Author's Note: Hey all! Sorry for the slow update; life got a little busy. Anyways I have surgery later today on my jaw and gonna be on pain meds and have stitches in my cheek for the next week. I wanted to post something for you guys since I'm gonna be feeling pretty under the weather and sore for the next couple weeks.

Reviews both always welcome,

-Dreamer

Chapter 11: The Shattering

The vast halls of the Institute had begun to die down as the receding rays of sun nestled away beyond the horizon. It wasn't long before the usual soundtrack of loud laughter and conversations from the Rabble Rouser's bar kept the dead silence from commanding the League's great hall.

Riven and, oddly Lux, both remained quiet as they walked down the hall. The exile needed to stop by her living quarters one last time before rendezvousing with Irelia. Her crimson eyes silently shifted to the mysterious box Lux had started to carry around earlier that night when they had gone shopping. Must have found something she liked, Riven thought as she looked over the white box.

"So, I assume we need to stop by your room one more time so we can get you all packed up?" Lux asked in a hushed voice as they approached Riven's room. Lux blinked in surprise to see the door had already been fixed within the couple hours they were gone. "Wow, they responded rather quickly to fix your door."

"I wouldn't be lying when I say they are used to fixing things for me," Riven muttered quietly under her breath as she pulled out her housing key. Luckily for her, the door was much easier to open this time around. Riven quietly opened the door and waited for Luxanna to enter first.

The light mage silently set her hand upon the Noxian fighter's left shoulder and bowed her head for a short moment before entering the room. The gesture was a common Demacian form of Thank You; however, the bowing of the head signified the more formal version. The ever proud people of Demacia always held a strong tradition of displaying their gratitude towards respectable behaviors; especially when such behavior is from a host.

Riven stepped into her room behind Lux and quietly shut the door. The packing process took little to almost no time at all as the exile buckled the tan leather travel bag closed. Much to Riven's surprise, Lux had been rather quiet since they returned back to the Institute from their shopping. The strange silence that had come to control Lux was a breath of fresh air, even if Riven had begun to feel semi-awkward because she had become somewhat accustomed to the chatty nature of the mage. If there was one thing Riven could confirm Luxanna doing extremely well, it was keeping the silence away.

The observant Demacian found her attention to be focused on the broken blade hanging on the wall. The gentle throb of the single rune was rather peculiar to her. Like a heartbeat… she thought to herself as she watched the blade. Lux may not be much of a hand-to-hand combat or weapons expert, but she definitely felt the eerie, almost ominous, aura the sword fragment gave off. Magic was certainly a subject Lux understood and that was, by her standard, far from a normal weapon. The strange atmosphere she found herself in was beginning to feel oppressive.

"I shattered it."

The sound of Riven's voice caused Lux to jump in surprise as she forcibly turned her attention away from the rune blade and onto its owner. Lux nodded slightly as she tried to calm her nerves. The light mage frowned, realizing the solemn gaze the exile held with her rune sword.

Riven didn't break her line of sight as she continued to speak, "Earlier today, you wished to ask me a personal question. Rather than ask, why not just listen to me when I am ready to speak?"

Lux remained silent where she stood, listening intently to Riven. This was certainly different from what Lux had expected from Riven. It seems if giving Riven her personal space and not constantly seeking answers from her but instead just simply spending time with the exile will eventually loosen her tongue. "If you want to talk, you have my undivided attention, Riven. You say what you want to say and stop when you want to stop," Lux reassured the Noxian with a gentle, encouraging, voice.

Riven remained quiet for a couple moments while collecting her thoughts. How much longer could she hold in what has happened? How could she expect to find the truth if she was the only living Noxian survivor from the Coeur Valley massacre? Outside of her mind, the only other breathing being that "witnessed" the Noxian…Zaunite…Riven's knuckles cracked loud in the silence as her hands balled tight to the point that her knuckles were as white as her hair. No…Zaun did it. Singed did it...

Then why did Noxus leave you to die? Why do they still hold allegiance even now within the League with Zaun if Zaun were the ones that turned on Noxus?

