What if Halt didn't leave Hibernia for Araluen after Pritchard had left? What if he built a small cabin near a Clomnel coastel village and had lived there for years before a group of Araluens showed up seeking an alliance with King Ferris? Sorry for the bad description!

~Halt's POV~

It was just another cloudy spring day. The clouds threatened to unleash a torrent of rain at any given moment. Halt was gloomely watching the roaring sea. Nothing out of the ordinary. Fishermen kept a wary eye on the darkening skies as they fished closer to shore than normal. Though midday, the lighthouse had been lit for any straying ships.

Halt felt the first raindrops moisten his hooded cloak. He stood and began to head home when he heard a shout from the fishermen. Mildly curious at what had drawn their attention, Halt looked to the sea once more. A ship had appeared on the horizon, and appeared to be headed for the docks. Halt's keen eyes could make out the Araluen flag raised high.

These Araluens are lucky to have found land before the full wrath of this storm was brought down upon them, Halt mused. Hibernian storms could be merciless, and April was when it was most dangerous.

Halt walked into the small, but friendly, village. The people there generally avoided him, as he was bitter at best and deadly at his worst. Some of the townspeople had paused at the docks to welcome the Araluens and offer them what help they could.

The ship pulled smoothly into an open space. After checking that he had correctly landed his ship, the man Halt presumed to be the captain called down,

"Permission to land?"

The dockmaster had just arrived and shouted his comfirmation over the waves and wind. Nodding his understanding, the captain threw down a rope ladder and one by one the people on board climbed down.

Halt was just about to retreat to the warm comfort of his cabin when he saw someone wearing familiar gear. He glanced back up to the Araluen ship. Sure enough, a man wearing muted green-grey clothes and an unevenly dyed cloak was climbing down the ladder. A longbow was over his shoulder and a saxe knife at his hip. A Ranger, Halt thought. Pritchard had told him that most of them left were noblemen whom had bought their way in, but this man looked genuine.

Halt quickly came to the realization that the Ranger would recognize his cloak and moved from sight. The Ranger may have looked in his direction and Halt strongly hoped that he hadn't. He didn't have the patience to explain why a Hibernian was wandering about with Araluen Ranger gear.

~Crowley's POV~

The bleak and neverchanging ocean was unsettling to Crowley. He hated being utterly unable to disguise himself amongst the shadows of trees or under the cover of shrubs. Crowley felt as though he were being watched and stalked by an unseen predator the entire time, and the feeling of relief had been intense when Sir Rodney had called out the sight of land as the skies darkened.

"Where are we, Duncan?" Crowley inquired.

"If my calculations are correct," Duncan began as he smoothed out his map, "We are at the South-Eastern shore of Hibernia. The village of Fairwaters should be close."

"Ahh," Sir Rodney said, "I long for a real bed and food."

The waves were growing taller and Crowley nearly fell over when the ship rocked sharply portside. He dearly hoped that Fairwaters was as close as Duncan thought. Crowley spotted fisher boats moments before the light from the lighthouse shined through the darkness to them.

The crewmen turned the ship towards the lights. It was beginning to rain, and Crowley smoothed his messy sandy red hair back out of his eyes. The people of Fairwaters were gathering by the docks, obviously curious of the newcomers.

Once the crewmen had secured the ship, Duncan called down to the dockmaster below,

"Permission to land?"

The man called his comfirmation over the wind and one by one, the crew began to climb off of the ship. Crowley waited, letting everyone go before him. Just as he grabbed a hold of the rope ladder, Crowley noticed someone among the crowd, towards the back, that made him nearly lose his grip. The man was turned away, but Crowley could recognize that cloak anywhere.

What was a Ranger doing in Hibernia?

This is my very first fanfiction! Please review and give me some advice. Questions I would like answered:

1. What was your favorite part? Why?

2. What was your least favorite part? Why?

3. What are some ways in which I can improve?

4. What are some things you would like to see in later chapters?