Chapter: 35, epilogue-ish 2
A woman left her small home, a bucket cradled under her arm. Night had fallen some time ago, but the need of water forced her outside.
The full moon dominated the sky, it's pale magnificence illuminated the field around the woman. It's light gave notice to her ocean blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Elizabeth walked out toward the back of her house, a water pump was nearby and became the focus of her gaze. Humming a simple tune, she set the bucket underneath the nozzle and started pumping. As the water poured out and splashed inside the wooden container, her rhythm on the pump was broken.
In a shocked gasp, Elizabeth turned to look out to the lands around her. Nothing was there, but she could swear she had heard something, a calling from someone that wasn't there.
The feeling passed as it turned to disappointment. Though it was what she always did when fetching water, reliving the moment her life changed when a strange man collapsed at her feet at her father's home. But no matter how much the spark of excitement meant to her, it immediately brought a hollow feeling of being forgotten.
They had all seen it, even before the war fully took hold. The people of Grayshire talked of the dark power spanning across Albion, and a hero fighting against it. Of course Elizabeth never spoke of her own meeting with the hero. Not even to her friends who had taken her in.
Tales and rumors spread like wildfire as the army of Albion was formed. Elizabeth stayed glued to any story she could hear, realizing the full effect of the war itself. Then the day came, when the skies above the village blackened and the vision of a warrior and demon were seen by all. Elizabeth never knew a time where her heart raced faster as she watched Sparrow clash blades with the masked monster.
But then it was all over, and news of the newly throned King Sparrow swept across Albion. And as the days passed, she thought of her own foolishness to think that such a simple woman as herself would be a thought in the mind of a King, more important things were on task, as well as much more nobler flames to take the hand of royalty.
The bucket started to overflow and the water stopped. A simple sigh escaped Elizabeth as she retrieved the container and walked back to her home. But as she turned to leave, her sights caught the silhouette of a man standing off in the distance. The clouds in the sky moved away from the moon's gaze, allowing the light to shine on the man, revealing what was hidden.
A dark blue robe covered his entire body, the hood of the robe hid the wearer's face. But in the darkness of the hood, simple lines of a glowing blue could be seen running across the man's face.
The man removed his hood showing his face, the face of a king.
Water splashed across the ground as Elizabeth ran to the man. Colliding into him, her arms wrapped around his back.
"Sparrow," she said as she buried her face in his chest, her tears dampening his clothing.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth," Sparrow said, running a hand through her hair as he apologized, "I wanted to find you sooner, but everything has been so hectic." Elizabeth gave a light chuckle as she looked into his eyes.
"I know, we all saw your last little bout. But you're here now, and I'm glad you're okay." Elizabeth held his hand tightly, pulling him forward into her house.
Though much smaller then her last, the home did feel much like the one in Skyreach. Even Sparrow noticed it as he entered the doorway.
They walked a short way through the house, and Elizabeth led the hero to the bedroom. There, a crib sat and inside was a beautiful baby boy.
"Is this," Sparrow began asking with a tone of astonished joy, Elizabeth gave a nod as they both looked down on him. A small tuft of hair clung to his head, matching the shade of his mother's perfectly.
"What's his name," Sparrow asked as he dangled his finger near the child. With a joyful squeal, the infant grabbed the finger with his tiny hands.
"Logan," Elizabeth answered. Sparrow noticed her eyes starting to become wet with tears. "After his... father." The hero held her in his arms as she uttered light sobs.
"Well it's a perfect name," Sparrow said, in a matter-of-fact tone. The hero then planted a light kiss on her lips before his own broadened into a smile. "Maybe... we can add 'Prince' to that title." Elizabeth looked up at him, almost in shock, before she mimicked his smile and tightened her own arms around his chest.
It took no time at all for rumors to spread, of a strange woman being seen within the castle. Even more important were the rumors of a supposed child this woman had. Even the few people under the King's employ within the castle could hardly figure out the full story.
