A.N.: Okay, school officially start tomorrow, so I decided that I should do a little bit of work before my nightmare starts! So here I am, writing chapter 2.

thanks for your reviews and I hope this chapter satisfied you. For now.


Chapter 1: The Unwilling Truth


Halt wasn't planning to go to Skandia, not for anything. That is, until Erak came personally to wait at the port and hoisted the kicking and refusing ranger onto their wolfship. The sea was calm during their sail though the occasional waves tended to turn a certain ranger's face green.

Standing by the bow, Will enjoyed the soft sea breeze that carried the moisture wind from far away. He wished, for a moment, that Arch was there to share this scene. Or Morten. He will even settle for K. They were about to move to Skandia right before he had ruined the mission. If he hadn't…He swallowed as a wave of guilt washed over him. For a moment, he wished that he hadn't exist. Then he shook his head, self-blaming won't bring them back. But he couldn't get rid of the guilt no matter what. The assassins had been nice to him, especially Morten. They were like a family. And now, he had ripped it up.

"Who is going to fall into that trap a second time?" Erak's loud voice from somewhere behind him jerked him out of his thoughts.

Hurriedly wiping away tears that was about to flow, he turned and searched for the commotion.

"Don't you dare throwing up in my helmet again, you old ranger!" The Oberjarl yelled with mock anger as he secured it on his head with one hand while the other pointing at Halt, who was leaning on the side.

Will had to hide his grin with a cough. This never got old. He watched as Halt made a blind grab for Erak's helmet and failed as the large Skandian leaped out of the way. A loud snickered from somewhere to the right of him told the trio that they were not alone. Gilan had walked up from the cabins below, one hand on the side to support him while the other clasped over his mouth where a grin had already broke through.

"Gilan!" Halt called threateningly, turning to look at his former apprentice. The wave joined side with the tall ranger and it tossed the ship slightly, causing the older ranger to lean back out as his stomach threatened to empty out.

"Anyone want some food?" Erak called innocently and turned to watch the gray haired ranger suffer, "Oh, my bad. I didn't see you there."

Halt, too tired to retort, merely spare him a cold glance before stumbling his way downstairs. Once he was gone, the Oberjarl started laughing and Gilan joined in shortly after. Will was amused.

Walking toward the Oberjarl, Will asked, "What was your purpose in requesting our help? You don't look really on edge."

To his surprise, Erak looked away in what seemed like reluctance mixed with embarrassment, "Well, you see. I ran into a tiny little itsy problem back home. Er, I can't resolve the problem without an expert with bow."

"But didn't you train archers after our last…run in?" Will asked as he started to feel that this mission was no more than a prank from the Oberjarl.

The large Skandian coughed loudly as if diverting his attention, "You see, Skandians are not as skillful as a ranger. We simply lack the skills that rangers like you possessed."

Rangers like you…Will bit his lips and looked away. He wasn't a ranger, at least not anymore after the last incident. The last freaking messed up incident. But he didn't regret doing it, at least not up to the part where he had nearly assassinated King Duncan. He was glad of the chance to meet the assassins, K, Morten and Arch. They were his precious friends, family and memories. The guilt he had nearly forgotten over the commotion rushed back to him.

Suddenly feeling dizzied, he made his way to the stairs leading to the below. He didn't hear Gilan calling his name in worry. Bumping into someone, he looked up and found Horace.

"You are looking pale. Are you okay, Will?" Horace asked then grinned, "Or are you sea sick like Halt who nearly throw up all over me?"

Offering a weak grin in return, Will brushed passed his best friend who gave him a slight shrug before heading upstairs to the deck. Stumbling to his room, he heard a horrible wrenching sound coming from the room next to him. He sniggered and tried to hide it but failed miserably as Halt came out of his room with a glare.

"What are you laughing at?" Halt asked, his voice firm even though he was seasick and emptying out his breakfast a moment ago.

"Nothing, nothing." Will smiled innocently as he fumbled for the handle behind his back.

Gilan chose that exact moment to interrupt, to the boy's relieve, "Halt, if you are going to throw up, go above deck to do that."

"Gilan." The ranger growled then he sighed irritatingly, "I am going to sue Crowley if he manages to land me another Skandia mission."

"I think Erak is pretty pleased to see you though." The tall ranger grinned then he added, "Halt, why don't you go ask Erak what his request and purpose for this mission is?"

"Probably something very uninteresting." The grim ranger replied but nonetheless, he made his way to the deck after noting the meaningful glance light blond haired sent him.

After Halt disappeared over the top of the staircases, Gilan climbed down and reached Will, "Are you feeling okay, Will?"

The brunet blinked in surprise at the sudden question and replied, "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"No," The tall ranger looked slightly uncomfortable, "You looked a little pale a while ago."

Realizing that Gilan was concern about him, Will offered a smile, "I am okay. Just…thinking about something. Excuse me."