Riven's expression was one of severe discomfort as her conscious argued with itself. Her shoulders shook in bottled up anger and torment. Often times when she would engage in these mental conflicts, her old injuries would start ache; regardless if the ache was just her imagination. Riven jumped slightly as a hand came to rest on her shoulder.

Lux quickly retracted her hand, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. You looked like you were about to throw up. Are you alright?"

Riven didn't realize how much her frame was shaking from the resulting anxiety and stress her little episodes caused. Her eyes shifted to Lux, who was standing quietly off to Riven's side. The mage's expression was calm, yet there was a hint of worry behind the baby blue eyes.

"Are you sure you're ready to talk, Riven? You don't have to. Don't feel obligated to—

"I broke the sword…because Fury Company…my Company, was murdered," Riven interrupted Lux. The solemn expression that possessed the exile's face remained unchanged, even if Lux's was one of shock.

"Murdered? I mean, I know of the incident that some called a betrayal by Noxus and others called an accidental friendly fire but Fury Company of the 42nd Standard, according to Noxian Military records, was just Missing in Action…" Lux responded, "The Company involved in the Coeur Valley incident wasn't recorded."

"N-Not listed!?" Riven retorted, slightly outraged. "Wait…" The ex-Commander raised a suspicious eyebrow towards Lux, "How would you know about Noxian Military records?" Her crimson eyes narrowed.

Lux waved her hands innocently, "That's just what the public records say," she laughed nervously, trying not to expose her own past of snooping around Noxus when she was involved with the Demacian Military. If Riven ever found out Lux's profession was being involved with spy work, it would surly destroy the hard earned trust the mage has somewhat developed with the Noxian exile. "There is a copy in the Library records. I can show you when you get back if you want."

Riven's expression softened a bit, "I would like to see that…"

Lux's tone of voice was supportive, "Of, coarse! Better yet, I'll talk to Diana and get you a copy of the record while you're in Ionia," Luxanna said and shot Riven a reassuring smile.

Riven quietly looked back at the rune blade, "I shattered the blade because I was angry."

Lux blinked in surprise. The amount of power it must have taken to actually shatter a weapon of that size and density must have been an impressive display of strength. "I'm listening," Lux said calmly.

Pain radiated through the Commander's body with every staggering step she was able to take. The lingering effects of the melters' toxins stung with the same amount of flaring agony it had when it first grazed her skin just days before. Even the simple action of breathing proved difficult as the wounded warrior raggedly gasped for air through the searing discomfort that plagued her lungs. Dried mud, blood of hers and others, toxic residue and the unspeakable results of the biochemical terror caked her body and armor in thick layers. Her once unique and gorgeous platinum hair was almost non-existent from under the layers of muck. The whites of her eyes were blood shot and agitated almost as dark as her crimson irises and they continued to involuntarily water. The set of armor she wore was now missing the left gauntlet and a make-shift bandage formed from the Commander's brown cloak was crudely wrapped around the soldier's forearm. The distinct tear within the cloak caused the heavy fabric to flutter unevenly in the Commander's wake.

Riven quietly drug the massive stone blade through the dirt behind her. She had the sword turned up so the tip of the blade was the only part dragging in an attempt to protect the sword's edge from dulling. Her right hand held the hilt of the weapon in a vice tight death grip. The Commander was rather convinced that her hand would never relinquish the sword even if her mind commanded her hand to release it. Riven's very being desperately pleaded and begged the Commander to lie down and rest. Two days had passed since the Zaunite chemical weapons decimated both the Ionian resistance and Fury Company alike.

The events of the bombing replayed in her mind like a broken record. What her mind saw and what her ears heard were completely out of her control. The screams and cries in both Noxian and Ionian tongues haunted the Commander as she continued to mindlessly walk.

'Why…'

The Commander stopped dead in her tracks. The voice of that particular person drew the last straw. She snapped. Riven cried out in a fit of rage and swung the rune blade around, tossing it to the ground at her feet. Drawing in harsh breaths through grit teeth, the Noxian stared down at the weapon. Every fabric of her being burned in agonizing pain and hatred; there was no going back. Riven growled painfully and grabbed the sword by the black rune stone's length. The anger she felt for Noxus was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

What symbol of strength are you!?

