Author's Note: Update, my most recent visit with my doctor has revealed that my blind spots in my eyes have reduced even more. Thank you all SO much for the kind words of support. You all are so wonderful and I feel blessed to have you as readers. I am still fighting and I will beat this beast. I hope for the day my doctor says I am fully into remission.

R&R always welcome and please enjoy.

-RS

Chapter 26: The Heart of a Nation

The night air was calm as Riven and Irelia finished ascending the staircase. An ambiance of crashing water from the falls below kept the silence away; the sky littered with shining starlight. Riven raised an icy brow as the Captain paused and turned to face the Noxian, a mischievous little smile on her lips. Riven leaned back a bit, the look on the Captain's face making her nervous. The exile straightened up as Irelia did, the Captain pressing her back against the ornate doors of the temple.

"Why are you staring?" Riven muttered, "Is there something on my face?"

Irelia leaned forward a bit, a curious look on her features as if there had been something there.

Riven looked confused as she lowered her head a bit, allowing the Captain a closer look. "Irel-

The exile was silenced as soft lips pressed into hers, taking Riven completely off guard. Her eyes rolled closed for only a second before lazily opening once more, feeling the body in front of her snap up straight and cutting the moment short.

"There is strange magic here," the old woman's voice stated curiously, shuffling around the two champions with an inquisitive observance.

Once Riven figured out what happened, she too felt her spine go tight as she straightened up. The once closed doors behind Irelia were open and an old woman no taller than her waistline was shuffling circles around them both with a curious look. Riven's eyes shifted to Irelia's face; the expression was priceless. The exile tried to hold back a chuckle as she looked at the Captain's face, bright red with embarrassment, her expression screaming, I've been caught.

"E-Elder Mak-

The old woman put up her hand, silencing the much younger, stuttering, Ionian.

Riven blinked and looked back and forth over her own shoulders to see behind her, hearing the Elder mumbling things under her breath. The exile's body went tight and an uncomfortable chill ran up her spine as two hands gripped both sides of her hips; a petrified look on her face.

"It is!" Elder Mako leaned out from behind Riven's back and looked up towards Irelia, "It is made of the earth!" The Elder rasped out a laugh, releasing Riven's hips and stepping around them both. "Come, come! There is much to discuss!"

Neither Riven nor Irelia relaxed as Mako walked back into the temple.

"Is she always this lively?" Riven muttered.

Irelia just nodded with an awkward smile on her face.

"Hurry up," Mako nagged from down the hall, "I'm not getting any younger down here."

The Captain finally relaxed and chuckled, "come on," she encouraged.

Riven took a deep breath and quietly walked next to Irelia down the hall towards where the Ionian Elder had beckoned them.

Irelia sighed deeply as she stepped into room they'd been summoned. "Elder Mako…must you wear such things?" The Captain questioned the antlered animal skull sitting upon the elder's head.

Mako paid no mind to Irelia as she set her cane that she clearly didn't need aside. "You know as well as I do its importance, young mind of the new era." Elder Mako turned and clapped her hands, her wrinkled fingers clasping together and a smile on her face while her clouded silver eyes shifted between the two Champions. The elder's blue tattoos were bright against Mako's tanned skin and the animal skins and furs didn't extend passed the old woman's elbows. "So," Mako's voice was raspy, "I see you've bought the blade that Soraka forbade."

Irelia closed her eyes and lowered her head a bit.

Riven noticed the subtle display of guilt and felt the need to speak up, "How do you know Soraka told me not to bring it?"

"It told me," Mako replied with a smile.

"It...what?" A look of surprise swept over Riven's face.

Irelia raised her head back up at the comment.

"Sit," Mako gestured to them both to sit as she did. The old Ionian shaman closed her eyes and sat up straight with her legs crossed as she waited for Riven and Irelia to comply with her request.

