Disclaimer: I do not own Fable 2 that right belongs to Lion head studios.
Rated Mature for future chapters.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sparrow stood upon a wooden pier gazing out across an expanse of ocean. Staring at a tower that rose sharply out of the water its peak jagged and menacing. It had happened so quickly. Lucien was dead but not by her hand. The hatred and loathing ascended in her throat like bile stinging her flesh and leaving a nasty taste in her mouth. Damn that pirate, she thought darkly. All this time, all the things she had done only to have the chance for vengeance ripped from her.
Tears sprung to her eyes as her thoughts drifted. The faces of Rose, her husband, Gwayne her dog and two boys flashed and disappeared. The knowing that she will never be able to see them again brought anguish and pain the likes she had never felt. Steeling her self she wiped away the tears that slid down her soft cheeks. Her eyes still glistened in the bright light and, with great difficulty, she managed to break eye contact with the Spire and walk dispiritedly towards Oakfield.
The thought of returning to that house made her quiver with remorse, but she knew she would have to eventually. One thing was for sure, however, she was going to have to move. No way was she staying there not with the memories that burned with in her causing her agony.
As she passed the ripe fields and people with smiling faces her brain just seemed to switch off. Her feet dragged and her shoulders drooped. No longer was she the proud hero strong and wilful. Lustre was lost with her happiness. Drowned in her thoughts she had not noticed she had arrived to a thatched house. She looked up, stared at it for a moment. With as much of her remaining strength she could muster her hand shakily reached for the door and it swung open with a deafening creak.
Inside was how it was when she last saw it, but it was silent now and cold. There was no life in this place. The door slammed close behind her as she roamed the room touching various items that looked familiar.
With out warning Sparrow let out a heart wrenching scream and tossed the table across the room where the wood splintered covering the floor with its wreckage. Anything she got her hands was sent sailing in the opposite direction smashing, tearing and destroying all. Yells and screams ripped from her throat raw and primitive the sounds bouncing of the walls vibrating with her lamentation.
A snuffle caused a deathly silence and Sparrow stood frozen where she was the remnants of a chair still kept haphazardly together by its bindings. She dropped it, whipped round drawing her katana in one graceful and practised movement ready to strike out at whom ever had disturbed her. She stared wide eyed then froze.
Standing in the light cascading from the window was a small child no older than five staring at her with equally wide eyes, but the look was of innocence and loneliness. Her golden hair glowed causing an eerie halo to form round her head and her mauve eyes seemed to change slightly. In her hand dangled a teddy bear and as Sparrow's eyes roamed up she realised blood was dripping down the girls arm a long gash ran from her wrist to elbow glaring evilly.
Sparrow dropped her weapon and in that instant forgot all as she went to help the girl. She hardly moved as the older women moved and set to work cleaning the wound. The girl merely watched in silence face stoic and showing no signs of pain. Her small hand reached out and slapped Sparrows dark hair softly.
"Pain, Pain go away come back another day," said a small voice and Sparrow looked up in shock. The little girl's eyes shone with understanding and compassion. Sparrow stared in disbelief followed by shock. Her eyes widened and then a sob escaped her throat. Bowing her head she wept like a broken child. Unfazed the child patted the woman's head to comfort her as she wept.
Five years later
A light summer breeze swept through the busy streets of Westcliff as adults and their children mingled around the stalls, and caravans all under the watchful eye of the vast Crucible. Up the hill towards the shooting range sat a large gypsy styled caravan. Its rose coloured wood shone in the gentle sunshine content to sit and look beautiful against the lush backdrop of trees, shrubs and wild summer flowers.
Outside stood a women busy hanging up damp washing on a line strung between a tree and her caravan. The breeze played amongst the clothing that were already hanging from the line. Her dark brown hair had a reddish glint in the sunlight that filtered through the leaves. Her lean body still showed evidence of a physique built to fight. Beside her, playing amongst the roots of the tree, was a young girl happily humming to herself her golden hair glowing gently in the light. In one hand was a rag doll and the other a teddy as she played some imaginary game.
