Authors' Note: Hey guys! Guess what I am in a procrastinating mood, from homework that is. That is why I was able to finish typing two chapters both over 5000 words in less time that it normally takes me to do one. I really love this story and how it is all coming together (of course you guys will just have to wait and see it come to life). I am having so much fun writing this story that I am probably go to start the next one as soon as I post this one. Hopefully you guys like it as much as I do. Leave a review and tell us what you think, we also love ideas and do take them into consideration. If you give us an idea that we use we will dedicate the chapter to you as a thank you. Review please!

Disclaimer: I don`t own any of the world or characters JF created.

Chapter 3

What Needs to Be

Regrettably, I had to let go of his hand. If I held any longer I knew he would be able to see the heat rising to my cheeks. Lucky for me, I was raised by a Ranger; the masters at remaining emotionless. Not that I have mastered it yet, but I could get away with it because I was a girl, the only advantage of being one, in my opinion.

"Who are you expecting?" Gilan's question caught me off guard, which only a ranger could do.

"What do you mean?" I asked not sure was he was asking.

"I'm asking which Ranger you are meeting here, because no one feels safe when a Ranger comes even if they help save their life. Yet you walked up to me relieved that I showed up accusing me of being late. No one trusts Rangers unless you're royal, high class or if you know one personally." He said in a hushed tone, not wanting to attract attention to us. I would've had to ask him to speak up, except Becks had helped me fine tune my listening skills.

"You didn't save my life."

"Oh, my apology," He said sarcastically, "May I ask how you were going to fight off three men with only a Saxe knife?" I glared at him, but he simply smiled at me. Why do Rangers always have to point out how I'm wrong? Truthfully, I could've handled those, guys but I would've had to resort to magic and that could turn out badly. Gilan was saved from some unladylike words that were forming at my lips when Mrs. Padavick came to our table with plates of food balanced on her hands.

"Good evening sir," She smiled sweetly at Gilan, and then looked at me with an approving look. "I hope I wasn't wrong to assume that you wanted some food?"

"No, you were right." He said pleasantly. "Thank you." I tried so hard to see if I could put thoughts into other people's heads so I could tell her to leave, but I doubt it worked.

"There you go Silas." She smiled at me and put her hand on my shoulder. "Can I interest you in some dessert; we would have to start now if you wanted any." Gilan graciously accepted and Mrs. Padavick with her hand on my shoulder forcefully pulled my shoulders back trying not to make it look as if she was telling me to have proper posture. "Of course I don't have to ask you Silas." She smiled to herself then finally left not without giving me a wink that I knew Gilan could plainly see.

"Is that your mother?" Gilan asked politely when she left.

"No, she's just taking care of me until my Grandfather gets back."

"So is your Grandfather the Ranger then?" He asked, arching an eyebrow and taking another bite of his food.

"Yes." I said plainly, wanting him to have to work for information.

"Could you tell me his name?"

"You'll find out soon enough, he's supposed to meet me here tonight." I smiled coyly at him. And I could see he was raking his to try and figure out who it could be.

"You're serious?" I asked him in disbelief. We pushed our empty plates aside, feeling a little full after the meal. "You were trained by Halt?!" People looked at our table when my voice went a little louder than expected, well, what was expected for a lady. He smiled and nodded. I managed not to bombard Gilan with all questions I was curious with. So I simply asked one that could answer a few at a time. "What is he like?" I rested my elbows on the table and place my chin in my hands giving Gilan the look I normally gave Becks when I wanted something from him. He furrowed.

"Whatever idea you have about Halt, forget it because he is nothing close to it." What does that mean? Apparently my face was easy to read because Gilan continued. "He is very grim, does not relinquish in his fame. That's the best I can describe him. You'll have to ask your grandfather to introduce you one day and you'll see." I wonder if I would be able to convince Becks, probably not.

