Author's Note:

Merry Christmas!

First off, so sorry for the lack of updating, I've been terribly busy. I'm not joking.

Anyway, this will be my last update for the year :( I'm heading off for two weeks of holidays tomorrow, so I'll be back around the 10th of Jan, ready to update once more ^ ^ I thought I'd have less people hating if I updated this before I left, but sorry about the other stories missing out.

I took on multiple suggestions and managed to create this chapter, but from Chapter 15 onwards I've replanned my plot, and hopefully it appeals to all without sending you off to sleepy land :D

Chapter 14:

|| Mischievous ||

xxx

"Will."

"Yeah?"

"You know, this is your fault."

The Ranger whipped his head around to stare incredulously at his friend.

"My fault?"

Horace kept his face neutral and even sat straighter.

"Yes, your fault." He repeated with an air of calm about him.

Will resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and instead settled for a small sigh.

"Do I have to remind you, that in fact you were the one who decided he had to climb the tree and be a 'hero' or whatever it was you were trying to do?"

The knight smiled. "I don't see the problem here. I managed to throw you out of the tree, like I said."

"Except you managed to break the tree after, and then proceeded to blame me for all of it."

"We-ll, you did ask for it."

Will frowned. "That's not the point."

Horace sighed in resignation. "No I guess not. The problem is, trying to keep this from Cassie and Alyss."

"They'll murder us." Will agreed.

For despite their friendly banter, the two friends were stuck in the infirmary with multiple injuries.

Will had managed to give himself a few decent cuts and bumps after Horace had reached him and tugged the Ranger out of the tree, good naturedly of course. Horace didn't realise that his strength proved to be a little too much until Will had hit the ground.

Yet somehow he came off worse, since the tree branch he had precariously been balancing on, snapped beneath him. His left arm was in a sling and he had been ordered not to use it for a few days.

Neither of them had broken anything to the relief of their superiors, (and just in case Halt ever found out).

Well, except their pride.

The healer came back, a young girl with bright blue eyes and shining black hair. With their injuries diagnosed, the Head healer had left the Ranger and knight to the care of the younger wards.

The girl in fact was someone Will and Horace had known from their days in the Ward. Her name was Stephanie Fairmill and she had been two years younger than them. They were both surprised to find her working at Castle Araluen and Horace felt even slight shame since he lived there.

"Hi Steph, can we leave yet?" Will blurted out the moment she entered the room.

Steph smiled and wagged a finger in his direction. "Not yet, those cuts need to be re-bandaged."

The Ranger visibly slumped, suddenly a much more sullen figure. Horace snickered from his spot, unable to be heard by the other two.

"You sure managed to make a mess of yourself, even if none of it is life threatening." She scolded as she checked over Will's wounds.

"Blame Horace." Will muttered, glaring from his position.

Steph took a step back to examine the two. From growing up near these two boys; she, like many other Redmont residents, had found it hard to believe that the two had become close friends, akin to brothers even.

"Do you have any advice for Horace?" Will asked, suddenly looking a lot brighter.

Steph wrinkled her nose in thought, a habit she had developed as a young child.

"What advice?" Horace interrupted.

"I'd say that if he wants to climb weak trees, he should probably lose some muscle tone." She answered at length.

"What?"

Will laughed at Horace's reaction, ignoring the pain from his ribs as he did.

Steph finished her work on the Ranger and began to gather her things. "Only... to climb those trees implies that the person is also quite weak." She voiced absently, careful not to make eye contact with either of them.

Both men recognised that she was gently teasing them, but they were in a good mood and chose to laugh it off.

The door suddenly opened and a guard hastily stepped into to announce the arrival of Princess Cassandra.

Mere seconds after, Cassie burst into the room with her eyes blazing.

Steph swore she could feel the life being sucked out of the two men beside her.

"Um," Horace voiced intelligently while Will tried to make himself disappear.

"You broke a tree?" Cassie asked shrilly.

Immediately on the defence, Horace replied, "Hey, this is all Will's fault!"

"This again?" Will temporarily ignored the raging Princess.

"Yes, again! You know you started it!"

"I did not!"

Cassie stood almost in shock as the men before her seemed to forget that she was in the room, as well as Steph.

"Will! Horace! I don't care whose fault it is, but you're both injured!" She yelled, managing to raise her voice above theirs.

They both stopped to blink at her, suddenly very aware of her anger.

"Horace can't be on duty for a week and Will will be off duty for the same time as well. Don't you think you're being a tad childish?"

While Horace desperately sought for an answer to calm Cassie, Will managed to remember what he had originally come to Araluen for.

"Oh, look Cassie, this if for you." He said, reaching into his jerkin to pull out a semi-crumpled parchment.

Curious, the Princess took the offered parchment and opened it.

"A wedding invitation?" She asked incredulously.

"Show a little enthusiasm." Horace joked, conveniently going along with the new conversation. He didn't think it was really part of Will's plan, but he was glad that they seemed to have averted what could have been a double murder.

Cassie rolled her eyes. "I knew they were getting married, I've already got their present."

"It's just because Alyss and I have finalised the actual date. We struggled with that one, since the Ranger Gathering is around that time, and so is one of Alyss' reports." Will added.

Understanding dawned on Cassie's face. "Ah." She smiled. "I'm sorry for doubting you there Will, there's just been a lot going on lately."

The Ranger shrugged. "Happens to all of us, I hope you two can make it."

"Of course," Cassie replied, while Horace merely snorted.

The Princess reached passed Steph to run a hand through Horace's hair, apparently having gone back to examining the damage on both men.

"Idiots." She laughed and then turned her emerald gaze onto Will. "So now you've done that, I guess you'll head back to Redmont? Lots to prepare I imagine."

Will shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Well, I don't feel like I can ride for a day or so."

Cassie laughed again. "Really? I'm sure you've ridden in worse conditions than this."

"I wondered if I could stay here for a few days, actually." Will asked sheepishly.

"You wouldn't be trying to avoid Halt, would you?" Horace asked.

"You know he'll pin me to a tree and leave me there to die if he finds out what happened."

Cassie and Horace tried not to laugh. "Oh, well you can if you want." The Princess offered. "But you know, I'm sure there's a carrier pigeon on its way to tell him."

"Cassie!"

She held her hands up in her defence. "Don't blame me, I didn't do anything. While I was worrying about you two, Crowley decided he'd inform Halt of your 'injuries'."

Will slumped forward, letting his head fall into his hands and letting out a loud groan.

"Okay, so you can't stop him from knowing. But if you leave now, you probably can bribe him into keeping it his secret. You know, reduce the damage and all." Horace suggested.

Will glanced up at the two of them. "Think so?"

Cassie nodded her agreement.

The Ranger stood up, with surprising strength despite his wounds.

"Then I better get going, see you guys!" He announced and raced from the room.

In protest, Steph followed him, leaving Horace and Cassie alone.

"Sometimes Will doesn't take into consideration the reputation he's built up. Halt's just waiting to embarrass him." Horace noted.

Cassie glanced at him in surprise.

"And this is coming from you? You're even more of a hero, since common folk are afraid of Rangers. And you broke a tree Horace."

"But still, I believe it was Will's fault."

A/N:

In the spirit of Christmas, I planned for this to be slightly silly at points. I know, it was a filler, I'm sorry. But at 12am it's hard to create magical chapters that please everyone.

I originally planned for Steph to be a minor antagonist, and then I decided against it. A girl would have to be fairly ambitious to go after Horace; it didn't seem realistic if he was dating the most powerful girl in the Kingdom. As a random OC, I hope you liked her. She probably won't return.

Reviews for me when I get back? Please? :D

- Love Mae.