Reaver awoke to a knocking on the front door. Rolling over, he decided to ignore whoever it was until they went away. Instead, the knocking continued. Whoever was at the door wasn't letting up, so Reaver got up, irritated that someone would disturb his sleep. He wasn't sure about the time, but it was most definitely the early morning. Who would be so persistent at this hour? The pirate had never had anyone so hellbent on interacting with another person first thing in the morning. Well, at least until..Sparrow! Reaver's irritation quickly changed to anticipation as he rushed to make himself look presentable. Had she really come back after their fight? Or was she just coming by to retrieve her belongings from the empty room. Either way, Reaver didn't care. She left him in that guild cave months ago, and he was more than ready to win back their friendship. Hopefully she was, too. Once he was dressed, he rushed to the door. Reaver wondered why she didn't just open the door. He gave her a key to the house after two weeks. It didn't matter, all that matter was that Sparrow came back. Ready to greet her, he opened the door.

"Spar-oh." Reaver's heart dropped as he realized it was a courier, "What do you want?"

"Oh, uh, does the Hero of Albion live here?" The boy asked, nervously.

Reaver huffed, "Not anymore, what the hell do you want?"

"Well I-I've got a letter for her, but was told her home in the Market was no longer occupied, and to come to see you, sir." The boy held an envelope out. Reaver took it out of his hand, tossed a gold and slammed the door shut. He sat down, and opened it.

Sparrow,

Hero among Heroes, the people of Albion, an organization formed by representatives from every region in the land and every walk of life, thank you for your selfless acts in the Tattered Spire. We don't pretend to understand the events that took place there, yet all that matters is that those who were taken from us are alive. To celebrate their return, and commemorate your heroic deed, we have erected a statue in your honour. We hope you like it.

The People of Albion.

Reaver sighed, feeling conflicted. Sparrow deserved to know about the letter, and the statue, but obviously she didn't want to see him. Also, he had no clue where to find her. The girl was known to be good at hiding when she wanted to, and knew more places in Albion than she did. Looking at his hands, he shuttered at the wrinkles on them. The sacrifice was due soon, and he had no one to assist him with it. Reaver closed his eyes and leaned back. A few moments later, he sensed a presence in the house.

"I would advise whoever you are, to leave me be." He said, keeping his eyes shut, "I have a gun and deadly aim."

"If I did that, you wouldn't know where to find the Little Sparrow." A calm voice answered. Reaver opened his eyes, and stared at the blind seeress. Theresa...was here? and wanted to help him?

"I don't suppose you have a way to look into your...crystal ball...or tarot cards and find her, do you? Besides how could you possibly help?" He asked.

"I don't leave my Spire often anymore, though I do believe she should know about the reward for her sacrifice. Would you like me to tell you where to find her, or not, Reaver?" Theresa asked, growing impatient.

Reaver sighed, "Alright. Will you help me find Sparrow and deliver this letter to her?"

"Take my hand, Reaver." Theresa held out her hand to the pirate. Hesitantly, he reached out. The world began shifting and suddenly they were standing on a bridge, near a gypsy camp. Reaver stared at Theresa. This was just outside of Bowerstone, there's no way she could have been this close the entire time.

"Why are we here?"

Theresa didn't respond, only pointed to a caravan. Outside of it was a woman fiddling with a lute. Reaver squinted to get a look and realized it was her. He turned to thank Theresa, only to find her gone. Looking back at Sparrow, he felt nervous. Running his hands through his hair and covering his aged hands with gloves, Reaver started down the path to her.

