Author's note: Alright, so it has been a while since I last posted. I just have one thing to say about this chapter: IT TOOK FOR BLOODY EVER TO WRITE!

Anyway, I added a small twist in here, so if you don't get it, message me. I am more then happy to clear things up for you. XD

Chapter Twenty-Five – And We All Fall Down

Weeks passed. Then months. The war carried on, more men were lost. Reaver never left her side, Walter never reappeared.

Some said he had gone back to Mourningwood. She found that easy to believe. Others said he was always just out of her sight. She could believe that too.

In those months, she gave birth to a wonderful baby girl named Rose. It pained her to name her third child this, remembering both her sister and the daughter that Lucien had so wrongfully killed. As she stared at her daughter's face now, she saw her sister, her first daughter, and the woman she knew this one would become. She named her child this because she knew that she would do justice to the name in one way or another.

Rose was blessed with perfection. She had her father's soft eyes, the same startling hazel color as well. Then, she had been given her mother's red curls, although diluted from Walter's contribution. Her complexion was almost startlingly pale, although her cheeks were just pink enough to divert some of that unwanted attention.

Sparrow never left Rose's side, allowing Jasper to take charge of her schedule. The two grew to be closer friends, and she found he was the one should always lean on. She also found that he was a very capable man, someone who knew how to plan a working mother's schedule very nicely.

The people outside of the castle, however, were a very different story. They were starting to rebel, starting to naturally lose the interest in their first Hero Queen. Some said it was because they were siding with Walter, saying that a vigilante had no place in running the kingdom. Others said it was still because she apparently trusted Reaver. They said that if a tyrant like him was allowed to run free in the castle, that maybe the Queen had other than honorable intentions.

"Your majesty," Jasper bowed as he entered her bedroom, getting a skeptical look from her. He quickly straightened and gave her a friendly smile instead.

"Yes, Jasper?" She asked, holding Rose closer to her chest as Logan shifted in her lap. He buried his head into the soft fabric of her nightshirt, soft snores escaping his moth.

"They say you are urgently needed in the War Room," He was whispering as he shuffled forward to help. She handed him Rose as she slowly rubbed small circles on Logan's back.

"Logan, Honey, let's go get you in bed," She whispered, scooping him into her arms as they both walked to the bedrooms. Logan was tucked in safe and sound, assured that there were no trolls in his closet. Rose was laid in her crib, gurgling happily at the toy dangling from her ceiling. With that, Sparrow left the room to go and pull on her adventure clothes.

She quickly fastened on her corset and slipped into her shorts, grabbing her boots and coat in her hands before walking out to sit on her bed and sit on the bed to talk to Jasper.

"Did they say what they needed?" she asked as she slid on her boots. Jasper came to her side, pushing a few curls out of her face.

"No. all they said was that it was urgent," He replied, trying t make her presentable. She gave a slight chuckle, batting his hands away playfully.

"That's all they ever say," She grumbled, tossing him a smile as she stuck her crown on her head and started her way down the hall.

As she rounded the corner, she sighed. Sometimes she wished she had never chosen to take up the position as Queen. She wondered if she would still be out adventuring or if she would have become a mother. She wondered what her life would be like had she not fallen for Walter.

She wanted to know if she would be as unhappy as she was now.

"Ah, your Majesty," One general bowed, making her realize she was now in the War room with a dozen eyes staring at her expectantly.

"What was the emergency?" She asked, her voice ringing clearly into the room with authority.

"The enemy is moving, our Majesty," The general said in a monotone, solemn tone of voice.

"And you chose to tell me this at this time of night?" She glared, her voice sharp and slightly angry.

"We did not know until just now. Our scouts have been delayed," The general was now remorseful, leaving the death of the Scouts unsaid but implied.

"Where?" She demanded, the simple word ringing with impatience.

"Up by the Dweller Camp. They've started to use the mercenaries to their advantage as well," Another general piped up, stepping forward to address her properly. The Queen grimaced, whirling on her heel.

"Ready as many men as you can and have them out in the courtyard in two hours. I will be joining them," She ordered, walking in a dead beeline for the armory.

She'd heard of the Dwellers, tough people of Mistpeak, but had never thought they stood any chance. Living out in the open of Mistpeak was risky, at best. Now that she knew they existed and were fighting against her enemy, she wanted to take this chance and gain another ally.

Sparrow quickly changed from her standard adventuring clothes to her second favorite. She grabbed the Highwayman pants and boots, changing her corset for a matching green and faint red one. She still had her gun and sword at her hips, slipping the snug Highwayman jacket on over them. She settled for letting her hair tumble down her back in long ringlets, her crown still firmly on her head.

Sighing, she turned to the mirror. Her youth and life seemed to have left her. Her Will lines now crossed over aged skin that had seen it all. Even her hair was aging, small grey streaks forming just above her ears. Her eyes were not the same sparkling blue; now they had loved again and been crushed.

"Lillian," Jasper walked in, calling to her as a friend rather then Loyal Servant. She turned her head, looking to him but not seeing.

"Yes, Walter?" She replied without hesitation, not seeing the servant but instead the man she would always love. Jasper sighed, walking forward to place one hand on her shoulder.

"Love, it's time to go fight," He played along, too soft a man to crush her dreams and hopes.

"Right," She smiled – the liveliest smile he had seen in a long while – and took off out the door. "When you see Jasper, tell him I said not to worry," She called over her shoulder playfully.

"He knows, your Majesty. He knows," Jasper whispered, letting a heavy sigh escape his lips as he prepared to go on with his duties.

The queen is slipping, falling. This kingdom will be the end of her. Then we will all

Fall

Down.