I do not own Fable
"So how was it? Did you find her fiancée?" Walter asked when Julia finally found him about an hour later.
"Yeah, turns out it was Elliot. He 'asn't changed much, which I mus say is kina surprisin cause last time I saw 'im I was jus a lass," Julia sighed.
"Really? Did you two…?" he began.
Julia felt a blush creep up her face, "no! it's nothin like tha! I haven't seen 'im in years! It don't matter. I told 'im I an't right for 'im. Can we jus drop it an move on?"
Walter chuckled softly to himself as they ran down a street, past a pub, and down some steps to another entrance to the sewers. "Here we are," Walter said dramatically, pointing to the door, "back to the sewers. Whenever you're ready." Julia took a deep breath and opened the door
.
Julia knew that they must have entered the right place, because there were boxes and guns lying around. There were also torches lining the walls. She and Walter crept through the tunnels, trying to find anyone that looked remotely like resistance fighters.
"Hello?" Walter said into the silence. He turned to Julia, "maybe we have the wrong place. Let's just turn around and-"
"Don't move!" a squat man popped out from behind the crates, pointing a gun at them. About seven other men came out of hiding and pointed their own guns at them. Julia instinctively unsheathed her sword, preparing herself for a fight.
"Wait! We're just here to see Page!" Walter explained hurriedly. "We don't want any trouble."
"Better tell your friend that," the squat man said, not lowering his weapon.
"It's alright!" Walter said. He muttered to Julia, "just do as he says." Julia lowered her sword.
"I say we shoot them!" one voice cried.
"Agreed, shoot them!" the squat man cried.
"Stop!" a firm and powerful voice came from the doorway. A dark skinned woman stepped out from the shadows. Her long curly hair was held back by a bandana and she looked like a resistance leader. "I thought I gave the orders around here Kidd," she said to the squat man.
"Sorry Page," he said sheepishly and put away his gun.
"Walter! Can't say I was expecting you," Page said, walking towards Walter.
"We had to leave the castle earlier than expected. Can we talk in private?" Walter asked, looking relieved that Page had showed up.
"Sure, this way," Page beckoned them into the headquarters.
They entered a big room with a map of Albion, an armory, bedroom, and bathroom. Julia figured that this place doubled as a conference room, bedroom, and more.
"Page this is-" Walter began.
"One of your protégés?" Page cut him off.
"No. This is the princess, Julia." Walter corrected her.
Julia gave a small wave, "'ello."
"Right, she defiantly sounds like the princess who's been missing for fourteen years," Page said skeptically.
"No she really is! She's a hero just like her father! Doesn't she look like her father?" Walter said desperately.
Page looked closer at Julia, "I see what you mean, but you have a lot of explaining to do. But her being a hero doesn't change anything, how about you just give her medal." Page continued.
"I'm righ 'ere! I'd like ta may be figh' for meself if ya don' mind! Lemme explain meself. Julia cut in. She didn't like how the two were arguing about her when she was standing right there.
Page rounded on her, "Why do you talk like many of the people down here in Industrial? If you're a princess, then why don't you act like one? Don't put on a mask, because I see right through it. I bet you're a spy for your brother. He's the reason we live down here, he's the reason we fight!"
"My brother's the reason I grew up down 'ere in Industrial ya prick!" Page was really beginning to annoy Julia and she wasn't going to stand for it. "My brother was gonna kill me! 'Is little baby sister when she was five! I 'ad ta run!" Julia stood there, breathing hard, feeling her face heat up.
"Why don't you start at the beginning," Page said in a calm voice, clearly noticing Julia was about to hit something.
"I was five when Walter came and told me I 'ad to leave. They cut me hair an' made me look like a lad an' I was William Joseph Smith. I was dumped onto the streets of Industrial. I 'ad to make a livin. I lived with a family working as a busboy at a pub, but they beat me and they was close to findin out me secret. I left an' got a job in a factory until I was sixteen, and tha's when they kick ya out of the factory, unless yous just a wee thing tha's still small enough for crawlin in the spindles ta fix jams and other little work. I then got inta the business of pickpocketing. People paid me good money for me ta pickpocket someone else. It's a strange profession, but I was real good at it. Nimble fingers. And I got me a small place, but no one knows 'bout it," Julia explained quickly. She left out the arrests and the more brutal bits for Walter's sake.
"It's true," Walter added.
"Wow," Page looked stunned for a bit. She recovered and said, "alright, well, do you want to bring down your brother? Clearly you know first-hand his wrong-doings."
"Yeah, more than anythin. He needs ta be stopped. Will you 'elp? Please? I need ye to find a way to tell Industrial tha I need their 'elp, but, without tellin 'em 'oe I am jus yet," Julia asked.
"Yes. You have my support, and I will do what I can to get the people on your side without says that you're alive, but you are going to have to do it soon. They need an actual person they can follow, not just a theory," Page said. "But, if you're going to be a queen, we need to work on your speech. I'll help you with that."
"Will ya? Really? Tha'd be great!" Julia said excitedly.
"That'd be great. I think we need to start right now," Page turned to Walter, "we'll talk later Walter, I want to know your evidence for why Logan would want to kill his own sister and why the best thing you thought to do was to dump her on the streets of Industrial at five. No Walter, please leave the princess and I. We have work to do," and Walter left the room.
Page took a seat and gestured for Julia to do the same. Julia followed and Page began the lesson, "now, repeat after me: To ride a Horse, one must buy a halter."
"To… ride a… horse… one must buy… a 'alter," Julia stammered.
"Halter. Really enunciate the H, and try to lighten your words, not so harsh," Page said patiently.
"Halter," Julia repeated.
"Better. Next: That isn't right," Page continued. And on it went. Julia felt her confidence grow. She was grateful that she had found some allies and they were willing to help her with becoming the queen she was meant to be.