A/N Soooo tired... and sooooooo sorry about not updating in months... I really have no explanation for this one. Inspirationloss? Craziness of life? Finals I didn't make because I have those next year? New physical therapy program that's destroying my spare time I usually used to write? Here's the next chapter though.

Chapter 25

The morning came and May was the first one up. She'd made coffee for everyone and she apologized to everyone as soon as they all got there. She was quiet after that. She only spoke when spoken to and even then she'd have short answers.

An hour after that they were already on the dock, looking at the Skandian's ship getting ready to leave. They would wave goodbye to Cassandra and Horace and go to Nuascer by horse. Something Halt and May were very glad about.

"I still don't know why I have to go back." Cassandra huffed in annoyance. She wasn't going to leave without a fight. She wanted to help.

"You have to go back because you're the heir to the throne. The king would have my head on a silver platter if I dragged you into danger." May said in the exact same tone. "I'm already a wanted criminal in Gallica, I'd like to keep my record clean in other countries."

"Are your really wanted there?" Will asked with a raised eyebrow. May shrugged.

"It's not a dead or alive wanted. Just an I'll spend the rest of my days in a dungeon wanted. I'll live." She replied. "But still, Cassandra. It's not going to be pretty. We have to take out an army there."

"Even more reasons why you shouldn't let me leave with Horace and an entire Skandian crew!" Cassandra defended herself.

"I've already sent a letter to Crowley." Halt announced. "I expect that we'll get some backup from him."

"You rangers have an answer for everything, don't you." Halt arched an eyebrow as always, Gilan, Will and May looked at eachother for a moment before they answered at the same time.

"Always."

They were on their way before they knew it. It would take about two weeks before they even got to the border of Gallica. They had to travel through Iberion first, after taking the ferry in the north of Arrida.

It was a boring, long trip. Gilan, Will and May tried to make it better by sharing jokes or stories. Will and Gilan had caught May up to speed with everything that had happened the past two years. Halt would ride a little ahead of them, always listening in on their stories, but never saying much.

May would tell a few stories of her own. Not much. Most of her time was spent training or missions she'd rather avoid telling about. But every once in a while she'd have some time off. She usually spent that time with Alastair, one of her only friends in the camp.

The ferry was a disastrous nightmare to Halt and May. May couldn't escape the sea by flying over it, considering they didn't know the captain of the ship. Even though the trip only took a few hours, both Halt and May spent it hanging over the railing, trying not to throw up.

"Sweet, sweet land!" May called out when she hopped off the boat. Halt followed her example and grumbled a response. Will and Gilan decided it was best not to comment that time. The horses were led off the ship and they were on their way again.

"Okay, favorite kind of food." Will offered. A while ago, he, Gilan and May had begun a game. One would say something, or ask a question and the others would have to respond honestly.

"Apple pie." Gilan said, only seconds after Will had asked. "No wait… Yes, apple pie."

"I would have to say… I don't know actually." May said after a while. "I haven't really thought of it."

"How can you not have thought about it? It's things you eat!" Will called out. May shrugged.

"I just never thought about it." She said. "But I like fruit."

"Not really specific, but good enough for me." Gilan grinned. "Okay, my turn. Best thing that ever happened to you."

"Uh, my ranger training." Will said like it was obvious.

"Oh? I remember hearing some protest about that five years ago." Will's face turned red in embarrassment.

"But that was five years ago!" He defended himself. "May? What was yours?" He desperately tried to get the conversation away from him.

"Not dying in the forest four and a half years ago." May shrugged. "But ranger training and meeting all of you is a close second."

"I'm touched." Halt grumbled. "Now can we please keep our attention to the road, we might get somewhere that way."

"Oh, lighten up Halt." Gilan cheered. "The sun's shining, it's not unbearably hot anymore, we've got May back and we're on our way to a murderous camp to take it out. No need to be grumpy."

"Do you ever listen to yourself?" May wandered out loud. "I mean, there's not much good about what you just said."

"It's a gift."

About a week before they'd arrive at the camp, May became more and more jumpy. She'd be on her guard at all times and she turned silent again. Only when she had to say something, she opened her mouth. Halt, Gilan and Will shared some worried looks over that, but didn't mention it. They waited for May to say something to them.

