Author's Note: It's been so long... where do I start... I guess I will keep it short and to the point. My treatments were going well until my disease struck back hard. I had to undergo emergency eye surgery to save my rapid decaying vision (Vision in my Right eye was almost lost) and to slow down the decay for my treatments to work better. I'm alright, it's just been a battle. Thank you for your patience, I am trying to write when I can or feel engaged and well enough to. Since then I have put my disease into remission. Sadly much like cancer it always has a chance to come back... but I am happy to announce that I have defeated my ailment. This war is won. I beat it. It took me 5 long years from start to finish, but I am the victor here. Thank you everyone for all of your support and patience in this ordeal that I have been through. You're all amazing. I have my final appointment with my doctor in August.
*Side note* : I understand that League of Legends Lore has undergone a lot of changes. Keep in mind the age of this story and try to understand. I will work with the new lore and the old to the best of my ability.
Reviews welcome always.
-RS
Chapter 27: To Forgive
Minutes turned to hours while Riven sat around the empty home of her absent caregiver. Her mind reeled over what she had encountered that evening in the presence of Elder Mako. Despite all the thinking, Riven decided not to think too hard. The Exile was used to feeling disconnected from reality, so the thought of the Elder being more than just a human didn't bother her as deeply as it would have in her younger years.
"Alright...You're back," Riven said, lifting her head up from the hard floor of the hall leading to the front door.
No one was there.
She had been sprawled out there for hours in silent contemplation, waiting for Irelia to return. Riven sighed and laid her head back down. "Where are you?" Riven spoke into the silence. After a few moments she lifted her head back up again to look at the door.
The doorway was still untouched.
Crimson eyes watched the door lazily for a bit longer before rolling back and Riven settling into the silence once more.
A soft knock tapped away at the door.
Riven chose to ignore what she knew was a trick on her ears, after all, hearing noises was nothing knew to her...and why would Irelia knock?
Another knock splintered the silence, catching Riven's attention this time. "Irelia?" The name slipped free of her lips in a hushed whisper as she got up from the floor. The Exile grabbed the door and slid it open; her smile faded into a twisted visage of confusion.
"Well," the soft and sultry voice of the woman, with some rather animalistic attributes, greeted from the other side of the door, "isn't this a surprise. Fancy seeing you here of all people, Riven." The svelte champion stepped closer, her sharp eyes of gentle blue trailing up and down the larger champion before her in sensual observance. Her supple pink lips pulled into a pleasured smirk as she walked two slender fingers up the front of Riven's right shoulder, her long blue nails pressing into her shoulder just enough to keep the exile's attention. A soft pleasured chuckle rolled free of this intoxicating visitor's lips as she continued to woo the once surprised woman before her into submission.
Riven felt herself fading the longer she looked back into those alluring blue eyes, losing control of her own senses. "Ah-
A finger softly pressed against her lips, cutting Riven off from making anymore sound. The thin faced woman slowly dragged her finger down Riven's lips before running the back of her hand down the exile's cheek and face, a shade of pink clouding the once blue irises as she did so. She leaned in closer, "Why do you smell like sex, sweat and shame, Riv-uhn!" The woman turned her attention away from the completely smitten victim in her hands as she felt something softly slap the back of her head. Her large, fox-like, black ears folded back as she turned from Riven to face the one that interrupted her.
"Behave, Ahri," Irelia commented as she dropped the sandal she had used to smack Ahri with and sat down to remove her own shoes. "You being here is a privilege, not a right, so I suggest... you..." Irelia's expression twisted into dumbfounded surprise as she looked up at Ahri and Riven. "Did you charm her?" Irelia asked in surprised disbelief.
"Uh...no," Ahri replied innocently as the borderline love drunk warrior hung on her.
"Unbelievable! I can't look away from you for one second can I!?" Irelia got up from the floor.
"Come on, where's your sense of, oh!" Ahri jumped a bit, "easy there, Riven, fun?"
Irelia didn't look amused, "tampering with someone's free will is not fun, Ahri," Irelia grumbled.
Ahri pouted as she felt her victim start to break free from her little spell.
"Hmm...?" Riven mumbled as she started to feel like herself again, her half lidded eyes fluttering a bit. Riven blinked as she looked at Irelia then down at Ahri, who she had all wrapped up in her arms. "AH!" Riven released the woman from her arms and threw herself to the floor, "What the actual fuck, Ahri!?"
