Will… Why are you going on that mission? Why are you just going to leave us? She's coming in just three months and you're just going to leave us like that? There is a big chance that you're not coming back and you still took it. You have a long and fruitful life in front of you .There's still time; you can go back to Crowley's office and tell him you don't want to take it!
"Why would I do that" will said looking puzzled "I enjoy most of my missions"
"Who's the she who's coming in three months?" Alyss wondered
"It's probably ME" Miriam squealed.
All those words were running through her head as she searched the face of her husband .She wanted to say all of it but she knew that no matter what she said, he would still go. It was his duty to the kingdom and he couldn't refuse. If he chose to, it would just be like denying the oakleaf symbol that he wears around his neck.
"I have rejected missions before; Crowley does take my opinion seriously!" Will said.
"Most of the time at least" Horace remarked "Do you not remember that trip into those crypts filled with the 'living dead'"
It was also her duty as a servant to the kingdom and as the wife of a ranger to accept whatever the kingdom tells her to do and at that moment, what it's telling Will to do.
"Well she's being logical, that's scary" Horace said, elbowing Will.
Her dear sweet Will. The Will she just married not too long ago and soon to be apart from.
"Five months" Alyss said.
"What was five months" Will ask.
"How long we would have been married if Miriam was due in three months, because she was the reason we got married!"
"Was I?" Miriam squealed, the only way intelligible words ever worked their way out of her mouth.
"Well if we hadn't married then you would have been the child of an unmarried couple, and we would have got into trouble."
"I'm sorry Alyss." Will said softly. It was as if he read her mind, every single word in her head. "I'll try my best to come back. He paused for a second. "Promise."
"Read Alyss' mind?" scoffed Will, "She's far too complicated for that."
"Hey" Alyss smacked his arm playfully.
Alyss lowered her head. That was supposed to assure her but it didn't because that doesn't guarantee that he will be back home in one piece ,back home alive.
It's just try, it's not do. She told herself.
"Do you really worry this much every time I go on a mission?" Will asked.
"Only the first few." Alyss confided.
"It's a dangerous mission, Will. There's a big chance you're going to die." Alyss argued.
" That's a big chance not a definite answer. Just hold on to that small chance .I'll hold on to it too." Will smiled mostly to cheer her up when he said the last sentence.
"That's good logic, so it can't be Will!" Cassandra joked
Alyss nodded. Her stomach dropped though, when she saw the face of her husband. It held a peaceful kind of smile. As if he's sure he's going to die and he accepts it.
"Well, if you might die make peace with yourself, that way if you do die you don't have any qualms." Horace said wisely.
"That's cheerful, isn't it dad" Alex said.
She was silent for the next few seconds as she searched her head for something to say to him. Something to at least delay his departure.
The longer I talk to him, the longer he'll stay. She told herself.
"Well what if it's a timed mission where I have to rescue a baroness before a madman kills her?" Will said "Alyss could be the cause of her death"
"So I guess this is it… I'll be going now. I left Tug with Old Bob, please take care of her." Will reminded.
"TUG IS MALE" Will raged "TUG IS A HE NOT A SHE"
"Calm down darling, it could be an error with the writers hand not their head." Alyss soothed him.
The young woman bit her lip, thinking. Oh yeah… Tug…
Will was going to leave on foot because bringing a horse, even ranger horse, would be too dangerous. It was a very important recon mission and the Corps was doing everything it could to make Will as silent and unnoticeable as possible. They can never be too careful.
"Would that happen?" Miriam, who had only just got her rangers horse (and loved it to pieces) asked "I don't ever want to be separated from Abelard" her horse was named after Halt's.
The ranger had already turned around, the knapsack slung over his shoulder.
"Wait!" Alyss held on to the mottled cloak of her husband, cherishing it since it may be the last time she'd feel it this warm.
"Is that saying that I would use a knapsack instead of... Oh yeah in that story I won't have Tug" Will said thought fully.
"Alyss I really have to leave…" Will said a pleading look in his face .At that moment, his peaceful smile was gone and replaced by a doleful expression and tears. It was not rolling down his cheeks but it was definitely there, waiting until its owner lets it escape. "I can't delay this any longer…"
"Makes the story about baronesses sound more likely now!" Horace said
"It's like I want to see you leave but at the same time I don't." Alyss whispered just loud enough for him to hear. She felt the tears tickle her eyes, waiting to fall. Even with the skill of a diplomat, it took all her willpower to keep it there
"I'm not ashamed to cry" Alyss said "unless I'm in negotiations." She conceded.
Will turned back at her. "Close your eyes." He suggested.
"Will…Why?" Alyss managed to let out in her almost catatonic state.
"Just close your eyes and trust me." He said as he went nearer to her.
"sounds scary!" Horace said
"Why?" Chorused Miriam and Alex.
"Oh the innocence" Cassandra whispered to Horace, Will and Alyss.
Alyss took a deep breath and nodded. She closed her eyes.
"UH OH" Horace said
"Shush" Cassandra chided
The next few seconds felt like they were in slow motion. She felt his lips on hers. It felt just like their first. And it might be their last. She cherished that moment tried to imagine that it was happening in a happy occasion. Like their wedding. Her efforts were futile and completely destroyed when she felt a tear drop on her cheek but she knew it wasn't hers
Then she felt more of them roll down her cheek. She wasn't surprised , though, because it was when she felt Will's did she finally give in to her feelings too.
She waited for the sound of a knapsack slinging over his shoulder or the sound of footsteps that would slowly die ,she didn't hear anything and that gave her a surge of hope.
"why would she hear anything, I'm a ranger."
Could it be ? Is Will still there?
"Will." She whispered but there was no reply.
"He's'not there" Miriam and Alex shouted.
"Will…"She said again. There was still no reply and she felt her stomach drop when she realized that he might not be there anymore.
She opened her eyes and hastily looked around, searching for the took a deep breath and felt her tears fall faster down her face .She should've known that he would leave as silently as possible since that's what rangers do. That's what Will would do…
"Well I obviously did do that and I would do that" Will said
When she had married Will, she had already told herself the disadvantages of being married to a ranger and she knew it was going to be painful. She should've excepted the pain to be stronger though ,like this kind of pain .This was the pain of being in love with a ranger.
If you see them for a second, it doesn't guarantee you'll see them the next.
"I've secretly said that for years" Cassandra said, "And I'm sure you have too Alyss."
"Yes"
"Anyone know the time?" Horace asked
"Bedtime" the adults chorused, before chasing the two children into the bedroom they were to share.
This story (the bits in bold) were done by Savannah Silverstone and I'm sure that she would love for any who actually read this to go check out her other stories at u/2601803/Savannah-Silverstone! Please leave a review or PM me if you have a one shot or other short story that I can use.
