A Fable Fanfiction
A/N: I don't own fable, It is lionheads! Now… Read on!
Chapter one: Beginnings
Oakvale, the small village with a lot of heart and everlasting joy. Where the lush green grass was vibrant and all the colours of beautiful flowers shone in the height of spring. The sky clear and blue travelled with the heavens, the sun, bright and smiling down at all of God's children. Small animals danced under the tall trees, playing with the small creatures that nature bore. Birds of all sizes sang happily greeting a new day. Sea creatures swam in a joyful motion, creating ripples on the waters surface. Such a beautiful village Oakvale was.
The people of Oakvale matched it's natural glory. Both men and women laughed, greeting each other on a wonderful morning. Dancing to the lovely music of a young lute player, who smiled at the graceful villagers that passed by. Young children giggled as they ran to the school to gain an education to start them on the road of life. Lovers kiss and cuddle as they enjoy another morning in one another's arms, pulling away to lose themselves into each other's eyes.
However, on this particular morning, a young couple of few years had the most heart-warming start of them all.
"Your pregnant?" Smiled a young man clad in red, as he twirled his lover around. His emerald eyes full of passion and excitement. The young lady landed with the up-most grace, she reached out and ruffled his dark brown hair like one would do a small child.
"Yes, Kieran, we're going to be parents" she laughed as both lovers embraced, as they stood holding one another, the mother-to-be smiled as a thought slowly crept into her mind "Kieran?" she asked for his attention, which was answered by a small hum, "What does our future hold?"
Kieran looked at her thoughtfully, until shrugging "Honestly, I don't know." he said "But where's the adventure if you know what your life has in store for you?" His lover playfully punched him in the arm.
"Guess your right" She replied, but a small frown quickly took place of her glowing smile.
"Emily?" Kieran asked, unsure if he had said something hurtful. "What's wrong?" Emily looked up to him, tears at the corner of her eyes.
"Nothing, it's just…" she paused, letting her head fall, looking to the ground "I don't know how…" she once again stopped mid-sentence, she turned her head to the window. Outside a woman that was dressed in a red and white robe stood underneath the large tree in the centre of the pathway.
This woman had now been in Oakvale for some time, earning gold pieces in return for palm readings, and other such gypsy advice. Emily had heard the rumours that this woman was blind, and that all the things that she had told to the people of Oakvale had come true, well most anyway. The villages that talked to her had the same answer "Death will soon embrace you" which had frightened most, others just called her a crazy, blind hag! But Emily did want to go ask her for her own future. And right now would be that time!
"Kieran, come!" She demanded, a hint of excitement in her voice. Like an obedient house pet, Kieran followed her out of the door and onto the grassy planes of Oakvale. Emily turned to hold his hand and he complied.
Finding this amusing, he just had to ask "My dear Emily, what has gotten into you?" She chuckled in response and pointed in the direction of the fortune teller. Kieran following her finger glanced at the woman and stopped dead in his tracks. "Emily you can't be serious" he looked a little frightened "Haven't you heard of what she has told our neighbours?"
Emily didn't listen to his rambling, she let go of his hand and carried on towards the intriguing woman stood under the tree. Sighing, Kieran followed suit, although he really wished not to go.
Emily at this point was talking to the woman, and both had occasionally shot a look over to him. Becoming more curious he sped up, soon standing next to them. Upon his arrival, he heard the words "… death will embrace both you and your child…" at this Kieran became furious, how dare somebody as low as dirt say something like that to someone with child?
"Excuse me…" But he didn't get his word across as the blind woman looked to him.
"Why hello Kieran" she said, her clothes swayed as she shifted her stance "I have something important to tell you"
"What? Is death going to embrace me too?" Though he felt rather ill at the mention of death his posture still showed anger and demand. However this woman did not seem fazed at all"
"Why no" She replied "You who fears death shall not die" her features, which had yet to start showing emotion, became strained as she smiled at him "Here, a gift" she stated, passing a rather heavy looking book into his arms. The book itself was lined with what looked like human skin, stitched in certain places, a small engraving on the spine of the book which he couldn't read.
