Holy Cow! Over 4,000 words! I think this calls for some reviews! *Hint, Hint* But anyways thanks to Dodo. 123, RAlover, and Lizzet Nighthunter for reviews and correspondence. Anyways...I hope you like this, and I'm sorry it took so long to update.

Chapter 13

Gilan was the unfortunate person designated with the task of waking up Lilly, but he and Will together would have the difficult job of teaching the invalid how to ride a horse.

"Lilly! Get up!" Gilan said loudly as he walked into the room. Lilly grabbed her clothes quickly with a shriek and hopped on one foot towards the screen, as Gilan walked in the room.

Throwing her shoes at the Senior Ranger from behind the screen, Lilly yelled, "GET OUT! And knock first!" she hissed under her breath, "Geez, I thought you'd have the decency to ask if I was changing!" Gilan spun around almost immediately and walked out of the room, his face a rosy peach color.

"How'd it go?" Will asked with a smirk, leaning against the wall as Gilan sank to the floor next to him.

"Let's just say... knocking is a very good policy," Gilan said softly, and stood up again.

Will started to laugh and Gilan glared at him. "You would've done the same!" Gilan claimed.

"No," Will snickered, "I know, I would've done the same, but that's not why I'm laughing," he continued to chuckle. "You have the imprint of her shoe on your back!" Gilan glared at the younger Ranger and started trying to rub it off.

Cassandra walked up the castle steps to Lilly's floor and saw Will laughing at Gilan who was anxiously trying to rub his back. Clearing her throat and ignoring the shenanigans, the two Rangers saw her and stood at attention almost immediately.

"Are you waiting for Lilly?" the princess asked and Will nodded.

As Cassandra rose her hand to knock, Gilan blurted, "You might not want to go in there." He felt as though he should warm the princess about the "situation," but he only cringed and added, "Milady." The princess fixed him with an icy stare, making the senior Ranger stare at his own shoes uncomfortably.

Lilly struggled to put her shirt on over her underwear and bandages, when someone gently knocked on the door. "Stay out Gilan!" she yelled, and the door opened a crack.

"Lilly, it's Cassandra. I thought you might want some help," the princess offered quietly. Lilly poked her head out from behind the screen and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Actually, yes. Help would be very much appreciated," Lilly told her gratefully with chuckle and inhaled sharply, speaking, "Right, no laughing." Cassandra quickly walked into the room and shut the door softly. Although Lilly didn't understand the significance of the princess helping her dress, Will and Gilan stared through the crack and saw Cassandra disappear behind the screen. The two raised an eyebrow simultaneously, and returned to the hallway, shutting the door quietly.

Gilan looked at Will who replied with a confused shrug. Sitting on the hallway floor, they both waited for Lilly.

"Ow!" Lilly hissed as she harshly slid her tight brown shirt over her underwear and bandages. Then roughly shoved her feet through the mended green leggings, moaning in anguish.

"You might want to be more gentle," Cassandra told her softly, cringing in sympathetic pain.

"Oh," Lilly responded, as if the idea hadn't occurred to her, and rubbed her wrists unconsciously. The sleeves reached down to her hands, but no further, and the shirt would soon be too small for her. The next layer was her brownish green tunic, which reached about mid-thigh, and its sleeves stopped about halfway on her upper arm. Cassandra handed the tunic to the girl who slid it on gently and shifted her shoulders; the princess stood by in case she was needed. A worn leather vest was the last item she wore upon her torso; the tunic and vest were both washed and starched, making them a comfort to wear, after her many "dirty" outings.

Giving Lilly her rabbit skin legwarmers, Cassandra waited for the younger girl to try fastening them. Sliding into a seated position on the floor, Lilly pulled her bent her knee and tried to pull the leg up toward her chest. As Lilly gave a small shriek of pain, Will jumped outside.

"Couldn't we wait another few days?" Will mumbled under his breath, knowing how silly the question was.

Gilan looked sideways at the girl's mentor. "And do you really think she would listen? The only way she'll stay in that bed and rest would be if we tied her to the posts." Will nodded and jumped to his feet, with Gilan following suit as someone's feet pounded heavily on the wooden steps.

"Is she out yet?" the boy asked quickly.

"Evan?" Will gasped. Evan had grown at least a couple inches and was covered in dirt. "My you've gotten big!"

"It's good to see you, too, Will." Evan smiled. His teeth were the only clean, white part of him. "Where is she?" Evan looked toward the door and started to reach for the handle.

Gilan grabbed Evan's other arm, holding the boy back, saying, "Um, I'm pretty sure she is still changing."

