Title: Letters (A series of Ranger's Apprentice introspections)

Characters: Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn, Gilan, and plenty of others eventually

Timeframe: through out the series, and even some before.

Summary: Letters between the characters of John Flanagan's world, some real, some unsent writings, some imaginary, some written to people long dead.

Notes: The secondRanger's Apprentice fic! Come on people, write some more! (kudos to the lovely author who already started one!)Probably Spoilers for Icebound Land (and Oakleaf Bearers when it I get my hands on it...) as most will take place either between Burning Bridge and Icebound Land, or during Icebound Land. Letters will NOT be in chronological order.

Letter 1 – Cassandra to Evanlyn (post-Burning Bridge)

Evanlyn,

It's me, Cassandra. I don't even know why I'm writing this (well thinking it, as there is no pen or paper), maybe because I still can't believe you're gone. I wanted to go back for you, Evanlyn, I truly did. I didn't care if the Wargals caught me. I know why you told me to run, but there's this part of me screaming I should have stayed with you.

I miss you, my friend. Sometimes I still expect to see you whenever someone taps me on the shoulder, and I have to pinch myself to remember you aren't here.

After... the attack, I hid in the hills and the farmhouses, always moving and looking for signs of life that weren't Wargals or bandits.

It was only about a week ago that I found such a sign. Three Araluens, two of which wore the cloaks of Rangers. Unfortunately, I had to go the long way around the valley to catch up to them. By the time I actually got to them, they were distracted enough by two vagabonds that I was able to sneak up on them rather well. Unusual when Rangers are involved

Even after the older of the Rangers introduced himself as Ranger Gilan, and the two younger apprentices as Will and Horace, I thought it a good idea to keep my true identity secret. After all, we were still too close to enemy forces. So I borrowed your name, please forgive me, Evy. Although, knowing you, you'd probably think it hilarious that I'm using your name.

They seemed to believe that it's my name readily enough. Although, I think the younger two did more so than the older one.

The two apprentices, one Ranger, one Battleschool, are about our age. (I think you'd like them, Evy.) Will, the Ranger apprentice, took charge once Ranger Gilan rode ahead to my father on the Plains of Uthal with the news that Celtica was under attack. We (Will, Horace and I) were meant to follow at a less exhausting pace.

Please note that 'meant to', cause we actually didn't do that at all. Just after we started to get moving, we heard a group of Wargals approaching. Will helped us to hide in the bushes. Thankfully, they're attention was elsewhere: on the poor Celtic miners they had enslaved.

We then took the opportunity to find out what the Wargals were up to. Well, Will and Horace wanted to, they also wanted me to head back to Araluen. But I wanted to know what was happening as well!

Anyway, the Wargals lead us towards the Fissure. There was the first shock. A bridge, Evanlyn. And not just a flimsy rope bridge, but one that you could easily march six men abreast across, with a tunnel that led up to the plains of Morgarath's domain. Not yet finished, but getting awfully close.

That was why the Wargals wanted the miners. To finish it as soon as possible.

The second shock came from what Will overheard while reconnoitring Morgarath's side of the Fissure. There were Skandians there, and from them, Will heard a few disturbing details. The first of which was that the bridge would be ready in four days time, not enough time for us to ride for Araluen and warn anyone. The second was that the "break out" at Three Step Pass wouldn't be the only attack for the Araluen forces, Skandians and Wargals would attack from Celtica, using the Fissure bridge, and more Skandians would attack from Thorntree Forest.

We couldn't leave that bridge standing. So we burnt it.

Yes, we actually managed to burn it. But not everything went according to plan. One of the pyres the three of us had set up next to the support pillars on the other side didn't light properly, so Will raced over to relight it. That was when the Wargals appeared. Will stopped trying to light it, and switched to firing at the Wargals. Only one was left alive to run as the Skandians threw in their considerable weight. At that point, I joined Will to light the fire, which I did. Unfortunately, while Will could hold them off, he couldn't stop them. He told me to go back across. I didn't.

He was knocked out just before the bridge collapsed. Will and I were both taken prisoners by the Skandians. (Don't worry, Evy, they haven't touched me.) Horace, I assume rode back to Araluen to warn everyone.

The leader of the Skandians, Jarl Erak, tried to keep us, especially Will, hidden from Morgarath.

I can say I've seen him, and I would gladly pass on the experience. He looks like a living representation of death, if that makes any sense.

I can also say that the hiding of Will and I didn't work. He saw us. Or, more to the point, he saw Will's bronze Oakleaf pendant, the sign of an apprentice Ranger. Morgarath hates Rangers. He ordered the Wargals to guard the Skandians, who surrounded us.

I'm not sure what happened next. Morgarath rode off, and some while later, the Wargals became confused. Jarl Erak took this chance and his group took us and started for the Fens.

By the time we got past the Fens to the beach, where their ship was, another Ranger had caught up to us. Will's since told me that it was his Master, Halt. Halt's arrows managed to get two of the rowers, but then the ship was out of range.

I don't regret what happened at the bridge, It had to be done. But now Will and I are bound for Hallasholm, God help us. I don't know what's going to happen to us. I can be ransomed if I reveal myself, but what about Will? Every thing looks so uncertain!

Oh, I don't know, Evy. I don't know!

Missing you,

Cassandra