Riven looked at Irelia to see what she would do. Once the Captain sat down upon the fur skins on the floor across from the Elder, she too sat down next to Irelia, looking at Mako as she did. Riven knew that Ionia as a nation was a land of mysticism and wonders but to sit in front of an Elder forged in the ways of speaking to the world's very planes of existence made her more nervous than before. Just what did Mako mean that the blade told her of Soraka's words...

"Place the blade upon the stone so we can begin," Elder Mako requested, her eyes remaining closed.

Riven sat there silently for a couple seconds that felt like hours. The exile turned her head and looked at Irelia, who had set a hand upon her forearm tenderly. The gentle emerald irises of the Captain's eyes soothed Riven's nerves enough to allow Riven to take a deep breath and draw the stone shard of the once great blade from its holder. The throbbing single viridian rune, etched into the black stone, illuminated the darkened space between them all as Riven set the blade down upon the fur draped over the flat stone table. Riven retracted her hands and nervously sat up straight, her crimson eyes bouncing between the rune blade and Mako.

"This stone was cut from the heart of a nation," Elder Mako began, her eyes still closed as she spoke the words.

Before Riven could even process the meaning behind the words, the exile flinched as Mako threw her short arms out over the blade, releasing a cloud of white dust. The Noxian felt her spine go tight as she watched the dust suspending over the black stone of the blade, the single rune's glow illuminating the dust. Feeling Irelia's hand wasn't as comforting as it was before.

"Riven," Irelia whispered softly, "relax, my heart."

Gods how she wanted to. She truly wanted to but...what if the blade did speak...what if the earth revealed things she did not wish to relive...what if...

The dust began to move.

"The spirits of the mountain are full of hate and torment," Mako began, the dust forming shape into a very familiar sight.

Home.

Riven's attention was fully caught. The mountain...the mountain she knew. The one that loomed high over the land from which she came.

The dust changed, twisting and swirling itself into the shape of people.

"The dark magics practiced within the mountain's heart twisted the very earth itself," Mako continued, the figures moving as if casting spells, "turning it black." The dust dispersed back into a cloud once more as the figure's finished their spell. The dust settled, slowly suspended above the blade for a short moment before forming into a man who threw his arm out towards the spell casters, "until one man cast them away."

Be gone from this mountain, the voice a distorted echo, your foul magic will plague us with weakness no longer!

Darkwill...Riven lipped the words as she watch the figure turn from the spell casters and raise his arms to the endless crowd of people looking up at him.

The dust dispersed once more this time forming a child standing there innocently, before being shoved down by another. "Stone is strong. The earth knows when strength walks upon it more than anything else." The child got up.

Irelia looked at Riven, she knew what was to come from this. The black rune blade was made of the very earth of her home, it knew everything until it left with the exile. Perhaps more answers can be found from this.

"However, the stones of this land know pain and agony as well."

Riven looked away as the dust played through images of her own torment while growing up. The teasing. The burning home. The trial.

"This stone is cursed," Mako opened her eyes and looked at Riven directly. "The day it was cleaved from the mountain and formed into a mighty weapon, the runes were carved into its face for a reason."

At this point even Irelia turned her head to look at Mako with a questioning look.

"Necromancy," The elder almost growled from the very word. "The black magic that turned the granite stone of the mountain black. They knew the one to wield the sword was not attuned to wield black magic, so the runes were carved into the blade as some form of spell ward while still lending the power to make the weapon more deadly without harming the warrior."

Riven looked shocked from the accusation, "I am not a necromancer!"

All color had bled from Irelia's face.

"I am not saying you are, Riven," Elder Mako replied calmly, "but," the dust formed into the image of a figure breaking the blade, "the day you shattered the seal, was the day you allowed that dark magic to seep into your very Ki. Your poisoned state of existence is more than just your experiences, exile."

"Ki..." Riven frowned, "I cannot say I understand."

"Life force," Irelia mumbled.

Riven looked at Irelia, who was still white as a ghost from the realization. Her attention snapped back to the Elder as she spoke up.

