Hey y'all here's the new chapter! Hope y'all enjoy it!
Gilan shuffled to the door, he reached through the bars and called on every ounce of his training in picking locks. It took two minutes, but he had succeeded in opening the door. He slid out, grimacing at the barely audible squeak that came from the hinges. He locked the door back with the nail and slid down the hallway, steering clear of the lights. His broken foot throbbed, but his adrenaline was so high that he could barely tell it was broken. The rest of his body had numbed and he was able to successfully make it to the next set of guards. Lady Luck appeared to be on his side again. Both guards were fast asleep. He stepped past them and disappeared back into the shadows. His entire side ached from the knife wound and he pressed his hands up against it, trying to ease the pain. It didn't help. He took a deep breath, stumbled forward again, and forced the pain to the back of his thoughts. He had to make it out of here. He had to.
***Line Break***
Halt and Crowley silently eased the smoke bombs down the hill. They were filled with enough chemicals to send even a large horse into a deep sleep within seconds. They weren't the least bit concerned with using too much. They held no pity for these men. They stayed silent and watched as one by one the men dropped like flies. They slid forward and used the wind and darkness to cover their sounds. Halt moved slightly faster than Crowley, desperate to get to his apprentice. He managed to make it to the entrance to the tunnel before he saw anyone else. And it was only by chance that he saw them. Their was a smaller man standing just inside the shadows of the shut door, barely noticeable through the window. Halt gestured to Crowley, who quickly spotted the man. They slid back a little bit, Crowley raised another smoke bomb in question. Halt shook his head, he wanted to deal with this person himself. He wanted to fight at least one of the men who had aided in the injuring of his apprentice. He silently drew his saxe knife and stepped forward.
Instantly, the figure drew back, no long visible. Halt growled and slid back as well. Crowley fixed him with a questioning expression, he had never seen Halt act this way before. It was odd that one of these men would match Halt's skills. Match Halt's skills! Crowley stepped forward slightly as an idea flew through his head. Gilan was Halt's apprentice, if there was anyone who would know his habits and skills like a book, it was the shaggy haired young shadow.
"Gilan," he called softly, deciding to chance it, "Gil?"
"Crowley?" the young voice broke with fear and pain, shattering Crowley's heart with it.
Halt's heart burst with the overflow of pain and fear that met with the sound of his apprentice's voice. He sounded hurt, and like he hadn't had a good sleep in days. Halt knew that his kid was completely beaten and on the verge of giving up.
"Kid, is there anyone in there with you?" Crowley questioned.
"No," came the whispered reply.
"Gilan?" Halt was aware of how his voice was tight with concern, "Gil, how badly are you hurt?"
"Umm..." Gilan hesitated, "I managed to get out of my cell, and down the hall, but I can't get the door open," he completely desiregarded Halt's question.
"You did good, Gilan," Halt praised his apprentice, "but how badly are you hurt?"
"I just need you guys to open the door so I can get out there's not a nob on the inside," Gilan's voice begged for Halt to drop the subject.
Halt refused, pressing the question further as Crowley eased the door open, "how badly are you hurt?"
Gilan suddenly stumbled forward and pulled the door shut. His entire body was slumped against the door, but he managed to look up at Halt and Crowley, "someone's coming. You..." his voice trailed off as the younger man began struggling for breath, "you have to leave."
"Leave," Crowley replied dumbly, almost unable to understand Gilan's words.
"Like hell we are," Halt snapped, grabbing the door, "you have to move away from the door, Gil, let me come get you."
Gilan shook his head jerkily, "I'll just slow you down," he was panting now, "You know where I am now, go get help and come... come back. Please."
"Gilan," Crowley protested, hearing heavy footsteps approaching, "move away from the door. We can still get you out of this."
Gilan smiled sadly at his commandant, "just get Halt out of here, Crowley. Please."
Crowley bit back a sob as he saw the light of torches start twisting around the corner of the hall. Their glowing hands reached for the young apprentice by the door, who refused to move until his mentor and commandant were safely away. Halt grabbed the bars of the window helplessly.
"Gil, please," he pleaded, "if I open the door while you're leaned against it you could fall and hurt yourself again."
"Halt," Crowley whispered, "Gilan's right. We have to go."
"Like hell, Crowley," Halt growled, "I'm not leaving my ki- my apprentice behind."
Crowley grabbed his arm, "your friend is asking you to, but your commandant is commanding you to. Gilan knows what he's doing."
"No, Cro-" Halt's voice was cut off by the sound of someone turning the corner.
Instinctively, both senior rangers slipped into the shadows before the man was fully in view of them. Halt tried to see the man's face, but the torch was held just right, he couldn't see any distinctive features.
"Oh, Gilan," Halt felt a shiver run down his spine as his blood ran cold, he knew that voice, "you know, I know that you think your precious mentor is coming to rescue you, but he will never find you here. Besides, even if he did, my brother would never be able to get past my guards."
