Halt and Ferris sat quietly in the rowing boat. They floated motionless in the middle of the small lake, watching the sun grow lower on the tree line. Halt was too tired to make conversation, and he didn't feel the need for it. Ferris on the other hand seemed increasingly uncomfortable with it. He fidgeted.

"S-so..." he began, "Do you always come out here? To this lake?"

"Not always," Halt replied, not offering any explanation. The gentle rocking of the boat was reminding him of how truly exhausted he was. It had been an incredibly long day, and conversation was too much to manage right now.

"Oh," Ferris faltered, disappointed.

Halt leaned down and let a hand glide across the water, watching the ripples he created. Ferris pulled the oars in and rested one in his lap, tapping it agitatedly.

"Um... I'm glad you're alright from the dinner the other night." he tried again. Halt glanced up sharply, studying his twin's face. He looked... uncomfortable, yes, but not... angry. Yet.

"Yes," Halt finally said, unconsciously bringing his hand out of the water and letting it rest in his lap. A small warning signal was going off in his mind, but he was exhausted and willing to give Ferris the benefit of the doubt. he pushed the warning back for another moment. He might just be paranoid. At least, he sincerely hoped so.

"What were you saying to mother just before?" Ferris asked all in a rush, as if he had been waiting to ask it. He tried to sound unconcerned, but Halt didn't miss the note of hurt in his voice.

"Just asking if she was alright," Halt said slowly. As much as he wanted to connect with Ferris, that moment had been just for him and he was reluctant to share it.

"That's all?" this question took on a decidedly harder note. The warning came back, stronger this time, as Halt realized he had nothing in his hands and Ferris had a heavy rowing oar. His brother's hands tightened around it, then relaxed.

"That was all." Halt shook his head firmly, "I don't want to fight, Ferris-"

"You don't?" Ferris' voice was rising shrilly each time he spoke, "Mother was the only thing I had! Do you know what she said to me after that? While you were still sleeping after the dinner? 'Perhaps we've been too harsh to Halt, Ferris. He's under a lot of pressure as the future king.'"

"No, Ferris, listen," Halt suddenly sat forward, urgent, "It's not just me. It's all of us- it's not fair to you or mother or Father or Caitlyn. It won't be right away, but-but if we can decide to change things, maybe we can fix this family-"

"Fix this family?" Ferris' lips suddenly turned up in a sneer, his eyes growing hard and cold, "Fix this family, Halt? Are you insane?! We're a wreck- I know that. But I know how to deal with it. What you're doing... it could either go well or backfire horribly. And my money is on the later, Halt, because the only one this has benefited so far is *you*. You've just taken more from me, with every 'fix' you've made. Was that your goal too? Take the crown and then take our parents?"

"Ferris," Halt pleaded. He felt like he was flailing- he had no idea what his brother wanted, but Halt was absolutely certain that Ferris was dangerous now. What could he say? He hadn't come in with a plan for this, and now he was paying the price for his mistake.

"Ferris," Halt pleading again, aware that he had to tread carefully, but he was going in blind, "I don't want the crown. You can have it. I'll leave and you can take it. Please take this from me, Ferris!"

"So what? You can come back and murder me while I have no idea where you are?" Ferris' eyes shown with paranoid rage, and he lifted the oar, "I won't play your game, Halt! I'll beat you at it first!"

Before Halt could think to react, Ferris hefted the oar and swung at his brother's head. Halt ducked just in time, but the oar caught his shoulder heavily and the impact carried out of the boat.

Halt lay there in the water for a moment, numb and hurting in more than one way.

Ferris wouldn't stop until he knew Halt was dead. Halt couldn't deny the evidence any longer. He needed to get away, or he would die. He needed to move. He needed- he needed air!

Halt sluggishly forced his limbs to move, kicking out with his legs and pushing away from the boat. He broke the surface several meters from the boat and looked up into Ferris' terrified face.

"Halt, I'm so sorry! Please, give me your hand, I'll pull you back in!"

Halt faltered for a moment, battling intense guilt and the feeling that he was *abandoning* them. But no- Pritchard had said Halt couldn't help his family if he wasn't safe himself... and Halt definitely wasn't safe. He would have to trust logic and Pritchard and deal with emotions later.

"No more, Ferris," he whispered, before turning and swimming to the nearest bank, leaving his brother sitting alone in the boat.

. . .

Halt stumbled through the kitchen hallways, incredibly grateful that he had caught the only few hours the kitchens stood empty. In about an hour, servants and cooks would be preparing breakfast and baking. He knew he was leaving a trail of muddy water behind him, but he didn't care. He would be gone before anyone connected the dots.

He emerged into the main castle halls very close to his intended destination. He reached out with a shaking hand and knocked on a door. Caitlyn emerged in her nightgown a moment later.

"Halt!" she breathed, her hands flying to her mouth, "What-"

Halt shook his head, stepping into her room and closing the door behind him.

"Ferris," he said once they were alone, letting his head hand in defeat. Caitlyn reached out and touched his dripping face, then threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.

