As Will knelt next to lake cleaning clothes, Halt stood in the shadows watching him. For the past few days Halt had been silently stalking him, watching what he did. He was looking for signs of a Ranger in Will. So far all Will had done was chores. Halt assumed this was because the young boy had just moved to a new home and knew nothing about it.
Suddenly, Will spun around and seemed to look directly at Halt. "Why are you following me?" Will yelled across the space between them.
Halt was shocked. He was sure he had picked a sufficient spot and was fully cloaked. But he did reply "I wanted to know more about. We don't trust strangers here and, well, you're a stranger." Of course, Halt thought, that isn't really why I'm watching you.
Will seemed okay with this answer. He just shrugged his shoulders and went back to washing clothes. On the inside though, Will was dying to know why this strange man was following him. He simply didn't want to show how badly he wanted the knowledge.
But Halt, being the seasoned Ranger he was, could tell that Will was putting up a façade. He started to smile before he remembered that he was supposed to be intimidating. This young boy is going to be a problem for me, Halt thought to himself.
"Rangers, what do you know about them?" Halt questioned.
Will, shocked by the question, took time to answer. "They, help people. Some are very brave and kind. My Dad knew one," He added with pride. "He saved the Ranger's life too, during the war against Morgarath. MY Dad almost lost his life but he was a fighter."
Halt was shocked by this news. He was in fact saved by a man in that very same war. "What was this Ranger's name?" He asked.
"Halt."