Hey all! Welcome to chapter two. This is a simple chapter where we get to see the Rangers interacting with the child they've suddenly found themselves caring for.

I've always thought Crowley would be better with children than Halt, basically because Halt has a hard time dropping his grumpy, stoic persona.

Hope you enjoy this chapter! Please leave a review and tell me how I'm doing. It really helps me out. And check out the bottom author note when you're done reading. I give a little talk about the girl's name – which may or may not be a hint to her past.

Chapter 2: A Girl Named Raina

Dawn began to shine in dull shades of pink and orange. Crowley's eyes snapped opened, ears listening to the awakening forest. Halt was also awake and listening. The only odd sound that reached their ears were the snuffing and pawing of their horses. The rest was normal. A few birds chirped to each other. Every five minutes a breeze would rustle the undergrowth. Their fire had died down to mere coals. Slowly Halt arose, saxe in hand. There was nothing that declared danger. He and Crowley were probably the most dangerous creatures within several meters beyond the campsite. Yet both men felt heavy and tense. Crowley lifted his cloak. Fingers gingerly found the soft flesh of the girl's neck. Her pulse was weak but regular. His hazel eyes narrowed with anger. How could anyone be so cruel to a seven-year-old child? He couldn't fathom it. Cautiously he sat up, arms holding the girl tight but gently. He didn't want to arouse her. Yet in the clearing they would be able to check her injuries and rebandage them.

"All clear," Halt's soft voice said gruffly.

Crowley rose to his full height, the girl in his arms, "Do a perimeter sweep. I'll start working on the girl again."

Halt grunted. Silently he slipped away. The redhead placed the girl by the fire. It stirred awake as the Ranger dumped more kindling on it and poked the coals with a stick. A snort made him look up. Cropper had approached silently. His soft nose butted Crowley's water skin closer. Large eyes stared at his rider, urging him to use it. The girl stirred as the Ranger hoisted her up. Brown eyes fluttered open. Instantly, Crowley let his charming smile light up his face. Hopefully that would put her at ease. That hope was quickly dashed. Fear sparked in the girl's eyes. Her hands pressed into his chest and stomach, pushing him away from her. The Ranger retained a firm grip on her shoulders. She was weak and unable to do much. His right hand uncapped his water skin. Placing it to her lips, he tilted it up. The girl froze with uncertainty. Then her dulled mind registered fresh, cool water. Her lips parted, allowing the water to flow down her parched throat. Like Halt the previous night, Crowley kept the water to a minimum, despite her desperate protests.

Soft footsteps made him look up. Halt placed a clump of dough under the coals to cook. Beside his feet were five small bird eggs he had found. The grizzled Hibernian lifted an eyebrow at Crowley. The redhead immediately shook his head. Food was cooking. The girl would be fine until then. As Halt set out to feed and water the horses, Crowley pulled the medicine kit closer. He frowned at the low stockpile. The girl's injuries were extensive. He made a mental note to buy more supplies at the earliest convenience. Briefly he wondered if it would be better to bring the child to a village and leave her with a doctor. Quickly he eliminated the idea. She was obviously scared and running from someone. If they left her with someone then questions would start to circle. Whoever hurt her would be able to track her down. Crowley wouldn't let that happen unless he was there to beat her attacker to a pulp. The anger in Halt's demeanor told the redhead that he felt the same way. The girl whimpered as the Ranger pulled up her shirt. Softly he spoke to her, telling her several funny stories that he knew. Brown eyes, wide with fear, watched his face. She was helpless and she knew it. Yet Crowley's face told her that he was safe and kind and had a mischievous streak. Nothing told her he was a threat. Several times she would whimper or cry out as Crowley worked. Each time Crowley would pat her head and talk quietly, the other hand finishing whatever he was doing.