"Sorry to interrupt," Mrs. Padavick said as she cleaned up our plates. "Dessert won't be ready for a little while. You two should get up and dance while the minstrel is still fresh." She pointed to the other side of the room where a few other couples were dancing to the melody. I tried to tell her go away and stop trying to force us together, but she ignored me. "You wouldn't mind would you Ranger? Silas just learnt this week and doesn't get the chance to practice that often."

She forced me up and again fixed my slumped shoulders. Gilan, too nice to say no the pushy inn lady, nodded and led me to the dance floor.

"You don't have to do this you know." I said hoping that he would get the hint that I didn't want to dance.

"Are you kidding? Saying no to the person handling my dessert would be very unwise." He said jokingly.

"She wasn't wrong when she said I just learnt this week. So I hope you don't mind me stepping on your toes."

"Then I won't have to apologize for every time I step on yours."

Compared to having Mrs. Padavick as a partner, Gilan actually wasn't that bad. Well he didn't tell me that every step I took was wrong and that I would have to start from the beginning again. Of course we gave up on the tricky steps of the folk dance and ended up stepping side to side. Our held hands didn't feel awkward anymore, nor did his hand on the small of my back. As soon as we stopped worrying about trying to do the steps and simply enjoyed each other's company it wasn't that bad. It was actually really enjoyable. We smiled at each other, his eyes sparkling in the reflection of the fire. Suddenly, he returned to his emotionless ranger face and dropped his hands, looking straight over my shoulder.

"Beckett." That was the one word I hoped wouldn't come out of Gilan's mouth.

"Gilan." Becks returned the greeting.

"Oh look," I said, pointing at our table trying to avoid what I knew was going to happen next. "Dessert is served."

Becks didn't say a word. He simply stared with a grim face at Gilan from across the table. Gilan, I guess, was used to grim faced Rangers, so he sat comfortably under Beck's unwavering gaze. If Gilan doesn't eat his dessert soon I am going to eat it. How can they just sit and stare at each other without moving? This is killing me just watching! Mrs. Padavick strolling to our table was a sight I thought I would never be thankful for.

"Ranger Beckett, I trust your trip was alright." She smiled sweetly to him. "Don't worry I kept your granddaughter safe while you were away." Gilan snorted, and I glared at him. Becks pretended not to notice.

"Thank you Claudia. What do I owe you for your troubles?" Becks asked but he already knew the answer.

"You owe us nothing Ranger. This is merely payback for what you have done for us." She smiled, forced my shoulders back again and left to attend her other customers. I tried my best to hide in the pathetic cowl this fancy cloak gave me, but there was no hiding from Becks.

"What did you do this time?" He asked in his low voice.

"I had it under control." I retorted. Becks of course didn't believe me. He looked to Gilan and I knew I was in for it.

"What did she do?" Becks asked Gilan ignoring my glare.

"She just had a little trouble handling some drunken ruffians." Gilan said modestly.

"Now you're getting a King's Ranger to lie for you?" Becks said, but I could hear a slight bit of sarcasm in his voice. I hid my face on my folded arms that rested on the table, knowing there was no way I could win, not with someone else watching. "Don't even try to be modest Gilan; you can't fool me, not with this at least. I do believe thanks are in order."

"Don't worry, I didn't do much more than what we normally do."

"What am I going to do with you Silas? Now you have put me in debt with another Ranger." He said.

"And yes, you've told me a thousand times, never have a debt unpaid because they'll come back asking for a favor eventually." I mumbled into my arms. I heard a clink of coins being tossed on the table. Becks was paying his debt to Gilan. He smartly didn't refuse because he had probably heard the same thing when he was just an apprentice.

"We'll be heading off now." Becks announced, but really, only Gilan could hear. Like a gentleman Gilan stood up and pulled back my chair so I could get out. I gave him a half smile knowing that was all I could afford with Becks standing a few steps away and it was the only kind of goodbye I think Becks wouldn't give me a hard time with. Gilan and Becks shook hands briefly before we turned to go. We stopped by the counter and retrieved my bags, which Becks carried as if he was pretending I was actually a lady. I turned back once more and snuck a wave and a last look at Gilan knowing that Becks probably wouldn't let me see him again. Boys and Mrs. Padavick was one thing; boys with Becks were something else entirely.

