Each punch remained consistent in accuracy and strength. One foot in front of the other, arms stretched straight, fists splitting the air in front. Katarina stood on the sidelines and observed each punch thrown right in front of her nose. Her hands held themselves behind her back and her footing parallel like a general.

Since a week's training, Ashe had become stronger. It was noticeable in the way she moved as she continued to punch the air. Her form had grown much more solid and her head remained low but her eyes sparkled with confidence hidden under her hood. She was almost as confident as the Noxian herself.

Katarina halted one of Ashe's blows with her palm, cupping her fist. Ashe gave her a confused look while the other woman shifted her hand to wrap it around the queens'. "You're getting stronger."

Ashe returned a small side smile and loosened her shoulders. She righted herself as she stretched and nodded. "Well, I do have a good teacher."

"I'm not the best, but I'm glad you're finally catching up."

Ashe flashed a grin. "Me too."

Katarina let go of her hand and the warmth from it vanished. She really didn't want to let go if it but knew it would be weird of her to keep the contact. The Noxian cracked her back and walked over to the bench that was near the perched swords and bows on a rack beside it. She took the two upright water bottles and tossed one to Ashe who caught it nicely in her hands. "Thank you." she mouthed and unscrewed the cap. Katarina hummed and took in gulps of the refreshing water.

The two of them first stopped by the Freljord section to retrieve a change of clothes. Since they always wore their traditional attire, Ashe stopped by her room to change into something more comfortable. Katarina looked around the hallways while she led them to the room and whipped out a key to insert in the lock. She turned her head after the door swung open and the assassin faced herself back from the unfamiliar surroundings. "You can come in if you want, I'm just going to grab a few things first."

Ashe left the door open and walked in and carried on with her business. Katarina curiously poked her head from the doorway and followed the queen with her eyes. She stopped in front of a large dresser that was against the wall in a similar design as her room. The room was fairly large, maybe the largest of all the dorms with a crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the room and a large bed that was on a circular stage one step higher from the polished white floor. There was a very crisp and clear smell as though the room had not a speck of dust. She began to wonder if standing here was not a good idea and drifted off farther to the doorway.

Katarina's gaze wandered everywhere from the tiles to the matching white walls. There was still so much to take in, she had never been such a room before. Truly it was fit for a queen. Ashe pulled out a few clothes and walked into a door-less opening to the side of her dresser. It was concealed in a white curtain but was then pulled back and spit apart and flicked on the light. The shelves and horizontal poles from the inside showed it to be a closet and must have kept a lot of clothes and accessories since it was twice the size of her bathroom.

"Is this fine?" Ashe called from inside and tugged the back of her new attire. She took the hood from the light jacket she wore but then thought for a moment before letting it go. She took in a breath and adjusted the collar of the jacket instead.

Katarina hesitated to step closer from where she stood at the door. The Frost Archer waited for a reply and huffed ten seconds later. She strutted out only to knock into the Noxian. Ashe's forehead collided against Katarina's lips and sent her holding her mouth in pain. "Oh my gosh Kat! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it!"

The Sinister Blade fought to hold back the pain stricken tears that were on the edges of her eyes. She held her mouth tight with both hands and grunted from the inside at the throbbing of her bottom lip. Ashe frantically tried to do something but instead she panicked and trailed after Katarina who paced and extended her hands to try and grab hold of the other woman's. The Noxian went over to the mirror on her dresser and let go. It wasn't too bad, although her lip was now beet red and a tad bit swollen.

"Ahhhh..." voiced Ashe, looking at Katarina. She sucked air through her teeth and glanced at the taller woman who parted her lips. She was genuinely concerned for her and the Noxian can tell that she was upset with herself about it. "I'm very sorry Kat..."

Katarina dismissed it off with a fan of her hand and massaged her jaw. "No, no, I'm alright. I've had way worse and by far this is just a scratch."

Ashe continued to frown but the Noxian changed subject when she saw what she wore. She appeared much more lively now and she could see her sapphire eyes shimmer in the light of the room. The Freljordian's expression was still concerned and she flickered her attention from Katarina's gaze to her lip which was slowly coming back to life from the hard impact. But then the realization of what had just been said to her came back to life.

