If one was looking for a place offering peace or quiet, the infirmary was not the place to begin. Every-bear wanted to be the one that saved Sejuani from the effects of exhaustion or the pneumonic cough she had developed, however few possessed the skill to do so. The princess lay on one of the human-sized beds the clinic was outfitted with. A wall of armor and fur blocked most from getting too close to the few bears who were proficient in human medicine.

Olaf was among those who waited outside the circle. He watched Sejuani's drawn face with hooded eyes; whoever had done this to the rightful heir to the Freljord would fall to his axes. Once his friend woke up she'd be able to confirm his suspicions and then he'd be able to begin his campaign of justice or whatever violence called itself theses days. Until then, he'd just have to... wait.

He hated waiting.

A wide bear named Yanuk broke apart from the eager crowd to sit beside Olaf. He was an older member of the community and with joints that frequently betrayed his age. He negotiated his weight into a chair, then switched to a larger one that easily accommodated his rotund figure. His throaty voice was one Olaf did not mind to hear; in fact he liked it almost as much as hearing his own voice, which was very much in case anyone asked.

Yanuk cleared his throat before asking, "Why the long face?"

"It's the same face I wear every day, Yanuk. What's your excuse for being ugly?"

"It's the same face I wear every day. I ought to eat you, but you haven't bathed in over a week."

Olaf grunted at the friendly banter, but did not wish to engage any further. His attention was focused on the pale form in the bed. He was so convinced Soraka was working in collusion with Lissandra or Ashe (it didn't really matter to him) that if one hair was found missing from Sejuani's head, he'd kill the starchild. Well, he'd kill her anyways, but it'd make for a better tale if he had a reason.

Yanuk's knees cracked obnoxiously as he stretched his legs out. The sound brought Olaf's attention back to where the conversation was being picked up once more.

"You know Sejuani's an Ursine at heart. Betrayal won't kill her as fast as pushing herself to conquer the whole world will. Olaf? Olaf. Are you hearing me? I say this as a friend: you get so fixated on the big picture that you forget there's individual threads that make up the tapestry."

"I don't follow you."

"Don't you? You and Sej have the same ambitions, haven't you ever wondered why you two got along so well? She is not called 'friend' by many- Oh, don't get your underwear into a twist, I'm just talking." Even sitting, the great bear was a full foot and a half taller than the bearded man. He looked down into Olaf's cagey eyes. "The two of you only see the big picture: taking out the competition so you can move onto larger enterprises. For Sejuani that's her sisters, for you, well, you're doing something like that. You're looking for the next baddest person to fight until the right one takes you out."

"You make it sound less valiant than it is."

"Are you not a ticking bomb? One day you'll meet someone as big and bad as you think you are and they may just sweep you off your stubby legs. It won't be a far fall, trust me. You're so close to the ground, you may mistake it for tripping." Yanuk's attempt to remove the glum expression from Olaf's face fell flat. It didn't so much as budge.

"What does any of that crap have to do with me?"

"I didn't know you were still listening to me."

"You're too ugly to ignore. Spill your guts."

"Ha! If Sej doesn't start fixing the gaps in the little pictures, the bigger one will never make sense. She needs to set her goals on righting the wrong that's in front of her before she can tackle leading the country. She's damaged a lot of relationships in her need for conquest and the only way she'll get to the throne is through rallying us around her. I don't have the foggiest idea how she's gonna deal with that Starchild, although I'm sure Ursa has some choice words for her, but she has to come to terms that Ashe has something to do with this mess. And you, well, you just need a good smack to get you going."

Olaf was cuffed by a heavy paw. Though his body barely gave way, the corners of his lips did. He smiled and elbowed the ample girth of the aging bear.

"You're dumb, you know that."

"And your mother was a terrible cook, but I don't have time to go over how much worse her singing was. Ha! I have someone I'd like to talk to before I lose them, but we're not done, friend. Come see me later." Yanuk rose with a choir of popping joints. He disappeared into the sea of white and iron, leaving Olaf alone with his thoughts.

The bear had left Olaf much to think on. Perhaps he was right and there were things that needed to be sorted out on the ground level before she took off after her sisters. For instance, the barbarian princess had made few allies, but did nothing to follow up on their readiness for war. In the case of the Ursine they were at a crossroads in their political journey: Ursa desired to keep her kin safe and work alongside Sejuani, but her efforts consisted of maintaining the relative peace instead of seizing fate by the horns. This was 'peace' was not what Olaf or Sejuani wanted. Even the shaman, Volibear, had views that contradicted his chieftain's impulses.

The Ursine milling about the infirmary were of the peaceful, diplomatic nature. As Olaf surveyed the room he counted a handful of those who sided with he and Sejuani's ideology. However, in the mix was a face he did not want to see: Illaoi. She sat like a gargoyle with one hand perched on the heavy relic and the other resting on her knee; both eyes were closed and her lips sent silent prayers to whatever hell-verse she called home. What was truly unsettling were the ghostly green-blue tentacles surrounding her. The bear folk either didn't see it or chose not to acknowledge their presence, but it was something Olaf could not bring himself to ignore. It reminded him of the horrid 'god' that had sucked his soul out and beat it half to death. He wondered if the same test had been done to Sej. If she had undergone such a challenge, her indomitable spirit should have passed with little effort. She was a titan— a real force to be reckoned with! However, even those that passed sustained serious injuries. There were no new marks to prove Olaf's suspicions that Sejuani had been tested. In fact, there were only scratches and minor punctures found on the barbarian.