Ahri rolled her eyes, "You humans are never any fun," she expressed in disappointment as she turned on her heel to walk down the hallway.
Riven shook her head as one of Ahri's tails teasingly cupped and slid across her face as the nine-tailed fox walked by. "Why is she here!?" Riven looked up at Irelia.
The Captain sighed, "Ahri wanted to be involved in more human affairs, and the festival is a way to do so..." Irelia paused and looked at Ahri walking down the hall, "as long as she behaves."
Ahri rolled her eyes once more and stepped into the kitchen.
Riven sat on the floor for a little while longer, waiting for the effects of Ahri's magic to completely wear off. "I'm starting to think you're a glorified babysitter," Riven muttered.
"I'm starting to think that to," Irelia commented, offering a hand to the exile.
Riven looked at Irelia's offered hand and grabbed it, but rather than standing she pulled Irelia down. Her strong arms wrapped around the Captain and held her close, "What ever is going on, Irelia, it's okay to talk about it."
Despite knowing what truly is happening in the Placedium, Irelia did not want to burden Riven with her duties to the city, "What makes you think something is wrong, Riven? I am perfectly alright and so is the city." The Captain lied, but she felt it was in the best interest to keep Riven from overthinking hers and her own safety. "We are just busy preparing for the festival starting tomorrow night is all." Irelia smiled and touched Riven's face, whom still looked a little worried. "Don't worry, alright?"
Riven's semi-worried expression faded a bit, "I'll try not to...though I don't know how I'm going to feel in the crowds of people...loud noises..."
"We'll take it slow," Irelia smiled, feeling Riven's arms holding her tighter and tighter with every passing concern the exile had. A slight frown played at her lips as Riven rambled on.
The exile looked genuinely disturbed. "Even in the halls of the Institute...familiar space...I...I watch the floor...drown out the space...the noises...there are no walls to follow here...I-I'm not welcome here...I'm an intruder here...An invader...A mur- Riven stopped as hands firmly cupped her face.
Irelia's expression was tense yet gentle as she looked Riven in the eyes. "You are so much more than this degraded vision of yourself, Riven," Irelia spoke softly, trying to intervene Riven from falling back into a negative existence, "You've come so far." She could feel Riven starting to relax in her hands, however, something bothered Irelia. Her stomach rolled uncomfortably realizing there was a slight feeling of doubt in her words. When did she start to feel this? This creeping shadow of uncertainty with her feelings in the exile's presence.
"I will not be thrown down the stairs of the Institute..." Riven's voice was bold. "I will prove to Soraka and Kolminye that I am capable of more than what I am."
The Captain looked at Riven with a sense of wonder on her face. She could see it in those crimson eyes...conviction...it was there, even if a dim spark in the dark. Oh how she wanted to kindle that flame and nourish it, protect it from the storm, but she knew the only one who could do so, was Riven. She ran her hand through the soft bangs of Riven's starlight locks. "The only one you need to prove anything to..." Irelia took hold of Riven's right hand gently, her finger tips ghosting over the little scars on the exile's knuckles, "is the one who looks back at you in the mirror."
Riven looked down at her fingers. How many times had she shattered her reflection? How many times did she turn from the pieces? She couldn't recall. "You're right," Riven spoke softly, her fingers curling around Irelia's slender hand.
Both Riven and Irelia looked to the kitchen as the sound of breaking glass and a squeak caught their ears.
"It's late," she said in a hushed voice to Riven, "Go get ready to sleep and I will be there soon." The captain sighed and got up, "Ahri?" she called out as she walked down the hall.
Riven shook her head and stretched out her arms and legs before yawning softly and taking Irelia's advice.
"Woops..." Ahri muttered as she poked at the shattered cup on the floor.
"Ahri, don't touch it before you cut yourself. I'll handle it," Irelia sighed as she entered the kitchen space.
"Sorry, I was thirsty and well...it slipped," Ahri's ears folded back as she stood up from the mess.
"Oh, I'm sure you are thirsty, considering the first thing you did when entering my home was jumping another guest," Irelia shrugged as she grabbed a dust pan and broom, "It isn't the first cup to break in the recent weeks and I am sure it won't be the last."
Azure eyes watched Irelia closely as the captain cleaned up the mess. Ahri's bundle of tails swayed curiously and her ears twitched. She smirked and leaned back against the counter, "So, you and the brooding brute, huh?" Ahri chuckled, witnessing Irelia go stiff for a brief second.
