So sorry for the lack of update! You see, I had this all written out, then my computer crashed and the document was lost :( So it took me awhile to gather up the strength to rewrite after much laziness, again so sorry! I'll try to update as much as I can! Please, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

I DON'T OWN FABLE!

"We made it! I don't think they'll follow us into the light…" Hammer panted as both she and Sparrow trudged out of the Howling Halls, Sparrow herself being somewhat bruised and tattered. A slight drizzle of rain cascaded down to the earth against her then-brunette head, her then-chocolate brown eyes tired from exhaustion…or perhaps from something else..?

"You see, this is what I'm talking about. We did a load more good than all the prayers I said in my whole life." Hammer continued, her voice rich with the tone of reason. Sparrow, however, said nothing, which was quite odd for the usual fiery heroine.

"Hey, are you alright?" Hammer asked as she noticed her friend's breathing becoming heavier as she limped towards a nearby boulder.

"I-I'll be alright, I just need to catch my breath, heal some wounds before I can go on." Sparrow said as she dug around for a health potion before pulling it out and downing it all in one swift gulp. The potion's contents coursed through her blood and Sparrow immediately was better as she felt her health being replenished.

"All right, for the best. Hate for you to join the crucible and pass out during the first round of it. Now come on, let's get going-" Hammer began as she walked along the cliff-side path but Sparrow's sudden silent words cut off the Pilgrim.

"That was horrible…" She murmured silently, audible enough for Hammer to hear. Sparrow's eyes were distant, almost empty as she stared at the ground before her, the soft drizzle of raining cascading towards the earth.

"I know, balverines are quite the nasty little buggers. Lucky that we found that pillar or we would have been done for!" Hammer agreed, her heart still racing from the blood battle the two had just endured. "But that inferno spell you conjured up definitely saved us from that white one, boy I don't think I would have stood a living chance..."

"No, not the fight, that's not what I'm talking about." Sparrow slowly shook her head as she jumped off the boulder she was sitting on, "That…That woman, balervine, whatever that thing was! That demon! H-How could she have…abused the life of a child that way…" Sparrow said in a disgusted tone, her voice somewhat shaking. "I should have killed her when I first saw her!"

"Sparrow, calm yourself, do not think like that. You had no idea, we both didn't have an idea…and there was no child there to even be harmed…" Hammer tried to reason with the hero, but she wasn't listening. The two began their way towards the gates of the Westcliff Camp, Sparrow still in the midst of her speaking.

"You don't understand, Hammer. How many times do you think that balervine has done that to travelers, abusing their hearts into leading them into a painful, hellish death? I don't even want to think about it…" Her mind wandered to the time that poor man lost his son in that cave, how he pleaded her to save his son only to find him turned to a Hobbe, Sparrow herself to witness his son strike down his own father…

Sparrow's chest tightened at the memory, so much blood shed…

"Damn my consciences…damn my good heart…" She sighed, lowering her head, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Sparrow, listen to me." Hammer said as she grabbed her best friend by the shoulders, making Sparrow look up at the woman in surprise, her eyes still clouded in a whirlpool of tears. "You are a great person, a great Hero! What you did back there, if you had to do it again, I know you would have still helped that woman! Even if you sensed evil, you still would have helped her! Don't hate yourself for being so noble, so good…" Hammer let go of the stunned girl's shoulders, "Because people like you are hard to find these days…"

Sparrow sniffed at her friend's kind words, "I know, it's just that children…they get to me…is all…" Hammer stopped in her tracks as Sparrow kept moving forward, oblivious to the Pilgrim's movement.

"Hey Sparrow, can I ask you something?" She spoke up, causing Sparrow to turn her head around, facing her with surprised eyes as she noticed her friend's still standing there. "Hm?" She asked, her voice now steady as the moment of grief had passed.

"Well…" Hammer pressed on as walked up beside her, "About children…your pretty young still but have you ever…you know, thought of settling down after all this Hero nonsense or whatever?"

A long silence filled the air as the question lingered in the Hero's ears, unsure of what to say. Hammer looked on at Sparrow as she thought of her reply…

"No." Was all Sparrow spoke, her face turned away from Hammer. "I'm celibate." And with that said, she walked forward, ending her response.

Hammer, however, was shocked. "Celibate?" Her voice rang, "You-You mean you've never…? Or you'll never plan to…?" She followed after Sparrow, whom shook her head in another response.