She suddenly stopped and looked up. Her mauve eyes widened as she stared and she got up trotting to the women who stood by the line. She tugged the women's skirt and she turned to regard the young girl with gentle blue eyes. The little girl pointed towards the tree and the women followed the small finger.
Underneath the tree stood a tall dark skinned man with greying hair spun tight into short dreads, a short grey beard covered his chin, a monocle covered one eye making the glowing orb seem that much larger and across his chest was a belt with scrolls attached.
The women gasped as she recognised the man that stood before her and a warm, friendly smile erupted over her face making it glow with a affection.
"Garth!" she cried joyously and she approached the Mage with her arms extended in greeting. Garth extended his own and grasped her arms firmly in a friendly manner.
"Sparrow," the affection was evident in the man's voice. "It's been a long time friend."
"Too long Garth," she replied grinning. Garth looked down and chuckled seeing the small girl hiding in Sparrow's skirts and knelt so he was eye level. The girl said nothing nor flinched, but continued to stare at him blankly.
"And who is this delightful young lady." as he spoke the little girl took hold of Sparrow's skirt and hid part of her face suddenly appearing shy. Garth smiled softly.
"Ah this is Lorna," Sparrow said patting the girl on the head, "she isn't my daughter, I found her in my house at Oakfield."
A soft 'ah' escaped Garth and did not press the issue. He held out his hand to introduce himself to the girl who hid further into Sparrow's skirt. He stood up and his face became grim. Sparrow tilted her head curiously and frowned gently.
"What is it? Has something happened?" Sparrow asked dread suddenly filling her stomach, "It isn't Hammer is it?" Worry shone in her eyes as her hands went to clasp her face.
"No, something else but I will explain in private." Sparrow nodded panic sweeping her body as disturbing thoughts filled her mind and lead Garth to the caravan. Once inside she indicated for Garth to sit. Inside the caravan was warm but sparse of any form of real decoration save the Daichi katana, master clockwork rifle and a smaller pistol, which looked to be just a simple flintlock mechanism. Garth's eyes swept over the contents as he sat at a table, which had two pair of seats either side. The half of the caravan he was in seemed to be the living quarters with the food preparation area in front of him, a wooden stove just to the left and storage either side of him and the table. Not to far from him, hidden by a screen, was where she must sleep. A kettle sat whistling merrily on the stove and Sparrow removed it setting it off to the side away from the heat.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked calmly despite the turmoil of emotion that filled her. Garth agreed and she set about to making some tea. Lorna trotted over and climbed onto the opposite seat and sat there staring at Garth as if he had two heads. Garth looked down at her with a friendly smile but she seemed undaunted continuing to stare. With out looking Sparrow said, "Don't stare Lorna, you know its rude."
Lorna looked at Sparrow's back then at Garth. She blinked a few times then lay down on the seat covering her head with her cloak. Garth chuckled as he watched. Bizarre child, he thought as Sparrow set a steaming brew in front of him. Sparrow sat just next to Lorna who curled up into a ball refusing to uncover herself. Sparrow sighed and looked up at Garth clasping her hands gingerly massaging her palms together.
"So... Garth what's the problem?" she asked tentatively.
Garth paused as he lifted the mug to his lips and before he spoke took a sip and set it back down as if considering what he was going to say.
"We have a problem," he said, "But not with Hammer or Theresa I have not heard from them in a while."
"Then what is it," Sparrow demanded frowning in a annoyance.
"It's Reaver," Garth finally said after a pause.
The colour drained from Sparrow's face and her normally gentle features hardened, her eyes becoming icy. She scoffed turning away in disgust.
"Reaver!?" She said in a flinty voice, "He gets himself into all sorts of trouble, why should I care?"
"Because he is a friend," Garth said in mild voice sensing the hardened hatred.
She scoffed again and gritted her teeth. "He is no friend of mine, that bastard can rot for all I care..."
Garth took hold of one her hands that had balled into a fist and trembled from the force of her grip.
"Sparrow I know why you hate him, but he does need our help," Garth pleaded, trying to reason with the women, "we are the only ones that can."
