Tryndamere looked down at Ashe, his eyes narrowing to small slits. "I wonder what brings him here.." He then turned away from Ashe to examine the men once more. "Did Anivia say whether he was bringing anyone with him?"
Ashe chewed her lip, following his gaze. Were their people ready? Could they hold off brand? "She didn't say. But she has sworn her loyalty to us so I can only assume that he is coming alone. If that is the case we will not need all these men. You and I could take care of him on our own. But let's be safe.."
The next few days Ashe and Tryndamere continued to train their people. Preparing their people for the worst. During times like this Ashe and Tryndamere seemed even more distant, each focusing on what they needed to. At the end of the night Ashe and Tryndamere sat in their bedroom in complete silence, the two of them entirely lost in thought. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Tryndamere rose to answer it. Opening the door he was shocked to see Nunu standing there. "I'm sorry my King but I have news." Tryndamere stood aside to let the boy in.
Ashe smiled softly and stood up, walking over to greet her dear friend Nunu. "What is it Nunu? What news do you have for us?" She asked as Tryndamere came to stand by her side, staring down at the yeti rider.
"I was informed that a small tribe has wished to speak with you and make an alliance tomorrow.. They are somewhat of a barbaric bunch. I feel that it would be much safer if Tryndamere were to go rather than you my queen." Nunu cast his eyes down, afraid that Tryndamere would take offense to the statement.
Tryndamere reached up to give his beard a tug before turning away and walking to the fire place. All he could think about was what if Brand wasn't alone? What if Aatrox was with him or what if Ashe couldn't do this without him? But then he remember that she was the Queen of Freljord, she was capable of much more than he could imagine. Gritting his teeth he turned back to the two, both of their eyes on him seeming to be waiting for some type of response. "I will go. I will affirm the alliance and return swiftly. In the mean type all I can do is pray that Brand does not show while I am away. I will leave tonight. I will be there by morning and home as soon as possible." Taking a few short steps he comes to a stop in front of Ashe. Taking her arms in his hands and looking down at her. "Until then I trust that you can hold your own. If need be do not be afraid to call for help from our men. Do not try and do this alone unless you are entirely sure that you can. You know as well as I do what Brand is capable of."
With that Tryndamere released her and changed, pulling his helmet and gauntlets on. Nunu nodded and left the two to be alone before Tryndamere's departure. Ashe watched with a heavy heart as Tryndamere walked to the door, turning to face her. With her head down Ashe walked over to Tryndamere, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. Before he got a chance to hug her back she pulled away and walked to the window. "Be safe." Her words were soft and she didn't look back as the door opened and then closed again.
When the sun began to peek through the open window Ashe rose from her empty, cold bed, her face placid and showing no emotion. Dressing in her signature kelly green dress with yellow details she pulls her hood slowly over her head, tucking a few stray strands of hair inside. Her boots pulled up over her knees and her gauntlets adjusted perfectly to her hands. Ashe stood in the window, looking out across the capital city of Rakelstake. The palace loomed over the rest of the city and had a view of anything and everything that went on. A knock on the door startled Ashe from her daze and she knit her eyebrows together, wondering who could possibly be awake and bothering her at this hour.
"The door is open. Do come in." Her voice just loud enough for the person to hear. The queen turned her body towards the door, her hand resting on her bow.
With a creak the door pushed and in walked one of the palace's heralds, a grim look on their face. "I have word from Tryndamere my queen. He asks that you meet him near the Lokfar border. It seems as if things aren't going as hoped." The herald lowered his eyes as he waited for Ashe's reaction.
"I will meet him at once. Send for Anivia, tell her to help keep Brand at bay if he is to appear before Tryndamere and I return." She didn't even give it a second thought. Not even noticing how unlikely it is for Tryndamere to call for help. After all, he is the Barbarian King and can carry an entire army by himself. Soon, Ashe was on her way towards the Lokfar border, an imagine of Tryndamere hurt clouding her mind. "I needn't worry so much.. He probably just needs help explaining something."
The sun started to dip below the horizon, dark shadows coloring the land as the sky lit of in beautiful hues of orange and pink. Taking a moment to drink in the beautiful sunset Ashe frowned, she was close to the Lokfar border and so far there is no sign of Tryndamere. She should have asked before she rushed out blindly where along the border she was supposed to meet him. No matter. She would walk along until she found her Barbarian King.
