Author's Note: Hiya folks, welcome to 2017 (or very late 2016, I have no clue when this will actually get published)! Also, welcome to Act 3, the conclusion of this little project of mine. Everything's still very, very amorphous right now and I have absolutely no clue what I'm about to write (someone besides self-proclaimed 'Udyr Guest' is welcome to help), but I've got a 7 hour car ride and I don't need internet to write stuff. Anyways, hope you all enjoy, and hope you all have a great New Year!

As a side note, expect a somewhat different Sejuani this Act. Well, more specifically, expect me to attempt to convey a somewhat different Sejuani. We'll see how that pans out. :-)

I took another fleeting glance at the ice that would forever contain Lissandra's body, before turning back to the inside of the Citadel, where the entirety of my army lay massacred by her traps. Up above, I could tell there were still several hours of daylight ahead of the two of us; the clear sky unable to hide the sun.

"Bristle…they deserve a burial. They made it all this way, and we can't leave them here…not like this." I looked over towards Olaf's body, the Troll army I thought I had subdued having run as soon as I stopped watching them. Part of me was glad that I wouldn't have to deal with their filth, yet part of me knew that marching on Rakelstake with just two people was a suicide mission…

"Agreed, Sejuani. I will begin creating their resting places, if you want to do the honors of bringing them to me." He walked outside and pulled out his greatsword, planting the weapon into the ground and using it as a makeshift shovel. Due to his otherworldly strength, he was able to grind the ice away with surprising efficiency, and so I began walking into the Citadel to do my half of the work.

Every time I looked at them, my breath hitched and my fists clenched involuntarily, until all strength left my arms. What Lissandra did…it was wicked, and wrong, and…it didn't matter anymore. She was dead, Bristle and I had made sure of that. And yet here, in front of me, her legacy was as real as ever. I could have dwelled on the scene until the sun fell, but there were more pressing matters at hand. I walked over to one of the soldiers, hefting him into my arms, the lifeless body heavier than I had expected. His face was unrecognizable to me, not from the attack…I assumed he was from an allying tribe.

I brought the body over to Bristle, who had cleared a spot for him in the ice, and I set him down in the hole, closing his eyelids. As Bristle covered up the mound, I planted his sword and shield into the ice at his head, serving as his gravestone.

The process continued for several hours until the sun was low on the horizon, the entire field dotted with swords, spears, and shields. All that remained now was Olaf, Udyr, and Volibear. Bristle had cleared a spot with the rest of the Ursine for Volibear, the Ursine's graves having no markings whatsoever due to a lack of weaponry. It took the two of us to move Volibear, but eventually we had him in his grave, the sickening hole in his stomach still sending my own roiling. Before Bristle covered him up I took his headpiece and gauntlets off, planting them at his head.

"Volibear…you were a loyal warrior to the end. The Ursine will mourn the loss of their greatest leader for generations."

Next came Olaf, still trapped amidst the scores of trolls he took out with him on his hard-fought struggle for survival. Bristle had cleared two areas at the front of my people, the other for Udyr. I crested his grave with his twin axes, the two weapons permanently stained with the ichor that was the Trolls' blood, an occasional drop still falling from their tips.

"Olaf, you fought with the strength of an army, yet beyond that, you had an unbreakable will. You will be sorely missed, both at my side, and at Lokfar."

Finally, came Udyr. He had only been with us for a short time, and I regretted not trying to close the distance between the two of us. As I set him into his grave I took of the pelt he wore on his back, and waited for Bristle to cover him. I set the pelt down and tucked the arms and legs in around the outline of Udyr's body, serving as his gravestone.

"Udyr…I did not know you well, and I feel that was mutual. And yet, in spite of that, you fought by my side and risked your life for me time and time again. I will personally inform Ionia of your passing once this is over."

I looked up to Bristle, a tear forming in the corner of my eyes as I took in all of the gravestones surrounding us, and the knowledge that I had just buried every warrior beneath them. I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing tightly as I pressed my head against his furred torso. I felt a pair of hands gingerly press against my head and my back, holding me close to him. "I am still here, Sejuani… will be with you until the bitter end. Now come, I believe that sleep would be good for both of us."

Looking up at the dusky sky I nodded, and the two of us walked in utter silence towards the Citadel, being careful to avoid the blood-ridden entryway. As soon as we entered the Inner Sanctum I shut the massive doors behind us, not that there was a living soul around that could attempt to breach the walls.

The inside of the sanctum was completely barren except for a spot of blood where Lissandra had been slain, as well as a few hallways around the walls that led off to other parts of the complex. However, I was simply ready for the day to be over, and I pulled out my tent, setting it up near the back of the room as Bristle did the same in the opposite corner. I briefly considered joining him again, but decided instead closed the flap on my tent, remaining by myself. I needed time to process my grief…alone.

