Author's Note: Back with a new chapter :). This one is pretty cute, I enjoyed writing it.
Kennen watched in mild amusement as Marie scrunched up her face at the lesson in front of her; the young girl's brows furrowed together in a look of concentration far beyond her years. This was undermined, however, by the frequent glances she'd throw his way, delight and a hint of disbelief alighting her face each time.
It was entertainment the yordle was grateful for after being stuck, sitting in a corner all morning. The first thing he'd done after they had entered was to try to come up with a way out. However, after a frustrating half-hour of fruitless ideas and dead-ends, he'd given up on that and instead taken to watching the 6-year-old and her teacher.
The teacher (whom Kennen had quickly picked up to also be the girl's personal maid) was a petite woman with high cheekbones and wild, brown hair pulled hazardously back into a ponytail. She had a kind and gentle nature that shone prominently through as she patiently helped the girl with her studies. She never raised her voice and skillfully guided the child back on track without discouraging her curiosity. If the sympathetic look he'd caught her throw his way earlier was anything to go by, she may be a valuable ally to get him out of his predicament.
As for the girl, she was a little naïve and secluded, but was a very cheerful and curious child. She had asked endless questions during history and geography and absorbed all of the information about the outside world with child-like wonder.
Despite his unrelenting anger towards the nobleman, Kennen could not find it within himself to cast any of that blame onto his daughter. Especially given the looks of pure happiness she was continuously sent his way, uninhibited by any malicious intent or suspicion that he was anything other than what he had been presented as.
As the girl glanced once more at the yordle, the teacher sighed. Shaking her head with a rueful smile she addressed the distracted child. "Why don't we cut the lesson short today, Marie. You seem too excited to concentrate anyway, so you might as well take your new friend out into the garden to play."
"Really?" Marie's face lit up. "Thank you, Elaine! I promise I'll study extra hard tomorrow!" She launched herself at the woman, hugging her around the knees before skipping back to the yordle. "Come on Fuzzy! Let's go outside!"
Kennen scowled to himself at the mention of his new 'name' but couldn't do much more than follow the human child. At least it was a reprieve from doing nothing.
She led the two of them along hallways and down the grand staircase until they came to the large set of entrance doors. There, she struggled a little with the weight of them, but stubbornly kept at it until they started to move. Slowly the doors opened to reveal a breath-taking expanse of rolling green grass, dotted here and there with wide oak trees and colourful flower gardens. Both sides of the open field were enclosed with well-trimmed hedges, broken up by carved archways that enticed the viewer to see the beauty and mystery beyond. And along the back of the entire thing, was a massive stone wall that was covered in green vines. It naturally complimented the aesthetic of the garden; creating a peaceful, secluded feeling while still being just short enough to provide a view of the ocean from the top of the steps.
Once they reached the field, Marie immediately started searching the grass. The intent expression she wore once again amused Kennen, given how trivial the matter truly was. He couldn't help but smile at the gleeful look of success that filled the child's face when she located a colourful ball lying nestled amongst the roots of a large oak tree.
Running back over to him, Marie held it out for him to see. "Elaine told me her daddy's hounds always needed exercise when she was a child. I don't know if yordles are the same but it can't have been nice to sit still for hours while I was studying. So let's play fetch! Fetch!"
The bright ball soared through the air to land with a soft plop only a few meters away.
Even if the collar's magic wasn't urging him to obey, Kennen would have humoured her once the bright expectation filled her brown eyes. He trotted over to the ball before scooping it up and returning it to her.
A look of confusion pulled the dark-haired girl's face into a pout. "Elaine said her doggies brought it back in their mouths."
Kennen gave her an unimpressed look as he dropped it at her feet. He was not carrying that thing in his mouth. His dignity may be taking a massive blow throughout this ordeal but it hadn't dropped that far.
"I guess yordles are different. After all dogs don't have hands." With a shrug, Marie brushed the topic aside before throwing the ball again.
This process repeated itself for a time and while he didn't want to admit it, the yordle found that he was having fun. The exercise provided a nice outlet for some of his built up energy – even if her diminutive throws didn't provide much of an opportunity to push his limits. However, he made up for that with silly antics each time he collected the ball, enjoying the laughter it generated.
It had been quite a long time since he'd done something purely for the fun of it. Since before he'd joined the Kinkou really, he realised wistfully. Most of the time, it felt like his job was too important to spend time generating laughter and excitement in those around him but perhaps, when this was all over, he'd have to restart his pranks. Heaven knows the clan could use something to raise their spirits right now – even if they might not appreciate all of his jokes.
"Hoy thar' Miss Marie. An' wha' migh' ya be doing 'ere on this fine mornin'?" The duo turned to see a broad, tanned man strolling towards them, twinkling blue eyes and easy-going smile belaying his gruff tone. From the soil on his hands and the tools on his belt, Kennen easily deduced that this was the gardener.