"What did you call me?" she questioned. She was sure the archer said what she thought she said.

"Um..I'm sorr-"

Katarina interrupted her and peppered her tone with a hint of anger. "What did you call me."

"Kat.." Ashe said shyly. She regretted not putting her hood on.

The assassin grinned smugly. She liked pushing people to their limits. In fact she loved it. There was nothing more rewarding then having control over a situation and having the other person's actions pushed by another's notions. Katarina quickly discovered that Ashe was missing her hood. The queen shrunk her head down to her shoulders and looked the other way. She clutched her arm rubbing it and the Noxian couldn't help but to deviously smile and bring her eyes back up with a little push to her shoulder.

"I'm just kidding. I don't mind it." she chuckled. Damn, she really got Ashe good. The Frost Archer blushed and turned around to hide her red scrunched up face.

"That wasn't funny." she said sternly. It was the first time Katarina had seen her this serious. There was not a single lighthearted emotion dwindling in her eyes but only the hard stare she gave the assassin when she turned back around to face her.

"It was kinda funny." she smirked. Ashe didn't budge. Katarina sighed and rubbed her neck knowing this wasn't going anywhere. "The clothes you're wearing are fine for today. You can bring your bow if you want and I can get a few water bottles on the way there."

Ashe changed her expression and lightly smiled because she won the conversation. "Ok, that sounds good." She turned tail and her snowy while hair whisked itself along. She went to her bed and climbed atop it, then removed the ancient ice bow from a golden glass box that rested on a silk pillow. She carefully took it out and brushed it off carefully, then closed the box gently and retreated off taking her quiver from the side of the bed post. Katarina already had her weapons and double checked her dual swords strapped on her back along with the knives on her body.

"Let's go."

Ashe came to where Katarina stood and sat down on the bench. They both drank for a moment then the queen set her bottle down beside her and crossed her legs. "You're a very good teacher, Katari- I mean, Kat."

The Noxian scoffed adding a bit of humor. She didn't question Ashe's words but learned to roll with them like she did with Sarah."Sure I am. I beat your ass in here everyday till you go home with your knuckles blue and your legs giving out."

"That usually means you're a good teacher though. I'm serious, you really do know how to wear people out with your drill sergeant act."

Katarina shook her head and crossed her arms. She rested her elbows on her parted knees. "Well Noxians are tough and the only way you can survive in this world is with a strict push. I'm guessing where you're from they never taught you about that."

"They did, it's just that I never followed it. I don't believe that you need only strength to survive. If you want to talk about strength, you should see Sejuani about that."

"I don't know, she seems a bit cold, wouldn't you agree?" said the assassin. Ashe drew the corners of her lips back into a smile and laughed. Her body mimicked the sounds coming from within her fragile form, shifting with every giggle. Seeing her smile lightened Katarina's shoulders and she quickly took the same smile. Ashe's deep blue eyes met with hers and chuckled equally. They were as deep as the ocean itself, so full of life Katarina would never be able to discover in a lifetime.

"You're ridiculous!" she said pushing Katarina's shoulder lightly.

"Hey now, it's very true. Most Freljordian people I have met are very cold. Except you."

Ashe shook her head and suppressed a thought that ran through her head. "Thank you, I suppose? Other than Riven, I have never met another Noxian such as yourself. Most are bloodthirsty warmongers."

Katarina laughed dryly. "Yeah, that's Noxus for you." Her eyes focused on a blade she now had in her hand. "...just a place of war."

"Do you agree with it?"

There stood a long silence between them. Ashe remained steady and waited for a response while Katarina struggled. She struggled because she didn't know. She knew of her purpose, what she was born to do and what she chose to do, but to think if she were like Swain or Darius who were hungry for war...she would not want to be apart of it. Having made up her mind, she spoke tautly.

"I am only given orders. It is not a matter of if I agree with it or not. I serve in the military under Noxian rule and I honestly have no say in it. I chose this way because I wanted to follow my father's path and because I loved it more than anything. I could have had anything I wanted but instead I went with the way of the blade. If I were ever given a voice, then I wouldn't know what to say to you."

