Authors' Note: I'm so sorry guys! I've been really busy with exams, work and final exams. I really enjoyed typing this chapter because we finally get to see more of Gilan. But that is all I'm going to tell you so you'll have to read to find out what happens next. Review and tell us what you think!
Disclaimer: I don't own RA
Chapter 9
Damsel, Dresses and Distress
"Hold on, so you're telling me you want me to do exactly what Beckett sacrificed himself for?" I stared at them all incredulously. Apparently they were on the same page and like this idea.
"In a way." Crowley smiled innocently and the others matched as if they knew something I didn't.
"Please explain to me how you think this is a good plan? Because putting me in the hands of the enemy is probably the worst thing I could think of."
"Well being an oblivious damsel in distress might help cover up being a double agent."
"A what?"
"You know a damsel in distress, a distressed damsel. Halt and Will tell me that you were very convincing the first time you met."
"I will be in distress if I have to wear a dress."
"That reminds me, I have something for you. Don't let me forget before you leave."
I groaned, and proceeded to slump my forehead against the table. I was now on my way to be a Ranger and for some reason they found a way forced me into a dress. Mrs. Padavick could die peacefully.
"Well," Will began, "Gilan would've been happy to take your spot but we decided that you would look better in a dress. Plus we needed him to be your knight in shining armour." I glared at Will and he smiled as if nothing was wrong.
"You're all speaking in riddles; please just tell me plainly what the plan is."
"You'll have time to finalize the plan later, but essentially you will join their group as a girl who ran away from home because she doesn't want to go through with her arranged marriage. They will accept you with open arms because of your magic." Crowley said proudly.
"Well we're counting on Luther's feelings about you to get into their close circle and figure out their plans." Gilan continued
"We don't even know if he has feelings for me anymore, I knew him for all of twenty minutes then blew him off."
"Well speaking just as an innocent observer." Will started, and Halt rolled his eyes. "But I do believe you have a lasting effect on people. Take Gilan for example, it's been over five years and he still remembers how you used to... Ow!" I kicked him under the table and glared at him from across the table. He smiled and arched an eyebrow at me. Sadly, I wasn't fast enough to stop him because I saw exchanged looks come from Crowley and Halt and they curiously looked from Gilan to me. Sorry Will but you are far from innocent. Gilan coughed and scratched his head; Will you will have to prepare himself because payback will be coming.
"Ok, so let's pretend that silver-tongue Luther hasn't met another girl and still remembers me, what do you expect me to do?"
"Figure out any weak links, find out when and why they are trying to take over the Kingdom." Crowley said. Why I didn't see that before I don't know. Maybe I was still wondering why they were putting an apprentice Ranger with hardly any experience in the real world on this mission. I didn't say that out loud because I didn't want to take it away from me. "You two will leave after dawn tomorrow." Gilan and I both nodded. Gilan pushed his chair back and headed out of the tent. I figured that was my cue to follow him and did the same "Oh, and Silas before I forget." Crowley said right before I had the chance to slip under the flap of the tent. He picked up a bundle from below the table. These might come in handy." I think it's time you had your own cloak." I tried to hide my excitement but a smile managed to jump through. I walked around the table and Crowley the items of clothing in my arms, and I could plainly see two Ranger Cloaks on top.
Gilan waited patiently outside for me. "I guess your stuck with me now." He flashed a grin and I was lucky the only light was coming from the bonfire ringed by Rangers because I was caught off guard and I felt my cheeks heat up. I nodded and followed him, still unsure of what just happened. My stomach fluttered strangely and I actually needed to recompose myself. "Have you set up camp anywhere yet?" Gilan asked with a sideways glance.
"No, Crowley wanted to keep an eye on me last night. That or he wanted to make sure I wasn't compromised before my test."
"Do you have your gear?" Gilan questioned awkwardly. Everyone else would be asking those questions as well. He of course had the disadvantage and didn't even see my crafty hiding places for my weapons.