"Why don't you go back down to the stables and wait. We'll be there shortly," Will added and saw the boy sigh, and go pounding back down the stairs.

"Why do you let me tie these," Cassandra suggested and knelt by Lilly's feet, taking the leg warmers from the girl cautiously before she could hurt herself further.

Lilly breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks." As soon as the leg warmers were tied around her calves, Lilly reached for her leather boots. Grabbing them both, Lilly shoved her foot into left boot easily, then continued with the right shoe. "Quick and painless," Lilly told herself as she prepared to do the same. Cassandra looked away, pretending not to hear the words. Shoving her right foot into the boot, a moan emitted, followed by a quick gasp, and then a soft sniffle. The splint caused a bulge, but Lilly ignored it, knowing the leather would mold around her ankle. The shoes were waterproof, malleable and warm, insulating her feet from the cold. The girl ran her fingers over the worn leather, knowing they would tear soon, and prepared to stand.

Settling her hands against the floorboards, Lilly boosted herself up, ignored the pain flaring in her chest and put a hand on the window seat, pushing herself to a standing position. Then she quickly sank onto the window seat, leaning against the shutters.

Lilly grabbed the knife scabbard, which was sitting on the seat, and fastened it around her waist. She thumbed the saxe, and thought about her lost throwing knife. Cassandra handed Lilly another belt with a small cloth bag attached. The stitching was nice, but the bag was worn; it was obvious the girl made it herself, though it served its purpose well. Lilly lastly fastened the empty throwing knife around her upper thigh, simply out of habit. Realizing it was empty she moved to take it off, but stopped herself for some unknown reason.

Taking another deep breath, Lilly moved to stand, putting as much of her weight as she could on her good, left foot. Pushing off the seat with her hands, Lilly started to limp to her bed. There was a loud knock on the door, and Lilly lost her concentration and put too much weight on her right foot. A searing pain tore its way around her foot and up wove her leg. A shriek tore itself from her mouth, and Lilly crashed into Cassandra, who tried to catch her, to no avail. The door opened quickly and Will and Gilan entered.

Will jumped at the door when he heard a shriek and waited for no reply- the scream had been enough. The sight of his stout-hearted apprentice crumpled on the ground, with the princess sitting next to Lilly made Will drop to his knees next to the girls, momentarily forgetting his manners. Will quickly stood, and offered a hand to Cassandra who glared at Will and slapped his hand away scornfully. Will knelt next to his apprentice, who was silent, though her shoulders were shaking harshly. Gilan helped the princess to her feet and Will lifted and pain-struck Lilly onto her bed.

Will rubbed the girl's back lightly as she hiccuped twice and took a deap breath. "I'm riding today, huh?" Lilly said with a weary smile and looked up into her master's face.

"We can wait another day..." Will suggested, nodding, but broke off when Lilly shook her head firmly.

"No. I'm learning to ride. After all I've went through to get dressed, I'm not giving up yet." Lilly tried for a smile, yet it appeared as an awful sort of grimace.

Will chuckled lightly, smiled back and ruffled her hair. Running a hand through the tangled mess, Lilly combed her fingers through her locks and started to braid them gently, then found the ribbon Will gave her in her small waist bag. "I'm ready." Lilly nodded, took a deep breath to steady herself, and stood, all her weight on her left foot.

The trio watched her step with grim faces. As Lilly started to put some light weight on her right foot, a small gasp was all that escaped her before she collapsed.

"...rotten luck." Lilly heard Gilan speak as her eyes fluttered open. "This is ridiculous!" he continued. "Walking, bah! Standing is even out of the question."

Lilly rolled onto her back, and saw Will on one knee next to her, Gilan hovering over her, while Cassandra turned away, and walked out the door, whispering behind her, "I can't see you put yourself through this."

Lilly ignored the words and angled herself to Gilan. "Shut up and sit down. I don't see you with a broken ankle. Stop complaining."

Gilan snickered, and stroked his chin, as if there was a beard there. "Carry her, Will," he spoke abruptly and walked out of the room. Will rose an eyebrow, and his jaw dropped.

Lilly giggled, and inhaled sharply. "Right, no laughing," she mumbled to herself. "Okay Will!" She grinned. "Carry me, my good man."

Will groaned and he bent low and hooked one arm under her knees and curled the other around her back. Lilly hooked her arms around Will's neck. The older Ranger walked out the door, responding to Lilly's cries of "Mush! Mush!" with a grumpy reply of, "Don't think I won't drop you."

Lilly smiled and tightened her grip on Will's neck saying, "If I'm going down, you are coming with me!"

