Author's Note: After months of nothing, I am finally back. I am so sorry to all those who were reading this, and can only apologise again for my absence. This has been due to a massive writer's block and personal reasons on and off. But thankfully the writer's block has gone and personal reasons have gone and are sorted. I want to thank those that encouraged me during that time to get back to this, and assured me that I could still do this and it was worth continuing. Thank you loads!

Disclaimer: Fable 2 and 3 (c) Lionhead Studios

From Hero to Queen

Chapter 12

The interrupted smuggling attempt turned out much better than Sparrow had dared hoped. Not only had she wiped out a large number of outlaws off the streets, but she had saved a young woman who had been abducted for slavery and her sudden return had started a chain reaction among the criminals of Bowerstone.

Word spread quickly of Sparrow's return and her success of stopping an illegal shipment and killing those that tried to stop her. Criminal activity bombed after only a few weeks, with very little need for Sparrow's involvement. After she defeated one or two highly wanted and dangerous criminals, all other criminals went running! So, with the outlaws nearly sorted out, Sparrow could now focus on the other major problem in Bowerstone; those that were against her.

The anti-Hero groups seemed to slowly but surely form into one, they meeting in large numbers and protesting to the Hero's presence in town. This of course caused tension among the other townsfolk that supported Sparrow. Over all, the town was becoming largely divided and tensions among the people were rising at a dangerous rate. Sparrow didn't know what she was going to do to change that.

"I don't know what to do," Sparrow confessed, her head hung low in defeat as she did up her blouse, having just finished feeding Logan.

She sat by the window of the room that she and Elise called their own in the barracks; the room had been converted into a bedroom for the two women by the guardsmen. Elise, the woman Sparrow had saved, continued to rock Logan gently, luring him to sleep after his night time feed. The baby's eyes were heavy and his hands clung to one of his few toys, but slowly and surely he fell asleep. With the Logan now dozing, Elise carefully placed him in his cot while speaking to his mother.

"I'm sure you'll think of something, Hero," Elise assured. Sparrow gave a small laugh and a shake of her head as she turned her attention to the lovely young lady.

"Sparrow, Elise. I've told you before to call me Sparrow,"

The Hero walked from her spot by the window and approached the blonde haired woman and her sleeping son. A warm and loving smile spread across her tired face as she looked down at his peaceful and resting form. She was unable to resist the urge to stroke his round cheek. Elise gave a small smile of her own while witnessing the scene.

"Yes He- I mean Sparrow. But as I was saying, you'll figure something out. Don't you always?" Elise pointed out. The Hero gave a heavy sigh again, looking tired and deflated. She pulled herself away from Logan's side and steadily paced the room as she voiced her troubles.

"Yes but... how long can that last? I mean it's only by sheer luck that the criminal problems have gone so well,"

"I believe reputation was more to do with that than luck,"

"Ok, sure, reputation and word of mouth helped, but that's still not going to help in this case. I can't scare these people into submission or wow them back to me like mindless sheep,"

"Why not?" Elise asked after a moment or two. Sparrow stopped in mid step and eyed Elise carefully. She folded her arms over her chest and an eyebrow was raised as she warily regarded Elise's question.

"I really don't think being a brute is going to improve my popularity here," she countered. Elise hastily shook her head and waved her hands.

"No no not that, the other thing you said. Wow them back. Why not? These people are obviously suffering from some hardship or injustice since you left right? That's why they've placed the blame on you. Why don't you try doing some good deeds for them, personally? They can't be mad if you're shown trying to actually help them and right their wrongs,"

That actually made a lot of sense, so much so that Sparrow was a little embarrassed that she hadn't thought of it herself. It was very similar to what she used to have to do; doing deeds and quests for people to earn favours and/or make a name for herself. Honestly, it was no different. Only difference this time round was trying to win back those that she'd already helped. She just hoped that the people's problems could actually be fixed by simple quest doing. What if it was a case of people simply didn't want her here, no matter what good she did? Oh well, she'd have to think of something else if that were the case. At the moment, Elise's idea was the only one she had.

"Alright, that sounds like a good start," Sparrow agreed. She gave a small laugh. "What would I do without you, Elise?" she asked.

"Question is what I would do without you, Sparrow," she said in return, with some sadness in her tone, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

Sparrow's heart ached after Elise spoke those words, as it had done when Elise had tearfully told her she had no home to go back to when Sparrow and Walter offered to take her home. The blonde haired woman had sobbed as she told them how their farm had been attacked by the bandits and outlaws, how their animals were slaughtered just for laughs or shows of cruelty and power. Of how her father and brother had been killed, trying to protect her. With their deaths and the farm's destruction, Elise had nowhere to go to after her rescue.

