A/N: whoohoo just two days left, I'm actually going to miss this hilarious story. Thanks again for the wonderful reviews! It really makes my day every time.

Now let's get back to our gang of Christmas lovers.

Day 10

Will and Halt were both enjoying their early morning coffee. Both finally had a peaceful sleep and Will seemed to be doing a lot better. Halt had admitted to give Will some coffee, seeing that his stomach wasn't the problem for the boy being ill.

Halt enjoyed the peace while it lasted, because he knew once his apprentice was feeling remotely well again, he would start asking questions and trying to get back to training once more.

Halt remembered the words of Pauline about letting go of the reigns and he knew that if Will felt up to it to train again, he should let him. But something inside him just wanted to keep him out of harms way. I'm really getting old if I get so sentimental about my apprentice, he thought.

But before Will could even start his routine of firing questions they were alarmed by the sound of their horses nickering. It didn't sound like a warning, more like a greeting.

Halt shot a look at Will, "are you expecting someone?" he asked quietly. But Will shook his head, he knew he should remain silent so he didn't use any words.

Soon they heard the drumming of hooves coming towards the cabin. It was obvious a ranger's horse, no mistake in that. Will's heart stopped a few heartbeats and he was lucky that Halt didn't have such a sharp ear to hear that.

What the hell is Gilan doing, he was supposed to remain secret. Trotting around the cabin with Blaze is not in the slightest way close to remain secret. Will's mind was spinning with anxiety, he couldn't fool Halt this time. They both knew it was a ranger horse and in a few seconds Halt would open the door to see his former apprentice in front of him.

They heard the feet on coming on the veranda, but unlike Will, Halt noticed that this was not his former apprentice. He would recognize his stumbling everywhere, this was someone else and he could guess who it was.

Before even looking he opened the door and said "What are you sneaking around the house, Crowley?"

Will's jaw dropped when he saw the commandant standing in the doorway. He hadn't even know Crowley was already here in Redmont, but he had clearly instructed to keep Halt in the dark. Did Crowley really think he could just walk in and tell Halt they were going to celebrate Christmas?

But Crowley quickly gave Will a meaningful glance to let him know everything was under control.

"Morning Halt, morning Will. You look terrible I must say, something happened here? I thought it was an easy month this year in Redmont." Crowley decided to exaggerate the state of the two men immediately. Will actually didn't look too bad for someone who had been sick for two days, but for this plan to work he needed to convince Halt that Will was not ready to come along.

It worked as Halt looked back at his apprentice and started to investigate whether Will was indeed still looking that terrible. After a quick assessment he turned back to Crowley explaining "well some apprentice had decided he needed to sleep for two days. They are getting lazy these days, don't you think." He mocked.

Crowley smiled, "Hah, I think it's the mentor getting soft these days, letting their apprentice sleep for two days." He stepped into the cabin and took place at the table, followed closely by Halt and a boy bursting from anxiety and curiosity.

Halt decided it was enough with the easy talk, "so what brings you all the way here, shouldn't you celebrate Christmas with the king." He knew he couldn't keep it a secret for Will that actually everyone celebrated Christmas. Halt was the only ranger to stubbornly refuse it.

"There are some disturbances in Whitby fief, I need your help there Halt." Crowley ignored the apprentice sitting next to him. He could tell Will was fitting the pieces together about what was going on.

"Let the ranger of Whitby deal with it." Grunted Halt.

"He tried but he is known in the region, you could infiltrate more easily. And you won't be going alone because I'll be coming too. There is a small cult forming, trying to overthrow the baron. Whitby is an important fief so this job has to be done discretely."

Halt nodded, taking in the information. He knew that sometimes another ranger was needed to sort out troubles in important fiefs. Crowley wouldn't have come all the way here if it was nothing.

"How is it possible that no word has reached here? Whitby is not far away, if a cult is rising, there should be disturbances here too." Halt noticed that his apprentice wasn't asking questions at all, but soon figured that Will was probably not feeling quite alright yet.

Normally Will would indeed start to question every little detail about the mission, but right now he kept his mouth shut. He didn't believe there was an actual threat in Whitby and firing questions would only make it more difficult for Crowley. This was probably his attempt to get Halt out of the house for at least a day.

Crowley was seemed to be an expert in these situations, "It just started rising, I think the rumors will reach Redmont in a few days. We have to make sure that doesn't happen. So I suggest we leave as soon as possible and deal with it."

Halt nodded and looked at Will, he wanted him to stay home but he had made Pauline a promise. "You heard your commandant Will, get your things we leave immediately."

Both Crowley and Will stiffened by those words. Neither of them had expected Halt to suddenly be so generous with his apprentice. For days Halt had acted like a mother hen around Will, trying to keep him locked up in the cabin and now he asked the boy to come along.

Crowley recovered quickly and drew the attention away from Will who was still staring in shock at his mentor. "Do you think that is a good idea Halt, I mean he's been sick for two days as you said so yourself. Maybe he should rest another day. He looks awfully pale to me, and we can certainly manage ourselves without a bumbling apprentice on our back."

But Halt had made up his mind, knowing he couldn't look Pauline in the eyes if he locked Will in the cabin again. He turned to his apprentice "You can come along if you want to Will. It is your choice, just know that I'll accept whatever you think is best."

Will tried to find his tongue again, he saw Crowley shaking his head and he knew he had to speak soon. "I euhm… I think I'll stay at home. I'm still not feeling alright and I don't want to become a liability for the mission."

