"A vase with Wildflowers. It wasn't something that people would expect to see in his, grim old Halt's, cabin. But they were. He saw how his brand new apprentice's eyebrows shot up at the sight of them, and he smiled and cursed inwardly. He smiled for the hilarious face the boy made, and cursed when he realised they (the flowers) probably made him seem less dangerous.
Luckily for Will, he was clever enough to swallow that question, as it would've been a long explanation, and Halt wasn't in the mood for that, so he would've chosen the second option, giving Will a death glare.

Poor Will didn't know much about his new Master, so that would've been a terrible experience. Again.

Halt thought about the day he came back to his cabin after a visit to Pauline, and he'd sensed- no, smelled, that something was different.

Then he saw the vase with Wildflowers.

~~~Flash back~~~~~~~~~~

"Gilan!" he yelled.

Gilan came happily bouncing out of his room. His large smile didn't falter when he saw Halt's murderous and surprised face. Frankly, he'd been an apprentice for too long to be scared by that look.

"Yes Halt?" was his reply while he grinned

Halt threw him a long suffering look, and motioned for the flowers.

"What is this?" he said.

That was exactly the reply Gilan had waited for.

"Well Halt, if you hadn't seen it, that there is chicory, and that is Desert Marigold, and that-"

Before he could go on with his ranting, Halt quickly stepped forward and slapped his hand over his babbling apprentice's mouth. Just as quickly he removed his hand when Gilan didn't stop.

"Gilan! For God's sake, you know what I mean! Why the flowers suddenly?"

Gilan's smile faltered, and he shrugged.

"I thought your cabin needed a bit more... Colour. It's all wood and stuff here, Halt. And I like flowers. They make me happy. And...

Here it comes, Halt thought.

"You seemed a bit depressed lately Halt. I thought you could use some happiness" Gilan finished softly, looking at the ground.

Halt's eyebrows shot up at the answer. It was definitely not what he had been expecting. Obviously Gilan had noticed his odd behaviour. He'd been even more grim and silent lately, after the..."

"Halt, was it that letter?" Gilan took a deep breath, an plunged in. "You know, after you got it you acted strange. You still are"

Halt looked at his apprentice and met the blue, innocent eyes. His look softened, and he motioned the boy to sit down on the chair in their living room. He took the couch on the opposite side.
Gilan looked curious and relieved, happy that he wasn't being scolded at and sat down.

Halt sighed deeply. Normally, he wouldn't tell this to anyone. But now... he just had to get it of his heart. And Gilan was the only person he trusted with this.

"You are right Gilan. I have been acting... strange. And yes it was the letter"

Before Gilan could ask what was in it, Halt took a deep breath and went on, his voice slightly husky and off.

"It said my sister Caithlyn had died. You know I haven't had any contact with my family for years, but I have my sources. I loved her, and I missed her. I still do" he said softly, and noticed his vision was slightly blurred.

Gilan however, was aghast. His mentor's sister had died? Halt had a sister? And she died? Oh no...
He didn't know what to do or to say, so he simply said;

"I'm sorry Halt"

But it was sincere and true. Halt heard it and smiled softly. A single tear slipped from his eye.
He tried to rub it way unseen though he knew it was pointless.

Gilan pretended not to notice, but he stood up, and sat down next to Halt, and wordlessly trew an arm around him.
He pointed to a group of small blue flowers in the vase, and said;

"You know what they're called? Forget-me-Not's. And you shall not forget you sister, Halt. And I won't to. I don't know her, but if you truly loved her, than she must've been a great and strong woman"

Halt smiled, and looked gratefully at his apprentice. Gilan was growing up, he saw.

"She was indeed a strong woman. You know, she was a prankster, and she always dragged me with her. I just couldn't resist her eyes..."

And so Gilan got to listen to Halt's happy memories of his sister, and that evening, both shared a special time.

~~~~~~~~~End flashback~~~~~~~~~~

Halt smiled in his cowl. Yes, after all those years, the vase with Gilan's Forget-me-not's was still there. And wherever he'd go, he would keep them for as long as he lived.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that was my purely invented back ground story of Halt's vas with Wildflowers. I hope you liked it. My memoir is far from finished- it are 20 questions, so let's see- at least 10 left.
I'm afraid I'll be completely gone for 4 days, so, expect to see me back then

( I don't know if Halt's sister is called Caithlyn. I read it somewhere, in a story or on the internet, but I liked it. So.)