Some rumors took on a dark tone. Sparking ideas of an irresponsible King, or an extortion plot made by an ice woman, many overusing terms such as blackmail and wedlock.
But one day, a special announcement was made. After just gaining a sense of normalcy from their newly created kingdom, the people of Albion were told that now, they would have a Queen.
The turnout at the wedding was astounding. Beating out even Sparrow's own crowning ceremony.
People looked on in awe at the center of Bower Lake, were a pristine white gazebo was built in memory of the fallen during the war. There, a man and a woman stood. Any and all rumors of the two were immediately put to rest as the people saw the true love that existed between them both.
As the two were wed, the visiting people erupted into a fit of cheering.
Sparrow's smile never left him as he looked at Elizabeth, her cheeks a heavy tint of rosy red, as the people cheered for them.
The celebration the moved to the castle. Everyone wanted to meet the newly made Queen, to learn of who she was.
An impressive line of subjects was formed. As people took a moment to have a short, but meaningful, conversation. Sparrow could hardly keep from laughing as he watched the spectacle, the different people who Elizabeth greeted and shook hands with.
Eventually as the time went on, the hero found himself becoming unnerved by something, a disturbance he couldn't place that made him uneasy. Leaving his wife's side, Sparrow made his way through the branching hallways of the castle.
Sparrow found his way into the royal bedchamber. There, Jasper was sitting down with baby Logan on his arm and a milk bottle in hand.
The hero chuckled lightly at the sight before leaving the room unnoticed. But even seeing the peaceful didn't stop the strange feeling that clouded his mind. Sparrow eventually made it to his war room and sat down.
Though the name wouldn't show to it, Sparrow found the war room to be the most peaceful in the entire castle.
Sitting alone cleared his mind slightly, the sound of a crackling fire and his own breathing were all he could hear. But the silence was soon broken by a loud creaking noise. Turning his gaze in the direction, he saw the doors leading out of the room slamming shut on their own.
Without hesitation, Sparrow jumped to his feet, his sword already unsheathed.
"Don't tell me the weight of a crown is already creating a paranoid mind," a voice called from behind him. The hero turned to see Theresa, wearing her usual expressionless face and hand gesture.
"Well," the hero replied, "you can't be too careful. Especially when you have more to protect then just yourself." With a simple nod, the Seeress walked closer to the hero. A slight tingle on the back of his neck gave the feeling of being examined, something he had grown used to growing up around the old gypsy.
Then Theresa did something that shocked the hero, she smiled, a broad smile that even showed a small bit of her teeth.
"I'm very proud of you Sparrow," she finally said as her lips formed back into her standared look, "you have permanently put down a great evil. And you've succeeded in giving Albion a hope that was thought to have been lost long ago." Sparrow looked down at the floor in shame, his shoulders adjusting themselves as he gave a sigh.
"It's not as though it was my doing," he said, his voice coming out as a murmur but the gypsy heard it clearly.
"You must not corrupt your achievement because of the means by which it was accomplished. It was something you chose and that is what makes the hero. Just as you stood with me at the Spire, there was a choice to be made, and with only your own judgment you made the right decision." Sparrow chuckled slightly at the gypsy's words.
"You know," Sparrow said, staring blankly at a wall, "I never really gave thought to what you told me, back in the Spire. Honestly, I figured you had to of been wrong... To think, me... a King. Even when day-dreaming with Rose... such an idea never crossed us. And look now... me living in a castle... just as we always wished for..."
"Sparrow," Theresa said, causing the hero to turn his full attention to her, "I have a wedding gift for you." Sparrow gave the Seerss an odd look. "A reward for all that you have done, and all that you will do." Theresa held out her hands and Sparrow's heart almost stopped.
As Theresa handed him the gift, Sparrow looked at the music box in his hands. The very item that started his journey as a hero, and ended his fight against Lucien.
"I-I don't," Sparrow stammered out, hardly able to form a sentence.
