Two riders and their ponies meandered down the forest trail, the ponies' tails swishing in tandem. Both riders sported mottled green and grey cloaks, a familiar symbol throughout Araluen. They each carried a quiver across their backs, stuffed full with 24 black-shafted arrows. Though there were only two people, anyone who knew anything about the Rangers of Araluen would know not to give them any trouble on this journey.

Both Rangers had the hoods of their cloaks up, shadowing their faces. This meant passersby wouldn't notice that one of them had the same light grey eyes or long curly hair of the only female Ranger in the country. The grizzled Ranger on her left was only slightly taller than she was and his beard that was more salt than pepper anymore would notify anyone who her travelling companion was, if people only bothered to look.

"Are we almost there?" Marian Harwood asked, her voice a clear, soothing alto. She was disciplined enough not to fidget in her saddle, but her Ranger pony picked up on her anticipation anyway and snorted. Marian absently patted Sky's neck while she waited for an answer.

"Every time," Halt muttered to himself. Abelard's ears flicked back and forth and the old Ranger could have sworn his horse was laughing at him. He shot the young woman a withering glance. "Did Will tell you to ask me that?"

Marain didn't bother to keep a straight face. Instead she grinned at her second mentor, which lit up her face. "Well, it's tradition. I wouldn't want you to miss out just because he had to leave Castle Araluen later than we did."

Halt scowled, but Marian's laugh was bright an unaffected. Will Treaty was her official mentor, but Halt had temporarily taken his place while Will recovered from the wounds he suffered in the war. Marian and Halt got to know each other even better than before, and while Halt would tell anyone who asked he was too old to be shepherding an apprentice around, he could admit it to himself that he would have missed it if no one was around to ask the time-honored question, are we there yet?

"Maybe I should ask you the question. You are still training after all," Halt drawled.

Marian scrunched her face. She should have known he would turn the question back on her. Just because she was entering her last year of apprenticeship didn't mean she was off the hook. At least it meant she still had some time left with her mentors before she was truly on her own. She was secretly glad to be under someone else's wing again, where if she made a mistake or had a question she had someone to turn to.

"A couple of hours?" she asked. Halt raised one eyebrow and she winced. They both knew she could be more accurate. Marian raised her face to the breeze, noticing hints of the sea on the air. She calculated the distance they had already travelled and tried to eye the sun through the trees. "I would say we are about two and half hours from the Gathering Grounds."

Halt nodded once and Marian grinned. That was as good as she was going to get. "Maybe we should try to cut that time down a bit," he said.

"Don't you want to sneak up on the sentries?" she asked. Marian knew about Halt's penchant for keeping younger Rangers on their toes. "And what about Will?"

"Always with the questions," he sighed. They kept walking for a few more minutes and Marian thought he wasn't going to say anything else. But then he glanced at her and she could've sworn she saw his mouth twitch into an almost smile. "But I have a couple of ideas." At his signal Abelard moved into a canter. A breath of a moment later Marian followed suit and the two Rangers ate up the miles in front of them.

RMRMRMR

When they arrived at the open forest area where the Gathering took place, multiple tents had already sprouted on the grounds. Someone had raised the pavilion in the center of the Grounds, where the top officers would meet before everything started. She and Halt both dismounted and found a spot to set up camp, where both Will and Gilan would join them when they arrived.

They walked past the tents, greeting those they passed. Halt mostly nodded and Marian tried to smile, though it became a bit harder when she noticed so few of the available spaces were occupied. The Gathering would start soon and she knew from experience there should have been a lot more people here. But the war had taken its toll.

She took care of Sky, making sure to pour a few extra handfuls of oats into her collapsible bucket. Then Marian proceeded to clean up the campsite and pitch both her and Halt's tents. He was out, waiting for his former apprentices' arrival. Marian smiled, remembering Halt's good mood after their successful attempt at startling the sentries. When they were about half an hour out, Halt had dismounted and slipped away into the forest. Wait ten minutes, he had instructed her. Then send the horses on up the road. Follow me like you're trying not to be seen, but make sure they notice you're trying.