"Yes." I laughed. "I sent Celeg over the day before I got intentionally captured." I steered him towards the meadow where a bunch of horses were sleeping in a clump. It didn't take long for Celeg to wake up and realise that I was here to see him. I rubbed his neck roughly and he shook his mane happily.
"Isn't that Beckett's horse?" I was surprised that he could tell in the dark. Well he also has known the Rangers and their horses longer than I have so I guess that might also be in his favor. I began unloading the packs from the saddle that I needed.
"I wasn't technically a Ranger so I had to practice with what Beck's had." I threw the bags over my free shoulder and sneaked an apple out of my pocket for him to munch on.
"Well we'll heading for Old Bob's tomorrow so you won't have to borrow anymore." There was only one person Beck's referred to as Old Bob and I knew exactly what that meant.
"I'm getting my own horse?" I said a little too excitedly. This was going to wreck my non-feminine reputation. Gilan throated a laugh. "Hey I'm still technically an apprentice so I still have plenty of time to get excited over stuff." I hit his arm playfully.
"You're not the only one who is allowed to get excited," Gilan said as he mocked rubbing his arm where I had hit him. "I thought it would be decades before I got my first apprentice, even just being a replacement for a little while." Gilan checked his shoulder into me and I stumbled around trying not to trip over any roots in the process. So that was how it was going to be. I'm not sure how Becks is going to react when he finds out Gilan was volunteered to take over for him. But then again, Gilan hasn't started teaching me so I can't be sure what he is going to be like then. Becks has two sides to him, even though he mainly kept his Ranger face on more often than his grandfather side, maybe Gilan is the same way.
We left early the next morning. I had spent an interesting rest of the evening observing the three friends prod fun at each other and boast whose mission was more exciting. Halt and Will rose at the same time we did and headed east on their way to Toscana. They bid us farewell and good luck on finding Becks. I didn't say anything, but I'm not sure how fun being a neutral party in a treaty signing would be. Will on the other hand couldn't be told otherwise and I had a guess that it was because they had to pick up a girl named Alyss before they left.
I mounted Celeg with all my gear in their proper positions. Gilan and his horse rode up beside me. His horse was rather tall for a Ranger horse, but considering Gilan was taller than most Rangers it made sense. We only started to weave through the trees when my curiosity rose to the surface. There was something that I was missing or didn't quite understand. I didn't want to ask it last night because I had a feeling Will would find something about it to tease me with. "Gilan? How exactly do you plan to pull off a knight?" Sure he had the build for it because of the extensive Ranger training but I still couldn't imagine it. A wide smile spread across his face.
"I guess we will be spending some time with each other, might as well tell you some of my story. My father is Sir David, the supreme commander of King Duncan's army." Gilan Said proudly.
"Wouldn't you have automatically become a knight then?" I asked, interrupting. Gilan raise an eyebrow at me and I bit my lip to prevent myself from interrupting again.
"I'll get to that," he laughed, "I grew up in a Battleschool, and because my father was a knight, I started basics when I was nine and my training with MacNeil at eleven." I had noticed the sword attached to his saddle but I thought it was merely for this mission.
"Why did you want to be a Ranger: most boys aspire to be knights?" So much for keeping my mouth shut. But Gilan didn't show any sort of disapproval for interrupting again.
"By age twelve I hated it, it was all drills and discipline and parades. Anyways after Hackman Heath my father and Halt became really good friends and he would visit often. He was so mysterious, coming and going where he pleased. Full of adventure and I found that was the most exciting thing ever because people hardly know anything about Rangers."
"Did you ask Halt to be a Ranger?"
"Nope, I followed him one day. Turns out I didn't know as much as I thought I did about unseen movement at that time." He smiled remembering.
"You followed him?"
"Yep and after he threw me in a stream he kept me for a week saying I might have some talent at unseen movement."
"Didn't your father worry about you?" I asked, fully able to picture Halt doing that.
"Actually Halt had told my father that I might follow him and he had already agreed to Halt to take me as his apprentice before I even knew I wanted to be a Ranger. Since I was already close to finishing Battleschool I was able to finish while beginning my training as a Ranger."
