~Chapter 2~
The sight of the castle was breathtaking, as soon as the it came into view Eward held his horse for a bit.
Large walls stood steadily on top of a huge stone hill, tall towers watched over the surrounding land and an even bigger tower placed in the west corner of the vast castle, reached into the sky.
Men patrolled the wall, their armor glistening in the late afternoon sun.
When they reached the castle they saw The sigil of Old Rock and baron Algruff Tulling on the walls and surcoats of the guards, Orange and blue, split diagonally from the upper left to the lower right by a white line. on some of the banners the baron's personal sigil was displayed, a white bear on a midnight blue surface.
Spotting the ranger, the guards immediately stepped aside to let them through. A man about the same age as Edward walked up to them shouting "ED! good to see you!"
The bearded ranger turned towards Emma and Justin "Emma, Justin, this is Jonathan, he is the captain of the guard here is a good childhood friend of mine."
The twins just looked at Jonathan as he walked towards them. "JON! How are you!" Edward shouted even though Jonathan was only three meters away from them.
"And, who are your companions?" Jon asked, pointing at Emma and Justin.
"I'm Emma and that's Justin, we're..."
"...from Chelez Village, our..."
"...parents were murdered..."
"...by bandits two days ago."
Their eyes starting to water at the last thing they said. Jonathan looked worriedly at his childhood friend and whispered "Do they always do that?" "Sometimes" he whispered back with grim expression on his face.
"Could you take them to the baron and make sure they have food and a place to sleep Jon?" His friend nodded and gestured the twins to follow him to the main tower.
He mounted his small dark grey horse and rode towards Castle Araluen.
=four days later=
He stood in front of the ranger commandant's office, marked by a small oak leaf engraved in the door. He knocked. A voice from within the office told him to come in.
Edward saw Gilan sitting behind a desk stacked with letters, reports and other documents. He had a tired look in his eyes but they lit up as soon as he saw Edward, happy to see one of the other rangers.
"Edward! I haven't seen you since the gathering" when he saw the uncomfortable look on Edwards face he raise an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
"I need to ask you something, I have discovered potential ranger material in Old Rock"
"Aren't you a little young for an apprentice? You've only been a ranger for five years."
"I know that Gilan, but I really think I can handle it."
"Alright then Ed, what is his or her name?" Edward answered: "Emma and Justin Metford."
Gilan looked confused, "Wait, what?!" he almost shouted.
"You heard me Gilan, I want to take them as my apprentices."
"B-but that's never happened before!"
"Neither did the corps take in girls as apprentices until ranger Maddie.
"But you're only twenty-six!" Gilan was practically shouting now because of the shock.
"So what?"
"You're inexperienced!"
"I became experienced after the mission to Toscana and you know that." he said calmly, but with a clear sting and coldness in his voice.
Gilan calmed down, regret heavily on his voice. "I'm sorry Ed, I shouldn't have shouted."
"It's okay." the younger ranger replied.
"You can take them as your apprentices." Gilan said after a couple of seconds of silence. Edward let of a small smile, bowing his head a little. "I won't disappoint you."
"I know you won't Edward."
As Gilan wrote the letter of his aproval of the twins into the ranger corps he looked up to see a large grin on Edwards face. the last time he had seen Edward smile like that was when he was sent on the mission with Ann to Toscana, a girl in the corps whom he 'liked'. The same mission that had whiped that same smile off his face ever since, as he was the only one to return from it.
Short chapter, I'm not entirely satisfie with it and am in the process of rewriting it a bit so it will be easyer to read, sorry. Thanks for reading.