I was barely able to sleep, as the images of the soldiers I had led to their death haunted my thoughts all night. I tossed and turned, trying to force their faces from my mind, but it was to no avail. Multiple times I simply saw a static image, the view Lissandra graced me with as I re-entered the Citadel, finding the entirety of my army skewered at her front door, their faces still ripe with horror. I…I couldn't save them, no matter what I'd tried to do. Lissandra knew that the moment I began this journey, always one step ahead of me. Her death wouldn't be the end of my torment…the vision of my army's demise would be her lasting legacy.

I tried to shut my eyes one last time and finally gain some rest, and for a brief moment I was able to clear my head, and I nestled against my pillow, gaining a few crucial moments of sleep.

Unfortunately, it didn't last, as my sleep was quickly stopped short by a rattling on the outside of my tent. I let out a groan and rolled over, assuming it was nothing, but then I heard it again louder a few seconds later. It had to be Bristle, nothing else could be in the sanctum. I sat up, shaking the drowsiness from my mind. "What is it, Bristle?"

The voice that responded was decidedly gruffer than when I'd last spoken to him, but I could still tell that it was him. "The changes, Sejuani…they're accelerating."

I swiftly donned my armor and got out of my tent, finding him hunched over outside. It took me a few moments in the dim light to notice that it wasn't purposeful…his body was just like that. The upper half of his torso leaned forward a noticeable amount, leaving his meaty arms hanging in front of him. His face was now very reminiscent of a boar's, with a flat nose, prominent tusks, and a furred face. His legs seemed relatively the same, only slightly thicker at the ankles, but it was still a far more drastic change than had occurred previously. He had surpassed the form that Lissandra had shown me in my dreams, and was no barreling towards becoming a boar again, whether either of us wanted it or not.

"Bristle…are you okay?"

Much to my relief he nodded, pointing to his armor. "It is changing with me as well, I do not feel any discomfort. I believe I have the Vortex to thank for that." He sat down on the floor, an expressionless look on his face. "Sejuani…at this rate, I don't think it will be more than a few days until I am fully reverted. I know last I brought this topic up you were still hesitant to accept that…you do not have much time now."

I looked down to him, and took a seat facing him, grasping both of his hands before looking up to hold his gaze. "Bristle…you're all I have left. Whether I'm willing to accept this change or not does not matter now, as it will happen either way. However, yes, I accept what you are becoming. What we've gone through, and what we're going through…You will have my utmost respect no matter what form you take."

He smiled, nodding graciously. "I am glad to hear that; it takes a great weight off of my chest. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some more sleep." He stood up and began walking back towards his tent, but I stopped him.

"You are welcome to join me, if you wish. I have been unable to get some sleep…perhaps some company might be able to change that."

He turned around, nodding. "If that is what you wish, then I am willing. Lead the way."

I opened the tent flap and followed him, discarding my armor as I tucked myself into my bedroll, waiting until I felt Bristle's arms wrap around me, and I nestled into the crook of his neck, shutting my eyes as sleep overtook me.

When I woke up, I didn't feel Bristle wrapped around me, and spun around, finding my tent barren except for me. In a panic I put my armor back on and went back out into the sanctum. I found Bristle sitting down in the corner, his tent already torn down, and he greeted me with a wave. As soon as he saw my panicked expression, however, he put the pieces together rather quickly. "I'm sorry, Sejuani. I did not mean for my absence to startle you."

"No harm done, Bristle. I presume you slept well?"

He nodded. "Yes, and I've taken a look around the Citadel. I've found the food stores, as well as the armory. There didn't seem to be anything particularly powerful in there, but you would know better than I in regards to Freljordian artifacts."

"Lead me there after we gather food, I would like to see if Lissandra stored anything of value in here. There must be something in here worth claiming." I turned my attention back to my tent, tearing it down and placing it back into my pack before turning back to Bristle. "Lead on, friend."

I began following him through the narrow corridors, until eventually the two of us stopped inside one room, the walls of which were packed to the brim with food. The Citadel effectively functioned as an icebox, and everything inside was extremely well preserved. Food that was a rarity in Winter's Claw was now presented to me in abundance, and since the previous tenants had been forcibly evicted, I had no qualms with taking plenty.

"Take as much as you will need for the journey, Bristle. The less time we have to take stopping for food, the sooner we will be at Rakelstake and put an end to this." I reached towards a shelf and grabbed a large fruit, relishing in the sweetness as it washed over my taste buds. The two of us ate until we couldn't stomach any more, and then packed enough food away for several more days, our packs heavy and distended from the sheer contents we'd stuffed inside of them.

