Disclaimer: "Fable" does not belong to me. All characters you recognize are owned by Lionhead Studios. Those you do not recognize were created by me for the purpose of this story. Anything written in italics is a dream or flashback. The Princess's name is Signey, pronounced SIG-NEE. It's Norse and means 'new victory', so I thought it was an appropriate hero name :) I'm really proud of this story so far and I look forward to reading any reviews you leave :D - Fallon.

Chapter One

Elliot stirred in his sleep, pressing himself firmly against his lover. Signey rubbed his arms as they pulled her close, pressing their naked bodies together. Closing her eyes, she could feel his chest rise and fall as his warm breath danced across the back of her neck. Smiling, she rolled over so she could see his beautiful face. Her movement awoke the young man and he quickly greeted her with a soft kiss.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly. Their bodies still pressed tightly together, he could feel her reach down between her legs and cup her sex.

Signey smiled as the mixture of her arousal and his climax coated her fingers. There was a dull ache between her legs, but she had never felt better. "I am." She said simply, the dopey smile on her face reassuring Elliot more so than her words. He chuckled and ran his hands up and down her back.

Again he pressed his lips against hers', earning him a delicate moan from the back of her throat. Their lips parted and Elliot pressed his forehead against Signey's. "I am sorry if making love to me wasn't...as you expected."

Signey's eyes fluttered open and she trailed her fingers down his jaw line. "You were perfect my love; I wouldn't have wanted my first time to be with anyone else."

Elliot's lips curled into a small smile and his cheeks flushed. "Really?"

She nodded and kissed his neck. Elliot moaned as the kiss turned into a suck and then a nibble. He pressed his hips toward her and she began to lovingly lick the mark she'd left on his neck. Elliot quickly stopped her and placed his fingers under her chin. He looked deep into her eyes before assaulting her lips with his. Signey couldn't get enough of him; his taste, his scent - it was intoxicating and addicting.

Their tongues flicking together, Elliot placed his warm hand on her sternum. As they parted to catch their breaths, Elliot felt her heart beating underneath his hand. He watched her chest rise and fall for a while before looking back up at her to find she had been keenly watching him. Signey smiled sleepily and placed her hand over his.

"I am glad you were my first too..." Elliot whispered as his eyes welled up with unshed tears. "I love you so much Signey."

"I love you too Elliot, I always will..."

Signey heard her voice trail off and Elliot get further away. She reached out to grab him, but woke up as she did. Unsure at first where she was, she quickly sat up and reached for her pistol. Sweat trailed down the back of her neck and her heart pounded erratically in her chest. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she tried to recognize her surroundings to clam herself.

Her heart returned to its normal rhythm. She was in the Brightwall Tavern in the bed she had rented for the night. Exhaling deeply, she fell back into the bed, her pistol never leaving her hand. Another night, another dream about the man she had condemned to death nearly a month ago.

She tried to push aside her thoughts about Elliot and forced herself up from the bed and into her skirt and corset. She used her hips to push open the door to her room as she hurried to lace up her corset. Not really caring about the state of her long auburn hair, she blew a strand out of her face and carelessly tucked it behind her ear as an afterthought. Searching the market for her canine companion, she gave a sharp whistle and smiled as Icarus came running towards her through the crowd of early morning shoppers.

Happy as ever, the dog jumped up on her in his usual morning greeting. Signey waved hello to the town crier as she purchased some healing potions from the vendor before leaving the city gates and the deafening noise of the market. The bridge to the city was in dire need of repair, but somehow she didn't care if it fell out from under her or not.

Icarus looked up at her as she stared off into the distance of the valley ahead of them. Signey was snapped out of her daze by his bark and glanced down to him. "It's alright boy." She reassured him. "Come on, let's go and find Walter!"

It did not take the duo long to make their way to the monorail station in Mistpeak Valley, fighting their way past mercenaries and cut-throats to the cave entrance. They descended steel stairs to a platform where villagers mulled about. Signey looked around for Walter and finally spotted him near the ticket booth.

