The pace down the hallway was quick. Her already tired legs muscles drug with an occasional "thud" as her foot arched against the floor. The guards and legal officials walked with purpose in their steps. Their overshined shoes stomped against the floor in a constant beat. The still awakening Ionian walked with them, but she could tell her muscles hadn't had time to awaken yet. The aching pain was felt all over her body from the fight last night or an awkward sleeping position, it meant nothing. The official in front of her wore a black suit pressed firmly to his back, his shoulder blades moving with every step he took, his arms swinging rhythmically against his sides. His sleek black hair was pressed against his head, the light reflecting off in rays. His jeans had clearly been ironed, as a crease in them couldn't be bothered to be found with a microscope. A small device hung out of his ear, the chord attaching down around the front of his neck somewhere. A small handgun sat out of his hip, its point clear. "We aren't trusted."

"Where are we going?" She spoke, trying to break the ice and start a conversation.

"You're being taken to a court room where you will be contesting against the detainee Riven of Noxus for your attempted murder." He spoke with a monotone voice.

"Wait? I'm attempting to get Riven into... What are the possible charges?" Her tone shook, wavering from its normal, commanding voice.

"Irelia, you're on a need to know basis. Your lawyer will fill you in once we arrive any minute now. I ask you remain quiet for the rest of the duration of the walk."

She swung her head around to get a look at her friend, but the guard behind her, but he simply brought the butt of his rifle to bear, and she turned her head back towards the front. The walk was over within minutes, and she arrived at a set of closed doors. The train split off, leaving Irelia with a middle aged, dark man holding a clipboard in one hand, a pile of small notes in the other. His face displayed no emotion, and his only movement he displayed was that of his eyes scanning back and forth against his cards. One by one, they were thrown onto the clipboard where they rested as he continued on to the next one. She approached him, and he seemed unaware of her presence. All of the guards and officials went with Riven through the main doors, and they thudded close with a disheartening "smash" Her lawyer raised his head, looking the Ionian in the eyes. His complexion was that of a middle aged man, who she placed to be in his mid-thirties. His eyes were a dark green, with a slight amount of brown. The areas around his eyes bore lines, showing he'd seen his fair share of life and the harshness it displayed. His mouth was a dulled out pink, not a bright or medium shade of pink that almost anyone else would've

"You are Irelia, correct?" He questioned. "Will of the blades?"

"Yes, that is me, and you are?"

He returned a stern glare. "My apologizes, let me introduce myself. I am Carlyle, and I will be your lawyer for this case. As it has been proposed to me, she attempted to murder you, and I am here to ensure that she is at the least locked away, or better. Is that correct?"

"No, it's not. That's not how it goes at all!"

"Irelia, I never really took you for the emotion type. You have been through a lot of traumatic events recently, and if you wish, I can get you in to see a counselor once this situation has been settled. With your permission, that is. Now, as I was saying."

Her voice riddled with annoyance, she responded. "This has nothing to do with me being traumatized. Riven is being falsely accused. Please just …"

Her next words were rudely cut off. "We are going to go into that courtroom, testify, and get this disgrace of a champion locked up. And yes, you are traumatized. You broke that woman out of a secure jail cell. That is illegal. You're lucky those you assaulted decided not to press charges. Now, as I was saying before you interrupted me. I will testify, and you will not speak unless you are asked to do so by the judge herself. Is that understood?"

This was not a sentence she wanted to reply to. He hadn't taken anything she said seriously, she was not going to humor him and do the same. Only seconds passed before he turned towards the door and walked, and she instinctively walked behind him. Once he was done, she could convince the court that she was innocent and clean this whole issue up.

