Author's Note: This is Part 3 in a series stretching from the final events of Fable 2 to the events of Fable: The Journey. I am a big fan of the Fable franchise, but in my opinion, Fable 3 was a disappointment compared to Fable 2. I'll create my own quests and regions for this series, and in this AU, the events of Fable 3 are only about 25 years after Fable 2. If you are interested in the previous two parts, click on my name above and read "After" and "Birth of a Kingdom."
Review and follow! I update every weekend.
Chapter 1: Good Mourning Albion, Part One
Bowerstone Castle, sixteen years later…
Morning began as it usually did in the city of Bowerstone, the capital and largest city of the kingdom of Albion. As the sun's first rays kissed the dirty cobbled streets of the city's Industrial Quarter, scores of impoverished children in ragged work overalls and tattered shoes trudged into the beginning of their work days. The sun illuminated their young faces as stricken by desperation and hunger. Stall vendors hawked their goods as loudly as they could in competition with the clamor of machines coming to life. Lingering over the entire city, the odor of the Industrial refuse mingled with the appetizing aromas of fresh baked pastries. Beggars along the city streets rolled up their makeshift beds to begin their day of begging.
And high above it all, Bowerstone Castle loomed over the city, home to Albion's ruler King Logan and his younger brother and heir, Prince Robin.
The royal staff began their arduous day of upkeep by rousing the royal brothers from their slumber. Jasper, the butler and head of the household staff, personally undertook the task of waking the Prince. As Jasper strode down the plush, embroidered carpet of the Castle to the Prince's chambers, he fretfully wrung his wrinkled hands together. However, he was still head of the household staff and forced a smile upon his face as Jasper passed other servants and the Castle guards on his way to the exterior passage to the Prince's chambers.
Like the rest of the Castle's private chambers, the Prince's chambers consisted of a long hallway, an antechamber where the Prince conducted business and met with important guest, his bedchamber, and a lavatory to the side of the bedchamber. Jasper proceeded into the bedchamber. The Prince lay behind half-shuttered velvet bed curtains in his pajamas. Jasper proceeded to wake the Prince and the guest under his bedsheets by opening the heavy crimson curtains of the Prince's floor-to-ceiling windows. "Another lovely day in Bowerstone."
Prince Robin stirred unwillingly. His fair skin complimented the Prince's dirty blond, upswept hair sticking out of his nightcap. Robin glared at Jasper with dark blue eyes "Go away, Jasper."
"I'm here to wake you for your breakfast appointment. Lady Elise of Brightwood is in the gardens awaiting your arrival. If I may…"
Robin sprang from his bed and threw back his sheets to reveal his "guest": A black and white Collie. The dog jumped to her feet too and licked at Robin's face. "Not now, Lady. I've got a very important date with Elise this morning. And I need you to be on your best behavior."
"Since this date is so important, would you like my suggestions on the most appropriate attire for the occasion?"
"I will wear only the finest attire this morning, Jasper. Today is the day I at last ask Lady Elise to be my wife."
Bowerstone Castle
After waking Prince Robin and seeing the ebullient young Prince to his breakfast, Jasper returned to the heart of the Castle. King Logan was scheduled to meet with a few of his guards, but Jasper needed the King's approval on the lunch menu. As the aged butler strode the halls of the castle, a maid ran frantically ran up to him. "Mister Jasper! Mister Jasper! Do something, quickly, please?"
Jasper struggled to maintain his composure. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Mister Jasper, there are protestors gathered in front of the Castle! They're threatening to storm in if…"
"There is no need to worry. Jasper, instruct the guards to shoot them if they cross the courtyard. They are permitted to use extreme force if necessary to keep protestors outside the main wall." King Logan, Ruler of Albion and the Lesser Isles, strolled down the corridor behind Jasper. In his gold armored King Suit, Logan presented a tall, imposing figure.
"Your Majesty," Jasper began with a deferential bow, "if I may…"
King Logan glared imperiously upon Jasper. "Watch your words, Jasper. Do not presume that you are afforded more security because of your acquaintanceship with my late father."
"The Old King vanished, your Majesty. We do not know that he died."
"I shall permit you that offense only because you speak truthfully. Follow my orders or I shall deal with you as a traitor."
Jasper bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty, I shall instruct the guards at once."
Logan passed Jasper and the maid without another word. The maid waited until King Logan had passed and leaned in close to Jasper. "Y'know, Mister Jasper, there's talk in Bowerstone of a resistance trying to set a new king upon the throne. D'you think…"
The maid was cut short as a magical golden blades penetrated the maid's chest and back. She collapsed with a grunt into Jasper's arms and was dead before the aged butler let her drop to the floor. Logan stood a few feet further down the hall with his left hand still raised; he had cast the spell. Folding his hands together, Logan instructed, "Jasper, if you'll be so kind to remind the staff that any traitorous speech will result in their execution for treason. It would mitigate the high turnover rate of our staff." With that, Logan strode off down the corridors.
Bowerstone Castle
Lady Elise of Brightwood overlooked the city of Bowerstone with her back toward Prince Robin as he approached her. In the early morning light, her massive curly blonde hair shone with a golden hue. It highlighted her ivory white day dress. Robin thought to himself, I wonder if she will look like that on our wedding day.
Collie rushed enthusiastically to greet Elise, dampening Robin's plan to surprise her. Elise turned and her bright blue eyes sparkled when she greeted the dog. Robin was lost for words when Elise's eyes turned to him. "Well good morning, handsome Prince. Have you come to save me from the attack of this vicious beast?"
Robin chuckled. Elise stood up and he gathered her into his arms. He placed a ravishing, hungry kiss upon Elise's soft lips. "How was that for a rescue?"
"I feel safer already."
"What were you doing in the garden? I had hoped to join you in the dining hall for breakfast. Why were you out here?"
Elise walked to the edge of the overlook. Robin joined her and took her delicate right hand in his slightly larger left one. "I heard that a worker in the Industrial quarter was executed publicly by royal decree from King Logan."
"Yes, that would be terrible, but...treason…"
"It wasn't for treason," Elise said through gritted teeth. "Logan ordered a worker publicly executed by calling it treason but all she did was ask for a break."
Robin's mouth gaped open and he dropped Elise's hand. "You...It must be a rumor, surely. A malicious rumor…"
"I don't believe it was a rumor, Robin. I think it is the truth. I think Logan is having workers killed for treason whenever they grow weary. These people aren't machines."
Robin shook his head. "Logan is the rightful king. Why would he make the decision to have someone killed for treason otherwise? Perhaps the rumor is just a rumor."
"Logan has not been a strong king in a long time, Robin. The people are afraid of him. He is unpredictable and erratic. Worse yet, Reaver acts as his agent in Industrial, employing children and forcing workers to labor 20 hours a day or longer. Something must be done."
Robin turned to Elise. He forced a smile to his face but meeting her blue eyes with his green ones allowed Robin's smile to seem real. "I'll talk to Logan. Perhaps I can convince him to be more lenient with the workers."
"They need more change than that."
"Elise, how many times must I tell you…" Elise looked away. Despairing at the tone of their conversation, Robin sighed, took Elise's hands in his, and sank to one knee.
"Robin, what are you doing?"
"I'm changing the tone of our conversation." Robin reached into the pocket of his elegant coat with his left hand and pulled out a ring box. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes! Yes!" Elise jumped up and down and clapped her hands happily.