The First of a Line
A story of a girl who's courage earned her the honour to become a Ranger's Apprentice
A Fan Fiction by A Ranger's Apprentice
Disclaimer: Okay, I own none of the work of John Flanagan, and any of the characters or locations that you recognise. The plot and a few characters are mine but nothing else.
Summary: This is based on the Ranger's Apprentice novels by John Flanagan. It's about the daughter of Baron Arald, who is lord of Redmont Fief. Ella is about to begin the journey of a lifetime as Will, the Ranger, takes an interest in the fiery young girl.
Spoiler Warning Reveals some events that happen in Oakleaf Bearer's and Icebound Land so read if you wish (nothing major though)
A/N: Okay guys this is my first FanFic so please bear with me. It may take a while as I'm doing Year 11 and Exam Block's only 4 weeks away! Please read and review! Any criticism is greatly appreciated. Oh and some of this may not make sense if you haven't read any of the Ranger's Apprentice novels.
Chapter One – A Change of Situations
For the hundredth time, Ella looked out from her window and wished she could see other places than the grounds of Redmont Fief. Her father, Baron Arald, banned her a year back from passing out of the borders. It was her punishment for trying to get to Castel Araluen. Ella was brought back two days after she left, by the Ranger of Redmont Fief. The Ranger's name was Will. He only became a Ranger a year ago, yet his fame almost matched that of the Ranger Corp's leader, Halt. On that journey, Ella found she enjoyed being in the company of the Ranger. Unlike most people her age, Ella didn't believe in the stories about how Ranger's used black magic to move unseen. Will was an easy-going person and he even showed Ella some of the weapons a Ranger used. As Ella was watching, a horse, or more likely a pony, trotted into the courtyard of the Castle. Seeing it, Ella jumped from the window and ran to find her father.
"Oh, please can I come?"
Ella was desperately begging her father to let her go with him on a journey to Celtica, the kingdom to the south of Araluen.
"No Ella, the matter was closed weeks ago." Baron Arald replied, without even turning to look at his daughter who now stood in front of him.
"Actually, it may be good for her to come."
This voice surprised both of them, the Baron dropping the book he was holding with a curse and sprang around. Ella looking around saw that the new arrival, who she saw entering the courtyard was now standing just inside the door. She didn't even hear him come in. Will the Ranger was standing there in his green, brown and grey Ranger's cloak with his stung longbow in his hand. Will was short, yet had a look of determination on his face.
"And why might that be good, may I ask?"
The Baron had recovered his calm collected composure, and was now stacking books on his desk.
"Sir, you are going of a mission to Celtica," replied Will, putting strain on the word Celtica.
"And why would that make it any different to a mission to any other place, where Ella would still not be allowed to come?"
Ella was looking at Will now, wondering what he had in store, and weather it would be bad or good.
"As I said, this is Celtica were talking about. An official party must have three people."
"And why is that?"
These were the first words Ella had spoken since Will had entered. Will turned to look at her, and for once, fully looked at her. He noticed how much she had changed in a year. Ella was tall, and strong, with full lips and long brown hair that was a mass of curls, pulled and tied back. She was wearing a green dress, which brought out the green in her eyes. Will sighed and replied,
"It's a Celtic superstition. There's an old Celtic saying that covers it: One man may be deceit. Two can be conspiracy. Three is the number I trust."
"And just who do you suppose the third person should be?"
Baron Arald asked it as if he already knew the answer.
"Why who else but Ella? She is strong and knows about political matters. I don't even get some of the political stuff the King sends me these days" Will replied, shaking his head, "And, we could do with another set of hands."
"Please, father, please can I go?"
Ella was nearly jumping up and down with excitement.
"Fine. I see there is no way I am getting out of this."
Arald said this with much difficulty. Ella ran and hugged her father then sprinted out of the room.
"I'll be in the courtyard at dawn tomorrow"
Will left just as quickly, but without the same amount of noise, yet the Baron noticed the small smile that was forming on Will's face.