"You're lucky."
"I can throw you in a creek or a river if that's what you mean." Gilan teased. Gilan had shared his story; it was only fair that I shared mine. Even though he was the first one to ever hear it.
"I'm good for now, thanks. I've always wanted to be a Ranger. Ever since I can remember Becks has been training me to be a Ranger. Mostly because that was the only thing Becks knew how to do."
"What do you mean? How long have you been training to be a Ranger?"
"I was four when my parents were murdered, and I was given to Becks because he is the only family I have left. After he figured out how to live with a little girl is when he started training me."
"And you never wanted to be anything else?"
"This is all I've ever wanted to be, besides what else are my options? No matter how hard Becks could've tried, I doubt he could've raised me to be a housewife. No one believed that I am a Ranger, even with proof no one volunteered to help me. So they just stuck me with the poor guy who just happened to be in his tent at the time."
"I guess you have a point." He scratched his head. "Well this poor guy is lucky to have been in his tent at that time then." We smiled at each other. Then we realised it was for much longer than it should've been and both turned to the stretched out road ahead of us.
"So where are we going exactly?" I broke the silence. I had heard about one day going to Old Bob's to get my very own horse. I have a feeling Becks didn't tell me where one can find him just so I wouldn't take a trip up there because of a lack of patience.
"Old Bob's is near Castle Redmont, so that is about a three day ride. Then we'll beeline to Forest Land hoping to come up behind him. By that time Crowley will have time to have someone meet up with us to give us the rest of our gear."
"Rest of our gear?" I questioned.
"Well let's just say Crowley has a talent for designing things specifically for Rangers. So I will be getting something to make me look like a knight but a little more specialized, and don't worry there will also be a dress for you." I pulled on my reins and Celeg came to a stop.
"No one said anything about having to wearing a dress." Gilan turned back and realised I had stopped.
"But this one will be Ranger appropriate. Besides this is the easiest way to make sure they believe you are a damsel in distress." Gilan laughed at my horror struck face of the thought of having to wear a dress.
"Fine." I resigned and lightly nudged Celeg with my heels and we caught up to Gilan. "Then we should stop in Faciem Cliff and see Mrs. Padavick."
"Mrs. Padawho?"
"The Lady who forced you to dance with me that one time. It's only a few hours out of our way, besides she has all my dresses. If I'm supposed to pull of someone that pathetic she wouldn't be able to handle only having one dress."
Gilan saw my logic and we diverted from our course by a few degrees. We rode hard to make up for the time we were wasting, only taking the normal walking breaks for the horses and the inside of our legs. It was a lot faster than walking I must say. We ate up the miles and it was late afternoon when we spotted my village under the shadow of the high cliff face. I smiled as I remembered how I had got Halt and Will's attention.
"Think she'll remember me?" Gilan joked. I laughed. Knowing Mrs. Padavick I knew there was a large chance she would remember him and me walking in with him would start having ideas. "Might as well stop there for lunch, as I remembered the food is pretty good."
"Always has been. I have some dresses that I can stand being seen in back in my house."
"Alright, I meet you at the inn."
We split off when we neared the town. Celeg knew the way home by heart and quickly wove through the trees until we came to the familiar clearing. I jumped off Celeg. The house wasn't as welcoming as it used to be. I sighed sadly upon seeing the empty wooden chair on the porch missing how Becks would annoyingly sit and watch me performing scrutinizing tasks. The inside had a layer of dust starting to form on every surface. I could already hear Becks yelling at me for leaving the house in a mess. I promise I'll clean it when I get back. My room was exactly the way I had left it. Upon opening the wardrobe it appeared as if Becks didn't have enough room in his for all of his clothes. That's probably what they assumed when they search the house and or they didn't care about ripping the old man from the other inhabitant that lived here. Of course at the very bottom was a hidden compartment where I hid every reminder of how unladylikeI actually was. I stuffed the green and the blue dress in my bag along with the corset and the only pair of Mrs. Padavick approved shoes I owned.
