King for His Country

Finished this in between getting ready for everything else so sorry if there are MANY careless errors within it. (Trust me, I can see them all, but that's not going to stop me from posting this thing before I take off for a few days.)

So, as many of my followers already know, this is Alan, Mercenary of Oakvale from Fable 1. During events between Fable 2 and 3, he and Sparrow married and built Albion up to be strong, foreseeing the dangers that could rise again. (My explanation for why all of a sudden Albion has an army.) So, upon building Albion, Alan and Sparrow became the monarchs over the country and later gave birth to Logan and Rose (named after Sparrow's sister - duh). So, Rose is now the new Queen of Albion and the Crawler has come upon the shores of Bowerstone, the front lines of the battle.

reference picture: www.deviantart.com/art/Highlan…

Scene:
    The black clouds hovered over the ocean beyond the docks of Bowerstone as a few onlookers watched, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Fable and Alan waited in a nearby alley, out of sight of onlookers and soldiers, should they wonder why the dead king is among them.
    Alan looked to the front of the army at Rose. Proud, strong, and determined, she stood ready to defend Albion with her life, like her ancestors before her.
    "She's a lot like you," Fable smiled, following Alan's gaze.   
    "It is not her I worry about," Alan grimly replied. "The soldiers have never been in a war or fought anything beyond a bandit or balverine. They're afraid. Even with their queen before them, they're afraid. We've spent years preparing for something like this and can lose it all in one day."
    "I have not seen that kind of resolve in you since. . . since Jack," Fable said.
    "I will not lose everything to a mere shadow beneath the dirt," Alan barked. "I will not lose everything to fear. I will not lose everything we've spent years making up for." His eyes moved back to the army, which started to shift uncomfortably as the cloud moved closer. "I should be with them."
    "Then lead them not as their king, but their Hero," Fable firmly said, removing his guild seal from his chest piece.
    Alan watched, jaw agape, as Fable pinned the seal to his cape. Reverently, the former king touched it. "Fable. . . I. . ." Firmly, and gratefully, Alan smiled at Fable.
    The old Hero brought a fist to his brow in salute before placing it over his heart and bowing. "You and Sid may have followed me through thick and thin, but you were our guide along the light path, never giving up when we strayed. Now it is my turn to follow you, my king, and Hero of Albion."
    Alan smiled, his gaze turning upward when the sky became dark and colors fading. He looked back at Fable with a nod, drawing his ax and Fable, his sword.
    Out of the alley, the pair marched to the front of the army, soldiers swearing they were hallucinating at the sight of the old king. Rose looked to them with a smile and nod.
    "Ready!" Rose called, drawing her sword.
    "For Albion!" Alan bellowed, raising his ax.


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The Fable universe (c) Lionhead Studios
Fable fan character(s) / Fable fan story - a Cocoaprints adaptation
Original artwork (c) Cocoaprints}