He looked to the strange woman and held out his hand "And what may I say this is?" he asked looking a little green.
"This Kieran, is The Normanomicon" She answered "Treat it well, as it will lead you to Reaver"
"Who's Reaver?" he pressed on, wanting a head on answer. But all he got was a riddle.
"Those who seek, will find what they are looking for. However those who don't will be succumbed by fate." At this she waved her hand and walked away, leaving a distressed Emily and confused Kieran.
A week after their encounter with the strange fortune teller, both Emily's and Kieran's life had been off key. It had started to get darker outside and Emily stood by the window looking out to the large tree, which was now decorated in multi-coloured ribbons from the spring festivities, her long red hair touched her lower back. Sapphire eyes scouting the area outside.
She had been doing this for three days now, Kieran had started to get worried but when confronted she would only reply that nothing was wrong and all was well. Her pale skin had seemed a little rosy as the days went by, and her figure was slimming. Kieran would not just worry for Emily, but he would also worry about their unborn child, if she was ill it will effect them both. This thought made him think about what the woman had said, and vowed that in the morning he would take her to the doctors.
Kieran, though still worrying for his wife and child, had taken interest in the most grotesque book he had ever seen. The Normanomicon was pretty unusual, and the language used he had no idea how to read, but he had heard that the owner of the book store was able to read such words. And therefore decided that after he takes Emily to the doctor he would pay Madam Coffey a visit.
Morning came by quickly with the birds singing merrily in the green trees, perched at the top most branches. Slowly getting up Kieran rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then glancing over at his wife, bent down and pecked her cheek "Come on my sweet Emily, time to rise and shine." He smiled as she gave him a rude hand gesture "Oh my dear, I am hurt by such language" he teased and got up to get dressed.
Down in the kitchen he cooked the morning's meal, making sure to add the appropriate vitamins for his wife. Humming a tune he had known since he was a child. Looking in the mirror he fixed up his hair as he checked out what he wore. He was dressed in a thin white shirt which was unbuttoned leaving his upper chest to be seen, tight tan pants and black boots that ended mid-calf. A holster was lying at his waist with a gun, that his father had passed down to him, held perfectly sensible. The pistol was made of a mahogany material, which was laced together by a clump of silver metal. Which had engraved on the side Dragonstomper.27. Kieran loved this gun, and was proud of how he handled it.
"The best marksman" Many would call him, it was true, he was the best at all the festival shooting games. He could even shoot a bird that was mid-flight and was a few miles away. Many had called it luck, others would say he was a hero of old, yet he would take no notice and would just blame training.
His wife at this point had come and sat at the dinner table, looking as pale as ever but eating as though nothing was wrong. "You look beautiful my darling" he commented, and honestly she looked stunning. Her red hair was pulled back into a plait, which she had then twirled it into a bun. She was wearing a periwinkle blue dress, that had silver embroidery designed at the bottom of the hem, slowly fading to the right. Her feet were in a luxury pair of periwinkle blue shoes with a flat heel. Silver jewellery lined her wrists and neck.
"Thank you" She replied getting up to peck his lips. "Come on, time to see the doctor" She slowly walked towards the door, Kieran grabbed the book before following. Closing the battered door behind them, Kieran wrapped his arm carefully around her waist and led her to the doctors home.
"Hello, and what brings you here?" Asked the doctor as the young couple filed through the door. After an explanation of Emily's condition, the doctor only replied with a smile. Kieran was the first to ask.
"Well?" he said gesturing to his wife. "Do you know what may be wrong?"
"Why yes I do know" the doctor stated.
"And…" he presses on.
"Well… it seems your wife is only exhausted" he simply replied, a smile growing on his face "She does have to look after an extra child"
Kieran knew he should be offended, but couldn't bring himself to argue with the old, wrinkled medic. The best thing he could do for his pregnant wife was to let her rest more, and the best way he could do that is if he let her go to bed. So he gently held her hand and both made their way to their home, half way there Emily let go and left keiran to his research.