The inside of the courtroom was tall and wide. The room itself was to the left of the summoning chambers where champions were brought upon to fight on the fields of justice. In the center of the room stood a high pedestal where the judge would sit, and besides the pedestal, two chairs where those who were speaking to the judge would be seated. The room itself was filled with oak benches, seating champions of all nations. Demacians in the back left, with their yellow and white colors. Amongst them were the likes of Garen, Xin Xhao, Jarvan the fourth himself, and Luxanna, the light mage. Her face showed only fear as their eyes met for the second they did. Her head turned to the side to the other side, to see the yordles. The ten of them sat side by side, only taking up the space of four of five Demacians. Tristy sat idle at the doorway, with its owner sitting patiently in the seat. Up in the forward right of the courtroom sat the Noxians. Dark clothing and dark figures was a normal for them, and they were easily picked out of a crowd. Darius, Swain and Katarina were simply a few amongst the group of Noxians. In the bottom left corner sat the members of piltover, or those who didn't belong to a major faction. In between the Demacians and the champions of piltover sat the Ionians in their shades of colors and exquisite designs. Between the Noxians the yordles sat those who were imprisoned within the institute of war but didn't have a faction to place themselves in. The judge had yet to take their place at the pedestal, and Irelia and Carlyle advanced to the front of the room and took their place inside of a small booth in front of Piltover. Across the room from them sat Riven and her younger, female judge. The two made eye contact and she got a clear look at the emotion on the Noxians face. There was none to speak of. Fear, happiness, anger, guilt, regret, sadness, agony, she showed none of it. Her face was as blank as that of a clean easel waiting to be painted upon. Her skin tone was darker of that than her lawyer, and her physique much more muscular.

"All rise for the arrival of our judge for this meeting, Karma, of Ionia." The voice announced over the PA system. Everyone rose, although some of them needed more coaxing than others, primarily the Noxians. The dark skinned woman entered the room, her strides long and practiced. The purple ribbons of her dress danced along the ground, following her like a pack of obedient dogs. She strode to the pedestal and cleared her throat. Within moments, she began speaking.

"Thank you for gathering yourselves here today. Not only to the champions, but also to the summoners who have sacrificed their free time and will to attend or participate in this trial. Your time and effort is greatly appreciated."

A swift nodding of heads came from the summoners as well as some champions.

"We have gathered here today to settle the case between Irelia of Ionian and Riven of Noxus. The case as it stands is that Irelia was attempting to return to her room after a hard night of training, only to be ambushed by Riven in the dark of night, stabbed with this blade and was then left to die as Riven fled the scene for her own selfish desires. Irelia then spent one week in a coma, and another week recovering from her injuries in the hospital. We would first like to bring forth the accused for questioning."

Riven stood from her seat and walked towards the podium to the right of karma. Carlyle stood up with a pile of notes in his hands and looked to the now seated Riven.

"Riven, as we have it here, you were not checked into your dormitory at the time of Irelia's stabbings, correct?"

"Yes, that is correct. I was not in my dormitory."

"And what is your reason for doing so?" His questioning continued.

"I was watching the Ionian train in the arena just below her room."

"And what were you hoping to accomplish from doing so?"

"I had no real motive. I simply wished to watch the young Ionian train."

"And was that reason so that you would have an easier time ambushing her as she climbed the stairs, which you knew she would take seeing as you knew where her room was?"

"No. As I stated, I had to true motive behind it."

"That is it your honor."

Carlyle returned back to his booth and sat next to Irelia, his back up, pose straight, displaying some sort of twisted pride from this. Riven returned to her booth, but her step waivered. She didn't step with the same confidence that she had done earlier. She now walked back to her booth with a limping pose, and her palms displayed sweat.

She was nervous, and Irelia knew it. Was the entire ordeal with Talon really just a setup? She'd never considered the situation in that light before. She'd always assumed that Riven had been on her side all along, but she had never really questioned Riven or asked for her motives. The thought had never even crossed her mind.

"We will now bring forth the defendant for questioning" exclaimed the far more tanned Ionian. The small door to the booth opened with a creak as she pushed on it, and the hinges returned it back to its normal position. The thoughts of Riven's motives still flew around her mind, setting off signals in her brain. Why had she trusted Riven? She had no reason to trust her aside the fact she caught her from her fall, but she hadn't seen what the Noxian did once she passed out from the stabbing. Her palms began to sweat and her pulse rose. What would she do if Riven had really set that up? But she could've killed her in the hospital room right? There had only been security cameras, and Riven could've had her blade in her chest in less time than what the guards had to get in and stop her. The light and dark emotions continued fighting in her head until she sat down upon the chair to the left of karma. Riven's lawyer rose and looked Irelia in the eyes.

"Irelia, from what I have heard, you were training the night of the incident. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that is true. I was training the night I was stabbed."

"And why were you training that night?"

"I had steam I needed to blow off, and I felt as though I needed some time alone."

"And why did you need time alone on this night Irelia?"

"I had some things that I needed to think about."

"That is all your honor."

