Love Comes Swiftly

by Mafsarhet

Princess Lara doesn't know if she can be the Hero Albion needs, but when she meets Major Swift, everything changes. She may or may not be a Hero, but she realises how very much a woman she is. Swift realises too, that he is a man as well as a soldier.

1. Chapter 1

I don't own Fable 3 – Lionhead Studios and Microsoft does. Based on the 2010 game.

Rated M for explicit adult content.

Princess Lara doesn't know if she can be the Hero Albion needs, but when she meets Major Swift, everything changes. She may or may not be a Hero, but she realises how very much a woman she is. Swift realises too, that he is a man as well as a soldier. Can these two people come together in love despite the obstacles that face them?

Uh...this is probably a story I shouldn't even be posting. I have no idea why I am, to be honest! I think I just need to get it out of my system for now so I'll continue to think on it and how to later improve it. I am working on my other story, "Come Closer" but this one is also nagging at me and so I'm posting what my irritating little muses are prompting me to! Hopefully I can improve this and rewrite it later. Of course, if it stinks too badly, I may not bother! But I just have to get some Major Swift lovin' out there! I know there are HUGE flaws in this story right now, but I just can't keep it to myself and I don't know why...perhaps my gut is telling me I'll get some constructive feedback and in the future slow the pace? Ah well, here goes nothing!

Love is not Hollow

Chapter 1

"Ah, Swift, good to see you again!" Walter exclaimed as he lead Princess Lara into Mourningwood Fort.

"And it's equally good to see you!" the gentleman Major replied, holding his pipe in his left hand to shake Walter's with his right. "And who is this?"

Walter didn't immediately respond and Lara took the hesitation to appraise the Major. He didn't seem to be an old man, by her standards, but he wasn't young, either. He had the distinctive air of a gentleman, yet he also exuded confidence and competence. Perhaps Walter was right that this Major Swift and his men would make good allies to their Cause.

Major Swift had thick black waving hair with a single streak of white that was, for a reason Lara couldn't fathom, rather annoying to her. It was quite dashing, she had to admit, as was his gentleman's broad moustache. And he seemed fixated on that pipe he was smoking. He held it in a graceful way that she had only seen men do who were born of high society. This man was a soldier, but she sensed that he was a highly intelligent man as well, and cultured. But why did those things irritate her?

Or was she not so much irritated as intrigued? Oh, botheration! Why did she even care? He was the Major in this ramshackle fort and that was all.

"I'm Princess Lara," she finally said. She extended her hand and Swift accepted it with a firm grip. He gazed intently into her eyes, then quickly scanned her form.

"And you are more than a Princess, aren't you?" he observed smoothy. "I doubt Walter would have brought you here amongst we who fight the Legions of the Damned otherwise."

"She's a Hero, Jack," Walter said with pride. "She is definitely her mother's daughter. Just wait until you see her in action. We've already recruited Allies among the Dwellers and the citizens of Brightwall. We have a...proposition for you."

Swift's dark eyes didn't stray from Lara's green ones. It was as if each was analysing the other; not in a hostile way, but in a mutually interested way. Both wanted to know what the other was capable of.

Lara realised that she likely did not appear impressive in her dirty boots, breeches and shirt. But she had been fighting renegades and bandits ever since the night she had fled the castle with Walter and her butler, Jasper. She wasn't able to look pretty, nor did she care to. She had practical concerns now, not vain ones. Besides, the remains of Hobbes were also tainting her and Walter's clothing and...odour. Even her long red hair which was tied into a knot behind her neck, stank of Hobbes.

"I see," Swift said, and slowly released her hand. "I've already heard rumours regarding the stirrings of discontent where the King is concerned."

"That's right, Jack," Walter replied. "With Lara as a Hero and next in line for the throne, if we can recruit enough Allies to overthrow Logan, we can change everything. I have complete faith in Lara, and if you can see her in action, I've no doubt that you will as well."

"I've no doubt we will all see each other in action, and soon," the Major said. "The attacks of the dead in this place have been unceasing."

He gestured to a rakish young blond man who was speaking with a handful of other soldiers by several newly dug graves.

"That is Ben Finn, my second in command and quite competent. He will be very valuable to us if we agree to join you. However, at the moment, we are duty-bound here by the King's orders. We have to battle the legions of Hollowmen who plague this place."

"Are they truly endless?" Lara asked. "I suppose what I mean is, once they are destroyed, do the same ones return again and again?"

"I don't believe so," Major Swift replied. "From my observations, once one is destroyed it never returns. They all look similar, but they are not identical. They cannot plague us forever, but we've yet to determine their numbers. They have come in waves every night for months. We don't lose many men, fortunately, but for every one we do lose the Hollowmen gain a victory."

