A/N: Hey guys, always wondered how a battle against Halt would be without really changing the characters? Well here it is. I hope you like it, please leave a comment (I love to read them).

I want to add a quick note to the current situation in the world. Something horrible is going on in Ukraine and I won't go into detail about the terrible action Putin is taking. It is again proven that freedom is not something easily granted and only united we can get through this. I pray for those in Ukraine, and for those with family and friends in Ukraine.

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." "Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

Chapter 1

In situations like these, Will wondered how Rangers got their reputation. Yes, normally missions went smooth, and even when they encountered a hiccup they managed to succeed either way. But sometimes there were days like this one.

Two days ago Will and Halt had set out to catch a gang of thieves, who were somehow working in the most efficient way. They had raided four fiefs already and hadn't been caught by any of those fiefs rangers. To make it even more strange was their tactics, no one had been killed or directly hurt by the thieves.

All the more reason for Halt to show that Will was more than ready for his fourth gathering assessments. They had followed the tracks of the thieves, gathered information about their tactics. They found out that at every house, the people living there had been attacking each other instead of the thieves.

It was curious to say the least, but the people were hesitant, almost ashamed, to talk about it. Halt had tried to leave Will alone with some people, as he had a more friendly face which people were more inclined to trust but to no avail.

After a while they were finally ready to catch the thieves and bring them in for justice. It was a simple job actually, beside the strange circumstances and the number of people working in this group. Due to their previous victories, the raiders had become overconfident. They had stopped hiding their track, and were loud enough for the whole kingdom to hear them tonight.

Their weapons were piled up at the side of the cam and the group was enjoying a rich dinner. The plan was easy, Halt would dispose of the weapons making sure they couldn't fight back. Will would infiltrate the camp and bind them.

Thinking back now, Will realized that the plan had been too easy for a group that had managed to evade rangers for months. It weren't the thieves that had been cocky but the two of them for thinking it would be effortless to take them down.

The moment Halt had set foot at the weapons disposal a trap net swooped up and captured the old ranger in it. Despite the seriousness of that situation, Will couldn't help a smile entering his face. The sight of his mentor bungling underneath a tree, was something he wouldn't quickly forget.

Will realized that in surprise of Halt being caught, he had also jumped. For now it seemed like everyone was focused around the ranger, so luckily no one had seen him. Slowly he raised his bow to shoot at the rope holding the net and release Halt from his rather uncomfortable position.

For a moment he hesitated, knowing that shooting meant revealing his place. It would make the situation for both him and Halt more dangerous. That slight hesitation had been precious time, Will found out not too much later. Someone behind him kicked in his knees and Will fell forward. Apparently someone had been able to sneak up behind him during all the commotion.

Will drew his Saxe knife and swiftly aimed for the heart, but the thief was fast and dodged Will. Others had noticed the fight and Will's heart sank when he heard the leader shout; "One wrong move and the old man dies!"

"I beg your pardon," Halt grunted, even though he couldn't deny the pain from the sore bones being crushed together now.

Again a moment of hesitation flushed through Will's head. He was close enough to his bow and he could try to shoot them all down, but without Halt's backup it would be risky. He didn't mind going into a risky situation, but now Halt's life depended on it so he just couldn't take the chance.

Two of the raiders tried to grab Will but he decided not to be caught without a fight. In just a few breaths the two were knocked out, when he realized that the leader was now pointing his crossbow towards Halt.

"I'm not telling you again boy. Put down your weapons." He spoke loud enough for the whole forest to hear him. Will knew the situation would only get worse if he was captured as well, but he had no choice anymore. Slowly he bend down and laid his bow, quiver and knives in the grass.

Immediately two new bandits grabbed him by the arms and this time Will complied as they tied him down against the tree. A few moments later he was joined by a grumpy looking Halt.

They waited in silence for the bandits to make a move. However Will went restless as time passed by without getting any information or action.