Marian made sure she picked out their positions before revealing her own. They saw her, just like Halt planned, but they didn't notice him. That was their undoing. She was glad she hadn't been one of the apprentices picked for that duty. She knew it wouldn't help them to know that Halt got the best of the younger Rangers every year. It always stung when you were bested.

She cleaned up the fire pit and adjusted the stones. She was really looking forward to some coffee later. After so long without being able to add honey to her coffee, she had learned to savor every sip.

"Excuse me."

Marian looked up from her work. A second year apprentice stood in front of her. He didn't have the bronze oak leaf, but Will had told her last year's Gathering was cancelled because of the fighting so none of the first-years had received their medallions yet.

"Yes?" Marian looked a little closer. "It's Christopher isn't it? Marek's apprentice."

His eyes widened a little, surprised that she knew his name. "Y-yes. Um, Halt sent me to find you. He says to tell you they're on their way."

A grin spread across her face. This was her chance to surprise Will in the honored tradition of apprentices and masters. "Thanks." She was about to take off when she remembered something. If the second-year hadn't gotten his medallion yet, this was the year he would be tested. "Oh, and good luck on your assessments!" she called over her shoulder. Marian was already running towards the trail, so she didn't hear the young apprentice's belated and slightly surprised 'thank you.'

RMRMRMR

Will's eyes never stopped moving, peering in to every shadow, analyzing every rustle as he and Gilan traveled closer to the Gathering Ground.

His companion laughed, noticing Will's alertness. "It's like you're expecting her to just drop out of the trees."

Will glanced up into the treetops. "I wouldn't put it past her," she muttered. "I've created a monster."

Gilan raised an eyebrow, looking eerily like Halt. "It's your own fault."

"I believe it's your fault," he retorted, with a half smile. "That first year you were the one trying to sneak up on him. I was just trying to live up to the reputation."

Blaze snorted and then Tug tossed his head. The two Rangers looked at each other, amused that their horses were taking up the verbal banter for them. Tug seemed like he was in the middle of a particularly stinging retort when both ponies pricked their ears forward.

Will and Gilan immediately went on alert, though you would never tell by looking at them. It was part of the Ranger training not to give any hints to those who might be following them that they had been spotted. They rounded a bend in the trail and saw Abelard standing patiently next to Halt, who carried a small hoof pick in his hand.

"Afternoon boys," the Ranger said.

"Halt!" Gilan cried delightedly. "We thought you would be way ahead of us."

Will nodded, eyeing the trees above them all with suspicion. "Where's Marian?"

Halt bent his head and picked up Ableard's hoof. "I sent her on ahead to get the campsite ready. Ableard picked up a stone somewhere so I stopped. You two must have made good time."

Despite his wariness Will really was glad to see his friend again and he couldn't help but tease him. "Or you're getting slow in your old age," he smiled.

Halt finished cleaning Abelard's hoof and then straightened to glare at him. "I didn't expect you to resort to 'old' jokes."

Will shrugged as Halt mounted his horse. "You make it too easy."

The Ranger huffed and nudged Abelard into a walk. "If you're done maybe we should continue on?" he suggested. Will and Gilan exchanged an amused glance before clucking to their ponies to follow.

RMRMRMR

Marian's calves burned. She had been crouched in the same position for almost twenty minutes, balancing on the thick branch overhanging the road. She was positioned just before the forest opened up to the Gathering Grounds. The plan was for Will to be suspicious right away and then relax as they walked and nothing happened.

She dug out a fine fishing wire from a pouch on her belt, loosening the loop at the end. If she had not have been trained to keep absolutely still she would've shaken her head in disbelief at Halt's plan. She was supposed to drop the wire over Will's quiver and as he rode the loop would tighten, catching one of the arrows. He wouldn't know what hit him until later, when she shot it towards him and he realized it was his own. It was the ultimate trick because the subject never knew it had occurred until later—only if it worked.

Marian froze when she finally heard voices, then let out a slow breath to relax her muscles. She peered down at the road from underneath the hood of her cloak while her body adjusted to the natural movement of the branch. Soon enough three horses came around a bend in the trees. She smiled a bit when she noticed Halt had successfully maneuvered Abelard so Will was at the back of the trio.