"Oh, I see." Ashe said with her hopes dying down. She must have not expected such an answer or she must have assumed another.

"Did you want another answer?" Katarina probed.

"No," her tone sparked. "I just didn't think you didn't have a say in what you do. You are the General's daughter."

Katarina's eyes drooped to the floor. Her father, once proudly named General Du Couteau now hushedly spoken as deceased, threatened pain to plague her mind and heart. "I was the General's daughter. Cassiopeia was too once our house was taken over by Swain and the Black Rose. Most of my father's documents and files he kept in his office were burned by them after Swain was promoted as the next general. Talon recovered some of them after I had heard from one of our servants. Once he 'moved in' he overtook the space in the house until we were finally forced out."

"Did Swain force you out?" Ashe asked softly.

"No, but I knew he wanted us gone. I personally couldn't deal with the Black Rose staying there. They always glared at me as if I was going to try and kill them, but everyone there knew I wanted to. Those imprudent bitches watched my every move and observed what I did, my conversations, everything. I was not even comfortable in my own house and when I found one in my room one day, I left. I didn't know what he was looking for but it did not matter because I had to just leave."

Ashe nodded and motioned her to continue. She sat with her knees together and her hands folded atop one another in her lap. It was obvious that Ashe was listening carefully. Her expression showed it. The queen's eyes were set upon what Katarina was saying but retained composure. Feeling the depth of the Frost Archer's sight, Katarina's tension lessened and the pain swallowed itself back into dormancy.

"When I left, Sarah took me in. I don't want to say it was sudden, but it was. I stayed in my ship for a few nights after I had docked in Bilgewater's port. She had let me stay in her home upstairs at her bar for a few months till I could find another place to call home. It was then I found the League, after she had told me and came here personally."

Katarina found herself wallowing in her thoughts for far too long. The blurred image of her father stung her eyes and threatened the moisture from them to escape down her cheeks. Her eyebrows pinched together and she fought viciously to control the fire within her but it would not cease and the sensation crawled under her skin. She was torn. Bruised. Alone. A cool touch overtook her senses and her instincts pulled her away. She resisted the urge and even yelled to stop, pushing against the feeling with her bare hands. She didn't need anyone. She could go on. She was the Sinister Blade.

Ashe had no hesitation. Katarina thrashed in her arms and was almost successful in escaping before her thin fingers gripped the leather straps behind the assassin's back. The Noxian's face was solemn and dull, and her eyes swollen. The queen pulled her into a tight embrace and took all the heat onto herself. Katarina was sweating and her heart pounded against her chest. She grit her teeth and choked on her dry sobs.

The assassin did not accept the embrace. In fact, she wanted to escape it. It was undeserving that the queen of such high nobility would want to take her in at such a weak state. It was weakness. She should not cry, should not feel, only kill and be as sharp as the steel she wielded. Ashe's hands softly stroked Katarina's locks. They glided and combed through the thick strands whilst her other hand found her jaw and cupped it tenderly.

The fighting stopped, only deep breaths and shutters followed. The assassin's head rested upon the archer's chest and she closely listened to the patters of her heartbeat. The became matched several minutes later and several more was went Ashe felt the desperate clinging on the back of her jacket.

Katarina suck down from Ashe's chest to her belly and then her lap. Why was she like this? Why couldn't she resist? Why did Ashe stay?

"You don't have to stay. You can go now." she spoke barely audible.

Ashe pulled back a stray hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She wiped a a tear from her own eye and rested back on the wall behind her and pet Katarina's head slowly. "I'll stay here all night if I have to. I'm not going to leave you like this."

The Noxian curled her arms under her and lifted herself up. Ashe pouted but subdued and watched Katarina brush herself off and wipe her eye on her sleeve. Ashe took out a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed the assassin's face to remove the rest of the dried up streaks. "I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there for me that night. Think of this as returning the favor." she smiled warmly.

"It was no favor, Ashe." Katarina refuted and lowered her emerald eyes. Saying the archer's name was cool to her tongue and strange to say. "I did what I had to do. You were in pain so I took you to Soraka. This is no favorable thing...you didn't have to do this."

