This is based on the Russian fairy tale "Tsarevitch Ivan, the Firebird, and the Grey Wolf." This chapter and the next are flashbacks. They rely on some info you get from the comics: The Adversary is the reason the Fables ended up in the mundy world, and before coming to Fabletown Bigby had taken up hunting the Adversary's minions and helping Fables cross into the mundy world out of anger at the invasion.


Bigby had met her when he was an older wolf, after he had begun hunting the Adversary and his soldiers. He'd never been into the Rus lands before and there was prey left and right. This had led him to meet Ivan.

Ivan was riding a deliciously fat horse through what was now Bigby's woods. Taking a liking to the horse but not caring for the young man, he devoured the one and left the other. But the young man was not a total fool: a wolf the size of a house was a wolf that one should bargain with.

"What brings you here, Grey Wolf?" Ivan had asked.

"I am hunting the Adversary and his men. What brings you here, little man?"

"I am looking for the Firebird."

"What will you gain from this?"

"I will gain power over the kingdom here. If you help me, I will work with you to fight the Adversary in these lands and I will give you free reign over the lands."

That was an offer that was too good to refuse, so Bigby did not. He took the young man to get the bird and bring it back, but true to form more was required. A horse was required, gotten, and still not enough. To prove complete loyalties, a woman was required: Helen the Beautiful.

Helen lived in a castle in a neighboring kingdom and so Bigby agreed to fetch her.

He had met her for the first time in the dead of night. She was sleeping when he stole into her room, silent as a shadow. When he nudged her, she awoke and did not scream. Rather, she drew a knife from under her pillow. It was a deft movement and he could sense she was confident in her skills with it.

"If you find me to be a danger," he asked, "why not call for others?"

"They are no help to me. I've long defended myself and this castle without the aid of any man."

"You can't be so old."

"I'm as old as any of us are."

"I have come to take you to a man who wishes to marry you," Bigby explained, keeping his eyes on the point of her knife.

"And if I don't wish to marry?"

"Then I will leave you here."

The point lowered. Helen had never encountered a talking wolf, let alone a wolf who would spare her at her request.

"I will not be taken for some man's pride or household or bed. I am worth more."

"I agree," Bigby had replied without hesitation. His sense of smell told him more about people than they could ever realize. He knew she was under stress, that she was alone, but that she did not doubt her strength. Her force of will was what had kept her alive. These traits alone were enough to convince him that Ivan was not in any way worthy of her.

"This is a game of politics," he continued. "You may rule well but you cannot stand against the Adversary alone. Ivan is vying for the power of your neighboring kingdom and you are needed for him to prove himself. Should you return with me, you could rule not only this kingdom, but another as well that would better protect your home."

Helen let her arm fall to her side, holding the gaze of the strange Grey Wolf who was reasoning with her.

"What is this to you?"

"I am interested in defeating the Adversary. This will help further that goal."

She thought for some time, the night sounds quiet around them. "And this Ivan? What do you make of him?"

Bigby shrugged his massive shoulders. "He is not cruel, but he is not bright. You could easily become the thought behind the throne and he would treat you well enough."

"Well enough..." Helen echoed sounding annoyed.

Bigby moved closer to her and she could feel his warm, wet breath on her face and arms. "I will not let any harm come to you. You will not be treated poorly while I draw breath. I promise to protect you."

Helen's heart had stuttered, he had sensed, and without a word she had dressed and strapped her knife to her side and a crossbow and full quiver to her back.

"You must know, Grey Wolf, I go for you and not for this man."

He met her eyes, bright and blue as they were. Her skin was covered in freckles, like stars and just as strikingly beautiful.

"I know, princess."

"Helen," she corrected.

"Bigby," he replied.

A smile flickered across her face as she took seat on his back, her face close to his ear as she leaned forward. He lept through the window and was gone.

The three traveled together through Helen's kingdom and into the kingdom that Ivan was competing for. Helen realized quickly that Bigby had been very honest with her: Ivan was not bright but was not malicious. He would treat her well and would be a manageable tool for fighting back when the Adversary arrived.

However, Ivan was poor conversation and Helen turned to the Grey Wolf. His intelligence impressed her deeply and his level character comforted her. She alone rode him, speaking into his ear and then feeling the rumbles of his replies beneath her as he ran.

They traveled like this for a full moon cycle and by the end of it all, Bigby felt more than a little affection for the daring princess that spoke to him without fear. Once they were in sight of the castle, Bigby felt a sudden urge to sweep her up and continue running, to take her with him wherever he may go.

"Well, Helen," he said gently, as Ivan waited impatiently some ways off, "this is the beginning of your better story."

Tears stood in her eyes and the heartbreak he sensed in her was mirrored in his own chest. "Please stay in my kingdom. You must keep your promise."

"Of course, beautiful one," he half teased. "I will protect you. You have my word."

"Be safe, Grey Wolf," she whispered.

Then he turned and padded into the trees until she could no longer see him.

"Come, princess," Ivan cajoled. "Our future awaits."

Bigby had not looked back, hoping to ease the sting of the goodbye. If he had, he would have been able to keep his promise.