Author's Note

You know it's spring and people have this spring fever...so I really enjoyed writing this chapter! :P (After eight chapters it was about damn time!) And..wow! One day earlier than usual! Have fun!

Chapter 9

Confession of Love

The full moon stood above Ionia and thousands of stars sparkled in the night sky. It was a warm, clear night. A night which was perfect for festivals and events. A night of peace and celebration. The streets of the capital were filled with noisy, drunken people or people who celebrated like there was no tomorrow. Although they came from everywhere, it was peaceful. No disputes and no fights. A rather rare sight in Valoran.

But, here in the northern gardens of Placidium ruled the silence. Not much was to hear only the rustling of the leaves and the lapping of the seas. A few insects and other creatures of the night made their noises. Silent steps didn't disrupt the harmony of this beautiful place. It was pretty dark. The moon and the stars were the only source of light. They were reflected within the seas. It felt like a magical forest somewhere on Valoran.

One person walked through the garden. She wore a red-white outfit. Her white hair nearly looked silver in the moonlight. She looked around and someone could hear her faint voice. ‟Diana?", she asked and walked towards a pavilion.

Another person stood here in the gardens. She leaned against a big tree, his leaves and branches were thin, so that the moonlight shone down on the person. Her long hair had the color of the moon, her clothing the color of blooming lotus flowers. Besides her, rammed into the earth, stood a golden shimmering blade.

‟Riven...come over here", Diana said quietly and slowly sat down on the grass, her back against the tree. Her voice wasn't the cold, sometimes harsh, voice Riven used to know. No. It was warm and calm. It fitted the night. Riven stepped closer to her. The grass tingled at her feet, as she wore only sandals.

‟Here I am", Riven replied and sat down besides her. Diana slid closer to her. Their hips and thighs touched each other. Both of them didn't say anything. They just looked into the night sky and enjoyed the silence and the feeling. Riven remembered only one time, where she was that close to Diana. It was back at the harbor, where she had comforted her...

‟You're show was...impressive...", Riven said after some time. She didn't want to disrupt the harmony of this place, so she spoke quietly and calmly. Or at least she tried, as she felt how her heart was beating in her chest. Her whole body was tense. She knew: This was the moment she had been waiting for. The perfect time. 'Stay calm..you can do it', she thought.

‟Thank you..I trained the whole day for it..do you like my new dress?", Diana asked with a smirk. Her voice stayed warm. She looked at Riven and smiled. Somehow Riven believed that Diana knew, what would happen. A rather silly thought..but..well..

‟It's...It's beautiful. It fits you perfectly", Riven answered. For a short moment, she wondered why Diana didn't hear her heart beating. Her whole body was tense. She forced herself to stay calm and to breath constantly.

‟Thank you. Karma told me about that the Ionians had this armor for a long time...which made me wonder..she told me the lotus flower symbolize the full moon...maybe Karma was right about my ancestors...", Diana said thoughtfully.

‟Maybe you will find evidence here in Ionia? I'm pretty sure there are other things", Riven replied and smiled.

‟Maybe..maybe not. To be honest, I don't care much about that", Diana shrugged and looked back to the night sky. There was a short silence between them, before Diana continued. ‟I watched and heard your speech and act..."

‟Yes, I know. Irelia had told me...how was I?", Riven asked.

‟Fantastic. I never saw someone who could act like this before. I nearly forgot that I watched you, playing a show on a stage", Diana replied with a grin. She stretched her legs and looked to her.

‟Well...eh..thank you then", Riven said flattered and rubbed the back of her head. ‟Irelia and Karma told me the same..maybe I should start working as an actress."

Diana laughed silently. ‟Maybe...hopefully you don't end in some strange tavern at the end of a street and getting dressed up like a bunny with an outfit which shows far more than this." Riven laughed.

‟Hopefully not. That would be far too embarrassing.", Riven replied with a grin.

‟But, well..you made my job harder to protect you. When Noxus get a scent of your little speech about building it up and open their eyes..", Diana replied but then laughed quietly. ‟But, you can watch out for yourself. Besides, I will always have your back." She winked at Riven and crossed her arms behind her head. She leaned back against the tree.

‟I'm sorry about this...but it felt so right..and to be honest, I had never felt so good, like this before", Riven said. She knew about the Noxian assassins, even though she didn't have much to do with them.

‟Just a joke, Riven..just a joke. Besides...not only me, but the League itself has its eyes on you. No need to worry", Diana said with a smile. She closed her eyes. Some pink leaves fell down on them, as a gust of wind shook the branches of it. They both went silent again.