After that, he led me back into the sanctum, where the two of us dropped our packs. "Now, I presume you still would like to visit the armory?" I gave him a quick nod and the two of us were off once again, as I followed him through a different set of passageways, until at last I was face to face with a massive trove of weapons, a majority of the racks empty due to the sheer number of Frostguard that had died on our journey to the Citadel.

"Is there anything you see that's worth bringing with us?" I shrugged, beginning my search through the armory, intent on finding an answer. For the most part, the room was filled with crudely-crafted swords, spears, shields, and armor, with a small rack of bows and arrows. Everything on display I had seen countless times before in the hands of the Frostguard soldiers that I had slew, and they certainly weren't magical.

And yet, I had the feeling that there was something more in here, something that I hadn't seen yet. Lissandra had to have found at least a few powerful artifacts, especially since she'd been alive since the fight of the three sisters generations ago. I continued searching around the room, occasionally tossing a weapon out of its container to see what just was behind it.

"Sejuani, there seems to be a draft coming from this wall." I followed the sound of Bristle's voice, finding myself at the left wall of the entrance. I stood stark still and closed my eyes, heightening my other senses as I felt the flow of the air all around me. Sure enough at my feet I could feel the faintest of breezes, and it wasn't coming from the direction of the door.

"Let me check on something quickly and then I will return. I would rather not take out this wall in the event that you are wrong, and risk a collapse." I left the armory and walked down the hall, entering the room on its left, a barrack. I looked at the back wall, trying to remember where the drafty wall was in the armory. It seemed that there could be a few feet of empty space between the two walls…not room for much, but a small enough space that two walls would seem redundant.

I walked back over to the armory, nodding to Bristle. "I do believe that something is behind this wall. Would you like to do the honor, or should I?"

"You are the warrior with a weapon meant for breaking, while mine is designed for goring. You are far more suited to the task at hand."

I nodded and pulled out my flail, whirling it at my side as I built up momentum, before releasing a thunderous blow on the walls. The massive stones shuddered and shifted a little bit, and I repeated the strike, this time managing to nearly dislodge one of them. After a third swing, there was finally a hole in the wall and I poked my head through finding only darkness. Certainly not the barrack that was the other room.

"Something is definitely in here…" I reached my hand into the opening and felt around seeing if I could feel anything. "...something cold." My hand grasped and object that immediately made me release it, something so bitterly cold that it made the True Ice feel like Shuriman sands. Unfortunately, I couldn't make out the object yet, not until the light from the armory could make its way into the hidden alcove.

With renewed vigor, I bashed my flail time and time again at the wall, slowly but surely dislodging brick after brick as I revealed more and more of the secrets hidden behind it. I took another break after clearing out another dozen bricks or so, finally gaining sight of what was inside. Bristle and I both looked in the opening I'd cleared, excited.

"Weapons and armor. Lissandra, you have just won us the war." Inside was a hammer, a glove, and a piece of armor, each shimmering blue due to the extreme cold each one exhibited. The one directly in front of me that I had touched earlier was the piece of armor, which seemed fit to go one a forearm. The armguard had a sculpted blue crystal in the center, surrounded by a blue-ish armor fluted back to cover an elbow. Next to that was the glove, comprised of a strange fabric, extremely flexible and yet radiating cold at the same time, with a row of spikes on the knuckles. Finally, the hammer directly in front of Bristle was extremely long, with icicles hanging from its massive head.

I looked over towards Bristle, pointing towards the gauntlet. "I have no use for such a weapon, if you would like it. I would, however, like to keep the armguard. Is there anything here you would find useful?"

He looked down at his tusks, and then up at the hammer. "I do not know if I will be able to wield this hammer effectively, however, I have no doubt that the magic imbued within it will more than make up for any lack of skill I have with it. As for the gauntlet, I too do not see use for such a weapon. I think it would be best if we leaved it here, rather than take it with us and risk losing it."

"Agreed. Well then, if there is nothing else that we need to do, let us embark be off towards Rakelstake. I would rather not keep Ashe waiting longer than we must." I recoiled my flail and reached out towards the armguard, forgetting the extreme chill it exuded as I recoiled again. I reached out to it a third time and winced at the pain coursing through my hand, feeling as if it was going to freeze off. However, I slipped my other arm through the hole, waiting until the furred inside was snug against my arm.

I tried to feel my hand again, searching for the cold that had been pervading it, but found nothing. Even more surprising, my forearm felt no pain at all. I looked at my hand, still able to move my fingers with the same dexterity as before, which proved that it wasn't frozen.