Now it was Halt's turn to be shocked. Every time he tried to keep the boy inside, he had refused and gone wandering in the snow risking his health. Right now he gave him permission to come along and make the choice himself, he stayed home.

Before Halt could respond to the utterly ridiculous situation, Crowley intervened. "Look that is a decision of a smart boy. I see you trained him well, Halt. Sometimes you have to put your own whishes and curiosity aside to let a mission succeed."

Halt nodded absentmindedly, still confused by the whole situation. He stood up and gathered his things, sometimes looking at the two rangers in the living room. The two had put on a poker face and Halt didn't suspect anything behind them. Will had been sick for two days, he couldn't have planned anything.

As he came back with everything gathered he gave Will just one glance, "are you sure you'll stay here?" he tried again.

Will nodded, "I'll be fine Halt."

"Okay, I'll be back tomorrow evening, alright."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Crowley left with a dumbstruck Halt. He had to bite his lip not to burst out laughing right in Halt's face. The man didn't know what was waiting for him.

As the door closed Will was finally allowed to smile. He knew Halt was beyond confused about his choice to stay. Indeed normally Will would be jumping around making sure he could come along. Right now they had more urgent matters, like preparing the Christmas surprise.

For a moment Will hesitated what to do. He wasn't informed in Crowley's plan to lure Halt out of the house so he didn't exactly know what was expected of him. But staying inside was just dull and Gilan would probably in the woods or at the castle.

So he took his cloak, bow and quiver and went outside. He could see Gilan appear from the woods.

"Hi Gil." He shouted as they walked towards each other.

"Hi Will, how are you? You gave me quite the scare last time I saw you. Not still hiding a fever, are you?" He glanced at the boy, who appeared a lot healthier.

"I'm fine now, thanks. Sorry I scared you, I really didn't know it was that bad."

"Well luckily you're okay now, because we have some preparations to do and we have plenty of time with Halt gone."

Will smiled, "yeah great idea to lure him out like that. I was wondering, is there really a cult in Whitby?"

Gilan laughed wholeheartedly, "no just rumors. Probably a small group of people adoring some god, but no one is asking money or raising an army. Everything is under control. Halt will probably bite Crowley's head off when he sees it."

They both laughed while they walked to the castle, imagining the face of their mentor.

When they arrived at the castle Will became curious again, "so what are the plans for now? I mean there is still a lot to do and I need to get my last presents in the village."

Gilan chuckled, he was glad to see Will like this again. "Well I have to show you something first, but then we can all go to the village. We also need some candles for the Christmas tree and we need some ale and brandy."

He led Will to the cellar, yesterday Baron Arald and Crowley had showed him and Pauline what was in it and he couldn't wait to see Will's face. He opened the door and saw Will's jaw drop.

A mischievous sparkle settled in the brown eyes when he looked at Gilan, "this is a death wish" he said before bursting out into laughter.

Gilan joined the laughter, looking at the present again he still thought it was hilarious. He knew Halt would detest it in every single way, but he didn't care. Maybe if he got through this, he wouldn't mind spending Christmas in a less extravagant way next years.

When they both finally got their laughter in check Gilan explained, "We will probably need Cropper and Blaze for this."

But Will shook his head frantically, already on the verge of another giggling fit. "No, for this we need Tug and Abelard. Halt will be back tomorrow evening so if we work together we can probably manage to switch them for the night."

Gilan was astonished by this devilish plan of the young apprentice, and soon the castle was filled with laughter of the boys.

They walked up the stairs to the private room of the Baron. Inside were Alyss, Pauline and Arald waiting. They could all see the tears from laughter rolling down the faces of the two rangers and they knew immediately were they had been.

They started dividing tasks for the day, Pauline and Arald would be heading for Christmas decorations, Alyss and Will would buy candles and Gilan would arrange the ale and brandy. Tomorrow morning they would have the time for decorating the tree together.

Will was happy he had already bought Alyss' present a few weeks ago, so he didn't have to do it in a hurry today. He had found a beautiful silver necklace which had the possibility to hide something in it like a piece of important paper. He only needed something for Halt but he knew Alyss would probably help him find something.

The village was a place full of cheer in these days, and Will and Alyss couldn't help but enjoy everything. They soon found the perfect candles to put in the tree and knew their job was done. However they were enjoying themselves too much to return to the castle already.

Besides Will still needed something for Halt, but when he explained it to Alyss she responded, "well actually organizing all this, is already a present."

"I doubt if Halt sees it that way. Either way I want to get him something but it's really hard for someone like him."

"Maybe something practical, like a new knife or saddlebag." Alyss suggested.

That's when it clicked, "Yes of course, I spilled coffee in his boots a while ago. He still has those same boots, so maybe I can buy some new ones!" they headed off to the man that always made clothes for the rangers. Within minutes they were standing outside with a brand new pair of boots.

Alyss smiled at seeing Will so happy, "you know, even if Halt hates Christmas, he can't deny that it is remarkable what you've done these past few days."

Will smiled and said "Actually I don't believe for a second that he hates it that much. He just needed a little push to really celebrate it with his new family."

That's it for today guys, I would love to write more each chapter but believe it or not, I still have a life (which is getting neglected haha).

So I dropped a little extra information about the present from Baron Arald, maybe you already have an idea right now. If not, I'm sorry you have to wait a little bit more.

I hope you liked this chapter. And I'll see you again tomorrow!