It had been three months since Sparrow had left Reaver in that cave. Returning to her caravan in the gypsy camp was good for her. She spent her time getting to know the community of her childhood again, and finally felt the pressure of being a hero lifted. Slowly, the days began to get easier, as she went through the grieving process. While she still mourned the loss of her husband and child, the former hero knew they wouldn't want her to cry every day. Reminding herself what Bryn would have told her to do made it easier, it almost made it feel like a part of him was still with her. Lydia was a wonderful friend, as well. She made sure that Sparrow actually got out of the caravan every day, and socialized. The distance from Reaver probably helped, too. The selfishness of that man always amazed Sparrow. Just when she thought they could be friends, he becomes insufferable again. In their last verbal disagreement, Sparrow didn't care where Reaver ended up, as long as he was away from her. Every now and again, though, she found herself wondering what he did after their fight. Did he return to bloodstone, set sail on the sea, or go back to Samarkand to piss off Garth? Hell, if he got bored enough, he probably would have gone to the north just to bother Hannah in her studies with those monks.

On this particular day, Sparrow was sitting on the steps to the caravan, watching the children run around the camp, playing some sort of chasing game. The kids here were so creative, Sparrow couldn't help but regret not moving her family here. Bryn probably wouldn't have enjoyed it, though. He was a city man through and through. If there was one thing he didn't like, it was dirt. One of the few things about him that drove Sparrow absolutely nuts. She chuckled remember the way he would squirm in discomfort if her boots made it passed the entryway of their home. For one of the first times in months, Sparrow found herself smiling. That smile quickly changed when a familiar voice carried across the camp. That same, obnoxious, loud voice that pissed Sparrow off every time it carried on.

"Now now, everyone, I know I'm fascinating, but please, I have a destination." Sparrow realized the voice was getting closer, and she retreated into the caravan, rolling her eyes as she closed the door. She was really thankful in this moment she thought to hung curtains in the windows when she was 18. Less than a minute later, she felt the caravan shift as someone walked up the steps. There was a moment of hesitation before she heard the knocks on the door. Sparrow ignored the sound. Reaver continued to knock, and the stubborn Sparrow continued to ignore him. Finally the knocking stopped, and she heard a sigh.

"You know I saw you go in there, woman. You can't make me knock forever!" Reaver called out. Sparrow did nothing. She listened intently, as Reaver tried to speak to her through the door two more times. How the hell did he know to look here?

"Hm. I guess its possible I mistook the wrong caravan...I guess she really isn't here." Sparrow heard Reaver mutter. Then, the weight of the caravan shifted again as he stepped off the stairs. Sparrow waited about ten minutes before opening the door, and returning to her spot on the steps. Reaching behind her, she grabbed her lute from the doorway and fiddled with the strings again. Focusing on the instrument, she didn't notice the sound of footsteps coming from around the caravan.

"Hah! I knew you were here!" Reaver popped out from his hiding space. Sparrow jolted, nearly throwing the instrument and charging a spell.

"Reaver! I almost toasted your ass with a fireball!" Sparrow went back to her lute. She refused to look at him.

"Well its rather rude to not answer the door when someone knocks." Reaver retorted.

"Maybe I didn't want to talk to you." Sparrow responded nonchalant, still examining her lute.

"Oh come on, you can't still be upset over what happened in the guild. That was months ago." She could feel the eye roll. Looking up at the sky, then back to her instrument, Sparrow sighed.

"Reaver maybe I would still be interested in speaking with you if you didn't make me believe you could change, just to use me for your little shadow court debt. Again."

This time, Reaver didn't have a snarky remark. He had already known why Sparrow was so angry last time they spoke. She thought it was another betrayal.

"I know our last encounter seemed...incriminating on my part, but please listen to me. It wasn't what it seemed." He said, hoping she'd believe it.

"Come on, Reaver, it was obvious once that stupid seal fell. You'd tricked me once into going down there, and then immediately betrayed me so I don't think it's that out of character for you." Sparrow finally set the lute aside, and stood up, "Besides, you also stole from my house."

"Your entire existence you've cheated, lied, killed, manipulated, and done so much worse to people. We're going on what, year 200 now? Face it Reaver, people like you don't change. You only seek people out when you need something from them, and regardless of the outcome you screw them over." Sparrow took a step towards the pirate king before her, "The only reason you didn't try to put a bullet in my head after I did your 'favor' was because you thought you could get money for turning me in. You must have had it somewhere in the back of your mind that if you got me to trust you, you could get something out of it. News flash, king of thieves, I'm not just here for your entertainment. You lost every chance at gaining my trust." Sparrow turned her back towards him, heading back towards the steps of her caravan, "Good luck finding another pawn to take advantage of."

