Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice in anyway whatsoever.

Author's Note: First off, I would like to say that I am a Will/Alyss shipper. However, I decided to do something different for a change since there are so many Will/Alyss fanfics out there. Also, I thought it was kind of cute since both Will and Evanlyn are about the same height and rather short. In addition, this fanfic takes place at the end of The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice: Book 2) when Will remembers everything.

Except in my version, he doesn't – not yet anyways. Thus, this is a Will/Evanlyn story since they have been through so much in the previous two books and Alyss is a kind of unimportant character so far. She hardly does anything and is rather typical. So is Evanlyn, but I just thought they'd make a better couple in this version (Will and Evanlyn, of course). Well, I should think that's enough explanations; so without anything more to say and without any further ado, I present you with the first chapter of my latest fanfic!

Chapter 1: Amnesia

Tap-tap-tap...

Will groaned and rolled over in his cot, tugging his pillow over his head in a measly attempt to block out that aggravating sound.

Tap-tap-tap...

Unable to stand it any longer, Will clambered out of bed and pulled on his dark green tunic and brown trousers. Tucking them into his warm leather boots, he wrapped his cloak about him and stood up.

Heaving a weary yawn, he stretched and glanced around.

Suddenly, a sense of panic hit him.

Where in the hells was he? Will did not remember this place. The cabin room was alarmingly unfamiliar to him. In fact, everything that surrounded him did not make sense. He never remembered living in a cabin.

He had only ever lived in the small room with the other wards at Castle Redmont. Where was he? Had he been captured? That bully Horace had always had always scared him half to death with creepy tales about Morgoroth – the Lord of Rain and Night.

Had he been kidnapped by the evil villain?

No of course not! The logical part of Will's brain told him. Those stories are just that – stories intended to scare little children when they are being naughty. You are twelve years old and above such things! Your father was a knight and you should act like one too.

With that thought in mind, Will took a deep breath and decided to investigate his surroundings.

X~X~X~X~X

Evanlyn had finally come back after a long hunting trip.

Unfortunately, all she managed to kill was a single quail that was too fat to fly properly. She had stunned it with her sling, but the bird was probably sick since it was flying in an irregular pattern thus making it inedible.

The blond-haired girl wrinkled her nose in disgust and would have spat on the ground had she not heard a sudden movement from within the cottage. She held her breath, fear gripping her all of a sudden.

Had the Skandians discovered them and come to take them back as slaves? Or was it a thief or brigand who decided to make themselves at home in this seemingly abandoned log cabin? Sadly, Evanlyn had no choice but to find out who exactly was making that racket.

Will was in there and she did not want her friend to get hurt or worse yet – captured or even killed. There were lesser types about these places, Erak had told her and the less then savoury character would often use this cabin as a hiding place for their loot.

So far she had found nothing of the sort, but the thought still frightened her especially since Will was in there and he was in no shape to get attacked right now. He was slowly but surely recovering from that damned warmweed and it would be horrible to have him get injured now just as he was starting to get better.

Heaving a sigh, Evanlyn resigned herself to her fate and hid the quail amongst the tall grass by the side of the pathway. Squaring her shoulders, she pulled out a smooth pebble from her pocket and slung it in her sling-shot. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the doorway and padded into the cottage.

At first she saw nothing and a wave of relief washed over her. It was just her imagination playing tricks on her. The mountain pass was still partially frozen, making travel dangerous and improbable. No one would dare come up here while the steep mountain roads were wet and slippery. It was unthinkable!

Feeling incredibly foolish, she chuckled dryly at her stupidity but froze a second later. A dark shadow loomed at the open doorway to Will's room. Her body tense, Evanlyn crept down the hall towards the room hoping beyond hope that it was just Will and that, perhaps, he would remember her. After what seemed like an eternity, she reached the bedroom and her shoulders sagged in relief.

It was only Will and he was glancing about the room with a very confused expression on his face.

"Hello, Will," Evanlyn said softly not wanting to startle him. "Do you remember me?"

Will's gaze snapped up towards her and he jumped, startled.

"Who are you and where am I?" Will asked in a shaky voice.

Evanlyn should have been happy that Will finally awoke out of his stupor, but her face paled as dread threatened to overwhelm her. Will's eyes were filled with terror and he looked like he was about to cry. What's more, his voice was high-pitched and squeaky as if he were a twelve-year-old!