Sparrow shook her head and removed her hand from his grasp. "Not a chance in hell," she replied stubbornly. Garth sighed and took another sip from the cup of tea reassessing his thoughts.
"At least hear me out first," Garth said regarding her with a worried scowl.
Sparrow looked at him then let out a resigned sigh and nodded. "Fine..."
"First I want to know if you received a package?" he asked curiously. Sparrow regarded him mildly and shrugged putting a finger to her lips as she thought.
"A package?" she hummed as she thought and suddenly her eyes became a light as she remembered, "ah yes." She got up and reached into a draw beside her stove and withdrew a small package wrapped in brown paper. She set it on the table and returned to her seat. She looked at it with a small scowl.
"I never opened it because it was from 'Him'," she said with a hint of scorn as she pointed to the signature on the package; it was from Reaver.
Garth took the package and examined it closely. He looked at Sparrow for permission to open it and she nodded. With slow, deliberate movements he opened the paper as if he held with his hands a precious object. Sparrow watched with mild curiosity as he did so and Lorna hesitated to peer over the edge of the table to see what all the hubbub was about. Garth made a noise in his throat as he tilted the package to the side and out tumbled a necklace. Garth withdrew in shock as he stared at it and his eyes became shiny as they became wet with tears. Sparrow immediately got the hint and looked closely at necklace.
It was simple, almost primitive, with squares of white gold that grew smaller as it came to the ends of the necklace and each one was inset with amethyst coloured jewel, but it sparkled in the light as if within its depths was hidden a secret power. As Sparrow drew her fingers across the jewels she could feel a dull throb vibrate through her fingers. Something here was not quite right and she could feel it deep within her self. Curiosity getting the better of her Lorna reached out her hand to touch the necklace but Garth pulled it away almost protectively. The small girl pouted and returned to staring at him indignantly.
Noticing a leaf of paper in the package Lorna pulled it out to have a look. Seeing Sparrow's name she held it out to her who took it with hesitant fingers. Sparrow looked down at it and after a moment a look of disgust washed over her face. Garth looked up curiously and she tossed the note to him. He caught it and read under his breath.
"Dearest Sparrow, I know I have not written to you so far but I have been very busy. Samarkand is wonderful and I think you would like it, I know I do. I have enclosed with this letter a little trinket. I wish for you to keep it safe. I feel I have over stayed my welcome and may have to return to Albion, but for now please keep this safe until my return. You are, sadly, the only one I can trust and so until I return keep it hidden and tell no one, and I mean NO one that you have it.
My sincerest thanks, Reaver
Ps, If you are lucky I may even show you just how appreciative I am when I return"
Garth rolled his eyes and sighed. So much like Reaver, he thought to himself, He lay the note aside and picked up the necklace that glowed dimly in the sparse light of the caravan. He too could sense the power locked deep with in the precious jewels, but he could not quite tell, as of yet, its purpose and focus.
"What is it?" Sparrow asked, looking at the necklace speculatively. Anything from him she would never trust and something told her, her suspicions were right. Garth lay the necklace down gently and inhaled as he gathered his thoughts, and after a moment he exhaled.
"This 'trinket' as Reaver called it is in fact an artefact that was stolen some thousand years ago from the throne room of a long dead king. He ruled most of Samarkand and whose power was rivaled by no one but the Archon himself," he paused before he continued, "It is said that because it was taken a curse was laid upon the necklace until it is returned to throne room where the Kings corpse now sits. If it is returned the person is said to receive a treasure but no one knows what that will be."
Sparrow absorbed this but her eyes were narrowed suspiciously. "How did Reaver get his hands on it though, he didn't steal it did he?"
"I believe he acquired it with out knowing about its history," Garth said touching the necklace with his fingertips, "You see the only way for this to pass hands is if the recipient is willing to take it other wise it ends up returning to the previous owner."
"How come then its still here?" she asked leaning forward slightly feeling inquisitiveness grow in her.
Garth thought about it for a moment. "Well you must of received it willingly," he said simply and Sparrow shook her head with a wry smile.