Five years later

I took a deep breath, trying not to let frustration overcome my mind. Target, around two hundred meters away, easy. Cold wind coming in from the south, also easy. Levels in the terrain, I learnt how to deal with that years ago. One more breath and I rapidly drew, knocked and fired the grey shafted arrow with the long bow. My muscles were stiff from the strain, overworking them again. Meaning another one of Becks' remedies, this usually ended up with me having to jump in the ice cold river to keep the pain down. It was a perfect shot. That is, if I was aiming for something half way between the target and I. I resisted the urge to snap the bow on my knee, knowing that Becks would just have me make another one which will end up with weeks of agonizing splinters from shaping the bow.

"Can't I just use the recurve bow?" I whined to Becks who looked rather cosy as he supervised from the porch chair with a cup of steaming coffee in hand. What I wouldn't give to have one sip to fight off this cold autumn's warning.

"No." He said between sips. "If you want to..."

"Yes, yes I know." I cut him off, something he didn't like. "If I want to be accepted as a Ranger then I have to be able up to Ranger standards." Apparently, I couldn't be formally presented to the Ranger's corps until I could prove I was just as capable as the men. Crowley didn't say that Becks couldn't teach me, but he couldn't exactly say no. Most of the Rangers probably would freak out if there was a female Ranger.

"That's why there hasn't been a female Ranger before. They aren't physically strong enough to pull and hold a full draw of the long bow." I rolled my eyes at him. I knew this already, he's told me what seems like every day. I have every other criteria of a ranger filled: knife throwing, tracking, map detail, my tactics needed some work, but they weren't half bad. I have everything except the bow. Of course some of the skills needed to be smoothed out, but that would only happen when we go to the Ranger corps meeting. And I might add that I am still not allowed to attend. While normal Rangers would be finishing their training I'm still not anywhere close to being done. Not only do I have to work twice as hard as any man, but I have to work twice as long, where is the fairness? If Becks would just let me use the recurve, I would probably shut up about it and stop giving him headaches as he so claims.

I fell straight forwards catching myself at the last second and started doing push ups, I would just have to get stronger. Mrs. Padavick complained more each year when I was left in her care; none of her dress fit me because my arms had more muscles than a normal girl's, so she had to make new ones for me. It did work out in my favor because they were mostly plain, but she was very vocal in saying that a respectable lady shouldn't have to lift more than a pot filled with food for a husband, as she tried matching me up with, so I would have one. I didn't have time to start looking for a husband or even think about settling down and having a family, where's the adventure in that? Well I've never really had an adventure, but when I'm a Ranger that will change.

I tried several more times with the massive bow, the attempts didn't improve. I even checked my accuracy with my recurve bow, but I knew that was fine; I just wasn't strong enough. Becks gave me more exercises for me to perform and I did them diligently, without a single complaint. It would still be a while until I could wield that weapon, I couldn't even see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was a tiring day, and of course Becks made me finish by making him supper. I could barely lift the pot onto the stove to boils the water for some stew, my muscles protested every time they had to work. As long as I didn't voice my agony out loud, Becks wouldn't get to give me his lecture about his thoughts of me wanting to be a Ranger.

I slumped onto a chair next to the fire, finally feeling like I was beginning to thaw out. I tried massaging the kinks out of my arms, but cringed every time I touched them.

"You know it's not good to overwork your muscles." Becks said in his soft voice when he's talking to me as my grandfather.

"Aren't you the one who is always pushing me so I can get stronger?" I retorted, most just bitter because of how the pain throbbed throughout my body. He took one of my arms and started rubbing them. I tried not to cringe when he dug deep into the sore spots, and believe me, there were a lot of them.

"If you damage your muscles you won't be able to do anything, well maybe you'll be able hold up dainty little teacups, pinkies out and everything." I scowled at him. He knew how much I hated spending time with Mrs. Padavick while he was away. It's annoying how he doesn't think I could handle being alone for a couples days, I am a fully trained Ranger, well mostly, Rangers are supposed to be able to think and rely on his own self because they work alone. Truly, I think he is just scared what I might do if I am alone with no one to keep an eye on me. "Go to the river and soak."