"We should come up with a solid plan now." May finally said when one night they were eating around a campfire. They were just past the mountains, only a week before they'd arrive at their destination.

"I thought we already had one." Will replied. "You go in alone, tell your dad you're okay, come back to us and sneak us in so we can take it down from the inside out." May stared blankly ahead.

"That's not going to work. We need to catch them off guard. As long as I'm there, in this state of mind, they will be extra careful." She explained. "It's been awhile since my last dose. They're going to be suspicious of everything I do. What we should do is wait for backup to arrive."

"But that could be weeks!" Gilan exclaimed. "What are you going to do until they get here?" May shrugged.
"Do as I'm told. Keep my head down and avoid causing a scene. Act like I'm still the good little soldier, I'll be fine." She said. A confident smile on her face, her eyes though, said something else.

"No. That's not going to happen." Gilan immediately said. "I'm not going to risk your life on this."

"How will we know you're okay?" Halt said. He ignored Gilan's commentary. "You can't keep coming back to us without raising suspicion."

"I don't know. They monitor everything that exits and enters the camp. Even the birds who just fly past it." She frowned. "Only a few are allowed outside. Unless you have orders or a good enough reason to leave."

"Even more reasons we can't risk you going back there." Gilan reasoned.

"Take one of us with you." Will spoke up. Gilan dramatically sighed. When will someone listen to him. "As a prisoner. Tell them someone was following you back. You took him out and took him with you. We could break free and leave without anyone noticing. If they see we escaped they'll try to find us and we can start over."

"That could work, but they will want answers. I don't want to put any of you through that." May replied. "And they won't bring you back in if you escape. At least not alive."

"But then you'll at least have some backup in there." Gilan reasoned, giving up on not letting May go back there. "If things start to look bad, we'll escape and make sure we're not found." May nodded, deep in thoughts. Gilan smiled, she was adorable when she was thinking like that. Her nose would crinkle and she'd chew on her lower lip.

"You'll leave as soon as I tell you to. I can't take Gilan with me, they know who you are and they'll know I broke their control." She said after a while. "My brother knows Will too, he saw you in Skandia when he was watching me. Halt would be the best option. All we need is a change of clothes. Can't have a ranger with me, they'll know something's up then too."

"But we can't dress me up as a common farmer. They'll never believe I was following you." Halt reasoned. May thought for a moment again. Then she grinned.

"We'll find you something purple. And a crossbow. Tell them your name is Silas. I've run into Genovesan's before and they do not like me. It's believable." She said, still grinning broadly.

"Why Silas?" Will asked, the curiosity getting the best of him like usual.

"Silas is a well known Genovesan name. As is Luciano or Marzapesa. But Halt looks like a Silas." May shrugged. "But only if you are absolutely sure. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I might not know you very well, but I know Gilan and I can see how much he loves you." Halt replied. "I don't want him to be all gloomy again if anything happens to you."

"I was not gloomy!" Gilan defended himself. May let out a laugh. A real, genuine laugh. Her first real laugh since they got her back.

"From what I've heard, you were very gloomy." She said. She skooted closer and rested her head on his shoulder. "But I'm here now."

"And we're not letting you go again." Gilan put his arm around her and kissed her head. Will made a disgusted face and pretended to gag.

"Very mature. Are you and Alyss together by now? I'd like to return the favor someday." May grinned when she saw Will's face get flustered.

"We're not together." Will replied to her.

"They're both too stubborn to admit it to each other. It's starting to get old." Halt commented.

They easily found a purple cloak and hat for Halt. The crossbow was a bit more tricky, but they managed to get that eventually as well. They reached the camp in less than a week. The night before May and Halt would leave they sent out a message to Crowley, telling them exactly where they were.

Gilan hugged May tightly when they were saying goodbye. He didn't want to let her go. He felt like something bad was going to happen. Chances were big, considering they were sending them to May's psychotic family to pretend she's one of them.

"You really have to let me go now, I need to go Gil." May told him.

"I don't want to let you go." He muttered in her hair, tightening his grip on her even more.