"The blade is nothing but a parasite now," Mako warned, "and once a soul is touched by necromancy," her silver eyes shifted to Irelia, who was now looking away, "it never forgets.'

"What do you suggest I do...?" Riven asked, starting to feel more concerned for Irelia than her own well being.

"There is nothing we can do now," Mako replied, "The damage has already been done. All you can do now is learn to cope with it. Young Irelia, may I have a word with you."

The Captain simply nodded and got up as the Elder did and followed the older woman outside of the room.

Riven didn't feel comfortable at all as the two left, she now alone with the dust and the blade. The dust twisted from the image of the day she broke the blade into ghastly, distorted, skulls. The exile growled and swiped her hand through the dust, causing it to free fall onto the face of the rune blade. Riven huffed and looked at her clenched fist and sighed somberly, letting the dust slip from her fingers as she released it. She covered her face with her palms. Oh how used to this feeling she truly was, just her and the blade, its lonely emerald light the only company she had for so long.

"Irelia," Mako addressed the clearly distracted Ionian Captain.

The Captain looked down at the Elder quietly, her eyes sad and face still pale.

Mako frowned sadly, "Oh, young one, do not stress over this revelation. You too were confused and wanted answers."

"You said souls touched by necromancy never forget..." Irelia mumbled, "does this mean that it was the black magic that called me to her?"

Mako could see the sadness in the emerald eyes of the one she basically considered a daughter, "I will not sugar coat this for you, my little one, but that is a question only you can find the answer."

The Captain nodded quietly before hearing the sprinting foot steps approaching them. She turned to find Yu gasping for air as he stood before them.

"Elder," the young man exhaled the title and bowed to the best of his ability.

Mako waved her hand, "You look like you have something to say boy, spit it out!" Mako chuckled.

"Ca-Ca-Ca," Yu couldn't manage to say Irelia's title as he coughed from the running he had just done.

"Breath, Yu," Irelia said, "What happened?"

"Murder," he managed to say, "Hebo saw it happen. You're needed, now."

Even Mako look surprised as the message of the events taking place in the city caught even her off guard.

"Elder, I need to go," Irelia looked down to Mako and bowed respectfully.

"Go, go," Mako pressed, "I will see to it that your guest is entertained."

Irelia nodded and turned to quickly follow Yu out of the temple.

Once the two were out of sight, Mako sighed an removed the antlered skull from her head and ran a hand through her starlight hair. The change in the winds was more than a warning. The Elderly Ionian quietly opened the door to see the exile still sitting before the blade, likely coming to terms with the news. Mako sighed and walked over to Riven and sat down next to the much larger Noxian warrior. "Long ago, there were many mighty animal Lords that ruled over the lands," Mako stated.

Riven lowered her hands from her face and quietly stared off into the dimly lit room.

"The mightiest of all the Lords was Ro'Kang, the White Tiger, ruler of the valleys." Mako looked out into the room as the exile did, "She ruled with grace, power, and pride. She was just and true to her words and all the people of Ionia loved her, even those from other tribes." The Elder looked at Riven, "gather your blade, warrior, let us take a walk."

For some odd reason, Riven complied to the request. Her legs felt like lead and every muscle screamed in rebellion to not move and stay put, yet, Riven ignored it. Gathering the blade, the exile shook the dust free and placed it back within the leather holder.

"Come, come," the Elder gestured for Riven to pick up her pace, "it is a beautiful night."

Just as the exile made it to the door she paused, looking down at the Elder, "where is Irelia?" She questioned.

"Bah," Mako played off the Captain's absence as if it was nothing important, "That girl has always wondered off somewhere or another, just like when she was a kid!" The last thing the Elder needed Riven to know that a murder had just occurred. "I'm too damn old to keep up with you young lings these days."

Riven felt slightly relieved, partially from Mako's nonchalant reasoning behind Irelia's sudden absence. "I see..."

The elderly woman's face expressed a genuine smile as she began to walk away, knowing all too well that the Noxian warrior was sure to follow. "Keep up, exile, I know more than I shared."

