text: “... *and Braum pummeled at the stones with his bare fist. Rocks flew and the giant of a man disappeared into his own-made hole. Only to spring forth, with the troll boy cradled in his arms! But then everything began to rumble. Braum’s tunnel had weakened the mountain and now it was caving in! Thinking quickly, Braum grabbed the door and --”* The yeti let out a giant yawn, matching the howling wind of Freljord. It smelled of doocicles and burps and knocked Nunu off-balance, planting his butt on the snow. “But this is the good part, Willump!” The boy picked himself up and grabbed the yeti’s nose, shaking it left and right to keep his friend awake. “You don’t want to sleep now, what if the raiders attack? You’ll miss all the fun!” Willump smacked his lips and rolled around, showing a furry back to the boy. “Do you want to hear about how Ornn shaped the land instead?” Nunu asked. The yeti snorted. Their small campfire struggled against the night winds. The giant back of the yeti had given it some shelter but the direction of the winds were ever changing in the Thawing Vale, where snow could pile up to the knees one month and verdant grass peek out the very next. The adventures along the rivers had led Nunu and Willump to a frozen lake surrounded by mountains, where he’d lost track of his mother’s heart-song in the howls and gales. At first, they had played around while waiting for the next note but now boredom began to freeze their bottoms. He had hoped that raiders would attack them in the middle of the night. That’s what always happened in the stories when the hero didn’t know what to do. The hero would then defeat the bandits and get a clue on the next destination. Nunu’s cheeks stung from the cold and he pulled his fur-thick cloak tighter around him. A change in the wind pushed his snowcap over his eyes. He was fond of the cap designed like a snow fox, but the giant ears easily got caught by the strong drafts and the constant flapping broke the immersion of his stories. The fire hissed, giving out a last gasp before crumbling to ashes. The last light vanishing from the night. Nunu pulled out his flute tucked by his side. He imagined the fire being a person in need, crying out for help as the harsh-winter cold bullied weak to the ground. He swung his flute -- no, his sword, yes, his magical sword, *Svellsongur*, at the cold enemy, cutting down the bullies and chasing them away. Fire returned, dancing brighter and stronger than before. It seemed to be unaffected by the wind and showered Nunu with warmth and light. The boy tucked the flute back to his side. Playing in the snow was fun, but the layers of clothes made it hard to move. He wondered sometimes what it felt like to be an Iceborn like Braum who could walk through a blizzard without any clothes. If he was an Iceborn, Nunu wouldn’t need to adjust his snowcap and wear thick gloves that made it hard to tuck in swords. He might even stop having a stuffy nose in the mornings. A purr rumbled from the yeti. He had been confident that the story of how Braum got his shield would’ve kept his best friend awake. They were, after all, in the region where the legendary Iceborn was last seen. But now that he thought about it, he had been telling a lot of heroic tales over the last week. It might be time to switch things up. “I know,” Nunu climbed up the antlers of the giant furball and looked into sleepy, glowing eyes. “Nights like these are perfect for scary stories. Dark nights need dark tales.” The yeti let out an unsure grunt. “Don’t be so scared, Willump. I haven’t even started yet. Let’s see...” The boy looked around for inspiration but there wasn’t much to see in the night. The looming mountains melded with the dark sky, the only light was from their fire. No wolf howls or trails of snow hares or herds of elnuks. Nothing but white snow, black mountain shapes and an ice lake. “Ooooh,” Nunu said, rubbing his gloves together. “I have a good night story!” Willump reached out with his four arms and hugged Nunu, the furry limbs covering the boy like heavy blankets. “No.” Nunu squirmed free from the hug and jumped down from the yeti’s chest, “not a good night story but a *good* night story.” The giant friend tilted his head. The boy placed himself in front of the fire, letting the backlight give an ominous mood. He took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. The yeti rose to a sitting position. *“Long ago,”* Nunu began, *“there was a pale monster with dark hair who was polite but lonely.* *“Because of his loneliness, he decided to meet everyone in the world and befriend them.* *“The monster entered a village and saw an elder sitting by a bench, staring at the leaves from a tree falling to the ground. The monster sat next to the elder and watched along without saying anything because he was a polite monster and didn’t want to interrupt. The monster practiced his introduction in silence.