"Don't take this offensively Sparrow, but you don't look like the celibate type." She motioned her hand towards display Sparrow's attire, an outfit a provocative woman would perhaps wear on a Hot Date. Thigh boots, hot pants, corset showing cleavage, long hair long carelessly flowing….

"It doesn't matter what you wear, it's were your mind is at." Sparrow said, "I dress this way because I'm a woman and I should be proud of that. Besides, sex is disgusting…" She wrinkled her nose at the mere thought, "To me, sex is simply a mean for having children, anything else besides that, abusing it for pleasure…is sinful."

There was a lingering silence between the two as the headed for the Westcliff Camp.

Hammer sighed, "I guess I can see your point there. I'm just a little bit shocked, when I think of celibacy I think of those head monks back at the temple, not a young eligible heroine like you. But you never thought of raising your own family? Ever?"

White Thigh Boots stopped dead against the dirt-beaten road, the nerves inside the young hero's body freezing with a harsh truth. A harsh wind began to pick up, yet Sparrow nor Hammer noticed as the Hero of Strength looked on at her dear friend in worry.

"Rose was killed because she had my blood in her veins…" Sparrow murmured to herself as the harsh wind began to settle, a dry stillness not lingering in the air. "And…I can't help but feel responsible."

Sparrow lowered her head, "Any family of mine…they will never be safe from Lucien or any enemies I may face in the future. Their lives will always be on my shoulders…"

Hammer stared fixated at Sparrow, looking upon her still face as Sparrow kept all these emotions inside her. As she spoke, the young woman did not falter in her words, no sign of melancholy or sadness graced upon her youthful face.

Sparrow, turning towards Hammer, began to smile. "And Albion is family enough for me; I'll protect them and destroy Lucien." And that smile became warmer and brighter as Sparrow's chocolate orbs began to shine with satisfaction.

The Hero of Strength, with no possible words to say, did nothing but nod and smile back. And soon, those smiles became a friendly laughter as the two found their way to the camp, the Crucible itself looming on top the rainy run-down site.

And that smile still stayed upon Sparrow's beautiful features as she fought through the arena, her eyes one of a child at play, paying no heed to the ribbons of blood flying around her dancing figure.

But behind that beautiful smile of a Hero, a little girl stood weeping.

She wept for her sister's death.

She wept for the life she no longer had.

She wept because she believed everyone was out to hurt her.

She wept because she would distance herself from others to prevent any chance of heartbreak.

And she wept; because now she thought that anyone close to her would disappear, threatening her heart to shatter once more…to even smaller pieces…

And that,

The little girl's eyes became serious, determined as she looked up from her tears.

She would simply not allow.

She would not allow her blood to spill again…

"A Mother…" Her soft whisper seemed to tell herself as she held the two infants still in her heroic arms, uncertain still how the arms that had killed many had now become so motherly.

She still laid there in that bed she had delivered in, still in shock or awe to move. Her clothes laid at the edge as she was given a cotton tunic to wear, and never in her whole life had she felt so exhausted.

Sparrow looked down at the two, her daughter and son, as she gently stroked her daughter's small brown tresses on top of her small fragile head. The girl squirmed against Sparrow's hold, delightfully gurgling and cooing as Sparrow laughed gently. And then she kissed the boy's head, whom slept peacefully against his sister's squirms.

"I'm your mommy…" She gently laughed as she tried to hold back the tears of joy that brimmed against her eyes, the sight of her children overwhelming her.

How could she have been so selfish? How could she be so cruel?

Hating these two beautiful innocent babies…

They were identical in almost every single way, and they both were so striking than any other baby Sparrow has ever seen. Already, she could tell they had her eyes, a stunning ice blue that went perfectly with their dark brunette tresses.

The Great Hero could not help but marvel at them…mystified.

She did not hear Emily enter the room with more hot towels.

"Ah, you seem to be quite comfortable." Emily giggled as she sat on the bedside next to Sparrow, looking down at the two.

"It's just…very strange." Sparrow muttered, "I never planned in my life to be a mother…"

"Life works in many ways." Emily smiled as she admired the twins still, "You cannot escape the inevitable."

Sparrow, upon hearing her words, knowing them way too well, agreed softly. Of course she would know of the inevitable and the unknown life before her. It seemed that everything in her own life…was planned out already before her…

Death.

Suffering.

Birth.

All of it.

"They're really cute." Emily smiled, "Um, May I?" She outreached her arms, and Sparrow, reluctant at first, uncertainly nodded as she handed her son towards the blonde who handled him with ease.

"He's so adorable…" Emily cooed, "I can tell he'll have a great future."