"Ben," Marie's face lit up with a smile. "I'm playing fetch with Fuzzy!" She pointed to the yordle, causing the big man's face to fall briefly. To Kennen's trained eyes, he could tell that the broad smile Ben gave the girl was fake, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Aye, were ya lass? Ya min' if ay give it a go? It jus' tha' 'e migh' like a bit more of a challenge than yer wee arms can provide." He gently flexed one of her arms in show, his giant hands dwarfing her tiny appendage and causing her to giggle.
"Sure." She plopped the ball down in his hands.
Kennen's ears drew upright in anticipation as the big man's arm pulled back. Utilising the strength of a lifetime working unruly plants back in order, he sent the ball hurtling across the open field.
As soon as the gardener let the ball go, the yordle raced after it, matching pace with the projectile. As it descended from its apex, the brown yordle twisted and caught the ball before shooting back the way he had come. He reached the humans seconds later, adrenaline coursing through his system.
It may not be as fast as he could go using his electrical abilities, but it was still refreshing to push his physical limits with a non-threatening challenge. Marie's squeals of delight were just the icing on the cake.
"Again! Again!" she called out, bouncing excitedly; her braid and the hem of her oversized skirt bounced out-of-sync with her motion.
With a grin, Ben threw the ball again and once more Kennen raced it along its trajectory.
After a while, the ordeal he'd recently been through began to take its toll on the yordle. The aftereffects of the anti-magic stone had greatly reduced his stamina and the drug the supplier had used to keep him under was now churning his stomach.
Noticing the gradual fatigue of their most recent addition, the gardener placed a placating hand on the girl's head to stop her chanting for more.
"Alrigh' Marie, ay think tha's enough fer now."
"Aw," she pouted, turning her sad eyes up on the big man but he just laughed at her.
"Sorry little lady, but yer new friend looks a wee bit tired and a 'ave a job ter get back ter. But yer a brigh' lass, I'm sure ya'll find somethin' fun ter do. Besides, it's not long till lunch now."
Suddenly Marie's face lit up with mischievous intent, causing the gardener to eye her warily.
"Now don' ya be findin' any trouble young lady."
"But Ben," the girl turned her oh-so-innocent eyes on him, "a lady never gets into trouble."
At her words, the big man let out a roar of laughter.
"Fine lass," he grinned. "Then try not ter get caugh'."
With a wave and a grin, Marie pulled the yordle away as Ben went back to gardening. The young girl dragged her equally small companion along the side of the mansion before coming to a stop next to a large, blooming hedge.
"Do you like cupcakes?" she asked, causing Kennen's ears to perk up before he was aware he'd done it. Yordles were notorious for their sweet-tooth and Kennen was no exception; even if it had been a while since he'd had the traditional mainland dessert.
With an impish grin, Marie put fingers to her lips before pulling some of the branches back and exposing a loose grate.
"I found these ages ago, they lead all over the house. This one is my favourite because it leads to the kitchens. But we have to be really quiet so we don't get caught."
With that, she pulled the grate off and climbed into the duct. After a moment of brief hesitation, Kennen followed her, gently pulling the grate back in place behind them.
For the two small occupants, the duct was pretty spacious; it wasn't tall enough for them to stand up straight but it did provide enough space for them to not have to crawl. With confidence, Marie led them through the turns to the basement kitchens. Amused, the yordle wondered just how often she had done this.
Soon they came to the grate that granted them a view of the large, underground kitchens along with the bustling workers. Hidden by the grate, they waited until no one was looking in their direction before Marie carefully removed the grate and slid down behind the counter. Kennen followed, dropping silently next to her so she could replace the cover. A hassled-looking worker rushed over in their direction causing the duo to duck down behind their cover until the worker had rushed past.
Ever so carefully, the child led them in a bizarre game of hide-and-seek over to a stack of freshly baked cupcakes. While the chef wasn't looking, tiny hands darted up and pulled back two delicious, frosted treats.
Brown eyes shimmering with excitement, Marie grinned at her companion before they began their sneaky journey back to the escape route. Halfway there, however, an angered shout alerted them that they're actions had been discovered. Kennen glanced back to see the chef fuming over the tray.
"Marie!" she shouted, red-faced. "I know you're here! Return those cupcakes right this instant young lady!"
"Run!" the girl shrieked as she bolted for the door. Kennen was right on her heels as they dodged seeking hands and bewildered kitchen workers.
As they made it out the door and to freedom, they heard the chef's last despairing cry of, "This isn't how young ladies are supposed to behave!"
Laughing giddily, Marie's pace did not slow until the two of them were back outside and safely sequestered in the gardens.