The attack on Winter's Claw was scarcely a fortnight ago, yet the wounds on Sejuani's body suggested she had months of healing. There was only one who had the magic to do something as remarkable, yet heinous acts. That person was on trial.

A window in the wall of bears appeared and through the gap Sejuani could be seen once more. One of the medics was positioned over her with a comically large pair of scissors and Olaf forgot that these creatures were better trained than he was in the art of treating the wounded. He barreled through the throng until he was standing closest to the one holding the instrument. He watched the metal slice through the fabric of her clothes and almost stopped the paws when the blades got caught on an unseen snag. At last, Sej's pale chest was revealed to be wrapped in gauze. The onlookers seemed shocked.

To protect Sejuani's pride and dignity, the bear holding the metal instrument demanded the infirmary be vacated. At first none moved, then with the growing threats of disembowelment, they moved. Still, the thought that Soraka had violated Sej's body with her dark magic was racing through Olaf's mind. Why were none of the other bears making this connection- unless they had and were conspiring along with Soraka to keep Sejuani from assuming control!

Oh my gods, he had just cracked open a conspiracy! He had to tell someone!

He got up to run to Volibear and share his great knowledge, but halfway to the door he felt a pair of eyes on the back of his head. He didn't need to look any further than the corner of the room where Illaoi was no longer meditating. Her glowing eyes were fixed to his and she did not smile. Olaf knew more than anything— more than almost anything— that he wanted that priestess dead. However, talking to Volibear was more important at this very second. He knew the village guest would not be harmed while Ursa still played leader and the rest of her clan followed.

It's a good thing I'm no Ursine, Olaf mused. He scurried out of the infirmary with the assurance that he would take her down when the odds were in his favor.

Volibear was not a fan of trials or passive forms of questioning. He was a bear of action- say the word and he was there! He tried not to rush his superior's trial— he knew how much she valued equity and thoroughness even when it didn't make sense to apply these ethics to a guilty person; however, this was the wrong forum to discuss her methods. Soraka was never going to go free and it seemed pointless to try and provide a background for her betrayal. It was clear she worked for Ashe… quite possibly Lissandra, but the second didn't seem as likely. Perhaps information of her involvement in Sejuani's attack could be expedited if only Ursa allowed him to do the questioning.

They'd spent roughly an hour trying to suss out more than one word replies from the healer, but she was clever enough to say nothing incriminating. The guilty party stood on a platform at the head of the large chamber. Normally the speaker would mount the dais so their voice may project to the furthest stone bleacher, however in this instance it was used for the council to gain a better view of the offender. Soraka's face was now level with that of Ursa and Volibear. Her turn to speak had arrived and the Ursine waited with bated breath.

"No."

One of the members from the jury did not find this response agreeable. Had it not been for the shaman's tight grip on his shoulder, Soraka would have been eviscerated.

"Soraka, your side of the story doesn't seem to match up with the one we Ursine remember. I asked you if you had anything to do with the sinking of Ashe's ship or the attack on Winter's Claw, yet you lie. If you don't value your life as much as your story, then at least value your time. I ask you the same question." Ursa's voice was unyielding and icy.

"No."

"I find that hard to believe."

The hall was silent for a time. No bear or celestial spoke; there were no words to share. Finally, when it seemed that the air would burst from the tension, Soraka spoke up: "I'm hardly among friends, Ursa. I have nothing to say."

"That's a fine excuse for a liar. You're asking a tribe to accept your innocence when we have evidence of your role in this story, Starchild. Once Sejuani wakes up she'll be able to corroborate our suspicions. She is less forgiving than I, yet she has let you live and even brought you to our territory. What have you to say? What did she see in you that I cannot see?"

Volibear didn't want the dialogue to end there, but forces out of his control would have their way.

From the back of the auditorium came the sound of stone grating against stone. The rear door was opening. When it was thought the the obnoxious noise wouldn't end, a stout figure pushed its way through the gap. It was Olaf. In the light of the sconces his bristly eyebrows were pulled together in a scowl.

"You are not welcome, Olaf." Ursa growled. Her upper lip twitched and her teeth were exposed for a brief second.

"Yeah, yeah." He dismissed the reproof with a curt wave.

"Olaf." Volibear tried to read the expression on his friend's face. It seemed a mixture of confusion and triumph, although there was still that wild look in his eyes.

The red-haired man did not stop until he was standing between Soraka and Ursa. Both looked down on him, one with annoyance and the other with foreboding. He spoke to the council in the voice of one who held all the cards. "I have proof this demon is trying to play both sides."

Ursa did not deign to entertain his interruption and so the short man turned to his friend.

"Sejuani was wounded—"

"That's hardly news."