"Halt, I think I can untie our ropes. Maybe it's a good time to go now?" Will whispered, already fumbling with the ropes.

To his surprise, Halt shook his head. "Not just yet. While they see us as prisoners, they might reveal how they did all those raids. It still doesn't feel right, and without the whole picture Baron Arald might not have enough to lock them away for a long time."

Will had to agree with that point, if they escaped now, they could probably catch them tomorrow. But with this strange case of no one being hurt, and people fighting each other, they needed answers before running away.

As if on cue, one of the camp leaders briskly walked towards the two captives and sat down in front of Will. This was something Halt hadn't anticipated. Normally their opponents went for the older, more experienced one to threaten.

Halt tightened his muscles and started to find a way out of the ropes. With the leader grinning with an evil smile towards his apprentice, he suddenly didn't care that much about the raiding style of the thieves. He wanted Will to get out of here and fast.

The man spoke slowly with his low raspy voice, "you know, we were going to trade the both of you at castle Redmont for a reasonable amount of gold. But my friend here saw that shiny necklace of yours, and tells me you are nasty rangers."

He waited for the young boy to break in fear, but Will had been trained for four years now by the best of all the rangers. He wasn't fazed by this man threatening eyes, and he kept his mouth shut. It frustrated the thief and he tried again to provoke a reaction.

"Maybe they give gold for rangers, maybe not. But what do you think about this fief being without rangers. All the riches can be ours, without you breathing in our necks."

Again Will kept his mouth shut, but Halt felt the realness of the threat and tried to get the attention pointed towards his by huffing. The man indeed was curious by the reaction of the older ranger and he shoved to the side so he could look at both captives.

His hand went to his pocked and he showed a small bottle containing some purple liquid and smiled.

"I just have one dose left, so who wants the honor. I mean, I would love to see your reaction to the boy, old man." He smiled towards Halt while slowly getting closer to Will.

"Leave him alone!" Halt roared before he could contain himself, and he struggled to get out of the ropes and kill the man with his bare hands for only threatening his boy.

He realized he couldn't free himself so he looked the thief in the eye, who was looking rather curiously at the situation before him.

"Give that to me and release him. He is an apprentice so you get what you want, no rangers in Redmont."

Will started to protest but a raised hand from his mentor shut him down. They had gone over these procedures in theory lessons, that if there was no way out, Will would do as Halt told him without complaint. But never had he thought it to be so heart wrenching to keep silent when Halt sacrificed himself like that.

The leader seemed pleased with himself and smiled broadly, "as you wish," he said and gave the bottle to Halt.

The ranger glared and said, "before I take it, I want to see that he is safe." The commander nodded and brought Will's weapons back and cut the ropes around his hands. He gestured the other thieves to hold Will's arms.

"He can go as soon as you drink." The man stated and Halt nodded. He knew that if it came to it, Will would be able to get out of their grip and with his bow he would be able to escape unharmed.

Halt looked for a moment at the potion and wondered what it contained. It was unpleasant for sure, but on the other hand the raiders had never killed anyone so why would they carry bottles of poison with them. Deep down he didn't believe this potion contained his death, maybe agonizing pain but he was prepared to undergo it as long as Will didn't need to.

He looked up at his apprentice who was looking wide-eyed at him. For the first time, Halt didn't know what to say to him. Reassure him that it was probably nothing, but he couldn't lie. There was a reasonable chance this would be his last chance to say goodbye and suddenly he decided to take that chance. "I'm sorry Will. I love you son, and I know you will be a perfect ranger, the best Araluen has ever seen. I'm sure Gilan will show you how, and you two can take care of each other. You know what to do, and please tell Pauline how much I loved her."

The old ranger looked away, not able to look at the tears flooding from the big brown eyes. He heard Will pleading, which increased to yelling, but somehow all seemed vague around him. Hoping it would be somewhat painless, Halt quickly downed the liquid and waited.

Within seconds it went all dark.