Author Notes: I'm tired. Also I need to make this as clear as possible, Chapter 7: Soul of Iron, Spirit of Stone may take a couple weeks to release while I figure out family issues. I promise I won't vanish. I got a call today regarding my grandfather's poor health...

I do hope people are enjoying this. I know I can't please everyone but I do what I can. Feel free to drop a review if you want; all are welcome.

Enjoy

Chapter 6: Stone Cold

You cannot escape me.

Riven's eyes shot open to find nothing but the white ceiling of the infirmary. The warrior's muscles laid still in aching rebellion as if ignoring Riven's mind commanding them to move. The platinum haired Noxian sighed and decided to lay there for a few moments longer. Riven feigned sleep; closing her eyes once more as she heard the door knob to her room start to turn.

"Oh, she's still asleep," a hushed female voice could be heard from the doorway.

"We should let her rest. She needs it after yesterday's events," the person accompanying the first speaker replied. "It's best we not disturb what symptomless sleep she can get."

Riven figured it was Lux and Irelia. Her suspicions were only confirmed when she heard the slight pouting behind the Demacian's voice.

"I only get her for one day before you both leave and now I have to wait," the light mage sighed.

"I know you're both there," Riven said flatly without opening her eyes.

"Crap, we woke her up," Lux whispered.

Irelia sighed and stood up straight. "Well no need to whisper anymore if she's already awake Lux," the Ionian yawned and stretched her arms.

Riven didn't bother to move knowing that soon Lux was going to be dragging her around shopping for clothing. Riven's mind cut out the small chatter between the other two champions and wandered back to the events of the day before. A question was tugging at her mind that she felt needed to be asked. "Lux, do you mind giving Irelia and me a moment alone? I promise if you just give me this little bit of time I will be ready to leave with you after okay?"

"She's all yours! You got a deal Riv!" Lux exclaimed gleefully while shoving the surprised Ionian captain into the room and shutting the door.

"H-Hey!" Irelia stammered when Lux half slammed the door from excitement. The Ionian's jade eyes slowly shifted over to meet a piercing crimson stare.

Riven's eyes narrowed. "You're tired," she said in a firm tone.

"I'm fin—"

"Don't lie," the Noxian interrupted. "You're exhausted; I can see it in your eyes and its written all over your body language."

Irelia's gaze shifted away from Riven's. She knew the exile could tell she was drained. "Don't worry about it…"

"Trust me; I'm not," Riven replied plainly. "What I want to know is why all of a sudden you have an interest in my life and problems. You of all people should be the last person to give a shit about the wellbeing of a Noxian Commander that murdered your countrymen."

The un-prepared Ionian flinched slightly from the brutal and blunt honesty behind Riven's voice. She felt her eyes shift to the floor. She couldn't find the answer the exile sought so she chose to remain silent. The Ionian warrior's mouth pressed into a firm line and she walked over to Riven's bedside. She quietly placed a roll of bandages and her medicine tin onto the nightstand and turned her back to the exile and walked back to the door. "This isn't about me," the captain's tone was cold. "So worry about yourself if you are even capable of doing so before questioning the actions of others." With those final words the Will of the Blades opened the door without so much as looking back at the semi-shocked Noxian and stepped out into the hall. She immediately closed the door.

"Oh, you're leaving…so…soon?" Lux blinked a couple times as the Ionian champion pushed passed the blonde, completely ignoring her. Oh my… the Demacian thought. Lux quietly watched Irelia stalk off down the hallway. The four blades followed in close pursuit. The light mage hesitated slightly as her slender fingers wrapped around the door knob to Riven's room.

She paused for a moment while she attempted to emotionally adjust to the somewhat awkward situation she just found herself in. Please don't be in a bad mood…Please don't be in a bad mood, the blonde repeated to herself as she opened the door. Lux squeezed her eyes shut as she braced herself for a barrage of yelling only to be greeted by complete silence. The light mage peeked through one eye after the initial wave of silence she didn't expect passed by. The Demacian allowed her defensively tense muscles to relax as she stood up straight and adjusted her uniform.

The Noxian exile was sitting up in bed and held a distant gaze with the wall across from her. Her legs were bent and pulled up towards her chest under the covers with her forearms rested upon her knees. Riven's fingers mindlessly fiddled with the small circular medicine tin, weaving and turning the container between the joints of the soldier's battle hardened hands. She showed no interest the presence of another person being in her company.

Well this is awkward, Lux thought as her body weight shifted and rolled between the balls of her feet and her heels. She pulled her arms behind her back while her body weight continued its nervous shifting. Her mind shuffled through ways on how to end the silence in the room. For once, the Demacian was lost for words. Awkward! So very awkward! Her mind screamed as she started to hum quietly to herself to try and get comfortable in the dense silence. Lux expelled a huge sigh of relief when Riven's voice broke the silence.

