First up. Im so totally sorry for the time it has taken to update! Just, life got in the way and shit like that. So SORRY!
secondly. Im not too sure if this chappie is gonna be fantastic coz Im sssoooo sick right now, so if its not up to standards I am really sorry but its the best I can do at the moment..
and LAST. This chappie is for everyone who RRRs but mainly for AUTHOREMILYRAY! Thanks you so much for all your support and this fic would really not have gotten this far without you! and everyone..

ENJOY!..

Chapter Four

Halt supported Will as he held the steaming cup to his lips but his apprentice turned away from the harsh smelling liquid.

"C'mon Will, it will help with your chest. We need to clear it up a bit or you'll stay sick."

Will was in too much pain and too out of it to know what Halt said; all he knew was something foul was being held to his mouth and a familiar, reassuring voice was talking. He assumed what it wanted him to do. With blinding trust reluctantly his lips parted. Swallowing hurt but after finishing the cup his chest felt slightly lighter. It was a little easier to breathe. He slumped backwards into Halt's arms, exhausted from the small effort of half sitting up. He heard Halt murmur a few words of praise, then felt himself being lowered gently back onto the bed. He whimpered slightly at the loss of his master's comforting presence as Halt left his side. But in seconds he was back.

"I need you to open your mouth, Will." He stroked his apprentice's forehead soothingly.

A small frown creased his tense features as if he was asking why Halt would ask so much of him, but, slowly, he did. Halt placed a small bundle of herbs under his tongue, to help with the pain. He knew it was how warmweed was given to the slaves in Skandia when Will was there and it worried him a little but there was nothing else.

"Good boy," he praised.

Three more days passed.

Will remained in a semiconscious state, drifting in and out of sleep, moaning in pain, whimpering every time he lost contact with Halt. Halt continued making him drink the horrible herb-waters for his chest, making sure the herbs for his pain were fully dissolved before he considered giving him more. Halt didn't know what he would have done without them. Will still moaned in pain with the herbs, he could only imagine what pain he would be in without them.

He only gave Will the herbs for his throat twice, made up in a disgusting tea like the ones for his chest. He only ate twice and both times he spent hours vomiting afterwards. After the second time he simply refused when Halt held the liquid to his lips. He guessed Will could probably tell from the smell of it, which was distinctly different from the other one's smell, though both were gross.

It made Halt's heart break. His apprentice was in so much pain, suffering beyond anything he should ever have to endure and there was nothing Halt could do about it but numb the pain and grip his clammy hand in a gesture of hope.

It was late afternoon and Halt was attempting to give Will his chest medicine so he could settle down a bit while he went out and got wood for the cold night that was coming. About halfway through the cup Will must have accidently choked on a bit of the vile liquid and started coughing violently.

His eyes filled with panic as he realised he couldn't breathe. The more air he tried to gasp in the more he couldn't breathe. Halt instantly forgot the cup and put his hands on Will's shoulders.

"Will! Calm down, listen to me."

Will's panicked eyes were scared and seeking help in Halt's.

"Look at me, Will. Just calm down, stop trying to breathe for a second."

Halt kept repeating instructions until Will had considerably calmed down.

"Ok, good. Now just breathe deeply, breathe with me." Halt counted to five as he slowly breathed in, the breathed out at the same pace.

After a little while of this Will had completely stopped panicking and slumped forward into Halt's arms, utterly exhausted. Halt rubbed soothing circles on his back and muttered words of encouragement underneath his breath. They stayed in that position until Will's breathing evened and he fell asleep.

Halt gently laid him back and pulled the covers right up. He replaced the ever present cloth on his forehead, gave the back of his hand one last comforting stroke with his thumb, then left.

He headed straight to get some firewood from a small shed made for the purpose of keeping the already chopped wood dry from the elements. He quickly stocked up the corner inside the cabin where he kept a night's worth of wood then was back outside, this time saddling Abelard.

He rode swiftly into the castle. Not wanting to leave Will for too long alone he hurried up to the Baron's chambers. He knocked and, unlike the last time he was there, he waited until he heard a gruff, "Come in," before he entered.

"Halt?" the Baron looked up surprised. "How is Will?"

"He still much the same, my lord. Tom's been to see him and given me medicines for him though he says there is not much hope.."

"I am truly sorry to hear that." And he was. In the short few years Will had been apprenticed to Halt Arald had really grown to quite like the boy.

"Yes well, I'm here for some help," Halt stated abruptly.

"Of course," Baron Arald hurried to comply. "What can I do for you?"

"The state Will is in at the moment, I can't leave him for long. I was about to get the firewood in for the night when he had a coughing fit and started panicking, I was scared I was not going to be able to calm him down. Luckily he did calm down though and he's asleep, exhausted now. But he needs to be watched for any changed almost constantly. I can't do both that and the house chores, simply finding the time to get wood to keep us warm is a struggle.

"So I'm asking you if you can organise someone to come over during the day and help around, please. I really can't do this alone."

Arald nodded instantly. He knew how much Halt closed in on himself when things went wrong but he also knew if things got too bad Halt would do the smart thing and ask for help before it became too overwhelming.

"Of course. I'll send someone over first thing in the morning."

Halt breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Arald wouldn't say 'no' but it was still a weight off his shoulders now that he had asked and received a good answer. "Thank you." His voice was filled with gratitude. "I have to get back to Will now."

"Indeed," the Baron agreed.

"Goodnight Baron," Halt said as he gave a small informal bow.

"You too, Halt."

The Ranger headed for the door.

"Oh, and Halt?"

"My lord?"

"Try to get some sleep tonight, you look exhausted."

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luv u all..

passion.