent and took a few steps outside. As expected, the chilled Freljordian air tore at the few areas of my skin that still remained exposed due to necessity. The sun was still hidden by the mountains far on the horizon, basking the entire camp in an unsettling darkness contrasted by the unusually blue sky overhead. For once, not a single drop, snow or otherwise, fell from the sky, somewhat to my chagrin. I had expected the usual mix of weather to grant us cover during our assault of the Citadel, but it seemed as if that would not be the case. Delaying the attack for another moon could mean another attack by the Frostguard, and another round of heavy casualties would make further combat too unfavorable to pursue.

I began taking down my tent, the unused abode feeling somewhat neglected, though I would make sure to use it again tonight. Though I had crossed a line, there was no need to stay on the wrong side of it longer than necessary. Next to me, Bristle began taking down his own tent, the two of us working in utter silence as we prepared for the day's journey. Nearby, a few of the early risers were beginning to stir, and followed in our examples.

Over the next hour I sat back, eating the few scraps of food that remained. I expected Lissandra to have plenty of her own stored up in the Frostguard Citadel, which we would then have access to once it was mine to command. With it, we would have enough resources to last us the journey to Rakelstake, at which point the Freljord would be mine. A shortage of food would be something the people of Winter's Claw would forget.

Finally, everyone had gathered their belongings and began eating, I stood up amidst the scant remains of the army, briefing them for the day. "Warriors of Winter's Claw, today, we make our stand against that vile witch Lissandra! The battle will be hard-fought, but your existence before me today proves that you are the best of the best; the most resilient troops the Freljord has birthed in generations. Our scouts have not been able to give us a detailed layout of the Citadel, however, assume that it will be heavily guarded. Lissandra will know that we are coming, and she will be prepared to keep us from reaching her sanctum. Be on your guard at all times today. That is all." A round of shouts circled around the camp as the troops psyched themselves up for the day.

I couldn't tell them the truth, not this time. There was a strong chance most of them would die today, and if they knew that, there would be no hope of breaching the sanctum. No, if they believed they were the best, which they were, then they would fight like the best, and give us the highest possible odds of success. The unexpected turning of our men yesterday had already torn troop moral to an all-time low, that much I could sense from the hushed voices, and the distinct lack of...people.

Olaf walked over to me, sitting himself down at my right. "A rousing speech, Chief, but we both know the truth. Today's going to be a bloodbath...which is what I live for. You will make it to the center of the Citadel, that much I will assure you. These soldiers are loyal to you, and I have no doubt that they will risk your life for you if they find it necessary."

"I hope that does not include you, Olaf. You have been instrumental in getting us this far, and I have no intention of letting that end because you are foolish enough to risk your life on fairly-unwinnable odds. If you are to die, it is because we are all going to die. Is this understood, officer?"

"As you command, chief." I could tell there was an underlying dissent in his response, but there was nothing more I could do that would ensure correct behavior be taken when it was necessary.

Soon, everyone had finished eating, and I rallied the forces, putting what was left of the army into our rag-tag coalition, before starting our march towards the Frostguard Citadel. However, the Howling Abyss stood in our way, a looming threat that I had been dreading for several moons, even moreso now that we did not have the expected cover of the weather. There would certainly be an ambush in store for us, and the lone bridge that was our way across provided no cover whatsoever. However, we were too far now to turn back...we would have to find a way to survive.

As usual, Volibear, Olaf, and Udyr joined me and Bristle at the front of the pack, the five of us standing as a front line to shield from potential attacks, not that I was expecting any at the moment. A wave of Frostguard could, in theory, strike at any time, but I had the suspicion that Lissandra would want to take me out herself, not send her soldiers to do it for her. The assaults so far had not targeted me directly, rather, the army, as if to whittle down what was left so that I would be defenseless once I arrived to the Citadel. However, I needed no army to take her down. With Bristle by my side, the two of us would cleave through hundreds of Frostguard, flail and tusk acting as one, until at last the two of us stood triumphant over Lissandra's slain body.

