"Wha...what? Halt's daughter? How is that possible? Why is she dressed like a Ranger?" asked Matthew. He couldn't figure out how this was possible. Halt having a kid wasn't probable, but Halt having a daughter, who was being trained as Ranger just wasn't possible in his mind. What is the world coming to if a girl can be a ranger? was his only thoughts.
"Will! Oh it's so good to see you! What are you doing here? When did you get an apprentice?" cried Maria as she flung herself at the man she had known all her life and looked up to. Will laughed and hugged her back. He, Halt, Pauline, and Maria were the only ones who knew that Maria was not Halt's biological daughter. She was left on the Ward doorstep, like him. Pauline found her and brought her back to live in her apartments.
"Maria, you've grown! I'm here because Evelyn and Horace have decided to get married here, in the slightly more remote location than Castle Araluen. Matthew is my first-year apprentice, and now I know why Halt constantly was aggravated with me." said Will. To Matthew, he said, "Maria is a wardling that Halt and Pauline took a liking to and was adopted. I know that she would do anything to be Halt's official apprentice." Will added that last bit in a joking voice, for Maria's sake.
"Will, you go say hi to Dad, I'll unsaddle Tug with, er, Matthew!" Will looked a tad uneasy about handing Tug over to the girl. It's not that he didn't trust Maria, he was so used to taking Tug himself, he would just feel uneasy not doing it himself.
"Aw, Will! You can trust me. I am your mentor's daughter, after all." she added the last bit in a fake-flirtatious voice, due to the fact Alyss was heading over. "Anyway, Tug would probably love to see Blizzard again." Seeing that Matthew was, once again, lost, Maria added; "Blizzard is my horse."
"Maria! It's so good to see you after our trip to visit Horace!" said Alyss. Tall and blond, she had been Will's girlfriend for as long as Maria could remember.
"It's good to see you to, Alyss." Finally agreeing, Will handed Tug's bridle over to Maria, and the apprentice and the Ranger's daughter headed towards the stables. Will gave Alyss a sorrowful sidelong glance and said; "I hope she takes the news well. It's not likely, but it might happen." The couple walked into castle Redmont to great their mentors, Halt and Pauline.
A/N: Ohhh... ! You'll have to see what is being hidden from Maria! I need some names for Morgarath's son. Please send me a PM with your ideas. Do you think I should do a chapter on Halt, Will, and Pauline when Maria vanishes? I like reviews and opinions!