AN: I might edit this more but I thought I already posted it as I stated typing up the next long as hell chapter... So whatever.

Sejuani's father had been a warrior. Just as the enduring wrath of winter demanded of anyone who would survive out in the open land. As was meant to be; it shaped warriors. They made her a warrior too. Winter had shaped her, the land had toned her and chipped away her weakness like the ice and wind wore away stone until nothing but the toughest granite was left. He was a warrior of Freljord and so was she. They were more, as well. Centuries of Freljord's harsh and unforgiving land had forged her blood into bitter steel. It might break but it could never bend. It might be chipped away but it would never crumble. The man had raised Sejuani to know what to do with such steel.

Sometimes, late at night when her father was away scouting settlements to pillage or men to fight, his team of accomplished raiders would tell her he had been born "with a hammer in his hand and battle in his heart." He had died with battle and hammer in hand when Sejuani was still a child. But not before teaching her everything. Freljord, the land, and battle. They were all one in the same. He taught her that the ways of strength and bravery "may kill many individuals but only make the clan stronger. Makes blood stronger." It was survival. Her father showed her precious little affection but he often ended such proclamations with a hand on her shoulder and a glint of pride in his eyes.

Often, he spoke with yet more pride of the clan and how worthy they were of all the land.

All the lands.

Scowling beneath her horned helm as she settled at the crest of a large hill, Sejuani shifted in the saddle to glance back at her companions as they trudged through the fresh snow lining the pass. They were not mounted, of course. Mountain boar were rare. Taming one nearly unheard of. Sejuani had acquired hers by a stroke of luck. Raising it from infancy after rescuing it from a certain death at the coming winter after being orphaned. The beast was loyal to her and tolerated everyone else only by her command.

When they had climbed to the summit Sejuani finally saw it. Distant but unmistakable. The destination of their journey and the object of her dread. The soaring walls and formidable towers of the city of Avarosa. The clan leader boasted with camp fire banter that Winter's Claw could take the city…

If the Gods gave Bristle wings…

Truthfully, she saw the sheltering bosom of Avarosa as a coward's refuge. Trusting in stone and structure over muscle and grit. All the same its size and architecture was impressive. Thousands of years old, time had worn smooth its dark granite face and softened its harsh edges, looming like a cavernous mountain out on the plain. Now though, in the failing sunlight at their backs, the city reflected an odd unnatural glint. She dismounted and climbed yet higher on a crop of boulders angled precariously over the side of the hill.

The hill was large as hills go but no doubt the inhabitants just below would inappropriately refer to it as a mountain. A naive sheltered people.

No inhabitants were to be seen however.

Not that much could be seen from this distance but the sprawling city of Avarosa always had great trains and caravans of people moving to and from the city. Even this time of year peoples from all over Runterra came to trade for her great stores of grain and crafts as desirable as rune laid swords to those as useless as art and finery. The feeling of something being wrong was amplified tenfold now. Sejuani felt an edge of anxiety creep up her spine as she stared out on the landscape below. The walls seemed to gleam with an efflorescent sheen not unlike deep glass or metal of some kind. Light glinted off the towers and battlements in a manner she had never seen before. And yet it seemed eerily familiar.

It was as if someone had made a full-scale glimmering replica of the great southern city. If things weren't so obviously wrong she wouldn't put it past the frivolous and arrogant Avarosans.

Make a life-size replica of their own city to worship right next to the real thing? No, she wouldn't put it past them at all. That was just the frivolous nature of such people.

But something was wrong and that was Avarosa.

Gripping and needlessly adjusting the leather straps of her armor she thought about what her father would say at this moment.

Know the land, know your heart. Know your enemy as you know the land.

He had told her numerous times. Not wasting time killing unworthy foes, only taking what they could not defend. Sizing up potential combatants to test your strength. Sizing up the situation and how to win the fight were all he taught Sejuani in one form or another.

Sejuani peered down the hill and could just make out a small group circling the crested snowfall blown off of the foothills, their dark silhouettes lit by flickering torches. By their manner she had no doubt they were military scouts.

Time to get her answers.

She turned back to her party, all certainly worn from their swift journey across the mountains on foot but showing no signs of fatigue as they gathered around her attentive, hard, and ready. True warriors one and all, their expressions were vigilant and grim. She signaled to them with a casual sweep of her hand, "Let's go down and have a chat."

Sejuani hung back, letting her party sneak out ahead, down the sides of the perceived impassible slopes beyond the pass like mountain goats, and fan out to all but surround the small scout party. She held on to her flail and reigns firmly in both hands to keep them from making even the slightest sound as Bristle slowly softly plotted down the snowy pass. One of the many talents of the illusive Freljordian mountain boars, it could be nearly as quiet as an animal a quarter of its size with twice its agility. They were invaluable tools of war. Unlike the swine of the south, mountain boar were predators.

Much like its master.