Crowley used the water bucket to clean his hands. Halt had come over to cook the eggs. That meant he could take over watching the child. The redhead signaled to the main road. Again Halt grunted in reply. With that, Crowley took off. Though they were a good distance away, Crowley feared that the girl's cries were loud enough to be noticed. He didn't know her past. Someone could be hunting her with the intention of dragging her back. His hand closed on his saxe. Crowley couldn't - wouldn't! - allow that. Hazel eyes scanned the forest and the road. Tracks from a walking man and a horse were recent. A line followed the path, indicating a plow horse. That meant a farmer. Nobody else had passed by. The Ranger nodded before heading back. Along the way he picked a few greens. The girl needed proper nutrients. The greens would be good.

He entered the clearing to find a surprising sight. Halt was sitting cross-legged on the ground. Wrapped in his arms was the girl. She was slowly chewing a small piece of bread. Her brown eyes looked up as Crowley approached. The redhead noticed a plate of food put to the side for him. Halt had placed the girl's food on his own plate. When the redhead offered to take the girl, his companion released a quiet, protective growl. That made Crowley's eyebrow go up in shock. The girl swallowed her bread and looked up at Crowley. Slowly her eyes moved to look at Halt's bearded face. Crowley's heart soared. A smile was twitching at the ends of her lips. It was uncertain and crooked but it was a smile nonetheless. He felt a massive smile touch his face. That's when Halt surprised him for a second time. He allowed a small smile to touch his lips. Quickly the redhead slapped his friend on the back. Halt turned a long-suffering, baleful look on his companion. Both men froze as a tiny giggle came from the girl's lips. Crowley tore a small piece from the bread in Halt's hands. The girl took it and started her methodical chewing. The two men started their own meals.

Crowley winked at the girl before speaking, "So do you put honey on your eggs?"

"What?" Halt's head snapped up. His dark eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What are blathering on about now?"

The redhead shrugged, "I asked if you liked honey on your eggs. After all, you like it in your coffee, which has a perfectly good taste on its own."

"You're an idiot," his companion replied grumpily. "And besides, honey goes with coffee. (Seeing Crowley's mouth open) Not with eggs!"

The girl giggled softly again. Halt sent her a betrayed look. Her uncertain, crooked smile bloomed into a beautiful one. Crowley finally let himself crack up. He heard Halt mutter something uncomplimentary under his breath. The Hibernian gave the girl a bite of the scrambled eggs. Crowley felt his heart twist as the girl smiled and closed her eyes. She was happy. It was obvious this was the best food she had been given in a long time. With the meal done, Crowley set about cleaning the plates and used utensils. Halt kept the loaf of bread with him. It was a good food source for the girl, something they could give her at regular intervals. A yawn escaped her mouth. Halt quickly gave her some water. Then he wrapped his cloak around her body. Her brown eyes continued to stare up at his face. Whenever Crowley came by, that gaze would switch to him.

In that gaze, they could read many emotions. Fear. Uncertainty. Distrust. Pain. Exhaustion. Yet there was also a growing hope. Tentatively she hooked her fingers in Halt's shirt. The man shifted his grasp on her, pulling the hand away. Crowley felt his heart rise into his throat. Halt's actions had set the child on edge. Her hand had been reaching out in search of hope and love. The Ranger understood his companion was not used to children, let alone caring for one. Halt simply didn't want to move and risk hurting her. However, his action only succeeded in alienating her. Quickly he swooped in. Halt, surprised by Crowley's sudden movements, searched his friend's gaze. Sensing Crowley's concern, the Hibernian understood he had made a tactical error. The girl groaned as the two switched. Halt gave her a gentle, small smile. He rose and stretched, letting out relieved noises. Crowley settled down with her in his grasp. Brown eyes turned to him. He smiled, both to make her relax but also at the dissolving fear. His actions had been quick enough. She thought Halt had pulled her away as he prepared to hand her to his companion.