X~X~X~X~X

"There's nothing here, darn it!" Halt growled in annoyance.

They had finally crossed the pass after days of uneventful travel and had managed to reach a clearing before nightfall. It was twilight and the world was slowly but surely sinking into shades of grey mirroring the grizzled old Ranger's mood. Horace, on the other hand, was trying to remain optimistic.

"It's obviously the remains of a camp-site," The knight-in-training pointed out cheerfully.

"You don't say!" Halt interjected sarcastically. "The charcoal and ashes reveal that much not to mention the many foot-prints and fallen logs for benches."

Horace just sighed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head sadly.

Halt had sworn an oath to rescue Will from the Skandians and he had even given up his title as a Ranger to do it, forcing King Duncan to banish him from the kingdom on pain of death in order to get away and save his apprentice.

Horace was sad too that they had found nothing after finally arriving in Skandia, except for this dismal remains of a camp-site. He was no expert, but even he could tell that it was only but an hour old for the myriad of foot-prints were all over the place suggesting that whoever had used this spot had left in a hurry.

This caused Horace to worry somewhat, but the apprentice shrugged the thought aside and headed over to the dead camp-fire to see if there was any life in it. All of a sudden, a last ray of sunlight glinted off something on the forest floor making him yelp in surprise as it bounced back into his eyes.

Halt spun around, already wielding a bow notched and drawn pointed in his direction as if itching for some action. Horace chuckled dryly and held up his hands in mock surrender. Halt just stuck out his sniffed primly and lowered his bow, not bothering to sheath it. He would have to hunt soon for dinner any way so he might as well keep it ready.

Horace was just about to tie up Kicker when something on the ground caught his eye. It was probably the thing that caused him to get momentarily blinded, for the object had a faint metallic glow. Horace was no Ranger but definitely intrigued by the object, so he picked it up and was surprised to discover that it was a strangely-designed arrow.

Knowing that Halt was more knowledgeable about these sort of things, Horace gave into reason and hurried over to Halt handing him the arrow. Halt's eyebrows shot up instantly and he snatched it without so much as a word of acknowledgment. Horace bristled but knew that it wasn't the Ranger's fault, since Halt was still angry at himself for being unable to find Will.

Halt held the arrow delicately in his hands and studied it for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he spoke and his voice was in a strained whisper. Not bothering to even so much as glance at Horace, Halt's eyes took on a faraway look and his grip on the arrow tensed until his knuckles turned white.

"This arrow is of foreign make," He said grimly.

Horace arched an eyebrow but Halt was quicker and beat him to the answer before he could ask the question.

"The Temujai are on the move again!"

X~X~X~X~X

"My name is Evanlyn and I am your friend," Evanlyn said gently. "We have been here for the past several months, while you got over your disease of warmweed."

"Warmweed?" Will asked, looking thoroughly bewildered. "Pardon me for saying so but I do not know what in the kingdom is warmweed! I never touched the stuff and never had it in my life. Also, I mean no offence but I have no idea who you are."

"You don't remember?" Evanlyn asked, choking back a sob.

It was clear that Will was in his right mind, but it was also clear – painfully so – that he could not remember anything. The look of confusion in his said that much. Moreover, his voice still sounded young – much younger than he really was.

"What do you remember?" Evanlyn inquired.

Will hesitated but spoke upon receiving an encouraging smile from Evanlyn.

"I am an orphan," He said slowly. "My mother died giving birth to me and my father, a knight, died during the war with Morgoroth. I have lived all my life at Redmont Castle with the other wards – Alyss, George, Jenny, and Horace. They are also orphans but they have surnames unlike me. No one knows my last name. I am twelve years old and have spent my life in the castle and the nearby village, sometimes. That is all I know."

To Be Continue...

A/N: So Will has seemingly forgotten everything about being a Ranger's apprentice and all of his adventures with Evanlyn, Halt, and Horace. He thinks he is a twelve-year-old but still has the body of a fifteen year old if that's how old he really is. I have to double check his age since I haven't read the books in a while, so I would appreciate a confirmation on Will's real age at the time of the books.

This takes place at the end of The Icebound Land and the beginning of The Battle for Skandia, without Evanlyn being captured by the Temujai. Also, Halt and Horace hat to bluff their way through the gates since those Skandians were not killed in my version of the story. So what do you all think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Leave a review and let me know so I can make this better yet!

~ Elf Knight ~