"—but she's been healed." After reading Volibear's silence as misunderstanding he added, "With magic."

"Magic." Volibear repeated.

"Magic. No one uses magic except her." No one needed a glossary of magic fiends in the Freljord to know that Lissandra was the witch Olaf alluded to. He turned to face Soraka now. "And her."

"What? She's not on trial for using magic; Soraka is answering for aiding Ashe in attempting to murder Sejuani and also aiding Lissandra." Ursa's hard exterior cracked and she followed Olaf with her dark, searching eyes. "On what grounds do you say she's used magic?"

"You don't get it." Olaf began toying with the straps securing his axes to his belt. "This witch is pitting all three against one another! She can heal! From the time the Claw was attacked and Sejuani taken by Ashe and Soraka, she's been healed with magic!"

"How can you know that? You don't have magic." Korin's paws curled involuntarily. "Do you?"

"No, don't be stupid. I've heard rumors and seeing Sejuani proves it. She has the magic that can heal and has used to try and play Sejuani and Ashe. I'm not sure about the dark sister, but I'm sure she's the source of this magic. It makes sense, right? If she can convert— if she can— I know—" Olaf was holding the shaft of an axe in a chokehold. He wrung it in time with his heavy breathing. Ursa and Volibear both knew that the leader of Olaf's clan had succumbed to Lissandra's power and fallen into the ranks of the Frostguard. Talking about the Ice Witch always got him riled up.

Volibear regarded the purple skinned woman with an impassive expression. Being a shaman, he did not consider his gift as magical, rather a supernatural boon. He had heard the same rumors of Soraka's supposed power and wondered to what extent she was proficient. Right now she was ready to talk:

"Is it a crime to work on behalf of the Freljord? Anivia and I are not with any faction or group— there's no need for us to separate the good from the bad, we already know to whom we answer, and it's not you. Holding me here is a waste of your time, you have more pressing concerns than wondering if I work for Ashe or Sejuani."

"Shut up! You don't work for Sejuani, you never have! All you and Ashe have been doing is forcing an alliance with Demacia— it may be time we align with Noxus!" Olaf's statement elicited unhappy responses from his present company. The three younger members of the council, Naoke, Korin, and Totel, spoke amongst themselves and shared heated words. Finally peace was restored and attention naturally reverted back to the chieftain.

"Eat your words, Olaf. Noxus is not welcome here, don't ever mention it again." Noxus had tried to excise Freljord's inhabitants by engaging in a homicidal campaign; the memory of that crusade burned bright in the minds of those who made it out alive. No one forgave. No one forgot.

"I didn't mean offense." Olaf knew he was not in a position to cross swords with his host. Though Ursa was sanguine by nature, she was among the troubled souls to escape the scourge; any talk of the invading force was met with righteous anger and bared teeth.

Olaf replaced the axe before continuing with zeal. "We were right to count Soraka as an enemy and I stand by that."

Volibear ignored the exchanges between Ursa and Olaf. He wasn't interested in the trouble Olaf usually got himself into; rather, the large bear was absorbed in deciphering Soraka's body language as well as her words. She had said she was working on behalf of the Freljord, but how could someone claiming to be a neutral party so clearly align themselves with Ashe? For Serylda's sake, the tattooed woman lived within the walls of Frostheld and whatever work she did in those walls remained a mystery to onlookers. There was something Soraka was not sharing and he would find out exactly what that was.

"You left Ashe to deliver Sejuani to us. Why did she not treat her own sister? There is evidence to prove that Ashe has access to some kind of medicine that has not been shared with the rest of Freljord which is an asset she would have shared under other circumstances, I know this. As the weakest, she is happy to share food and other spoils but not her medicine. Clearly we don't have the means to treat Sejuani with traditional human cures. Why did you come to us?"

"Is her health not enough for you? Her people were attacked and yet she lives. Take it for what it is: she's alive."

"No," He said in a patronizing tone. "She's half-dead. You know Ashe best and will answer in her place: did she attack her sister?"

"…"

The silence was exactly what Olaf had been waiting for. His axes had magically escaped their holsters; he twirled them as he crowed. "See! I knew I needed to be here! There's so many like you who don't fit into our Freljord!"

Soraka did not rise to his inflammatory words. She looked down on his red face with pity and disgust. Ursa did not consider the man with the same emotions. She cuffed him hard on the back (hard enough to leave scratches on his favorite coat!) and pushed him in the direction of the door.

"Get out. You don't speak for us. We will continue this alone."

Olaf stared in disbelief at the clan's leader. Was she siding with the enemy? Had the Ursine village fallen to Lissandra's dark magic?

"Go, Olaf." Volibear's quiet rebuke hurt him more than Ursa's push.

But Olaf could not let it go. He squared his shoulders and drew up to his full height. "You're under her magic. All of you."

And then he threw his axe.

a/n: Ahoy there, friends. As you may have noticed, I've had to slow down updates and transition to a longer time between chapters. University has been a little crazy, but I value your patience and engagement.

**This chapter has been cut in half and I'm going to post part two in a week or so… I'm running a bit behind, but I haven't forgotten this story!