He smiled when he saw her approaching and heaved himself up from the bench. "What took you so long?" He joked.

Signey smiled as she stood beside him. "I thought I'd take a shower before joining you; I was getting so ripe even Icarus was keeping his distance."

Walter laughed and clasped her on the shoulder. "Smart dog!"

She punched him in the shoulder and noticed a large steel box suspended from the ceiling approaching them. "That must be it then."

Before Walter had a chance to say anything, an explosion rocked the earth and fire erupted from the monorail car. That's when the screams started. Signey ran after Walter as he bolted for the platform below them. The monorail car was hanging on by one wheel, teetering dangerously over the deep canyon below. There was a loud, sharp snap and the car fell from the rails to certain death below. Walter pleaded with her to hurry and drew his sword. Signey looked over the ledge as Walter began to pry open the door that led to a service corridor. The steel gave way to Walter's blade and they hurried down a short flight of stairs to a lift.

Signey ran into the lift and grabbed the lever, looking back to see Walter looking at the lift with uncertainty. She said nothing, knowing his fears but was happy when he pushed them aside and joined her on the lift.

The steel-wooden box hit the hard ground and Walter burst forth. She followed him around the bend to where they both suspected they'd find the cart. Walter stopped and held out his hand to stop her. Cackles filled the cavern and Signey reached for her pistol.

"Hobbes!" Walter exclaimed.

The creatures to which he was referring to were stout, round little beings that had long ears and reeked of filth and raw sewage. Signey kicked one square in the stomach, sending him flying into the air. She finished him off with a single shot of her pistol and he was dead before he hit the ground.

The heat from the burning monorail car was getting uncomfortable, but Signey didn't let that stop her. Icarus was in the thick of the fray, wildly biting and slashing at the hobbes that were surrounding him. Signey took aim and buried a bullet in the brain of the largest hobbe nearest her furry companion. Icarus caught one off guard and tore its throat out with a violent tug. The sound of flesh being torn from bone and the sight of death no longer bothered Signey; she had seen enough of it to realize that the world was full of it.

Walter finished off the last two hobbes with a single, wide swing of his blade. Two hobbe heads went soaring through the air and Walter proudly sheathed his weapon. "Damned annoying little bastards, aren't they?"

Signey nodded as she strapped her pistol to her hip. More cackles echoed from further up the path ahead of them. "And I don't think that was the last of them."

Signey and Walter emerged triumphantly from the hobbe infested cave with a few more notches in their weapons and a couple dozen new bruises on their bodies. Walter gave an exaggerated stretch as the sunlight filtered through the trees and hit them. "Ah, Mourningwood."

"Who could possibly live here that could help us?" Signey asked, having no idea how Mourningwood could offer them allies.

Walter just smiled and walked down the slope ahead of the princess. Signey shrugged and followed her mentor, confident that he knew what he was doing even if she did not.

The air was thick around them with humidity and reeked of rotting sludge and muck. Signey followed Walter over a small, old bridge and glanced down to the water below them. It was so filthy she could barely see her reflection in the discoloured water. She shuddered to think about what muck the water contained and hurried to catch up to Walter.

"Are you men or be you hollow men?" A voice questioned as they approached a crumbling old fort that Signey expected to be abandoned.

Walter scowled but continued to approach the building. "Are you daft boy?"

"Walter?" The guard asked. "Is that you?"

"The very same." He laughed. "Now are you going to let us in or not?"

The boy scurried to open the gate and seconds later it creaked open. Signey stepped into the fort behind Walter and the guards hurried to close the doors. As the boy hurried off to find someone Walter had called Swift, Signey scanned the inside of the fort. The guards and soldiers all looked nearly dead but whether that was because of fear, lack of food or exhaustion she wasn't sure. Whatever the cause, none of them looked like they had the strength to hold their blade up in battle.

