Chapter One: Change of course.

The air was silent in the cold of winter as the young girl looked out over the valleys below. She had been hiding in the Mistpeak Mountains hunting down bandits and highway men for a few days. She had only intended to visit Brightwall for a short time to visit the academy that her ancestor had built, but as soon as she stepped foot into the town square she had been bombarded with cries for help. Villagers were telling her elaborate tales of how they were no longer free to travel the valley below because of the new bandit activity.

Bandits were nothing new in Mistpeak and the girl wished that these people would realize that it was a part of life here, but she had an image to maintain and it wouldn't be very good for it to be tarnished at such a vital point in her plans of treason. Reluctantly she agreed to wipe them out for a free stay in the tavern. Now she was patiently waiting out in the blistering cold waiting for the cover of night when most of the bandits would be returning to their camps in the caves, that was her oppurtunity to strike.

Slowly her thoughts wandered to the castle on the otherside of Albion where she imagined warm, dry fires and roasted meat that she wouldn't have to kill herself. She cursed under her breath, knowing full well that those pleasures were rightfully hers by blood, yet they had been stripped from her before she was even born. Her thoughts also wandered towards her old love, she had met them in court before there was an attempt on her life. She was able to flee but her family was not so lucky.

The girl quickly stood up. It would not do her well to become unfocused and distracted in the mountains where there were wolves, bandits, and balverines waiting to take her life. She didn't want to think of her old life either, it was useless to her. Now she was a fully fledged Hero and in constant danger, nostalgia could easily get her killed. The girl walked around and decided to move closer to the cave's entrance as night drew nearer. She gathered up her bag and took of, moving quickly to make her long trip shorter and to keep warmer.

"Damn cold... How did anyone ever survive in these aweful mountains?" She whispered only for the silent trees to hear. Sooner than she thought, the cave was in sight. The girl climbed up the tallest spruce she could find and waited, never taking her eyes from the cave entrance. The sun went down, yet she was still waiting. When the full of the night was upon her, she decided to climb down and move even closer. There were some dense bushes about fifty yards away from the entrance that she made her self comfortable in and waited, double checking her stock of health potions just in case the coming fight became nasty.

The girl was so focused on the cave entrance that she never heard the foot steps behind her, and she had no idea that she had been being watched until she heard the all-too familiar click of a pistol from behind.

"Get up and turn around," An arrogant voice ordered.

The girl did as she was told and discovered a tall, hooded man standing in the complete open with an antique pistol pointed in her face.

"What do you think you're doing here? A young lady like yourself is sure to get killed out here. Did you even know that there were bandits camping out in that cave? Or that the balverines love nothing more than the hot flesh of a stranger all alone? I can personally confirm that there are so many balverines hidden in these forests."

"Yes, I know of the danger that lurks here. And I've been tracking those bandits for days, I was supposed to kill 'em all tonight. What do you mean there were? What happened to them?" The young girl was flustered, not used to being caught and treated like a child.

"I personally killed them all, they were... getting in the way of my affairs. I killed every last one of them last night," He replied, gun still aimed. "Who are you anyway? Take of your hood."

Very reluctantly she pulled back her hood to reveal her curly brown hair and gray/green eyes.

"Oh my," The man smirked. "This is rich indeed. I'm graced by the presence of Albion's newest Hero. Well, I suppose it won't hurt me any to show who I am.

He pulled down his hood with his free hand, taking extra care to keep his pistol aimed.

It had been a few years since she had seen him, but that black hair and smug face belonged to none other than Reaver himself. It appeared as though he had not aged a day.

"Reaver, I'm not sure whether I should be delighted that it's someone I know, or if I should be terrified that it is in fact, you."

"Fear not, I'm not fool enough to try and kill you myself. I've heard that Heros are quite hard to kill and that it will only end badly for whoever wants them dead," And with that, Reaver swiftly put his pistol back into it's holster and offered his hand to help her up. She ignored it completely.

"I have to admit that I'm surprised to see you here, Reaver. Surely you would be more comfortable in your mansion with all of those bedmates of yours."

"Normally I would be, but like I have already said, I came to kill those bandits interfering with my business."

"And what business do you have in the harsh mountians?" She asked, wanting to add as much insult into her question as possible.

"I hardly think that my business is any of your business and it would be all the better for your skin to stay out of it. I deal with aweful matters, I'm sure you've heard."

"I've heard them all right. And you're wrong about one thing. Tonight our businesses were the same when you killed the bandits I was meant to kill."

"You know, aside from the bandits, you have yet to tell me what you're doing here. The harsh mountains, as you put it, surely aren't anymore suitable for you as they are for me, am I correct, Annabelle?"

She suddenly stopped breathing. It had been over four years since she was called by her name. It reminded her too much of her happy childhood when her parents called her name lovingly.

"Reaver, you bastard!" She yelled through clenched teeth. She took a swing at him but he easily dodged it and she was thrown into the snow.

"Haha, I knew that would get to you. So once again, I ask you to tell me what the hell you're doing up here. I'm dying to know Albion's little secrets."

AN: Hey, this is my first posted fanfic, so please don't judge too harshly. I've written stories my entire life, but have only lately become comfortable to post them for the world to see. I hope you like my work and feel free to review, comment, and criticize. I will gladly accept any input. I do not own the Fable franchise, but if someone were to buy it for me, I wouldn't be complaining. ;)