As the light faded from the land there was a period of almost entire darkness. Ashe froze, sensing that she was not alone. "Who's there?" A gust of wind blew through the area and there was the faint sound of clothes brushing against each other. Spinning around swiftly Ashe drew her bow, the darkness was so unnatural. She had the feeling that Nocturne could be around here, causing this darkness. A light glow came from her right and she turned to face it. Staring Brand directly in the face, a scream frozen in her throat. "Well hello my beautiful queen." He grinned, the darkness faded and the light from the moon shone down on the two of them.
"Brand.. How did you know I was going to be here?" Ashe's voice quivered with a slight hint of fear. There was no reason for her to feel afraid, after all she was the queen of Freljord and the Frost Archer entrusted with an ancient bow. "Ah.. Well there's the funny part dear.. You see, I told you to come here with a little bit of help… Lissandra helped me get the message. See we have been watching you long enough, and when Tryndamere left. It just so happened to be the perfect time to strike." Brand reached up a flaming hand, pushing back the Freljordian queen's hood and staring into her beautiful ice blue eyes.
"This is just too perfect." He exclaimed as he traced his fingertips lightly across her cheek. A burning stinging sensation left on the young queen's cheek. With a yelp of surprise she reaches up to cover her face, surprised at how insanely his touched burned her. "Don't touch me!" Panic rose up in her throat at Brand grabbed a hold of both of her wrists, the pain so intense that her vision went blurry at the edges. All she could think about was how badly she wanted Tryndamere to appear and rescue her.. She wanted anyone to show up and rescue her.
"You're making a mistake Brand. Let me go and I won't make any sort of retaliation.. Go through with this and you will regret it." Ashe tried not to struggle against his grasp but his flaming palms burned her delicate skin terribly. Brand let go and Ashe stole a quick glance at her wrists, despite the pain there were no marks. The flames hadn't actually burned her flesh just left her with the sensation of being on fire. "But my queen.. I can promise you will enjoy every moment of it." With a laugh Brand wrapped his arms around her, pulling her small frame against his chest. Struggling against his grasp only made the burning pain more harsh, a scream was frozen in Ashe's throat. She felt as if her skin was melting and her blood was literally boiling, the pain was so intense that her blurry vision returned, getting increasingly worse until she collapsed like a limp rag doll against the fiery fiend's chest.
A few days had passed since Tryndamere left his home and Ashe behind to take care of some diplomatic measures at the far end of Freljord. A barbarian tribe that wasn't much different from his own was interested in joining the cause. He had almost forgot their ways, but within a few hours he was laughing and talking just like the rest of them. Tryndamere had forgotten his promise that he would be home as soon as possible. As time quickly passes when one is having fun, especially with people much like one's self. Eventually the time had come for him to talk to the leader of the group and affirm the alliance, make sure that his men would fight beside his queen if needed. "What do you say? Will you agree to fight with me and my queen?" Questioned the King of Freljord, attempting to use less of an eloquent vocabulary. The barbarian ruler stroked his long beard, thinking over Tryndamere's words. If he was wise at all he would realize that this is the best way to ensure that his people survive against the wrath of the Ice Witch of the leader of the Winter's Claw. With a single nod and grunt the barbarian agreed and the two hugged in an awkward somewhat masculine way to show brotherhood. Tryndamere allowed himself to continue to party with them for the rest of the day before deciding that it is time for him to make his leave and head back to Rakelstake.
When the king first arrived back in Rakelstake he was surprised at how quiet everything was. It appeared at if Brand had never showed up, as if his men never left their beds for war. Heading straight to the castle he furrows his brow as he is instantly swarmed with the servants and others that lived in the castle. "My king! My king! Something terrible has happened!" Tryndamere stopped and looked around, trying to see if he could spot his beautiful queen amongst the crowd.
"Where is my queen? Is she not well?" He questioned, pushing his way through the group and towards the stairs. He wanted to get to his bedroom and see Ashe if she wasn't well. "That's just it my lord… Queen Ashe is gone.. She said she was going to help you. That there were problems securing the alliance. She has been missing since shortly after your departure. Brand never showed up, so we can only assume that he is the one responsible for her disappearance."
Tryndamere clenched his fists tightly, teeth clenching as he attempted to calm the rage that was rising inside of him. He pushed open the doors to his bedroom and looked around to see that in fact the Queen and her bow was gone. Shaking his head in disbelief he turned towards his followers and closed his eyes for a moment. "Then I will bring her back.." Shoving everyone out of the way he rushed from the castle and decided that the best place to look for his queen would be in Lokfar. Brand's home.
AN: I have decided that I am going to put what happens to Ashe in the next chapter. After realizing how long this one was getting. Sorry it has taken me so long to update the story, I promise I haven't forgotten about you guys! Definitely more to come. :)