After a short moment, her shoulders relaxed as the glass pieces clinked from being swept, "I don't know what you're talking about," Irelia responded.
"Oh, please," Ahri leaned her head back and rolled her eyes, "I can smell her all over you."
Irelia didn't reply right away while she disposed of the broken glass. "I helped her up from the floor."
Ahri shook her head, "You are so far into denial right now I can't even fathom."
Irelia didn't react.
Ahri smirked a little bit and bounced her eye brows, "was it good?" She chuckled as Irelia shot her the nastiest glare she'd ever seen. Ahri didn't let up, wiggling an eyebrow at her now blushing host.
"Don't say anything," Irelia muttered.
"HAH! You and Riven!?" Ahri exclaimed and laughed, "Karma is gonna have a field day with this."
"Ahri, please..."
Between her chuckles, Ahri could see that Irelia was being serious, a look of worried concern lingering on the captain's face. "What's the matter, Irelia? Don't you trust me?" A impish smile on her lips.
Irelia closed her eyes, a look of defeat on her face.
Her ears drooped and she sighed, "Gossip is so fun though..." Ahri whined softly. After watching Irelia look down, Ahri could sense there was more than just concern for word getting out that bothered Irelia. "Ugh, fine, I won't say anything, even if knowing a national hero of Ionia and its Captain of the Guard is fooling around with a Noxian outcast. Well...not just any outcast, I mean, it's Riven. The Journal of Justice would eat this up..." Ahri pondered.
"She's not an outcast, Ahri," Irelia shook her head and fixed her guest up with a cup of tea, "She's an exile by choice."
Ahri raised a dark brow as she accepted the tea from Irelia, "Then why are all the Noxians back at the Institute such jerks to her all the time?" She took a sip from the tea and jumped a bit, a small reactive hiss from the act of taking a drink, "Hot!" She panted through the lingering sting on her tongue.
"Careful, you," Irelia smiled softly. Having Ahri around made her feel more like there was a kid in the house; which she honestly didn't mind. Her emerald eyes shifted from Ahri and out into the moonlit night. "A lack of understanding, perhaps?"
Ahri looked up from her tea and tilted her head, ears twitching and tails swaying. "Humans are weird."
The Captain shook her head, "It's late." Irelia looked back to Ahri and encouraged her to finish her tea.
"When does the festival start?" Ahri smiled like a kid in a candy shop.
"Tomorrow night, when all the lanterns are lit in the city," Irelia said with a smile.
Ahri pumped her fist in excitement and got up from sitting to go settle for the night. She paused in the doorway and turned back to see Irelia walking to a different room, "Which room again?"
Irelia looked back to her guest, "It's the one on the left."
"Okay!" Ahri smiled, "Good night, Irelia."
"Good night, Ahri," Irelia returned the pleasantry.
Her long black hair swayed as she turned and softly scampered down the hall, failing to pay attention as she thought over what the festival will be like. Ahri usually didn't leave the Institute for obvious reasons, but the thoughts of fun, food, music, and integrating with people had sparked her want to get out and about more. Humming to herself, Ahri grabbed the door and slid it open, her once content little smile gone in a heart beat. Ahri felt her spine go tight and her tails fluff slightly as she realized where she was. Her eyes locked onto the body before her, observing the shifting muscles beneath the sun kissed skin tattooed with pale scars as its owner stretched after removing their clothing. Ahri felt as if she needed to collect her jaw from the floor as the, might as well be naked, exile turned her head.
Riven blinked in surprise and her breath hitched.
"Wrong room!" Ahri squeaked, the door sliding shut immediately. Ahri drew in a deep breath and relaxed, a content and confident little smirk on her face. "I can see why she likes you," she mumbled to herself and turned away to find the right room. "Even I would touch that." Ahri's steps were fluid and graceful as she strode down the hall to find the right room.
Riven sighed in relief as she heard Ahri's light foot falls lead away from the door. The slight warmth of embarrassment in her cheeks began to fade as she pulled a soft black tank top over chest and sat down. Her hands came to rest upon the knees of her criss-crossed legs and she sat up straight. Riven closed her eyes and drew in a large breath of air slowly through her nose. Concentrating on her breathing, Riven tried to calm her nervous mind for the coming eve. How she wished she could freely tap into that iron-like discipline she once had in her military days. Back in the days when not even the keeper of death and the damned would sway her from the battlefield. It hadn't been til after the horrors she witnessed in the wake of Zaun's abominable warfare and her precious Noxian state following such dishonorable combat that she felt that iron will crack. The reality of knowing that dark magic caressed her very soul troubled her deeper than the natural negative effect of war ever could. Would she ever be at peace? She tried so hard to concentrate on locking away her tenuous nerves, her body still and her breathing calm. Give her just one day...one day to feel like she had in her prime.