Crowley looked over at Halt in confusion and mouthed, 'brother?' Halt nodded miserably, he'd hoped his brother thought he was dead. Unfortunately, having a reputation like he did, didn't really aid the whole 'dead' thing for very long.
"If I was able to get past the guards in a tunnel the width of three men," Gilan sounded in pain and exhausted, but defiant, "don't you think Halt will be able to get past a couple lazy, slack offs in an small clearing surrounded by trees."
Halt's blood froze as the his brother laughed, it was the same laugh he remembered from his childhood, cruel and manic, "don't you worry, young Gilan. Your mentor already thinks you're dead. But, Lord Morgarath has big plans for you. After all, even if they think you're dead, when they find out you're not, will Halt not do anything to get you back? Even travel to the Mountains of Night and Rain by himself."
Halt's frozen blood moved again as it boiled in anger. He looked over Crowley, who was still mouthing 'brother?' to himself over and over again. Halt reached over and shook his shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts. He gestured to the door and then pointed to Crowley, miming a pulling motion then gesturing towards where Gilan was still leaning up against the door. Crowley nodded, though his confused expression didn't leave his face. Halt sighed, there would be lots of explaining to do. Halt gripped the door handle, and yanked it open. Halt heard his brother shout in surprise as Crowley caught Gilan and pulled him outside, then Halt slammed the door back into place. They fell into the shadows with the young apprentice, who was quickly losing his fight with the darkness trying to pull him under.
Halt took his apprentice from Crowley and they raced back to the horses. Abelard nuzzled Gilan's lolling head in concern and nickered softly.
"He'll be alright, old boy," Halt said reassuringly.
Abelard raised his eyebrow, 'who you trying to convince, old man? Me or you.'
Halt sighed, he knew Abelard was right, but that didn't mean he had to admit it out loud.
Crowley watched the interaction from Cropper's back, sighing sadly. He couldn't help the confusion, though. Halt had a brother... A real brother. Crowley shook his head to try and clear his thoughts as Halt swung up onto Abelard, with Gilan still in his arms. 'He's the same Halt he's always been,' Crowley tried to convince himself, "I just know a little more about him now.'
He took the lead, wrestling with his thoughts as he led them back to their hidden campsite. Logically, he knew Halt kept secrets. It was part of what made him such a good ranger. But emotionally, Crowley was hurt that Halt hadn't trusted him enough to tell him about his brother. Halt pretty much knew everything about Crowley, but, the red-head realized, he knew next to nothing about Halt. It hurt. Crowley rubbed Cropper's mane absentmindedly as they rode into their camp.
Halt gently dismounted with Gilan, who was now completely unconscious, and set him on top of the extra bed roll. He looked towards Crowley and opened his mouth to speak, but Crowley turned away and began collecting firewood from around the edges of camp. That hurt. Crowley had always been open to talk to, about anything. Halt sighed, he knew Crowley was having a difficult time wrapping his head around one of Halt's best kept secrets. So, he busied himself with checking on Gilan's injuries, he would talk to Crowley later.
Halt pulled back the bandages around Gilan's torso and his blood boiled for the second time that day. The wound wasn't deep but it was situated in just the right spot to make it hurt more than it should have. Halt glanced over as Crowley set a bucket of clean water next to him.
"How bad is he?" Halt barely reigned in a wince at how guarded and cautious Crowley's voice sounded.
"He's going to be okay," Halt assured his... commandant, "he's more in pain than anything else, definitely has a concussion though."
Crowley hummed thoughtfully, "I'll go find some yarrow and see if there's some comfrey around," without another word to Halt, Crowley slipped into the trees.
"He's not going to want to talk to me anytime soon," Halt said sadly.
Abelard bumped his arm, 'he'll come around. Cropper says he's just trying to understand. It'll take him some time, you two'll be okay.'
"I hope you're right," Halt sighed, reaching up and rubbing his horses nose before turning back to his apprentice.
"Now," he said to the unconscious boy, "let's see what we can do about this."
Halt set about pulling Gilan's tunic off and washing his torso and head. He jumped when a bundle of herbs dropped down next to him. He looked up to thank the other ranger, but Crowley had already turned away and was making the fire. The red-head was clearly avoiding Halt, and it made the Hibernian uncomfortable. Halt dressed his apprentice's wounds then sat next to him, refusing to leave his side.
***Line Break***
It was two days before Gilan finally woke up enough to talk. He'd floated in and out of consciousness that night and Halt knew he would wake up that day. Crowley was still avoiding conversation, and the atmosphere in the camp was tense. Halt didn't enjoy the amount of mistrust in Crowley's voice when they spoke to each other, and the only times they did speak to each other were in clipped tones and short sentences. usually they were about Gilan or gathering food, wood, and herbs. Other thn that, there hadn't been much conversation between the two. Halt quickly realized how much he'd come to rely on Crowley's constant assurances that things would be okay. Without them, Halt felt like there was a brooding rain-cloud hovering over his head. He knew that he really needed to talk to Crowley, he just didn't know how to open the conversation.