"You're all making a huge mistake sending me to Ionia," Riven said calmly. She didn't bother looking at Lux. "I hope you're all prepared for what lies ahead of us. My entire future has been compromised by the meddling of others," her tone was stone cold.

The light mage held her ground, "Is that what Noxus teaches its people how to describe help? As meddling—"

"You don't know me, Crownguard," Riven snapped. "Neither does Irelia, so stop acting like you have the right to know if something is wrong with me or not! I didn't come seeking your help and quite honestly I didn't want it! You never knew the real Riven and you never will. Neither of you will EVER understand me nor how I feel."

Lux's attempt to keep a strong composure faltered. She always seemed to find herself on the receiving end of Riven's anger and frustration. It was starting to weigh on Lux. Her voice cracked, "I know how it feels to be a soldier. I know how it feels to lose comrades and loved ones. The only difference I see is the battle standard of service under which we stand…" The light mage could feel herself shaking as she tried to fight back the tears. What that fear she felt? She jumped slightly as Riven roared in anger and ripped off the covers so she could stand.

"You and I are far from the same! You will never understand me or my thoughts just from reading a book! I lost everything that day! My soldiers, my honor, my dignity and according to you my mind! I lost my home, one of which I loved and served with my entire existence, and I'll be damned if I am to lose a place I can finally call home once again because of you!" Riven was livid. The larger of the two women stood a whole head and shoulders taller than the Demacian. "I don't know what the bigger burden is, my past or you and Irelia," the exile growled. Riven felt the wind get semi-knocked out of her as two hands hit her chest and pushed her back slightly. It must have taken the combination of all the strength Lux could muster and Riven not being prepared for the sudden physical contact of the shove itself.

The pair of blue irises burned with anger behind the tears that had welled up in front of them. The light mage's entire being shook as she stared down the Noxian who was trying to recover her breath. "I lost my home before to, Riven, and a family with it," Lux choked out a response through her tears. "P-Pardon me, for trying to help someone I thought could change. Maybe you've been right this whole time and there isn't anything wrong with you. Maybe you're just as cold as the mindless weapon Noxus forged you to be!" Lux couldn't hold back the tears any longer as she brought her hands up to swiftly wipe them from her eyes and cheeks as she turned and left the room with haste.

The exile felt floored by the Demacian's reaction. Her crimson eyes took in the emptiness of the room. Riven sighed deeply and rubbed her temples with her fingers. What purpose…does this internal anger…truly serve me…? The Noxian shook her head slightly and collected what little belongings she had in the infirmary. "Why did I live…?" she whispered to herself.

Because, you ran. Only cowards survive.

Riven flinched as a large armored boot stepped onto the floor. Her eyes shifted to the dark nightmare that haunted her for so long. The Noxian could feel the anxiety start to kick in. "Get…away from me," she warned. "You're not real," Riven hissed as she subconsciously felt herself start to back away.

I'm as real as the blood that flows through your veins, the air that you breathe, the ground that you walk, and the ideals you once believed.

The shadowy figure only took steps closer. The armor it wore was easy to match its faction.

Riven continued to back away until the backs of her knees met the side of the bed causing her to collapse backwards onto the plush surface. She sat up quickly and stared up at the looming shadow whose face was still hidden behind the dark iron helmet and hood. This is how it always was, looking up at it; always defeated. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face away when the figure leaned in close to Riven; its metal hidden face only inches from her ear.

I own you.

Her eyes flew open and she turned her head back forward only to be met by the room's emptiness once more. Riven's shoulders heaved from her heavy breathing and small beads of sweat had begun to form above her brow. She quickly wiped the sweat away and stood up from the bed while fighting her body for control so she could calm herself. Riven grabbed her things and walked to the door still slightly shaken up. Her right hand mindlessly grabbed at the air; M-My sword…Riven quickly walked towards the main hall of the Institute.

It wasn't long before she found herself half jogging towards the living quarters for independent champions that didn't claim loyalty toward a specific city-state. Riven stopped and furiously turned as a hand grabbed her shoulder. She grumbled seeing who the hand belonged to.

"So…Riven," he smugly cooed, "Draven has figured out why you're so crazy."

Riven's expression held that of stern annoyance and a hint of disgust. One frosty eyebrow rose slightly.

Draven cleared his throat, hand still firm on Riven's shoulder. "Draven gets this a lot and sees it a lot to," Draven leaned close to Riven. "You're crazy for Drav— The Glorious Executioner choked slightly as a hand gripped his throat tightly.

Riven's blazing glare showed no sign of mercy as she held the gagging Noxian by the neck. She pulled Draven's face closer to her own. "Screw…off," she growled and shoved the man away.

Draven stumbled backwards and slammed against the wall coughing and holding his throat as he slid down the wall to sit down.

