So I had the idea of writing a Ben Finn fanfic for the longest time. I find it odd how I played the game probably a million-bajillion times and only recently started to like Ben. I always shipped him and Page, but she's a bitch. She doesn't deserve Ben ;)
Another note: THIS IS NOT THE SAME JULIETTE FROM "THE MASQUERADE"! When I played the game, I wanted to give the character a name other than Princess/Hero/Queen. The only name I could think of that was sorta royal, but not common, and fit her was Juliette. However, now when I come up with a fanfic, I can't imagine her name being anything other than Juliette (That's how long I've played the game :P)
Unfortunately, neither Fable or Ben Finn belong to me :'( All credit goes to Lionhead Studios. The only I say that sorta belongs to me is Juliette. Lionhead created her character, but her feelings and personality belong to me! Okay, this is like the biggest author note ever, but please read, favorite, follow, and review! Thank you!
Stepping out of the dim, damp cave into a bright, humid world made Juliette's eyes burn. No doubt she was happy to return from the depths of the unknown, but her quick relief changed to wanting to find a cool, shady area.
Walter sighed with contentment beside her, while Absalom immediately began to explore this new area. Juliette took the time to examine her surroundings. Thick willow trees hung sadly, their wispy leaves blocking out some of the sun. The ground wasn't solid; it was marshy and gooey mud. There didn't appear to be any source of water, but numerous puddles of water littered the landscape.
"Where are we?" She asked Walter curiously.
"We've arrived into another hell." He responded. "This swamp is called Mourningwood. I hope the people we're looking for are still alive."
Hmm, Mourningwood. . . Juliette thought. The name was definitely familiar, but she couldn't remember where she'd heard it. There was an absolute connection though with it and the castle. Besides that, Walter's last comment brought goosebumps to her skin.
"Why wouldn't they be?" Juliette asked, puzzled.
"Because, come nightfall, this is one of the most dangerous places in Albion." Walter continued. "We'll have to hurry."
He itched his skin irritably. "Well, I don't know about dangerous, but I'm starting to get a rash, bloody swamp!"
Juliette pondered on the familiar Mourningwood name as they continued, careful not to get stuck in the bog. She glanced over at Walter, who was smiling at her.
"What?" She asked him.
"You did amazing back in that cave." He praised. "Best hobbe-bashing I've seen in a while!" Walter gave her a pat on the back.
"Couldn't have done it without Albion's best soldier!" Juliette laughed.
"I didn't have to hardly do anything. You completely massacred them! It was just like fighting by your father's side. I'd forgotten what it was like, standing next to a Hero. You're so much like him."
She let out another laugh. "How?"
"Sparrow was a boy raised in a gypsy camp who suddenly turns out to be a pretty skilled and unmerciful fighter. Then, to everyone's surprise, he becomes king! Here you are, his daughter, a princess who for her whole eighteen years lived in a castle. Now you dress and fight like a mercenary, talk like a sailor, and can handle a weapon better than a blacksmith can handle hot iron. You've made me proud, girl."
Juliette blushed at his compliment and silently thanked him. Still though, she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Walter. He trained her in combat for so many years when Sparrow died before he could himself. Her mother had never even touched a sword hilt in her life. Logan had been in the middle of his own training, and the only candidate left Sparrow approved of was his old friend Walter, once one of the most powerful soldiers in the Albion army.
They continued to wade through the marshes when Albion army flags began to pop up on the side of the road. Ahead stood what appeared to be the ruins of what was once a cathedral. Walter gave a sigh of relief.
"That must be the place up ahead! What I wouldn't give for a bowl of soup and a hot bath." He said dreamily.
Suddenly, a thought clicked in Juliette's head. Mourningwood! It was familiar because Logan had set up a brigade here a few months back. That would explain all of the flags that lined the messy roads. She remembered family members of soldiers sent to fight here arguing that the base be moved somewhere else where their loved ones wouldn't have to have such a great stake at their lives.
The two approached the doors. A boy appeared from above, aiming a rifle at them.
"Cease your movement!" He ordered. "Be you men, or be you hollow men?"
Juliette tried to stifle a snort. Hollow men? Fabled skeletons who wrecked havoc on those unfortunate enough to stumble upon them? The balcony the young boy was on was very high, but surely enough he was close enough to realize that the two were all flesh.
"Have you gone daft, boy?" Walter called back. "Open up the doors!"
The boy squinted, an expression on his face like he recognized them from some lost text. "Sir Walter?" He asked. "Is that you?"
"The very same! Now, are you going to let us in or what?"
The soldier snapped out of his trance and stammered, "Right, yes, 'course!" He turned around and yelled into the torn down cathedral, "Open the gates! Tell Major Swift: Walter's here!"
The wooden doors opened with a groan. Soldiers inside were running amuck to look as orderly as possible. Walter confidently walked inside, greetings thrown at his feet like commoners before their monarch - one who wasn't tyrannical.
"Welcome Sir Walter!"
"What an honor it is to meet you, Sir Walter!"
"Can I get you something, Sir?"
Walter nodded at the ecstatic men with a grin. Their delighted faces changed - against Juliette's wishes - to awe as Juliette walked in with Absalom at her side. She knew it must've been a long time since they'd seen a woman, though her female mercenary attire wasn't exactly appealing, but they politely kept their poseur, greeting her as well.
