Riven wandered through the gardens that afternoon, with the wind ruffling her white hair, and the sun warming her slightly tanned skin. A deep breath escaped her lungs as she came to large fountain that sat in the very center of the grounds. A gentle stream of water poured from a dragon's mouth that sat upon a stone perch in the center of the large pond. Under the small waves caused by the flowing water were twinkling gold coins that people had no doubt tossed in, hoping that it would bring them some form of good luck.

With a sigh, Riven sat on the edge of the fountain's pond while reaching into her pocket. She pulled out the one golden coin that she always carried. Although the former soldier wasn't short on funds since arriving at the League, she only ever carried one coin on her unless life dictated otherwise.

Lost in thought she tossed the shiny coin into the air and caught it, watching how it caught the light and glinted brilliantly. The coin barely landed in her hand before she held her breath, closed her eyes, and then tossed the coin over her shoulder. A tiny splashing sound soon followed.

A moment later, beautiful rhythmic tones filled her ears, and when she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of Sona sitting on the bench across from her.

"Um...hi."Riven greeted shyly as a slight blush crept across her face.

Sona smiled slightly and responded with a few plucks of her stringed instrument. The slight melody filled Riven's ears and she smiled back at the aqua haired maven who continued to play. The melody shifted into a deeper, slower tone, that mimicked the sound of Noxian war drums. As she did so, the girl watched as Riven's eyes seemed to fade as her mind drifted away through her memories.

Soldiers shouted, no, chanted as they swung their swords, artillery exploded around them in a distinct pattern that somehow complimented the ringing sounds of clashing metal around her. Riven herself swung her massive sword in perfect harmony with the melody that hummed in her very blood and seemed to guide her actions as she carved her way through every Ionian soldier in front of her. But the image began to blur and twist as suddenly a wave of projectiles where launched over her head. Still the song did not stop, instead it simply changed to a random and sporadic rhapsody that accentuated the purple clouds filling the air and even the coughing of her comrades.

The melody once again escalated to a loud crescendo that rang in Riven's ears as she still fought despite her lungs filled with toxins, as her heart began to beat in time with the song. But the song began to slow to a quiet and docile tone as the world around Riven began to blur and fade from her mind's vision.

However, the memory was not done yet as the sound of the music became a soothing and enchanting flurry of notes that seemed almost haunting as Riven opened her eyes, back to the real world, expecting to see a memory of her shattered sword across the rocks of Ionia, but instead, in her hands, across her lap, sat her sword in all it's shining glory.

Still Sona played as Riven stood from the fountain and stared at her sword in utter shock, all the while the music continued to fill the gardens in time with every little move that the soldier made. Once again the wind swept her white hair and the sun glinted off the silver metal of her sword, and made her skin glow in it's light.

Riven couldn't help but feel somehow, empowered and as though some of the weight of all her guilt from the war had been lifted from her shoulders, if only for a moment. That, was enough to bring a soft smile to Riven's face as she lifted her sword proudly into the air as the song came to an end...

The last note filled the air, a soft and harmonious voice whispered in Riven's mind.

The Ballad of the Exile...