"Walter!" A voice spoke joyously from behind her and tore her from her thoughts. She turned to see her mentor shaking hands with a well dressed man smoking a long pipe. "Good to see you my friend!"

"There he is! The one and only Major Swift!" Walter laughed and followed the Major across the courtyard. Signey followed silently, happy not to be the center of focus for a while.

Walter clasped the man on the shoulder. "Why has Logan got you in this god forsaken hole?"

Swift took a long inhale of his pipe. "We've been here for weeks trying to eradicate the hollow men that infest the area. Every night we battle them and every night we lose good men; why just last night we lost Lieutenant Simmons."

Walter nodded. "So the rumours are true then?"

"Hmm yes, the damned things have been a thorn in my side for too long; hopefully we'll have your help tonight old friend." Swift peered over Walter's shoulder to the silent woman behind him. "Walter, is that -"

Walter faced her and nodded. "The princess...yes, she's what I came here to speak to you about." He began to tell Swift about their escape from the castle and their plans to rebel against Logan.

Signey walked away from the duo, not wanting to hear the tale about what had caused their sudden flight from the castle. Walter nodded to her as he continued to speak to Major Swift and Signey smiled; that was why she loved Walter, she never had to explain or justify anything to him. She hurried up a set of tired stone stairs and stood on the wall looking out over a heavily pitted field.

Being alone didn't keep her memories at bay; in fact they came to the surface with enough force to make a lesser woman break. In her mind she was in the throne room again and Elliot was being dragged away to his death. Elliot had loved and trusted her and in turn she had condemned him to a dishonourable death by firing squad, a death she had been forced to watch.

"I love you so much Signey."

"I love you too Elliot, I always will..."

"Signey!"

She turned and saw Walter waving for her to rejoin them. A third man had joined them and was laughing loudly with the Major. Signey approached the edge of the wall over the courtyard and casually walked off the ledge. She landed softly on the compact earth and stood up straight, her muscles thoroughly enjoying the stretch.

As she approached them, the third man had stopped his laughter and began sizing her up. He was maybe in his early to mid twenties from what she could tell, and had a confident air about him. She stood beside the new comer and looked to Walter. "So what's the plan then my friend?"

Walter pointed to the Major. "Looks like these boys could use our help here."

Major Swift lowered his pipe. "I'd never turn down the aid of a hero!"

The stranger beside her crossed his arms over his chest. "Hero? Are we sure about that Swifty?" A hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Signey looked at him and Walter quickly jumped in to make the introductions. "Ben Finn this is Signey, the daughter of the old Hero-King. Signey met Captain Ben Finn - not nearly as annoying as he appears, I assure you."

She locked eyes with the Captain and happily extended her hand. He looked at her strangely but ultimately shook her hand. "Never known royalty to shake hands with a soldier." He stated a handsome smirk on his lips. They remained trapped in each other's gaze for a few seconds until Walter spoke up.

Walter laughed. "Just imagine a Queen willing to shake hands with the common man, willing to fight alongside them." He clasped Signey's shoulder as she released Ben's hand. "A strange concept for royalty - your father would be proud."

"Ah Wally, always the sap." Ben laughed, keeping his eyes on Signey.

Swift blew the smoke from his pipe between the two. "I hate to be the spoil-sport but we have a busy night of hollow men squashing to prepare for."

Ben shrugged as he headed toward the blacksmith in the far corner of the courtyard, winking to Signey as he left. "Stick close Milady, you may learn something!"

Signey tossed a fireball at the Captain and laughed when he cursed and jumped to the side, nearly falling in the process. "I won't be learning anything graceful from you Master Finn that's for damned sure!"

Major Swift leaned in toward Walter as they both watched the Princess and the Captain with amusement. "I believe that is a new record for Ben; she's known him for barely an afternoon and already she's nearly maimed him."

The bones of vanquished hollow men littered the ground of the courtyard. Signey had used the mortar to destroy many of the walking dead outside the fort, but they had managed to force open a gate and brought the fight inside. She pivoted and squeezed off a shot at an approaching hollow man and smiled as he shattered with a groan.