"Are you kidding me?"

"It's either you freeze for a few minutes or you will not be able to do anything tomorrow." I hated how he was right. I took a warm blanket from my room, the same one I used last week when I was sent to the river to cool off. The river was a few minutes' walk away from the house, but it always felt longer coming back. I secretly liked it when Becks sends me. Not the freezing my butt off trying to get the swelling down, but it did give me some time alone, and in the moonlight darkness there was also no one to watch. At the river's edge, I bent down and felt the ground beneath my fingers. I closed my eyes and I could feel the energy in the earth, I could see for miles through my fingertips. No one was around so it was safe. I undressed down to my chest wrap and my first pant layer, just in case anyone did decide to come this way. Besides I would need some protection from the cold. I dipped a finger in and shivers shot up my arm, as I suspected it was ice-cold, but it wasn't cold enough to freeze me to death. 'Might as well get this over with.' I thought to myself. I took a deep breath and dived into the water. Ice water hit my skin and knocked the air out of my lungs, all of my muscles seized almost stopping me from returning to the surface. Luckily, it was shallow and I could stand up to refill my lungs. I held my chest, shivering in the cold. I start counting down in my head, but five minutes always takes longer in here than normal. I kept moving my fingers and toes just to keep the circulation going. I flexed my fingers open and closed admiring how the trees mimicked the movement. If only I had the ability to heat up this water, that would be fantastic. This was the only spot that I could practice my magic without having any eyes watching, especially the sceptical Beck's. The trees don't really whisper to me anymore, I think Becks might've tried telling them not to help me while I was training. They grew softer over the years as I learnt how to use my magic, and they only helped teaching me how to perfect my skills. I cast a shadow aside that was covering the moon's rays, hoping that they could provide warmth like the sun does.

I soaked until I could no longer feel anything, nothing except the freezing air on my face. Shivering with each step but I couldn't walk faster, my legs wouldn't allow it. My world shook in my eyes from shivering. My trembling hands did the best they could to dry my wet skin off. My legs started to spasm, and I felt myself falling to the ground. Instinctively, my hands shot out and stopped my fall and the earth trembled under the impact. That was weird. I doubt that I'm heavy enough to cause an earthquake even for that slight second, but that had never happened before. Pushing off the cold leaf covered ground; I brushed the dirt that stuck to my still wet skin as best as I could. There was no way I was going back inside the river tonight. At least this will be the last time I can go in the river before it freezes over. I simply wrapped the blanket around my shoulders, grabbed my clothes, pulled on my socks and boots: there was no way I was going to walk back barefoot. I stumbled along through the trees, the shadows moved out of my way so I could see the leaf covered ground clearly. I finally reached the house, ignoring Becks complaints because I was dripping water on his floor. I changed into dry loose clothing wrapped another blanket around my shoulders and sat back down in front of the fire. Becks handed me a mug filled with hot water; it wasn't coffee, but it would help me to warm up.

It was quiet in the room just the crackle of the wood in the hearth. It wasn't uncomfortable. We've always had a strange relationship. He's half my mentor and half my grandfather, and there has never been any sort of mix between the two. I've gotten used to it over the years, mostly because I don't remember being raised any differently. I shut out all memories that I had before I met Becks, mostly because I didn't want the nightmares to return. I guess I won't really get to know a normal life. But who said that a Ranger had a normal life or even wanted one?

"You need to get a handle on that earthquake." Becks said between sips.

"It was an accident, I swear!" And of course he didn't believe me, not when magic was involved. He raised an eyebrow, silently telling me that I better have a better excuse than that. "I slipped and hit the ground; I didn't even know I could do that." His eyes bore down on me. "It won't happen again." I said begrudgingly. Actually, it had happened before, only a few times. When I was a young girl and the memories of my parents slaughter haunted my dreams. I would wake up screaming, the whole house felt like it was shaking, and Becks would come and hold me in his arms until I woke up fully and calmed down. I didn't realise it then, but it was the same as tonight. I had forgotten about that, mostly because I tried so hard blocking those memories and it was easiest just to forget everything all at once.

