NOTE: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice! I just own Will's family, and a few random people that you see here and there.

2nd NOTE: Most of this fanfiction will be from Jason's POV. However, some chapters will switch to Will's POV and maybe a little Halt (Halt is only if you people want me to). How much Jason and Will POV will depend on the reviews you leave!

So let's get started!

"Hello" by Evanescence (until 2:13)

Review and Enjoy!


Forgetting Blood Chapter 1

(A Prologue of sorts)

I don't remember a thing from that fateful night. The night I was left in the care of Castle Redmont's Ward. They tell me that there was nothing important about that night. Just the young Courier, an apprentice then, brought me in and told the story of my parents. Then she handed me over. Supposedly Baron Arald and Sir Rodney were there to give their support of the transaction. I didn't have choice. Just like I didn't get to choose whether or not my parents lived or died.

Curse those murderers! Every time I remember that story, I want to leap in and defend my parents. They didn't deserve to die. I didn't deserve to lose them. Now they're gone and I can never see them. Everyone in the Ward is sympathetic. I don't want their sympathy. I just want my parents back…but I know I can never get them back. No human can reverse death. However, I want to make sure that it doesn't happen again. I owe a lot to Alyss. One day I'll show it by following in her footsteps. I'll be a Courier, but I'll train myself as a warrior. That way I will never be defenseless. That way I can help if someone is in trouble. It's the least I can do.

…I've met Alyss several times. She comes to check on me. I appreciate it. At least someone cares about me. All the other Ward kids have friends of their family. Alyss is all I have. Yet I always feel uncomfortable. It's like I know she's hiding something. It's like I know something is wrong. I can't figure out what. I wish I could. Sometimes I hope she would just tell me. I can handle anything after I handle the grief of my parents' deaths. I tried to ask once but Alyss just smiled at me and told me that it wasn't important. But she admitted she's hiding a secret! All I want to know is what it is! Can't she see that!

I guess Courier's keep secrets for a living. Like someone else I know. Never met him personally but I look up to him. He's the greatest of the Castle Wards before me. He walked the very same halls that I do. Slept in the same beds. Went to the same classes. His entire year went on to do wonderful things but no one can match him. Yes…I guess you can say he's my hero. Will Treaty. His own reputation is greater than that of his mentor Halt. I see him too, here and there. Both try to hide themselves in the shadows but I can see. I guess I look for them sometimes. Halt is always so grumpy and sarcastic. Will is much friendlier. He greets those he knows. Sometimes, when he's not busy, he will stop and talk to people. Once I tried to get his attention until Alyss grabbed me and pulled me away. She told me that he was busy with a very important mission from the king. I couldn't interfere. After that, I stopped trying. I don't want to get in his way.

Among my seven Wardmates, I'm the quietest. Amber is feistier. Duke, the biggest of us, is always trying to be the center of attention. The twins, Mark and Thomas, are bookworms to the extreme. They aren't having fun unless they have a book in their hands. Garrison is always trying to one up Duke for some reason. He has a big head. Now that I think about it, he's always trying to one up everyone. Quince barely stopped me from punching Garrison in the teeth. He was bad mouthing Will Treaty and Alyss. It wasn't right! I wished I hadn't listened to Quince. It would have felt so good. But that's Quince for you. Peaceful and gentle. She hates fighting but everyone around her always gets into fights. Amber likes to bully her. I've tried to stop it several times but Duke always backs Amber up with his brute strength. I'm lanky and thin. Not a lot of muscle. I'm fast though…and an excellent climber. The castle keeps a close eye on me. They don't want a repeat of Will's antics.

Though they sound like fun.

All I wish for is that I make my father and mother proud. Deep down, I want them with me but that can't happen. So I'm moving on. Alyss tells me that they are with me in my heart. I don't know if that is true or not. Seems too farfetched. But I sometimes feel like I'm not alone. I feel that someone else is nearby. Who, I don't know. I never find anyone. That feeling often appears when I'm out in the forest. If I told my Wardmates, they would just laugh. Well…maybe not Quince but I don't want to scare her. She scares easily. Guess that's what happens when you watch your drunk father murder your mother. Everyone else just lost their parents to a disease that went around or from natural disasters. The forest is quiet though. A nice place to go and collect my thoughts. That presence I feel only makes me feel safe. No one has ever tried to hurt me. When I go out there and don't feel that presence, I get tense and nervous. It's like I have my own guardian angel.

Soon the Choosing Day will come. I'll follow the footsteps of my savior and my hero. That day I'll choose my path. Mother, Father, I just hope that I make you proud.


A little bit on Jason's thoughts before I start. I wrote this while waiting for my classes to start (see! I find free time for you guys)

Let me know how much of Jason and Will POVs you want (half/half…3/4 Jason or Will…all of one or the other?)