Riven blinked and raised an eye brow.

"Just who was that lovely red-head, hm?"

Riven's eye twitched and her knuckles popped as her fingers balled up. "What do you know!?" Riven started to chase the older woman, whom took off down the staircase at blazing speed. What the hell!? The exile nearly stumbled down the stairs as she tried to keep up.

Mako laughed as she bounded away, "Oh, what a scandalous life!" The Elder taunted the exile.

Riven huffed as she continued to chase down the old woman, the streets they took empty and lifeless, not that Riven paid any attention to detail. "What do you know!?" She shouted. It wasn't until the area got darker the further she chased until she realized where she was. The exile drew in heavy breaths, seeing that Mako was no where to be seen.

"Sit down, exile," Mako's voice cam from behind the exile as she did just what she requested of Riven.

Riven jumped a bit and whipped around, seeing the old woman sitting upon the ground facing the body of water outside Irelia's home. "What do you know...?" Riven lowered her head, refusing to sit until the question was answered, her starlight bangs shrouding away her crimson eyes.

Elder Mako was calm, her breathing normal as if the chase had never happened, "you were scared."

Riven lifted her head to look at Mako sitting before her; the exile towering over the small Ionian woman, blocking out the moonlight as the Elder sat in her shadow. "Scared of what?" Riven snapped the word.

"Your feelings," Mako replied flatly, "just as you are now."

"I fear nothing like that," the exile grumbled.

"You fear your own shadow," Mako responded factually. The Elder put her hand on the ground next to her, "now, please sit."

Riven frowned and sat down next to Mako, looking out over the moonlit waters. Just where was this conversation going?

"Once there were mighty animal lords that-

"Ruled the lands of Ionia," Riven interrupted, crossing her arms impatiently.

Mako opened one eye and looked at the exile. Oh how flustered she looked. "Ro'Kang, the White Tiger, charged herself with protecting the people of the valleys, where the largest of the old tribes resided. You see, the lands were fertile and the waters clean. She was most beloved, however, peace would not always remain."

Riven listened quietly, trying to take her mind off 'that lovely red-head' the Elder mentioned just before.

"You see, Serpentis, the Lord of the Southern Isles, was a mighty snake. He and the people who followed his ways were jealous of the tribes of the valleys. So, being the devious serpent he was, he went to the valleys to consult Ro'Kang. Before he arrived, he requested that his own people injure him, to make his claims more believable." Mako moved her hands as she spoke.

Riven recalled the time she spent in the valleys, and the type of warfare the Ionian resistance used. Deceptive...laying among the dead.

"Oh mighty Ro'Kang," the serpent plead, bleeding before the great tiger, "my people, they've been ambushed by ssstrangers from beyond the sssea. Pleassse, help usss before they attack you to..."

The mighty tiger looked down upon her brother, wounded and pleading for her aid, "Strangers dare set foot upon these sacred lands?"

"You see," Mako began, "the people of the valley did not trust the the great serpent, for in the past, his people had tried to take their lands for their own."

"I shall see to it that these strangers are expelled from these lands, Serpentis, after all, we have set our differences aside," The mighty tiger made her decree. The tiger turned to see the concerned looks upon her people's faces, "fear not, I will return to you, no matter what. You have my word."

"Oh, yesss, tiger lord, you humble ussss with your asssistanssss."

"And so, Ro'Kang set out to help the serpent's tribes, however, things were not what they seemed. A great darkness lingered in the lands of the south and soon Ro'Kang found herself surrounded by many warriors. The mighty tiger lashed out, fighting off the attackers even though she was greatly outnumbered. She plead for Serpentis to help, yet, he was no where to be found. Then in the heat of battle, the mighty snake showed his true intentions and bit Ro'kang in her back. The mighty tiger roared in great pain that even the people of the northern mountains could hear it echo through out the lands." Mako sighed deeply, her hands resting in her lap, "the serpents poison seeped into the mighty tiger's very bones and she fell to the earth, her strength withering with every passing moment."