The Hero of Albion looked down at her daughter as Emily said this, pondering finally over her children. What futures would they leave? What paths would they follow?

Would it be a path of good…or evil?

"Have you thought of names?" Emily broke Sparrow's thoughts as Sparrow was caught off-guard.

Names?

She was allowed to name these beautiful babies?

"N-Names?" Sparrow stammered, honestly, she had not considered. When the two were in her womb, Sparrow did not think of them .She thought of no names, all she thought when she looked down to her ever-growing stomach was him

That filthy pirate.

And then, it was that split second that Sparrow thought of Reaver. How would he react to all of this? He had not seen her since that ill-fated night…and if he saw her again…

Sparrow did not have to think twice on how The Thief would react.

He did not want children.

He would never want children.

And he wouldn't allow children of his, with his bloodline, to live.

They would interfere with his lifestyle, and the knowledge of them living about in the world would be enough for him to make him go insane. He would not hesitate to end it. He would grab his DragonStomper .48, aim it right at their fragile heads, their piercing blue eyes staring at the golden barrel in wonder before…

Sparrow had to stop.

She will not think of that, she would not.

It was too painful…

"Sparrow?" Emily's voice of reason again reached Sparrow and broke her train of thoughts, Sparrow finding herself again in the small room at Rookridge, her daughter in her arms, safe. And her son, safely in Emily's hold.

"Oh. Sorry. My mind sort of wandered…"Sparrow nervously laughed as she again began to be in awe at her daughter. "A name…" She pondered once more.

A name for her daughter.

Of course, Sparrow did not have to think twice. As she held the small miracle in her arms, she knew what her name was. This small girl, the one that was of her blood, the one would brought a genuine smile to Sparrow's face every time she saw her, reminded her of the only other person who fit that criteria.

The only other who could genuinely make Sparrow smile.

The only other who cared for Sparrow, long before she was the Great Hero of Albion.

The only one who saw her as just "Little Sparrow".

"Rose." Sparrow declared as she held her daughter proudly, "Her name is Rose."

It was the greatest honor Sparrow thought she could give her daughter as she held Rose in her small arms. Her beloved sister, taken away from her, whose life would be lived again in her own niece…

"That's a beautiful name," Emily said as she smiled at Rose, "It'll suit her as she grows older into a beautiful maiden."

"Yes but…" Sparrow muttered as she looked towards her son, "I can't think of a name for this one."

Unlike Rose, this mysterious boy's name did not come naturally. For whom was Sparrow to name him?

After Reaver?

Sparrow was quick to discard that idea, that idiot of a pirate did not deserve such an honor. But Sparrow could not think of any such name…

No name in the world seemed to be perfect enough her first-born and for that, Sparrow felt horrible. What kind of mother was she to not know his name?

"I can't think of a name for this one…" Sparrow said sadly as she looked upon her son in Emily's arms, Emily looked down at him, nodding slightly.

"If I may be so bold, I…have a name." Emily began, peaking Sparrow's interest.

"You do?"

Emily nodded before pausing for a moment, "Aaron. It is a strong name, for a strong man. A man who takes his pride to help others, and make the world a better place to live in…"

"Aaron…" Sparrow repeated softly, "I like that…"

Emily smiled, "I'm glad you like it…" And at just that moment, the small boy began to awake from his peaceful slumber as he fluttered his small eyes open, to reveal his sparkling blue orbs.

"Well, you must be exhausted." Emily began as she set the small boy again in Sparrow's arms, Sparrow shifting her weight to hold the two babies again. "I'll leave you three to your rest; tomorrow will be a rough journey."

And as Sparrow looked down at the two once more, she thought of the future.

Herself raising these infants…while protecting Albion?

And before she could even think of anything else, Sparrow felt the fatigue hit her and she fell fast asleep.

Small young feet pattered against the wood floor of the Rookridge Inn in the depths of the night. The corridors were dark as a young girl ran down the halls, the only light for her to see was the glowing light radiating off her unearthly body.

She ran from hall to hall, looking in each and every room in search of something and it wasn't until she came to the final room of the inn that she had reached her destination.

Slowly, she entered the room, her radiance bursting light into the dark room and as she entered, the door was shut behind her softly. The room was small, yet comfort as she took in her surroundings. Towards the corners of the room, next to a small fireplace, was a bed, and inside that bed, a figure slept.

The girl approached the figure in wonder and looked upon it to see a woman sleeping, two small infants sleeping soundly by her side.

