Could it be! Yes Chapter 4 pretties! All for you! Enjoy! Sorry for any misspellings!

Disclaimer: Got a letter back saying 'No, you may not own the rights to Ranger's Apprentice' and I was all like 'Awwww.'

Chapter 4

Halt and Will, now joined by Seth, sat at the table and began to eat dinner.

Will turned to Seth, "Why didn't you ever tell me you were apprenticed as a Ranger?"

Seth scooped up the juicy liquid in her bowl. Once she had swallowed it she answered.

I was going to but…

Will looked at her expectantly, "But what?"

You wanted to become a Battleschool apprentice.

He looked at her in surprise, "What difference did that make?"

She sighed.

I wanted you to join me in my apprenticeship with Halt. I knew you had the skills and personality to become a Ranger. But then you said you wanted to become a Battleschool apprentice.

"So what was the reason for not telling me about your apprenticeship?"

I didn't think it was important since you wanted to become a knight. And besides, now that you're here, it made for a nice surprise, right?

She grinned. Will couldn't help but smile back at her.

She was right; it had been a nice surprise, knowing that he wasn't alone in his apprenticeship. He was glad to know that he would have his surrogate sister with him.

Halt looked at his two apprentices' in approval. It was good to have someone to depend on, not just as partners, but as friends.

From the moment he had met her, Halt enjoyed Seth's presence.

As he had promised her, he had visited the ward in his spare time. Though their meetings would always be in a private room where Seth would teach Halt the sign language that she and Will came up with. With much practice, as was the Ranger's way, Halt learned the signs and was able to understand what Seth was saying. Although compared to Seth, he wasn't as quick in delivering the hand signals.

Halt had also noticed that she was slightly detached and would always stare in the direction of Castle Redmont. He surmised that she must miss her friends in the ward, namely Will.

Of course he didn't apprentice Will to make Seth happy, it was pure coincidence, but he was glad that Seth was a little happier with Will around.

Once Will was finished with his dinner he looked at Seth again.

"So where were you this whole time if you weren't here at the cabin?"

He saw Seth look at Halt. An unsaid message passed between them and Seth turned back to Will and signed: Away.

He looked at the two suspiciously but shrugged it off. He'd know sooner or later.

That night as Will and Seth were getting into bed Will asked, "Did he make you do the housework when you first started here?"

She looked at him in surprise but smiled and nodded.

"He made you do everything I did today?"

She nodded again.

"You seem to know Halt really well, despite meeting him last year."

Seth smiled and shook her head.

I've known Halt for a long time.

Will's head snapped up from his pillow, "How long?"

She looked down from the bed to his mattress at the bottom.

Halt was the one who brought me to the ward.

Will sat up, interested, "No way! How come you never told me?"

She put her finger to her lips in a clear message: Keep it down.

Will covered his mouth and signed to her: Why didn't you tell me?

She signed back: Halt told me that it would be best that no one knew that he had brought me there. Said it was for the best.

For who?

For me, I guess. Now let's go to sleep, we have a long day tomorrow.

Alright, good night.

Good night, Will.

Seth pulled up her blankets around her body. Will did the same, but as he laid his head on his pillow once more he wondered why Halt had told her not to tell anyone.

And soon he fell asleep.

"Where are we going," asked Will.

Halt sighed, "Out."

Seth smiled at Halt's curt reply.

The three had breakfast well before sunup and were standing outside of the cabin. Seth and Halt both had Ranger cloaks on while Will wore plain clothes. He had yet to receive it which would probably be in about three month's time. That should have been about the time Seth had gotten hers.

Halt began to walk towards the forest and Will followed after only to stop a few meters and look back at Seth.

"Aren't you coming along Seth?"

Seth grinned and shook her head. Halt got Will's attention, "She doesn't need to," he said, as Will turned to him, "She's a year ahead of you so she doesn't need to come along, she has to train."

"I see," said Will. He turned and waved at Seth. She did the same.

Halt continued on with Will.

