Chapter 11:

|| Vanish ||

xxx

'Why so glum Ranger?'

The loud voice echoed through the frosty air, snapping Gilan out of his sombre thoughts.

'Gundar, I didn't think you were on sentry duty tonight.' He replied, eyeing the Skandian warily.

'Came to check on my men, we won't be here for much longer after all.' The burly man said, coming to stand beside the Ranger.

Gilan nodded absently, staring out from the battlements, into the night.

'Repairs all done then?'

Gundar glanced curiously at the smaller man. 'I'm sure you know they are.' He stated.

The seawolf knew he wasn't the brightest person in Castle Macindaw, but he wasn't stupid. The younger Ranger, Will, was quick witted and intelligent, he was sure this one was as well. Therefore Gilan must be distracted.

'You're leaving Macindaw tomorrow, aren't you?' Gundar asked him.

'Yes, I only need to visit it once in a while.'

The Skandian grunted in agreement.

Only a week ago Gilan had arrived at Castle Norgate, being reassigned after the events that had unfolded there. Days later he arrived at Macindaw to inspect the Skandian's and their near-departure, as well as make sure the original garrison was working properly.

But something was clearly on Gilan's mind, shadowing his expression.

'You know the knight, Horace? He told me you guys are good listeners.' The Ranger said unexpectantly, turning his gaze towards the Skandian.

Gundar shrugged. 'I suppose, mostly because we don't gossip or nothing. Why?'

'Just a thought.' Gilan replied vaguely.

The two stood in silence, listening to the calm noises of the Castle grounds mixed with the strange sounds that arose from the forest.

'See here's the thing...' Gilan eventually began. 'Not many people in Araluen know how close Macindaw came to having a full scale Scotti invasion, so everything is hidden. And I got reassigned here fairly quickly...'

Gundar listened patiently, looking away from the smaller man, but paying attention nonetheless.

'I gave a really poor explanation for leaving to someone important. I feel terrible but I didn't have a choice...'

Gilan's thoughts drifted to one week ago, standing in the Redmont Inn, becoming reacquainted with the familiar feeling of loneliness that accompanied the life of a Ranger.

'Jenny, will you listen to me?'

She turned to him, smiling, her face flushed from activity.

'I'm sorry Gil, but it's the lunch hour, this place is so busy lately. I have so many things to do, can't this wait?'

'No, it really can't. I've got to go Jen.'

'Oh ok, well I'll talk to you later then.'

He grasped her arms, forcing her to stop kneading her pastry dough.

'Jennifer,' she stopped struggling, 'I have been reassigned to a new Fief.' He said slowly, allowing her to absorb his words.

'Which Fief?' She asked quietly, eyes wide.

Gilan swallowed but refused to break eye contact. 'Norgate.'

'Norgate?'

'I can't refuse, this is Ranger business.'

'When are you leaving?'

'Tonight.'

'Gilan, why didn't you say something?' Jenny whispered, she sounded hurt. 'How long have you known?'

'Not that long, but you've been so busy with the Inn; I didn't want to bother you. I just, I don't know how long until I can visit you.'

'I have work to do.' Jenny said firmly, her expression closing so he couldn't read her thoughts.

She tried to pull away, but Gilan kept her close, frowning at her attitude.

'Don't be like that, you knew this would happen. It's not the end, just stay positive.' He urged, forcing her to look at him.

He was shocked by her indifference to his words.

Jenny glanced away from him, refusing to meet his eyes.

Gilan kissed her purposefully, but she was unresponsive. It was like she had shut down, numbing herself.

Reluctantly, he let her go, watching as she darted out of the room to return to her work, without a sound.

'It's hard to explain, but there are too many things I can't tell her.' Gilan said, after describing her reaction. 'Who am I kidding? Gossip spreads fast; of course everyone will know what happened here.'

He groaned, resting his head on his arms. 'Gods, I am such an idiot.'

