The song for this chapter is I Won't Let Go by Rascal Flatts. Again, I recommend you listen to it while you read this, it helps set the mood ^.^

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice or the song "I Won't Let Go". All rights go to their respectful owners.

3rd Person POV

Tired and hungry, Will had fell asleep in the saddle. Tug's head was drooped with exhaustion, and the little horse was dragging his feet. Will jerked up, and cursed softly. "Sorry, boy! I didn't mean to go all night," he apologized.

He looked around for some shelter from the biting wind, and found a dense forest to his left. He urged Tug over to the edge of the trees, and dismounted. He loosened Tug's girth straps and the barrel-chested horse nickered gratefully.

"Sorry, Tug. I don't have any food," Will said, as Tug nosed in his pockets, looking for an apple.

He himself was starving. He didn't have money. Will sighed. Perhaps he had acted rashly. Going out in the middle of nowhere with nothing is almost suicide.

He curled up in his warm cloak, and thought about what to do. He definitely wasn't going back. He couldn't bear to face Horace again.

But he didn't have anywhere else to go. He would just have to search for a job to get some money for now.

As Will rubbed Tug down, he heard a dull thumping of hooves. He really hoped it wasn't Horace again.

Reluctantly, Will turned around. His fear was confirmed. Horace, Gilan, and Alyss were cantering towards him on their horses. They picked up

the pace as soon as they saw that Will had noticed them.

Will fumbled with the girth straps and mounted. He urged Tug into a gallop, as fast as the little horse could run. "Will! Stop!" He heard Horace's voice. But Will didn't stop. He kept riding, hoping to escape.

Gilan had no choice. He didn't want to hurt Will, but they had to catch him before he ran off again. Gilan took out his striker from an inside pocket in his jerkin. Keeping Blaze at a smooth pace, he brought up his right arm, and swung it down, releasing the striker as he did so. The weapon spun end over end and they heard a dull, meaty smack as the striker hit home.

Will slumped in his saddle, and slid off Tug, crashing to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The three caught up to Will, as Tug brayed nervously at his fallen master. Gilan quickly went to calm the little horse, stroking his muzzle and crooning. Horace and Alyss knelt beside Will, and inspected his head, Alyss's hands moving delicately as they checked for any bleeding. Luckily, there was none, just a small knot on Will's head where the striker had hit him. It would go away on its own in a few day's time.

Gilan looked guiltily at Will. He felt a wrenching feeling in his stomach as he knew that he had hurt his friend.

"He's alright, Gilan," Alyss reassured. "I know you didn't want to do that, but it was the right thing to do."

Horace carried Will's light body under a tree, and laid him down, using a spare blanket as a pillow for Will's head. Alyss tended the horses while Gilan gathered firewood. It was still early afternoon, but they may as well get a fire going and coffee brewing.

As Gilan, Horace and Alyss sat around the fire, Will regained consciousness. Will said nothing as he sat up, he only glared menacingly at Horace. It wasn't a playful glare that Will would normally send whenever Horace cracked a joke about him. No, this glare was full of hate, pure hate. Gilan noticed with some interest that Will only glared at Horace, and didn't seem to notice the other two.

"Will…," Horace ventured, putting a hand on his friends arm. Will yanked his arm away in disgust.

"Do you still have no faith in me, Horace? I was doing just fine, without your help," Will replied icily. Alyss put her arms around Will, desperately trying to win him over. "Will, it's not about that. You need to come back to Redmont. Please? For me?" She said softly in his ear.

Will didn't pull away this time, but he made no response. He just scowled down at his hands, as if they had caused Halt's death.

"I should have been the one baiting the Genovesans, not Halt. He never deserved this," murmured Will.

Gilan looked at Will. "Will, look at me." Will's head reluctantly rose, his sad eyes meeting Gilan's. Gilan took a deep breath and began. "Sometimes, if you love someone, you have to let them go. It's okay to mourn for a while, but don't let it wreck your life. You're not alone, Will. You never were. We'll stand by you, no matter what."

Gilan's own eyes misted as he said those words.

The three saw what they never expected to see. A smile. It was subtle, just the faintest upturning of the corner's of Will's mouth. He looked up at Horace, sitting next to him. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Horace. Please forgive me. I didn't know what I was thinking."

Alyss let out a deep, pent-up breath. "Are you ready to go back, Will?"

Will looked into her stormy gray eyes. "I-I think so," he whispered.

Horace smiled in relief. "Remember, Will, we're going to help you through this. We won't let go."

This is completed now (Yay!) Hope you enjoyed this story! Thanks for the support! :)