Opening the door to his room, he entered and closed it behind him, leaving Gilan out of the room. He knew that he shouldn't be thinking about the Assassins, the past so often and pushing the present and possibly the future aside. Why can't he just accept the truth right in front of him? Swallowing hard, he prevented tears from sliding down like it had done so often in the past few weeks. They were dead, he told himself repeatedly. But he couldn't cover the small hope that they might have survived the fire and that Halt and Crowley were just lying. What part of they were dead did he not understand? He doesn't know and just didn't want to know. The truth might just be too unbearable.

He must have fell asleep soon afterwards, for he woke groggily as someone shook him, "Wake up, Will!"

Cracking open his eyes unwillingly, his gaze met Horace's, "What's up? Did Halt throw up again?"

Horace leaned back with an easy grin, "No, not really. It is time for dinner though."

"On deck?" The brunet let his feet dangled by the side of the bed as he pulled on his coat.

"Yeah," The muscular apprentice replied as he leaned in the open doorway, "Erak said that there will be a full moon tonight and that it is really beautiful at sea."

"We will see about that."

Making their way to the deck with Horace in front and Will following slowly behind, he was greeted by the welcoming smell of food. To his credit, Horace's stomach growled loudly, causing the shipmates and the two rangers who were already seated to glance at him before bursting out laughing. Gilan beckoned for them to sit to either side of him and they did. Will seated himself between Halt and Gilan, unfortunately. But for once, Halt did not looked like he was on the verge of another disastrous accident, and that Will was glad.

The brunet didn't know how the Skandians managed a fire in the middle of the wooden deck, nor did he wanted to know as he nibbled the food in his plate. He didn't feel like eating, but for the sake of his friends, he had to make it as if he was. No use of getting them worried, was there? He didn't need to be fussed over, he just needed time to be alone, to reflect. And to remember, that is all he needed right now.

"Coffee anyone?" To his surprise, it was Erak who spoke of that topic.

Halt accepted a cup as did Gilan. Will merely shook his head, sighing. Skandians just cannot make good coffee, he thought as he watched Gilan grimaced after taking a small sip. Besides, he didn't wanted to drink coffee right now, when his thoughts were centered around the assassins and nothing else.

"Here, want a cup?" Erak asked, offering one to Will.

Automatically, with his thoughts still full, he replied, "No. Assassins don't drink coffee."

The two rangers and the muscular boy beside him froze and he recoiled as he came to his sense, "I am sorry. I didn't mean what I said."

Erak, not understanding the situation, merely laughed it off, "Since when did you became an assassin, Will?"

The Oberjarl returned to his conversation with his crewmate, leaving the brunet alone to fend off the three concerned people next to him.

"So you remembered." Halt stated as he placed his cup of coffee down.

Will nodded grimly. No point in denying if he wanted their trust and be a ranger once again.

"You should have told us earlier." Gilan pointed out, "We won't blame you or anything, Will. Please trust us."

Closing his eyes, he sighed, placing his half eaten food on the wooden floor, "I am sorry, Gil."

Horace, his best friend, merely stared at him sympathetically. For that, he was glad while irritated at the same time. He didn't need to be pitied nor be concerned. He just needed time to heal his wounds.

"Please excuse me." Will stood up, brushing Gilan's protesting hold on his arm away, "I am feeling tired."

Erak looked up as the boy stood up and asked, "Where are you going?"

"I am feeling a little tired." The brunet said, offering a strained smile, "I am going to retire to my room for now."

"Oh okay." Erak nodded cheerfully, "See you tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow." Will repeated absently as he made his way down the stairs, ignoring the glances and gaze that were boring a hole in the back of his neck.

He didn't need those, he just needed to be alone. For now.


evanlyncassandraaltman: Hmmm, I didn't really consider bringing Cassandra/Evanlyn along, because I mean, the princess now hates Will. Maybe I will solve their little difficult problem later in the story, but for now, there is only Halt, Gilan, Will, Horace and a bunch of hot headed Skandians. ^ ^

Maddie Altman: I wanted to say you are welcome for writing more, but that sounded really awkward and...polite... *AHEM* So I guess I should say, "Thank you for loving, reading, reviewing my story!"

Human: Thanks for your encouragement! Please do point out if my grammar is...really crappy or unreadable, I will fix it. I will work on my grammar and read each on thoroughly from now on. Thanks! ^ ^

Guest 2: Okay, okay okay!* cannot resist puppy eyes * I promise, Will will not turn into an assassin! So please stop your puppy eyes! Haha. ^ ^

hope4mustangs: Thaaanks! I am seriously running out of things to say. Just saying thanks make me kind of impolitely polite(you know what I mean?). But then not saying thanks make me impolitely impolite. Let me see, what can I say to not make it impolite...I seriously don't know...Okay, anyways, that was really crappy and lame sort of reply. So, I am gonna just end it with another 'Thank You Very Much!" *Shrinks away*


*NOTE*: I have probably mentioned this already and in my profile, but I have to say this again, I am not sure why. But here goes nothing: I will at least update once/twice a week since You-Know-What is starting tomorrow. But it might be more than once/twice if I manage to find the time.

Sorry for the inconvenience and I hope I am not going to disappoint you! ^ ^

Peace out,

Her very very very highness, Kawazoe Kumiko