He went to 'Weaver's Wisdom' a fairly new book store that was near to the gates of Oakvale, and entered through the nicely framed oak door. Upon entering there were stacks of books on every table and every bookshelf leading from biography's to fictional stories, and looking forward he saw an old man that was wrinkled with age, must everybody be so god damn old in Oakvale, behind a large mahogany desk. Kieran elegantly walked over to the desk and placed the 'Normanomicon' upon it's polished surface.
The man looked at the book, then turned to look at Kieran "Yeh?" he asked gruffly "wadda ya wan'?"
"For you to look at the book" Kieran replied monotonous.
"Why?"
"Because I can't read it"
"Well, ya shudda learn ta read then shuddun' ya?"
Kieran scoffed. What the hell! Oh how he wanted to hit the old man into next year. "Of course I can read, it's just that it's in a different language" he said through gritted teeth.
The man looked at him curiously "Well why dint ya say so" he took the book and left for the study hall behind him saying something about idiotic youths thinking people can read minds.
Hours! It took bloody six hours until that grumpy old loon came back with the book! The old man walks up to Kieran and places a wrinkled hand on his shoulder to get his attention, as he turns around Kieran notices the unhappy look upon the elders face.
"Oh no, don't tell me you can't read it either?" he moans. Earning himself whack on his head. "Ack… what the hell was that for!"
"course I can read ya nut, ain't ya the one who gave it to me?" the old man replied.
"Well what does it say?"
"It says it's the Normanomicon"
"…"
"Ohh, right!" the man opened the book to a certain page "it talks about dead things, something about hollow men and graveyards, and oh hey look raising a banshee in the middle of bloodstone!"
The old man continued to muse things that not even Kieran would think about doing, I mean what would be the point of ghost pants and a ghost party? Though he had to admit the latter seemed rather intriguing. However it was then that he overheard something…
"… the shadow court can even grant immortality, but it's said that the price is undetermined…" the man was about to flip over the page when a hand stopped him from doing so and the man looked into Kieran's eyes.
"What was that?" he asked interested in knowing more.
"…undetermined?"
"… nooo, before that"
"Are?"
"…" Kieran deadpanned, "the thing with the shadow court, all of it"
"Ah!" the man looked at the extract reading out the passage
"The Shadow Court. The Shadow Court is a place where many go in order to have their most undying wish granted, whether it be becoming famous or ending the world of nice people. It consists of three judges that like to repeat one another and are actual shadows themselves. The judges are the ones to listen to the persons wish and decide whether it should be granted or whether that person may become part of the shadow realm, however it has not been known that this court actually exists. Many people say that they search for the shadow court in order to claim such wish's as immortality and riches, but not once have these people come back out alive. If a wish has been granted, the three judges will ask for a price which may consist of paying a debt by sacrificial means and or when in passing the soul of the granted may become a shadow for the three judges to control.
In all honesty, not many know what the price of their granted wish may cost as most prices are undetermined, this could in fact mean that there are several more ways in which to pay the court the fine…"
"Well" the old man finishes "Tha's all there is really, the rest o' it is all missin'" he stated showing Kieran the book.
"Does it say what I might need to get into this court?" he asked desperately.
Turning over the page, the old man read until he lifted his index finger "You will need an object called the dark seal, after that your on your own" he said, a small smile fixed in place.
"okay, where can I get it?"
"I dunno brat it doesn't say!" Kieran deadpanned once again.. I'm no brat you old bastard!
After today's conversation with the old man from the book store, Kieran was quite tired and so thought of going straight to bed as soon as he got home. And as soon as he got there, he couldn't. Emily came skipping along the room and hugged him tightly, kissed him on the cheek and told him that a gift came for him. She pointed to the table before scurrying off to the bedroom, whilst Kieran slowly reached for the circular shaped object in which beside it lay a note. It read:
Dear Reaver
I have brought you the missing article that you will need. And so now, I hope that your wish is granted and that we will once again meet in the future.