The animal tensed, sensing its rider's mood. Feeling her mounting tension as they neared striking distance. With a roar of primal wrath, the chief kicked her booted heels into the sides of the burly boar. With a snorting grunt expelled from its tusked jaws mingling with his master's throaty battlecry hundreds of pounds of thick fur and solid muscle charged down the mountain straight toward the group of armed men. Simultaneously her warriors shot out from the tumbled rock and scree of either side and into the unsuspecting prey.

In moments, with the advantage of surprise and overwhelming force, the threat was subdued. Stone axes cleaved bodies. Spears pierced gaps and flaws in armor. Hammers smashed skulls and armor alike. In the midst of the fray Sejuani charged in, the massive beast bowling over a few men as her flail took others from their feet with brutal impact. The sound of crunching bone was heard several times over. Clearing the battle Sejuani spun back around, urging her snorting mount back into the men. Bristle knocked over a man, stomping on him with his clefted hooves, but as he lowered his massive head to gore him with his tucks Sejuani shouted, her voice hoarse with excitement but sharp in command, "Heel, Bristle." It was over. These were not unworthy foes, they were simply measured deftly by the war chief.

The beast obeyed immediately, raising its head slightly but not stepping off the man until his master climbed off its back and gently urged the animal back. Before the man could do little more than gasp for breath Sejuani sat on his chest and swung her gloved fist down against his head.

"who are you people?" Sejuani roared in his face , still pumped up from the brief clash. She lowered her voice but did not soften her tone. " You look unlike Avarosan scouts I've seen before but you certainly wear the gear for it. Who do you serve?"

"We serve Freljord." He gasped, his eyes wide and confused. "By attacking us you attack the empire of Freljord."

Empire.

It seemed odd Avarosa would style it so. Having a few fragile alliances did not make an empire.

"Though this is no worse than what you have already done." He coughed but the statement was made ominously, as if speaking more to himself than her.

"Already done?" Sejuani's scowl darkened but she returned to the questions she intended to ask, "What is your purpose out here? Why do you scout outside the walls?"

"The Avarosan guard was scouting out for…. For you."

"Us? Why?"

"After Winter's Claw slaughtered the barbarians there was concern that you would attack us or our allies."

The woman's glare intensified, silently commanding that the man go on. His eyes hazy and unfocused he did not.

"What in the name of the shadow isle are you talking about?"

Still the man said nothing. Taking a side long glance at her warriors closing in protectively around her Sejuani removed her helm and returned her attention to the man. A light snowfall collected at the edges of her hair and made damp strands cling to her face as she glowered.

"We can take you in as an enemy insurgent if you don't speak."

The man's hazy eyes focused in on her face with alarm. Winter's Claw's questioners were renown for their… inventive methods. Most such notions were exaggerated to the point of pure fantasy. But the reality and the rumor were useful in their own rights. Any great leader had to know how to utilize both in tandem.

The man coughed convulsively as he tried to spurt words out all at once.

Sejuani watched as he gasped and slowly gained control of himself. "I'm just an under officer. I don't know very much."

"You know more than you've said." She growled.

Fear and uncertainty marred the man's expression but finally he divulged more "This morning word came that the entire barbarian force was slaughtered by Winter's Claw as they sought asylum."

Sejuani's scowl slowly eased into a truly puzzled frown "Asylum from what?"

"The capture of Avarosa." Seeing Sejuani's frown deepen more he went on quickly, "A couple weeks back the Frostguard took the city. It was all a… misunderstanding. The people have freedom restored and now a new alliance rules our united tribes." The man stopped to cough more. Sejuani knew her weight and his injuries were making it hard for him to pull air into his lungs. She pushed harder until he gritted his teeth and spat out defiantly "It will crush Winter's Claw. I'd suppose you were off to surrender and beg mercy of my lady Ashe. But surely a dumb pig hopping wench like you would know that's unlikely even without attacking more of her people."

He knew he was going to die no matter what he said. And he probably figured they wouldn't bother bringing him back to the questioners. Not in winter. Not over the mountains.

She wiped the stray specks of spittle from the side of her face almost casually before pulling back and swinging her fist with nearly all her force behind it. The blow glanced off his face as she had intended. His head made a solid thump as it collided with the packed snow of the travel road. She didn't want to break his jaw, she needed him to talk.

"Tell me petty officer," she emphasized his title with resentment, "how do you know this much?"

He seemed to suddenly remember that the "dumb pig hopping wench" could still make him wish he was dead without using the tools and training of interrogators.

"Lady Ashe and Lissandra have each addressed the people many times during and after the reconstruction. The barbarians feared to be killed in the battle so they left amidst the fight in hopes of finding safety over the mountains. They didn't know what was happening or what to expect. Not many show mercy to their kind."

And with good reason she thought. Barbarians were notorious for seeing weakness in mercy. Though that was not without reason either.

"They thought we would take them in then?" Sejuani said a little incredulously.

"No. They were simply fleeing. And you took advantage of their plight. No good raiding" he coughed and muttered something intelligible before raising his voice once more "preying on the weak when they have no shelter. Children. Elders. I knew Winter's Claw had no honor but that's despicable even for your kind. Avarosa will not stand for such crimes. The Freljord Empire will not stand for it."