"Pffft!" the champion with long blue braids and decorated with guns and ammo tried to hold back a laugh. "Ladies man he claims!" Jinx threw herself on the floor and rolled around laughing like a crazed maniac and kicking her legs in the process.

Riven scowled and turned her back to the two champions who probably had more mental issues than she did and walked away, hearing the maniacal laughing echo down the hall.

Upon reaching her room the exile shoved her hand into one of the leather pouches attached to her belt and dug around for the key. She finally found the key, unlocked the door and swung it open. There, hanging from the wrack on the wall was the broken rune blade. Riven sighed in relief and walked over to the blade. The single viridian rune glowed a little brighter as its master approached it.

"I've returned…" She touched the rune of the blade softly to get a lively flicker in return.

It had grown dark upon the Institute as night engulfed the land. A single blade from the set of four swiftly cut through the air, mimicking the path of its master's arm as it swung. The enchanted steel continued to move with Irelia's fluid motions. Each strike was smooth and efficient as the blades would separate and re-join once again showing no sign of hesitation or mercy if the steel were striking down an opponent.

What I want to know is why all of a sudden you have an interest in my life and problems.

Irelia tried to ignore the statement Riven made earlier in the infirmary but to no avail; it disrupted her concentration. Why did she care? Why waste the energy or the time on an individual whose hands dripped with the blood of her people. What troubled Irelia most was not the reasoning behind the sudden interest she had in the Noxian but the almost uncontrollable subconscious internal need to be near the exile.

Irelia shook her head slightly as if attempting to physically dislodge the nagging questions from her mind and remain focused on the task at hand. This isn't about me… her own words rung in her mind. Is it? Irelia tilted her head back and released a long and drawn out sigh of slight frustration. The once lively blades came to rest and calmly bobbed at the Ionian's side. Irelia quietly stood in the training hall. Her pointer finger and thumb cupped her chin and she closed her eyes as she thought over the recent months when this "need" started to become seemingly noticeable. What could be the reason…? Her hand subconsciously touched one of the blades that silently floated at her side.

Clang!

Her jade eyes shot open as the event that sparked this whole situation surged through her thoughts. The blades at her side buzzed loudly with power while she physically backed up as if she had been struck by something. It can't be...That cannot be the reason… Irelia quickly turned and left the training room.

The halls of the Institute that buzzed with life in the light hours of the day were soulless as the footsteps of the Ionian captain echoed off the walls. The feint sound of gleeful laughter and song would break the silence every so often as the noise from the bar would travel through the empty halls. Large moonbeams lit the hall through the large windows as Irelia approached the housing section of the league that hosted Champions who claimed service to no one particular city-state.

Irelia walked swiftly down torch lit hall of rooms. Her blades continued to buzz irritably as she stood in front of the door to Riven's room. She balled her right hand into a fist and lifted her arm. She hesitated slightly before she began to pound on the wooden door.

Riven's closed eye-lids twitched slightly as the banging sound on the door disturbed the silence of her room. The exile rolled over to face her back towards the door. Loud noises such as these she tended to ignore thinking it were just her mind playing tricks to disturb her rest. Riven's eyes opened realizing it wasn't her imagination as her door took a second round of beating. What the hell? Riven rolled out of bed still feeling the effects of being half asleep. The exile hissed slightly as the warm pads of her feet made contact with the cold surface of the floor. She yawned softly and approached the door while rubbing her eyes. Who would be here at this ungodly hour… probably another drunk and lost summoner like the last time… the exile thought while she grumbled slightly and cursed in her native tongue under her breath as she unlatched the lock and grabbed the handle to open the door.

As soon as the door handle clicked Riven found herself getting pushed back along with the door as the visitor forced themselves into the dim room. "H-Hey! What the hell are you doing!?" The shocked Noxian gasped as she tried to get vision of the perpetrator. Riven's eyes narrowed as she realized who her visitor was. There, standing in the moonlight being cast into the room from the window was non-other than Irelia. "If you're here to scold me again about how I talk to Lux I don't want to hear it," Riven spoke in an irritated tone.

Irelia didn't reply. She simply stood there in the silence. Her attention was not focused on the Noxian at all.

One platinum eye-brow rose slightly as she stared at the silent Ionian visitor. "What are you doing here?" the Noxian asked as she tried to figure out the meaning for this unexpected visit at this hour of the night. Riven grumbled, she was still getting no answers out of the Will of the Blades. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" The now frustrated exile yelled as she walked up and reached out to grab Irelia's shoulder. "Ngh…" Riven pulled her hand back and raised both hands up to show she was unarmed. The all too familiar feeling of that four blade weapon pointing at her throat was un-nerving. What Riven didn't understand is why the weapon master wasn't looking at her. Riven shifted her eyes in an attempt to track the vision path of her, rather aggressive, guest. Riven's eyes narrowed as she realized what Irelia was staring at. The single viridian rune etched within the broken rune stone blade flickered aggressively in the dark.