"I distinctly remember," Halt was saying. "You were trying to impress a girl. Then you feel into the water trough."

Gilan's face burned and Will shook with laughter. "That is not what happened, I was pushed!" Gilan protested.

Inch by inch she unspooled the wire as they came closer until the loop hovered at a level just above their heads. One part of her mind listened to the story while the other focused on getting her timing just right. Halt and Gilan passed under the wire and Marian counted the paces in her head.

As soon as Will was underneath she let it drop the last few inches, the wire falling loosely over the fletching of one of his arrows. When she pulled up Marian felt a burst of triumph as the loop tightened. Will kept moving and the wire was pulling away from her. As fast as she could without alerting him, Marian started reeling up her prize. The arrow had slid halfway out of its quiver when Tug stopped suddenly, his ears flicking back and forth.

Marian froze, the arrow stopped halfway out of its quiver. It was at such an angle that if she moved it now it would be like shouting her presence in Will's ear. She kept her breathing shallow, waiting to see if Tug would move again.

"What is it boy?" Will asked below her. Tug snorted and then stomped his back foot, jerking Will in the saddle. Marian's heart sank as the arrows clacked together, the sound just a little off. With anyone else the anomaly would go unnoticed, but she was trying to trick a Ranger.

Slowly Will looked over his shoulder. When he caught sight of the arrow, he followed the wire up into the tree. She knew the moment he made her out behind the leaves. His eyes searched the shadows for a moment and then finally focused, a grin spreading across his face.

"You might as well join us, Marian. It can't be too comfortable up there." She grimaced and then dropped to the ground, rolling and landing lightly on her feet.

"Sorry, Halt," she said, daring to look at the grizzled Ranger. Her cheeks felt warm. She knew it was going to be difficult to fool her mentor, but she still didn't like failing. Especially when someone else was counting on her.

Halt simply shook his head. It was probably a good thing she couldn't see the small smile under his beard. He wasn't laughing at her, but he knew exactly what she was feeling.

"Next time," he said.

"I'm not so sure about that," Will said.

Gilan examined the non-existent dirt under his fingernails. "I think it was actually Tug who uncovered Marian's ambush."

Tug swung his head around to look at Marian, seeming almost apologetic. She stepped up and rubbed his nose. "Don't worry Tug, I could never blame you." The pony lipped the edge of her cloak in thanks.

Will held his hand out. "Come on." She took his hand and he lifted her up behind him. "You did really well with concealment," he said. "You almost had me."

"Almost," she said, letting herself grumble just a bit. Will turned in the saddle as Tug started to move, giving her an admonishing look. Marian smiled sheepishly. "I mean, thank you."

"We have one more year before you get the silver oakleaf," Will said, the words settling her. "We'll work on it."

Marian huffed and Will laughed, kicking Tug to catch up to Halt and Gilan as the four of them rode into the Ranger Gathering.

RMRMRMR

They sat around the campfire, each nursing a cup of coffee after their supper. Marian stared into the dancing flames, feeling the heat on her skin and in her belly as she took another sip. They were on their own tonight, but tomorrow the Gathering would offically begin.

"Will, you'll be taking the first years again, as usual," Gilan said. They were running through the events Gilan had planned for the occasion. Even though most of it was already set, Gilan was the kind of person who liked to go through it all a final time before the day began. The firelight cast shadows across his face, making him seem serious, then mischievous, and then back again in moments. "Halt, you're still willing to teach a tactics lesson aren't you? I know you're so fond of it."

Halt grumbled but didn't say no, which invited a responding grin from his two former apprentices. "Excellent," Gilan said. "I'll be asking Eric if he can run archery and knife throwing, and perhaps Antony will monitor Capture the Flag."

Will glanced at Marian. "You think Antony is a good choice?" he asked.

Gilan nodded, though he may have been trying to convince himself. "I'll be watching as well, though he won't know it. He has a good mind, Will, and fair in most respects. I want to see if he can get past some of his limitations."

Will said nothing but Marian knew what he was thinking. He didn't have much hope for Antony putting aside his bitterness about the recent changes Marian has brought to the Ranger Corps.