"Serpentis," Ro'Kang huffed in pain as she lay on the ground, the warriors halting their assault, "Betrayer..."

"Oh, come now, Ro'Kang, you truly thought that we needed your help? You insult usss with ssssuch accusationsss of weaknessss," Serpentis whispered into the tiger's ear, knowing all too well she could do nothing, "who is weak now?"

The once great tiger laid there in silence, the words proving more poisonous than what ran through her veins.

"For a great many days the people of the valley waited for their beloved protector to return, but alas, they waited on baited breath. Soon, the people of the valley would find themselves slaves to the great serpent, as his mighty warriors marched into the valleys. The very land and sky turned dark under the serpent's rule and the other tribes separated themselves even further from Serpentis' reach," Mako continued.

Riven seemed enthralled by the Elder's tale, her hand resting upon her wrapped up scars of her left forearm, "what became of the tiger?"

Mako closed her eyes, "once Ro'Kang regained enough strength to make her way home, the sight was unbearable to see. The lands were no longer hers, and the hearts of her people in chains. The tiger once thought she was the mightiest of all the animal lords, yet, she failed to protect her people, and so, the once great tiger hid away in the depths of the mountains."

The exile frowned, "if the tiger was the mightiest creature in all the lands, then surly she knew better than to hide!"

Mako chuckled humbly, "your passion is pleasing." The Elder looked up to the sky, "After many years, a young nomad made his way up the mountain to a cave where many said the tiger was thought to live. He would become one of the first monks of Ionia."

The man dressed in simple clothing stepped forward and stood before the opening of the great cave. He stepped into the cave and noticed a mighty beast laying down towards the back wall. "Oh mighty tiger lord," the nomad addressed the beast with the utmost respect, dropping to his knees and bowing to the floor before the tiger, "I have found you at last."

A silence lingered between Ro'Kang and the young man as the tiger's worn blue eyes watched him with an exhausted stare.

The man remained in the same position as he began to speak, "Mighty Ro'Kang, what blinds your just eyes? What clouds your wise mind? What tarnished your claws of steel? What is it that plagues your compassionate heart?"

The tiger did not lift her head as the young man littered her with questions, "Oh, young one," Ro'kang responded, "poison seeped deep into my bones, sorrow lingers in my heart, and I am no longer mighty. I failed my people, and now they are but slaves to the ones that did this to me."

The young nomad sat up from his bow and looked at the tiger, the scar from the great serpent's bite visible upon her back. "But, tiger lord, why do you let this sorrow linger?"

The tiger did not respond.

"Perhaps there is a way for you to be mighty once more."

The tiger lifted her head.

"Come with me, I am traveling to the various tribes from all corners of the land, perhaps they can help you."

Ro'Kang lowered her head, "they will shun me for leaving my people."

The nomad stood up from his knees, "you were the most beloved in all the land, Ro'Kang, you were the heart of a nation. Surely they will remember that. Come with me. Let us find enlightenment in this journey, so that we both can grow strong."

Mako smiled softly, "Ro'Kang complied and walked the lands with the monk. The journey humbled the tiger and seeing the many tribes once more pleased her deeply after being alone for so long. She realized that she was still beloved. Once Ro'kang visited Zu'yo, the mighty Ox lord of the mountains, she once again stood strong. You see, Ro'Kang learned that strength comes from more than just your might, but your mind and heart to, and so..."

Riven blinked as the presence next to her seemed to vanish. She looked at the empty space where the elder once sat and looked around to see where that old woman had wandered off to.

"The tiger returned home with the many tribes," the Elder's voice soft like a whisper in the wind as a breeze rolled passed the exiled Noxian, "and fulfilled her promise to her people. They were free once more and she too, stood mighty."

Riven brushed her disheveled starlight bangs from her eyes and looked around once more for the Ionian Elder, but she was gone. The exile looked towards the path leading back toward the street, the footprints in the dirt far from human.