"It has to end sometime, doesn't it?" Walter asked, concerned and troubled. "There can't be endless dead here!"

Swift laughed, and Lara was surprised to find that she enjoyed the sound of it. But why? Why was she drawn on some level she couldn't quite identify to this man? She shook her head to clear it. Perhaps he was to be a teacher for her as well as an ally. She had discovered that, in life, once she had been ready for something, someone always crossed her path who could assist her. Of course she always hoped that she could assist him or her, as well.

Here, at this fort, perhaps she could stay for awhile and aid the Major and his men in staving off the Hollowmen. Besides, it never hurt to learn how to defeat one more type of enemy.

"If they are near to ending, there has been no indication of it!" Swift said. "I know I shouldn't laugh, but I had the same thought when I first arrived here. Yet night after bloody night we are under attack by hundreds of them!"

"And it has never once stopped," Lara whispered in dread. The mere thought of unceasing attacks from the undead was horrible. The men in their graves even now proved just how horrible.

Swift gazed intently at her and she saw the sadness etched into his face. He shook his head slowly.

"No, it hasn't," he said. "And we lost a few more good men last night."

"I'm so sorry," Lara said, reaching out and taking his hand between hers. She hadn't even been aware she had done so until she saw him place his pipe into his mouth so he could cover her hand with both of his.

"It's not your doing, Princess," he replied softly, gently squeezing her hands. "But I thank you for your sympathy." He then cleared his throat and, seemingly reluctantly, released her hand. "We are due for another attack soon."

"What can I do?" she asked, eager to be of use.

She felt a flush of gratification to see him smile once more. "Well, I'll..."

Before he could complete his response he was interrupted by Captain Ben Finn's approach.

"Ben Finn, you scoundrel and scamp!" Walter cried out, slapping the younger man on his back so vigorously that the young man stumbled.

"Sir Walter Beck, you old...old..."

"Don't say it, whatever it is!" Lara interjected with a hearty chuckle. "I've been traveling with him for months now and he's not a man to cross!"

"That's for certain!" Finn agreed, grinning. "I've never seen such an old sod do so well in a fight as this one!"

"Hah! Coming from the buffoon who would rather bed wenches than join in a good old-fashioned brawl!"

"Ahem!" Swift said, clearing his throat meaningfully, "may I remind you both that there is a lady present?"

Lara blushed. She seldom blushed, so why did she now? She wasn't certain, but Swift's sincere and indignant comment stirred something in her that she hadn't felt since she and Elliot had been separated.

"I'm not a lady," she protested. Swift arched a brow at her, both teasing and challenging that statement.

"Well, these days I'm not!" she insisted somewhat petulantly. "I may be Princess Lara in title and name, but I'm also a fighter. I'm not afraid to dig in and get my hands dirty. I'll do whatever I have to do to follow this Path, whatever it is precisely, to the end. I won't rest until I do. So," she went on, averting her eyes from Swift's now intrigued gaze, "I want to be treated just like any other soldier here."

"Well, in that case," Ben Finn said, moving toward her with a roguish grin, "why don't you let me...ah...show you the sleeping quarters, such as they are?"

He was obviously being flirtatious, and even though Lara sensed he meant no harm, she was mildly annoyed. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I can do that on my own, thank you. And don't even think of touching me. Try it and you'll be minus a hand!"

Swift and Walter laughed and Ben took on an aggrieved expression. "I'm just trying to be polite; honest!"

Lara couldn't help but smile now. "I know," she said, taking the sting out of her previous words, "but really, I'd rather you show me something useful I can do. Nightfall is rapidly approaching and I want to assist as best I can when the Hollowmen make their appearance."

"Ah, yes!" Swift said. "They are due quite soon. Finn, show her to the mortar. We can use her up there. Princess..."

"Call me Lara," she said, "I won't tolerate formalities in regards to my person. They...irritate me."

"Very well, Lara," Swift said, sounding as if he were tasting her name as he would a fine wine, "allow Ben to show you to the mortar. Private Jammy will be your loader. You'll likely be up there for quite a while. I'll wager you've never used one before, and it is a valuable skill to have in a fort."

"Thank you, Major," she said. "I'll do my best to not disappoint."

"I'm quite certain that you won't," he said, his tone taking on a thoughtfulness that surprised Lara as she turned to follow Finn.

"She's a Hero, Jack," she heard Walter say as she walked away with the young soldier. "She'll surprise the hell out of you. She has exceeded all my hopes and expectations already."