The lawyer of Riven returned to her booth and sat down. Irelia threw a confused look her way. Those weren't questions. Those were simple facts. Was she even really trying on this case? Did she have more up her sleeve? She threw a glance to Riven, and in the mere seconds that she saw her, the signs of fear were apparent upon her face. Lines were forming around her eyes, the shaking in her eyebrows, and the trembling of her hands on the ledge in front of her. Returning back to her booth, her heart raced. She should hate the Noxian, but inside of her, she knew that she didn't want anything bad to happen to her. Riven was called back up by Carlyle who pelted her with more questions. He returned and his face and posture were even more proud this time. He wanted Riven locked away, but she was being falsely accused. What was she going to do?

"Irelia, can you come to the front?" Asked the dark Ionian from the front

Her steps were still well balanced and mature, but inside her inner conflict threatened to tear away at her very being. This was going downhill very fast, and the chances of Riven getting away from this innocent were decreasing every time. The seat felt different this time. She despised its very being. She didn't want it to be here. Or anywhere for that matter. She didn't want to be in this courtroom right now, hoping that her friend wasn't sent away to jail.

"Irelia, what are your opinions on this case? Do you feel the accused should be punished?" spoke Karma with her normal, diplomatic tone.

"No. I feel as though she shouldn't be punished at all your honor. It wasn't her that committed the crime."

"Thank you Irelia." The tall brown skinned Ionian looked around the room before speaking again. "Based on this case, I would consider the accused, Riven the exile, guilty of her crimes. Meet back here tomorrow at the same time to determine what her punishment will be."

The fact that Karma hadn't listened to her was more painful than Riven being accused guilty. Back in Ionia, the two were a tight knit, but now, all of that seemed to have faded away. The room was slowly emptied as the different champions and summoners left the room. Irelia stayed behind to speak to karma although she had been urged to leave.

"Karma, can I have a word with you?" She asked, attempting to keep her voice as calm and emotionless as her body would allow.

"Of course Irelia, why wouldn't you. The tone of your voice shows that you have something that is affecting you. And I'm going to assume it's my decision to have Riven punished for trying to murder you? You seemed rather upset about it just now." Karma knew Irelia like she knew the back of her hand. They had spent many long hours together as friends or as strategists, but no matter the situation, she enjoyed her company.

"Yes it is. You know me too well for me to even make an attempt at lying."

A small grin showed itself about her older face, before she spoke.

"I suppose that you know me as well then." Her smirk vanished. "In that case, let's agree to be honest to each other all right? Can you spare me that leisure?"

A slight nod was all she returned.

"Irelia I want you to know that I didn't want to make that choice. I want to believe you. I really do. You of all people should know that." She spoke quickly as she compiled her notes from the court meeting into a pile in her arms. "But I needed to consider what the best was for everyone else. If she attacked you, what is stopping her from attacking everybody else?"

"Karma I've said it before, I'll say it again. She wasn't the one who stabbed me."

"I want to believe you Irelia, I really do. And you know this, but I cannot take your word over everyone else's. She is simply too dangerous to trust, and you've gotten, let's say emotionally intertwined with her. We cannot take your word as seriously as I want to."

"Karma, we've done so much together. And never once have I let the words you've spoken fall upon my deaf ears. I've trusted every word you've spoken, and I need you to do the same for me. Please. Just this once, I beg you."

The sadness was apparent in Karmas eyes, but her decision held as strong as a bridge. "I'm sorry Irelia. I cannot risk your life again. You need to get away from her. That's all I can say to you."

She strode from atop her pedestal and walked to the door, leaving the pleas from Irelia to fall upon her own deaf ears. Her sadness apparent and left to her own company, she clenched his fists and teeth and screamed in her head. The pain she felt was not normal for her to feel. Her blade rose from its holster on her back into the air, spinning around the air. Storming her way outside the doors, leaving them wide open behind her in her recklessness and storming away. Away from the place of betrayal and sadness, of fear and uncertainness. Her legs picked up speed as she stormed down the hallway, feeling the wind flowing past her, and not even it wanted to get in her way. She heard and felt her heart beat as the hallway got shorter and shorter. As she approached the end, she threw her body mass over the railing with one hand, and connecting with the floor with a confirming "crash." Head over heels she rolled before regaining her balance and continuing her charge to the front doors. They parted quickly when met with the force of her hands, and the cool spring air filling her lungs and throat. Her hair was lifted off her forehead and violently thrown behind her. The spacing between her armor felt cold as the air creeped its way inside of it. Her blades fanned out in front of her, welcoming her feet. The four spread apart, and she leaped from one to another with simple ease. It was her way of cooling off. The blades flew around as stairs in a way, her foot connecting comfortingly against every one. Some shot her off in weird angles, but she trusted her blades to lead her around. Though this served no real purpose, she felt her anger inside boil down dramatically.