We marched for no more than an hour before I could finally see the beginnings of the bridge that was our only way across the Howling Abyss, and I reflexively brought an arm out to my side as the entire army came to a halt.

"It would be foolish to assume that an ambush is not waiting for us on the bridge, soldiers. Be wary, and call out any sudden movements that are out of the ordinary. If we are able to detect their play before they are able to get a jump on us, then we will prove victorious. Now, march in the name of Winter's Claw!"

Further, beyond the bridge, sat a landscape of endless ice, in a land so cold even snow was unable to form. It seemed a fitting location for that cruel witch Lissandra to make her home. Far, far in the distance, to the left of the bridge, I could see the scant traces of the Citadel grazing the horizon, the blockish architecture standing out amidst the jagged edges of the glaciers surrounding it. The sight fueled my body with a determination that had been slowly burning since we had left Winter's Claw, and I took each step with newfound confidence.

As we neared the bridge, the entire place seemed desolate, which only served to stir my previously-calm nerves. If there were no Frostguard in wait for us here, that must mean Lissandra intends for one final slaughter at her doorstep...or that she is nervous, and wants the extra bodies insulating her from my flail. Both options weighed heavily on my mind, but I had no way of knowing which would prove true, at least not until we were at the bridge. The army took the last several steps to the bridge in near-utter silence, a heavy anticipation hanging in the air.


I took one tenuous step onto the bridge, feeling the surface slick with ice due to the permanently sub-zero temperatures. I hunched low to the ground, dropping my center of balance, and continued forward, hearing the roaring wind rush through the deep crevice beneath me. I took one curious peek over the side of the bridge, finding inescapable darkness calling out from below. The legends had passed down through my tribe of the battle against the Watcher's that was waged here, and Lissandra's dissent at the crucial moment of the fight.

That's when it finally clicked in my head. The Lissandra of old and the one I was marching on...they were the same. She had referred to Serylda before in reference to me, but the way she had spoken...she knew about my ancestor from more than just word-of-mouth. How she had survived this long...I wasn't sure, but stranger phenomena had occurred on Runeterra before. This knowledge, the knowledge that Lissandra was the same woman to have been responsible for Serylda's death, sent an unimaginable fury coursing through my veins.

However, I kept this fury stifled, buried deep within, as we carefully crossed over the bridge. Breaking into an outburst now would be of no use to anyone, and so I would wait, and release this pent-up wrath on the witch herself.

Much to my surprise, the journey across the bridge was remarkably uneventful, and soon, the army was gathered around me at the other side. "From here on, we move quietly, and will wait undetected at the side of the Citadel. Be prepared for anything...it could happen." Off in the distance, the Frostguard Citadel was no more than a quarter-mile away, the only thing separating us from it being a field of jagged ice, tossed and turned by the turbulent winds. Dim lights shone on the parapets of the foreboding structure before us, but were presently not turned in our direction.

With a wave of my arm, I hunched down and began moving as quickly as I could toward my right, where a massive upturned glacier would provide cover, at least for now. The soldiers trickled behind me, as the five leaders began scoping out where to next. Udyr pointed to a nearby hiding spot, though fifteen feet of open ice stood between it and where we were now. It would have to do.

I ran forward and slid across the ice, feeling the major inconsistencies across its surface grate harshly on my thigh, to the point that standing up proved slightly difficult. I peered out from behind the ice, looking up to the lights on the Citadel. They had turned to move look roughly in this direction, and with no cover whatsoever, any movement would certainly get their attention. I put a precautionary hand out to signal their stop, and I waited until the light turned elsewhere until turning back.

I continued darting around the barren ice, crouching and hiding as necessary, the whole process taking significantly longer than I would have liked due to the openness of the area. Eventually, however, my back was pressed up against the cool ice of the Citadel exterior, and I waited for the army to follow. I didn't dare to speak to them now, now when I didn't know who could be around the corner to hear us, and I simply pointed forward, walking slowly towards the corner of the wall.

I took a quick glance around the corner for just a split second before coming back around, collecting myself. Hundreds of Frostguard stood in waiting out front of a massive, intricately designed door, that much I was certain of. It seemed that Lissandra was expecting us, and it was time to answer.