'Okay Riven..this is your chance now', Riven thought and took all her courage. She opened the little bag at her belt. ‟I...I have something for you", Riven said plainly. She took out the little pendant.

Diana opened her eyes and looked at her. ‟Something for me?", she asked, a little bit surprised.

‟Yes...do you remember the little stand? I told you, that I didn't find anything..well..that was a lie", Riven answered. She blushed slightly and handed over the little chain with the pendant. Diana held it in the moonlight and regarded it.

‟I hope you like it...", Riven said and looked down on the grass. Her heart skipped a beat as she heard how Diana put it on.

‟Yes, I do. It's fantastic...thank you", Diana replied and smiled. Riven looked over to her. The moonlight reflected on the little pendant, the symbol was still clearly to see.

‟It fits you perfectly", Riven said. She took a deep breath before continuing, ‟You know...there is something..I want to tell you." She felt how she got red color in her face and tried to get a grip. 'Come on..you can do it, Riven!", she encouraged herself.

‟What...what is it?", Diana asked. In the faint light, Riven thought to see her blushing slightly. She took another deep breath.

‟Well..it's..", as soon as she started, her voice failed her. She cleared her throat. ‟It's..I really like you. Since we first met. I..you were the one who truly understood me...you helped me facing the past.."

‟That what friends are for", Diana winked at her, but somehow she had a look of expectancy.

‟No...I mean, yes...but...it's...", Riven's voice failed her again and she blushed. She looked at Diana, which laughed quietly.

‟Oh, Riven...I knew it and it's the same for me...", Diana replied quietly. Riven was rather surprised to see her blushing too.

'It's this moment..right?', Riven thought. Suddenly Diana sat down on Riven's lap, her own legs left and right of her thighs. Riven looked up to her, she felt how her lips quivered with excitement. ‟Diana...", she said silently.

Her body started to move on its own, her head moved closer to Diana's, which came closer too. Riven felt her whole body tingling with excitement. Her mind and head got empty and nothing was important anymore. Any concern, any fear was washed away. She even forgot her surroundings. There was only one thing...

‟Riven...", Diana whispered and closed her eyes before their lips finally met each other. At first they both were unsure and somehow hesitant, but moment after moment it was washed away and replaced by passion and love. She felt Diana's hand at the back of her head, which pushed her gently against her.

Riven didn't have any words to describe it. A firework of emotions washed over her reaching from joy to passion to love. Diana's lips were surprisingly soft and tasted so sweet. Riven had never felt so good, she felt like in a dream. This is what someone would call..a perfect moment.

Riven put her arms around Diana's back, gently stroke her. She felt how Diana opened her mouth slightly. She followed her example and their tongues played with each other. Riven pushed Diana gently against her.

They interrupted their kiss for a short moment and looked into the eyes of each other, their foreheads gently pushed against each other. Their lips found each other once more. With each kiss, each touch of their tongues, Riven felt a warm feeling inside her. She felt how Diana's hands explored her body, stroked gently above her shoulders and back down to her belly.

Her own hands weren't inactive either. They wandered around Diana's body. She stroked her thighs and her back. They even wandered a bit deeper, but Diana didn't seem to mind.

After some time where they both just enjoyed each others lips, hands and their feelings, Diana interrupted the kiss. She looked down on Riven, her hands on her shoulders. Her eyes looked dreamy and happy. ‟This..was it right? What you wanted to tell me...?", she whispered and Riven nodded slightly.

‟Yes...its...I love you...", Riven whispered back. It was so easy to say, when the spell was broken. She gently brushed a strand of hair out of Diana's face and smiled.

‟Since I met you..since you told me about yourself...I thought about you. The moment in the inn...made it clear to me then. I..I couldn't deny it any longer...the hug wasn't enough for me..I wanted more", Diana replied and smiled. ‟Even though...where I was born..they stir on a pair like this...some even hate it...but I don't care...I love you too, Riven...more than anything else."

For a short moment, Riven nearly felt like crying because of happiness. She had never felt like this in her whole life. A few tears ran down her cheeks. Diana gently wiped them away with her finger. Someone really loved her. Someone like her.

‟I...there are no words to describe how happy I am. You know...I was unsure at first...does she feel the same way? Will I be heartbroken and something like this", Riven replied and laughed quietly.

Diana just smiled and kissed her again. ‟No need to cry again", she said and pushed Riven gently against her in a tender embrace. ‟You can always talk to me about anything..I told it to you. I thought at some point you would...confess...to me about your feeling..."

‟You waited for me to do it?", Riven asked surprised. She withdrew her head a bit and looked into her eyes.

