*disclaimer – as is required for me to mention, this is a fan based work, I do not own nor did I create the Fable series or any characters associated with it.*

Author's notes – This story takes place just after the events of Fable III it does not take into account any other games after the fact (or even any DLC) nor does it follow any of the Fable novels. It takes place in a version of the universe in which the new King of Albion broke his promises to the people rather than the canon sunshine an lollipops version. (side note, I hate happy endings) Also, there is a good deal of build up before we get to the bits with Reaver actually in the story, so all you fan girls and boys will just have to be patient. This is as much a storyline continuation piece as it is an origins story, so we are going to jump around a bit. Otherwise, enjoy and please R&R.

Defining Paradise

Prologue – Hope

Beneath the charming cobblestone roads of Bowerstone, deep within the stale wet of the sewers,Page sat in silence; frustration and anger brewing within her. Albion was growing darker by the minute and all her efforts, all the efforts of her men had yielded no results. The King of Albion had broken every promise he had made on his way to the throne, including the one that involved ending Reaver's reign over Bowerstone Industrial. The kingdom may have been saved from the grips of the Crawler but darkness still lingered in it's streets.

Entire families went to bed hungry while the rich and powerful stuffed themselves with meat and wine, children toiled away in factories while the King collected his taxes, and good people were dragged from their homes and shot in the streets by unchecked gangs of bandits and mercenaries. The people of Albion were suffering and Reaver's pockets were being lined with their blood.

"Page?" a voice called out. "I'm back."

Page turned to find Ben Finn standing behind her, she frowned as she looked him over. He was soaking wet and coated in a dense layer of mud. He had the look of a man who had been utterly defeated in vicious combat.

"Ben." Page moved toward him, her voice anxious. "How did it go? Did you find anything out?"

"Well..." Ben started, hesitant. "I didn't exactly find what we were looking for." His face was apologetic. Page sighed; perhaps it had been too much to hope for. A weapon capable of stopping Reaver? She knew it was too good to be true.

"So what did you find?"

"Well, it's not so much a what as it is a who." Ben walked to a near by table and sat down, motioning for Page to join him. "You see, as it turns out the legendary 'Siren' weapon isn't really a weapon," he laughed nervously, "and it really wasn't in Samarkand."

"So what you're telling me is that the thing we have been hanging all our hopes on not only isn't where we thought, but doesn't even exist and we are no closer to putting a stop to Reaver than we were six months ago?" Page slammed her fist on the table and Ben smiled. She was always so quick to anger, so impatient.

"Oh it exists, or should I say she exists." Ben corrected.

"Fine." Page took a deep breath. "Who is she and how do we find her?"

"I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, as most of the documents about her are in pretty bad shape due to their age, but.." Ben pulled out a torn and tattered leather bound book. It looked as though it had suffered a great deal of water damage and the pages seemed too delicate to touch. He opened it up to a dog-eared page, pieces of paper crumbling off as he did so.

"Where did you get that thing?" Page asked, worried for the stability of the book's structure. "A crypt?"

Ben chuckled. "Something like that." He leaned in close to Page, his voice low. "Now listed to this, most of the words are too worn away and a lot of pages are missing, but what I can read is – well..." he cleared his throat and began to read a passage, " '...it is true he is a great pirate king, feared by many, but no matter is power and skill, the Reaver's bane forever lies within the voice of the Siren.' "

Page scoffed. "Well we already knew that much."

"Yes, " Ben protested, "but from the other entries I have been able to determine that the 'Siren' was a woman, a Hero. She lived in Oakvale before it was destroyed."

"Oakvale?" Page was puzzled, Oakvale was destroyed hundreds of years ago. "You mean that town that used to be where Wraithmarsh is now? Isn't there a rumor that Reaver is the one responsible for it's destruction?"

"Indeed there is." Ben smiled.

"Okay, I'm listening. How do we find this woman?"

"Well.." Ben laughed nervously "finding her won't really be the problem." Page glared at him, she was getting annoyed. Was there or wasn't there a way to stop Reaver?

"Ben, I don't have time for this, get to the point." She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.

"Alright, alright. Calm down. Our 'Siren' is IN Oakvale, that is Wraithmarsh."

"What? But that is impossible. There's nothing ALIVE in Wraithmarsh."

"Yes... I know..." Ben said sheepishly.

Page groaned. Great, how was a dead girl going to help them?

"Don't worry, Page, I've got it all worked out." Ben reached into his satchel and pulled out a small medallion baring the ancient seal of the Hero's Guild. "Here." He handed it to Page. It was vibrating slightly and seemed to produce a faint humming sound.

"What is it?" She asked, mesmerized by the seal.

"Hope, Page," Ben smiled. "it's hope."