I dropped my hand to my side and withdrew my flail, sending a nod behind me as I heard the unsheathing of blade and shield, as we prepared for our assault of the Citadel. Once again I took another look around the corner, this time paying attention to the sides of the space. There were archers, dozens of them, all currently poised to fire at the first thing that came into their sight.

I reached into my pack and pulled a canteen of water, and signaled to the army that we would strike soon. I tossed the canteen into the opening and waited for a split second, hearing the 'twang' of bows firing as the bottle was peppered with arrows. With the archers now having to reload, now was our time to strike.

I rushed around the corner and reached into my back, pulling out another bola. I hurled the implement forward watching in satisfaction as the True Ice shattered across a majority of the soldiers in the front lines, freezing them solid instantaneously. I ran forward and thrust my shoulder into the front line, shattering the icy remains of one of them before running into the still-unfrozen soldiers that were behind them, and brought my flail down on one of them, hearing the sickening crack of his skull.

By now, more of the troops had fallen in behind me and were quickly beginning to assault the enemy, as another torrent of arrows rained down from above me. Several stuck into the steel plates of my armor but failed to penetrate further, but I was merciless to their range. "Someone take care of those archers!"

From behind me, I heard Bristle yell "Understood", and I took a moment to turn my head to observe. He had stuck his tusk-blades into the icy wall and began climbing up, savagely ripping his way towards the archers above us.

A blow to the side of the head knocked me back into the reality of the fight, and I countered with a knee to his stomach, following up with my flail to finish him off. Between the Ursine, Olaf, Udyr, and myself, we were making short work of the ground troops, while my men, armed with spears, and Bristle seemed to be managing the archers reasonably well. The fight was looking up until one word shattered my hope into innumerable pieces.

"Trolls!"

I heard the yell come from behind me, and there was nothing I could do as they came pouring in behind us. I had completely forgotten about Trundle's army, as well as his allegiance to Lissandra, but panic struck me as they filled the empty space behind us.

From beside me, I heard Olaf speaking. "Sejuani, it has been an honor serving with you."

I knocked down my current foe and turned to him, confused. "Olaf...what are you doing."

"Earning a death worthy of Lokfar's greatest." With that, he turned around and ran towards the troll army, bellowing at the top of his lungs "You're all mine!" He ran through the army sending his axes through them like water, drawing their attention as he pulled them away from our troops. It seemed that they had taken him for the greater threat...which he likely was.

"Olaf, your sacrifice will not be in vain." I crushed two more Frostguard, and narrowed in on the last of them. Above me, Bristle had taken down nearly all the archers and was tossing spears down to what was left of my troops, re-arming them for whatever might be inside. Once he had finished, he jumped down, sending a slight shuddering through the stone in his wake.

I looked up towards the massive doors that barred our way into the Citadel, and futilely attempted to kick it down, sending a spike of pain through my heel.

I turned towards Bristle. "It seems the door is barred from the other side. I suppose Lissandra wants this on her terms."

As soon as I finished speaking, a familiar, haunting voice came echoing from the other side of the door. "How very perceptive of you, Sejuani, perhaps you are not as much of a brute as I initially thought. You are correct, I will be waiting for my trolls to finish of Olaf, and then clean up the rest of you. They are quite the...carnal race."

"Then you underestimate the might of Olaf, Lissandra. He will be walking back to us any moment now, and it will just be you locked alone in there. This door will not hold you forever!"

A cackle echoed from across the door, her gloating voice following. "Perhaps you should check on your beloved barbarian then, if you think he is invincible to the savagery of my trolls." There was a pause until the door started shifting, and suddenly the witch's face was protruding from its surface. "I told them to leave only carcasses."

I thrust my elbow at her face, but only served to bruise myself as her visage sunk backwards and out of sight. "What do you value more, Sejuani? My death, or Olaf's life?"