Ahead of her, Walter had been approached by two men dressed differently than the Mourningwood soldiers, one dressed undoubtedly like a major. His hair was black and white, and he had to most impressive moustache Juliette had ever seen; not even the nobles at the castle could live up to the major's.
Walter took the man's hand in a firm handshake. "There he is! The one and only, Major Swift!"
The major laughed at Walter's remark. "Walter, it's good to see you, old fellow! What the blazes are you doing here?"
"We came looking for you!" Walter bellowed. "Had a little bit of roughing up along the way, but I have a proposition I would like to talk to you and your men about."
The second man spoke up. "You came all this way to 'proposition' us? And thought you were here to save us from the legions of the damned!"
The second man was taller than Juliette, which was a first. Not many people besides Walter were taller than her. Him, and someone else. . .
She quickly shook the memory from her head of that one man. Now was not the time to be thinking about it! Besides, this soldier was much different from him. His hair was sandy blonde and his eyes were bright blue, and even though he had an excellent poker face, she could see a mischievous glint deep within them.
Walter gave the boy a grin. "Ben Finn! It's good to see you, lad! Gotten taller a bit, haven't you?" He gave him a rough slap on the shoulder. "Anyway, I take it the legends about this place are true, then?"
"I'll say!" The major said. "You've never seen so many hollow men in one place! We've been stationed here for weeks, trying to eradicate them."
With a sad look on his face, Swift gestured over one of the walls, where a soldier was digging. Three tombstones sat upon the piles of dirt.
"Mainly, it's us getting eradicated." Swift explained. "We lost some good men last night, including Lieutenant Simmons. And the buggers will be back tonight!"
"Logan just loves to send you on the best assignments, doesn't he?" Walter sighed sadly. "That's part of what we wanted to talk to you about."
At the word 'we', Swift glanced over at Juliette, who'd stayed on the outside of the group.
"Who is she?" Swift asked Walter.
Walter chuckled, then gestured for Juliette to come over. "I apologize, my manners! This is Juliette, my apprentice for the past few years."
Some sort of emotion crossed the two's faces. She knew they recognized her name, and wasn't surprised when they gapped with awe and surprise.
"Juliette? The. . ?" Swift stuttered.
"Princess, yes." Walter finished for him. "I'll explain later."
"Well now, where are my manners?" The major asked himself, lending his hand to Juliette. "It's very nice to meet you, my princess. Just call me Swift."
She took his hand in a handshake, saying "Please, sir, call me Juliette."
"Fair enough." Swift replied with a smile. "Captain Finn will show you to the mortar. We could use a body up there. Besides, best to learn and prepare yourself for tonight."
Ben gave Juliette a smirk as he shook her hand as well. "Captain Finn, m'lady."
"Juliette, please, Captain."
Walter placed a hand on her shoulder. "You'll probably be stuck by that mortar all night." He told her. "Take some time to walk around and talk to the men. It never hurts to know who's got your back."
He let her go, and as she walked away, she saw him take Ben's shoulder much more firmly and whisper in his ear, "Try anything, boy, and I swear you won't see the light of day again."
Despite Walter's aggressive move, Ben laughed and replied. "Don't worry, Wally, I won't lay a finger on her!"
Great, a womanizer! Juliette thought irritably. Bad enough the soldier's stares were nonstop, but the man who was supposed to aid her was the worst.
Eventually, Ben caught up with her, chuckling. "Ah, Wally! Proud old sod! Such a surprise to see him turn up today, even more surprising to see you as well. All of the men are looking at you like you're gold amongst pebbles and gravel."
Ben had obviously not even thought about Walter's warning. How long had Juliette known him? Ten minutes at the most? He was already attempting to woo her like a drunkard flirting with a barmaid!
"Don't act like I didn't hear Walter's remark back there." Juliette told him. "Besides, I don't have time for worthless flirting."
"Whoever said I was trying to flirt?" Ben asked her innocently. "I'm just stating the facts! Besides, how could you blame them?"
Juliette gave a sarcastic laugh. "I'd hate to break it to you, Captain Finn, but you just used your own statement against yourself."
Ben chuckled in return. "You really are a lady, aren't you? We've only just met and you are already being rude!"
"I trust Walter more than anyone, Captain. If he warned you like that, I'm more than liable to keep that warning in my defense."
Thankfully, Ben switched to a different subject, but not any less irritating. "Hold on, if Swift gets the honor of being called 'Swift' by you, shouldn't I have the privilege of being called 'Ben' instead of 'Captain'?"
Juliette sighed. "If I call you Ben, will you please leave me alone for the time being?"
"I guess I could agree to that."
"Okay then, Ben." Juliette retorted as if his name alone was a nuisance. "If you don't mind, I'm going to take Walter's advice and talk to some of the men."
"Fine by me." He replied. "But don't be surprised if they eye you like beggars at a feast. Meet me up on the wall when you're ready. I'll introduce you to Private Jammy, so called because he's the luckiest sod in the fort. See you again soon, princess."
Ben quickly turned around, heading up the stairs to the wall, and leaving Juliette groaning with annoyance at the word "princess."