Chapter IV
Ashe has been bestowed with an immense responsibility at the mere age of 15. Upon her mother's death she was crowned Queen and earned Avarosa's frozen bow in a life changing experience. That very day she had sworn to unite the Freljord, to protect those in need and to eliminate those who prey off weakness. Ever since she had made sure to provide security for all the inhabitants of Avarosa, Freljord's capital, however, that meant Ashe had not set foot beyond this city in two years. 'Perhaps I should have look at the other clans... I know the winter's claw is hostile but they are part of the Freljord and if ...' Ashe was shocked upon the sudden realization that she had no idea what the young thief's name was 'if ...her words bore any truth then I must help them.' The thought of venturing outside Avarosa terrified her, it resurrected memories of her mother's death, memories that left a heavy burden to be carried by a girl of only seventeen.
"To unite the Freljord" she said in attempt to convince herself that she had made the correct decision.
She sighed as she made her way outside of the finely sculpted castle she called home. Ashe was dressed in a manner as to blend in with civilians, she was covered in a hooded cape that was elegant and yet simplistic. Her bow was perched against her back and a quiver was strapped at her thigh as not to draw attention. Try as she might, Ashe's outfit was still distinctively Avarosan, primarily because of the navy blue color of her cape that held beautiful golden ornaments at the rim of the cloth.
Leaving Avarosa was the easy part of her journey, making her way to the Winter's Claw on the other hand would be no easy feat. Ashe had acquired information on her route to the Winter's Claw and marked it down on a map she carried with her. Unfortunately the thickening fog and raging winds made it very difficult to pinpoint landmarks that were meant to guide her towards her destination. For hours she marched on hoping she was not walking aimlessly in the wrong direction. Her mind was occupied with thoughts, she was consumed with fear.
"I won't die here" she said as she quivered beneath the cold.
Not that death itself scared her, but that only she had the power to change the Freljord and dying would prevent her from uniting her perishing kingdom. And so she pressed on, attempting to neglect the guts of wind that came clashing against her skin, leaving miniscule scratches tainted in crimson to decorate her shivering face. She pulled her hood closer to her face trying to protect herself from the Freljord's merciless winter. After what had seemed like four hours of constant walking she spotted the first trace of human life since her departure.
Ashe was well hidden within the forest, blending in with the trees, as an archer, stealth was a skill she had long perfected. Quietly she observed what appeared to be a young girl of approximately fourteen years old that was attempting to fish by sticking a spear into a hole within a frozen lake. 'She's just a young girl, she's harmless...maybe I should ask her if she knows the way to the Winter's clan' thought Ashe 'there's nothing to lose, at least not now'.
The young girl jumped in surprise as she saw Ashe approaching her. Her eyes bulged wide open in an indiscernible mixture of fear and shock. Instinctively, Ashe rushed towards the girl and wrapped her hands tightly over her mouth to muffle the scream that thankfully had not escaped the girl's throat.
"Don't scream. I'm not here to hurt you… I just want to know more about your clan…I'll give you some food if you do."
The girl stared at Ashe with an expression that was hard to decipher. It seemed as if the need for food had outweighed whatever was preventing her from acting as she snatched the food and motioned for Ashe to wait in her place.
Upon her return the girl had another person following her. Ashe had to stifle a yelp as she recognized that face as the food thief that visited regularly.
"What are you doing here?! Do you have a death wish?!"
Ashe trembled at the tone of her voice, it almost sounded like concern coated in rage.
"I came here to see if you words heed any truth. To see if the Freljord really is falling apart" replied Ashe calmly.
"IDIOT!" spat Sejuani.
She grunted in annoyance and asked of Ashe to follow her while handing her a cloak to cover herself in to blend in with the inhabitants of the Winter's Claw.
'What am I going to do with her?' Thought Sejuani to herself. 'She's lucky Bethari is the one who found her, if someone else had been there…she'd be dead'. She shuddered even thinking of the possibility of Ashe dying. 'She's just so fragile and simply beautiful' Sejuani's eyes shot wide open. She could not be possibly be thinking of the pathetic Avarosan Queen as beautiful.' No! I am keeping her alive because she provides me with food.' Sejuani attempted to convince herself that the previous was the reality of the matter. To Sejuani emotions were weakness, she could not bear to show any, especially not to the Avarosan queen.
They made their way to Sejuani's hut, where she asked Bethari to leave her and Ashe alone and not to speak of it to anyone in the clan.
The Avorasan Queen stared intently at her surroundings, the hut she was currently in was no place to call home. Crusty blood stains adorned the carpet, the dim light provided by a few candles scattered haphazardly made it hard to estimate the size of the hut but Ashe could tell it was rather small even if it only accommodated two people.
"I was not aware that conditions were this morbid outside Avarosa" she said knowing fully well that coming this far was a mistake as she had jeopardized the safety of her host along with her own.
"There's a lot you aren't aware of. But I must say for a queen you've got guts coming this far"
Sejuani smirked, mocking Ashe's ignorance.
"And what now? Yes. We are starving and what can you possibly do of it?" added Sejuani bitterly.
"I can provide you with food for a start"
"You think it's that simple? To end a feud that has lived on for centuries with food."