Author's Note: Adult content and strong language- be aware of what you read.

The Princess and the Sheriff

A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions.
Marcus Aurelius

Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.
Marcus Aurelius

Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.
Marcus Aurelius

Chapter 4: Truth Be Told

Dallas, Texas

Lennie stood at the front desk of the Hotel Carmilla the following night. She had left Eric while he was in the shower. Her clothes tonight were far simpler then last night. Slim-fitting blue jeans with a t-shirt covered in a band logo. She still wore her bitch-boots, as she called them. Her hair was in a pony tail down her back. She even carried a purse tonight. She had left her things in her room the previous night. Secretly she had moved her things into the room. She had glamoured the floor attendant to keep others out of her room.

"Okay, Ms. Worth, you're all set in room 715." The desk attendant smiled, as she handed over a slip of paper. "Just sign here."

Lennie signed the paper; her Centurion card was returned. She slipped it back into her wallet.

"Enjoy your stay," The woman stated.

Lennie smiled at her, accepting her room key. She slid that into her jeans pocket. Turning to face the lobby she paused as Eric crossed the room in the distance. She followed him. He moved to the lounge and sat down on one of the couches. He had a thing for couches it seemed. Lennie sat at the bar; she ordered a drink, but didn't touch it. Her focus was entirely on Eric.

He hadn't been sitting long when a human woman approached. Lennie frowned slightly; the woman was a fang-banger. She had never liked them; she thought them to be weak. But, they did have their connivances, especially in a place like this. She felt nothing as she watched Eric feed. She was however, curious when he asked the woman to not enjoy it so much. Lennie chuckled to herself; sign of a truly bored vampire. Instinct made her look to the lounge entrance. A woman had walked in; she wore a lovely silk gown and was beautiful to look at. Lennie recognized her instantly from the file; which was now safe in her room. The woman was Lorena; Bill Compton's Maker.

Lorena paused as she looked around for whoever she was here to meet. Lennie was surprised when the woman crossed the room to Eric. He turned, casually, in an absent motion he held up a hand. Classic sign for do not disturb. Lennie smirked at the frown on Lorena's face. The woman put her hands on her hips; glaring at him.

Eric dismissed the human; Lennie didn't miss the cash she swept into her purse as payment. She had never and would never pay a human for their blood. It was disgustingly…enterprising of them.

Lennie watched as Lorena sat down across from Eric. She listened to their words as they spoke.

"I considered booking you in the room adjoining theirs. But that seemed…a little over the top."

"Why I am here Mr. Northman?" Lorena asked smoothly.

"We want the same thing you and I." Eric had settled against the couch; his feet were up, arms across the back.

Lorena tipped her head just slightly; not quite buying what he said.

"Okay, Bill has something I want and he's in the way."

Lennie didn't miss the narrowing of Lorena's eyes. "His human?"

"No, she's something more then human…"

I knew it! Lennie thought happily, her hand flexed around the glass; carefully not to shatter it.

Lorena's voice came back to her; "I haven't seen Bill Compton in over seventy years, what makes you think I still have any pull over him?"

Eric sat forward, folding his hands over his knees. "I haven't seen my Maker for much longer then that. And yet, I am still loyal to him…Fiercely loyal."

She'd heard enough. Rising from her seat she tossed money on the bar and left. She made a stop at her room; collecting her Ipod and shrugged on her jacket. Leaving her room; she focused on her Ipod; while waiting for the elevator she scanned through her playlist. She knew the song she was after. She found it and put the song on continuous repeat. Her thoughts were scattered again and she needed to calm them.

The opening chords of Daddy Cool filled her head. She stepped on to the elevator; putting her hands in her pockets. Her fingers brushed the keys to her bike. She needed to ride.

Once outside she swung onto the bike; starting the engine; she backed it out of the space and headed to the main road. The wind whipped at her face; tugging at her ponytail. She went faster; her eyes narrowed against the g-force of the wind.