I wasn't willing to call her bluff, not with Olaf's life on the line should I prove wrong. In a hurry I sprinted outside, telling the Ursine to guard the door should anything happen. I whipped around the edge of the Citadel and back into the frozen expanse we had just crossed, seeing hundreds of trolls crowded in a circle, with Olaf almost certainly in the middle.

I continued running towards the mob, pulling another True Ice bola from my pack. I had only brought one more of these with me, and I intended to save the final one for the witch herself. As soon as I got within throwing distance I lobbed it forward, unaware of the one troll that had still not entered the fray.

Trundle fell from seemingly nowhere, likely the top of the Citadel, rupturing the entire ground in his landing as my bola collided harmlessly with his club; the two True Ice implements having no effect on the other. "Not on my hoard, ya don't!"

The Troll King began barreling towards me, baning his club along the ground as he ran. I took one second look over towards the mass of trolls surrounding Olaf...it seemed he would have to fight his own battles. Somehow, deep in my gut, I had a feeling that I wouldn't be seeing him again...but I didn't have the time to fret over that now.

I ducked low and swung left as Trundle's club sailed over my head, landing a blow on the back of his knee as I sent him staggering forward, and I recovered my balance. "Call them off, or you die, Trundle! I'm not losing any more soldiers because of this war." I took a swing with my flail and struck him soundly on the forearm, but the troll managed to grab it, ripping the weapon free of my grasp.

"Your bargaining posture seems highly dubious, weakling!" He sent his club crashing down and I barely rolled out of the way, though the tremor of ice that erupted from the impact kept me unable to regain my balance. His club came down again, this time landing squarely on my shoulder, cracking the icy stone that had guarded me for so many years. He raised his club up again and I reflexively brought my arms up to block the impending blow.

But it never came. When I looked back up, Bristle had run headfirst into Trundle and gouged his tusks into the troll, sending the two of them toppling across the ice. I got back up and brushed myself off, wincing at the pain that was still pulsating through my shoulder.

By the time I had gotten over to the two of them, Trundle was already long dead, the twin tusks still protruding from his back evidence enough for me. Bristle ripped the two of them free, leaving the tips still coated in blood. "I am sorry I did not come to your aid sooner, Sejuani."

I took a moment to catch my breath, still recovering from the shock. "You...you came soon enough, Bristle. Now, help me save Olaf. Bring the body." I knelt down and placed my flail securely at my side before grabbing one shoulder of the Troll King with my good arm, waiting for Bristle to do the same. With great effort, I drug the body towards the mob of trolls, dropping it just outside.

"Listen up, fiends! From now on, you answer to me, or else you're going to end up like your leader here!" My words were only heard by the closest few and the turned to look at their fallen leader, tapping on their neighbors. Within a minute or two, the entire group had fanned out and turned, until they were all staring at either me, Bristle, or Trundle's corpse. "Are there any objections?" I punctuated the question by slinging my flail over my shoulder, preparing it should things not go as I would want them to.

The group was completely silent, seemingly in shock from the sudden news. "Now, where is Olaf?" The group parted in the center, and I saw Olaf, knelt on the ground in a pool of blood, partially his own. Slashes were slathered all across his body and his armor was in tatters, but much to my relief, he was still alive. Piled around him were easily three dozen trolls, all of them laced with the cuts from Olaf's twin axes.

I rushed over toward him and helped him up, offering him a hand. "You're going to be okay, Olaf. Now come on, Lissandra still waits."

He reached out to grab my hand, a blood-soaked appendage landing against my own. "Chief...I'm too far gone. Go on...without me." His hand dropped from mine, falling unceremoniously to the ice beneath.

I turned back towards the Citadel, shouting at the top of my lungs "I need a healer!" It was just at that moment that a loud noise erupted from the aforementioned building, sounding somewhat like ice shattering.

I turned back to the trolls, mouthing "Stay here" as Bristle and I dashed toward the Citadel, trying to find the cause of the noise. As soon as we got there, it was immediately obvious what had happened. The door had sprouted icicles that had spread all over the room, penetrating every warrior that I had told to stand guard, human and Ursine alike. Among them, Udyr and Volibear both were caught in the assault. Once again, Lissandra's infuriating voice echoed through the Citadel.

