Chapter 8:
Riven had pretended to go to sleep, letting Irelia leave their bed and go downstairs without feeling like she had to stay. She spent most of the night lying in the dark, thinking about what was to come next with LeBlanc's plan. She didn't know how this was going to work out, how she could continue being with Irelia if she was the Grand General back in Noxus, assuming of course that LeBlanc keeps her word. Riven knew that Irelia was sitting downstairs at the dining table, trying to think through how she was going to tell Karma about what was happening, how she would be able to sell something so crazy to one of the most level-headed Elders. She was also probably thinking about how things would work too, not sure on how she would be able to with Riven when she returned to Noxus, it was already hard enough for the pair of them with the hate they receive for Riven being Noxian as it was.
Riven spent several hours lying in bed, waiting past when the sun came up and well into the middle of the day, wanting to give Irelia as much space to consider her options as possible. Riven was afraid the Ionian would end things with her if she chose to go back to Noxus, to take LeBlancs offer, and she didn't know if she could handle that kind of rejection. Riven considered possibly even turning down LeBlanc's offer if it would save things with Irelia, even if she continued to live in Ionia which made her unhappy, she would stay with the Ionian as long as she would have her.
Eventually Riven couldn't continue to lie by herself in bed any more, forcing herself out of bed and down the stairs, finding Irelia exactly where she predicted, at the dining table with a few papers spread out in front of her. Riven took a seat in front of her, waiting patiently for the captain to acknowledge her presence, to let her know what was to come next for them.
"I'm going to help you." Irelia said, putting the papers on the table together and to the side, "I think it would be great for you to replace Swain, not just for you or Noxus but for Ionia as well, for us."
"For us?" Riven asked, somewhat confused with the statement. Was Irelia trying to imply that it would be good for them if Riven lived elsewhere? That it would be good for them to end things? Irelia sensed Riven's feelings, swiftly trying to assure her.
"I don't mean it like that. You'll be happier to spend more time in Noxus, even if it means us moving back and forth." Riven's heart soared, though she wouldn't want to admit it, at the idea of Irelia being willing to spend time in Noxus just to spend time with her, to be flexible to make Riven happy.
"You'd be willing to come to Noxus?" Riven asked, trying to hide her excitement.
"I would, we can move back and forth, I want to make this work, Riven. I love you." She said, placing her hand on top of Riven's, rubbing her thumb along the back of Riven's hand.
"I love you too." Irelia offered her a soft smile in response to hearing those words from the Noxians.
"Now, we need to speak to Karma, at the very least she needs to know what's coming, even if she doesn't agree with it." Riven nodded in response before following the Ionian upstairs to their bedroom, the pair of them taking a shower together and getting dressed. She enjoyed the domestic parts of living with Irelia far more than she would care to admit, she liked being able to live a routine with Irelia, to do just the normal things with her. After years of being on her own, after living a military life where she didn't get to enjoy the simple things of being normal, being with someone, Riven enjoyed every moment she had with Irelia, even when they fought.
Once they were dressed they headed for Karma's office in the centre of the Placidium, Irelia having Karma clear a space in her schedule to talk immediately. Irelia went through the entire background to what had happened, what LeBlanc had offered Riven and their joint intention for them to take it, to go through with the plan for Riven to take over as Grand General. Karma remained silent, a neutral expression on her face, as Irelia talked. The captain continued to talk, trying to explain her thoughts and her plans for what would come after Riven took over, trying to justify everything to Karma. Irelia didn't need Karma's permission as an Elder but she still wanted her friend's approval, for Karma to tell her planning to be with Riven as the Grand General of Noxus was a good idea. After a few minutes of silence, Karma continuing to process what she had heard, she finally spoke.
"Okay. Riven, if LeBlanc's plan were to succeed and you were to take over as Grand General, would you be willing to negotiate an actual lasting peace with Ionia?"
"Of course, I couldn't continue this pointless conflict if I had the power to stop it, not just because of my relationship with Irelia but because it's wrong, there's no reason to continue it other than Swain's own ambitions and with him gone…" Riven shrugged instead of continuing her sentence, letting Karma take the implication from it.
"Then I have no issue with your plan to stay together if it succeeds," The Elder smiled at the pair of them, "I hope it works out, it would benefit us all to see a change of leadership in Noxus, I'm sure the other Elders could agree at least on that."
"We can hope that they do." Irelia said, returning a slightly anxious smile to Karma before standing up and ushering Riven out of the Elder's office. Irelia turned to Riven as they walked down the hallway. "So what comes next?"
"Now, we wait."