"Little Sparrow…" The girl warmly said as she brushed a heavenly hand against the woman's long blonde tresses, "You're certainly not little anymore…"

A hint of sadness was reflected in the girl's eyes, "But I am not upset with you. Please don't think that…"

Her angelic chocolate eyes rested upon the two infants and she knelt down before them, her glow radiating upon them still. "You have given birth…with a man you hate…and you feel like condemning yourself to make up for it."

"I'm not ashamed of you…so please stop sacrificing. You don't have to sacrifice every time…"

The young girl caught glimpse of Sparrow's sleeping face, and found it somewhat heartrending as she slept with the two babies but the young girl could not smile along with her.

"I'm not ashamed of you Little Sparrow, so please don't feel upset. A Rougher journey lies ahead, and I'll always be there for you…and for Rose and Aaron."

"Don't cry anymore Little Sparrow…" The young girl murmured again as she began to fade away, "I'm here, I'll always be here…"

And Rose's small little eyes fluttered open sleepily as she caught a glimpse of the young girl vanished away in a cloud of sparkles.

"And your certain it was that wrench?!" A fat bandit leader yelled as he hastily chewed a slab of jerky against his rough black beard, the grease present upon his fat cheeks.

Two lanky bandits bowed miserably before him, shaking on their knees as they kept their head bowed.

"Y-Yes!" One yelped, "She massacred our camp and killed T-Thrasher!"

"W-We came to tell ye!" The other cried.

"Strangler, do ye think they are telling the truth?" A loyal bandit to the fat bandit king asked as he stood by the king's side along a huge roaring fire against the night's air, the camp he commanded now fully encircled around the fat bastard.

Strangler, who in term was very obese, heaved to his feet as he onlooked the two bandits who came to him. He adjusted to fix the deer antlers on top of his head before licking his fat lips greedily, staring down at the two Thrasher-traitors with a stern looking his eyes.

"And ye say it was Sparrow 'erself?" Strangler asked in an eerie tone as the camp fire's light radiating off his menacing stare.

The two bandits frantically shook their heads in fright.

"Impossible! Sparrow is dead!" One other bandit from the camp claimed in frustration, other bandits beginning to clamor with shaking agreement. However, Strangler still kept his glare on the two.

"So ye telling me, some hooded whore came to Thrasher's site, massacred everyone but ye two, and ye two fled to my feet like two lost dogs?"

The bandits again nodded.

The camp grew silent over this matter as Strangler began to howl with laughter.

"That's hilarious!" He guffawed, before hacking up a rough cough, "Sparrow back, she hadn't be back in months! What makes ye believe such a tale?!" Strangler continued his laughter as he grabbed a rusty pistol, aiming it at the two bandit's foreheads with a sinister smirk.

After all, what good would be two useless traitors that could easily be abandoned?

"W-Wait!" One cried out in desperation, "She had her Red Dragon!"

"The Red Dragon ye say?" Strangler laughed once more, obviously amused by the two bandits quivering.

"Y-Yeah!" The other bandit tried to plea.

"Ye hear that men? She had the Red Dragon!" Strangler mocked to his grew in laughter, his men returning the favor with jeering and faulty laughter.

"It's true!" One bandit spoke as he rose from his feet, facing Strangler and his cocked-pistol head on, "Her gun left this!" And the bandit displayed a bullet from his tattered shirt pocket, right in front of Strangler's face.

"What is…" Strangler began but before he could finish his question, his puffy eyes widened in astonishment, fear, and realization on what the grunt of a bandit held before him.

His rustic pistol fell flat to the ground, shattering upon the weak impact as Strangler began to shake in his torn boots.

In that bandit's hand, was the golden bullet that was only left by only a one of a kind pistol.

The Red Dragon.

She laid there on her small bed made of woven blankets, sobbing uncontrollably. It wasn't true; she wouldn't allow it to be true!

A beautiful gypsy woman around the age of eighteen, looking tired and worn, cried uncontrollably into the many birthing aides' shoulders. Her tan skin seemed sweaty as well as her long flowing dark hair, her brown eyes wept with a passion and all she could think about was death.

"Let me see him!" The gypsy woman screamed at the old gypsy midwife who was holding the still baby in her arms, a mournful expression on her face.

"Eliza, it'd be easier if you…" She tried to warn but Eliza paid no attention to it.

"Dammit, let me see my son!" The young tanned woman screamed at the midwife, her hair sweaty and fray. Her eyes seemed to burn in anger and despair as the midwife kept her son away from her…

How she longed to see him!