‟Huh...yes, I did. I'm far too..shy for things like this." Diana laughed and blushed slightly.

‟Shy? You? Good joke", Riven said and laughed quietly.

‟Hey! I...never felt like this before! So..it was...a bit complicated for me!", Diana exclaimed with a grin.

‟And not for me, right?" Riven felt so light. So perfect. ‟But, well..it turned out well."

‟Yeah, it did", Diana replied and slowly got down from her. She sat down besides Riven, but far more closer than before. She put one arm around her, gently stroke her left side of her body.

Riven put her head on Diana's shoulder and enjoyed the moment. Her right hand was around Diana too, while her left stroked her thighs.

‟Quite ironic huh?", Riven whispered.

‟What?"

‟Well...we learned about each other under the night sky...and confessed to each other under it", Riven replied and grinned. She closed her eyes and felt Diana's warm body and enjoyed her closeness.

‟We both have a thing for the night, huh?", Diana said and laughed silently. She put her own head onto Riven's and closed her eyes.

Slowly the time passed, while they didn't move nor talk much. They just sat there, forgetting everything around them. Their world was small and tender and consisted of kisses and gently caress around their bodies, while the moon shone down on them. At some point Diana switched her position from sitting beside her. She laid on the ground, her head on Riven's lap. With a dreamy face, she looked up to her and smiled.

This was a feeling Riven enjoyed, even though she only felt it once in her life and that was when she was a little child. It was a feeling of safety and hope. A feeling like 'everything will get better, there is nothing bad in this world'. Her world had always consisted of violence and fighting, there was no place of such 'weak' feelings in the Noxian military. They wanted soldiers which followed every order without asking.

'Maybe..because I haven't felt this in my entire life...maybe because of this...I enjoy this so much', she thought and held on to Diana.

Riven heard Diana's regular breathing and looked down on her. She seemed to be asleep on her lap. Riven leaned against the tree and closed her eyes as well. Slowly she fell into a deep sleep. Her dreams were filled with happiness and a feeling of safety.

The distant sound of an explosion, let her wake up. Riven yawned silently and opened her eyes. She looked around for a moment and tried to remember where she was. She felt something on her lap and looked down. Diana was still asleep on her lap, her head had turned around during her sleep so that her forehead pressed against Riven's abdomen.

Riven looked into the distance and another explosion was to hear. Then she saw it. All over Placidium fireworks lit up the sky in many different colors ranging from green, to red, to blue. She looked to the horizon, were the first glimpse of daylight was to see. It had to be only one hour before the sun rose.

She looked back down on Diana, and gently stroked her hair out of her face. 'So..it wasn't a dream after all...she looks so...peaceful and sweet when she's asleep', she thought with a smile. Her hand wandered to her side and stroke her there. Diana awoke with a start and looked around for a moment, before she realized where she was and lay back again.

‟Oh..did I wake you up?", Riven asked and smiled apologizing.

‟No, no. It's okay...how late is it?" Diana looked up to her, while she stretched some muscles.

‟I assume..one hour before sunrise. The Ionians started to let off fireworks..." As she said that another one exploded above Placidium. She could hear some cheering and applauding, even though it was a very faint sound.

‟Huh..", Diana mumbled and snuggled up to Riven. ‟Do we want to go there? You know, to the tree in the gardens and so on.." She closed her eyes again and didn't look really motivated to give up her sleeping place.

Riven gently stroked her back. ‟We could. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea, when the two main actresses show up to greet the new year."

‟Huh..always these duties of showing up...can't we just stay here and I can sleep on your lap a bit longer?", Diana mumbled while she buried her head into Riven's clothing.

‟We could do this...but I guess Irelia and Karma will ask us, where we were at this time", Riven replied with a grin. ‟Even though...I really like the current situation...and to be honest..I feel pretty tired too." Which was not really a wonder. She didn't know the exact time, but it had to be after midnight when she and Diana fell asleep. And now not even the sun was to see.

Diana opened her eyes and looked up to Riven. ‟Huh...you're right. But I will need some more sleep, after we got there and watched the whole thing", Diana complained with a grin.

‟You're not the only one...", Riven replied.

Diana got up into a sitting position and turned around to her. Suddenly she gave her a long, loving kiss on the mouth and smiled. ‟This is how we say..good morning", Diana said and smiled.

‟I really like this sort of wishing somebody a good morning", Riven replied and grinned. She stroked over Diana's cheek before she stood up. She stretched her arms and legs and cracked her neck. ‟Uah...we never sleep like this again, with me leaning against a tree. You get a stiff neck from this."