"Bristle, touch this. Does it feel cold?" He reached out towards the armguard recoiled just as I had expected him to, nodding. "Strange…I don't feel anything anymore." I rested my hand on the armor again to make sure, feeling only a lukewarm sensation. It was as if the cold didn't affect me anymore, at least not with the armguard on. I directed my attention to the world and the air around me. The chill of the air outside as well appeared absent, a slight warmth in fact pervading my body.

"The armguard…it protects against the weather and cold. Do you feel any strange sensations from the mallet?"

I tossed the two-handed implement in his hands, shaking his head. "I believe this weapon's power lies in its combat potential, and solely that. I feel no different than I have up until this point. However, it is quite cold, though not nearly as much as your armor. For that reason, I will hold it only when necessary." He reached onto his distorted back and hung it from a loop on his back, the greatsword and mallet giving him an imposing look. "Now, as you said, it is time that we departed for Rakelstake."

I nodded, turning and walking out of the armory, eventually finding my way back into the sanctum. The two of us picked up our belongings and turned back over towards the massive door that barred our way out, unlatching the crossbar that had kept us secure all night. A gust of wind roared through as soon as the bar was off, blowing the doors wide open as well as knocking the two of us off of our feet. I stood back up and dusted myself off, and exited back into the Freljord.

We passed Lissandra on our way out, her frozen body still bringing a resurgence of anger coursing through my veins. This only escalated further as we rounded the corner outside, once again seeing the field of gravestones that the two of us had set out just the previous day. I walked past them silently, waiting until we had completely passed them before turning around to look at Bristle, who just nodded knowingly.

"We lost many friends yesterday, but you know that we cannot dwell on it. It will dull the senses, and leave us vulnerable." I nodded, accepting the harsh reality of the situation. As much as I wanted to just give up right now and join the field of corpses, that would mean Lissandra had won, and that helped me continue to take each consecutive step. I was so furious at the witch that I would rather continue on just to spite her than give up but let her have a dying victory.

"Though we don't have a map, if we retrace our steps back into Avarosan territory, I can get us to Rakelstake. The journey should take five days, though without an army to slow us down we might be able to manage it in four. I need to know, Bristle, where do you think you are going to be physically in four days?"

The man-boar hybrid looked himself over, pondering my question. "In four days I could very well be completely reverted, Sejuani. I know that you would rather have me on two legs to take on their forces, however – "

"However, you're wrong. As I said this morning, I accept you in whatever shape you are in. I am a far superior fighter on boarback than I am on foot, and your impressive durability far greater when you have four legs. We will be victorious in either situation, I merely asked for the purpose of navigation. Some paths may be very difficult if you cannot grasp handholds." I patted him on the arm, giving him a reassuring nod.

The two of us were silent for a long while, before he eventually spoke up. "If that is the case, then I am grateful for your faith in me, and the power I bring you while an animal. Now, if I may ask, what opposition are we going to encounter in Rakelstake?"

I let out a sigh, counting it off on my fingers. "First off, Ashe and Tryndamere will likely fight side by side. I intend to save the archer for last, which means Tryndamere will prove somewhat challenging due to his refusal to perish." I pulled out two more fingers. "Before that, however, would be Braum and Gragas. Braum will prove to be quite the nuisance, but he will eventually perish. Gragas on the other hand is somewhat of a wild card, depending on what mood you catch him in." Finally, I pulled out two more fingers. "Lastly, two possibilities. First, Nunu. He tends to explore the wilds, and may not be present, but his yeti is quite a fearsome beast." I let out a huff, pausing before pointing to my pinky. "Lastly, Anivia. She will most certainly find out our intentions when we pass her again, and will likely aid Ashe when we reach the city. If that is the case, what we're doing is a suicide mission, but if by some stroke of luck we remain undetected, we have a chance. Of course this also completely ignores the army Ashe will have at a snap of her fingers."

"It sounds like a challenge with a slim chance of survival." He patted me on the back, nearly knocking me over. "Which begs the question of why we aren't moving faster."

I smiled and gave him a slight nod, shifting my gaze from him to the chasm before us. We had returned back to the Howling Abyss, and the frost-covered bridge that stood before us was far less desolate than the last time I had dared cross it. I looked over towards Bristle and gave him a knowing nod, as the two of us advanced peacefully towards the denizens on the bridge.

"Greetings, trollkin. What causes you to be here?" A few of the massive brutes turned towards us, their clubs slung over their shoulders, but without the violent undertones they were known for. It was clear to me that they had no intentions of starting a commotion here, at least not as things stood right now.