Sejuani's frown deepened once more. Trying hard to make sense of the rambling man. Concerned she maybe hit him a little too hard. "What battle?"

"The battle for unity, of course."

"The Frostguard liberated the city and enlighten the former queen."

"Former queen?"

"Lady Ashe."

"You idiots always called her queen."

"She stepped down to present a measure of equality to the Lady Lissandra and to cultivate cooperation between our two clans. To foster good will for the creation of what will be the mighty Freljord Empire. And I don't think you will be invited."

The more he said the less sense he seemed to make. Idly she once again considered if she had knocked all the sense right out of him.

She pointed out past her warriors, where the shining walls of the city could be seen even though it was miles off. The snow was not falling hard enough to obscure their view but so much and the plains were made for such vision. "why does Avarosa look like that?"

"The ice pacified the extremists that sought to prevent unity and hinder peace. Now it serves to reinforce and protect the city." His eyes, still slightly glazed with pain and confusion, nonetheless burned with a fervor that only blind faith could fuel.

"And so Avarosa was attacked and Ashe just welcomes her conquerors with open arms?"

The man shook his head as best he could in Sejuani's tight grip "It wasn't like that. The Frostguard and Lady Lissandra saw that Avarosa was preventing unity by promoting hostility and hording riches, keeping smaller clans like yours from being enfolded into the greater land. Upon pacifying the city Lady Lissandra realized it was not from greed or malice but rather ignorance. The Frostguard educated Ashe and are in the process of educating all the people. They would educate you too if Winter's Claw were wise enough to bow down to peace and unity. But I imagine that would sound too reasonable to your kind."

"Peace." Sejuani growled softly. "And unity." The words tasted bitter on her tongue. They were words that formed neither and often molded a mask to hide the chains of slavery.

"Two approaching, Chief." One of her warriors muttered from beside her, immediately snapping her out of her concentration.

Sejuani looked up at him and then trailed her gaze over in the direction he stared. Two distant figures were making their way through the trees and towards them.

"Boris did we get all of the scouting party?" She said softly, not looking at the man.

He bowed slightly, his leather armor creaking with the movement. He knew without her raising her voice that she would be displeased if he gave the wrong answer. "Yes Chief, eight including this one."

Eight was an odd number for a scouting party but it was the right number. It was likely they intended to split up as they travelled deeper into the mountains.

She stood and retrieved her true ice tipped flail from the girth strap around Bristle.

"Finish him and fan out."

A/N Update:

So I know a great deal has happened in League since I started on this possibly terribly foolish project. So 2 things;

Thing 1: the Freljord lore has been significantly extended. And fuck that. I've written too much to change now. So this is based on the old lore at Lissandra's release. After the Freljord event. Before Braum and Velkoz. There is rumor of a watcher champion and super fuck that. My watchers are not that, I already dislike how apparently restrained these characters are as champions (well I mean only kinda cuz Lissandra cc with Neeko's abilities would be extremely broken.) Anything that matches up with the lore expansion is coincidental. As I predicted it and I'm amazing.

... (For real sometimes the connections Rito has made since I already outlined the plot and my own lore has made me omg. Such as the ties to Mt Targon, the void, the Rune Wars, Lissandra's meddling with other tribes, and what they are now calling "the old gods." TBF alot of the lore has also annoyed me a little bit but I'm much more accustomed to that emotion with Rito.) ...

Thing 2: I did not lie on my last update, I've written the next 6-8 chapters (I know that doesn't sound like much but keep in mind given my chapter lengths that's a short novel) and then 3-4 more after I tie up 3 in between. That would more than double what I already have published and progress the story to a much more comfortable place for me (and maybe for you.) And then the pieces I wrote years ago can start to fall into place. I more or less have the final chapter drafted, I know how I want this story to end. I just gotta write my way up to it. Preferably better than D&D did for GoT...

It's the editing that is my bane. I very badly need a beta reader. The chapter estimates are eh iffy because I add so much during editing. As is the intention when I draft it. I let the flow go and add much of the juicy details after the first, second, third, fourth... fifth and sixth drafts...

But editing. My god the editing. I have so much to do. Well over 30,000 words to be analyzed and edited. The published chapter 5 is the 5th draft and I still want to/need to edit it. This chapter, chapter 12, is the 4th draft. But then... I've realized that's part of my problem. I've taken this entirely too seriously, punished myself too severely, pushed myself too hard when I have too much other shit going on. Not gonna try to let that happen anymore and I'm sure the quality of the work will suffer... so be it I suppose.

I do a great many things in life that are not fun, that I must push myself to do, and I can't let writing become that. It won't ever be a good reliable pace but I'm not entertaining thoughts of giving up on my little novel here. I never have.

Probably pretty foolish.

But thank you all so much for reading and reviewing and hanging in there with me. And a special warm thanks to those who wished me better health. I was fighting overpowering illness in 2019 and now I'm having one of my bi-annual existential crisis. Ya know with everything going on it seems like... Tis the season.

i wish you all good health and safety during these uncertain times.

bless you.