One of Godric's aims as he entered the new millennium was for vampires to better themselves. He believed that those who lived as they did; were not slaves to their natures. They could rise above it; improve them selves. Indeed, they could become anything they wanted. He had always urged her and Eric to reach for the stars; sort of speak. Eric had found his groove in the politics of their world. Lennie had found hers by serving Godric and eventually as a movie actress. But that had only been temporary. Her true place was with her Maker; it always had been. Now that her duty to him was over; she felt aimless within herself.

With her bike racing down the open highway; she felt better. She would return to Dallas, but for now she needed to get out. There was no sense of time as she traveled. She listened to the lyrics of the song and imaged she was singing them to Godric.

She's crazy like a fool

What about daddy cool?

I am crazy like a fool

What about daddy cool?

Daddy, daddy cool

Daddy, daddy cool

She's crazy like a fool

What about Daddy cool?

She's crazy like her daddy

Hmmm she makes me…

She loves her daddy

The first time she had heard this song she loved it. This was her song. Her song to Godric. Her song of devotion and love to her Maker. She would spend hours, listening to it. He had never asked her why she played it so much; but he had always smiled at her. His smile had been amused, entertained, rather than teasing.

When he called her home recently; he had asked her to sit with him. They had spent their evenings together by reading or going for walks. Godric had loved to walk through the grounds of his home; hands in his pocket. He had strolled with her for countless hours. They had talked as they walked; about anything and everything. He had expressed an intense curiosity in her movie career. He had wanted to know all the details about her latest projects.

The last week she had spent with him; he had held her hand when they walked. He had talked about the placement of stars; the effect vampires were having on the world. His topics of choice often made her question her place in the world. She had never questioned it before. But his words to her had made her stop and think.

Flashback

Godric stood in the centre of the stone path around the gardens of his estate. He stared up at the sky with a wistful expression. One hand held hers; the other was in his pocket. He looked at her and smiled softly. They continued walking.

"You are not sharing your thoughts, Godric." She said gently; she was in bare feet tonight. Her usual choice high heels made her considerably taller then him. She wanted to be on the same eye-level tonight. He seemed to need her close by.

"I was just thinking back to my first night as a vampire." He told her; "The things that went through my head…" He shook his head, "I laugh at the boy I was then."

"We all have our wild streaks," She admitted.

He gently squeezed her hands, "Some more then others."

She smiled softly, "Aye, that is true of me."

"But," He said gently, "You loyalty is unwavering, even after all our years together."

"Of course; you are my Maker." She glanced at him; she frowned at the pensive set of his face. "Godric, I have never given you cause to doubt me."

He stopped then; she stopped too. He looked at her and they were nearly the same height, so it was easily done. His eyes held such human emotions it nearly brought her to tears.

"I do not doubt, you, Lovisa. I doubt our kind." His words were soft, heavy with sadness. "Surely you have noticed that despite our hundreds of years of living; we do not change. We do not evolve or devolve. We simply remain the same."

She nodded in agreement. She had made silent observations of those traits herself.

"How can we hope to co-exist with humans if we do not embrace the changes required?"

"You are assuming that we want to change." She said gently.

"We must change," He insisted, "It is the only way."

She studied his face for a long time; gently brushing her free hand down his cheek. "What has caused you such concern, Godric? Why these dark thoughts?"

He looked away from her. Letting go of her hand, Godric crossed to a near by rose bush and picked a flower from the vine.

"Everything in nature has evolved, changed as the world did. Take this rose, for example, such a thing was very different in our day." He crossed back to her, handing her the flower. "I am concerned for our kind and our way of life."

"You think the Fellowship will succeed in their plans?" Lennie asked, she gently inhaled the rich floral scent.

He continued on down the path; hands in his pocket. "What would you do, if this was your territory, what would your move be?"

"Against the Fellowship?" She asked

He nodded, "If I was not Sheriff, what would you do? If Stan came to you and said the Fellowship had taken a member of this nest, what would you do?"

Lennie considered for quite a while; absently twirling the rose by its stem between two fingers. It was a complex question.

"The first step would be to find who they had taken prisoner."

Godric nodded, "Then what?"