Lara frowned but was determined to not be shaken by his words. So many people were beginning to believe in her. She desperately hoped she wouldn't falter and let them down.

"To the mortar, Ben Finn," she murmured. "I hope it's not too difficult."

"Don't worry, Princess," he said. "Not everyone has the skill for it; but you, I have a hunch, have a good eye and keen reflexes. You'll do just fine."

At the top of the fort beside the mortal was the most...interesting-looking, man Lara had ever seen. How could a man with so many bandages and raw wounds still be standing?

"Private Jammy at your service, Miss!" he said cheerfully.

"This revolting specimen of a man is the luckiest sod in the fort," Ben Finn said with a smirk.

"Right you are, Sir! One hundred and seventy-four wounds and still standing! I'm the jammiest soldier in Albion!"

Lara laughed now and shook his hand. "Well, I don't think you're revolting in the least! You are the most incredible soldier I've ever met! I've never seen a man who has taken the beatings you have and not only still be fit to fight, but be willing and cheerful about it!"

Jammy grinned and blushed. Ben Finn looked a bit jealous.

"Hey, now! I'm the handsome one!" he protested.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Lara said. "And even if Jammy isn't beautiful by any other standards, he still impresses me!"

Jammy flashed Finn a triumphant grin. "Hah! The lady likes me!"

"Ah, get to business!" Finn grumbled good-naturedly. "I'll get below and see to the others."

"Right," Jammy said, gesturing to the mortar. "This 'ere mortar turns on a dime and moves as smooth as a whore's thighs..." He flushed violently pink. "Er...sorry about that!"

Lara laughed again. "Not to worry! Just treat me as one of the men."

Jammy shot her a grateful look. "All right, then! So, just swing the mortar and aim as close to the zombies as you can. I'll do the loading and the looking for the next swarm. You know they're coming when you see blue flashes. When that happens, aim to the center and hit as many as you can as soon as they appear. But I'll also spot for you. Got it?"

"Got it!" Lara said. She grasped the mortar and waited. And waited. And waited some more. Just as she thought that the attack on the fort wouldn't occur, a blue flash suddenly illuminated the field below on the right.

"Here they are!" Jammy cried. He loaded the spherical explosive into the machine and Lara began swinging and aiming, being careful to not allow her hands stray close to the opening. She firmly kept her grip on the sides and found that Jammy was right. The thing swung easily and smoothly, and soon she was laughing with him as together they dropped shells on groups of anywhere from five to eight Hollowmen at a time.

"If you keep this up we'll win this battle!" Jammy cried out, drooling and spitting in his excitement. "I think this is the most fun part of this job!"

Lara had to agree. She did seem to have a talent for quick aiming, good peripheral vision, and solid focus. She didn't know how long she and Jammy blew Hollowmen to bits, but it had to be longer than she would have guessed. Her arms began to ache and her muscles to strain. Still, she kept at it.

The Hollowmen just kept on coming. How many could there possibly be? Her head began to pound with pain and her ears to ring from the loud blasting. Still, she swung and aimed and fired. Jammy kept loading, seemingly tirelessly.

Lara's vision began to blur from the debris in her eyes, but she was determined to see this battle through and not shout out for relief. This was her task and she was going to complete it or die in the attempt. Her mother's stubbornness in her, Walter would say.

Suddenly she was yanked back from the mortar and fell against Jammy's body.

"It's over, Princess!" he cried. "We did it! We make a splendid team!"

"It...it's over?" Lara gasped. "I..."

"I know," he said and began to rub her arms. He obviously knew she ached and that her muscles were knotted. "I can hardly believe your focus! You were amazing! I've never loaded for anyone as good as you before!"

She gasped and choked on dust. It was probably corpse dust mixed with explosive residue, but she was past caring. All she knew was that her tired and pain-wracked body could finally have a rest. She also doubted that she was Jammy's best companion at the mortar...but still, she knew she did a good job. Very few, if any, Hollowmen were left outside the fort.

"Gods, it's not over!" someone shouted from below. "They are beating at the front gates!"

Lara steeled her exhausted body and leapt down to the court yard. She only vaguely heard Jammy's exclamation of surprise at this feat and she sprinted to Walter and Major Swift. Men rushed forward and attempted to hold the Gates, but the force behind them was too strong. The barrier gave and Hollowmen flooded inside.

Drawing her sword Lara rushed forward and automatically began cutting down corpse after corpse. Her brain could barely register that so many were here and for every one that was slain, another took its place.

She also kept an eye on Walter, Swift, Finn, and Jammy, as they fought near her. If any one of them looked to be in trouble she was ready to rush to their aid.