The Commander fought against the brutal pain that wracked her body. Submission was out of the question.

We lived for you…

The blade came to rest upon its flat side; elevated by two large stones jutting from the ground and separated enough to hold the large sword toward the ends of its length.

We killed for you…

The Commander stumbled away from the weapon.

We believed in you…

One armored hand and one bandaged hand gripped at the sides of a decently sized rock that was semi-submerged within the soil.

And yet…

Riven's teeth clamped down tightly while the entirety of her body strained from trying to dislodge the stone from its earthen sheath.

Our blood…

The rock began to slowly slide free from the ground.

Our lives…

Beads of sweat developed upon her skin and bled down her face, collecting some of the caked dirt and blood along its way. The strain and pain was pushing her limits. "OUR DEVOTION MEANT NOTHING TO YOU!" Riven shouted painfully as the rock finally broke free from the ground's grasp. The Noxian's body quaked in physical distress as her ferocious gaze turned back to that cursed reward for her obedience. Riven continued to battle against the dolor of her mind and injuries as she held up the weight of the large stone. Every gasp of air tormented her lungs as she closed the gap between herself and the rune blade.

I refuse you! I refuse to serve you any longer!

The Commander grunted sorely as her arms struggled to hoist the rock high. Every single heartbeat that pounded within her ribs sent jolts of pain throughout her body.

I will not stand idle! I will find out the truth!

Riven released a pain-filled shout as she swung her arms downward and struck the rune blade with the rock. She growled in pure irritation as the first strike proved futile in damaging the enchanted stone blade. The Commander forced her arms to lift once more.

I see your intentions with eyes unclouded by faith…I defy your muddled ideologies!

The stone slammed down upon the rune blade again. Riven cried out in agony as she lifted the large stone once more.

I know my purpose…

The Noxian roared in furious rage as she struck the sword with every ounce of strength her body had left. The soft crackling of stone echoed loud within her mind. Riven refused to give into her fatigue, even if her body was begging her to rest. The cracking sound of the breaking blade only fueled her to continue. She lifted the rock once more to deliver more blows to the blade until one proved fatal.

No…

Once.

Looking…

Twice.

"BACK!"

Large fractures began to rift throughout the length of the sword. The fissures glowed bright green as the weapon continued to break. The world seemed to go completely silent for a couple short moments when the fractures stopped.

Shit…

Riven quickly shielded her head with her forearms as the blade shattered. The energy released from the broken weapon threw its owner back with relentless force. Riven could hear, let alone feel, the massive crack her upper back made as she struck the ground. She skid harshly upon her shoulder blades for a short distance until her body weight flipped over itself causing her to slam down flat onto her stomach.

Riven couldn't fight any longer as her body completely surrendered to the overwhelming fatigue. The blurred and bouncing outlines of her surroundings rattled the Commander's vision; it was impossible to focus. A loud, painful and unyielding ring tormented Riven's hearing as she lay there in complete silence. The weak twitching of the Noxian warrior's fingers was the only response her body, petrified from exhaustion and shock, would give as she tried to force herself to get up. There was no denying that she was bound to pass out in due time. Thoughts of pain and grief began to chisel away at her strong mentality as her eye lids started to feel like lead. The creeping dark emotion she thought she conquered long ago began to feed off her negative state of mind. Uncontrolled fear was all she felt as the world faded into darkness.

"I thought…if I fell asleep, I'd never wake…" the exile looked down at the floor. "To be honest, I don't even know why I'm talking about this…" Riven looked back at the sundered sword. The blade's rune glowed bright in response to its owner, as if it understood her pain. I hurt you… Riven hung her head.

The rune flickered.

"You can't blame yourself for what happened, Riven, and to feel fear is nothing to be ashamed of," Lux said quietly.

"Fear is weakness," Riven growled in disgust with herself.

"Riven, what happens when your skin breaks?" Lux asked in a serious tone.

Riven looked at the Light mage with a slightly puzzled expression. She noticed the small collection of liquid lining the bottom of the Demacian's eyes. "I-I bleed?"