Now I wonder what that is about?
The Baron however, paid no further attention to it though, and went back to his packing.
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Just outside the Baron's door, Will sighed with relief. He was expecting a worse reaction than that to the news.
It was a good thing that I left out that Halt had ordered that Ella came than. He would only be asking endless questions.
As Will started to walk back down to the ground, he decided to stop by Ella's room and see that she had the appropriate clothes for such a journey.
Well, what will I need to supply for her? Hmmm, a cloak, horse, though she probably has one of her own, and I'll leave the weapons until were on the road.
Will had reached Ella's door. Will reached up and knocked on the door. Ella's voice rang out.
"It's unlocked, come on in"
With this, Will opened the door and stepped inside. The first thing that he noticed was how messy the room was. Will thought that as daughter of the baron, Ella's room would be tidy. He then saw the pile of clothes on her bed, which had obviously been thrown out of her cupboard.
Maybe I'll need to get her some clothes as well as a cloak. Not dresses though, too impractical, breeches and a tunic or a shirt.
"Oh, It's you." Ella stood up from her bed and looked across to Will, who was still standing just inside the door.
"I was just coming to let you know that I have some things which you will need to collect from my cabin later this afternoon. Make sure you tell your father that you're coming"
Will then left, as quickly and quietly as he did in the Baron's office.
"But I wanted to … ask you something" Ella finished off quietly. Why was he so eager to leave? Maybe he just has other things to do.
Will was down in the courtyard and on his horse, Tug, before Ella had even finished thinking this.
"Come on Tug, to home," Will command the horse. Tug took off towards the timber hut on the outskirts of the fief, boarding the wood. As they were going Will was totally consumed in his own thoughts that he didn't hear the other rider approaching at a gallop, until Tug suddenly stopped and whinnied.
"Tug! What's got into you today?" Will yelled as he was trying to calm his horse. Will then looked up and saw his old mentor sitting on his horse, looking as calm as ever.
"Halt! I wasn't expecting to see you till I got to Castle Araluen."
Will was hoping that he wasn't going to suffer one of Halt's reprimands of not listing to what's around him. It seems that today wasn't his lucky day.
"Now Will, how was it that I managed to ride up to you, without you hearing me, even when I was ridding at a full gallop?"
"Sorry Halt, I, I wasn't paying attention."
Will hung his head, and looked genuinely sorry.
"What if I had been the Temujai coming back to get revenge on you? They would love to kill you for playing your part in the battle of Hallasholm. You would have been dead meat by now."
"Halt, do you really think they would come back after all this time? And surely we would have heard from Erak if they were invading Skandia again?"
"It's only been four years Will. Do you think that they would be stupid enough to try the same path twice?"
Halt looked at Will, expecting an answer. Will saw that look on Halt's face and hesitated before he answered.
"I…ah…well…I think –"
"Think? You think? Hmm…you're too young to think!" As Halt said this he had a shadow of a smile on his face. This was a standard joke between Ranger's and their Apprentices.
With this, Halt spurred his horse in to a gallop and Will followed him, racing to get to the hut first, but Halt, of course, beat Will as usual. Will and Halt dismounted from the horses and lead them to the stables located at one side of the wooden hut. Will was bursting with a desire for information but didn't ask any questions knowing that they would fall on deaf ears.
Hmm…I hope Halt isn't staying long, as I really have to get ready for tomorrow, and Ella's coming this afternoon. I wonder what Halt will think? Maybe I should tell him before she gets here.
"So Will, how does it feel being a full member of the Rangers for a year now?"
Halt surprised him once again. Will didn't even hear him come up the steps to the small veranda which was on the front of the house.
"Well, it's sure different living in here by myself." Will was secretly missing having Halt around. The place seemed so lonely. "And, even stranger still, is that I receive orders from you in writing, not in person."