"Don't worry we're one step closer to finding him." I whispered to Celeg as I remounted.
'I know.' He seemed to answer back. Reeling around we headed back through the forest. I kept my hood up as we entered the town. Even Mrs. Padavick didn't know I was actually trained as a Ranger. She simply thought Becks just had no idea how to raise a girl and turn her into a woman. Celeg nodded a greeting to Gilan's horse as he stopped beside him. Grabbing my dress bag as I hopped to the ground I went around to the front of the inn. I only paused a second to brace myself because of Mrs. Padavick before slipping through the door.
The people in here weren't used to seeing one Ranger, let alone two. They quickly turned away as I turned my hooded face towards them. Two Rangers meant trouble even if they didn't know the real reason. In my favorite back corner sat Gilan and I quickly glided over to him. He raised his eyebrows as I sat down across from him.
"What?" It was one of the looks Becks gave me when he thought I did something wrong. I saw the quick glance at Mrs. Padavick who was busy through the kitchen doors. "I can't exactly go and asked her. She doesn't know I am a Ranger and she has worked very hard to knock the idea out of me on more than one occasion." I said in a hushed tone. Stripping off my weapons was even worse than wearing a one of the frilly dresses. I was just granted permission to have them and taking them off made me feel naked. I kept my knives on my hip, needing something just in case. Plus Mrs. Padavick already knew about these.
I tipped the cowl up so it didn't hide my face and I knocked on the kitchen door. "Go to the front counter and my husband will take you order." She yelled from the counter, her back to me as she focused on kneading the dough.
"Actually, I think someone ordered for me already." I said leaning against the door so it remained open. Wiping sweat and flour off her forehead she turned at my voice.
"Well you could've told me it was you, Silas." She walked over to me rubbing her hands in her apron and stopped right before hugging me realising she was covered in flour. She settled for tucking a loose strand of hair back into my braid. "My dear Silas, every time I see you, you look more and more like your grandfather." I looked down at what I was wearing realising she was right and I smiled at her. "It wasn't a compliment dear." I laughed, knowing how hard she tried to turn me into a lady.
"Well you might want to write this down somewhere because this will be the only time I will say this: I need some dresses."
I had been forced to wear every single one of these dresses and knew which ones didn't look absolutely hideous. To be exact mostly the ones that weren't light pink or orange, and had the least amount of ruffles. What surprised me were the new dresses hanging right in front. Three new ones that were comparably simple compared to the others in the wardrobe and in more neutral tones. "I thought you might like these." I turned and found Mrs. Padavick in the doorway a little less covered in flour. "I made them for you. I thought you might consider wearing dresses if they weren't as girly as the others."
"Thank you." I felt a huge smile on my face spread from ear to ear. To Mrs. Padavick that was all she needed. She headed back down stairs to the finish her work in the kitchen.
I shoved the three new dresses in my bag and decided to put some of the others in as well. Not to mention once out of sight of Mrs. Padavick I could accidently rip some of the lace and ruffles and still have a beautiful dress. With a stuffed bag I returned down stairs. Gilan didn't move when I sat next to him, but I was accustomed to it.
"Could you have fit anymore dresses in there?" Gilan asked and he almost sounded serious, but that couldn't hide the sarcasm in his voice completely.
"If I let Mrs. Padavick pack for me, yes." I joked back.
A few minutes later Mrs. Padavick balanced our plates of food in her hands. Expertly, she placed them on the table. Gilan politely tipped his cowl back just a bit to nod thanks. "Now will there be any dess- Silas? What are you doing with this... Have you finally chosen? I'm so excited for the two of you. This is cause for a celebration! Dessert is on the house!" She floated excitedly back to the kitchen. I however dropped my forehead to the table, and repeat it several times.
"Did you understand a word of that or was it just me?" Gilan asked unsure of what just happened.
"She has been trying to marry me off for years now and keeps throwing suitors at me." I explained, rubbing my now sore forehead.
"Oh." Was all Gilan could say.
"That pretty much sums it up in one word." I laughed into my soup.
