It was a nice day in Araluen. Crowley sat in his office, the window open so the fresh breeze could come in. He was working on some paperwork, as usual. The influx of new paperwork never ceased, and therefore his job was long and tiring.
The Commandant sat back in his chair, sipping his coffee occasionally when there's been a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Crowley called, looking up to see a servant coming in… with more paperwork to be done. The Ranger sighed. Why did he ever expect anything different?
"You can put it down on the table," he sighed and went back to this irritating piece of paper he'd been trying to decode for several minutes now. The servant did as he asked, setting the pile of paperwork on the last free space on the table, before straightening.
"Sir, the King also wants to see you," he said, looking past Crowley. The Ranger looked up, not surprised by the lack of eye contact. Usually, ordinary people didn't want anything to do with the Rangers. They thought they were magicians who ruled over dark magic. Crowley didn't blame them. To an untrained eye, it must've seemed as if the Rangers truly possessed magic. Therefore, he wasn't offended by the fact that the servant was looking somewhere behind him.
"When?" he asked, hoping for some time to prepare. The servant's voice was low when he answered.
"Right now, sir."
Crowley sighed and ran a hand through his red hair. Sometimes, the King requested his presence at the worst of moments. Grunting, the Commandant got up from his chair, closing the ink and letting the quill rest on the table. He didn't dare assume when he could return. Meetings with the King could take a lot of time.
The Ranger Commandant made his way to King Duncan's office. He waited patiently for Lord Anthony to announce his presence before coming in, requesting another cup of coffee. Something was telling him that he would need it.
"Crowley, come in," Duncan greeted him when he came into the room. "Please, take a seat."
Crowley moved to do so, lowkey observing the monarch. It seemed that his attention was mostly on a piece of paper he held in his hand, and Crowley didn't doubt that he would get to know the contents soon.
The King sighed, pushing the paper into his hands.
"A messenger came bearing this news," he sighed. With a raised eyebrow, Crowley began to read.
The Kingdom of Clonmel regrets to inform you about the sudden death of King Ferris. You are hereby invited to the royal funeral.
It was a simple message, but it made Crowley sigh.
"Halt, what did you do?"
His sigh made Duncan raise an eyebrow.
"Halt? What does he have to do with this?" he asked, genuinely confused. Of course, he had received a report about a special mission a few weeks back, but he didn't remember the details. Crowley looked at him.
"Long story short, Your Majesty, Halt, along with young Will and Horace, is on a mission in Hibernia. Halt wanted to warn his brother about a group of thieves, claiming to be servants of a false god. He believes that if the group, the Outsiders, as they're called, rule over Clonmel, it will only be a matter of time before they set their eyes on Araluen. Halt wants to stop them before they even have the chance to do so."
King Duncan listened to him and nodded, deep in thought.
"Do you think that Halt has something to do with Ferris' death?" he asked, frowning. He knew Halt. He had been one of his trusted advisors from the beginning. For him to commit a murder… He shook his head. No, Halt wasn't the type to unnecessarily kill someone. Not even his own brother who, according to Caitlyn, tried to murder him.
Crowley looked at the letter. He felt a tingling sensation in his stomach, this growing unease that spread through his insides.
"No," he shook his head finally. "Halt didn't do it. There must be something different at play, something that we're missing."
Nevertheless, he got deep into thought. Halt was the Crown Prince of Hibernia. He had to count on the possibility of not seeing his friend again. He could've easily stayed there and taken over the kingdom.
Crowley didn't want to admit that he was afraid. Despite knowing Halt for years, having known that he had rejected the birthright he had as a Prince when he ran away, knowing about how much he loved living in Araluen, there was still some fear that took hold of him. What if, after all these years, Halt would have to stay in Hibernia? Crowley was scared. Not just of losing his best Ranger, he was scared of losing his best friend. That man he made friends with during that fateful day in the inn, being attacked by Morgarath's soldiers.
His thoughts were disturbed by Duncan.
"But Halt is the long lost Crown Prince," he said. Apparently, he did remember this small detail that made Crowley's hair stand on his head.
"Isn't there a possibility of him taking over now?" The King sat behind his desk again, looking at Crowley with his blue eyes.
The Ranger closed his eyes for a moment and then firmly shook his head.
"Halt won't stay in Hibernia," he said with certainty, even if he didn't feel like that himself. "For one, Halt has vowed to serve you as a King's Ranger. He wouldn't go back on that vow."
Crowley had to bite his tongue when Duncan pointed out: "He already did once."
Oh, that little accident. They both knew that they'd rather forget that one. But they also both knew that Halt had done it in order to go save Will. However, there was no Will to save in this situation.
"Halt loves it here, and he enjoys being a Ranger," Crowley said, remembering one of Halt's rare smiles at last year's Gathering, his proud expression when he talked about both his apprentices, how wonderful young men they have become, and about Will. Gods, Will was like his son. If Will returned, then Halt would surely do so as well. Not to mention that Lady Pauline was waiting for him back at Redmont, knowing full well that, as a Ranger, he didn't have to come back one day. They all had to hope that Halt would return to them.
Then, Crowley perked up.
"Isn't there Caitlyn's son?" he asked, remembering vaguely that she had given birth years ago. King Duncan set his elbows on the table to support his chin with his hands and looked deep in thought.
"Why, I do think that Halt has a nephew," he mused, then called over the nearest servant and told him to fetch the Clonmel Royal Family's family tree from the library.
The servant left and both men sipped their drinks. It looked like this whole situation had added even more silver streaks into his blonde hair. Crowley was thinking about the situation in Hibernia.
Neither of them spoke. Neither of them wanted to say anything, at least not until they'd have proof that there was an heir to the Clonmel throne.
Finally, after what seemed like a thousand years, the servant returned. Setting the family tree on the desk, he bowed with a quick "Your Majesty", and left the room.
Duncan hurried to study it. Crowley tensed for a moment before the King let out a relieved breath. He looked up, his blue eyes meeting Crowley's hazel ones.
"Caitlyn had a son, Sean. After Halt, he is the second in the line of succession."
Crowley released a breath he didn't even know he was holding. So, if Halt let his nephew Sean take over Clonmel's affairs, he could continue the mission and return to Araluen. He couldn't be too sure about Halt returning, but it seemed that at least, he would have a chance at seeing his Ranger- no, his best friend , again.
"That is good news, Sire," Crowley spoke up. "It might mean that Halt will be returning to us."
King Duncan closed his eyes slowly, then just sighed: "I hope so, Crowley. I hope so. You're dismissed."
The Ranger Commandant didn't waste time in standing up and bowing slightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," with that, the Ranger silently retreated from the room, leaving the King slumped in the chair.
How glad they both were when a few weeks later, an invitation to the coronation of Prince Sean O'Carrick of Clonmel had arrived at Araluen.