"If it was a progeny of the nest, say it was one of Isabelle's, I would go to her. Seeking her input and get a read for how the nest felt. If I listened to Stan, it would be a matter of pitchforks, torches, and gasoline."

Godric smiled gently, "Say it was not a progeny. They took Isabelle. How would that change your approach?"

I would send someone, someone expendable, in to the fellowship to find out their plans for her. If she were in no immediate danger then I would know my timeline on rescuing her. This would allow me to plot out the most effective strategy."

"Why choose an expendable person? Are all humans not valuable to us in some way?" Godric asked.

Lennie paused, considering his words. "They do have value. But in this case, Isabelle's life outweighs the human. She is one our own; we have a responsibility to her; over the life of a human follower."

"There would have to a plan that did not involve the death of a human."

She glanced at him as they walked, "Why?"

"If we expend one human life to save one our kind during this confrontation; then what if five our kind are taken? How many humans will we sacrifice the next time?"

"I see your point," Lennie said quietly, "An eye for an eye and the world goes blind; so where do we draw the line about human lives."

"There is a way to rescue our taken member without a human sacrifice. Think on it." Godric nodded to the house, "Enough for tonight, Lovisa."

Lennie stepped away from him; bowing slightly, she turned and headed into the house. Glancing back for a moment, she watched him. He had his back toward her again and was studying a collection of flowers near the path.

End of flashback

That conversation happened the night before he sent her away. She had never had a chance to tell him the answer he wanted. Not even after she figured it out.

Her focus was suddenly interrupted by a buzzing sound. She had a split second to react before a wooden bullet slammed through her skull. Her body jerked, he bike went with her. Somewhere close by tires screamed as a car raced away. The bike skidded; and at these speeds it slid and skipped. She was thrown loose, left to hurtle through the air like a doll. The bike tipped over and scrapped along the road. Sparks flew into the night sky as it slid a few feet before stopping.

Lennie hit and bounced wildly on the road like a rag doll. She landed in the ditch between the highway lanes. She didn't move. Brakes squealed on the road. People shouted as they go out.

"Did anyone see that?" A male voice asked.

"Holy shit! That kid went flying. She wasn't even wearing a helmet!" Another man said.

Her eyes opened; pain roared through her body. Bones were broken through out her body; including a fracture in her skull. A couple of her organs were punctured. She couldn't move just yet; but she felt her body beginning to mend itself. Fresh blood would speed the process along. Her eyes closed.

Lovisa? Godric's voice flooded her mind, Why do I feel pain from you?

I am hurt, Lennie's focus was easily turned inward; she had no trouble tonight.

How badly? Godric's voice in her head was calming to her.

Broken bones, punctured organs, my body is badly damaged. I'll be okay in a minute.

She was startled when his presence washed over her in a wave of energy. It was as if a power line had been thrust into her body. Her eyes snapped open; colored fireworks exploded across her eyes. Power surged over her in a tingling and burning rush. Oddly enough it didn't hurt in the least; it made her feel incredibly light and warm. This sensation penetrated to her blood, filling every molecule of her being and then went deeper, to her bones. She gasped at the feeling of bones moving rapidly; repositioning and healing . Her skin sealed over; her organs repaired themselves. It was like the healing process had been thrown into hyper-drive. The surge was yanked out of her and she gasped again. Her skin tingled; her blood felt as though it were fizzing like soda pop bubbles. The coloured sparks left her seeing stars and she blinked several times.

Maker, what have you done? She sat up on her knees. The humans around her shouted in surprise.

"Shit, she's a vamp! No one go any closer!" Someone warned.

Lennie had no interested in them. She was still reeling from the healing process. To her surprise her Ipod still played on as if nothing had happened. She took out her ear phones.

You are not at peace; Godric whispered through her head, you need to return to the city , to the house.

Why? Lennie hadn't planned on going back to the house again.

You might want to borrow a car from the humans. I doubt your bike is drivable.

Lennie glanced over at the scraped paint; twisted steel and shredded rubber of her tires. Her bike was scrap metal now. And unlike her brother; she had never mastered flight. She had no idea if Godric could fly; she'd never asked. Lennie stood up; her skin felt tight over her bones. She gently rubbed her neck; stretching her arms over her head. Her coat was badly scraped but had held up. Sometimes it did pay to buy top quality.