"Hey Irey, what are you doing outside?" Spoke a small voice tens of meters away. Her blades reconnected into one solid object around the red orb as she dropped towards the ground. The shock was felt up her legs to her arms, but she didn't feel any obvious injury. She looked over to see Lux standing just outside the doors. She'd moved roughly thirty feet in her little expedition. The light mage had her standard smile on, and it warmed her mood slightly. Approaching the girl, she felt her mind clear.

"I'm blowing off steam. What are you doing outside?"

"I followed you. I saw you take off down the hallway; I was going to talk to you once you left to see if you were ok, but you just took off, so I decided to follow you. Is something wrong?"

"Was that an honest question? Do I look perfectly fine right now?"

The mage seemed undisturbed by the phrase. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just so normal for me to ask if someone's ok first. I guess it's just a routine for me now. What's on your mind?"

"Lux, do you think that Riven is guilty of the crimes she has been committed of?"

"Irelia, I do think that she did. That's my honest answer. Why?"

"So even you believe that she did it. I decided to be a hero and try to save her life, and now all I've done is get her into an even worse position. Wonderful."

"Irey what are you talking about? You're not the reason that Riven might be sent to jail or executed tomorrow. It's not your fault."

Irelia's body collapsed into the arms of the light mage. They simply didn't have the power to hold that thought. She felt her arms wrap around her back and hold her up. Her mind began filling with the thoughts of Riven again, but this time, she was lying face up in a casket. Arms crossed over her chest, eyes closed. Clean and dressed well. Sadness shot through her body, shaking her at her center. The little blonde haired girl held her up surprisingly well, seeing as Irelia stood roughly a half a foot to a foot taller. Tears didn't dare show their faces on this occasion, but she wanted to. But she needed to put on a mask. Hide what she was feeling. She herself didn't know what she was feeling. Minutes passed, Lux never once bothering to interrupt Irelia in her thoughts. Once she had gathered her strength and thoughts, she backed away from the demacian and raised her head.

"Thank you Lux. I needed that."

"I will always be here for you Irelia. You keep that in mind alright?" A small smile stretched along her face. "If you ever need something, or you just need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you alright?"

"I appreciate it. I'm heading back inside Lux. I'll see you tomorrow alright? I might need you."

Signs of confusion spread across her face, but it was quickly followed up with a nod. Lux might not catch onto everything immediately, but she was smart if you gave her a few seconds to collect her thoughts. Irelia headed back inside, the large doors opening much slower this time around, and she returned to her room. The padded carpet felt far away as she stepped inside. It didn't feel like home. Walking over to her bed, she collapsed backwards and rested her head against the pillow. Within minutes of falling down on the bed, her mind ventured off as her body slept. The cold covered her still clothed body, and shivers split up her spine. Her body rocked violently in its sleep, launching her pillow and bed sheets against the walls and to the floor. Her body rocked up, her heart beating quickly in her chest. Her dreams had not been pleasant. She tried to imagine other things, but all she could imagine was Riven, lying in her casket. The thought scared her, and the sweat poured off her body in almost waves. She looked out the window to see that the sun was still up. She left her room and walked down the corridor towards the court. Turning left across the bridge that connected the two walkways, she walked forwards with determination. The padded carpet pushed into her footsteps, and her legs moved at a steady, rapid pace. She dashed down the hallway she had ventured down yesterday. The third door on the right. The door opened with so little as a noise, and Irelia entered. In the cage sat the woman she had come to find. Her red eyes zoned into the wall across from her, her back pressed to the wall, her thighs on a bench. She was immediately announced to her friend's presence and a smile crossed her face. Irelia walked over and knelt down beside the grate, Riven doing the same.

"What are you doing here Irelia? No one should be seeing me at this time, let alone you. They're going to think that you're crazy!"

"That's of my concern and mine only. Don't you worry about me."

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard you the first time Riven. I came to make sure you're alright. I pleaded to Karma to have your punishment revoked, but she didn't so much as consider it. She said it was for the better of everyone else, and it wasn't just her own thought. She didn't believe me when I told her that it wasn't you who had done it. She didn't want to believe me. I… I was scared Riven."

A small nod came from the Noxian through the bars. "I know you're scared. I'm scared. It's alright to be scared Irelia."