The Midwife, with nothing else she could do, handed the young small dead bundle to the crying mother, whom took her son impatiently.

She searched his pale lifeless face for any sign of life, any hope that he might breathe and awake but nothing…there was nothing…

"We will prepare a burial right away…" She heard the midwife murmur to the other aids as the tried to keep quiet around Eliza but she knew…she knew…

"My son…" She wept towards the child, it wasn't fair. First her husband, her beloved Matthew, was killed by bandits in a raid and now her son?!

Her only link left to him…

She couldn't bear it…

"Take him…"She murmured to the midwife, whom took the dead bundle from the poor mother's arms.

Why would dear Avo grant her a stillborn? Why did life hate her so much?!

"Eliza…"

"Leave me." She ordered to everyone in her small caravan, not being able to bear the sympathetic looks of the people around her. All it did was remind her of the agony she was enduring, the pain that would never subside…

When everyone hesitated, she began to scream at them, her tears fall from her eyes in such a heavy manner that left her face drenched.

And without any hesitation, everyone left, leaving the poor mother in her wake.

Alone, and tortured.

The wailing and crying of Aaron awoke Sparrow from her restless slumber, bringing her back to the stressful reality again. Yawning deeply, she sat up from her small bed in the Inn and picked up her son who slumbered next to her, cradling him. And as she did so, she could not help but think of the past events and she wanted to hate herself for being disappointed.

'It wasn't a dream after all' She thought as she let Aaron feed against her bosom, and once he was contempt, she held him in her loving hold.

Yes, she was tired, but she had to stay awake until the boy slept. This was the third time she was awoke by him or rose and she learned already, that as a mother, to wait for the baby to sleep before she slept.

Or else she would awake not a moment later by another shrill cry.

"Come on now…" She murmured to the boy, "Time to sleep…" Yet Aaron still laid there awake, staring up mystified at Sparrow.

Not even a day old yet and Sparrow already knew the difference between Rose and Aaron well.

Rose was nothing at all as she would have thought a baby girl would be. She was restless thing , tiring, a hand full, crying constantly, and obviously hyperactive.

Aaron on the other hand was only rarely moved when Sparrow held him, crying only when he wanted to feed. He slept most of the time, and he rarely cooed or gurgled, unlike Rose who blubbered constantly.

Sparrow sighed as she held the boy, she was positive she could sleep with him in her arms, but she would take that chance. If he was anything like his sister, he would start screaming as soon as she shut her eyes.

Suddenly, surprising herself, Sparrow began to sing to the infant. And what surprised Sparrow the most was what she sang to him.

That melody…

That certain melody…

That one melody that ruined and saved her life…

From that one music box…

And soon, Aaron drooped his eyes shut and fell into another small phase of slumber.

Sparrow sighed with relief…that is until the wailing of Rose disrupted her moment of peace.

Moaning, The Great Hero laid Aaron gently onto her side before picking up Rose, soothing her as well with the music box melody just as she did with Aaron.

However, Rose did not settle. Sparrow tried to feed her, she was not hungry. Sparrow checked her cloth diaper, she was not soiled.

She tried soothing the girl again with the melody, but Rose kept on crying as Sparrow held her close.

"Oh," Sparrow whined, "What do you want?"

The girl kept her cries and soon, Aaron awoke again in a fit of crying.

Sparrow felt like she was loosing it!

"Please…" She begged to the two, "Please…stop…"

CRASH!

Sparrow's head bolted upright from her infants to the noise, the hairs on her neck rising.

The sound came from downstairs, and whatever or whoever made the noise, made no notion to cease their rampaging.

CRASH!

SLAM!!

The sounds startled the infants even more, and Sparrow did not take the time to hush them. Slowly, Sparrow rose from her small bed, gently leaving the babies on top of the covers.

Her fighting instincts took over, fusing with this newfound power of maternal protection.

"Emily?" She called out the door, down below to the ravaging and as soon as she did, her eyes widened.

"EMILY?!" She called out again in alarm, hoping to hear the beautiful barmaid's voice but no…she heard…

"Boss, someone's upstairs!" The rough voice of a bandit hollered towards to what seemed to be a band of bandits, Sparrow froze.

"No…" She muttered under her breath as she rushed back into her room, grabbing her Daichi and trusted Red Dragon from the edge of the bed. Still only being in an oversized tunic, nothing else to defend herself with, Sparrow readied her pistol.

She heard the sound of bandits ransacking the downstairs of the Rookridge Inn, and she felt no presence of Emily anywhere. Quickly, knowing what she must do, she looked down at her two precious babies worryingly before rushing out the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Already, as soon as she closed the door, a bandit was already rushing up the steps towards her, blade drawn, shouting madly.

