Chapter XII

"Tell us about what it does," I said to Ashe, hopeful that her information will be useful, and of course, true.

"Wait, why would you need to know?" she asked.

"Just tell us what you know, archer, and we'll ask the questions!" snapped Sejuani, her loud and powerful voice bringing the whole inn to a dead stop. The chattering shortly resumed when everyone was assured that they weren't the cause of the leader's anger.

"Aright, alright... I'm sorry. The only thing is... I never thought this sort of necklace even existed." Ashe replied hastily.

"What? Then how do you know about it?" I asked.

"The truthful question is, how do we know we can trust the information you give us?" Sejuani added cynically.

Ashe sighed. "I don't know myself if what I'm about to tell you is true. As I said, I never knew these existed. However, I recall being told a story about these sort of necklaces when I was young and... I guess I still remember because it was my favourite legend out of them all." She paused as she gathered her thoughts.

A legend. I thought. That's why I found out nothing about the necklace in the library. I didn't check the story books.

"The necklace, theoretically," Ashe continued, "glows with a blinding light when the lover of the person wearing it is nearby. Besides that, this glow is said to have numerous powers, which I don't remember. All I can tell you is that people tried to hide such necklaces. They tried to make everyone forget about them because they believed they were 'dangerous'. The powers that they harnessed weren't dangerous themselves, but the fact that the ruby only glowed when your lover was near broke people apart. Husband and wife were driven to divorce when the ruby refused to glow. Brutal rivals killed each other when the ruby did glow. I never understood why people would make such a big deal out of a little stone that lights up, but then again, that is no place for me to comment in."

We didn't say anything for a few seconds. The information took its time to sink in. To me, it seemed as if the necklace was as useless as ever, but Sejuani had other thoughts.

"Alright," she said, "time to try it out on Shyvana one last time. We were joined by the Demacian army, there's bound to be someone that loves that poor dragon. Quinn? Got any ideas?"

I thought for a moment, not seeing any sense in any of this. I sighed. "She is my best friend, but there's a lot of things I don't know. Like why Fi..." I stopped suddenly. A crazy inkling lit up my thoughts. "Maybe. That's why..."

"What?" asked the leader.

"Fiora." I said, more confident than I really was.

"The duelist?" Sejuani smiled. "Don't tell her I said this but she seemed to stuck up to actually..." she stopped when she realized her words weren't appropriate, "Nevermind. Let's go back to them then."

"Thank you for everything, Ashe." I said to her before leaving. She simply nodded, her expression as confused as ever.

As we exited the inn Sejuani seemed to be bursting with energy.

"So if the necklace has healing powers, then Shyvana may be cured!" She said enthusiastically. "It was really under our nose all this time. It makes so much sense now. I knew there was more to it than that, I really did."

I chuckled at her child-like outburst. "We still don't know what kind of powers the glow has, but I love your enthusiasm."

"Yeah, love..." she whispered almost inaudibly, as if I wouldn't hear it.

I looked at her, but her gaze was suddenly fixed onto the ground. I clearly recalled that the necklace had glowed when the two of us tried it on... so that must mean... and the kiss... it all makes sense but...

We reached the healer's hut. Like she had done previously, Sejuani held the door open for me and I muttered a short thank you as we entered. Fiora was sat down by Shyv's side while Olava prepared some herbs with a foul odour. I recognised them at once, and realized she was trying to soothe the swelling in Shyvana's throat. The dragon's neck had already been coated with the green paste earlier, which seemed to have no effect on her.

"Found anything?" asked Fiora, trying hard to fight back tears.

I didn't want to give her false hope. "Kind of. We don't know if it will work."

I picked up the necklace from the table and approached Shyv.

"Theoretically," I said, "the ruby is supposed to glow when her lover is nearby. We don't know this for sure, of course, and I'm sorry for the personal question, but... Fiora, do you love Shyvana?"

Fiora didn't hesitate at all. "Yes, I love her."

Although I had anticipated the answer, it still took me by surprise. I smiled and slid the necklace over the dragon's head. The ruby glowed with the familiar blinding light.

We waited. I don't know what we were even expecting.

Shyvana seemed unchanged.

Olava stood up and walked over to her. She checked for her pulse and checked her breathing. She said they were in the same horrible state as they'd always been. Shyvana showed no signs of waking up. Our hearts sank.