"Don't you try coaching me on feelings." She spoke with a smile

"Oh, how'd I forget that I'm not allowed to have feelings?" The Noxian returned with the same happy tone."

"Riven, aren't you afraid of what might happen to you tomorrow?"

"Irelia, everything in life happens for a purpose. Everything we do and have done has occurred for a reason. I learned that the hard way. Right before I abandoned Noxus. Those reasons are not always the right ones. And you can get mad at the choices that someone else made. That's just in our nature. But If I do die tomorrow, I want to let you know that..."

"Don't you go telling me you're going to die now! I won't let that happen to you alright? I promise you."

"Irelia, it's alright. I'm not afraid of dying. I just want to let you know that" Her hand rose to the bars. "You're someone special to me alright? I want you to know that."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"How about when I make it through this, we talk about it?" Her face bore an amused smile. She was enjoying watching the torment she was putting her friend through. Irelia brought her hand to match Riven's on the bars.

"Riven, I want to let you know that I…" The words got caught in throat. She swallowed her salvia and pride in one breath and spoke as fast as she could. "I want to let you know that…"

"Once I make it out of this alright? We already spoke about this."

"What if you don't?" She felt the emotion in her voice.

"You made a promise right? You're not going to let me die. I trust you with my life."

Her throat felt swollen. Emotion filled her to her core. She forced a smile.

"But you said you weren't afraid of dying."

"You think that I want to die tomorrow?"

"But you made it sound like you did. You sound like life has no meaning."

"Life does have meaning. I'm looking in the eyes right now."

The words got caught in her ears. She felt warmer inside, and her comment made her cheer up immensely. The smile she bore was no longer forced, it came naturally.

"Thank you Riven. We'll see each other tomorrow right? I need to get back to sleep."

"Of course, and make sure you don't back down on your promise."

She took her hand off of the bars and walked towards the door.

"Goodnight Riven. You sleep well."

"You too, Ionian."

She walked down the hallway and back towards her room. Her steps now filled with purpose, her heart warmed, she felt truly happy. The smile across her face was worn with pride. She knew that there were feelings between her and Riven, but she didn't know what. As she began to fall back asleep in the warmth of her bed, she could only think of tomorrow. She was going to find out what Riven and her had between them.

The sun was only just rising as Irelia awoke. Standing up and walking over to her shower, she felt happy, truly happy, for the first time since she'd awoken inside these walls. She tried to push the fact that Riven was going to be charged today out of her mind, but right now, her body didn't even want to have those thoughts. Steam filled the room, causing the mirror to go grey. After exiting the shower, she got herself dressed with a second set of her armor that she had been provided while the first one was being cleaned. As she walked around her room looking for something to spark an Idea into mind, she heard a banging against her door. As she opened it, she saw the light mage. Her smile was gone, and in its place sat fear.

"Lux, what are you doing? What's wrong?"

Lux grabbed her by the hand, pulled her outside, shut the door, and took off with Irelia in tow down the hallway.

"Irey, you slept in!"

"What about it? It can't be that big of a deal. I just needed some sleep last night."

"Riven's already been charged. She's not going to survive it."

The swelling in her throat returned. Her trial was to be set before sunrise, and she had completely slept through it.

"Riven's going to be killed?"

"Yes. She earned the death sentence. They determined that seeing as you were not here, you were too afraid and that she had caused too much damage to you to even see her face again."

The Ionians strides increased in length and speed, and soon, it was Lux who was in tow. They sprinted in unison down the hallway, towards the entrance. Not another word was spoken between the two girls as they sprinted down the hall. Irelia felt her heart begin to burn. She had promised Riven that she was not going to let her die, and she had failed. She stopped the tears as they tried to make their way across her face. She main doors sat only a hundred feet away now. Her blades fanned down from the railing, and she leapt gracefully down them, rolling as she hit the ground. Lux ran around the stairs, but Irelia wasn't going to wait for her. The main doors opened quickly, revealing a sight that caused Irelia's heart to skip a beat. Riven sat atop a wooden platform, a noose around her neck. Her eyes darted around the crowd, and she knew why.

She was looking for her.

Irelia stretched her arm towards her, but the platform was an eternity away. Their eyes finally met, and the despair in Riven's eyes now had a tint of happiness.

"Drop her." The words came from a summoner beside her on the platform.

Irelia spared herself one blink, but when her eyes reopened, Riven sat, with eyes closed, dangling in the air, her feet no longer visible.

Her first tear hit the ground before her knees did.