This here story has been on my mind for quite some time, and I don't think anyone has done anything quite like this yet.
Oh, and I found out that Hibernia is the name of Ancient Ireland, around 400 to 1200 A.D. I'm also hoping ninjas will make an appearance in The Emperor of Nihon-Jin. Or maybe samurais, that would be good too.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice. Just the books (I'm also thinking about kidnapping Halt and keeping him under my bed, anyone interested?)
Chapter One
Dark and Stormy Night
The maid stifled a yawn. She really wasn't used to being awake at this hour. She jumped as thunder boomed outside a nearby window and pulled the sweater she was wearing closer around her.
The castle always seemed to be draftier in winter. It probably had something to do with the building itself being older than most of the castles in all of Hibernia.
She bit her lip when her queen screamed. She'd known the Queen Eva of Clonmel for most of her life, and it took most of her concentration to stop herself from bursting into the room in an attempt to comfort her.
But her orders had been very specific. Stay outside the room until the birthing is done.
Just thinking about it made her grin a little. She'd been waiting nine months, along with everyone else in Dun Kilty, for the birth of the crown prince. It hadn't been two weeks ago that the resident healer and physician had assured everyone that Eva was carrying twins.
She just hoped for the babies' sakes, that just one of them would be a boy.
The opening of the door startled her out of her thoughts and she looked up to see one of the midwives holding a crying babe in her arms. "Halt," she said. "The queen has named him Halt." And with that, the midwife handed the newly born Crown Prince of Clonmel to her and returned to the room, closing the door behind her.
The maid looked at Halt for a moment, before remembering that she was to take him to King Bryon. Holding Halt close to her, she strode down the Hallway, pausing a moment to knock on the King's sleeping quarters.
"Come."
She took a deep breath and opened the door and bowed slightly before approaching King Byron.
Bryon stood, fully dressed at this hour of night, and held out his arms. He had never been one to speak to "the help."
She transferred the baby to Bryon's arms and waited to be addressed. She would've liked to say Bryon's gaze was loving as he looked upon his first-born son. But, in all honesty, she didn't see it. Instead, she saw a king planning out the future of his kingdom.
It was a full eight minutes before he even acknowledged her.
"What has the Queen named him?" Not Eva, but The Queen, as if that was her name.
She looked at the baby. "His name is Halt."
"Halt," the King repeated, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Both King and servant startled at the second knock on the door. Bryon answered and a second maid walked in carrying another child, and, it seemed to her, rather noisier that the first one.
The same movements were carried out, as if it had been practiced.
"What has the Queen named him?"
"His name is Ferris."
For the second twin was a boy. And it made the maid fear for the future of her country.
Okay, this was very on the prologue-side of the story. Maid doesn't have a name, because she really won't be in the story from now on.
Anyway, read and review.