Author's Note: Thank you to all those that comment so far! Here's an early chapter for you all :) Going to try and cut down on the long waits between chapters lol.

Disclaimer: Fable 2 and 3 (c) Lionhead Studios

From Hero to Queen

Chapter 10

The journey felt even longer than Sparrow remembered it to be. She was convinced that it didn't normally take so long. In fact, in her frustrated state, she was almost certain that she could have reached Bowerstone quicker than this horse and carriage was taking. She had often travelled to and from Bloodstone and Bowerstone, back when she was trying to recruit Reaver. Sparrow frowned and cradled her fussing child as her thoughts returned back to Reaver once again, despite her best efforts to forget the man. She shook her head and returned her attention to her son, who was being uncharacteristically difficult to please. Logan was wiggling about, letting out cries and whimpers that not even the sounds of the carriage's wheels travelling on the harsh roads could drown them out. Overall he wasn't happy and Sparrow was unable to settle him.

"Something's got the lad upset," Walter commented, observing the mother's failed attempts to shush him. Sparrow sighed tiredly, though there was a hint of frustration in the action. Walter then made a comment based on another observation.

"Maybe he can tell something's got his mother upset,"

Sparrow shot her gaze over to Walter, planning for it to be a glare but she didn't have the energy; due to Logan's fussing behaviour. So instead she let out another sigh, and allowed herself to confide in the man.

"I found out who gave me that rattle," Sparrow told him, expecting Walter to instantly know what she was talking about. But the confused look on his face made it clear he had no idea. This frustrated Sparrow, seeing as the rattle and its affect on her was very important to her. It made her feel as if Walter hadn't been paying attention.

"The rattle, you know... the pretty one that I thought was from you," she explained with a frown on her face. Walter gave a noise of realisation to himself.

"Oh that rattle. Aye, I remember now," he confirmed. "So, who was it from? Some grateful nobleman you saved once or something?"

Sparrow shook her head and paused before answering him.

"Reaver bought it for me," she finally told him. Walter stared at her dumbfounded. Even Logan seemed to have quieted down for a short while. A full minute went past of utter silence before-

"Balls,"

"I'm serious Walter, Reaver bought me that rattle," Sparrow insisted, rocking Logan more as the baby went back to whining.

"That cruel selfish bastard got you a gift? I can't believe it," Walter said in disbelief, shaking his head and even looking a bit disgusted by this news. A man like Reaver giving a gift could only mean that he was after something. So what was the pirate after? Considering the beautiful and powerful woman sitting before him, it didn't take much imagination to guess what Reaver wanted. Walter's protectiveness only intensified at this disturbing thought.

"Yes, that cruel selfish bastard actually got me and Logan a gift. I can barely believe it myself but... he did," Sparrow replied, sounding a big astonished herself.

"So... what does this mean?"

"What?"

"What does this mean? Does it change things, knowing he was the one that bought you the rattle?"

That was a good question. Did it change things, knowing that? Did it actually matter? Yes the rattle could be seen as some sort of proof that Reaver was still human, but overall he was still the heartless and egotistical bastard that she'd come to know and loath. And besides, even if it did change things, he was in Bloodstone, where he belonged, and Sparrow had very little intention of going back, not when she had Logan to look after and provide for.

"No," she reluctantly confessed, turning her gaze to stare out the window of the carriage. "It doesn't change anything,"

Sparrow could not remember a time when she had felt more relieved to arrive at Bowerstone. Even back when she'd first begun her journey to find the Three Heroes, she hadn't been this relieved. The tired Fourth Hero carefully stepped out of the carriage, Walter already out and offering his help. Sparrow's relief faltered when sensing something distressingly amiss with the once welcoming town. The square was almost bare compared to the busy market she remembered. There were a lot more guards on patrol, though some looked too young or too old to really be proper guardsmen. The streets were unkempt and horrid odours could be smelt coming from the alleys. A few of the shops even looked abandoned and the familiar Cow and Corset was closed.

Just... what had happened to Bowerstone?

"Walter... was this what you where talking about?" she asked.