Gundar shifted nervously. Skandians were full of emotion, nothing was ever levelled, it was full on and exaggerated, but personally he hadn't faced an experience like the Ranger's and was at a loss of what to say.

'You could always write a letter.' He suggested, wondering where his thought had come from.

'A letter?' Gilan raised his eyebrow.

'You know, you can't leave the castle often, but letters can get by easily. Just write to her.'

Gundar turned away, hoping the Ranger wouldn't ask him what he should put in such a letter. He was afraid he may have to lie and then make an escape.

Thankfully, it seemed Gilan was absorbed in his own thoughts.

'Right, well I better go see the men on the other side.' Gundar told him, pointing to the eastern castle perimeters.

The Ranger nodded.

'Hey Gundar?'

The Skandian turned, grunting in acknowledgement.

'Thanks.'

Gundar shrugged, feeling embarrassed by the whole thing.

Gilan smiled into the dark.

For the eighth time, Gilan scrunched up the piece of paper he was using, letting it drop uselessly to the floor.

Returning later that night to his temporary room in Macindaw, he had attempted to put all his thoughts into a simple letter, to try and soften the situation with Jenny.

He still hadn't figured out whether he was going to use the typical way to send off a letter, or use a secure route, like he usually did for his Ranger reports. But he couldn't decide until he knew what he was putting into the letter.

'How much can I tell her?' He muttered, slumping onto the small desk that he sat at.

Jenny liked sincere things; she hated falsities and was drawn to confessions of the heart. But Gilan had been raised to be naturally secretive. Although they got along well, they're professions were polar opposites.

Gilan groaned and ran a hand through his hair, staring at the wall in front of him.

It wasn't a matter of secrecy or pride, he just had to settle down and write the letter, so he could hopefully put Jenny's mind at ease, as well as his own.

'Mistress Jenny!'

She turned, faced with a smiling horseman.

'Yes?'

'I have a letter for you.' The man handed over a carefully sealed piece of paper, nodding before he left.

Jenny glanced at it, uninterested at first. But then she figured it might be an order receipt, so she told one of her waiter's that she would spend time alone in the backroom.

The young woman didn't question her; Jenny hadn't been the nicest of people lately. Although she was cheery and glowed for her customer's, she was easily angered and short tempered.

If any of her staff wondered why, they certainly didn't voice their thoughts.

She placed the small piece of paper on her desk out the back, reaching up to let her hair down. Her long curls fell around her, suddenly free from their hold.

Her name was carefully printed on the front of the letter, with artful precision.

'Odd.' She murmured and broke the seal, revealing a creased piece of paper, covered in fingerprints.

Jenny's eyes widened when she saw who it was from.

'Jenny,

I'm sorry that I can never make up for situations such as these. It's a part of who I am, and although it's an inconvenience, it's my duty. I am a Ranger and always will be.

But it doesn't mean we can't be together, so I'm hoping you will forgive me and allow me to see you when I can spend some time away from Norgate. It won't be forever.

Already I miss being around you, I think you'd make this icy world a much better place if you were here.

Hopefully I will see you soon and that you will be happy to see me.

- Gilan.'

Her eyes skimmed over the letter once more.

Unintentionally a smile was forming on her face.

She would allow him to visit, but when he did, he was getting a stern talking to.

'Catherin?' Jenny called.

A small, brown haired woman appeared tentatively.

'Yes?'

'Could you please go and find the man who delivered this to me?' She asked politely, waving her letter around.

'Of course. I won't be long.' Catherin replied, smiling, glad to see Jenny acting like her normal self.

Jenny sat down at her desk, taking out her own paper and ink.

It would be a while until she saw Gilan again; she figured she would forgive him by then.

For now, she had a letter to respond to.

Author's Note:

Yeah, been a while since I had an update. Sorry! :(

The next chapter jumps a few months, because I'm keeping to the books. Hopefully it won't be long until I write it.

Also I did update Majesty not that long ago, but it was wiped off the archive page within the day I updated :( So check that out as well.

- Mae.