The whole walk to the stables and paddock, Will moaned and complained about Lilly's weight, "Ease up on the butter and milk!" he spoke at one point, and the most recent: "Ow! My back!"

"What are you? Some old grampa?" Lilly snickered, and Gilan and Will shared a glance.

Will leaned closer to Gilan and spoke in his ear, "Did this happen to Halt at all?"

Gilan shook his head fiercely, but replied, "I think he did have to carry a pig around for a day. Apparently, he lost a bet with Crowley." Lilly tucked the information away, knowing its future use. "And Lilly?" Gilan rose his voice, now speaking directly to the nosy girl. "Halt," he paused for emphasis, "can't be blackmailed."

The path was unforgiving, yet Will didn't complain, other than the demoralizing statements spoken to his apprentice, who was enjoying her lofty position far too much.

"Who's the dude on the horse?" the girl asked, breaking the silence. Gilan and Will smiled, sharing knowing looks. As they got closer, the man, well, rather, boy, came into view. "Is that...?" Lilly spoke to herself. "No." She did a double take. "EVAN!" Lilly screeched, and Will gave a grimace of pain.

"My ears," Will moaned, then followed it with, "MY NECK!" Lilly had tightened her grip, trying to make Will move faster; it created the opposite effect. Will stopped suddenly, and almost dropped her, clawing at his throat instead to loosen her iron grip. "Let go now," he snarled, and Lilly unclasped her hands quickly. "The carriage stops here," Will told Lilly abruptly, who gave an apologetic smile. Will set Lilly on on the ground and standing on her left foot, Lilly hopped her way to the fence closer to her brother. She grabbed the tall shovel leaning beside her, using it as a crutch, as she waited for him.

"There you go! Now you need to test him. Move towards the jump," Ulf grunted and gestured to the strong paddock gate. Evan nodded and spurred Asad further. The horse began to gallop as he neared the jump, but turned to the right quickly, as soon as the beam was directly in front of him. Evan yelled and clutched the horn and pommel of the saddle, one leg strewn over the seat, from the tricky maneuvering. "Try it again!" Ulf said with a bored tone, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Evan nodded and clicked the reins; Asad snorted and walked to the starting position. Lilly saw her brother bend over and whisper into the horse's ear. Asad flicked his tail twice, and Evan spurred him forward again. With a loud whinny the horse cleared the jump with ease and circled the cantering horse around the paddock. Lilly clapped loudly and Ulf whipped his head around, staring the girl down. Lilly's energetic clapping only increased and Gilan let out a two-fingered whistle, with a wink in Ulf's direction. The Horsemaster rolled his eyes and turned back to Evan who had ridden up beside him and dismounted, bowing in the direction of the adoring crowd-all of two people.

"Drop the act," Ulf whispered to Evan.

He grinned widely and looked at his teacher, saying, "You're just jealous you don't have fans."

"Sure," Ulf said sarcastically, and grabbed Asad's reins, leading the horse and the boy back to the barn, talking to Evan about his performance. Lilly's eyes narrowed as she saw his shoulders sink, and then nod fervently.

Lilly grabbed her shovel, and started to slide onto the top slat of the fence.

"You do realize there is a gate?" Gilan told her, and Lilly chuckled to herself.

"Of coouurrssee!" She drew the word out and gave Gilan a prideful smile.

"Sure," Gilan mumbled under his breath. Lilly hopped down from the fence and landed on her left foot, then began to walk to the gate, using the shovel as a crutch. Lilly unstrung the rope and hobbled inside, asking Gilan to refasten the rope.

"Should we tell her which horse is hers?" Gilan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nah," Will shrugged and hopped over the fence with ease, waiting for his apprentice to emerge from the barn.

"There's my little brother!" Lilly said loudly as she saw her brother mucking out Asad's stall. Evan leaned his shovel against the stall wall, and ran to his sister, embracing her.

"Lilly-Billy!" Lilly cringed when she heard her brother's pet name. Make sure Will and Gilan never, ever, hear that, she thought to herself, and was ripped from her thoughts when Evan squeezed a little too hard.

"Evan! Evan!" she gasped, and- not unkindly- squirmed out of Evan's vice-like grip. The month he had spent working at the stables had certainly strengthened him. "I...have...broken...ribs," she finally managed to say.

"Oh! I'm sooooooo sorry!" he squeaked and let go of Lilly hurriedly. Lilly leaned against the stall door painfully, eyes shut, breathing heavily.

"Sorry," he said quietly.

"I'm okay," Lilly said more to herself than to Evan. She paused a moment, then opened her eyes and smiled, looking into her brother's face. "I heard from multiple sources," she began, "you are an extraordinary rider!" Lilly giggled, grinned and raised her eyebrows, beckoning a response.