Diana stood up as well and laughed. She walked over to her crescent blade, which was still rammed inside the earth, and grabbed it. ‟Alright. Next time it will be something more comfortable for our little princess here. How about a comfortable bed for us both?" Diana winked at her.

‟I wouldn't say no this time", Riven answered with a grin. ‟But, if you really want to sleep outside once more...next time I'll sleep on your lap. We will see if you say something like this again", Riven continued and laughed.

‟Alright then. Next time the other way around", Diana replied and joined her laughing.

They both left the northern gardens. A gust of wind let some pink leaves whirling around in the air again. Riven looked back for a moment and smiled. In the beginning morning the whole place looked magical. 'Good memories in this part of the country...never thought that could be possible', she thought before she followed Diana down the long staircase.

On their way down to the main city, other fireworks were let off. Sometimes they even saw some great pictures in the beginning day. Some firework formed crests or Ionian symbols, others showed animals or dragons. They even saw another fiery dragon, like the one from yesterday. Most likely the work of another summoner within the city.

‟You know, Riven...what if we buy a scroll and pin it up on the tree? A bit good luck in the new year couldn't be the worst right?", Diana asked while they walked down.

‟Huh...to be honest, I'm not into stuff like this. But, well, if you want we can do it. Even though I don't have any worries anymore", Riven answered and smiled at her. She still felt butterflies in her stomach and everything seemed to be...good.

‟Then just write down your wishes for the future...I assume this works fine too", Diana replied with a grin.

‟Well...there I have some more ideas right now", Riven said. She adjusted her clothing and grumbled quietly. ‟I can't believe Reina fought in this stuff...it's far too short."

‟It's most likely for entertaining purposes...and I like it. I have a nice view on your legs." She grinned, while Riven blushed slightly. She looked back, down to the city. ‟Lucky for us, it doesn't look very crowded..I think most guests from Valoran are asleep..or to drunk too get up."

Diana was right. As they reached the city, the streets were nearly empty. At least in this outer district of Placidium. In the distant Riven still heard noisy voices of crowded people. Most people, which they met seemed to be Ionian. ‟Ts...Demacia: Nation of justice...and boozers", Riven said with amusement.

‟How can people let go of themselves like this?", Diana asked disgusted. ‟Anyway...let's find a stand which is still opened..or has opened again."

They walked through the city. Some people noted them and greeted them. Most of them with great respect, but some others cheered loudly. Obviously under the influence of strong alcohol. As they got closer to Serene Gardens, more people were around. The streets started to get crowded again and as they nearly reached the entrance to the gardens, they needed to push themselves through bodies.

‟Over there", Diana said suddenly and pointed into a direction, where Riven spotted a still opened stand. She nodded at Diana's direction and walked over.

The vendor behind the display, sat on a small stool. He looked pretty tired and exhausted from a long night. Luckily he was in a far better condition than most Demacians or Piltovians Riven spotted on their way. ‟Yes? What do you want?", he asked as Diana stepped closer and yawned.

‟We wanted to buy two scrolls for the tree. I know it's rather late", Diana answered.

‟Two scrolls? Alright..here. Take these...just take these. No need for money...the other guests left enough", he said with a grin and handled over two scrolls and a single pen. ‟Good fortune for the new year."

‟Thank you. Same thing for you", Diana said and took everything. She walked over to Riven and handed her one of the scrolls.

Slowly they walked on to Serene Gardens, while Riven thought what to write down. She didn't have any worries anymore. She was happy, she had everything. But, then she had an idea. 'Guess...I wrote down my wishes, like Diana said', she thought. She took the pen from Diana and started to write down. 'I only have one wish for the new year...let the love between Diana and me grow and blossom. I want to be with her...forever.'

She knew that this wish was somehow...gooey, but she didn't have any idea what else to write. 'Well, that will do it. It gets burned anyway', she thought and grinned.

The Serene Gardens were filled with people, almost as many as in the evening before. Some of them even stood or sat on the stage, while some children climbed up on trees to get a better view on the great tree in the middle of the gardens. It was filled all over with scrolls, even the branches were covered with paper.

Riven looked up where the elders sat. Even though they try to pretend to be fully awakened and fit, some of them yawned behind her hands. No wonder though, when they had so stayed awake the whole night and morning.

They both went to the giant tree and pinned their scrolls on it. Riven's eyes wandered around many others. On most of them she spotted Ionian writings, but a few were there with letters she could decipher. The wishes varied greatly. Some just had written down things for themselves, others for their families and friends. She tried to get a glimpse on Diana's scroll, but she hid it very well beneath some other scrolls.

‟Don't look. These are my personal wishes", she said with a smirk.