I will admit that I wasn't the easiest person to raise, and I do give Becks some credit. First he gets a little girl who went through something immensely traumatic; there are even soldiers who have come back from war with half their minds from witnessing something similar. Not to mention that this little girl can do magic and that you have to keep her from hurting herself and make sure no one knows about it. When it came to magic, I kept a tight lip. He would blame me even if it was an accident and I learnt that many years ago. I drank the rest of my hot water, kissed Becks on the cheek and crawled into bed. As expected, it took me a lot longer to fall asleep because of my inability to warm up on my own at the moment.

Winter winds turned into snowflakes falling from the sky, it took a few months, but they covered the world piling up on the ground until it was knee-high. Tracking was the only part about winter I liked, footprints in the wet snow made my job easier. That couldn't be said for everything else, well a Ranger's work is always harder in the winter because we have to add freezing night and day to the mix. Almost being a full ranger meant that I was perfectly capable with handling the cold, that didn't mean I had to like spending some nights outside while Becks was nice and warm in his bed. Unfortunately, I am not a full Ranger yet, so that meant I still had to do every hard drill that Becks threw at me. Attempting to pull a longbow to full draw was impossible with a stiff and nearly frozen bow.

I blew hot air on my fingers, holding my bow under my arm trying my best to unthaw my fingers, again. I grabbed an arrow, nocked, aimed and fired within seconds. The cold string felt like it was cutting into my fingers after practicing for a few hours, and in a few more tries I think I might start to bleed. Once again my shot flew short, even worse than it had last week. Sleeping in the snow did not help strengthen my resistance as Becks says; more like freeze my muscles so they can't move. Being woken up before the sun won't help put me in a better mood. Becks was right to be hiding in the house at the moment, I tend to be bad-humoured and cranky in the mornings. I gave up with this drill, slinging my bow back over my shoulder; I wouldn't be able to do this any longer on an empty stomach, without snapping the bow in half. I trudged through the snow, and shook like a dog on the dry porch getting all the snow off. I would just have to deal with Becks wrath, but anything was better than the cold. I opened the door a crack slipping silently in. Avoiding him was also a possibility, but highly unlikely. Putting my affects on the hooks, I was stopped by someone clearing their throat. I slowly turned around and Becks was standing in the kitchen with an undistinguishable emotion on his face.

"Morning Becks." I said as sweetly as I could manage. "I'm cold and wet and tired and not in a good mood." I gave up with the pleasantries, and slumped into a kitchen chair.

"I can see that." Then Becks did something strange. In front of me he placed a plate filled with food and poured me a mug with coffee. I eyed him suspiciously. He brought his own breakfast to the table and sat down across from me. "Is there something in your eye?"

"What did you do?" I glanced briefly at the plate in front of me, and then back to him.

"I wouldn't poison my own granddaughter."

"Then what do you want?" Usually, after a hard morning of training he would force me to cook the breakfast. And I would murmur under my breath how he would become fat if he continues to do nothing, not that I would get away with it.

"We have to go to town today." He said quietly. My eyes widened in horror, I knew this was too good to be true.

"No, I'm not going."

"Not an option. Stop being such a girl."

"That's why I don't like going! Because I actually have to act and dress like a girl! Do you have any idea how uncomfortable a corset is? No, because you're a man!" From under his chair he pulled out a box and passed it over to me. I looked inside and it was awful. A woolen dress that would do nothing but make my skin itch for god knows how long after. "I'm not wearing the corset because I won't be able to do it up." I said after finding one in there.

"Mrs. Padavick apparently made you a special one so you have no excuse."

"Can't I just pretend that I'm a man? That would be less painful and not to mention a lot easier."