"It's an early start tomorrow. I'm on first breakfast shift," Gilan said. "But before I go, there is a final matter that I need to address. Marian," Gilan said. "Now that Will is officially back in the field, as your mentor, I'm sure you want to know the status of your mission."

Marian sat up straighter, more alert than she had been all night. She had been waiting to hear news from the castle about what they were going to do with the information she had brought back from England. She knew it wouldn't be addressed during the Gathering proper, as what she had done was still a secret. But no one had mentioned in on the journey here so Marian had almost giving up on knowing.

She tried to make sure her expression only showed polite interest, but she couldn't quite hide the excited pitch to her voice. "Is Queen Cassandra ordering a search? Is she sending anyone else across?"

Gilan glanced at Will. "The Queen has decided there are more pressing matters at the moment."

Marian felt a chill, like the breeze that preceded an impending storm. This was not what she had expected. "What?"

"We have a lot of rebuilding to do, Marian," Will added. "Not just the Ranger Corps, but everywhere. Jeren hasn't been found yet. We can't spare the resources to send people over there. Your work with King Richard should be enough for now to establish friendly terms."

They were trying to placate her. She glanced at Halt, who didn't give anything away. Gilan leaned in, earnest. "Do not doubt that what you did was invaluable. In time, we will be able to take up communications again. But your primary goal was achieved once Jeren's rebellion was put down and it was safe to return home."

Marian set down her mug, massaging the dull ache that had spread out in her fingers. They did that sometimes now, late at night, ever since her time in the Nottingham dungeons. She knew it wasn't over. Jeren's forces may have been defeated, but why couldn't they understand that they needed to stay on top of things? The way the Sheriff had taunted her, and the implications behind her conversation with Prince John, all indicated to her that they had more going on. Marian could never shake the feeling that a threat was just around the corner, and the Queen was letting them walk into it unarmed.

"You don't understand," she searched their faces for any hint of solidarity. "She can't just leave it alone! There are threats there that we need to find and eliminate. King Richard can help us."

"Our primary problem is searching for Jeren," Gilan said in a tone that made Marian grit her teeth. "If we notice anything unusual we will follow up, though I think your worries are unfounded. It is the best I can do. The Queen is not going to send anyone else through, now that we have come to an understanding with King Richard. We don't have to worry about anything from that end."

Marian's back prickled, as if her skin remembered her time with the Sheriff. "And if Jeren has escaped to England?" she asked softly. "What then? Jeren could be the least of our problems."

"If he is no longer here then he is not under our authority. Besides we control the gateway," Gilan answered. Halt and Will remained silent throughout this exchange. "We have read your report," He said, his voice hardening slightly. "But there is nothing that indicates an imminent threat. The Queen has decided our course of action."

Marian clenched her hands. She had hoped Cassandra might do something more, that her experience in England might mean more than just being a backup plan in case things had gone wrong over here. What was the point?

"We have been made aware of the, difficulties, you've experienced from others here at home because of the secret nature of your mission," Gilan continued, glancing over at Will, who frowned. "I have circulated a report to the Rangers, noting that you had undertaken an investigation of Jeren's sources. It should put some rumors to rest." He smiled at her as if he was making everything better. But she was used to others talking behind her back, it didn't matter as much what they were talking about. What did matter was it seemed everything she had done, everything she had gone through, came to nothing here at home.

"Marian?" Will asked and she yanked her mind back to the present. She realized the three men were watching her, waiting for a response.

"Right," she said. "I understand." She understood perfectly. They would try to make it so nothing had changed, when for her everything had. She noticed Will's glance, as if she wasn't supposed to have finished speaking. "Thank you for circulating the report," she added.

Gilan nodded. "You're welcome." He poured the last of the coffee into his cup. "I know it's not much, but it's the best we can do."

Marian forced a smile. "If you will excuse me, I should check on Sky one more time before turning it." She couldn't think of any other way to escape the campfire. Quickly she got to her feet walked away. Speaking with Sky might help make her feel better, and if it put off sleep for a few more hours, all the better