Seth looked at the entrance as Will and Halt made their way inside the cabin. She had taken the liberty of preparing dinner and was just about done when they walked in.

Halt took off his cloak and went to his room to hang it up. Will walked over to Seth who was at the fireplace stirring the soup, "That smells wonderful."

She nodded her thanks at his compliment. Halt walked back into the main room. Seth looked at him quickly. Halt smirked, "He's so impatient, went and got himself a great welt."

Seth looked quickly at Will's arm and sure enough, there was a purple welt on his arm. Seth looked at him sadly and signed: You've got to be patient next time.

Will looked hurt, "I didn't know!"

She sighed and flicked him on the forehead. She went to their room and brought back a first aid kit where they kept their medical supplies. She looked back at Halt and pointed to the pot on the fire. Halt nodded and went to the pot and began to stir the soup.

Seth brought Will to the table and made him straighten the arm so that she could tend to the large bump. She looked through the supplies and took out a small vial that was filled with a green substance and a towel. She took of the top and turned the vial on her hand. The substance came out easily to form a pool on her palm.

She dipped her index and middle finger on the ointment and rubbed it along Will's bruise. She repeated the process until all the ointment was gone from her upturned hand. Will sighed in content. His bruise had been burning dully the whole time since his incident with the bow but the ointment was creating and fresh, soothing sensation along the bruise.

Will looked up at Halt, "Am I going to be training with Seth?"

Halt looked up from his stirring. He considered the thought, "Maybe."

Will scowled. He was beginning to become tired of the short answers. Seth saw the expression and smiled knowingly at him as if to say: It won't last long.

Seth stood, rubbing the towel in her hands. Will looked down at the welt and saw that it was a lighter purple than it had been previously. He looked back up at Seth, "Thanks."

She nodded and walked over to Halt and took the wooden spoon from his hand and began to take out the bowls and spoons.

Seth covered her mouth to giggle, though there was no reason to, but she liked to make it so that there was nothing different about her.

Will had just been complimented by Halt about his shooting. Halt, who was a master at sensing big ego's, shot Will down the moment he saw his big head swell with pride.

Halt looked over at Seth and raised his eyebrow, in his usual manner, and said, "Don't know what you're laughing at, you're just as bad."

This set Will into a fit of laughter. Seth pouted and glared at her mentor. Halt quickly smiled then turned, "That's enough shooting for now. Let's go."

Will's attention was brought back, "Where are we going?"

Halt looked at the trees and muttered something about 'asking so many questions.'

The trees, as was their custom, didn't answer.

Seth walked with a jump in her step as they neared the place she had been eager to return to. Will noticed and asked her, "Do you know where we're going? Is it someplace you've been? Is that why you're so happy?"

Seth rolled her eyes up to the sky, as she learned to do so because of Halt.

Yes, I know where we're going, I've been there, and yes it's why I'm happy.

"Where're we going?"

You'll find out.

Will huffed in annoyance, "You're just like Halt."

"I am standing a few feet away from you, you know?"

They arrived to a bunch of ramshackle huts and Halt called when they came to the biggest one, "Hullo, Old Bob!"

Will saw a wrinkled, bent figure come out of the hut and saw it was a balding, old man, who smelled strongly of unclean stable.

Seth bounded up to the old man and hugged him around the neck. Old Bob cackled and patted her on her back, "Morning to you Ranger's," he then noticed Will, "Who's this you've brung to see me?"

"This is Will, my newest apprentice. Will, this is Old Bob."

AN: I'm so sorry this is out so late! My computer was being a total jerk to me and it wouldn't let me go on the internet and stuff! I beg for your forgiveness T^T I still feel that Halt is OOC but maybe I'm being paranoid? I'm sorry if this chapter wasn't interesting but it helps with the character build and things like that Q.Q

I hope I'm not boring anyone with my story O.Q Sorry that I'm whining so much I'll shut up now.

Please review lovelies thanks to all of you who reviewed my last chapter. It does my heart good :D