"Eh, I'm okay. I still have a lot to learn." Evan shrugged his shoulders, looked at the straw-covered floor and reflected on his mentor's critiques.

Ulf walked up behind Evan and said in his booming voice, "Okay? Evan don't short change yourself!" Ulf scolded the boy.

Evan smiled, his mood improved by the compliment, and he said to Lilly quietly, "Well, maybe I am kind of good at it." He smiled broadly.

"You bet you are. Don't forget to show her the tack, I'll be outside with the Rangers," Ulf finished.

Evan nodded and waved to his mentor as he left the barn.

"Supposedly," she started to say. "Will brought a horse here for me. Can I see it?"

"Him," Evan corrected.

"What?" Lilly cocked her head.

"'Can I see him?'" he told her.

Lilly smiled and nodded, "So my horse is a boy!"

"Yep!"

"What's his name?" Lilly asked as Evan led her down the long aisle between the stalls, finally stopping at one near the farthest end.

Evan opened the door and there he stood. "Cricket. Cricket!" Evan slid into the stall, and grabbed the rope drooped around the horse's neck. "Turn around so Lilly can see you!" In response, the horse broke wind. "Cricket!" Evan snapped and the horse blinked lazily and started to turn.

"He's so tiny," Lilly whispered and the horse nickered indignantly.

"What did you expect?" said a voice behind her. "A battlehorse?"

"Will!" Lilly jumped and frowned, grasping her shovel tightly. "You know I hate it when you do that!"

Will shrugged. "All the more reason to continue. Come on." Will turned and gestured to to paddock. Lilly followed her mentor and Evan led the horse, who followed patiently.

"What'd she think?" Gilan asked Will, pretending Lilly wasn't there.

"Eh, what we all thought- 'Why isn't he bigger?'" Will told him shrugging as Evan led the horse next to Will and dropped the rope- trusting the horse would stay put- and went back into the barn.

A few minutes Evan returned with his arms full of horse equipment. Taking each piece of tack, he held up for Lilly to see and told her the purpose of each. Ulf, Gilan, and Will all leaned on the fence watching the two interact.

"This one," Evan began "is the saddle pad and saddle bag. It's two in one- for convenience," he said lowering his voice and raising his eyebrows twice, making Lilly laugh. Evan placed the thick cloth and bag on Cricket's back. The horse stood still for Evan, as he gave the demonstration. "This is the saddle." He briefly explained its purpose and saddled the horse. Placing the bridle in Cricket's mouth, Evan quickly described a few riding techniques, then allowed Will to finish up the orientation.

"If you remember, I told you earlier that a Ranger horse can only be ridden by the specific Ranger. That is partly true. Your horse, well, any Ranger horse, can be ridden by anyone with the password. Normally we.." Will gestured to Gilan and himself. "...would've had you ride the horse first, in order to figure out that there is a password, but we figured getting bucked off a horse would injure you further." Cricket nickered and tossed his mane, laughing with Will.

"Don't forget the five mile trek to Old Bob's cabin!" Gilan added snickering.

"Oh, yeah," Will remembered. "That too."

"Back on topic..." Ulf said and Lilly turned to her horse, her finger extended, about to poke the pony's nose.

"Lilly!" Will barked and she jumped. Cricket whinnied again. "As I said earlier, you need a password to mount your horse."

"Password?" Lilly questioned.

"Yes, password. You will whisper it into your horse's ear, and he will allow you to ride him," Will told her, and Lilly looked skeptical.

"What is Cricket's then?" she asked him, eager to ride the horse, whom she was about to torment by poking.

Will thought a moment, drawing out the pause and made Lilly squirm with excitement. "If I may."

"If I may?" she echoed.

"Don't say it to me. Say it to the horse." Will turned toward Gilan, and they both laughed at the inside joke. Lilly scowled and turned toward Cricket. The horse looked at her and she stared back. There was intelligence in this animal's eyes, a kind of spark which intrigued the girl and she reached out a touched his head, running her hand through his mane.

A second went by, then a minute until finally, "Well, get on with it!" Gilan said loudly.

"If I may?" she asked into Cricket's ear. He whinnied softly and shook his head. Lilly smiled and walked over to the saddle. Staring at her foot and the saddle, Will waited for Lilly with a raised eyebrow watching to see if she planned to ask for assistance. Putting her left foot in the stirrup, Lilly pushed the blade of the shovel into the soft ground and pushed her body up, finally swinging herself into the saddle. "Now what do I do?" she questioned Evan. Her brother started to talk, but Will interjected.