Much to my surprise, they completely ignored me, turning instead towards Bristle. As several of them rushed towards him I took a few steps back, careful not to be knocked over by their superior size. "You have killed King, and by rites of ancestors, you are new King."

An uneasy pause hung in the air as the two of us processed the information, realizing it was to our favor. Based on the assuredness of the troll's statement, it seemed we had no choice in the matter. Bristle eventually responded to them, replying "If you will allow it, I would prefer you seek leadership from my companion, Sejuani."

The troll seemed perplexed, quickly responding. "But Seshwani did not kill Trundle…why would I take orders from Seshwani?"

Bristle looked at me confused, and I turned him around, speaking so that the trolls couldn't hear us. "Trundle was far more intelligent than the average troll, it seems. I did not expect them to be here at all, but I think it best if we do what they want, how they want it. If killing the king is all it takes to become the new one, that puts a rather large price on your head. Best if you come across as a King they would rather see alive.

"Understood, Seshwani", he said with a wry grin, garnering a scowl from me. He turned back towards the trolls, gathering their attention. "I will be your new King, trollkin. The two of us march for the Avarosan capital of Rakelstake in an attempt to overthrow Ashe, and you will be our army to oppose her own. Is this understood?"

The bridge shook as the trolls pounded their clubs on the ground, voicing their understanding, as well as their approval. "Kill Ashe! Kill Ashe! Kill Ashe!"

The troll the started talking to us walked up to Bristle, taking a knee at his feet. "What is your name, King?"

"You will call me Bristle."

The troll stood up, turning back to the remainder of the trolls, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Hail King Bristle!" The cry was carried out through the rest of them, the cacophony being nearly deafening due to our close proximity with them.

The troll turned back towards Bristle, once again kneeling. "What tribe you from, Bristle?"

The two of us turned to look at each other, somewhat confused. "I am from the Winter's Claw. It is far from here, several day's journey at best."

The troll nodded. "Yes, heard of Winter's Claw. That is Seshwani land…Seshwani evil."

I couldn't suppress my scoff, instead taking a few steps back to distance myself with the troll before I lost my control, but Bristle's hand stopped my retreat. "This is that same Sejuani right here, and she is far from the evil tyrant Trundle and Lissandra likely made her out to be." He turned slightly towards me, a glimmer in his eye. "She is a fair ruler that values strength and honor above all else. She fights alongside her people on the front lines, and does not fear death. I am proud to call her my Queen."

I couldn't help but let a smile slide across my lips as he spoke, the troll meanwhile slowly turning back towards me, the lightbulb going off in his head. "Oh, you that Seshwani. You kill Lissandra…you free us. Trolls never had Queen before, but…you want to be Queen?"

I turned back towards Bristle, sending the question his direction. "That depends on if your King will allow it", I said with a slight smirk. I could tell that Bristle had quickly taken the concept of royalty to his head, and I was more than willing to play along with it for now.

"I do. Trolls, this is your new Queen, Sejuani"

While the cacophony resumed, this time chanting my name, I pulled Bristle down, whispering in his ear "Do not bother with trying to correct them, they likely do not understand you are pronouncing it differently."

Once they had quieted down again, the entire group, roughly two hundred strong, turned towards us, kneeling down. "What are your orders, King Bristle and Queen Seshwani?"

I took a step back, allowing Bristle the chance to work on his new position. "We march straight for Rakelstake, and we kill anything that stands in our way. From this point forward, you are all warriors of Winter's Claw, and you will fight with the same ferocity and strength that has gotten us to this point. Now, let us go."

With that, the two of us waded through the crowd of trolls, and as we passed them they began to stand up one-by-one, trailing us. "I will admit, they may not be the most intelligent race in the Freljord, but they certainly are the most obedient. And, if my history with them is any evidence, one of the most fearsome. I think our chances of taking Rakelstake have risen significantly."

Author's Note: Yeah, a slightly shorter one, but I felt I hit a pretty decent stopping point, and I didn't want to drag it out further with what would probably just be walking scenes. Anyways, welcome to 2017 everyone! My writing resolution is to finish up this fic (likely not before I get back to school, but shortly thereafter), as well as to make significant headway/finish my other open fic, The Glorious Transformation. I know not many people read that one since it's a crossover, but if you like Transformers (I do!) and you like League, I encourage you to check it out…I'm pretty proud of it, and it'll be back in full production once I'm done here.

Anyways, yeah…troll army. I'd been cooking that one up for a while, deciding whether or not I really wanted to implement it, and in the end decided I was happy with the plot reason for why it should happen.

As always, review, PM, whatever, just let me know what you think of this story, now that it's starting to get to the end days. Until then, hail Queen Seshwani!