"Halt...?" Gilan's weak voice broke through Halt's thoughts, "wha...?"
"Hey Gilan," all of Halt's attention was immediately on his apprentice, "how are you feeling?"
"I'm fi-" Gilan was cut off by Crowley coming around his other side.
"So help me, Gilan, if you say 'I'm fine' I will slap you in front of Halt." Crowley snapped playfully.
Gilan rolled his eyes, then winced as the motion hurt his head, "okay, so maybe I feel like I got run over by a stampede of wild horses."
"That does seem a accurate description based on how you look," Halt accepted the answer, hiding his smile by reaching for some yarrow leaves, "just warning you now, Gil, this won't feel good."
Gilan eyed the leaves and, despite his weak condition, managed to pout, "Halt... do you have to?"
"Yes," Halt barely let Gilan finish his question, "this will make sure the bleeding stays stopped and don't whine again or I'll make you eat it too."
Gilan clamped his mouth shut and Halt gently packed the wound, then wrapped it tightly with a bandage.
"I saw you made a mess out of your spare cloak," Crowley remarked, trying to distract Gilan, "so irresponsible."
"Yes, Crowley," Gilan gritted out, "next time I'll just politely ask the rude people not to stab me quite so much. I'm sure that will work."
"That's the spirit," Crowley rested his hand on Gilan's shoulder as the kid tried to sit up, "stay down, kiddo," he warned Gilan, "it will hurt worse if you sit up, trust me."
"Ugh, fine," Gilan sighed, "what's going on with you two..?" he questioned.
"What?" Crowley sounded surprised at the question.
"You won't... look... at each other..." Gilan was beginning to tire out again, "what's... wrong..?"
"Nothing," Crowley replied, "we're fine, just worried about you is all," Halt nodded in agreement.
"Liars," Gilan sighed, he shut his eyes, "I'm going... back to sleep... now, you two... fix this... It's annoying."
"Just sleep, Gil," Crowley soothed the young man, "don't worry about it. Just sleep."
"Fix it..." Gilan muttered before he fell back asleep.
Crowley looked awkwardly over at his friend and then abruptly stood and crossed over to the fire, stoking it moodily. Halt sighed.
"I would fix it kid," he whispered to Gilan, "but I don't think he wants to."
***Line Break***
Crowley was cranky. He sat stoking the fire and listening to his thoughts. He felt he had a right to be cranky. Halt had hid things from him. It was all fine and good for Halt to keep secrets, but Crowley had always thought that Halt trusted him. He hated being proved wrong. He stabbed, angrily, at the burned sicks in the fire. He had trusted Halt. Told him everything. Even the things from his childhood that he hadn't told anyone else. But Halt hadn't trusted him. He stabbed at the fire again, causing a couple embers to fly out and simmer on the dirt surrounding the make-shift fire pit. He rested his chin on his knees, which were brought up to his chest. This was his safe position. All his vital organs were hidden, and no one could get him because Cropper was standing behind him. His safe spot. He forced a whimper back down his throat. His safe spot used to be Halt. It had been nearly three days and Halt still hadn't talked to him. He had remained solely focused on Gilan, despite there having been several moments where he could have stepped away and spoken to Crowley. He clearly didn't want to. And that was just fine. Just fine.
Halt glanced over at Crowley. He was sitting at the fire and stabbing it at random intervals. He was definitely cranky. But he had a right to be. Halt had kept secrets and been very unopened about his life. There was barely any doubt in his mind that Crowley didn't trust him anymore. His voice, though light when Gilan was awake, was very guarded and cautious when it was only he and Halt. It hurt. Crowley was halt's best friend, and Halt had hurt him. So, in turn, it hurt Halt. He knew Crowley would probably never trust him again, and so he didn't even bother to try and explain himself. Besides, it wasn't that he didn't want to be Crowley's friend again, it was that he didn't deserve to be. And that was fine. Just fine.
Gilan watched the two 'adults' with extreme annoyance and irritation. They were acting like children. The solution was simple. Halt had to explain to Crowley what had happened and Crowley needed to listen. Gilan himself, had been a little confused that Halt had a twin brother, but he'd quickly gotten over it. he was used to Halt being a mysterious person. He liked to think Halt would one day cease to surprise him, but experience told him different. This was just another piece of the puzzle that was Halt. He waited for Crowley and Halt to make up, instead he just saw them drifting further apart. He knew that, when he wasn't awake, Halt and Crowley barely said two words to each other. He had closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep just to check the atmosphere. Once they thought he was out, the atmosphere had instantly dropped, turning tense and volatile. He'd listened for two hours, and they'd barely uttered a single word. And the words they did say were directed either to their horses or about him. to make it worse, they were tense, tight, and clipped. Just barely civil. They were not fine. Not fine at all.
DUNDUNDUUUUUUUUNNNNN! You're welcome! So, yes, Crowley has some trust issues with Halt right now, and Halt clearly has some communicating issues with Crowley. And poor Gilan is caught in the middle! The poor kid! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I promise I'll update soon. Love y'all!
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