Disclaimer: I do not own Rangers Apprentice, although some of this story, and possible future ones are based off of events mentioned in the books.

As some of you may have noticed this is a rewrite and I have not touched this story in years(so here is the first chapter rewrite. I'm going to leave this story up and replace chapters one at a time, when I do ill say so in the summary.

In this first story Gilan is 14, so by the time he finishes training he would be 19, making his the youngest member of the corps.

Chapter 1

Followed

Gilan was following him again, he'd been all day even as Halt tried to shake him. He knew little about the 14 year old save when David would mention his curiosity about the ranger corps. Not that he hadn't noticed himself. Gilan's 'sneaking' skills were sorely lacking. Few people had every escaped the notice of the ranger, and those occurred many years ago. Halt could spy a tuff of hair in a line of training apprentices or a shaking bush as soon as he entered the battle school during the brief visits he could accommodate. Halt, with his years of experience and practice could pick out things hidden over a mile away, so it was no challenge picking Gilan out hiding behind the bushes near the border fences. He smiled inwardly I hope he's ready, he thought. I hope I'm ready he added after. Halt was there in fact to ask his father about Gilan's possible future.

"Are you sure about this Halt?" The young ranger turned his attention back to the battle master. I'm not sure, dammit! Crowley's better at this than I am. It would be so much easier to give the boy to another ranger to train….no I want to do this.

"Yes I am Sir David. I know he will do it, and I can see plenty of potential". Here he tilted his head in Gilan's direction. David's eyes flicked in the indicated direction and swiftly returned. He had a small smirk of his face. David smiled fondly at his new found friends

"He's your charge teach him well, and Halt? Take care of my son." Halt gave an imperceptible nod. They shook hands and Halt departed back into the forest with Abelard. After riding for a mile he slowed Abelard down to a walk. He looked down at his companion. this will certainly be entertaining the horse told him.

As Halt rode into the forest Gilan quickly rose and followed him, careful to stay concealed by the fences. The boy slipped quietly into the forest, if he had looked back to the fields he would have seen his father still standing there. After following Halt (unknowingly) in circles two hours Halt finely stopped for lunch by the creek. Gilan crouched behind a tree while Halt prepared a fire. He would wait until he saw the right moment to plead his case. No matter what Halt said he was not taking no for an answer.

When Halt sat down for coffee Gilan crept closer to the rangers camp sticking near the shadow of the trees. Every time he or Halt made a sound Gilan froze. He stayed to Halt's back, and while he squirmed the ranger never turned his head. He stopped right behind Halt, and deciding whether to speak or retreat when Halt's hand shot to the side and grabbed Gilan's shirt collar. Halt twisted the collar sending the boy scrambling for footing. Then with a small pull of his arm, Halt sent the boy flying. Gilan, as young as he was weighed a little more than normal boys his age because the muscles built in battle school. Even so, the boy fell into the water with a splash. Halt let him swim for a minute before fishing him out of the creek.

With lightning speed halt drew his saxe knife and aimed it at the center point of Gilan's neck. I'm not gonna hurt him, but I could surprise him a little Halt decided. He eased up on his grip and pulled the knife back so he didn't cut Gilan. "Why were you following me?" Halt snapped with his face inches away from Gilan's. He already knew the answer but he wanted to see what the boy would do. Gilan for his part was close to freaking out. That had certainly not gone as he had planned, not that he had a true way of going about this. At least Halt hadn't killed him.

He pushed down his fear and opened his mouth to answer Halt. But he closed it again, what was he going to say?, how could he explain what he was doing. "I was just…you forgot your uh…I want to be a ranger" he finished in a just barely audible whisper. He hung his head in shame thinking that Halt would send him back to his father in defeat. Halt didn't move for several moments and looked intently at Gilan. Halts next words surprised both of them as they were so out of character. "I do need to go up to the castle. You can accompany me until then, and then we'll see…"

"See what?" Gilan cut in. Halt rolled his eyes in mock horror.

"So the curiosity begins" he said not answering the question. Gilan noticed it but he didn't ask Halt again and walked over to help him pack. When they were done Halt swung into the saddle and started off without a word. Gilan tried to match his pace while continuing to ask questions. It's probably wrong to make him jog Halt thought. The next start of the questions made him reconsider his earlier sympathy.

"What should I call you?" was one of his many questions "Sir, master?"

"My name is Halt boy, feel free to use it" he replied without a look at Gilan. Gilan smiled from behind him. Halt turned and narrowed his eyes in irritation. "And you might want to learn something about the rangers right now. Do not interrupt them during coffee, or you might find the consequences are-" here he swept his hand out, palm up in Gilan's direction, "rather unpleasant after a while".

Gilan smirked, "I can keep up" he said recklessly. Halt lifted a brow and turned back to face forward in his saddle.