Sparrow whipped her Daichi out towards him, allowing the bandit to plunge his body deep against the sharp blade.

Falling to his knees, Sparrow ripped the blade out of him before seeing three more bandits approaching her, looking more bloodthirsty than the one before. She jumped back on top of the railing and whipped on her Red Dragon, sniping each one right between the eyes with an extremely fast precision.

"GET THE BITCH!" Strangler ordered harshly from down below, too lazy himself to fight. There he sat upon the bar counter, downing already the bar's reserve on Ale.

Sparrow, getting once again accustomed to her pregnant-free body, jumped the landing and onto the lower floor of the inn.

But as she swiftly landed to her feet, the bandits began to swarm all around her, and Sparrow, before having the time to react, found herself cornered.

Bandits encircled her as she held both weapons in her hands, her eyes fixating on each and every one with a menacing glare.

"So, the Great Hero of Albion is back from the dead, eh?" Strangler halted his bandit's movements as they circled Sparrow, who glared at Strangler with a fire burning in her eyes. "Why, such a mistake to leave two bandits unharmed..." He laughed sinisterly, Sparrow began to curse herself. Those two bandits that got away...damn it al!

The bandits began to circle around the Hero as she clutched her Daichi and Red Dragon tighter, her glare never leaving the Bandit Leader.

"And such an ill-fitting outfit for yerself," The fat bandit laughed as he noticed Sparrow's large tunic, "Catch ye in the sack did I?"

The circle of bandits all laughed at her as they kept their pacing, Sparrow kept her cool as she took note of each and every one of them, trying to figure out the best strategy.

"Now see 'er Sparrow," Strangler began as he hurled himself of the bar's counter, the ground shaking under his pressure. "We like Albion the way it is now, ye being here is just is not unacceptable."

Sparrow stared at him with gritted teeth, 'If I only take down one, everyone else would strike. And if I snipe him down now, chaos would blow from this circle and they'd swarm in on me.'

She saw the fat bandit leader lick his chubby lips as he approached her, pistol in hand, The swarm of bandits slowly caving in towards her cautious movements.

Silence lingered as Sparrow felt sweat dowse against her weary head, she had to think of something fast!

"Well…sorry Great 'Ero," Strangler began menacingly, "But yer time is up." And then he cocked his pistol, aimed, then…

Silence.

The sound of a child wailing broke the tension between the bandits and Sparrow. Strangler's eyes turned towards the steps where the noise came from, and Sparrow's eyes widened as her heart fastened.

'R-Rose…! Aaron…!' Sparrow panicked as she felt her children's worry, their fright, they needed her!

"What's this?" He grinned delightfully as he still held his pistol, "Don't tell me…the bitch has puppies!"

Sparrow felt a lump in her throat as she seethed at the man, readying her weapons.

"Take care of her." Strangler grinned wickedly as he motioned his head towards Sparrow to the bandits, himself heading up the steps.

"NO!!" Sparrow screamed out as she jumped high in the area, herself charging her attack from the beginning. Mid-air, she hoisted her Red Dragon and shot five bandits right between their eyes. Then, still airborne, Sparrow shifted her weight, kicked her leg off a wooden pole to rebound herself, and flew towards the ground, Daichi, ready, and sliced three bandits in one solid move.

Again on her feet, Sparrow saw five more remaining bandits charging towards her, Sparrow mentally prepared her Will.

Unlike in her pregnancy, Will was forbidden. The stress it would have put on her body would have put too much on the fetus, possibly aborting the child. Despite the hatred for her children back then, Sparrow could not bring herself to do such an evil act.

But now, with a free womb, Sparrow charged the Will and unleashed one of her signature spells.

Time around her seemed to slow as Sparrow ran past each bandit, slicing them expertly before dashing up the wooden stairs to her precious children, already seeing Strangler's slow movement's towards the door.