"Well if we can fool Mrs. Padavick in thinking we're together maybe convincing that I'm your knight in shining armour will be that much easier." For some reason my stomach fluttered again. I also noticed he looked a little more handsome when he smiled as he said it.
After desserts and a forced group hug initiated by Mrs. Padavick, we took off on the road again. The rest of the day was spent riding hard. The mountains disappeared behind us, as did the foothills as we rode with only short breaks between the long hours. I had looked over at Gilan several times and found him keeping a watchful eye on me. Instead of pretending he wasn't looking he smiled and nodded in approval. I kept telling myself that he didn't know how advanced I was in my training thus assessing my level because he had missed my apprentice testing.
The sun started her dissent towards the western horizon. The sky turned from the bright spring blue to purple, and then to pink. Gilan subtly gave the signal to stop. I looked around for the cause for us to stop, bewildered why the horses didn't pick it up first. Then I noticed Gilan already off his horse and grabbing his camping supplies out from his saddle. I said nothing but followed suit anyways. But I did let my facial expression tell him that I was confused and that we had at least one more hour before it would be impractical to carry on.
"We'll set up camp first then have a look at where you're at."
"I was wondering why we stopped seeing as we still have an hour of riding time left."
"Well our time together might be short but I wouldn't be a very good mentor if I didn't teach you anything. Besides you didn't get the pointers other Rangers give apprentices at the Gathering and a fresh set of eyes can be good." He grinned laying his tent out flat getting ready to pitch it up. I was glad we didn't have to sleep out in the open; the worst is definitely the cool night breeze teasing and making it even harder to get comfortable. Not to mention you usually woke up covered in dew this time of the year. I mirrored him and set my tent up on the other side of the tall tree. Might as well take what luxury we can now when we're not worried about anyone following us. The so called character building Becks keeps referring to, well that I can start tomorrow.
"Grab your bow and we will begin." Gilan said after he had come back from collecting some more firewood from the thinned out forest. Doing what I was told I pulled off my bow from my shoulder and flapped open the part of my cloak that protected the feathered ends of the arrows slung to my back. Gilan had been busier than I thought. He directed me to stand with my toes on a line that he just drew with the toe of his boot. There were small targets spread out over hundreds of meters, counting seven in total. "I want you to choose five of the targets. Simply go when you are ready." I could tell he was going to be even more precise than my examiners were. This time I didn't mind as much. I felt comfortable with him, not to mention this time I would receive help if I needed it.
I carefully picked one arrow and knocked it loosely. The five targets were all easy with the recurve bow. I wanted to show him that I was capable with speed and accuracy before showing him my weakness with the full bow. I breathed deeply, looking at all the targets and deciding which order I was going to fire in. In one swift movement I raised the bow aimed and fired. As that one was released from between my fingers I was already reaching back for the next arrow. Five shots were fired in rapid succession. All five shots had also found the heart of their targets. Gilan scanned each one, but these were what a beginner apprentice practiced with. "How long ago did Beckett start teaching you to become a Ranger?"
"I started when I was fifteen, so five years ago." Gilan pondered this for a few moments.
"So you should be done your training or soon at least and be going for the silver leaf." Gilan thought aloud. Then he noticed it. "Where is your longbow?" Gilan asked, eyebrows raised but he already knew the answer.
"That's kind of the only thing that I'm missing. Becks told me that I should be completely trained and master every Ranger weapon and skill before coming out to the Gathering."
"Well we can work on that after we take care of these last two targets." Gilan gestured to the last two targets with his hand. "But let's make it a little more challenging shall we." He smiled cunning smile that he probably borrowed from Halt as he hopped of the fallen tree he was sitting on. In his hand dangled a piece of material. I only knew it was a blindfold when he placed it over my eyes. He smoothed the hair down at the back of my head before tying it into a tight knot. Placing both hands on my shoulders he whispered into my ear. "This time you'll have to rely on memory for the last two targets."