"Turn it," Theresa said, here gaze never faltering from the hero. Though hesitant, Sparrow gripped the thin rod that stuck from the side of the music box and began to turn it. Then the beautiful music of the music box began playing, the tune that was burned into the hero's mind due to it's importance to him.
The music played faster and faster. Sparrow's hands started to shake as the box vibrated rapidly. Then the box opened and a blinding white light erupted from it.
Sparrow found himself standing in the center of Bowerstone's town square. But something was wrong. The market was completely empty, void of any form of life. Then, a thunderous boom shook the skies and Sparrow looked up in horror.
The sun began to turn black. It's fiery surface darkened and turned to a sphere of an empty darkness, leaving the sky a lifeless gray. The ground underneath Sparrow started to shake violently, cracks formed in the stone and a inky black sludge poured out from the holes.
All around him, the black sludge drained out onto the ground. Like a thickened water, it flowed across the surface like a wave. The different shops and houses of the market seemed to age right in front of the hero, like a thousand years occurred in seconds. The decrepit structures collapsed and were turned to rubble.
Before Sparrow could react, the black sludge had caught his feet. As he tried to run, he felt his legs stiffen and he realized that he could not move. The sludge slid up his legs and over his chest. As it reached his face, he gasped for air while it came over his mouth. Just as it swallowed the last bit of light he could see, Sparrow felt himself falling.
An endless nothingness, even worse then the Void itself was all that was around the hero. And in the darkness he saw more visions of what was to come.
Sparrow saw many things. Of succession, a tyrannical king, death, a revolution, and a hideous monster.
The beast floated through the air, it's feet unable to be seen. Jagged jaws twitched slightly up and down with a rhythm-less movement. It's six eyes darted in the direction of the hero and locked onto him. Sparrow felt a searing pain in his eyes as the creature moved closer to him.
A maddening laugh came from the beast as it stood over the hero, as though evil itself had formed its own voice that echoed hollow noises.
"A choice was made," it bellowed out, each word draining Sparrow's strength, "and now we come for you!" It's hand raised up, showing long spiny fingers that were as pale as a long dead corpse. It's arm swung downward on the hero. But before it made contact, a bright light blinded both Sparrow and the monster. It's painful shriek pierced the air and when Sparrow opened his eyes, the monster was gone.
Sparrow looked out to see a young man, who looked much like Sparrow himself. A fierce gaze of battle was locked on his face, and a golden crown sat on his head.
The heavy thud of the music box hitting the floor brought Sparrow back to the war room.
Staggering back, his hands gripped the circular map of Albion and was used to keep his standing position. Sweat dripped off of him like a stream. A loud pounding could be heard in the room, it continued until Sparrow realized it was the thudding of his own heart.
He looked at Theresa, his eyes as wide as they were allowed.
"Th-Theresa..." he said, his heavy breathing making the name almost unrecognizable.
"You needed to see for yourself what kind of threat looms over the horizon Sparrow. And as I have told you long ago, I see many futures. But very few of them differ from this tragedy. And unfortunately... it will not come in your time."
"I... I think I understand..." Sparrow muttered.
"I hope you do Sparrow. For your sake, and Albion's. And remember Sparrow, through ignorance there is peaceful bliss, and through peace there is prosperity." Before the hero could reply, the doors of the war room opened and she left. Walking out the doors and disappearing.
Sparrow looked down at the music box. Scanning through everything he had just seen in his mind. Only a light sigh came from the hero, as he realized he had a lot of work to do.
As time went on, the Kingdom of Albion flourished into an unprecedented peace. Under the rule of a single man, great minds were brought together and advanced the lives of everyone. Markets that were previously unheard of came to be, and the use of metal became a constant in the rebuilding of Albion.
The young prince grew up as well. Though his origins were still not truly known by the people of Albion. It was Elizabeth who first brought the discussion into existence. Something Sparrow himself didn't think of, or didn't want to discuss.