* *“As the last leaf fell to the ground, the monster turned to introduce himself only to realize that the elder had closed his eyes and fallen asleep.* *“The monster nudged the elder and talked gently but the elder refused to wake up.* *“The monster’s heart ached and grew a little cold as if snow had fallen on top. But he shook it off and continued walking through the village.* *“He met a lumberjack on the way. The lumberjack yawned and seemed to struggle with carrying a log on his shoulder so the polite monster decided to help.* *“As the two walked, the monster introduced himself and wished to learn the lumberjack’s name, but the lumberjack ignored the monster, not even thanking for the help.* *“More snow fell on the monster’s heart but he continued on. Surely, the next person would like to be his friend.* *“The monster found a child crying by the river.* *“The child was sad, crying how lonely he was and how no one wanted to play with him.* *“The monster rushed forward, saying that he was lonely too. He would love to be the child’s friend.* *“But the child closed his eyes and began to sleep while floating on the water.* *“From the river bank, a woman began to scream a shrill pitch.* *“Help!” she yelled. “Help! There’s a monster in the village!”* *“The lumberjack from before rushed over and beat the monster bruised and battered. Even though the monster was hurting, he didn’t fight back. Instead he asked politely why they attacked him. He had done nothing wrong.* *“There are other monsters in the world,” the polite monster reasoned, “But you don’t scream or beat them. Why me?”* *“You’re the worst of them all,” the lumberjack said. “You put people to sleep. When you’re close by, I feel my eyes turn heavy and I begin to yawn.”* *“But isn’t sleep a good thing?” the monster asked.* *“Not your kind of sleep.”* *“The monster didn’t understand what he’d done wrong but the lumberjack looked angry so he apologized. His heart was packed with snow.* *“Apology is not enough,” the lumberjack said. “Go away. We don’t want you here.”* *The words hurt the monster, who only wanted to be friends. He felt tears flood his eyes. But he was a polite monster and held it in as much as he could, pushing the tears back into himself. With nowhere to go, the tears spilled into his snow-filled heart and the mixture turned to ice.* *“The monster changed. The dark hair grew longer and longer and covered his whole body like fur. He went down on all four and growled like a beast, baring his sharp teeth.* *“The woman fainted. The lumberjack ran.* *“On instinct, the monster chased after the moving target. There was a thrill he had never felt before. A warmth that pumped his frozen heart.* *“The lumberjack ran for three whole days before stumbling to the ground.* *“Not yet,” the monster said. “Keep running.”* *“The lumberjack used his elbows and knees to scuttle away from the monster, but it only lasted for another day before he crumbled from exhaustion.* *“More,” the monster said. ““More, I want to chase more and more.”* *“The lumberjack cried.* *“Please,” he said. “I’m too tired. I want to sleep. Please have mercy.”* *“Hearing the magical word ‘please’, the monster regained his senses and the black hair shrunk back to its original size. The lumberjack closed his eyes and slept.* *“The monster was horrified over what he’d done. He felt ashamed and angry. Who would want to be his friend if he had such a horrible un-polite side?* *“The sleeping lumberjack had an axe poking out from his belt.* *“The monster grabbed the axe and with a single swing he SPLIT HIMSELF IN TWO!* Nunu swung the flute near Willump’s face. The effect was wonderful. His friend roared louder than the winds and jerked backward with such force that a snowbank crumbled over the yeti. A wide grin spread across Nunu’s face. “How about that for a story?” A groan seeped out from the snow. “No, it’s not sad,” Nunu said. “It’s a scary story. It had a monster and people crying and someone split in two.” Willump let out a questioning grunt. “I don’t know if there’s more,” Nunu confessed, “Mom only told me up to this point because I was crying like a newborn baby. I was such a wimp back then.” A gust pushed his snowcap over his eyes again. Behind him, the campfire fizzed out. “Looks like no raiders want to attack us, Willump”, he said, and a yawn stretched over his mouth. “Maybe we should head to bed after all.” The yeti brushed off the snow on his fur and picked up Nunu, cradling the boy in his embrace. “Good night, Willump.” The yeti muttered. “Yes, this time it’s just a good night.” \*\*\*\*\* A surprised snarl woke Nunu up from his sleep. He was rubbing his eyes when strong hands pulled him away from Willump. A large bare-chested man grabbed the Willump by the reindeer horns and flung the huge yeti into a pile of snow. “Have no fear,” the man said with a rumbling voice. He had a shiny mustache and an even shinier bald