This is the story of Gilan's half-brothers Justin Davidson, and Rodney Davidson. It takes after The Battle for Skandia and disregards the other books only because Gilan doesn't have an apprentice in those books. To get technical the story actually takes place 15 years after this chapter. This is my new attempt at giving Gilan a apprentice.

Disclaimer: I only own the twins and Clare all other characters go to John.

The Fire

The war with Morgarath was over a year ago and Halt was still looking for his apprentice Will. Gilan had dealt with Folder and was on his way to Caraway Fief to see his father. Gilan was rewarded with some time off by Crowley and Gilan had every intention of using it. Gilan was looking forward to see his father, and step-mother.

Sir David, Gilan's father, had recently married a beautiful slightly younger woman. She had long blond hair and blue eyes, and her name was Clare. Gilan knew his step-mother would never replace his biological mother but she was sweet enough. Gilan was also in for a surprise. While he had been away his step-mother had given birth to twins. Normally any family of the Baron or the Battlemaster would live in the castle but Clare had wanted to be close to family during the birth.

"You happy to see them?"

"Yea Blaze I miss dad…I haven't seen him since the war"

"Well we are almost there"

Gilan knew his horse was right. Blaze had been to Caraway so many times she could probably find her way blindfolded if Gilan asked her too. The guards saw Gilan ride up and shook their heads. Gilan frowned, as a Ranger he should have access to the castle. Gilan pulled Blaze to a halt.

He raised an eyebrow waiting for an explanation.

"You can come in Ranger Gilan but your father isn't here," the sergeant said. Gilan frowned.

"He is the Battlemaster," Gilan said puzzled.

"We know Ranger, but he is with his wife at her place…we aren't sure where that is," the sergeant said.

"That's ok, I know where it is thanks," Gilan said.

He took care of Blaze at the castle then headed down the path to the village. His step-mother's house was easy to find and he jogged towards it. He knocked on the front door and waited.

"Come in Gil!" his father's voice came from inside. Gilan opened the door and was nearly crushed by his father's bear hug.

"Thanks, dad, I would love it if my ribs were intact," Gilan complained struggling out of his father's hug.

"Come on Gil, don't be like that. I am just happy to see you," David said. Gilan grinned.

"Me too dad," he said. David nodded and weaved him to the table. A cup of steaming hot coffee sat on the table. Since his father was terrible at cooking Gilan suspected it was from Clare.

"Where is mom dad?" Gilan asked. Even though Clare wasn't his biological mother she had asked Gilan to refer to her as mother anyway. She said it made her feel like she was a part of the family. Gilan suspected, however, that the other bigger reason was because she wanted to know Gilan was ok with her.

"She is with her mother and father," David said. Gilan glanced up from the coffee he was drinking and watched his father curiously. Gilan being a Ranger could tell something was up, being David's son added to that. David was practically glowing.

"Mind telling me the big secret?" Gilan asked. David chuckled.

"You are an older brother Gil…to twins," David said.

"TWINS!" Gilan cried. David nodded.

"Twins," he repeated.

"Oh wow dad….that's so awesome," Gilan breathed. Gilan had been the only child for as long as he could remember. He wasn't sure why he was, but he knew his mother fretted over him all the time when he was younger.

"Want to see them?" David asked.

"You bet," Gilan said. He followed his father into a small room. Gilan noticed his step-mom sleeping soundly in the bed. Her parents on either side of her, Gilan had only met them once or twice but they smiled warmly at him.

In a crib up against the wall where two sleeping babies. They might have been twins but they definitely weren't identical twins. Gilan wanted to bet they couldn't be more than a few days old. One was a spitting image of his mother. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was also the bigger of the two. The other one was smaller and a spitting image of Sir David. He wasn't as big as his brother but had brown hair and green eyes. He turned his head and looked at Gilan.

"What are their names?" Gilan asked.

"The bigger one is Rodney and the smaller one is Justin," David said.

"Hello Gilan," Clare called from the bed. Gilan turned and smiled.

"They are beautiful," he said. She beamed happily.

"Thank you Gilan," she said. David gave her a kiss on the cheek then followed his son out of the room.

Gilan felt so many conflicting feelings as he left the room, a huge sense of warmth filled him as he realized he was now an older brother. Then there was a feeling of nervousness at the thought of the responsibility that came with it. Justin and Rodney would not be looking up to him and Gilan knew he was going to have to set a good example.

He shook his head to clear the negative thoughts away. He had plenty of time to worry over that later for now he wanted to catch up with his father.

"Good job taking care of Folder," David said. Gilan grinned.

"I think I did well…even if my orders were to bring the snake back alive," Gilan said. David shook his head.

"Snakes tend to escape…that may be better in the long run," he said.

The two spent the next hour catching up on events. David gave him a run down on how things were going in the Battleschool and how some of Gil's childhood friends were getting along. Gilan didn't have much to say as things were mostly quiet in his fief.

"Well I am not as young as I used to be Gil so I am hitting the sack," David said. Gilan grinned and found a spare room to stay in. He could have stayed in the castle but was looking forward to spending the night with his father.