She was ready to lunge for him but just when she thought she had more time, time continued it's usual flow and Strangler became much faster ( despite his weight) than ever before. Sparrow's eyes widened, her will must have weakened due to her lack of practice…

"Kill the brats!" She heard Strangler cry with a violent delight as he plunged through her bedroom door, the twins crying become louder and louder.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM!" Sparrow found herself screaming hysterically as she rushed after him, but as she caught after him, it was too late…

There he was, standing before her two precious babies with a wicked grin on his lips, a pistol in his hands. Rose and Aaron persisted their cries as he cocked his gun, aimed…

"3 months? Well that won't do." Reaver smiled eerily as he hoisted his pistol…

"NO!!!!"Sparrow screamed as she readied her Will, sending a hurling massive fireball his way as Strangler fell back against the fall, his fleshing burning. Sparrow, still persisting, dashed and hurled her Daichi towards him, stabbing him over and over again as tears streamed down her cheeks, herself not being able to stop weeping. Once his body became a bloody much, Sparrow readied her Red Dragon and pumped his body full of golden bullets viciously as she kicked and stomped on the rotting mash of a corpse until she slowed her actions, herself breathing heavily.

The sounds of her gunshots rang through the air as Aaron wailed even louder, Sparrow fell to her knees.

Rose and Aaron…almost…

She could not stop the tears as she looked upon the room, the blood, and her infants.

Aaron wailed louder, yet Rose was silent as she looked upon her mother wondrously. The small girl than began laughter, cooing with delight at the sound…of the gunshot…

Sparrow approached each and every one of her infants, cradling Rose and Aaron in her arms. She saw Rose's laughter and could not help but laugh bitterly, "You really are that man's daughter."

But as soon as the laughter came weakly, it was quick to diminish into painful sobs. As Sparrow clenched her newborns tightly against her chest, her blonde hair falling over her weeping eyes.

It was this very incident that made Sparrow realize this painful reality.

She thought of this when she found out she first was pregnant but now, knowing it and seeing them…it was too hard…

"I-I'm sorry…"Sparrow cried softly, the girl gurgled and cooed in her embrace, "But…but you won't be safe…"

They would never be safe…if she kept them…

For the babies she loved so much, the only way to keep them safe, she had no choice.

"I'm sorry…"She whispered to the twins, "One day, when you're older, you'll understand." They had Heroic blood in their veins, and not just hers, but Reaver's as well.

Suddenly, Sparrow's eyes widened in sudden realization as she placed them back onto the rummaged bed, beholding the twins, as if for a first time.

"You're Heroes…" She said in sudden realization as she noticed something about her twins. It would be normal for her to conceive with a normal man, for then the children's blood wouldn't be as strong but…she conceived with the Hero of Skill.

A Fellow Hero.

Their powers, the powers that these two babies would have, would surpass hers, and even Reaver's.

Both sides were dominant and their Heroism is more fluent in their blood than it ever would be, they would be a threat to all evil…and evil will surely end it as soon as possible if given the chance…

Evil wouldn't think twice about striking down two helpless infants.

Sparrow fought back sobs as looked at her babies, "You must never know what you are, who you are, or what you can be. It is only to protect you…" She sobbed, "You deserve a normal life, a life every civilian should have, a life I should have had..."

She continued, "A-And if that means I can't be your mother…then so be it…" Sparrow found herself in a fit of weeping once more, but she still kept speaking.

"Please, don't hate me. Don't scorn my name…if you ever find out…" She cried desperately, causing the infant girl to be upset.

"You will be glorious in your own right, not of a Hero. You don't want this life…" Sparrow gasped as she took a breath from her tears, the infant girl started to cry and as soon as his sister wept, so did the boy.

"Well, if you're gonna cry…" Sparrow laughed sadly as she too, shed more tears.

Later on that night, the Full Moon was waning against the clear night sky over the Bowerstone Gypsy Camp. The many lanterns stretched across the camp's caravans were far already diminished for the night, and all civilians safely slumbering inside each caravan.

Except one.

Young Eliza wandered along the beaten paths of the camp, herself walking with such an impassive look on her face.

She visited the graves at least a dozen times that time and each time she wandered, she always found herself in front of those two graves, mocking her, weeping for her.

The gypsy fought back tears as she kept her pace along the paths, her long flowing brown skirt trailing off against the wind. Her white loose blouse felt barren were her heart was, and flowing black tresses caressing her shaking body.

What was the point of living now? Her son and husband were waiting for her, what was the point of continue this painstaking obstacle called life any longer?

Eliza thought these hatful thoughts as she wiped away the never ending tears before finding herself at the front of the camp, where the man gate stood.

As usual, the main gate was shut tight to protect the gypsies from intruders, and as usual, no one guarded the said gate, for fatigue has hit them all.

She stood in front of the wooden structure, the dirt soft against her feet as the means of escaping took place. If she left this camp, the painful memories that it bore, she would be free and she could go off into Brightwood, Westcliff, perhaps even Oakfield and live a different life, a life her family would have wanted her to have.