Everything suddenly became like my dream. There was Shyvana, right before me, but I couldn't reach her. She was gone, and yet she was right in front of me. My thoughts swam in a sea of panic and helplessness. The thought that I couldn't save my best friend hit me hard... I couldn't save Caleb, and now I've failed Shyv as well...

"That's not possible," said Sejuani, "we must have missed something. We must have..."

That was it. I had lost my temper. "For Hell's sake can't you see?!" I snapped at her, my voice so loud that it hurt my throat, "We've done everything we could, Sejuani, and we can't save her! We just can't! I know it's hard for you to understand that term!"

Her expression suddenly darkened. She lunged towards me and grabbed my collar violently, holding my face a mere inch from hers so I could feel her icy breath upon my lips. Her cold eyes froze me as I felt I could no longer move, I couldn't even shudder or shake. "Don't you ever, ever, ever yell at me." She spat, her voice low and quiet, but strong enough to break me. "I tried to save your friend, and I still am. You think I did this for me? Do you really think that I would do this, for me?" Her grip tightened so I had to fight for every breath. "I did all this for you, and this is how you show your gratitude. And don't say, not even for a moment, that I don't know what can't means." She let go of my collar, but I was still unable to move, as if she locked me in place with fear. "And to think..." she whispered even quieter, "to think that I was actually... that I was actually falling in love... I couldn't have been more stupid."

My knees started shaking and the only reason why I forced myself to remain upright was because I knew Sejuani would no longer catch me if I fall. She stepped away from me and walked out, not even slamming the door as she did so. I wanted to apologise right there and then, but maybe she really did freeze me, as I found myself staring at the door for a while, until Fiora's voice woke me up.

"Quinn?" she said, almost worried. "Are you ok?"

I had no words. It's funny how certain feelings can eat up all your words and squeeze your neck so that you can't make new ones. Guilt is one of those feelings. And not only did it choke me, but I could feel it destroy me.

I was torn in between staying with Shyvana and Fiora or running after Sejuani. I looked in both directions but didn't make a move.

"Go." Fiora said, nodding towards the door.

I gave her an apologetic look before dashing outside into the snow. I couldn't see Sejuani, and I knew of two places where I could look: her house, or the inn. Firstly, I knocked on her door, but there was no reply. Then I went and checked the inn. I asked Alvor if she came by but he said no.

"Is everything ok?" Ashe asked me as I was just about to leave.

"The necklace didn't work. It didn't cure her. I put it on, it glowed but... nothing." I said to her, not mentioning anything about Sejuani (it wasn't really for her to know).

She nodded. "Well, the necklace has to be put on by the lover. Unless you're..." she trailed off.

I quite literally slapped myself. "Oh, God, Sejuani you were right..." I muttered. I looked back up at Ashe. "Ashe, sorry, I have to go, this is urgent!"

And with that I bolted out of the inn and faced the cold once more. I couldn't think of any other place where Sejuani might have gone, so I could say that I was running to a specific location but that would be a lie. It was by mere coincidence that I happened to find myself outside the library. Peeking through the window, I spotted a lit torch, which kindled the remaining bundle of hope in my chest.

I entered, fighting to close the door against the wind. In the corner of the library, I could see a pair of blue eyes looking up at me, as well as a newly formed hostility.

"Sejuani, listen to me..." I approached her slowly, as if she would pounce on me like a wild animal at any time.

"Why are you here?" she asked coldly, her question taking me by surprise. Anyway, she gave no time for an answer. "This is my tribe, I can forbid whoever I feel necessarily from treading within these grounds. You are on thin ice, Quinn. Please leave."

"Sejuani, please... Just listen to me! You were ri..."

"Just leave!" As she yelled that, she stood up, her tall and robust posture becoming too intimidating to ignore. Fear overcame me for a brief moment as I backed away one small step. Almost immediately, I noticed that she held a piece of paper in one hand and a pencil in the other.

I opened my mouth to try to say something, but the look in her eyes told me that I better not. I felt horrible. I had turned the person that saved my life against me. I walked out of the room quietly and obediently. There really was nothing else to say to Sejuani anyway. She had made up her mind about me.

For the first time, as I stepped out into the cold, I truly felt the bitter remorse that the winds of Freljord carried.