With nearly all the undead killed, she scanned the courtyard and smiled to Walter as he decapitated an enemy. Major Swift raised his rifle in celebration of victory. She chuckled at the man's overzealous excitement.

Ben Finn walked from the Major to Signey's side, smirking at her as she looked at the Major. "Not too bad - for royalty." He amused.

Signey shot him an exaggerated glare. "Not too bad yourself - for a smug bastard."

He laughed, returning his blade to the holster on his back. His look became serious once he stifled his laughter. "No, that really was an amazing job you did out there Princess."

Signey gave him a genuine, soft smile. "Thank you Master Finn; but please, call me Signey."

"Only if you drop all this "master" nonsense and call me Ben." He said.

"Deal." She stated, happily gazing at his pale eyes. A wisp appeared over Ben's shoulder and flew past them. He spotted it too and drew his blade as Signey turned to watch where it was going. Major Swift saw it too and pointed his rifle at the floating spirit. It dove into the ground by the grave of Lieutenant Simmons, bringing with it an eerie silence. That deathly silence was disrupted as a skeletal hand broke the surface.

"Lieutenant Simmons!" Swift hollered. "I specifically ordered you to remain buried!"

Ben threw up his hands. "Doesn't anyone follow orders around here?"

Signey watched as the Lieutenant pulled himself from the earth. The sheer size of the undead Simmons made her anxious. "Everyone get on the walls!"

Ben looked at her strangely. "We can take him!" He moved to charge past her.

She quickly grabbed his arm and forced him back. "Please! Get all the men on the walls Ben."

Startled by her stern hazel eyes, he swallowed hard and nodded before ordering the remaining men to the walls. The Major quickly joined him and Walter ran to her side.

"Make sure no one comes down from the wall until I'm done Walter." She said in all seriousness. He nodded and hurried to join the others.

She could feel the eyes of every soldier upon her, but her attention was focused on Simmons. He pulled his weapons from his grave and faced her, dead set on running her through. Wisps flew out from his skeleton and dove into the ground. More dead hands soon burst through the soil like flowers under sunlight as the undead hurried to defend their lieutenant.

Signey felt the warmth of her will flow to her hands and confidently stood her ground. Simmons shrieked and pointed a long, boney finger at her. The hollow men charged just as Signey sent a massive ball of fire into a small group of them. Hurrying to rebuild the momentum of her will, she barely managed to roll out of the way of Simmons' blade.

Crouching, she smacked her hand hard to the ground and sent a wave of fire out in all directions. The Lieutenants' guards shattered all around her.

Ben watched with the rest of the soldiers from the relative safety of the walls. He cursed under his breath when Signey missed being hit by mere centimetres. Tired of feeling helpless, he moved toward the stairs to join the princess in the courtyard. Walter stopped him and roughly jerked him back.

"We've got to help her!" He pleaded. "She's a bloody sitting target out there!"

Walter shook his head and looked down to the young woman he had practically raised. "She needs to do this herself Ben."

He wasn't convinced but Walter's grip on his arm was firm. Ben continued to watch and hoped Walter's faith was well placed.

In the courtyard below, Signey faced a dozen furious hollow men. Lieutenant Simmons stomped his feet and the hollow men charged. Signey felt her will spread over her body. She worked to quickly slow her heart rate and control her breathing. Flames ran over her skin, spreading from her hands up and over her shoulders.

She waited until they were close enough to her, waited until the moment was perfect. Her hands shot up in the air as the will gained strength in her body. She fell to her knees, smashing her hands down on the ground. Again the hollow men shattered like glass around her and the undead Simmons remained.

Breathing heavily, she was not surprised when more wisps appeared. Signey sighed and drew her pistol. She aimed at the lieutenant, her finger poised to squeeze the trigger of the weapon her father had left her.

"Fight with me father..." Signey whispered under her breath and calmly applied pressure to the trigger.