Lovisa, Godric laughed gently I like the song and he as gone as suddenly as he'd been there.

Lennie smiled to herself; he liked it. She had hoped it he would; it was her song to him. She pulled in a calming breath and hiked up the ditch incline. She made it to the road; traffic had stopped on both side of the highway. In the distance, from the city, she heard sirens screaming into the darkness.

She looked around for a moment; a collection of cars had stopped with large gaps of space between them. She located one near the front, a lone man drove it. He was videotaping the whole scene.

She crossed to him, "Hey," She said, gently lowering the camera with one hand.

He gaped at her, "Ummm."

"Mind I borrow your car?" She caught his gaze, pulling him under her influence.

"Sure," He said flatly, "You can borrow my car, not a problem."

Lennie climbed behind the wheel, it took a moment for her to memorize the layout. Throwing the car into drive she slammed her foot on the gas and tore rubber. She drove back into the city and toward Godric's home.

Parking at the base of the stairs; she ran up the steps. The door didn't open this time. Lennie walked into the house; stopping as she was hit with Eric's presence. She could feel him in the living room.

"I say we go in there and kill them all," Stan Davis suggested, his gravelly voice heavily accented.

Lennie carefully approached, her bitch-boots were silent on the marble floor. She came up short as she saw Hugo listening in as well. She as hidden from view and he didn't see her.

Sookie's voice reached her, "I'll infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun, find out what I can."

Lennie frowned; she stared at blonde human in the room. Godric's words came to her mind. What would you do if one of us was taken by the Fellowship?

"No," Bill's voice echoed, "I refuse to allow that."

Eric spoke, "Let her speak."

Lennie switched her focus to Hugo. He stepped a little further from the living room entry. Taking a cell phone from his pocket, he dialed a number.

"Yes?" a man asked.

Lennie grit her teeth, she knew that voice!

"It's me, they are sending in a human tomorrow. I am going to be with her."

"We'll be ready. Good job, Hugo."

Steve Newlin! Lenny silently cursed. She suddenly knew where this was going. Question was could she protect Eric and Godric at the same time.

"I still say we storm that place," Stan shouted. Isabelle snapped at him and the two of them fell into arguing.

Eric's voice carried to her. "ENOUGH!" he shouted. Some thing smashed against the living room shattering. "What is wrong with you people?! Godric is gone; and you stand here bickering. You have grown fat and lazy off of him and this is how you repay him!?"

Eric stormed out of the room; heading in her direction. She stepped out and he stopped short. His eyes went over her; his brow furrowed deeply.

"What-?"

She put a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. She nodded her head down the hall. Turning she knew he would follow her; they stepped into Godric's office. She shut the door and leaned on it.

Eric crossed to the desk before facing her. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I had a motorcycle accident," She told him quietly.

Eric ran a hand through his hair; it was a motion accustomed to longer hair. He sat on the edge of the desk. His long legs stretched out in front of him. He crossed his arms; the leather coat protested softly.

"You heard everything?" He asked.

She nodded, "And there is a traitor."

He looked up sharply, "Who?"

"Hugo, he is Isabelle's human pet."

He glared, but not at her, it was just a motion of his face. "I knew it, Godric was betrayed! At least we know he is at the Fellowship now; Hugo would have handed him over to their leader."

"Steve Newlin, be careful of him, brother." Lennie cautioned, "He's a zealot for his cause; he will force you to kill him. He will have an army at the Fellowship."

"How do you know?" Eric asked.

"I've had a few run-ins with them before." Lennie absently rubbed her head. She could still remember the feel of the bullet ripping through her skull.

"Are you alright?" Eric appeared in front of her; he took her hand away from her head. Peering at the place she rubbed. "Your hair is covered in blood. What caused the accident exactly?"

She didn't want to tell him; but she had lied to him once already. Once was one time too many. "I was shot in the head; I think it was by the Fellowship. I was riding out of town; I guess I was about an hour out of the city. When suddenly I was shot; right in the head."