"No, I'm afraid things seemed to have gotten a lot worse since I left," he confessed, looking saddened by this sudden transformation. He had sensed and felt that Bowerstone was in trouble when he had left to find the Hero, but seeing the town's troubles actually manifest was something else. Just how could a town change so much?

For a brief moment, Sparrow actually considered getting back on the carriage and travel to another place to settle and raise her son. In the state that this town was in this place seemed no better than Bloodstone; it was no place for a little boy to grow up in. But something was nagging at her, telling her to stay. It telling her that she belonged here and had to right the wrongs that had happened here. It seemed the Hero inside of her could not be quieted, even by her material instincts.

"H-Hero?"

The two had been so shocked by the town's saddened state that they hadn't realised that their presence had been noticed by the few townsfolk wondering the streets and by the guardsmen. Slowly but surely a small group formed, circling the Hero and her companion.

"It really is you!"

"The Hero's returned!"

"Are you here to save the town?"

"What's taken you so long?"

"Hey, look at the baby, she's a mother now!"

"You think that gentleman is the father? He looks familiar..."

"Becks!"

At hearing his name called out from the crowds, Walter perked and looked into the direction his name was called from. A young and lean man with a growing moustache pushed his way through the group that had formed, looking beyond pleased at seeing his good friend back, and seeing that the Hero was with him. Walter was equally as pleased to see his fellow guardsman.

"Swift, it's good to see you again!" he greeted with a strong hand shake. Walter then turned his attention to Sparrow, fully intending to introduce the two but Swift raised his hand in a gesture to stop him. Both Walter and Sparrow were a little surprised.

"Pardon my rudeness but the formalities will have to wait. The Hero and the little one are not safe out here in the open. We should take this else where,"

"Not safe?" Sparrow asked.

"What do you mean? What's going on Swift?"

"Please Becks, I'll explain everything once we're at the barracks,"

Swift gestured for the two to follow him, while two other guardsmen set to unloading and transporting their belongings, probably to the barracks too. Sparrow saw that they really had no choice, seeing as she wished to know the true distress the town was in and wanted to ensure her son's safety. The crowd watched as the Hero followed the guardsman, whispering amongst themselves of their thoughts and hopes over her long awaited return.

Though there were some that were not so happy by her return.

"There are anti-Hero groups now?" Sparrow said with shock and dismay in her voice. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Upon reaching the guardsmen's barracks, she and Walter had been lead into Sheriff Derek's office, where they were welcomed and finally told what was happening in the town. From what they had been told, the town had tore itself apart pretty much due to the Hero's absence. Criminals that had been in hiding during her presence slowly came out of the woodwork when realising she was gone. The crime rate increased and the guards tried to do their duty, but it became very clear that they had grown used to Sparrow being there and, honestly, were out of practice and training to deal with such violent and organised criminals. It wasn't long before this attracted even more unlawful men and women to the streets of Bowerstone. Even some of Lucien's former guards and slavers were beginning to show their faces, creating their own criminal enterprise now that their former master was dead. Over all, everything had fallen apart. And there were those that blamed Sparrow for it all, which caused even more chaos among the townsfolk.

"The way they see it, if you hadn't of left and gone into hiding none of this would have happened," Sheriff Derek said sombrely, looking up from his desk at Sparrow and Walter.

Derek hadn't aged well since Sparrow had seen him last. Honestly, most of the aging had happened during the year she'd been away! The grey and the belly had happened gradually over time due to his age, but his scars and tired appearance, that was all because of the stress this town and its troubles had caused him. In all his years of being Sheriff, he hadn't had to deal with what he'd had to deal with in this past year. Bowerstone had always been such a peaceful place, especially when Sparrow had been around, doing her good deeds. It was all becoming a bit too much. Walter huffed and shook his head, his arms folded over his chest defensively.

"How could people believe that, after all the she's done for them!" Walter said, angered that people could turn on their Hero so easily. Sparrow frowned a little herself, her own anger rising. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't offended and outraged by what she had heard. She'd only gone and given up her sister and her best friend up for these people... and they go and react like this? Blaming her for everything? Why did she even bother?

