A/N: I'm back again my pretties, and what? So soon? Well I must actually be a productive member of society this week. I can't believe it!
"What?" Halt exclaimed, "How?"
"Every full ranger was captured and the kingdom was- it was in chaos. Riots, raids, arsons... " Will shuddered. It was definitely a memory he'd rather keep at bay. "That's when we formed Pravine. They knew someone had to do something. King Duncan was throwing knights at the problem, as usual, but they were only making it worse. They were trained well, but they didn't know who they were supposed to be fighting. I'll tell you about it later. We've got to get going, you need to report to Baron Arald. Thanks Crowley."
"Don't forget about the gathering this time, Will." Crowley teased lightly, "And perhaps it would be best if you were on time as well."
Will's face reddened slightly.
"You forgot a gathering?" Halt raised an eyebrow.
"Don't get onto him about it, Halt." Crowley admonished, "It wasn't his fault."
"Then who's fault was it?"
"He and Cordine were sent after some jewel thieves and it took a little longer to wrap up than expected." Crowley chuckled. "They showed up at the gathering grounds the next day when everyone was getting ready to leave. Besides, I wouldn't tease him about that considering what you pulled."
It was Halt's turn to redden.
Halt looked back, expecting to see his apprentice's widening grin, but saw only the hint of a smile.
"I'm going to saddle the horses." Will walked back towards the stables.
"What's going on with him?" Halt turned to Crowley. "Isn't he happy I'm back? I figured he would ride up, leave the horse standing saddled, then I was going to get onto him about not tending his horse."
Crowley thought it amusing, but not surprising, that Halt had tried to predict his and Will's reunion.
"He's growing up, Halt." Crowley smiled. "Gilan did the same thing, only you didn't notice because you never away for so long."
"But why isn't he smiling?" Halt frowned. "He always smiled. Always. Couldn't get the dang kid to be serious."
"As I said earlier, he's got a lot on his mind." Crowley sighed, "Sometimes I wonder if it's too much for someone young as him."
"Of course it is!" Halt was indignant. "He's an apprentice! His job is to learn the trade, and balance limited responsibility."
"Now that you're back, it'll take some of the weight off of him." Crowley leaned gently on the wall of the cabin, attempting to allay Halt's growing anger.
Crowley saw Halt's expression turn from frustration to joy as he heard a familiar whinny accompanied by the pounding of hooves.
"Abelard!" Halt's attention was instantly torn from Crowley. He stepped off the porch, running his hand's through the horse's mane and over his back, nose, and ears.
"He missed you." Will commented, with a slight smile as he walked up with Tug. "Looks like you missed him too."
"Did I ever!" Halt exclaimed, then hesitated. "Every time I saw a horse, I wondered what had become of him."
"Tug and I found him roaming the woods." Will ran a hand along Abelard's neck. "It's how we knew you were kidnapped- not just lost."
Halt turned to Will's horse, a grin on his face. "Thank you T-" Halt paused. "Will, this isn't Tug. Tug doesn't have silver on his ear."
"I lost Tug a year a go." Will said, "He died in battle. This is one of Tug's brothers."
Rangers tended to keep the same name for all their horses, so it made sense that Will would.
Halt briefly remembered having to retire the first Abelard due to a chronic limp that had developed from an arrow to the front leg. Halt had been devastated enough that he had threatened to leave the ranger corp if he couldn't keep riding his horse. Eventually, Crowley had talked some sense into him, and he'd stayed, taking another horse and naming it Abelard. Halt pushed the memories from his mind, not wanting the moment to turn melancholy. He was back where he belonged. With Will, with Abelard, Crowley, the rangers, and the rest of Redmount.
Will said nothing more about the loss of Tug the first.
Halt climbed atop Abelard, wincing as he felt the strain of a bruise, but then instantly relaxing at the familiarity of the saddle. His saddle.
A/N: And there we have it folks, kind of short, but it felt like the right place to leave off. I think I'll probably get on the next chapter pretty quick. "The muse is strong in this one."