A/N: This is my first attempt at any sort of fluffy stuff, so please tell me if I fell short or if I actually got it right. I also wrote this all by myself, so I'm very proud!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. However, Willers is still mine. *Picks up cattle prod* So stay faaaar away fangirls.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Halt the Ranger was stirring, because of Gilan, that louse.
His and Halt's stockings Gil had hung by the chimney with care,
With hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
This thought Gil had nestled all snug in his head,
That Santa would be there after he'd gone to bed.
Halt had scoffed at this thought, and then he had said,
"Don't you find it quite creepy, him coming after you've gone to bed?"
Gil replied quite swiftly, "That's how it's been, and that's how it will be.
Santa doesn't like people watching him put stuff under the tree."
That boy answered to quickly, the annoyed Ranger thought.
"If his elves make the toys, why do they look store bought?"
Gil opened his mouth to answer, and then thought, Checkmate!
"So Halt you've had Christmas? Wasn't it great?"
Halt mentally slapped himself for revealing the truth.
He'd enjoyed the Christmases in his long-ago youth.
He scrambled for a sour remark, hopefully not in vain,
His surly and bitter image he had to maintain.
Ah, got it! And he said, before his eye started to twitch,
"Go to bed now, Gil, or all you'll find is a switch."
So Gil crept into bed with his eyes full of tears,
Then Halt's conscience kicked in, full of boos and jeers.
That sharp remark had been said hours ago,
Yet Halt still sat in the living room with the fire burned low.
His conscience hadn't finished berating him though,
Suddenly, he heard a small noise, and it started to grow.
It was Gil, Halt could see, although the noise wasn't good.
Apparently Halt was failing to train him well, and he didn't think he could. (Really crappy line, I know)
Gil crept to the fireplace, to the stockings hung there,
And he began to fill Halt's stocking with care. (sigh, yet another crappy line)
The glowing embers cast a light on his face,
And the tears from earlier were gone without trace.
He finished his work silently, without saying a word,
Then crept back to his room, this time without being heard.
In those few moment, Halt the Ranger had learned,
How much of Gil's love and loyalty he, somehow, had earned.
Halt resolved to make Christmas tomorrow, quite simply, the best,
Though he knew he'd most likely (absolutely) be stressed.
Yup, thought Halt, the best Christmas Gil has had in his life.
So he filled Gil's stocking with gifts and a brand new saxe knife. (because, somehow Gil broke the other one.)
Then Halt made his way to bed, feeling warm and fluffy inside.
O-kay. This feeling, thought Halt, I simply must hide.
Halt looked in on his apprentice, to see if he was alright,
Then he whispered, "Merry Christmas, Gil. Sleep well tonight."
Doesn't it just fill you with warmth and fluffiness? Again, please don't criticize me for posting this in March or all of the bad rhythm the lines have. Basically, I'm saying to review creatively.