head glittering against the morning sun. “Because Braum is here!” Nunu pinched both his cheeks while taking in the giant of a man with biceps bigger than his head. His cheeks stung and his nose was stuffed. This was not a dream. From a distance, Willump rolled up to his feet and let out a roar. “Oh, furry monster wants to tussle?” the man asked with a chuckle. He put down Nunu on the soft snow and picked up a giant rectangular shield with a ram head. “Fine by Braum.” The Iceborn charged. Willump, in response, went down on all his six limbs, pointing his antlers towards the incoming disaster. With a flick of the neck, Willump sent Braum flying up in the air. But the large man somersaulted and landed in a perfect hero-pose. “Wait, wait, wait!” Nunu rushed between them. “This is not a fair fight!” “Don’t worry, young boy,” the man said with confidence, “I am Braum and -- “ “That’s what I mean. Willump and I will fight you together!” The man’s brow furrowed and his mustache crinkled. “One more time please. Braum listens slowly.” Nunu took the opportunity to climb up Willump’s head. His heart thumped against his chest and his cheeks hurt from the pinching and all the smiling. He’d always wanted to fight against a hero because that’s how heroes become friends with each other in the stories. He pulled out his flute and warmed up with a few slashes in the air. “Okay, I’m ready. What about you, Willump?” The yeti beat his chest. “Awesome! Wow, can’t believe that we’re going up against a living legend like Braum. Okay, let’s try with a long-range attack.” “Uhm,” Braum said, “Young boy, you were not in danger?” “Go!” Nunu shouted, “Snowball barrage!” Dozens of snowballs rained down on Braum, crashing into the large shield. “Young boy!” Braum shouted, “Time-out!” “It’s working, Willump. Press on!” The yeti’s four arms turned like windmills, spinning round and round until they became a blur. The intensity of the snowballs increased and Braum found himself pushed back. He let out a yell and raised his shield, slamming it on the ground. The terrain cracked. Jagged lines zigzagged to Willump and Nunu and crumbled the snow under them. The yeti lost his footing, all four arms flailing. Both crashed into the snow and blasted the air with white powder. “Young boy?” Braum peeked out from his shield. Nunu’s head popped out from the snow. “That was amazing! Was that your special move? What’s it called?” The Iceborn had a stunned expression before bursting into a hearty laugh. “I take it that this beast --” “His name is Willump.” “Sorry, I take it that, eh, Willump wasn’t about to eat you?” “What? No! Why would he do that?” Willump groaned. Nunu grimaced. “That one doesn’t count, Willump. I was just hiding in your mouth. It’s not the same thing.” “I apologize,” Braum said, pulling the yeti and the boy out from the snow. “I was by a village a few hours from here and heard strange howls in the night and had to investigate. When I saw your friend holding you, I simply leapt into action. Again, I apologize. I’m Braum.” “I know!” Nunu said. “The Avalanche, The Shield of the Weak, The Shiny Baldie,” “That one’s new.” “... the Heart of Freljord!” Braum chuckled. “What’s your name, young boy?” “I’m Nunu of the Notai and this is my friend Willump. The howls might’ve been from him because I told a scary story last night.” “Last night *was* a good night for scary stories,” Braum agreed. “Nunu of Notai, eh? It’s been a while since I’ve met one of the singing nomads. You should come to the village, we would love to hear your songs.” Nunu shook his head. “My mom does all the singing, I only remember the stories. We’re on an adventure to save her right now. We got split up during a raid.” “Here in the Thawing Vale?” Braum asked. “No, it was many many months ago, up north.” The yeti grumbled. “Really, Willump? Years?” The end of Braum’s brows faltered. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said softly. “It’s okay, we will rescue her,” Nunu said, “You see, I can hear her heart-song in the winds, telling me where she is. Well, not always, like yesterday the wind was too loud but now....” The wind had finally stopped with its shouting so perhaps he could hear it now. He removed his snowcap and cupped his ears, closing his eyes. “What...?” Braum asked. Willump put a large hand over the Iceborn’s mouth, then covered his own with two. Silence filled the wind-still morning. Nunu concentrated, listening for a sound, any sound, and from a distance, he heard the faint chimes of bells. He tilted his head. Usually, it was a song but perhaps his mother had a sore throat this morning. The bells chimed again and the source seemed to come from a certain spot past the mountains. “Can you tell me what’s over there?” Nunu asked, pointing to the mountain range with jagged peaks. “Right across?” Braum squinted. “That’s the nation of Demacia.” “Demacia.” Nunu tasted the name. It danced on