Hey everyone! One last chapter before I officially retire this story. Hope you all have enjoyed and thank you for all of the support. Well enjoy!
No one suspected this would be how it ended. Will had been getting better, and Halt rarely left him home alone. The day had started out so positive. Most everyone he knew had seen him in the past ten days. And no saw that making sure of that was his way of saying goodbye. He knew what he was doing. He knew the entire time.
And Halt's wasn't even gone for two hours. He didn't see anything wrong when he left. Will was practicing geography and then some archery, and every thing seemed to be going fine. He left to go get a report from the baron. He never thought he would come home to a dead apprentice and an life empty house. And the feeling of it all was awful. What was worse was that the boy he had sworn to protect was gone and he had failed.
Halt did nothing, but cry for days after that. Gilan and Horace had to move Will's body, for Halt was to weak. Not that the other two were much stronger. Will's death was liked the death of a brother. No one had seen it coming, and no one had the strength to move on...
It had been ten months since Will died. Ten months of misable, unbearable torture for Halt. Ten months of waking up to an empty, silent cabin. Ten months of just wishing he could die too. And ten months of finishing the work of a Ranger.
He was done. After Will's death every time he put a killing shot into someone, the body turned instantly to Will's. A reminder of the failure he was. So he gave in his request for a gold oakleaf, something he thought he would have to die to achieve. Crowley, after seeing how much pain his best friend was in, finally said okay. Today was his last day, before he officially resigned, so he working on clearing everything out of the cabin.
Stepping up to Will's door, he stopped. Touching the door knob, he closed his eyes and stepped in. The bed was still perfectly made, everything was in its proper place. He hadn't been in this room since he found Will. So nothing had been moved. Opening up a drawer in the dresser, he pulled out a cloak that had been folded neatly. Pulling it close to him, he inhaled sharply, enjoying the scent of Will. Everything in this room still smelled like him.
Laying the cloak on the bed gently, he picked up the small recurve bow he had worked so hard on. He ran his hand across the smooth grain of the wood, and traced the spiral carving Will had done.
"He had been so overjoyed to receive this bow." Halt whispered. "I never thought he would leave it behide."
Though in all reality, he was really saying he never thought Will would leave him behind. Not after everything they had done together, the bond they had worked to build. Placing the bow back down, he went back towards the bed, where the cloak laid. Sitting on the bed softly, he took off his own cloak and donned his shoulders with Will's. Soaking in the smell of his apprentice, he enjoyed the memories, and all the times his apprentice had spent with him.
It wasn't long before Halt had completely packed up the final room. Only two things remained. The cloak over his shoulders, and a small journal. It had been his first birthday present to Will, and no one had approved at the time, but Will had loved it. Now, reading it, Halt realized how much he had really used it. It looked like almost everyday.
There were three pages left for him to read. Two were blank, the third had a poem written on it. It wasn't great, and it didn't really rhyme, but Halt could care less. Will had wrote it for him.
He's graybearded and grim,
And sometimes the most sarcastic person around,
But I'd rather be with him than anyone else.
When the ground shakes,
And hell flips my world upside down,
He's right there to catch me,
That's just what he does.
So sometimes he's annoying,
And will do nothing but drink coffee,
But if it came to picking sides,
I'd follow my mentor anywhere.
Tears pricked his eyes, as Halt closed the book slowly. Will had never really shown much emotion when it came to him and Halt. Everyone else he would cry, laugh, or even go help with them. But while Halt and Will had been close, he was always somewhat withdrawn from him. To see this made Halt really feel loved.
He tucked the book into the saddle bag. Clearing out Will's room had been so hard. Even the smallest thing had some value to Halt. The mandola had been the hardest. Halt always called it a lute to get on Will's nerves, but he knew full and well what It was. He even knew how to play it.
Removing it from its case, Halt strumed a few cords of Old Smoke Joe. He had played, but not sang until the choruse.
"Fare thee well Graybeard Halt,
Fare thee well I say.
Fare thee well Graybeard Halt,
Tomorrow's another day."
He hated that song with a passion. It was the worse song in the world. But he knew it had been made with love, and that was all that mattered.
Halt looked up when he heard Crowley's weak, "Hello Halt."
"Hello Crowley. I think we need to talk."
"Yes... Something like that. Are you ready Halt?" he pulled a golden chain from his pocket.
"I think so. I'm not really sure to tell the truth. Part of me just needs this to be over. The other part makes me feel like I'm letting everyone down." Halt sighed, closing his eyes.
Crowley wanted to say that he should stay as a Ranger. He wanted to say this isn't what Will would've wanted. But he couldn't betray his friend like that. So instead he gave the honest truth. "I don't want you to do this Halt. I don't think the Corps would ever be the same. But you're hurting. You need to do what you think is best. If leaving is what you need to do, then do it. Sure the Corps will miss you, but it's not like we'll never see each other again. Heck, I'll make sure you go wherever you want to after you retire. Castle Araluen, Redmont, a different cabin in the middle of no where. Name it, I'll get you there. So if you feel like your time is up, go ahead retire. I'm not going to think any less of you, and neither is the rest of this kingdom. You're a respected figure throughout the entire western world. This is all up to you."
Halt shook his head. "Crowley, I wear this oakleaf because of reasons no one really knows. I haven't told anyone. It's not about respect or authority or getting attention. It's about trust, honesty, and loyalty. And I haven't been any of those things lately. You can put the gold oakleaf away. I don't need it quite yet. Besides, I think right now I just need a break." he gave a grim smile.
"Two weeks sound good for now?"
"Well, I was thinking more like two months, but two weeks is just as good." Halt answered with a gentle vibe.
Two weeks later Halt was returning to the small cabin. This time he wasn't dreading it as much. Seeing smoke coming from the chimney, he hurried in. Gilan hugged him eagerly as he stepped in the living room.
"It's good to have you back. I've missed you so much." Gilan whispered, as neither broke the hug.
"Me too Gil, me too."
Breaking the embrace, Halt smiled at his former apprentice. "Did I ever tell you how much really appreciate you even though you're a pain in the neck?"
"You have now." Gilan smiled broadly.
And finally Halt could bear it. So Will was gone. It was okay to miss him, but he couldn't forget the other important person in his life. And he promised himself he wouldn't.
And tada! It's finished! please tell me what you think and I'll see you next time! Please review!
Best Regards,
PFT3000