"I can't-" he grit his teeth as she unwittingly jarred his shoulder, "I can't stay here, Cait. Ferris won't stop until one of us is dead. And I will never kill my brother."

"Where will you go?" Cait asked, her eyes wide with pain for her brother.

"Across the sea, to Araluen," he answered and then stopped, suddenly feeling the weight of his statement. He would likely never see her again. His breath hitched and he laid his head on hers.

"Cait, I'm sorry- I could have done so much more, more for you, for mother, father, even Ferris. I'm so sorry, I can't leave you all-"

"Halt, it's alright," Caitlyn withdrew just enough so she could look Halt in the eye, "You've helped mother and Father so much already. They-They're not perfect, but they're trying. And they're better than they were a year ago."

"But, Ferris-"

"Halt, you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. You've done what you can- you passed him an olive branch and he's rejected it. It's... not entirely his fault that he's like this, but you've done all you can. It's okay to leave."

Halt looked at her doubtfully. "I'll stay if you want me to."

"I know," his little sister smiled sadly, her eyes filling with tears, "I know you would, Halt. But I want you safe too. You have to leave."

Halt nodded, squeezing her hand and turning to leave. But then a though occurred to him and he turned back briefly.

"If- if you turn right instead of left at the forest edge, you'll come across a little cabin. A man named Pritchard lives there; he was a King's Ranger in Araluen until he had to leave. That's where I've been all this time. He's a good man- if you ever need help, go to him. I trust him with my life."

Caitlyn's eyes lit up with sudden understanding, and she nodded.

"Thank you, Halt." A commotion down the hall made them both look toward the door. "You need to leave. Hurry!"

Halt nodded, embracing her one more time before slipping out her door and into the kitchen passageways, headed for the forest and then the boat docks. He paused at the treeline, turning to get one last look at his childhood home. He still felt terribly about leaving his family, but the castle itself held no sentimental value to him. As satisfied as he was going to be, he turned and continued into the trees, disappearing to anyone on the castle wall.

. . .

Halt practically stumbled into Pritchard's doorway. He knocked urgently, shivering. A moment later, the door opened and Pritchard was standing there in his nightshirt.

"What-"

"Pritchard." Halt whispered, stepping forward before he could stop himself. The next thing he knew, Pritchard's arms were around him, strong and warm. He knew he should be embarassed, but he just reached up with his good hand and clung to his mentor.

Pritchard held the trembling boy in his arms, stunned into silence. Halt was dripping, carefully keeping his left shoulder away from Pritchard. He was gripping his arm with his right hand for dear life.

"It's alright now, Halt," he murmured. A quiet sob was the only response, and Halt hugged tighter.

Then, just as quickly as it started, Halt regained control of himself and stiffly withdrew. Pritchard let him go. The boy stood hugging his left arm to his body and sniffing.

"Umm... sorry." Halt muttered, staring at the ground.

"Don't apologize for that," Pritchard shook his head firmly, turning to find his ranger cloak. A blanket would have been better, but Pritchard still hadn't collected much in the way of clothes. When he turned back and wrapped the cloak around him, Halt's face was neutral again- and exhausted.

"I have to leave." he said shortly. Pritchard was careful to keep his own reactions neutral, and he merely nodded.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Sort of."

"Where are you going?"

"Araluen." Halt answered with more certainty than he had spoken all day. Pritchard nodded again, surprised by his own sharp wave of homesickness. He swallowed.

"I wish I could go with you, boy," he said softly, "But when you get there, look for someone about your age; can't miss him. Bright red hair, won't shut up- best silent movement Ranger I've ever seen. He was my apprentice before I had to leave. But he's a good man- he'll help you out."

"Actually, I have one more favor to ask of you." Halt began.

"Anything."

"My sister- Caitlyn. Have you seen her around?"

"I have," Pritchard nodded.

"Will you look out for her? I told her about you. She might come and visit."

"Of course. You have my word." Pritchard agreed earnestly. "Do you want me to look at your shoulder before you go?"

"No, it's just bruised, not torn." Halt shook his head quickly, gingerly testing his range of motion. "But I need to leave. They might be looking for me already."

"Of course." Pritchard agreed. He hesitated, and then reached out to hug Halt one last time. The boy didn't resist. He was stiff as a board, but Pritchard took it as acceptance.

"It's been a pleasure training you, Halt." he whispered. He felt the boy nod against him.

"Thank you. For everything." he whispered, and then pulled back, making to take off the cloak.

"Keep it," Pritchard smiled a little, "I have my spare."

Halt nodded, and stepped quietly out the door. Pritchard watched him walk for a few steps, but suddenly the boy stopped and whirled around, his eyes wild with panic. He didn't know why he needed so much reassurance, but he had to hear it just one more time.

"Pritchard, I can't- I can't just leave-"

"You can, Halt," Pritchard encouraged gently, "You said you trusted me, remember? Trust me now."

Halt stared at him for another moment, biting his lip, but finally nodded.

He didn't look certain, but his trust for Pritchard was much stronger than his doubts.

He turned and disappeared into the forest, heading for the docks.

The End


Thank you for your patience as I took forever to finish this chapter! I hope you enjoyed this story!