his tongue and had an enticing tone, much like the beginning of a song. “Willump, we’re going to Demacia! The yeti roared eagerly. “Your mother is in Demacia?” Braum asked. “I don’t know but that’s where she wants me to go. My mom’s heart-song told me.” “By yourself?” Braum asked with a worried expression. “It’s a dangerous journey for one boy. Treacherous stones, crimson raptors, and then there’s the... wyverns...” His voice trailed off when he noticed the boy’s eyes glittered like fresh-fallen snow in the morning. “Willump, we’re leaving now!” “Hold on!” Braum put down his shield in front of them like a barricade. “You have a big heart, Nunu, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to cross the mountains by yourself.” “Don’t worry, I have Willump. We’ve fought against wolves and magical stones. A few snowballs here and there scared them off. And Willump could eat them if they’re really mean.” “But the mountain range is filled with wyverns, cousins of dragons. They can fly where snowballs and jaws won’t reach.” Nunu’s mood began to sour. He had imagined meeting another hero would mean twice the fun, but Braum was just like the wind yesterday pulling down his snowcap. “What about food?” Braum continued, “You will need a lot of food for such a long trip. This is Avarosian territory, how about I take you to their warmother? Braum is good friends with her. She can help with supplies, possibly even have news about your mother. She might already be saved, no?” Nunu’s mother had told him the love story between the barbarian and the Avarosian warmother. He didn’t remember much, except for the barbarian being really angry and the warmother having a magical bow, but he did remember that warmothers were the leaders of their tribe. And Nunu had met leaders before. After the Notai caravan was raided, a band of Frostguards took Nunu and the other Notai children to a village up in the north. For protection, they said, but Nunu found it strange that they only protected the children. He had asked them about Layka, his mother, but the soldiers had ignored him. If he wanted something, they said, he needed to speak to their leader, Lissandra. Their leader was a tall woman with a strange helmet covering her eyes. He had asked and begged her for help and the leader had said that she would help him *after* Nunu answered her questions about the Notai and their stories. In short, leaders were selfish and unreliable as trolls. “No,” Nunu said. He grabbed one of Willump’s hands and walked around the barricade. “We don’t want to see a warmother and we can get our own food. And mom is waiting for *me* to save her.” Willump grunted, patting his stomach. “You’re right,” Nunu said, “We should look for breakfast.” “Breakfast, eh?” Braum stroked his mustache. “The village is close by, how about some warm elnuk milk and a hearty stew? A tiny rest before a giant journey?” Drool dripped out of the corner of Nunu’s lips. Even Willump looked interested. But a hero had to have a will of iron and resolve of steel. He could have some elnuk milk after the adventure. “No thank you,” Nunu said. “And that’s very unheroic of you, Braum, trying to stop a boy from saving his mom.” Braum flinched and clutched his bare chest as if he had suffered a mortal wound. It was with a mixed heart that Nunu left the large man. It would’ve been fun to have the Iceborn in the party but Braum had been different than he’d expected. The stories had always described the Iceborn as loud and happy, but in reality the bald man seemed to be more of a worry-wart. “Wait!” Heavy footsteps stomped against the snow, matching the loud voice. “Please let Braum join you!” The fox-ears on Nunu’s cap fluttered by how fast the boy had turned around. “You want to join our adventure?” “Of course,” Braum said. “Mother always said to move like the herd. It’s safer, no?” “Does three really count as a herd?” Nunu asked, “Don’t we need many more?” The large man smiled warmly. “You don’t need many when you have Braum.” Nunu couldn’t help but match the Iceborn’s smile. “Do you hear that, Willump? The Avalanche is joining us!” Willump grinned, revealing his rows of spiky teeth. Nunu climbed up the yeti’s head and ushered his friend forward. “Braum, there’s so much I want to ask you,” he said, “Is it true that you once cut down a whole forest with your bare hands? How about that time you saved a troll by punching through a mountain? Isn’t that how you got your shield?” Braum chuckled along, listening to the boy’s excited chatter. &#x200B; \ ***DISCLAIMER*** ***‘The Tales We Tell’ is a non-profit work of fan fiction, based on the game League of Legends.*** ***I do not own League of Legends or any of its material. League of Legends is created and owned by Riot Games Inc. This story is intended for entertainment purposes only. I am not making any profit from this story. All rights of League of Legends belong to Riot Games Inc.