Hey everyone! I'm back for the sequel to Deadly Choice. Therefore, if anyone is new to this story, please read Deadly Choice first. You will be lost without it.

I was bored before class so I wrote this. However, I won't be able to work on it for a while after this. Sorry! Thought some of you might like a little preview of what was to come.

Note: I don't own any characters from Ranger's Apprentice!

Without further delay: The Gold-Bronze Oakleaf!

The Gold-Bronze Oakleaf Chapter 1

It was midday at Castle Redmont. Servants were bustling around, trying to get everything prepared. The knights and apprentices were hard at work practicing their skills. The Scribes were locked in a heated debate over some form of protocol. Alyss was busy sorting through paperwork delivered for her mentor, Lady Pauline, who was in a meeting with the Baron and Sir Rodney. Gilan was long gone, heading for his own fief. Halt had also left the infirmary, going to do his own job.

It was a busy day, a happy day. The people of Redmont were going to be celebrating one of the most heroic acts any of them had heard of. The Baron was pulling out all the stops: a large banquet, a holiday, asking and paying for a carnival to come in, and a huge ceremony. Thus, Redmont was busy, trying to get work done so that they could enjoy the day to come.

Well…everyone but one.

With everyone bustling around, no one was paying attention to the infirmary. The door opened slightly then slowly further as the person behind saw no one was paying attention. Finally, a small figure slipped out. The boy's unruly brown hair was brushed as neat as he could get it. He was in brown trousers and a lighter brown shirt. His boots were made of soft leather, ideal for the purpose he had in mind. His brown eyes, normally so filled with happiness and humor, darted around as he closed the door softly behind him. Then, with great care, he slipped into the shadows.

He crept forward, using every skill he had ever been taught. His jaw was locked in a grimace, caused by the pain emanating from his right leg. The truth had been spoken; no matter how much he exercised it, walked on it, and moved it, the leg refused to get stronger. Now he leaned against wall, struggling to keep his movements soft, flowing with shadows. Soon he came to a place where the wall was chipped with a blunt blade. A half smile touches his face, spreading across the left side of his face. He made it this far last time and now he was about to go farther.

Coming to hallway, one leading towards the servant quarters, the boy stopped, peering around the corner. No one. Taking a deep breath, he dashed across the open space and paused again. No sound, no alarm. Good. He started off again, moving carefully. Suddenly he stopped and grabbed his left side. The pain was immense but he had to fight through it. He had to prove that these injuries were not going to stop. Opening his brown eyes, so filled with determination, the boy moved onward. Inside was easy. Outside things would a little more difficult…

"Will!" shouted a booming voice.

Instantly the boy froze, trying to hide in the shadows. However, Will knew it was too late. Out came the cutting knife he stole from his dishes. It silently carved into the wall, marking a new line. He half smiled grimly. He was so close to getting outside, so close to escaping the infirmary. Then powerful hand seized his shoulder and gently turned him around.

I'm not ready to fall apart, idiot! Will shouted mentally.

There, standing slightly behind him, was an old friend. The boy frowned at him, obviously worried. Beyond him were the other three, one boy and two girls. Will shrugged away the boy's hand away. Why did they have to stop him? When will they see that he needed to escape? When would they just let him be!?

"Will," the larger boy said gently.

Will glared hard at him, "I know, I know. I'm not supposed to leave the infirmary."

With that, he brushed aside the taller boy and stalked back the way he had come. The taller girl, her blond hair shining in the light, stepped forward to intercept him. She gently touched his left shoulder, not wanting to cause any more pain. This act, however, only angered Will more. He yanked his arm away, ignoring the pain it caused in his shoulder. The girl stepped back, shocked and hurt by his reaction. The other girl, plump and pretty, had tears welling up in her eyes.

"Will, come on. You know we don't mean it like that," the taller boy said.

The other boy chipped in, "Pain and weakness is nothing to be ashamed of Will. As a matter of fact, weakness actually makes people stronger because they overcome it, live around it. Pain heightens our strength…"

Will rounded on him and snapped angrily, "Shut up, George!"

That started the smaller girl crying. George stopped, mouth open and eyes wide. The taller boy and girl both glared at Will. He did not care. He turned his back to them and walked off. Pain and weakness are good, tsk. All Will wanted was for them to see, to understand, that he was stronger than his injuries. Why could they not simply see that? Why could they not try and help him overcome his pain?

Tears welled up in his brown eyes. All he wanted, all he needed, was to back home. All he wanted was to forget the time with the Kalkara, as if it was a bad dream. He wanted to out in the woods, searching for tracks, asking questions, and learning the skills of a Ranger. He missed it, desired it more than anything. He wanted to go home…to Halt.

Will stopped as he rounded the corner, losing sight of friends. There he pressed against the wall and let his tears fall. What was he going to do? What would become of him? Without being a Ranger, he had nothing. The Craftmasters had made that clear to him on the Choosing Day. He was fit for only one thing: a Ranger. Without that, what was he?

Stopping the tears, Will brushed them from his face. As his right hand ran along the right side of his face, he left the deep scars that marked the last blow the Kalkara ever made. Now it was a part of him, freezing the right side of his face. Will could hear his friends talking, whispering to one another. He knew that his words and actions hurt but what did they know!? Sitting in the infirmary would do him no good, other than drive him crazy. And how did the Baron plan on thanking him? Coming down to the infirmary? Making him walk? Having him carried? Will snarled at the last thought. He was not useless and weak. He was a Ranger, no matter what. And tonight, he would prove it…

If anyone doesn't like how Will is acting, sorry! I needed him to be desperate, and desperation often leads to unwarranted anger.

I will try to work on this some more when I have time but for now, off to school work.