"Don't worry," she told him as they sat behind a statue with their stolen treasures, "Henny's pretty sweet but she doesn't like it when I take sweets before meals. She says it'll ruin my appetite and won't let me have any dessert. But today is my birthday so she might let us have more tonight."
She handed the yordle one of the cupcakes before daintily nibbling on her own. Kennen admired the creamy, white frosting and colourful flowers painstakingly added to the top before his hunger reasserted itself. It was a deep gnawing in his gut that demanded to finally get attention after his fast on the boat trip over. Without hesitation, the hazel yordle wolfed the treat down, causing the child next to him to jump.
"Guess all that running made you hungry," she grinned. "Come on, lunch will be ready soon."
She took his hand and they wandered back to the house.
They found a hassled looking Elaine at the bottom of the main staircase and when she saw the pair she crossed her arms. "Marie Renard, what have you been up to?"
Marie gave the woman an innocent grin, "Nothing."
The skeptical look on the maid's face didn't change. "Uh huh. Then why do you have icing on your nose?"
She grabbed out her handkerchief and carefully wiped the bright, pink frosting off.
"You know Henrietta makes a fuss when you take from her."
"It's not my fault. Fuzzy was hungry!" the girl pleaded, pointing to the indignant yordle.
"Sure he was," the maid sighed, shaking her head fondly. "Come on before your food gets cold."
"And so the princess and the wolf went to the Rock King, hoping to free all of the fairies' cakes-"
Later that evening found Kennen seated next to Marie on her large, fluffy bed. The two were surrounded by teddies as the girl animatedly read from the storybook in front of them – one that only remotely had anything to do with said story the girl was telling.
Across the room, Elaine was folding the girl's clothes and carefully clearing away the mess that had been made that day.
"-not unless you can pass my very hard and deadly tests,' the mean king boomed."
A soft knock on the door stopped all activity as the nobleman stepped into the room.
"Daddy!" the little girl cried out, waving from her spot amongst the mounds of pillows.
The older Piltovern noble returned her bright smile but then hesitated as his eyes landed on the yordle. Kennen glared back at the man, his eyes narrowed into deadly slits.
"Marie,'' he said in a gentle but stern voice, "pets don't belong on the bed." Unceremoniously he dumped the yordle off the mattress. "Now off to bed with you."
Kennen growled at the man but could do little else but settle in the lavish (but still quite small) box of pillows set up for him.
Satisfied, the noble scooped up his daughter, causing her to let out a peal of laughter. "Now my little princess, did you have a nice day?"
"Uh huh," she grinned. "Elaine got me this pretty necklace and Ben helped my throw the ball for Fuzzy really far and I got to eat so many cupcakes! It was the best day ever!"
He smiled, stroking her hair. "I'm so glad you had a nice time my angel."
She pulled the book over and held it towards the older man. "Can you read to me tonight?"
The aristocrat paused before shaking his head. "Not tonight darling. Daddy's got to make some calls. I'll read to you tomorrow."
Kennen noticed a disapproving scowl pull at the maid's face but she didn't say anything.
"Okay," disappointment dripped from the little girl's voice but she made no bigger fuss, simply giving the man a fierce hug and allowing him to leave.
As the door clicked shut, Elaine turned to the upset girl with a bright smile. "Are you ready for bed Marie?"
"I guess," the girl pouted before her face brightened. "Do we get to pray to the Protector and the Veiled Lady?"
Kennen raised an eyebrow at that. The winged sisters were part of the Demacian religion not from Piltover. He looked hard at the maid with renewed interest, taking notice of her high cheekbones and rigid posture – distinctly Demacian traits.
"Of course. Shall we start?" the girl nodded before crawling down to kneel next to the older woman, mimicking her head position.
"Dear Winged Sisters, thank you for this day. Thank you for keeping us safe and thank you for everything you have provided for us. Thank you that Marie had a wonderful birthday today and we pray that tomorrow will bring many wondrous memories and opportunities. We pray we can continue to grow in your ways and pay the good will you have sheltered and guided us in forward to those around us. We pray we always remain in your favour," the maid paused before adding softly, "Would you like to add anything Marie?"
The girl nodded eagerly, "Thank you for bringing Fuzzy into my life. I'm so happy to have a friend to play with now. Please help me take good care of him. Amen."
"Amen," Elaine softly echoed.
She gave the girl a gentle smile before tucking her under the covers.
"Good night Marie. Sweet dreams."
As she went to dowse the lamps, her eyes met Kennen's and as the lights went out he heard a barely audible, "I'm so sorry."
Minutes ticked by as Marie's breathing grew soft and but Kennen did not move, too busy trying to sort out the turmoil in his mind. Doubts, fears, duties and empathy all clashed and fought for attention until, with a frustrated sigh, he lay down in his small box. There would be no sleep for him tonight.
Just what had he gotten himself into?