Softly the redhead spoke, "My name's Crowley Meratyn. I'm a former Ranger from the Hogarth Fief. My friend is Halt. He's originally from Hibernia. That's to the west of our country." He adjusted his grip on the girl. Her brown eyes were staring up at him. She was listening to his every word. It even surprised Crowley that there was a light of understanding in her gaze. "Don't let Halt's grumpy personality fool you. He's actually a nice guy; quite the gentleman. We are traveling to Dacton Fief to meet up with another Ranger. His name is Leander. From what I remember of him, he's a nice man. Has a decent sense of humor." Crowley wrinkled his nose, "Heard he wasn't that great of a cook though."

The girl gave him a small smile. The Ranger opened his mouth to keep talking when two fingers touched his chin. He looked down once more. Brown eyes were wide and shining with a new light: curiosity. Her right hand had reached out. Carefully her left hand had curled on a piece of his cloak.

"Crow…ley," she replied hoarsely.

Halt, startled by the girl's voice, appeared over his companion's left shoulder. Brown eyes switched to him. Her right arm reached out to him. Halt grabbed it upon seeing her arm shake with the strain. He lowered back down. Gently he patted it. Dark eyes shined with concern.

"Halt…" the girl forced out. Her fingers wrapped around Halt's forefinger. Her gaze switched back to the Ranger holding her. "Crowley…Halt…Rangers?"

Crowley smiled at her, "Yes. We're King's Rangers. You're safe with us."

That last statement finally registered with the girl. Her eyes went wide. Hope shattered the last remnants of fear and uncertainty. A big, beautiful smile lit up her dirty face. Several small beads of blood appeared as the smile cracked her dried lips. Halt was quick to wipe these up. He uncapped his waterskin. Crowley held her firm while Halt helped her drink. Then he tore off a few small bites of bread. So far her stomach was cooperating. A few more bites of food wouldn't hurt. Small, trembling hands took each piece. Slowly, methodically she chewed. Brown eyes, however, never left their faces. It was as if she was memorizing them. The last piece of bread was soon swallowed. The girl pressed her left cheek against Crowley's chest. That happy smile was still on her lips.

"Crowley…Halt…Rangers." She snuggled closer as Halt helped Crowley tuck his cloak around her battered body. Her right eye opened. It shined with hope that had been lost a long time ago. She tightened her grip on Crowley's tunic. Softly she finished, "Rangers good. Raina is safe with Rangers."

She fell asleep in Crowley's arms. Both men exchanged a glance. Whether she meant to or not, the girl had given her name. Raina. It seemed so simple, inelegant to Crowley. Then Halt muttered something under his breath. The redheaded Ranger looked up.

"It's nothing," Halt replied. He frowned thoughtfully at the girl. Finally, after several long heartbeats, he explained, "Raina in my Hibernian tongue means 'queen'. However, she's of Araluen descent, not Hibernian. I wonder how her parents came up with that."

Crowley lifted his left shoulder in a shrug. It was the only shoulder he could lift without disturbing Raina. "Maybe they weren't thinking in that sense. I think Raina in Araluen means 'the lost' or 'the forgotten'. It may have been given by whomever has harmed her."

"If that's the Araluen definition of her name, then she needs a better one," Halt growled.

A sad sigh escaped Crowley's lips.

"Tell me when you have one."

So, there you go. A little lighthearted fluff with Raina and the Rangers.

For those wondering, Raina comes from the Latin language and is derived from Regina – meaning "queen". It's also found in Slavic nations with the same definition. You know from the description/story summary that Raina isn't her birth name. Why and when it was changed is part of her mystery. And yes, the Araluen definition of the name is made up – I purposely did that to create two separate viewpoints on her name (a good and a bad). That's to leave you wondering as to who changed her name and why they did so.

Question(s) for you: Based on the two versions of the name Raina (Hibernian vs. Araluen), which do you think was meant to be placed on her shoulders? Do you think Raina understands the difference in name – if so, in which viewpoint does she see herself?

And to muddy the waters more – Tara isn't her birth name either. Dun, dun, dunnnnn!

Again, please leave reviews! They help me know how I'm doing!