The Hero closed the gap between them and brought the younger woman into a caring hug. Elise willing accepted the embrace, needing the comfort it brought.

"You would have been fine, you're smart and pretty. You would have found a life on your own. But I admit I am grateful that you agreed to stay and help look after Logan. It really puts me at ease to have a friend look after him," the Hero told her. Elise smiled her own thanks and nodded. Sparrow had saved her, in more ways than one, by asking her to stay and help look after Logan; it gaze her some sort of purpose again, a place to belong.

"It's my pleasure. It's the least I can do after what you did, and he's such a sweet baby," Elise replied. She then blushed and looked embarrassed as she mentioned Logan's former babysitter. "I just hope Elliot forgives me for taking over his position of babysitter," she giggled.

"He'll get over it I'm sure. Besides, he's a guard and he needs to start acting like one,"

They all did. All the young and inexperienced guardsmen had to train and start becoming proper guards to the town. And with most of the criminals out of Bowerstone, they could finally start doing that, the more experienced finally having the time and energy needed in training the youngsters. Sparrow just hoped that the anti-Hero townsfolk wouldn't prove too hostile in the mean time. The last thing she wanted was for those poor boys to have to kill their own townspeople due to a riot or a fight that had gone out of hand.

All because of her.

"You sure this is a good idea, Hero?" Walter asked.

"Nope, but it's the only one we have right now," Sparrow confessed.

The Fourth Hero watched her surroundings carefully as she and Walter walked down the street, very aware of where she was. She'd purposely wandered into the anti-Hero side of Bowerstone and had also made it very obvious that she was indeed the Hero that they hated, if they didn't know that already. She wore her Hero Seal on the belt that held her sword to her back, it sitting there out in the open against her chest for all to see. Almost everyone she walked past eyed her, mouths wide open in shock at her blatant lack, or even attempt, of subtlety. Many gave her dirty looks. A few even spat in her direction, which nearly caused Walter to go off after them and force them to apologise (after a possible beating) but Sparrow kept him at bay. There was a reason for her coming here and it wasn't to assault people.

They approached a home that had seen better days. Several men and women loitered outside, and a few more emerged from inside when they were called out as the Hero neared. Sparrow walked over to the edge of the front garden but went no nearer to the house, not wanting to cause anymore tension than she'd already caused. The few closest to her glared daggers and folded their arms over their chests, one or two even reaching for nearby weapons like shovels or old rifles. Walter was on edge and had his own hand at the ready and resting on his pistol. Sparrow however tried to look as relaxed and unthreatening as she could, but she still managed to hold that look of authority she had gained over the years.

"Gentlemen, ladies," she addressed and bowed. None of them did the same in return, most still stunned that the Hero had the nerve to come to their side of town. One slowly walked closer, he the tallest and largest of the group. From what Sparrow understood, he was the leader of the anti-Hero group; Jones was his name, if she was remembering correctly. He tried to stand as straight and proud as he could in front of the Hero of Bowerstone, obviously trying to look more dominating than her.

"You're either brave or stupid for coming here Hero. I'm inclined to say stupid," Jones dared say, and after a moment or two without getting a rise out of her he finally asked. "What do you want?"

"To set things right," she said.

This earned her a few mocking comments or snickers, none of them seeming to believe or want her help. The man currently questioning her looked highly amused, but also a little offended.

"Help? Why would we want your help now? You weren't here when Bowerstone needed you most," he accused.

While Sparrow had promised herself that she would remain calm, no matter what the townsfolk said, she felt outraged at the accusation. Yes she hadn't been there for the past year, but how was she to know that the town would go downhill without her there? How was she to know that the guards had become unfit and the criminals would become brave and grow in her absence? She couldn't foresee all that happening! And not only that, but she had been there to help years before, and had been there when Lucien's slavers had been kidnapping people to work on his tower. It angered her to no end that these and the other townsfolk seemed to have forgotten all that.

"No, I wasn't. And I'm sorry for that. I didn't think the town would tear itself apart without me," she tried to explain, as calmly as she could. "But I'm here now and I want to try and right the wrongs that have happened to you all," she told him.

Jones still seemed unconvinced, though a few behind him seemed to be slowly coming around, whispering amongst themselves. However it was still very evident that it would take more than words to lessen their hatred. One suddenly spoke out, unable to control his outburst.

"Why now? Why couldn't you come sooner? What was so important that you couldn't come and help us sooner?" he demanded. The glare he earned from her was enough to shut him up straight away, never mind the fact that her Will lines shone brightly and angrily under her clothes.

"I'm sorry, but battling bandits and dangerous monsters is rather hard when you're heavily pregnant!" she countered.

That not only shut that man up, but a few of them were looking away or down in shame, having not taken into consideration Sparrow's state at the time. Jones seemed unaffected by Sparrow's response, but after a minute or two he nodded.