"No because people know that I have a granddaughter, not a grandson." I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest like a kid. "People in this village like to talk, and if we give them the least amount possible to talk about the better it will be for us." I could complain all I wanted, but I knew he was right, that was the main reason he sent me to Mrs. Padavick was so I knew at least how to pretend to be a girl. Defeated, I ate silently with a glare on my face.

Mrs. Padavick had made a corset specially me. She made sure that I would have no excuse, minus it being uncomfortable. Becks also said that we would be stopping for lunch at her inn so I wouldn't be able to pretend that I wasn't wearing it. I tied it tight: the ties at the side probably made this even more difficult to make. I kept on my warm leggings; no one would be able to see them under the olive green dress. At least she made this one plain with no ruffles, well mostly plain. She made the shoulders poufy so people would just think it was the dress and not my arms that were larger than normal. I tied the black belt around my waist, tying it tight to make my waist smaller not that I needed it from the Ranger training. Apparently women went without breathing so their corsets could make their waist smaller, apparently something they did to attract men. I let my hair down, the only time that Becks wouldn't complain about it. Lastly, I pulled on my soft soled fur boots, wrapping a thin rope around so they wouldn't fall down.

"Are you ready yet?" Becks yelled through my door.

"If I was actually a normal girl this probably would take longer!" I retorted. I walked out of my room, tucking my knives into my belt at the back. I grabbed my mother's warm dark blue velvet cloak and threw it over my shoulders. Without putting on the hood it would look relatively normal, and at a distance the little silver threads would look like the night sky. Becks didn't like it because once I hid my face under the shadow of the cowl I could almost disappear, it was even better at night. Becks tried it once but nothing happened, blamed it on my witch of a mother and threw it in my face. I didn't care, it was better than his Ranger cloak, not to mention I had only been practicing with one of his because I wasn't allowed one yet. I smirked at him before following him outside.

He only let me ride Celeg once we were close enough for people to see us. That was one other thing I didn't have, a Ranger horse. Becks didn't even bother get a normal horse because that would just waste of training. All of this will have to wait until I can prove to the Corps that I am perfectly capable of joining them. Just as I was pretending to be a lady, Beckett also put on his fake gentleman charm that only the Rangers, the Padavicks and I knew that he didn't have. He reached up and lifted me down by the waist when we were inside the village. With Celeg in tow in grabbed his arm and we walked further in. Secretly, I kind of like doing this, we rarely act like we stand each other, let alone enjoy each other's company. Not that either of us would admit it.

As usual, we made our way through the village, so we could shop inwards then move out and get away faster. We rounded the corner and were stopped by a mass of people; more people than I thought lived in this tiny village. We squeezed our way through so we could see what was going on, people cleared room. It was mostly due to everyone backing away once they saw Becks standing behind them. I was pushed to the front by the easily intimidated people. My feet not used to having something in front started tangling around my ankles. I tripped on the hem of my skirt and felt myself falling forwards. I swear I thought I was going to fall face first, but instead I felt a pair of arms grab from the side me around the waist.

Authors' Note: Oooo who could it be? So a bit of Gilan in this chapter, I laughed so hard when writing that scene. Every time Mrs. Padavick came around, that was my favorite part. What's yours? I hope everyone understands everything so far, if not please tell us and we'll do our best to clarify. Review because it helps us update faster!

Love, C & M

Yolande- thanks for the review!

FarmersDaughter- Yes she is going to have magic if chapter two and three didn't answer it for you. Thanks for the review!

K. Bradshaw- I know what you mean. I want to create a realistic character within this world giving her the ability to do anything without a limit would just be fake and boring. Thanks for the review!

I'm the sap- I kind of like this story better than my other one (don't them that, also it's kind of a boring part that I'm writing but it has to be done) I love Gilan too! But it'll be a while before they're actually together. People can't just fall in love in one chapter, it's too unrealistic. Thanks for the review!

Athena's Warrior- Becks' son was murdered by the side of the road, and it actually does play a part later on and will be explained on. No Jenny isn't really a factor in my story, maybe Gilan will say something about how it ended but that might be all. Thanks for the review!

Slbann- Thanks for the review!