Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Appprentice or any of its characters

Really sorry, I thought I'd be able to fly once the last chapter was over with but this is proving pretty challenging to write in certain parts. School starts on wednesday so I'll do my best to get as much as I can done but this is most definitely not going to be finished in a day. So once school starts I normally just update on weekends and Fridays and then randomly during the week when I can so there shouldn't be huge waits

Pauline walked into the infirmary and was greeted by Lucas. He was holding what looked to be a cup of tea and had a knife at his side as if he were expecting trouble. Two guards stood by a door that she assumed led to Halt's room.

"Afternoon Lady Pauline," Lucas said, stopping in his trail to the door.

"Good afternoon Lucas," she responded with a polite bow of her head. "Might I ask how Halt is faring?" she questioned and Lucas' expression dampened a bit.

"He's hallucinating when he wakes from unconsciousness suffered by his convulsions. When he wakes he is terrified, the last time he reacted in a threatening manner," he said. "We've seen this before in knights that drown their worries and many have succeeded in rebounding but Halt's been drinking for some time now. It might be more challenging but, I believe he may be able to make a full recovery if we could get him to drink this," Lucas explained as he raised the mug a bit. "It has mint in it to help with his nausea and some herbs to help settle him down some. If we could get this into him then we can start him on the path to recovery."

"May I try?" Pauline asked when Lucas had finished speaking. Lucas hesitated. Almost everybody knew that Pauline had moved out of her shared apartment a little over a month ago and most knew why. Halt had become violent while drunk and even though he wasn't drunk now, his paranoia could prove just as bad. Glancing back at the guards, Lucas shifted. He didn't think it'd be wise to let her go in but it'd be even more unwise to argue with Pauline.

"He's not stable my lady," Lucas answered, trying to get her to abandon the idea. He was one of the diplomat's friends seeing as he was technically a craftmaster for the healers at Redmont. Along with the other craftmasters, he knew what Pauline and Halt had and he didn't think she'd be able to see him in the state he was in now. Pauline looked at him with her blank face. He hadn't given an answer really and he knew she was waiting for one. "Fine, but be careful and take this," Lucas said with a sigh as he handed over the knife and tea. Only a fool would argue with Pauline. "At the moment he's…restrained as he was causing problems but if any trouble stirs, say the word and the guards will be there in a second."

Pauline nodded her understanding and strode towards the door between the guards. They opened it for her and she entered with the warm mug of tea. Inside was a table and a chair set up beside a bed. One tall window placed behind the bed let the early evening light in, granting the room a soft glow. Setting the dagger down on the table, Pauline sat in the chair on the side of Halt's bed. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look at him. Halt's face was glistening with sweat and his hands and ankles were bound to the cot. The cot was tilted at one end so his head wasn't lying flat but his neck was bound as well. At the moment he seemed relaxed; his breathing even as he lay asleep. It pained her to see him like this, a legendary Ranger reduced to a drunk going through withdrawal. If somebody had said he was going to be like this five years ago, she would have laughed herself to death. Never would anybody have thought that somebody like Halt could wind up like this.

Setting the tea down on the table by the dagger, Pauline brushed some damp hair out of Halt's face. Without thinking she started to rub Halt's arm soothingly. It seemed to happen out of nowhere. One minute Halt was simply lying there and the next his muscles tensed and he seemed to be fighting against his holds. His eyes were still closed and he seemed to be still unconscious. Pauline gripped his arm tightly, not knowing what to do. She watched helplessly as Halt strained against the rope, afraid that something was terribly wrong. She was about to call Lucas when the jerking stopped, leaving Halt breathing heavily as if he had just ran a long ways. When the Ranger's eyes opened, Pauline hurriedly grabbed the mug and put it to his lips.

"Drink," she ordered, somehow keeping her calm. Lucas had said the tea could help Halt relax and that seemed like it could help now.

Halt, confused after just waking and being ordered to drink, obliged and soon the contents of the mug were gone. He slumped back against the pillows placed behind his head, and Pauline left the room, a bit more than shaken.


Crowley sighed as he trudged up the steps that led to the baron's study. A messenger had caught up to him and told him that Arald needed to see him at the earliest time in regards to Halt. Not bothering to knock, Crowley opened the door and took a seat across from the large desk that dominated most of the room. The large windows on the right let in late afternoon light through the branches of the fig tree. Books and parchment littered the desk and bookshelves that were on his left. Arald looked up from a report he had been studying.

"Ah Crowley, I suppose you know why I called you here," Arald started, setting the report down.

"Yes, he's not doing especially great last time I was there. Lucas says that he's hallucinating and having seizures along with other symptoms and whatnot," Crowley said tiredly, he'd ridden most of the night to find Halt and was in need of a rest.

"Good to hear but I'm more interested in the man that arrived with Halt," Arald said and Crowley fought back the urge to sigh. He still didn't know what he was planning on doing with Troy…or Conlan…or whoever the hell he was supposed to call the man.

"What about him?" Crowley asked, trying to buy time to think of a response.

"Well it seems that he has attacked Halt and you refused to let the guards put him in the dungeon until we can question him."

"I know, it's just…he and Halt know each other. I need to question Halt on the matter but until he does what Lucas tells him to do, I'll have to wait," Crowley answered. Nobody had been granted access to Troy's room unless they were there to treat him. Crowley didn't want word to get out on the subject. As it was now, only he and Halt really knew who Troy was. Arald frowned.

"Even so, he doesn't seem the safest," Arald persisted.

"With all due respect, can you just leave this to me? It's a bit complicated and I don't know the story yet myself," Crowley said. He didn't mean to sound disrespectful; he just didn't know what was going on himself. He'd learned long ago not to say anything unless you were absolutely certain. Arald gave a small smile, sensing Crowley's thoughts.

"Tell me if anything changes with Halt," he said. Crowley took the cue and stood.

"Will do," the commandant answered.

I think Pauline was better here than she was last time, please review