"Yes…" She spoke to herself as she nodded her young head, determined now with her plans. She began to turn and rush back to her caravan, gather all her things, and flee before dawn but as she went, she heard the sounding of pounding against the gate.

Instincts taking over, Eliza began to fear for intruders as her heart raced with fright but as she approached the gate for reassurance, the pounding became louder, more persuasive.

"Please! Please, let me in!" A muffled cry, shaking from sobs, yelled as the pounding became louder.

'A female?' Eliza thought with worry at the sound of the panicked voice, perhaps bandits were chasing after her?

Thinking almost of her husband, Eliza raced towards the lever that controlled the gate, pulling it back with a large pull until the gate slowly gave way.

They pulled back with a large creeekk! and Eliza headed out of the camp, looking around for the said woman.

No one.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" She called out into the night as the wind suddenly became harsher, the fabrics she wore tugging fluttering ruthlessly against her slender body.

"Is anyone out there?!" She cried out, fearing the worst for the woman who she thought was in danger. The fear was visible in Eliza's brown eyes as she scanned Bower Lake around her…

"HELLO?!" She shouted out loud, and as she did, she heard the sound of an infant crying.

"…Huh?" Eliza murmured as she looked down at her feet, where a small basket sat. She stared at it quizzically before hearing the sound of the crying once more, from the basket.

Gasping, the young gypsy dropped to her knees and lifted the lift of the basket to reveal a baby boy and girl ladled in soft cotton, crying and wailing out from the cold night's air.

"Oh…my…" Eliza gasped quietly as she placed a hand to her shaking lips, "Is anyone there?!"

No voice answered Eliza's desperate plea as she looked down at the two abandoned infants. She slowly took off her red bandana and placed it over the two, hoping to keep them warm against the night's area. And as she placed her hand's inside the basket, she felt the crinkling of paper against her fingertips.

Reaching her hand inside, Eliza found a note and within the moonlit, it read.

Please, kind stranger, I beg of you.

For reasons that I cannot explain, I cannot care for my two beautiful twins.

Please be gentle for them, let them know they are loved, and please raise them in my place.

It pains me to do this but there is no choice.

They must not know me, they must not know who they are.

Please, Please, take care of my Aaron…my Rose…

And even though the night was dark, and the moon was waning, Eliza could still feel that the note was soaked with tears.

She saw the strange gypsy woman picked up the bundle lovingly and then she saw her take them away into the gypsy camp, the wooden gates closing ever so tightly behind her…

And as the large THUD of the doors screamed against her ears, Sparrow stared long and hard at what she has just done through a whirlpool of silent tears. And then, she opened her lips-

"Hush now, my baby...be still love, don't cry...'

'Sleep as your rocked by the stream...'

The dark cloak that caressed her body fluttered harshly against the wind as she stood off into the distance, and again, she was alone.

'Sleep and remember my last lullaby...'

'So I'll be with you...when you dream...'

Her stomach now barren, another sacrifice made, Sparrow began to weep silently as she turned away from the gypsy camp and onto the beaten path to Bowerstone.

Sacrifice after Sacrifice…

When was this going to end? When will she be able to stop this maddening vicious cycle?

In the end, she will always have nothing.

She'd give the world everything when she had nothing. She will have no one to love, but let the world love her.

And as the vision of Castle Fairfax came into view against the bright full moon, Sparrow's fate was once again determined.

She stopped dead in her tracks, her blue eyes pleading against the night sky as she looked onto the castle with reason.

If The Great Hero of Albion could not protect her children…

…then she'll protect them…

…As Albion's Next Queen.

With That Cold Night, Came A Cold Beginning.

Our Hero's cloak disappeared into the depths of the night's darkness, and as Queen, she will govern her people into a will she deemed just and let no evil foil her vision of her perfect world.

Hundreds upon thousands of people attended her coronation and the world came to love her, but behind that beautiful smile, that Queen fell into a deep despair.

For with each waking moment, with each passing day, she thought of the two beautiful children that she had given up so long ago.

For this Queen knew nothing but Sacrifice…

-Theresa

And the image of a beautiful young queen, riddled with the tears of agony, fluttered effortlessly into the darkness…

Aw, that sad for me to write :( Well, next chapter is when the true story begins! I can't wait!! I hope you look forward to it, and please tell me what you think xD!! Btw, the song at the end was "River Lullaby" by the Dreamworks "The Prince of Egypt" I don't know, but the song "Deliver Us" really helped me write this chapter ,and I think it fits with the mood, no?