Disclaimer: I don't know who to write since this is the first Ranger's Apprentice story I've ever written. Oh, wait, John Flanagan. Sorry, haven't touched the books for awhile.

Evangelina De La Questtano

It was another normal day for the Rangers, a day where there was finally peace for the Rangers to rest and relax. Halt, Will, Gilan and Horace sat in a circle playing with cards. For the fourth time, Halt sighed and threw his cards onto the pile. Will grinned and smacked palms with Gilan and Horace.

"You boys have been with me for too long," Halt groaned. A shadow passed over Halt from behind. He sighed. "What is it, Crowley?"

The Rangers, namely Gilan and Will, straightened as Crowley settled beside them. He looked serious, which was rare. "There has been trouble in the outside of the kingdom. I need all three of you to go look into it. Gilan, you have to go Whitby Fief. There has been rumors of illegal selling of women for the pleasures of men."

"Where's the place?" Halt asked. Crowley gave him a calculating stare. Halt felt his hair stand up, something that hadn't occurred for years.

"Daeon."

"Where exactly is this Daeon?" Horace asked. "I've never heard of it."

"That's because no one in the right mind would go there. It's located in Toscano, a place where there are people rumored to be against the existence of Rangers and are training people to overthrow us," Gilan explained. "Halt went there once, before he took me under his wing."

Will stared at Halt. "Did you really?" Halt sighed.

"Yes." I never expected myself to return again, thought Halt.

Twenty years ago...

Cool air blew through a small cottage surrounded by a vast forest. Halt sat at the doorsteps, his swords and bow by his side. A woman walked towards Halt and sat by him, wearing a dark blue dress that clung to her very curve and movement. She was stunning, with fiery red curls that were held back by a blue riboon, a soft heart-shaped face, full-lipped ,high cheekbones, and delicate features. Her eyes were the perfect green of emeralds. Halt's heart nearly stopped at the sight of her, and was proud of the knowledge that this woman was his. He was young and strong. They could run far away to have their own life. Their own children.

The woman's name was Andry, short for Andrianna Bishop, and she was a dancer. Many men had courted her and sought her love, but she'd chose Halt. They loved, but Halt had to leave. Crowley knew of this love and ordered him to return to Araluen.

Andry wrapped her slender arms around Halt's shoulder, and he caught the sweet scent of honeysuckle that was Andry's personal scent. Halt's heart broke at what he was about to do.

"Morning, Halt," she whispered, kissing the edge of his ear. Andry leaned closer to nuzzle his neck.

"Andry," he whispered back, desperation coloring his voice. "I have too leave." Andry stops.

"Don't," she pleaded softly. " I need you." Halt yearned to say yes, but couldn't. Crowley had threatened to kill Andry.

"I can't."

Andry looked at Halt, determination in her eyes, then it faded slowly and her eyes became empty voids of nothingness. Halt felt pain stab him in the heart, but quickly pushed her arms away and walked off before he changed his mind. He saddled Abelard, who gave him an evil eye, snickered sacastically, and rode away. As soon as he was out of view, Halt let his tears flow down his face. There was no chance of him returning.

"Goodbye, my Andry."

Halt shook his head and got onto Abelard, then took off towards the quickest shortcut to the outside of the forest.

I'm coming back, Andry. Please be there. You haven't told me something yet. I know it.

A/N: This story is entirely of my own settings and not from any of the books. Basically, as you have probably read on the summary, Halt wasn't always the grumpy powerfully dominating man from the first book and Pauline wasn't his only love. Andry is a character I created, NOT from the books. If there is any character in the actual book itself with the same name, I assure you that it's entirely a coincidence. So is the main character, but I'm not saying the name yet.

Everything Here Is Mostly Based On My Own Imagination.