NOTE: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice! I will introduce two new characters but I will tell you who they are.
The final installment has begun! For those who find this without staying with me from the beginning, please read Deadly Choice first. Then you have The Gold-Bronze Oakleaf and A New Choice: Victory or Defeat.
Please fans, if you have a scene that you want to see, post it in the comments. I'll try my best to insert them into my fanfic.
So here we go! Review and Enjoy!
A Shadow and A Warrior Chapter 1
Duncan walked down the steps into the dungeon of Castle Araluen. Beside him were two Rangers: Crowley and Gilan. He sincerely hoped that these could help. This whole situation was disturbing for Duncan. He had been no choice in the matter. For the good of the person and those around him, Duncan had him arrested and put in a cell. Every day since he had visited the dungeon in hopes of talking some sense into the person. So far he had no success.
The guards at the door came to attention as he rounded the final corner. Knowing the reason for the visit, the oldest of the three guards unlocked the door. Duncan and the Rangers passed by without a word. The door closed behind them and locked. Slowly they made their way past all the cells that lined the hall. The person they were going to see was not far. Yet none of them wanted to see him in such a place.
No choice, Duncan thought. We had no choice.
Finally they reached the cell. A special guard had been put on this cell. He nodded to Duncan and unlocked the door. Duncan entered, followed by Crowley, then Gilan. As the door closed, the Rangers flanked him on either side. Before them, pacing back and forth was a dear friend, a mentor, an advisor. Now, however, he was distant and angry. His beard, normally grizzled, was dirty and longer. His dark eyes glistened with anger, annoyance, and pain. Wrapped around his shoulders was a mottled cloak, the colors distorted by the dark cell. Around his neck was a silver oakleaf. Before them was one man none of them wanted to see in this condition…
Halt.
Halt stopped pacing and glared pointedly at them. "What a surprise," he growled sarcastically.
"Halt…" Gilan began.
"Don't, Gilan," Halt snapped angrily.
The young Ranger took a step back from his mentor, his friend. Halt had snapped at him many times but never with that cold of a voice. Crowley saw the look of pain cross Gilan's face. He knew how much Gilan felt at fault for Will and Evanlyn's capture. He shook his head slowly. Halt was not making this easy on anyone, especially Gilan. This anger was only deepening the wound inside the young Ranger.
Stepping forward, Crowley began carefully, "Halt, it's been two years since they were taken away. You know as well as I that we can do nothing for them now."
"Two years makes it harder," Halt growled. His eyes met Crowley's. Crowley actually flinched and looked away from those dark eyes. "Two years does not mean it's impossible."
Crowley responded slowly, "It would take time. Enough time that we can't spare a Ranger for."
"Then someone else!" Halt snarled, stepping towards them. "Send a tracker and some guards. Send anyone. I don't care who!"
Duncan finally stepped in, "Men we need, Halt. Morgarath's men are still causing issues. I need everyone to help find them. With you in here we are already having issues."
"Duncan," Halt growled, "don't you care about rescuing your daughter? About seeing her again?"
Duncan flinched and a frown of pain crossed his face but he responded firmly, "My country must come first. She knows that, just as I know that."
Crowley stepped, "Will made a choice, Halt. He took the same oath that you and I took. Our country before our own lives. Will has lived up to that oath. However, he knew the risks when he made his choice…just as he knew the risks with the Kalkara."
Halt glared hard at Crowley. How dare he compare this to the fight with the Kalkara! Will won the war for them by burning the bridge and discovering the ambush through Thorntree. He also did all of it while injured!
"We owe him," Halt snapped. "He has done everything, given up everything for us. We owe him!"
Gilan finally jumped back in, "Yes, Halt. We owe him. However, you know as well as I do that Will wouldn't want you chasing after him when our country needs you. That's not what he would want!"
"He needs us, they need us, and we're just leaving them to a live of slavery and pain!" Halt shouted.
Duncan closed his eyes, "They made their choice at the bridge. When things clear I will send men after them."
"How long?" Halt asked angrily. "Another year? Maybe two? The longer you wait the less chance there is to find them! The longer they are forced to work the more likely that they will be worked to death! Then we would lose them forever."
With that, Halt sank down on his bed. His hands ran over his face. He made Will a promise to find him, to rescue him. Now, however, that promise was looking to be an impossible task. Will needed him and yet everyone was keeping him locked up. They would not let him go and find his apprentice and princess. They needed him but he could do nothing in this cell.
Duncan laid a hand on his friend, "The longer you force us to keep you here, the longer the search for Morgarath's men will go. That means more time before we can search for them. If you want to help your apprentice then help us end all of this. After we have all of the men then you can go after him. I promise."
There was a long pause before Halt looked up at his king.
"Alright. Let's just hope they can survive that long."
My first major change. Surprise! Will and Evanlyn are on their own.