"Whatever you want." Lilly looked at Will and smiled wildly. She turned her head forward again and pressed her feet slightly into the horses sides. What had happened next was instinct, settling her feet into the stirrups Lilly held herself up (ignoring her ankle), barely resting on the saddle, making her movements one with the horse's. Cricket responded swiftly with every subtle movement and in no time, she was galloping outside the paddock, through the open gate.

There was a white pasture that several of the horses had spent the warmer days in, but now they were in the barn. Cricket's hooves made light indentations and the rode further into the falling snow flurries. Lilly let her guard down and trusted Cricket to lead, simply riding.

It was nice simply being a follower for once, Lilly decided. She felt the wind blow through her hair, and saw the surrounding countryside blur together. After a short, blissful while, she heard a shrill whistle. Cricket turned suddenly toward the sound. Lilly was jarred from her thoughts and paid attention her horse. The constant thump-thump thump-thump rhythm was relaxing and calmed her racing mind. She hadn't thought about the speed and size of him, but Lilly realized now that Cricket, though smaller than normal battle horses, had more endurance and maneuverability- a true Ranger horse.

Trusting Cricket's sense of direction, she let him lead her back to the barn, after all, Lilly's sense was not the best. Getting lost multiple times in the castle showed her that much. Sitting on the fence waiting for her were Evan, Will, Gilan, and Ulf. Cricket trotted quietly into the paddock and Ulf shut the gate behind them.

"Where's my shovel?" Lilly mumbled and Gilan stood next to her, his head now the height of her hips.

"Need help?" he asked, and she nodded slowly. Gilan put his arms up, and moved to take her off the horse by gripping her under the arms. Lilly instead put her hands on his shoulders and pushed up with her left foot and her arms. Gilan grabbed her waist, started to remove her from the saddle.

"Owowowowowow!" she hissed. "My foot is caught in the stirrup," Lilly managed to say.

"Oh, sorry," Gilan replied lamely.

Unhooking her foot from the stirrup she said, "Alright, you're good now." Gilan lifted her from the saddle and placed her on the ground, on one foot, balancing against Cricket, as Evan brought her the shovel.

"This one is a good rider, too," Ulf told Will, and Gilan quietly. "Too bad you got her first."

Lilly heard the compliment and replied with a swift, "Thanks." She smirked and turned back around toward Cricket, rubbing his forehead.

Evan and Lilly painstakingly led Cricket into the stable, and there, she learned how to rub him down. Grabbing the rag, Lilly ran the cloth in a circular motion over his glossy coat. Lilly moved to his other side and was surprised with a new demeanor that came from him. Before, he stood still and obedient, now he was prancing around the stall, forcing Lilly to hobble around.

"Cricket! Stop moving!" Lilly was telling him, laughing and calling her brother's name out loud. "Evan! Evan!" Her brother walked away from Asad's stall, where he was grooming the horse, and toward Cricket's.

"What?" he asked her as he approached her, knowing fully well what the issue was. He watched the bond form between his sister and the small brown horse for a few moment's before helping Lilly.

"Why won't he stand still?" Lilly asked him impatiently, still laughing as Cricket continued to antagonize her.

"He'll stand still," Evan told her. "You just need to know how to win his attention." Evan got an apple from the bin outside the stall and threw it to Lilly. Lilly caught it and understood her brother's reasoning.

"Oh, okay!" The idea dawned on her quickly, and she held the apple out toward him. "Here Cricket! Eat the apple!" She moved the apple every time he opened his mouth to take a bite. The spark in his eyes grew brighter and eventually Lilly gave in and handed him the apple. She laughed again and quickly rubbed him down, running over his smooth hazelnut colored coat and down his back and front legs. His right front leg was peppered with white spots, and his mane and short tail were the same color as his coat. The underside of his belly was a pale, creamy white.

"Lilly!" Will and Gilan walked into the stables, searching for her, ready to go back up to the castle. They found her laughing and playing with Cricket's mane. She would sweep most of it in front of his eyes, and then he would snort and shake his head.

"Lilly, time to go," Gilan told her. She looked at him and scowled, but it eventually turned into a smile.

"Okay." Lilly tousled Cricket's mane one last time then.

"Ankle hurting again?" Gilan asked.

She cringed as she stepped on a small rock, "It never stopped." Gilan approached her, reached down, and swooped her into his arms, carrying her up to the castle.

"Lilly? We're here." Will opened her bedroom door, and Gilan looked down at the girl. She was breathing softly, asleep from the day's tiring events.

What do you think? Let me know!

~Raider