"Ok Hero, you can try and help. But don't expect things to change overnight. A lot of hurt happened due to your absence,"

"I understand. Like I said, I just want to help," Sparrow informed him.

"So you say," Jones mumbled, still sceptical.

Sparrow was going to try her hardest to change that attitude.

Birds chipped happily in the trees surrounding the village, children heard laughing as they played while the adults worked. Farmers tended to their crops, hunters came and went with game and all and all the village was filled with much happiness and joy. It was made all the more joyful by the recent addition to the village. A woman with long brown hair sat outside her porch, holding her new born child close as she sang in a voice so soft and pure it matched her angelic appearance. The scene was perfect.

Then another woman came running, crying, screaming. She grabbed hold of the new mother, pulling her away from the porch, scaring her. Her golden curls were a mess, her clothes dirtied by her rush through the forest to get home and her voice hoarse from all her screaming. She continued to scream and cry, continued to try and drag the new mother and child away from the village, but she didn't understand nor listen. No one did. Not until a sudden darkness fell upon the village and all eyes looked up towards the heavens to see what had blocked the bright noon sun.

Then ear piercing screams ripped through the village and echoed for miles for others to hear. The screams went on and on, each one filled with stomach turning agony. It continued on until finally the last thing to be heard was the piercing cries of a new born baby.

Then silence.

"AGGH!" Reaver shot up in his overly large bed, pistol in hand and a maddened look on his face.

He panted long and hard, his eyes shooting across the room anxiously. It took a moment or two for him to calm down and register that he had been having a nightmare again. Or rather the nightmare. He growled angrily at himself, letting his head hung low, resting his forehead against the hand that held his Dragonstomper. This was getting ridiculous. Nearly every night for the past week he had been having the nightmare. Every night he had tried something new in hope of a dreamless night's sleep. Drink, murder, torture, parties. Nothing seemed to be working; not even the orgy he'd recently had.

The participants of the said orgy were still in his room, a few scattered sleeping drunkenly on his floor while two were sleeping in his bed. The woman on his right was still fast asleep and snoring though he'd disturbed the man on his left with his jerking movements. He groaned sleepily before rolling over onto his side to try and get back to sleep.

Reaver merely rolled him further, making the man fall out of bed with a startled yelp. He landed with an awkward and rather loud thud, the commotion startling a few others out of sleep, but Reaver didn't care. The Pirate King strolled naked over to his wardrobe and pulled on a robe before going downstairs to do what he always did when he couldn't sleep. Drink.

The Pirate King entered his study, got the fireplace going (didn't take long, a few embers were still burning from earlier that night) and fetched a bottle of wine. When going to get a glass he only just realised that he was still carrying his gun around. He sighed tiredly to himself, went over to his overly large and grand armchair and rather ungracefully stumbled into it. He dropped the Dragonstomper carelessly on the small table next to him and proceeded to drink straight from the bottle, very unlike him. He didn't care right now though, his head too fuzzy from lack of sleep and all the memories his blasted reoccurring nightmare kept bringing back to the surface. Memories of Oakvale, his friends and family, of her...

Reaver grimaced and shook his head in disgust before taking a large swig from the bottle, hoping the alcohol would slowly but surely drown the memories out, like it normally does. Drown her out. After a few bottles slowly but surely his mind began to clear of Oakvale and what he'd done, but instead was drifting and, for some reason, began thinking of another woman who'd began tormenting his life; Sparrow.

Bloody woman, nothing but inconvenience since she entered his life! To this day he was still annoyed about the whole Lucien thing, it had been such a waste of his time and it had cost him a prized ship! It was taking far too long to replace his beloved Reaver. Then there was the whole thing that happened while they lived briefly under the same roof. Or rather, what didn't happen. Despite his best efforts that blasted woman would not give in, no matter how much she obviously wanted it, if their few kisses were anything to go by. So hot, so passionate, Reaver's body warmed just thinking about it. But no, each time she would push him away and claim she didn't want it. Didn't want him.

What infuriated him the most about the whole thing was how much he wanted her to want him.

Blasted woman, what was she doing him?

Movement could be heard upstairs, possibly one or two of his guests emerging from sleep. A sly smile began to form on his face, it replacing the frown he had been wearing for the past hour or so. If wine had worked to clear his mind of his nightmare, maybe another round with his fine guests would do the same with his thoughts on Sparrow. Feeling slightly buzzed from the alcohol he'd consumed, Reaver casually made his way towards his bedroom, already imaging and planning all the things he was going to do with and to his willing guests.

He made a mental note later to possibly stop sleeping with brunettes for a while, especially ones with bright blue eyes. He found it did very little to distract him from thoughts of Sparrow when the women he was having sex with looked like her.

TBC