"I want to. It's never good to hold things in for so long. I have, and it's very damaging. Do not keep things inside your heart, Katari- i'm sorry I mean Kat." Ashe giggled to herself. "I have to get used to that."

The Sinister Blade shined a smile at the other woman's mistake and shook her head down. It would sure take time getting used to, not many people call her that. "It's fine, don't worry."

Before the thought left from the back of her mind, Katarina noticed a small bruise hidden by silken strands flowing down Ashe's front. The Frost Archer sat ridged as the Noxian's hand moved to her neck and brushed away the hair to take a closer look. She never moved but watched Katarina observe the wound with her crystal blue orbs bound to her green ones. The Noxian flicked her attention to the wound and even touched it which made Ashe tremble slightly at the pain that ran across her skin. Katarina glanced then focused back at the bruise.

"How did this happen?" she asked, her lips thinned and emeralds hardened.

Ashe twitched her eye. She shifted herself away and strained her neck away from Katarina's fingers brushing along her flesh. The Noxian caught hold of her arm, firmly but gently. Ashe turned her gaze to the door. It wasn't far away, she could quickly bound to it but that thought was instantly crossed out. Katarina saw her fear shimmer as they locked eyes. They began to water slightly and through the depths of ice, Katarina saw herself. The assassin used a different approach and asked in a soft spoken attempt to soothe Ashe's fear. "Who did this to you?"

She gulped but plunged into the darkness. "Tryndamere."

Katarina widened her eyes upon his name. I knew it. I just knew it. It just didn't make sense.

"How- why? Why would he? Why would he want to hurt someone like you?"

"I..I don't know Kat." she said between sniffles. The tears were peeking out. "I just don't know. It happened a while ago when we still lived in the Freljord, about a year after we got married. He first started yelling at me and cursing your people, then as years went by it got worse and now he just lashes out on me."

Irritation boiled deep within Katarina's core. "That's very strange."

"No it's not. He's a rage filled man. It's who he is."

"That gives him no justification to harm you. If he was ever in his right mind he wouldn't lay a finger on you."

Ashe sighed deep enough to retain the pain. "I have no say in what he does. If I do wrong, he punishes me. It's always been that way."

Katarina understood. They weren't very apart it seemed. However Ashe handled this (if she could) it wasn't working. She obviously suffered from these and what's worse was that she fought almost everyday in matches. She would become bloody and bruised with gaping cuts and wounds that would allow an excuse for these injuries.

"Does the League know?" she asked. Ashe shook her head roughly.

"No. They do not need to know of this! If any word of this breaks out...I don't know where i'll be. I would probably be dead and Tryndamere would have my blood on his hands for sure."

The Noxian woman stood up. She paced and held her chin, thinking. She was a queen. She shouldn't live like this. Not like the life Katarina herself lived. She shouldn't have to feel pain. Tryndamere's wry smile filled her mind with rage. She had no remorse for the intolerable, no wonder why he wanted her dead. He saw her with his wife and must have wanted revenge. Ashe held her arms and looked down. Her snowy white hair followed and the rays of the evening sun illuminated the room in a warm golden hue. They shined bright enough so that the other bruises that lined her neck became more visible. So there were more...

"I won't allow this. Whatever grudge he has against you I won't allow it. You can't live like this Ashe, not anymore."

Ashe sunk her eyelids and tugged a corner of her mouth. She let go and brought her hands down to the bench. "I wish I was free like you. I wish I could just leave and everything would be better. I can't, you know that. I'm married to him and plus I have the whole Freljord on my back."

Katarina's hands found their way to her hips. Ashe was right. The irritation grew more but it struggled to keep ablaze. Ashe's blue orbs shone like rare crystals and were staring right at her so pain stricken. The struggle wouldn't be worth it, but Ashe was more than overjoyed that someone cared. It showed, and the radiance of that appreciation and gentleness that the hood-less archer displayed was more than enough. Katarina wanted to assist her. It was more that a need. She had to.

"I'll get you free, somehow." she said firmly. Ashe was unsure but there was no stopping Katarina when she had her mind set on her target.

"Noxian promise." she whispered with a grin.