"Black ice...it truly is a thing of beauty, isn't it? So easily manipulated...so easy to kill with. Do you like what I've done with the entrance, Sejuani? It's been so long since this place has has been renovated, I felt a touch-up was in order. The death of your entire army was an...unfortunate side effect." As quickly as the ice had appeared it receded into the door, sending every body except Bristle's and my own falling to the floor, the ice no longer supporting them. Before me, the door began sliding open, revealing the inside of the Citadel.

I rushed over towards Volibear, while Bristle moved to Udyr. The ice had torn a hole directly through his lung, and an unimaginable amount of blood was seeping through the wound. I knew that there would be no bringing him back, not without a healer or the like, which had likewise perished in the attack. Outside, too, I knew that there would be almost no chance of saving Olaf, not unless Lissandra had a store of medical supplies somewhere in the building.

I turned towards Bristle, who had confirmed a similar fate for Udyr. "You're all that's left, friend. Lissandra will pay for what she has done on this day." I readied my flail and Bristle his tusks, and the two of us walked through the still-opening door.

On the other side was a vast room, comprised of the same material that the door was made of, which immediately set my mind on edge. If Lissandra was able to manipulate this material at-will, then this room was like walking into a death chamber. As for the witch herself, she was currently at the back of the room, the floor seemingly molded and shifting around her as she walked towards the two of us, giving her an unsettling stillness in her movement.

"I see you appear on-edge, Sejuani? Why could that be, I wonder? Is it perhaps that your beloved Lokfarian lay dead outside of my walls? Or perhaps it's because Volibear and Udyr were killed, and there's nothing you can do about it? Or, oh I know, it's because now all you've got left is your wretched boar, and you two can't stand each other?" She drummed her fingers together in amusement as she spoke, serving only to anger me further.

"Bristle, do not listen to her, she's trying to get into your head. You know how I feel about you, that is not a lie." Lissandra had the gall to slaughter my army, and now play mind games with me, and she wasn't getting out of here alive, that I had already decided.

I began walking slowly towards the witch, spinning my flail to build momentum for the impending strike. In my peripheral vision, I could see Bristle walking towards her as well, tusks drawn and ready to fight. "Lissandra, you will pay for the atrocities you have committed here with your life!"

"Atrocities? Is it not you who walked into my home, and is it not you that drew the first droplet of blood on these precious grounds? Perhaps you need help understanding just what an atrocity is." She fired a bolt of ice at me and I brought my flail forward, knocking the shards out of the way before they could do much harm. By now I had closed the distance with her and swung my flail, but narrowly missed. I watched in confusion as she sunk down into the ice, her form being completely enveloped by the ice. I whirled around to see her reappearing several paces behind me, a malicious grin on her face.

"Confused, dearest niece? Did you truly expect me to put myself in a fair fight, when I knew all along that the two of you would be in here with me? You think too highly of me."

The mention of the word 'niece' brought back the memories of what happened to Serylda, flooding my mind with even more hatred and anger than before. I took a charging step towards her only to have her begin sinking back into the ground, evading my swing before I even moved my arm. "You cannot do this forever, Lissandra! You will tire, and when you do, I will be there to remove your head from your spine."

"Oh, such vicious words coming from you, Sejuani. You really should learn to treat others with respect." The words were uttered from behind my shoulder and I jerked my elbow back, slamming it into the air as she disappeared from behind me.

"Bristle, we have to outsmart her if we are to land a blow. Swing where you think she will go, not where she is." It sounded much easier than the reality of the situation, as the two of us continued for several more minutes, failing to strike anything but the air. Soon, I was losing energy, and my arms were sore from swinging my flail so many times.

"Oh, poor Sejuani, you look like you're ready to take a nap. You really should lie down, I do hate seeing you tire like this." I lunged out at her and grasped her armor for the briefest of moments before it slipped through my fingers, as she withdrew just enough to escape my grasp. I began sprinting towards her, putting all my remaining energy in my legs as I lunged for her, managing to grab her shoulder and throw her to the ground with me.