Theresa
He hummed as he wondered who this Theresa was when he looked back at who he was addressed as and it made sense that it was the fortune teller from a week ago, and so he once again looked at the object. Picking it up he saw a strange pattern across its surface, but he knew what it was, The Dark Seal, as his heart fluttered with joy. He slowly crept upstairs and walked into the bedroom to find his wife already fast asleep, her face like an angel's. He tiptoed over to her bedside and gave her a small kiss before heading out to locate the door that held the Shadow Court behind it. And it didn't take long to find.
After placing the Seal on the door, he gained entrance to multiple halls and endless corridors when suddenly he came to a room with three thrones on the other side of a never ending gap. Wlking through the doorway into this room it closed and locked before he even had a chance to acknowledge it, and he turned to try and push open the rusted metal but to no avail.
When he was about to give up and admit defeat the lights in the room dimmed, and he could hardly make out where everything was. However a flash of light erupted to the left of him which shone onto the three thrones, and he could not believe his eyes. In front of him three figures began to form within the shadow cast by the light, each with red glinting eyes that seemed to watch Kieran move as he walked to the middle of the room.
"Welcome" Said the middle shadow.
"Welcome" Said the shadow to the left.
"Welcome" said the shadow to the right.
"Why have you come to…" started the figure on the right.
"… the Shadow Court…" the figure on the left carried on,
"… Kieran of Oakvale?" the figure in the middle finished.
Kieran was silent for a moment, wondering how these beings knew his name, then realising that they must be the three judges answered "I have come to wish for the power of immortality, free from disease and illness, and free from the darkness that is death"
"And why should we grant you this wish?"
"Yes, why?"
"What can you give us in return?"
Kieran didn't have time to think, his mouth moving of it's own accord "I'll give you anything!"
"Anything?"
"Anything?"
"We require much, Kieran, but fine you may have this wish"
Kieran smiled excitedly, I am going to be immortal, he thought when suddenly the middle figure once again spoke.
"But you must, as payment, come back to sacrifice the youth of another in order to keep your immortality. However if the payments stop, we will come for you and all of Albion!"
Now Kieran did not like that "All of Albion? You can't be serious!"
"We are ALWAYS serious, now is the deal accepted or declined?"
Thinking about what this could do to the rest of Albion he put aside the cons and simply stated "Accepted!" as the word left his lips he felt a surge of pain come from his finger tips, upon inspection he saw that the seal bit into his flesh however the wounds simply healed leaving no traces of any marks that were preciously there.
"The deal made…"
"…your wish granted…"
"… you may now leave the court"
And so he did, like a scared animal he ran for the doors of the court, and once outside, it was not what he expected.
Fire. FIRE. FIRE! Oakvale was burning, and its citizens falling to the ground as death took them. Screaming can be heard coming from the small town. What had he done? Kieran ran towards the town desperately trying to figure out what had gone wrong, tears streaming down his face. Jumping over bodies, running through ash filled streets, running to save her, to save Emily.
He could hear her scream, he could hear her cries for help and her pleas to make it all stop. Finally he arrived at their small home, only to take a step backwards. There she was lying on the ground her skin grey and wrinkled with age, he was beside her in a heartbeat checking to see if she was still their, but nothing she was empty, dead, gone! And it was all his fault! He cradled her lifeless body and cried into the crook of her neck, but he knew this would not bring her back, he didn't even realise that he was screaming her name until three hooded figures stood before him.
"This is not part of the deal!" he cried, tears now flowing in rivers as he looked up to the judges with hate filled eyes.
"Take it as a… down payment"
"yes, a down payment!"
"Just don't forget the contract! You must give us one sacrifice once a year in order to keep your immortality, if not bye-bye Kieran, bye-bye Albion!"
He couldn't believe his ears, he didn't want to believe his ears but there was nothing to do. As the figures fade away, Kieran whispered to himself "I am not he…. I am Reaver!" And then stayed cradling his deceased wife as the rain slowly dowsed out the fire.
Me: Well that's chapter one complete what do you think Reaver? :P
Reaver: Why are you asking me, I still havent shot you for making me sing last time *Cocks pistol*
Me: *runs* DX
Reaver: Again? Honestly you'd think she'll stop running away… Oh erm what's that thing people say? Oh yes read and review my sweets, tatty-bye.