Reaver stared at the ground, unsure what to say. He looked at Sparrow, who was heading inside her caravan. Before she stepped inside, he grabbed her wrist.

"Wait."

"If you know what's good for you Reaver, you'll let me go." Sparrow tried yanking her wrist from his grasp.

"No, listen to me. I understand its hard to believe a person like me was seeking out actual help, without any tricks involved. Yes, its true my debt to the shadow court is due soon, but I wasn't planning on sending you in there again. You've proven to be more important to Albion than I realized." Reaver began his explanation.

"I used to not care who filled the debt, so as long as someone did it. Then I was adventuring with the three of you, and I realized that every life I sacrificed, I may have displaced someone's mother, or brother, or spouse. I then felt...a little bad and realized maybe I need to reconsider the choices I make." Sparrow turned around to face Reaver, shocked at his confession.

"What do you mean?"

"Well...I...I'm not sure the sacrifice of the shadow court is worth immortality anymore." Reaver stared at Sparrow.

"Reaver...you're serious?" Sparrow stared back.

"I've never been more serious in my life. " He replied. He let go of Sparrow's wrist, and both heroes slowly let their arms fall.

Sparrow and Reaver looked at each other for a few minutes, before Reaver looked away.

"Reaver, are you saying that you...want to end your contract with the Shadow Court...and be mortal?" Sparrow finally asked.

The pirate hesitated before answering.

"Ending the contract...yes. I'm just...worried about mortality. I'm not so sure I'm...I'm not sure I'm ready to give that part up yet."

"So you want to stop the payment but still reap the reward? Classic pirate." Sparrow shook her head.

"Oh that's not fair. You have to see it the way I do. I've been alive for many, many centuries. It's terrifying to give that up." Reaver explained.

Sparrow reached her hand out, placing it on Reaver's shoulder. Once again she found herself looking into his eyes. Reaver was the first to advert his gaze, shifting his eyes towards the ground.

"Look, I may not know what its like to live a life like yours, but the fear of losing everything you have for the fate of everyone else is understandable. Going to the Spire...knowing that I was risking losing my entire life if something went wrong...I know that feeling. Maybe you should take a couple days and go back home. Think about this, and then consider if mortality is the life you want." Sparrow advised.

Reaver looked back up at Sparrow, trying to understand what she just said. If he had confided in Sparrow when he first met her about ending the contract, she would have immediately told him to do it. That his immortality is extremely selfish, that he needed to make it right for everything he ever sacrificed. 6 months later and she's completely changed. He tried to understand it. He didn't have to say anything for Sparrow to understand his confusion.

"Look you don't have to say anything...I know you probably were expecting me to encourage you to go through with mortality. Things have just...changed. I don't want to make anyone change their own destinies, if I don't have to. If you think this life in Albion is your last one...then I will help you. I won't judge you if you decide you aren't ready, though." Sparrow explained.

Reaver sighed, and placed his hand over Sparrow's.

"I just...thank you, Sparrow." Reaver kept his hand over hers for a moment, letting her be the first to end the contact. One of the things he missed about Sparrow, was that she wasn't ever trying to get something out of him. She was a genuine person, who didn't treat him like royalty in an attempt to get gold from him. He couldn't remember the last time someone had been so kind to him before he had become the legend he is now.

"Sparrow, this wasn't why I came here." Reaver held out the letter, "This letter is for you, I think you should read it."

She stared at him for a moment before taking the letter, and reading it, "They put up a statue of me in Bowerstone?" She was amazed.

"Yeah, I guess Albion really loves their hero." Reaver chuckled. "I should...I should probably go. Got a lot of thinking to do, you know?"

"Well...If you want to make it back to Bloodstone before nightfall, you could grab a carriage now. Otherwise you'll be walking for quite a few days." Sparrow's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"I can't go back to Bloodstone."