I brought my flail up and sent it crashing down on her helmet, sending a crack through the bizarre headgear. Underneath, a face hewn from pale blue skin lay in shock, a cerulean eye staring off into the distance with a look of confusion, until it turned to look at me, her mouth contorting into the epitome of rage.

"Worthless wretch, you will pay for that!" She sunk back into the ground once more, popping out several feet away, still glowering towards me. She shot another blast of black ice at me that I failed to dodge, the dark shards embedding themselves in my side. I fell to a knee as I clutched the open wound in agony. Lissandra continued towards me as the black ice ground shifted around her, her anguished expression now turning to one of malice.

"This is what I always wanted, Sejuani, to see you perish by my own hand. A pity you had to damage my headdress, I do - "

She was cut short by Bristle barreling headlong into her, knocking the witch to the ground, sending a tusk down directly into her hand. "This, this is for the nightmares, you monster!" Lissandra began attempting to recede back into the ground but Bristle managed to grab her foot, holding onto the appendage with both hands as he fought the strong magic permeating the room. I watched as he continued pulling, keeping her from moving further, but failing to bring her back up.

I brought myself back to my two feet and walked over towards the scene, grabbing a hold of her shin and nodding to Bristle. "Together now. One, two, three!" I pulled with all my might and so did Bristle, and Lissandra was lurched back from the ground, the tusk embedded in her hand preventing her from moving.

"And this, this is for Sejuani's nightmares!" Bristle took his other tusk and thrust it down into her other hand, eliciting a cry of pain from Lissandra. He withdrew his greatsword from his back and held it poised over her, but I held out a hand signalling for him to stop.

I reached down and ripped the rest of her helmet off, exposing a mane of stark-white hair, as I cast the ruined garment aside. "Today is the day you die, Lissandra. Valoran will be bettered by your absence." I brought my flail down harshly across her face, a fresh streak of blood smeared across her blue skin. I withdrew my hand and gave another nod to Bristle, and he brought his blade down, piercing her midsection. Blood began pooling underneath her rapidly. It was over; Lissandra was no more.

I reached into my pack and pulled out my final True Ice bola, reaching down to pick up my flail and secure it to my side. "Grab your things, Bristle. I'm putting her outside, so that all that come through these lands in the future shall know of the demon responsible for Serylda and Avarosa's death." Bristle holstered his weapons and the two of us picked up the limp corpse and hoisted her onto our shoulders, dragging her along behind us as we took her outside, leaning her up against one of the two massive pillars at the front gate.

I threw the bola at her corpse, the impact encasing Lissandra in an icy prison, one that would forever remain due to the frigid temperatures of the Freljord.

I turned back to Bristle, looking around at the bloodbath that surrounds us. "Tonight, we make camp in the Citadel, assuming we can find shelter. Tomorrow, we march for Rakelstake. Olaf, Udyr, Volibear...they all perished believing in me, in this cause that I could unite the Freljord under the banner of Winter's Claw. I cannot let that belief die with them."

Reviews:

Hello I'm the Udyr guest and I think I might have a solution for Nunu and maybe Gragas 's job is to be an ambassador for Ashe and he is against Lissandra since he comes from the Frostguard why not have it be where Anivia told Ashe what's happening so he's sent as reinforcements and at the same time trying to talk Sejuani out of fighting since she has had you're doing well GL - Guest

Uhhh...maybe. I understand where you're coming from, but personally Nunu and Gragas are my least favorite Freljord champs, and I'm trying to keep the cast to a somewhat manageable number (it was a tad much up til now.) I'll consider it, and maybe they'll show up, maybe they won't. I have no clue what Act 3 is going to contain.

Author's Note: No more dream sequences! Like, seriously this time. I hope that's not heart-wrenching for anyone...I had fun pushing my limits with them, but I think they've served their purpose in the story. Also, a lot of people died (like, 5 of them). I hope you weren't too attached to any of them, I know I was, but I want Act 3 to really centralize on Bristle and Sejuani and, well...this is how I planned to do that all along.

Seeing as this might be my last update of 2016, have a politically-correct December holiday!