Disclaimer: I do not own Rangers Apprentice; although I have met John Flanagan and spoke to him…it was so amazing, best day EVER
A/N: So I have written some other Stories for Primeval, Primeval: New World and Wild at Heart but this is my first Venture into the World of Rangers Apprentice. I think I can safely say that I am pretty obsessed with Rangers Apprentice; I have read it so many times that I don't know how many I have done it.
Anyway this little idea popped into my head when the cover was released for the new book. I already knew about it but the picture prompted me to actually write this, it is just the beginning at the moment on how I think it will all go down...so enjoy!
~Prologue: Sixteen Years~
Arabella, Princess of Araluen sat in the Courtyard of the Castle Araluen. She looked around at the passing guards and nobles of the Castle, wondering why she had to sit here when they could walk around. Even her little Brother Luka could walk around the castle, he was allowed to watch the Knights train and do jobs with their Dad, the King but instead she had to sit in the Castle courtyard and do her embroidery.
Arabella was just like her mother in every way. Her Blonde hair was plaited behind her back and her green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. But it was more than just her looks, her personality was just the same as her mothers. She would much rather be out in the Forrest or at Redmont Castle with Uncle Will and Auntie Alyss's twin boys Michael and James. They were much more fun than the Embroidery than her mother persisted with. 'You are the Princess of this great nation,' he mother would say. Arabella would just sigh as she looked into her mother's eyes, not wanting to be a disappointment but at the same time figuring out how she was going to get out of this place, the best way to bypass the guards that watched her and climb over the Castle wall.
Right as Cassandra or as she was more commonly called 'Evanlyn' was talking to her daughter, Horace and Luka ran past playing a game of Tag. Evanlyn sighed as she watched her husband and son run past, in no way acting like a king and prince. Evanlyn sat down beside her teenaged daughter. 'You know Arabella, when I was your age I was just like you. I used to try my hardest to get out of the Castle and go on adventures. I went on a few adventures, I got kidnapped by Skandia's, I went on a Royal mission to pay Erak's Ransom and I went to find your father. Being a Princess was not easy for me either but you need to persist at it.'
Arabella looked at her mother. 'Yes Mum. It's just so hard to be girl; I want to be out in the woods with James and Michael. I want to go riding and be outside. Not inside sewing.' Evanlyn wrapped her arm around her daughter. Knowing full well how she felt for she had been the same and her father and former King of Araluen had been the same.
He had always been saying 'Cassie, don't do this, Cassie don't do that.' Things would turn out ok for Arabella, she would just have to wait and see.
[x] A few hours earlier.
Will and Alyss sat riding side by side with their three Children following behind them. They always enjoyed going to Castle Araluen and there was a quiet buzz from their two boys as they chattered about what they were going to do when they saw Arabella and Luka.
But their daughter Gabriella was riding quietly sitting with poise and sophistication, exactly like her mother, but a spitting image of her father. Her long dark hair flowed over her shoulders, the waves rolling like the gentle movements of the sea. Her face resembled Wills, her big Brown eyes and long eyelashes drawing attention to her stunning features. Despite the fact that she resembled Will she was exceptionally beautiful just like her mother.
Will and his family visited Castle Araluen every now and again, whenever it was possible to escape from the duties which they had; Arabella and Luka like to play with James and Michael. Gabriella was the only one who was different, she preferred to walk around the Castle, talk to Evanlyn, Pauline and her mother, they were more like she was than the smelly brothers she had.
Between Will, Alyss, Horace and Evanlyn they had all known that Gabriella was going to follow in Alyss's footsteps. As a perfect combination of her two parents it was always going to be. The boys were a different matter; Will thought it might be Scribe school for James, he was intelligent and loved writing, despite his side passion for cheekiness and the great outdoors. But it was not so obvious for Michael; he was good at a number of things but really did not know where to go with any of it.
Will smiled at the thought of his children and his wife. He loved his family, but the rest of it was waiting for him in Castle Araluen. Horace, Alyss and Will had grown up together and Evanlyn and Horace were like brother and sister to him. But it was the new change to the head of the Ranger Corps who Will really wanted to see, and Will knew it was his wife whom his wife wanted to see. To Will and his wife Halt and Pauline were like their parents, both of them not remembering their own grew to love those two like they were their own, and it would be good to see them again and share the adventures that they had had since they had last seen each other.
Alyss looked at Will who was sitting astride the noble and valiant Tug, she longed for the closeness that they shared and decided to take action. She steered her own horse, a beautiful white Mare whose name was Snowy up beside Tug and twisted to the side. It was then when Will noticed what they were doing and he lent out his arm to help her climb onto Tug's back, something that they were practiced at.
Alyss wrapped her arms around her husband, Snowy having been trained by Old Bob to walk beside her. She rested her head on Will's shoulder and as she did she heard a small whiney from Tug and she knew from her experiences of being married to Will for sixteen years it was starting to come as naturally to Alyss as it did to will. Good to see you, girl.
'It's good to see you too.'
You know I can protect you better than the pretty girl? Tug said, and Will turned around to look at Alyss. He smiled at the girl who e had loved since he was a boy, intrigued by the conversation that was occurring between his horse and his wife. However Will Choose to Intervene.
'Are my ears hearing me correctly? Is my horse telling you he can protect you better than I can? What a nerve he has then.' Alyss smiled and kissed the back of his neck as Tug carried the two of them right to the gate of Castle Araluen.
From the gate the same thing would always happen, Will would climb over the wall and he would sneak his way into Halts office, the same way he always would, only this time it was a little bit different.
Well I hope that you enjoyed the first section. There are a few stories which I am writing at the moment so I can't guarantee a speedy daily update but the next chapter will be up in a few days. Please follow the story so you know when I update and leave me a review to tell me what you think, it would mean the world to me as this is my first Ranger's Apprentice story.