This task seemed impossible. Strangely I smiled at the thought of it. A new set of eyes was a good thing. That meant learning things a different way than the same boring habits Becks had started to use repeatedly. It also meant something new and exciting, a challenge that didn't relate to getting enough strength for the longbow. As long as the world didn't shift in the next few seconds this might be possible. I focused on the two that were still empty. I shifted my bow slightly to the left and pulled out a single arrow out from behind me. Notching and firing were the easier parts, and if I wanted to cheat and use the ground to help me this would be a piece of cake. But I wanted to do this without any magic, to prove that it wasn't the reason I could do this. Aiming blindly at the memory of a target, I patiently took my time drawing to what I thought is the right amount and angled it up slightly. I touched my finger to the corner of my mouth and then released it. Sadly there was no thud.
"A little too high and too much to the left that time." Gilan stated. He kindly enough returned me to facing straight ahead, using his hands to gently guide me by the shoulders. "Last one. It's just like normal shooting; you can't think about the shot you must feel that it's right."
I knocked another arrow, once again picturing where this one was. It was farther to the back than the other but I could see it perfectly in my head. I did what Gilan told me. I didn't focus on trying to see the target; instead I let my body tell me where it is. As fast as if I could see I raised the bow, drew and fired the grey arrow. This time I took off the blindfold. It didn't collide with the target, but it did fly inches over it.
"Not bad. You now have something else to practice. Let's see that long bow of yours."
Attached to my saddle bag was my longbow. To make sure it wouldn't get damaged on the journey I had unstrung it. I restrung it then returned to Gilan where he had a hand outstretch. I placed the bow in his hand and he examined it now using the firelight that he must've just started.
"Let's see you aim for the second on the right." Tossing the bow back in my hands I returned to the line in the dirt. Another arrow was knocked in place as I took a breath in. Again I brought the arrow up and fired it quickly. This one however got three quarters of the way there before falling short.
"No matter how hard I try I can't get strong enough to pull it back to full draw. Becks said that was the main reason why girls were never considered as Rangers because they couldn't get strong enough. That or it will take me another few years."
"We'll find some way to resolve that." He strolled up behind me and lifted my left arm by the elbow. "First of all I want you to feel where you need to go so when you get there you know you have it." Gilan said in my ear. His body was pressed against mine and he placed his hand on top of mine to help steady the bow. He passed me one of my arrows and I knocked it. Drawing it back I felt Gilan place his fingers exactly on top as if he connected to me. "The middle one." He said as he pressed his cheek to my cheek. The string went passed my usual spot with Gilan's aid. I felt his muscles turn to stone as we reached full draw and held it there. Finding the middle target I aimed the bow for the correct distance and took only a second longer to feel the strength I would need. Gilan's fingers were controlled by mine so they didn't get in the way when I release. We waited a second until the arrow thudded into the target, right beside the other.
"There, now you know what perfection feels like." He smiled down at me and I grinned knowing the old Ranger saying. At the same time we both realised we were still pressed against each other. Immediately we jumped away and both pretended that it didn't happen. For if it did we would both agree that there was something there.
Authors' Note: Could there be something there? Will knows it and we know it but when will they figure it out? As all ways you'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out! Any questions please ask and we'll either answer them after the next chapter of in the chapter itself. Thanks to everyone who review... you guys make my world go round and I love each one of them. Catherine and I are gone for two weeks to Brazil and we won't be able to type but I will write the chapter the old fashion way just so I can get this story going because I'm so excited for you guys to find out what will happen next! Review please!
Love, C & M
Only two review this time that's kind of sad! No wonder it took so long for this chapter to be updated.
Guest- Whoever you are thank you for reviewing! It really means the world to us and it inspires us to write more. Oh and he was pinning over Jenny... just so I can say there was something at one point but not anymore just so I've covered all of my bases.
Adrianna- I do believe that is the best and the longest review I have ever received! I hope you'll forgive me for writing such a short personal response... but hey I stayed up till 1AM finishing this because you asked to have the next chapter up before you leave tomorrow so you can read it! Oh the things I do sometimes =] Thank you for always reviewing, it really means a lot to me and inspires me to write more.