Lara did not feel like a Hero now; she felt like a used-up automaton. Still, somehow she managed to keep her body moving and her attacks fluid. It must be the Hero's blood, she reasoned, as she cut down more Hollowmen. If she hadn't had her mother's blood could she be performing as she was?

A quick glimpse at the night sky told her she and Jammy had been at the mortar for a long time; perhaps an hour or more. They had also been so effective that none of the others had needed to join them. But now every person was needed.

The young Princess saw that Jammy was faltering and she rushed to his side. They were being swarmed and her sword arm, as quick as it was, would be insufficient to destroy this horde. She quickly sheathed her weapon and called upon her Will to use fire magic.

She endured blow after blow to her body from the Hollowmen nearest her, but she persisted with the fire magic until she had aided in destroying the mass of desiccated corpses. But more came. On and on she attacked with her magic beside the soldiers with their weapons, occasionally seeing a man fall. Despite her best efforts, Jammy was felled by a bullet from one of the foul things.

Lara screamed in rage and fury for the first time. She summoned her anger as well as her magic and destroyed the rest of the creatures near her. She then rushed to Swift's side and continued to set the corpses on fire, destroying many, and weakening others.

"Lara, slow down!" Walter cried. "You're using too much Will! You're too weak! Fall back!"

But Lara didn't listen to him. She had felt kinship with Jammy and her rage and frustration needed an outlet. She was wounded and bleeding and so exhausted she didn't know how she was still on her feet, but she refused to stop. Her mind was no longer sharp and she vaguely felt that part of her consciousness was missing.

"Lara!" Walter shouted again.

Again she ignored him. Suddenly the Hollowmen were gone.

"All hail the Princess!" she heard Swift shout, and a cheer rose from all the men. Walter was at her side and trying to gain her attention.

"Are you all right, Lara?" he asked. "You look terrible! You must stop and be treated for your..."

And suddenly they all knew it was not over. Not yet. A large blue orb swirled into the fort and flew into one of the fresh graves.

"Lieutenant Simmons, I specifically order you to remain buried!" Swift shouted, as the corpse began to claw its way from the mound.

The largest Hollowman Lara had ever seen or even read about crawled out of the grave. He was a fat one, too, and had an enormous hole in his torso.

"So, that's how he died," she murmured, and rushed forward with her hands aflame. It was almost an automatic response, as she wasn't sure she was capable of coherent thought any more.

"Lara, stop!" Walter shouted again.

"Doesn't anybody follow orders anymore!" Ben Finn shouted in exasperation as Simmons prepared to attack.

But Lara couldn't allow herself to stop, despite Walter's pleas. This was the one; she knew. This was the final Hollowman. The few men who fell would be burned so that they could not return. This Simmons was the last one. And for Jammy she would destroy him.

Simmons turned his complete attention to her; probably because even his dead brain knew the danger a magic user posed was greater than that of a trained soldier. His eyes glowed eerily brighter as he either summoned or created about ten more creatures. Lara didn't know which, but she didn't care. Regardless, it hardly mattered.

However, she knew that Simmons was the one to focus on. Yet it was incredibly difficult. The men fell back, as they were exhausted, but they used their rifles to aid her as she managed to dodge and roll and shoot flames at every opportunity she had.

But she was rapidly nearing the end of her endurance. She now had to force her movements. None felt natural anymore, despite her previous diligent practice. And she was losing blood. She felt her entire body grow ever colder at the loss, but she was determined that Simmons would be destroyed even if it meant that she would go down with him.

For a moment she thought she had lost the battle. Blades of pure magic shot from Simmons' dead hands and pierced her. Badly.

She had never felt such agony in her life. She heard her own screams, and they barely sounded human.

Still, she fought as best she could. Fire magic, her sword, and more fire.

Just when she dodged and rolled for what she knew would be her last time, the corpse of Simmons exploded.

Green gore gushed out as his corpse-body blew apart. Lara was sprayed from head to toe. She stood in shock as it registered in her numbed mind that the battle was over and...won.

"Hah!" she heard Ben Finn shout jubilantly. "You all see that? She's covered in zombie gore!"

"Shut your mouth, Finn!" someone shouted angrily at him. Was it Swift?

Lara looked down at herself. Finn was right. She was an utterly disgusting sight.

And she could take no more. She dropped to her knees and allowed herself to weep. She was no Hero. How could she be? She hurt so badly she was sure she had to be dying. Her vision was failing, she could no longer stand, and now she was just a joke.

"Walter," she sobbed, "you'll need to find someone else. It isn't...it isn't...me." She fell face forward into the dirt. As she fell she thought she saw Swift rushing to her side.

Lara's world went mercifully blank.