"To bleed is to be flawed. To bleed is to be mortal. To be mortal is to have limits. If we push ourselves too far we will eventually break. You know why? Because, Riven, we are only human. We are not perfect. We feel pain. Our bodies and minds are not invincible, in fact, they are quite the opposite. We are a very fragile race. Weakness is a part of being human, everyone experiences it, but at least you can feel," Lux put her hands over her own heart. "Everyone fears something, and sometimes, we feel the sudden need to talk about our fears and seek comfort in the support of others lending their strength to help us cope with our fears. If we bottle up our feelings, especially the negative ones, we will never become strong enough to face them on our own."

The Noxian looked down at the floor. She didn't know what to say.

"Riven, do you fear death?"

Riven's arms quietly and nervously half crossed her body and her hands loosely griped her biceps. "I…" Riven couldn't find the words.

Coward…

Riven closed her eyes. Oh, how she had come to despise their opinions. You're the cowards, hiding behind your veil of lies and opinions. You're all barking…at least I can bite, Riven snapped back at the voice. The exile took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and looked at Lux. Her irises burned with conviction, "I fear death. I feared it then and I fear it now." The odd sensation of feeling relief flooded over the exile as the words escaped her lips. Only one other person in the world knew that particular little secret, and they took it to their grave. A weight seemed to lift free of her shoulders.

"I have something for you," Lux smiled softly.

Riven quietly watched Luxanna grab the white box she had been carrying around with her. The exile looked down at the box as Lux held it out to her. "A-A gift…for me?" Riven blinked in confusion. Gifts were certainly something she was never used to receiving; in fact, the rune blade was the last one she had ever gotten.

"For the first time since I've been around you, you seemed present in our reality and not distant when you looked at it. So, I couldn't pass up the opportunity," Lux explained as the exile quietly opened the box. "Oh, and dark green, is totally your color," Lux chuckled.

A look of shock possessed Riven's expression as her hands quietly removed the jacket from the container. The exile silently held the jacket in her hands, unsure how to respond to the kindness of her friend.

"I want you to feel comfortable in your own skin, Riven. No one or nothing should ever take that right away from you," Lux smiled, despite the tears quietly rolling down her cheeks. "Going back to Ionia must be terrifying…s-so I want you to at least go back feeling confident and comfortable," Lux's lower lip quivered slightly, "It's my fault you have to go back there. I'm so sorry."

Riven shook her head, "Stop it, don't blame yourself." The exile gently laid the jacket down and walked up to the guilty and crying Demacian. "Stop crying, you're making me feel all soft and weird." Riven wasn't particularly good at the whole comfort thing.

Lux chuckled slightly and wiped away her tears. "You're certainly a charmer with that attitude," Lux couldn't help but laugh at the frown Riven made. "We need to get going and we are already late. Irelia is a very patient person, but when people aren't on time, it certainly tests that patience. A mad Irelia is scary," Lux quickly stepped passed the exile and grabbed the bag of clothing after she folded the jacket and packed it.

Riven grabbed the rune blade from the wall.

The Demacian quietly watched the platinum haired Noxian obtain her weapon. The way Riven held and treated the broken sword proved that even though she was the one that sundered it, it still held great value to the exile. The single viridian rune glowed brightly as Riven quietly looked at it and allowed her free hand to gently trace the inscription. A look of surprise quietly captured Lux's expression as she witnessed the exile actually smile at the sword. Wow…she has a beautiful smile, Luxanna thought and smiled herself. As much as Lux didn't want to disturb what seemed like a content moment for Riven, they really needed to go. "Riven?"

The exile's expression quickly faded back to its typical emotionless persona as she looked up from the blade and back at Lux.

"Are you ready to go?" Lux asked.

Riven drew in a large breath and nodded. The exile silently stepped outside of the room and promptly locked the door. She offered her hand to the Light mage so Lux would hand her the bag of clothing. Both Champions quietly walked down the hall towards to doors to the great hall.

"Thank you, for trusting me enough to talk," Lux said.

"Tell anyone, and you're dead," Riven half-teased the Demacian and pushed her shoulder, causing Lux to stumble and almost fall over.