Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice. Read the description to understand what is happening, since this starts in the middle of the conversation.
"This is about Will," Gilan said, looking away from Halt.
Halt's expression darkened. "What about him?"
"Halt…" Gilan hesitated. "You've been sulking -yes sulking- for long enough. It's been two years. Just let it go."
Halt turned on him. "Let it go?" he seethed quietly. "Let it go?" Halt repeated. He laughed, but it was dark and thick and definitely not because he found anything funny. "No," he said finally, when Gilan didn't reply.
Gilan tried a different tack. "Halt, we'll all miss them of course, but you can't keep refusing to talk, keep refusing missions, keep refusing all of us. If Will were here-"
"Well he's not," Halt thundered. "He's not here, and he's never coming back. So don't you lecture me about what 'Will would do'."
"I'm not saying what Will would do," said Gilan quietly. "I'm saying what he'd want you to do. And Horace. They'd be disappointed in you. They'd want you to move on."
Halt turned his gaze to the floor. "Pauline tried that method of guilt. Didn't work then, won't work now."
They both stayed silent for a long time. Finally, Gilan spoke. "What would help you?"
"Excuse me?"
"What do you want me to do? To try to help? Because I'm sure as heck not gonna stand around and let you waste away."
"Well there's no way you can help me. I don't want any help. I don't want to get 'better'!" Halt finally snapped. "Just leave me alone."
"No," Gilan said softly but firmly. "Let me help you."
"No matter what anyone did, it wouldn't help," said Halt, all the anger gone from his voice. Now there was just sadness.
"But what would help? Supposing someone could do it?"
"Bring Will and Horace back," Halt said in a broken voice.
Gilan sighed inwardly. He decided to try one last time. "I miss them too." When Halt didn't look up, he continued. "I miss Will's cheerful smile, Horace's cheerful insults. If you think you're alone, then you couldn't be more wrong. If you think I've gotten over it, or forgotten them, you couldn't be more wrong. If you think anyone has gotten over it, you couldn't be more wrong. We all miss them. Dearly. And we want them back too. We're broken inside too. But the thing that helps us move along and deal with life? We have each other. We can share memories. We can mourn together. But isolated.. we fall." Gilan paused. "Will and Horace died a hero's death. They fought bravely, and side by side till they both fell. They will always be remembered. And we will always love them. And we will get through it. Together."
At the last word, Gilan offered Halt his hand. Halt hesitated, them took it. In a rare show of emotion, tears started streaming down his face, and he started sobbing. Gilan comforted for as long as he needed.
They eventually got up and went to see the others.
Apprentice and mentor.
Ranger and ranger.
Silver and gold leaf.
Friend and friend.
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