Gilan slept soundly for about four hours when he woke suddenly. Gilan frowned. He had always been a light sleeper but nothing had seemed to wake him. He kept his breathing even as he did when he was sleeping. The idea Halt, had told him during his training, was to pretend you were still asleep so that the intruder would not know you were awake. Gilan reached out with his senses trying to see what might have woken him. There was no sound anything. Gilan could have just went back to sleep and forgotten about it but he knew Halt would be very angry if Gilan waved his instincts to the side.

That was when he heard it a very feint noise. Frowning Gil scrambled out of bed and grabbed his bow. Before Gilan could even open the door he could smell the smoke. Someone had set the house on fire. Gilan stayed low to the ground, momentarily cursing that he wasn't Will's height, and headed for the room his father and step-mom were in. He managed to get into the room and noticed his father and step-mother were already up. David passed the terrified babies to their older brother and tried to help Clare out go the burning house.

"Get them out of here Gil," David said. Gilan nodded and made his way to the door. By now most of the house was engulfed and Gil could feel the flames eating at him. He coughed and Justin and Rodney where to scared to make any noise. A set of blue eyes and a set of green eyes looked up towards their older half-brother. Gilan made his way out of the house. He couldn't see anything for how dark it was. Between the smoke and pain Gilan passed out.

"You ok Gil?" a familiar voice asked softly. Gilan opened his eyes and looked up into the dark eyes of Halt.

"I thought you were in Skandia?" Gilan asked puzzled.

"We just got back, I am sure you will hear of it later, now are you ok?" Halt asked.

"I think so," Gilan said.

"What happened?" Halt asked.

"I was staying with my father and step-mother in Caraway when someone set a blaze to the house," Gilan said. Gilan looked into Halt's eyes a question in his. Halt gave a small shake of his head.

"I am sorry Gil….they didn't make it. The only survivors are you and two babies," Halt said gently.

"My half-brothers," Gilan said.

Gilan cried for the next hour, he felt his heart breaking. Fortunately the Ranger of Caraway had caught the morons when they bragged about it the next day in a tavern. Even though at the time they were drunk they owned up to it when they were sober later. Halt knew that wouldn't make Gilan feel any better.

There was another problem as well. Well two problems, Justin and Rodney Davidson. The two infants had no family except for Gilan and a Ranger wasn't equipped to look after children. Caraway also had no ward so their future was uncertain.

"What about Justin, and Rodney?" Gilan asked after a long pause.

"I don't know Gil, your step-mother has no other family and David of course has no family either except for you…but you can't raise them. You are a Ranger Gil," Halt said softly.

"Then they will be forced to work the land," Gilan said bitterly.

"Not necessarily," Crowley's friendly voice said. Halt turned. Crowley walked in and nodded a greeting to both Gilan and Halt.

"What do you mean?" Gilan asked.

"Arald just found out what happened…he will take them on if you would like," Crowley said.

"Get some rest Gil, we will talk later," Halt said. Gilan nodded and fell back to sleep.

"You will take them on Arald?" Halt asked. Arald nodded.

"Yes I can take them on…but only if Gil wants me too. We have room and I can't see Gil's half-brothers living that life," Arald said.

"I will talk with him and you may see us soon," Halt said. Arald nodded and left.

"Ready Gil?" Halt asked. Gilan had just been released and was holding his two half-brothers.

"Yea," Gilan said. Halt nodded and the two Rangers went to the waiting horses. Will had already ridden back to Redmont and Halt knew Gilan would want sometime to himself. The ride was silent as neither had much to say.

Arald was waiting for them when they arrived. With Halt's help Gilan dismounted and moved over to Arald.

"Crowley said you could raise them in the ward," Gilan said ever so softly.

"Yes I can but only if you want me too," Arald said. Halt had talked to Gilan about it and Gilan decided it was the best thing for his half-brothers.

"It is best for them…but please be careful what you tell them," Gilan said. Arald gave him a gentle smile.

"What do you want me to tell them?" he asked.

"Tell them their mother and father died in a fire. Don't tell them that they were murdered just they died in a house fire. Tell them what a great man my father was…what a great women my step-mother was but don't tell them about me. Don't tell them a Ranger brought them here, or that I am their half-brother. People will treat them differently because of it. I will tell them when I think they are ready," Gilan said. Arald laid a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Did your father tell you their names?" he asked. Gilan nodded.

"This is Justin Davidson, and this is Rodney Davidson," Gilan said handing each kid over as he said their name.

"I promise you man to man that I will make sure they are well looked after Gil. I will keep you updated on them and let you know how they are doing," Halt said. Gilan gave him a tired smile.

"Thank you Halt," he said.

Gilan mounted Blaze and left back to Meric Fief.

Poor Gilan, Halt thought, Poor Gilan.

Here is the first chapter of my new attempt at giving Gilan a apprentice. This is a different angle and something I wanted to try for a while. Hopefully this attempt works better. Please review and hopefully enjoy!