A/N: Hello again! Many of you may have realized that I combined the first two chapters. I may do the same with this chapter and the last one, because that was a little short as well. Again, thanks to all readers, reviewers, followers and favoriters, and special thanks to RedScotch444, my beta. Consider this a little Christmas present to all of you. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: No, ownership of Ranger's Apprentice did not magically transport to me between chapters.

Time slowed.

Everything was muted, distant unimportant. All that mattered was her face, shining brightly across the yard. Then suddenly it was closer, and they were hugging and laughing and trying to be as close as they possibly could to each other. Behind him he felt people's gaze on his back, but for once, he couldn't care less.

Everything was perfect once again.

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Halt and Maddie were on their horses, cantering as fast as they could down the road to Castle Redmont.

Maddie was very confused.

She had never been in love, but now she understood it's raw, unbridled power. How could it be anything else if it made her mentor, her strong, quiet, unbeatable mentor, act in such a manner? It had to be.

They galloped out of the trees and toward the drawbridge, following the speeding figure ahead of them. She could that Halt's face was tight with worry, his thick eyebrows drawn down to cover his dark crossed the drawbridge with a rattle, and cantered into the yard. Then, she saw Will.

They were tangled together, hugging each other with all of their strength. She thought that nothing could shock her more until she saw Halt.

He was smiling.

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Raven was furious. How had that damned courier escaped? She had put just as many guards on her door as everyone else, and had drugged her just as strongly. But now, that stupid girl would tell everybody about the magic. Her magic.

She was a necromancer.

It had started when she was little. Her sister was murdered by her father while he was in one of his drunken rages. She was her first Arissen Warrior. Now she conjured up many, saving them from death and drugging them to become her followers. They knew nothing of their pasts, nothing except the urge to serve her. Alyss, however, somehow shook off that clouded energy.

Raven would have her revenge, because the one person she wanted alive more than anything was the one person that she cared about. He couldn't be reached, as he was killed by a just and loyal person.

The whole of the Ranger Corps would pay for Halt's crimes.

A/N: Hey guys! I know that was basically just a snippet of the story, but it was such a perfect scene that I thought it deserved to be in it's own little chapter. I've never loved anyone like that before, so that was really just what I picked up from books. By the way, I added to it. Think Raven will make a good antagonist? Let me know! I'll probably update every week from now on, because school teachers just brought it up a notch. See ya!