I would almost say he misses me, just as I miss him.
Halt would never admit it to Will, but he was missing having him around.
"I see, so then, what is the Baron's daughter like? Didn't you have to take her back to Redmont at the beginning of last year? And, what about now, the plan I gave you a month ago?"
"Well Halt, Ella has grown considerably over the last year. I went up to the castle this morning, and she is coming down later this day, so that I can give her a cloak and a horse for the journey."
"Good. I want to meet her. Until then, how is your archery going?"
Halt was now looking at Will with a gleam in his dark eyes. Will glanced up and saw the look on Halt's face. A sly grin started to creep up onto Will's face, as he stood fully upright.
"Maybe we should see how well your archery is Halt, seeming as you have all the archers you need at Araluen?"
Will enjoyed getting the better of his old mentor whenever he was able to. As an answer, Halt stood up, picked up his longbow and walked outside. This left Will a little baffled, as he had forgotten how Halt could be at times.
"Coming Will?"
Halt's voice floated through the open window, but Will was already at the door, with his bow in his hand.
"Alright Halt, how should we play the old game?"
Will had a suspicion that it was going to turn out to be more than just a game. Apparently so did Halt.
"Game Will? Who said it was going to be a game?"
Will grimaced. He knew the tone that was in Halt's voice. It was the same tone that was used whenever Halt got angry at Will for answering a question with another question. Halt, catching the look on Will's face, turned and walked up to Will.
"Come on old boy. Set up the targets before we all grow old." Halt turned back around and walked over to the rail by the side of the stable. Without any effort, Halt jumped up lightly and was sitting on the rail observing Will.
Will heaved a sigh and stared to set up the four targets, each at a different distance. Waling back to Halt Will took out his bow and started shooting at the targets. As Will was shooting, Halt was doing some serious thinking.
Hmm…the boy hasn't lost any form, that's for sure. I wouldn't tell him, but it would be hard pressed to find anyone in the Kingdom who can shoot better than him. And that's including all the Senior Rangers in the Corp. Now to the matter of this 'Ella'. If the reports that I got from Will last year are true, then she shows talent. The problem will be convincing the rest of the Ranger's Council.
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After Will had been shooting for some time, Halt decided to look up and towards the road. A soft clopping of hoofs could be heard.
"Will – "
Will let go of the arrow he had drawn and turned to look at Halt. He followed the line of Halt's eyes until he also saw the ridder on the road.
"- collect your arrows. Where going to have company."
As Halt said this, he jumped lightly of the rail and walked swiftly back to the little hut. Will ran hurriedly up to the targets and pulled out all the arrows, then sprinted back to the hut. The hoof beats had got steadily louder and faster. This was not a good sign. As Will ran across the doorstep, Halt slammed the door closed. Dropping his voice to a deathly quite, Halt leaned close to Will and whispered,
"Will, what time did you say Ella was coming?"
Will leaned closer and whispered back.
"This afternoon, I was very clear on that."
"Then it can't be Ella."
"Who then Halt? Who would come ridding at that pace?"
Will noted the look of confusion on Halt's face and started to panic slightly. Halt being confused was not a good sign.
"I don't know Will. I don't know. We have only one option, answer the door when they come."
As he said this, both Will and Halt heard the scuff of boots coming up the front step. Halt waved Will to the door, and there was a big knock. Will opened the door and looked at the stranger who was standing outside.
"Good Morning. How may I help you?"
"I'm looking for Halt, Commandant of the Ranger Corps, and Will, Ranger to Redmont Fief."
With this the stranger pushed back the cowl that had been hiding his face.
Will jumped back with a start, then shouted, "You!"
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A/N: Well guys? What did you think? This is the first chapter in the fic, and I just had to set up some of the relationships between characters. I'll put them through there paces more in the coming chapters. Please click on the button saying 'Write a Review' it will be much appreciated!
In the next chapter: You find out who Will shouts at.