‟You don't tell me?", Riven asked.

‟No. But, it's not too hard for you to think about it", Diana replied and stepped back from the tree.

‟Huh..I guess so. Let's go over there. There we have a great view on the whole spectacle", Riven said and pointed in the direction of the tree, at which she leaned and waited yesterday. Diana nodded and they went to it.

The sun started to rise on the horizon. The sky turned into orange, the stars disappeared, but the moon stood still high above them. There was a small riot within the crowd, as they pushed each other away to make space for a single man. He wore a long red robe, decorated with some Ionian symbols and magical runes. His head was hid, thanks to a wide hood in the same color. A Ionian summoner.

From over here they both watched as he walked towards the tree. Diana put an arm around Riven's hips, gently pulled her closer to her. She laid her head on Riven's shoulder and just watched. Riven herself gently stroked her left side of the body. They earned some glances from a few people who stood around, but nobody said a thing. Not that it would matter in any way.

‟And today..the red sun rises in the east and grants us a new dawn under the sign of the dragon." The summoner's voice was calm. He didn't yell or scream, but everybody could clearly understand him. ‟It reminds us of the new paths and things which are waiting for us. And with it, we leave all our worries and dark thoughts behind to start anew."

He raised his hands and mumbled a spell. For a short moment it looked like his hands and arms were aflame, before he released the magical fire at the tree. Even though it was pure fire, only the scrolls burned. The warmth of the fire, filled the whole gardens. The summoner turned around and raised his hands again.

‟With this...we celebrate the cleansing of our minds and spirits. We celebrate the rebirth of them and start under good fortune in this new year."

Slowly the magical fire dissipated. The remains of the scrolls, were blown away by a gust of wind and only the giant tree stood there. Completely intact. The sun shone brilliantly through the now empty branches and illuminated the whole scenery.

‟And let me remind you of the greatest lesson of this festival. Not only courage, not only strength and not only the seeking of the truth...", the summoner looked over to Riven and Diana. Even though his face was hidden, they could see that a smile played around his lips, ‟Out of any darkness, and may it be black like the void itself...comes the grandest light. The greatest lesson of this festival...is hope. Never lose it, never forget it. The year of the dragon...has begun!"

The crowd cheered up and applauded at the spectacle. Riven and Diana just watched it more or less fascinated, but far too tired to greatly applaud or do something like this. Diana looked up on Riven, while she still was lying on her shoulder. ‟Rather spectacular...don't you think?"

‟Yeah..they know how to start a new year..look there's Karma", Riven replied and pointed to the balcony. Diana followed her finger.

The Enlightened One looked pretty exhausted from everything. Her eyes wandered around the crowd until she spotted Riven and Diana. She waved at them shortly and with a smile on her face. Then she disappeared into the building behind her, most likely to lay down to sleep.

‟You know...we should go to the inn, threw ourselves onto a bed...and sleep the whole day", Riven said and let out another yawn.

‟You've got a point. Let's go then...I don't think Irelia or Karma mind it", Diana replied and yawned. They left the gardens. A stream of people followed them.

The whole city was rather quite right now. Most people went straight to their inns and homes, to get a bit of sleep. Even the stands, which still were built up, were empty. ‟Looks like Ionia went to sleep for this day", Riven said with a smile.

‟Seems so...well, can't blame them", Diana replied. She opened the doors of their inn, as they reached it.

The inside was silent. Not even a fire burnt in the fireside, nor were the paper lanterns lit. A few guests laid on or around some tables and snored quietly. The innkeeper or the attendants were nowhere to see, so they just went straight to their room.

Riven closed the door behind her and already heard, how Diana put off her few armor pieces and slipped out of her boots. She threw herself onto the bed with a sigh and looked to Riven. ‟You wanted to sleep on my lap? Well...", she said with a smirk, ‟here's something more comfortable for our little princess."

Riven laughed silently and slipped out of her sandals and every uncomfortable armor piece. ‟That's fine for me", she replied with a grin. She stretched her muscles again and suddenly felt the fatigue of the other day. To stand up that early, practice the whole day and then stay awake until late into the night. Even though she was a soldier, she needed her rest too.

She went to the bed and laid down besides Diana, which lay on her side. Riven snuggled close up to her, gently pressing her back against Diana's breasts. She felt Diana's hand on her belly and thighs, which gently stroked her. She also felt a soft kiss on her neck and sighed blissfully. Then Diana's lips were at her ear and played with her earlobe. She let out a quiet moan and smiled.

‟I love you", Riven whispered before she closed her eyes.

‟I love you too." She heard Diana's voice whispering in her ear, before she fell asleep.