Iceborn (A Sejuani x Ashe Fanfiction)

Chapter 1

Trigger Warning: There will be mentions of physical and emotional abuse in this story

Sejuani

It was early April and the frost had not yet melted from the coarse grass that lined the wastelands. Kalkia, Warmother of the mighty Winter's Claw clan led her young daughter due north across the vast expanse, her icy expression as unmelting as the towering glaciers on the horizon. Sejuani, the future leader of the clan and only daughter of Kalkia pulled at the threads of her bearskin cloak in the hopes of keeping out the warm summer air.

"Keep up," Kalkia snapped, turning to glare at Sejuani. "The sun has long since passed its zenith, and we are still not even halfway there yet."

"Where are we going, Mother?"

The warmother rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Have you already forgotten? At this rate, you are never going to be half the leader I am. Such an insolent child." Her last words were barely audible over the howling winds.

Sejuani opened her mouth as if to protest, but her mother's piercing glare caused her to close her mouth once again and glance at her feet. She mumbled a quick apology, although she was unsure exactly what she was apologizing for.

"It is not even a mile to Hejian's cottage, and you still drag your feet," Kalkia continued, her tone growing more and more irate with every second. "If only you were less lazy and more like your devoted mother, perhaps you would not be such an utter disappointment. And do not even use your age as an excuse. You know of the tales of the ancient heroes who, even as children, saved their villages from ruin."

"I will try to be more like you, Mother," Sejuani murmured as she struggled to keep up with Kalkia's brisk pace. For every one of her mother's long strides, the four-year-old had to take three or even four of her own, yet she maintained the pace as best she could.

"You had better," Kalkia spat. "Even the most useless of the village children are more worthy of the title of Warmother than you, my own daughter."

Sejuani, being only a child, did not fully understand the biting words, but she understood the message her mother was trying to convey. She knew not to protest — it would only worsen her mother's mood. She was grateful when they arrived at Hejian's large yet modestly decorated cottage near the outskirts of Yadulsk. Hejian was her grandmother, and she believed very strongly in the power of women; she wanted people to realize how strong females truly were. Sejuani believed that she was lucky to have been born in the Freljord where women could be influential leaders.

"Mother," Kalkia greeted in her firm tone. "I trust you received the message I sent you last week?"

Hejian glared down at the two from her perch on a wooden chair high up on a balcony. "Yes," she replied stiffly. "You barely gave me much of a notice. Would it not have been wiser to inform me ahead of time rather than just a week in advance?"

"I apologize if this has caused you any inconvenience," Kalkia continued as Hejian walked down to the pair with an air of confidence that always surprised Sejuani. How could a woman of her age act in such a way? "But he summoned me."

Sejuani noticed that Kalkia always referred to this mysterious man as he. Regardless of how much she pestered her mother — to the point that she would get a harsh spanking — she never received an answer.

"You are an embarrassment to all women; running off when called for like a dog," Hejian spat, her cold blue eyes snapping dangerously. Her eyes softened when she saw Sejuani standing knee-high in the snowbanks, shivering. "Oh, do come in, child. There is some bread and sweets on the table. Please, help yourself."