As a King, he was expected to leave an heir to the throne. A child who was raised to be capable to receive such a mantle. And it was not thought differently for Albion's king. It was then decided by both Sparrow and Elizabeth to keep Logan's heritage a secret, as to spare him from any harm that may come of such knowledge. But the truth did not effect Sparrow in the slightest. The hero loved the boy as though he was his own flesh and blood.
And that love did not falter in the slightest. Even as the young Logan stood beside his parents as they both stared down into the crib where a newborn baby boy slept.
Logan had heard of a new arrival being spoken of throughout the castle, but the prince didn't fully understand what was meant by it. Even as his mother's belly seemed to never stop growing.
But the day came. And as Sparrow and Elizabeth looked down at their second son, the tears in their eyes were unmistakable.
"What shall we name him Sparrow," Elizabeth asked, brushing aside the small patch of hair that was on the child's head.
"I've thought of one," he replied, "a name of a dear friend who asked for nothing, but gave what he could, even if he was a bit odd in the head." Elizabeth looked at her husband in surprise. A smile appeared on her lips as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"I think that would be a perfect name." Sparrow's own smile came about as he noticed Logan trying to stand tip-toe, an attempt to look into the crib.
"Come here son," the hero said before hoisting him up to see. "Meet your new brother... James."
Sparrow gave as much attention as he could to his family. Even with the duties of a King, time was still found to spend with his wife and sons. But after the birth of James, Sparrow's duties seemed to have increased.
One of his biggest achievements was spent in a small town that was nestled in a far off mountain range. Brightwall was a noticeably small town, but when Sparrow returned there as King, it's population nearly tripled in a matter of days.
The reason was what he did there. At the farthest outskirts of the town, a massive building was made. Sparrow called it an academy, filled with thousands of books of any subject known to man. And unknown to the people, it had been built atop the a secret library where many of the books came from. After the the Brightwall Academy was established, more and more people visited the small village. Many visitors stayed within it's walls and Brightwall grew better because of it.
When questioned on the reasons for the academy, the King would merely say it was for Albion "to learn something," but they didn't know the other reason for it's creation.
On multiple occasions the King was absent from his throne. Only a few people would know of Sparrow's whereabouts and activities. And while Sparrow kept his own secrets, even from his most loyal subjects, Albion never doubted their King.
Through the years, more trials for Albion where encountered. And with the leadership of their King, they were all overcome. Stories that were written spoke of Albion as a broken land. From when the people of Albion dragged themselves from the ashes of the Old Kingdom, to the last chapter of the Court, Albion was divided. No true sense of guidance or hope existed.
But as an ancient evil loomed over the lands, only one stood a chance against it. A hero who held more ties to normal mortals then he did with his own kin. And with his message, the people dropped old ideals and formed together to forever destroy the threat against them.
And as the battle ended and the dust settled, a ruler stood in place of a hero.
A ruler who began as a child living on the streets of Bowerstone. Growing up to become Albion's savior, and eventually, it's King.
A/N: Well there ya go. Return of the Court is now done and done. 35 chapters, 100k+ words. Not that bad for a first major fic in my book.
So, first off, I hope everyone has enjoyed this story. While I know there are errors here and there, I am quite proud of what I've done.
Secondly, while I'm not one to become dependent on reviews, seeing as how this is the last chapter an all. I would greatly appreciate a full on story review of what you all have thought. Essentially of the parts you may or may not have liked, parts that could have improved on for whatever reason, or what you generally thought of the fanfic as a whole. But of course, as with any other review, I can't force you to do anything over the net (I'm still working on that technology) but a fella can hope cant he.
As for future fics and ideas. I can easily say I have two fics for Fable I am for sure going to do. There is also a possible sequel to Return of the Court that I have in the planning stages, essentially a plot that derives from this story. Hopefully I will be able to improve my skill enough to make my stories even better.
So, once again, hope everyone has enjoyed this fic. Keep a look out for new fics I place in the Fable mark. And also for anything I do in other categories..