Eric pulled her close; pressing his lips to her temple. Her arms went around him; she needed him right now. His kisses were soft, and moved across her forehead in a soothing motion. She closed her eyes, letting go of everything. Their lips met and she surrendered completely to him.

**

Lennie sat up from the fur rug; Eric was already getting dressed. She stood up, shrugging on her t-shirt and pulling on her jeans.

"You have to promise me to be careful." She said.

He glanced over at her, their eyes met. She crossed to him; putting her arms around him. He held her close; kissing the top of her head. "You're not going to tell me to stay out of it?"

"I wouldn't do that and so I can't tell you to do it."

"So why aren't you coming with us?" Eric asked carefully.

She peered up at him; he was several inches taller then she was. This was one of those moments when she noticed it. Usually she didn't.

Eric smoothed her hair back from her face, "He told you not to come."

Lennie turned away and crossed her arms. Her leather jacket was still on the floor; where she had thrown it.

"There was no inside job, was there?" Eric asked.

She sighed, looking over to the empty hearth.

"Lennox!" He appeared at her back, spun her around in a harsh motion. "Was there an inside job?"

His face was so urgent, so very human in that moment.

"No," She whispered quietly, "No, there wasn't."

Eric shook her; had she been human it would have killed her. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"He swore me to silence." She sobbed. She shoved Eric backward; he remained on his feet. They glared at one another. "Godric swore me to silence; I had no choice, he invoked his role as Maker. Do you think this has been easy for me!?" She was screaming at him and didn't care. "I have hated doing this. I never wanted to be the one to stand here and say it. But it was his last order to me. It doesn't matter what you think of me; or what you say to me. I feel worse then you could ever imagine."

She turned away and crossed to the chair; putting her hands on it, she imagined Godric sitting there. She so wanted him to be here. She wanted this whole thing to just end and for him to come home. She longed for the old days with her entire being. The times when he had sat next to her; reading by firelight. She could see the glow of the light on his face. His eyes used to sparkle with happiness as she danced with him around the room. The wonderful sound of his voice as he sang a childhood song beside the campfire. His smile as Eric told a joke. Closing her eyes, she could hear his voice clearly. It hurt too much for her express and she cried. Tears couldn't say anything; but it was the only reaction she felt was enough.

She managed to speak in a broken voice, "Why did you leave him?"

Eric stared at her, "What?"

"Why did you leave him?" She shouted, anger taking the place of her sorrow. "If you hadn't left us, perhaps he wouldn't have taken this job. Perhaps he would still want to live. Now you tell me, why? Were your politics more important to you then Godric?"

"No," Eric shook his head, "You know that."

She slammed a fist into the chair, "Then you tell me why he is doing this? Tell me so that it finally makes sense."

Eric came to her side and put his arms around; huddling against her back; his arms crossed over hers. "I don't know, Lennie. I don't; I wish to the gods, that I did."

The two of them stood holding each other for a long time. She had stopped crying but the pain still remained in her soul.

"I have to get back," He kissed her gently, "Let me drive you back."

She felt weak and too tired to move. "I am too tired to move."

"You haven't fed yet," He changed his grip on her and lifted her into his arms. "We'll take care of that at the hotel."

Eric carried her through the house and out the front door. He went down the steps, holding her close. Gently he settled her into the passenger seat. A moment later he was driving them back to the hotel.

She cried softly as the house grew distant. It had been her home; her only real home for the last few years. Somewhere in her, she knew that the next time she saw it, would be the final time.

Eric carried her into the hotel; people stared and whispered, he ignored all of them. Once in his room he settled her on the bed. He sat next to her, as he picked up the phone. Lennie didn't a word as he spoke; she was too lost in her own sorrow. Time passed before he stood up and went to the door. He came back with a human and she was consumed by her hunger.

She spent the night in Eric's arms; one hand gently smoothing through her hair. She rested her head on his chest; her arms folded around herself. He kept one arm around her. Nothing was said between them for the rest of the night.

**