"I'll come back to you. I promise you that. We can go home then." She told him. "But you have to let me do this." Gilan let her take as step back, but he kept his hands on her shoulders.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me." He told her seriously. "Don't you dare to die on me." May smiled slightly at him.

"I promise that I will not die on you." She said. "I'll send Halt soon. Not longer than nine days from now." Gilan let her go and she nodded at him. They had tied Halt's hands together, a rope from his hands lead to Hunter's saddle. He was still on top of Abelard though. May climbed on her own horse and nodded to the two rangers they'd leave behind.

"See you in a few weeks." Will called out. May saluted him mockingly with a grin.

"See you in a few weeks." She repeated. She lightly kicked Hunter and rode off with Halt just behind her. She flipped her hood up while riding away. She'd see them in a few weeks, she kept repeating it in her head.

Halt noticed a subtle change in May when they rode into the camp. She held her head high and her back was straighter. She kept her face blank, staring ahead. Anyone who past them would avoid her gaze, like they were afraid of her.

The camp wasn't much like a camp. More like a small fort. It was mainly made out of tents, but there was a large wooden wall built around it. Watchtowers on every corner and next to the only gate in it. In the middle stood a small structure. It was like a throne room, mixed with a conference room to discuss pretty much anything.

May got off Hunter just before it and dragged Halt behind her. She wasn't careful at all, she had to make it look real. Like she didn't know him and like he was her prisoner. It didn't mean she had to like it. It did help her keep her face straight.

She didn't bother knocking, or letting anyone know she was there, she just barged in and kept walking. She bowed down just before a throne like chair where a man was listening to a discussion about what they should do. He had dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, a long pointed nose thin lips and a bored expression. May didn't look much like him, she took after her mother.

"It looks like my daughter has returned. You are dismissed for now. Send Daniel here." He spoke. May stood up again and watched the men leave the room. When it was empty he continued speaking. "And you're not alone. What happened?" His voice was toneless, careless.

"I was being followed on my way." May stated. "I took him out and dragged him with me. Your Skandian, Toshak, is a foul traitor who left as soon as it got dirty. A couple of rangers were there, they messed up the plan. I left after they defeated the Asheik."

"Rangers?" Alaric asked his daughter. "From Auraluen?"

"Yes father. I injured one of them badly. Three were there in total, now two, I assume." May replied.

"The ranger you killed, describe him." Alaric narrowed his eyes at her. May tilted her head and looked up.

"Dark hair, blue eyes. Clean shaven, about five or six years older than me. A show-off with his sword. Not really a ranger's weapon, but he seemed to handle it well. He did seem to know my name, but it must be one of the guards there who told him my name." May told them. "I didn't think much of it. Bit him in the side as a wolf and ran off. I left fairly soon after that. I was almost home when I noticed this bastard trying to sneak up on me." She pulled Halt's rope, making him stumble slightly. The stumble was intended, making it look more real.

"Genovesan, interesting." Alaric spoke. Daniel appeared behind May. He bowed to his father before he turned to May.

"Good to see you alive." He said.

"Looks like you didn't get yourself killed here either." She shot back.

"Daniel, take this man with you and lock him up somewhere. I want to speak with your sister, alone." Alaric said. Daniel nodded to him and took the rope from May.
"Be careful with that one. He might not have any weapons left, he's still one to break free every once in a while." She warned him.

"Don't worry sis, I can handle him." Daniel grinned at her. May's expression remained blank. "We'll catch up later then." He pulled Halt with him, away from the building. Leaving May alone with her father.

"Now… Let's talk about what exactly happened in Arrida."

A/N Sorry for the general crappyness in this chapter. And the lazyness about not wanting to write out the entire journey there. I think I got the best parts. I think there will be just a few more chapters before this one is over... Yeah... Three, maybe four? If my mind gives me enough ideas five to six. Reviews help in that. A lot. Just saying.

Oh, and HEY HEY HEEEEY I AM GETTING RID OF THOSE DETESTED CRUTCHES IN A WEEK OR SO! After a year and five months I am going to be crutch free once again. Oh yeah!

Aubrey Cortez: Thank you so much! My holiday was splendid. Lot's of great stuff.

That's it for now. Please review, it makes my day and motivates me to keep writing. Bye my darlings!