Hearing a tired sigh escape from Derek's cracked lips reminded her why; for people like him. She bothered for the good people, the innocent people that got caught up in trouble like this. Yes there were those that hated her now, but from what Swift and Derek had said, there were still those that believed in her and still loved her. Still remembered what she had done for them. For those people, she had to do something.

"What can I do to help?" Sparrow said, without hesitation. Swift and the Sheriff looked at each other for a moment, both looking just as clueless as the other. There was so much going on in the town, where would they start to try and set things right? Derek decided starting small was best, or rather, small for a Hero like Sparrow.

"It's well known that a shipment of black market goods comes every two weeks in the dead of night. We've tried to stop it before but we just don't have the man power, and some of my guards don't even have the experience," Derek's eyes then went over to the young lad at the other end of the room, who was currently holding Logan and entertaining the infant. Sparrow's eyes followed.

The young boy mentioned appeared barely old enough to wear a guard's uniform. Judging by his thin frame, it was obvious he had very little experience in being a guard, or possibly fighting of any sort. His young tanned face was perfect and unmarked, proving further his lack of conflict with anyone. The lad looked as if he hadn't so much as been in a bar fight.

"Elliot here is a fine man, they all are, but they just don't have the ability to deal with what we're up against," Sheriff Derek said and then looked back up to Sparrow. "But a Hero does,"

Sparrow turned her attention back to Derek and gave a small nod in acknowledgement. She knew what she had to do, now it was just preparing for it.

"I'm going to need as much information as you can give me, Sheriff," Sparrow told him and the old man nodded in agreement. Walter took a step over to the Hero, looking stern and determined.

"I'll be coming too," he told her. Sparrow's eyebrows narrowed as she frowned at him.

"Walter I can't allow that. From the sounds of it, this could get very dangerous,"

"All the more reason for me to be there then. You may be a Hero, but even Heroes need help every once and a while. Besides, you've got to be more careful now,"

With that they both looked over to young Elliot and Logan again. The young guard was shaking the silver rattle at the baby, he seeming to enjoy the baby's reactions as Logan grinned and squealed happily, waving his arms and kicking his little legs. Sparrow gave a small smile at her son's obvious enjoyment, but it did turn a little sad as she realised what Walter was saying. She had to be careful to make sure she came home to her son. The Hero gave an annoyed groan and rolled her eyes.

"Ok, fine. You've made your point. But if you come, who will look after Logan?"

"Why not leave him with the boy? He seems perfectly fine with him," Walter suggested.

Sparrow frowned, not knowing if she was completely comfortable with the idea of leaving her son with the young Elliot. She didn't even know him! She turned her attention to the young man, who was only just realising that he was being the focus of conversation and looked back sheepishly. The Hero eyed him carefully, trying to determine if it would be wise to leave Logan with him. She walked over to him, the mere act of walking having a feel of authority and grace to it.

"You ever looked after a baby before?" she asked him. Elliot's cheeks grew red as he replied back, obviously embarrassed to be put on the spot like this and to be talking to the Hero of Albion. Logan's little hands gripped at his much larger fingers, trying to demand he keep shaking the rattle.

"Well, yes actually. I've helped look after a few," he said as he shook the rattle more for little Logan. The baby continued his previous noises of joy and Elliot couldn't help but grin also. Sparrow smiled a little at the scene. Perhaps Walter was right in suggesting this boy.

"Ever look after a baby over night?" she pushed.

"I haven't, no," he confessed.

"Well the night I go to interrupt that shipment, you'll get the chance,"

Elliot looked a little surprised to suddenly be given the responsibility, but that didn't mean he didn't want it. He smiled and nodded, the gesture acting as a silent promise that he'd do his best to look after the infant. With that settled Sparrow returned her attention to the others.

"When's the next shipment?" she asked.

"In three days time," Swift informed her.

"That's plenty of time for me to be ready," she replied, a small smirk appearing on her face. It was time to be a Hero again.

Note: In case there are those that are confused ('cause I suck like that :D ) Elliot in this story is obviously NOT Elliot from Fable3. Age would be completely wrong :/ I'm hoping that people aren't confused by that, but I just wanted to make sure.