"If one is lost, and they try too hard to find who they were," a gentle voice spoke as hands softly ran over the broad and tanned shoulders of the larger warrior, "they will never meet who they will become."
Riven opened her eyes and turned her head toward the shoulder that Irelia rested her chin upon, the Captain lazily leaned up against her back. "When did you get in here?" Riven chuckled, leaning forward a bit to cater to Irelia resting against her back.
Irelia tilted her head towards Riven's, her cheek resting on her shoulder, "I sneaked in while you were lost in thought." Irelia quietly watched Riven as the exile observed her in return. She drew little patterns gently against Riven's opposite shoulder blade with a finger as they sat there in the silence for a moment longer.
Riven blinked as she felt herself being pulled down as Irelia laid behind her. This was certainly a change for her considering it was usually the other way around. She watched quietly as the four blades came to rest upon the floor before her and their owner snuggled up close against her back. Riven smiled softly and she relaxed into this change. Irelia had physically surrounded her; she felt safe. It wasn't long before sleep would claim her.
The soft sound of singing songbirds danced in her ears as crimson eyes lazily fluttered open. She closed her eyes once more, trying to tack on just a little more sleep. Taking in a deep breath, Riven sighed knowing she was awake. She sat up slowly and stretched her arms, a strained sound escaping her lips as she did so. Riven looked around the room, realizing that she was alone...again. She was starting to get used to Irelia being awake long before she was. The exile was slow to get up as she rubbed her eyes and slid open the door to the hallway.
"Festival day!" Ahri cheered as she scampered down the hall toward the kitchen, nearly running Riven over in the process.
"Like a child on Winter Veil..." Riven grumbled and stepped into the kitchen.
"Morning, Riven!" Ahri smiled, already sitting at the small dining table. Her tails swayed as she smiled at Riven.
Riven merely grunted a response and lazily collapsed down to sit, her hair completely unkempt and out of place.
Ahri's ears folded back and she looked up at Irelia, "Is she always this grouchy in the morning?"
Irelia chuckled and nodded, setting down plates of food before Riven and Ahri, "It means she slept well. Not a morning person at all." Irelia sat down next to Riven and across from Ahri, setting her own breakfast before her in the process. Emerald eyes shifted to the one next to her, watching the exile and chuckling softly at Riven's rat's nest for hair. She quietly reached up and touched Riven's messy locks, trying to untangle some of the mess.
Riven tilted her head so Irelia could reach better, her facial expression blank.
"Get a room!" Ahri barked before stuffing her face with food. After a few more mouthfuls of food, Ahri paused, realizing there were other eyes upon her. Sharp blue eyes flicked toward both Riven and Irelia, who were promptly staring at her. "What?" She said, her mouth full of food. Her ears folded back and her tails fluffed the longer she locked eyes with Riven's; whose steely crimson eyes were intimidating to stare at. "You're judging me," Ahri's voice was annoyed.
"And I thought my table manners were bad..." Riven muttered.
"Okay, you two, that's enough. I need you both to get along enough to function at the festival tonight," Irelia chuckled as the two continued to stare one another down.
Ahri's ears twitched and her cautious facial expression faded immediately as she turned her attention from Riven to Irelia, "Oh, yeah! You're working tonight aren't you?"
Riven turned from Ahri and looked at Irelia, "You're working?"
Irelia wasn't about to defend herself again, not from Riven, "Yeah, I am the Captain of the Guard and I am responsible for the safety of my people. So you two, will figure this out, and behave." Irelia had her say and began to eat.
Breakfast was quiet for the rest of the meal.
Riven remained quiet and excused herself from the table. The exile didn't spare a glance to neither Ahri or Irelia as she walked out of the kitchen.
Irelia looked at Riven's hardly touched plate of breakfast and sighed softly, setting down her utensils.
"Is she always that way?" Ahri questioned.
"No, not always," Irelia shook her head. "She's been placed second next to my duties to the city more than once since we got here."
