a/n: i found an old google doc so i decided to polish it up and post it.
"Hello?"
He was breathing hard, and fast. Will circled around, trying to find the man.
"Come out with your hands up in the name of the king!" Will said, sword raised.
He had been chasing a tall hooded thief. The man was wanted for taking golden coins. He was skilled at stealing...and hiding too apparently. But that's what stealing was, a trick of the eye, a deception. Will was on high alert, circling around, sword ready. His eyes were searching for the man.
Will heard a noise by his right shoulder. He whipped around. And the next second a loud clang sounded in the wood. Why? That wasn't the man...or...?
Wait-
The fall man raced at him from his left, and nicked him in the shoulder despite Will dodging.
He had followed Will's movements.
Will cried out and flung himself around with his shoulder pulsing. Will swiped. He missed. There was crashing in the woods so Will followed. For a few minutes Will ran as fast as he could. But Will lost him. Will circled back to where his horse was.
He was really sweaty for such a small fight and chase.
Halt was nowhere to be seen.
It was barely a year into Will's training. Was it supposed to be this hard to be a Ranger?
Will heard something in the bushes rustle. Oh no. The man had followed Will and was...
Will took a deep breath in, he had his bow notched, he aimed as the man jumped from his left. He fired, exhaling as the arrow hit the man square in the chest; it made a sickening thunk sound. The boy backed away from the scene and hit something else behind him. It was warm, Will tensed, a hand on his shoulder. He whirled around; his adrenaline pumping hard. When he saw his face he relaxed.
"It's only me Will." Halt shifted his stance, "...Uh. For this whole apprentice thing... Good use of your arrow and shooting it."
Will smiled slightly, "That's what Rangers do though, right?"
"Yeah." Halt agreed.
Will smiled slightly, shifting uncomfortably. A nervous feeling settled and Halt raised one eyebrow while Will glanced away.
Will sighed, obviously stressed out. He didn't feel good, he felt hot and cold all at once. And...dizzy.
"Sorry, just…. I'm surprised." The boy confessed.
Halt was curious, "About what?"
Will secured his sword, and picked up his bow from the ground, putting it on his back. His fingers were trembling a little, he was suddenly exhausted. Halt stared at his apprentice, not sure what to say but staying silent to let the boy say what he needed to say.
Will took a breath in, saying, "It was so easy...killing someone."
"It will get harder." Halt stepped up to the boy, slapping a hand down on Will's shoulder.
He shared a long look with the short youth, all knees and eyes so far. No rough skin in sight, all smooth. Halt thought the world would eat Will up if he didn't toughen up soon. But just killing a man…that was the first step to manhood.
This memory was the first scab to harden, to toughen up the boy.
Halt nodded once and started to turn away. The boy made a noise and so Halt looked back at him.
"Yes?" Halt asked.
"Halt." Will straightened, feeling small, "I don't feel the best."
"It will pass." Halt said, "This is apart of the job so get used to it otherwise you will lose your life. So just act, don't think."
The boy didn't feel comforted, only bound by duty to suck it up and get on with his life. He watched Halt silently walk his way through the noisy leaves. Will followed him, only a little noise from stepping through the leaves, Will was one step closer to becoming a ranger. Will wondered what they would do with the body. Halt would probably tell messengers where it was later.
There was so much to worry about when becoming a ranger.
To become a ranger training was often brutal for Will. He would do endless long runs and infinite sprints, including sword lessons, Halt pointing out all the flaws. So, it was not only physical work but mentally challenging too. It was all hard...maybe Halt secretly didn't like him.
It took a toll on Will.
Like now...he was all sweaty, dizzy, and felt off...he walked with Halt to their horses. Will stood next to his horse, Tug. His horse nickered nervously so Will tried to sooth his Temujain horse.
"It's ok Tug." Will said.
Tug looked at him like he was crazy, his horse flung its head back.
"Shush, its OK boy." Will soothed then whispered, "Do you mind?" to his horse.
Halt watched. Tug was still.
"Why are you leaning against your horse Will?"
"Hm?" Will asked.
He realized he was and now, sliding down Tug, to the ground near his hooves.
"You're hurt!"
Halt's face paled in a second. Tug lifted his hooves slightly and backed away from Will.
"I am?" Will asked.
He looked up at his horse, now a foot away to see, there was a trail of blood on his grey horse. Will heard Halt utter curse words as he was lifted, everything felt so heavy and dizzy now so Will closed his eyes.
.
Will woke in a soft large bed.
He felt sore.
There was something warm against him and Will was surprised to see it was Halt. Halt was fully clothed, on top of the sheets...sleeping.
"Halt?"
Halt opened his eyes.
"Finally."
"I'm guessing I was sleeping for a long time and that you were by my bedside this entire time nursing me back to health?"
Halt's face slightly pinked.
"No more missions on your own for a year. And there's more training." Halt said.
Will nodded. Halt looked so serious otherwise Will would have pointed out that Halt didn't answer his question.
"You know the training is so hard so you don't get killed, right?"
"Oh."
"It means I want you to survive all your near-death experiences and become an even better ranger than me. Seriously Will. The training will help."
Will didn't say anything just leaned his head against Halt's shoulder.
"Don't you get killed in the field otherwise I will kill you myself."
Will closed his eyes, smiling.
For now they would rest.