"But I did not receive it, Lorna did," she looked down at the girl who stared back a flicker of a smiled played on the small girls lips before it disappeared.
"Ah so rightfully Lorna is the owner," Garth sat back with a frown, "That complicates things a bit." There was an awkward pause as Sparrow waited for Garth to speak. After a minute or so he moved so suddenly that Sparrow jumped a little. "As long as she dose not put it on it should be fine."
"What do you mean?" Sparrow then asked feeling panic rise in her again at the thought it might harm the child.
"I am not sure but I think there is a part of the curse that activates when it is actually put on," Garth took another gulp of his tea and regarded the young girl who was now staring at the necklace. Her mauve eyes slid up to look at Garth and she immediately ducked under the table again. Garth chuckled despite himself. Sparrow sat thinking a resigned look crossing her delicate features.
"So, I suspect your going to ask that we come with you to Samarkand," she said with a smile.
Garth shook his head, "I would not ask for the child to come with us. She must give the necklace either freely to one us, but yes we would have to go to Samarkand."
"And Save Reaver."
"Yes that is essential."
"I don't see how it is," she muttered looking else where.
"It just so happens that he knows where the temple is."
Sparrow glared at Garth in disbelief. "He just had to be didn't he," she said aloud with heavy sarcasm. Garth sighed and gave her a stern glare that one would use when reprimanding a child. Sparrow's look was one of feigned innocence.
Through out the conversation Lorna listened and watched. She slid with out the notice of the other two adults and crawled between their legs. She popped out the other side and watched them both carefully her eyes calculating. Her eyes went from one then to the other as if weighing up some unknown odds. With out warning her hand reached out, swiftly snatched the necklace and she legged it as fast as her little legs would carry her. She leapt through the door leaving the cries of Sparrow in her wake calling her to come back.
Sparrow and Garth had not realised what had happened till the small girl was long gone. Sparrow leapt to her feet and gave chase calling out to Lorna to come back, but when they both left the caravan she was no where to be seen. Panic stricken Sparrow called out Lorna's name. Garth grasped the hysteric women's shoulder firmly.
"Calm down Sparrow," he said firmly and she seemed to calm under his touch. "Ok, where is the most likely place she would go?" he asked with a firm logic. Sparrow's eyes widened as she thought and then it clicked.
"The ocean!" she said with a cry of elation, "she always goes down to the harbour and stares at the ocean. I always asked why, but she never said."
She started jogging down the hill with confidence that she was right.
"Is she mute?" Garth suddenly asked realising what it was that unsettled him about the girl. For someone her age she hardly spoke which was strange.
"Oh no she just doesn't like talking to strangers," Sparrow replied with a laugh as they ran side by side, "It took me months to get her to say anything... after the first time that is." A painful look crossing her features.
Garth looked at her questioningly but she ignored him her concentration on running. As they past people they asked the occasional one if they had seen Lorna. The answer was just as Sparrow suspected and they headed down to the harbour as fast as they could. As they stumbled down the steps in their haste Sparrow spotted the girl standing at the end of the pier staring out to sea. She skidded to a stop panting slightly and reached out to touch the girls shoulder. Lorna spun round and Sparrow gasped collapsing to her knees in shock. Garth was panting from the unaccustomed exercise but when he saw Lorna his face heated with intense anger. About her neck the girl had placed the necklace. The will lines that aligned Garth's face and body suddenly glowed violently expressing the anger that had suddenly consumed him.
"Lorna... why?" Sparrow asked reaching out to the small girl who looked back blankly.
"Jupitus," was all she said. Confused Sparrow looked back to Garth who was just as much a loss as she was. Sparrow took the girls hand and stood up looking at Garth. The look he received was forcefully determined.
"Alright Garth have it your way!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This was written on a whim as I want a femSparrow/Reaver fic but this will also be more adventure than romance. If you like then or have any constructive criticism then please read and review. Bare in mind that this first chapter was written while delightfully inebriated X3 so if there is anything that seems wrong please, please tell me and I will correct it. This applies to future chapters as well so read and review folks.