"Gods forgive you," Ahri rolled her eyes. "Sounds like a her problem."
"She's just...exhausting sometimes..." Irelia rubbed her hands over her face and grabbed her utensils to finish eating.
Ahri's tails swayed as she watched Irelia finish eating. "I sense some regret," Ahri commented, picking up her empty plate and setting it into the sink. "You both have similar auras."
Irelia paused from eating, a bit of food hovering before her mouth for a moment before she lowered it away, "What do you mean?"
"Beings like me have a particular sensitivity to magics of all kinds," Ahri explained, "Both you and Riven seem to have been effected by similar sorcery."
Once a soul is touched by necromancy, it never forgets.
A nauseating sickness rolled through the captain's stomach as the Elder's warning graced her thoughts once more. She had tried to drown out that concern and troublesome thought, but it lingered. Hearing Ahri mention similar auras only concerned her more. What really attracted her to the exile? Was it Riven herself, or something much different? Irelia got up from the table and left the room.
Ahri blinked and looked around the now empty table. "Humans..." She sighed and picked at the remaining plates. "To think I wanted to be one..."
Irelia didn't hesitate to push the door open to find Riven back in her room. "Why do you do that? Why can't you just deal with the fact that I have a duty to my people I must fulfill?"
Riven turned and looked at Irelia, a puzzled look upon her features.
The Captain's gaze shifted from Riven's face to the exile's occupied hands. The large stone shard of the broken sword sat in Riven's lap, a soft cloth paused from its polishing the iron blade's edge. "You're...cleaning your blade?" Irelia blinked.
Riven looked down at her sword and continued to run the soft cloth over the edge once more. "Sometimes I just get an urge to do so...it's like an itch. It will bother me until scratched." The exile shrugged.
Irelia shook her head, "So... you're not mad that I have to leave you with Ahri tonight?"
Riven's eyes never left the edge of the sword as her hand continued to buffer the blade's edge, "You have a duty to your people."
Irelia cocked an ebony brow and watched Riven for awhile longer. The Captain frowned, "You're not going to admit you're disappointed, are you?"
Crimson eyes looked up from the now polished edge of the great stone shard. "I'm fine, really, don't worry about me, you have enough on your shoulders as is."
Irelia sighed, "If you say so. Lux will be there tonight, and apparently Katarina."
Riven froze, feeling even the very hair on her neck stand on end.
"Maybe you two should talk?" Irelia looked at Riven, who looked like she saw a ghost. "Riven?"
Riven lowered her eyes back to the blade, "Why would I want to do that?" The exile questioned, lifting the blade with ease and looking down the edge she had just cared for.
"Maybe making amends with an old friend will bring some peace to your thoughts," Irelia said calmly, turning to exit the room, "much like forgiving an old enemy can do so to." Irelia paused in the door way and looked back to Riven, "I need to go and help prepare for opening ceremonies tonight. I will try to track you down when I get a break." The captain smiled softly and slid the door shut.
Riven sat there quietly, the realization of Irelia's words slow to process. The exile looked back to the door, hearing Irelia call out to Ahri that she was leaving and for the fox to behave herself. Crimson eyes shifted back down to the now shined iron edge of the stone sword, "to...forgive an old enemy..." Riven looked herself in the eyes within the chromed iron. Riven set the sword aside and got up. The door to the room slid open rougher than usual as Riven stepped out into the hallway looking for where Irelia had been.
"She just left," Ahri casually pointed to the front door while leaned against the door frame to the kitchen with a cup of tea in her slender hands.
Riven looked to the fox for a second before borderline running to the door and sliding it open, nearly slamming it shut behind her. It didn't take long for her to catch up; Irelia hadn't got far. "Irelia!" Riven called out to her.
The captain stopped and turned to look at Riven, a dark brow rose in slight confusion. Did she forget something?
Riven took a second to catch her breath. She pushed her bangs back from her face and looked down at the questioning emerald eyes before her. "When..." She breathed, "When did you forgive me?"
"When?" Irelia responded.
The exile nodded.
Irelia looked at Riven with an honest gaze, "When I told you to suffer for the rest of your life. I was an angry person then to. Wishing that upon someone brought me no peace, despite how much I hated anyone from Noxus." Irelia smiled, "Now I am more than what I was, because I learned to forgive myself to." With those final words Irelia set a hand upon the strong shoulder of the exile and turned from her, leaving Riven to her thoughts.