A/N Thanks to Ranger Katie for giving me the idea to continue this!
PFT3000: Thank you, I'm glad you liked the first two parts, I hope you like the rest of the story!
They hadn't quite been there since the start of Araluan, but ever since their founding, each Ranger's unique skill was passed down through the generations. They had once believed that their job would end in death.
How wrong they were.
Even in death they were needed, with the level of training that Rangers needed, even ten was almost too old to begin training.
So they figured out a way to pass information that future apprentices would need.
Uaithne had a way of being unconvential, however, in who he gave knowledge. His favorite of Knowledge-Passed called himself Halt Arratay. Choosing someone who was the heir to the throne, who wasn't even Araluan, had made him a laughingstock for years, because they couldn't appriciate his foresight.
And then Morgrath had banished Pritchard, who had wound up in Hibernia. It wasn't them who was laughing when he became one of Araluan's greatest Rangers.
The Living believed that they chose their apprentices on their own, but that, too, was a lie.
The Deceased (for that was what they called themselves) searched for possible canidates to become Rangers, and, if the child was judged worthy, they guided the Living so they would meet them.
Of course, Pritchard had disregarded all of those rules with the infant Will. As had Uaithne with Halt.
Once Pritchard had seen the boy's father save Halt and learned of a son, he had decided to make it happen, and whispered to the boy for all of his life, guiding both him and Halt.
Few of the Deceased had the gift of foresight, and those that did said nothing, simply meddling in the Living's lives.
Pritchard had guided Will's arrow in Hibernia, had been by his side throughout his apprenticeship. Had given him the compassion of the man who had captured him. Indeed, he hadn't been able to help the boy much, but the boy had a talent for survival. He also had a talent for saving Halt's life, for which Pritchard would be endebted to him.
His job after that battle when he had met Will had been to claim his soul. He had decided to give the Will for two reasons, the foremost was Will's consistancy in saving Halt's life.
But the other was due to Pritchard's gift of foresight.
He had glimpsed the future as he stood on the battlefield as Will had been injured. He had seen the destruction that would have been wrought on Araluan.
Will's choice of life and death had far more meaning than either could have understood at the time. He had brought peace and prosperity to Araluan. He had saved the country as many - if not more - times than Halt had.
"Do we have to, Pritchard?" Crowley asked. "He was one of the best." Grosvenor snorted.
"What do you think?" He asked. "None of us ever want to be the one to do it. 'Course, we don't got a choice."
"We will need him here." Pritchard had spoken to few about his gift of foresight, for him to speak so opening showed how dangerous the situtation was. "And, unfortunately, the job falls to you, Crowley. Our enemies are getting closer, he's the only hope that the world has."
"He deserves a break." The former Commandant protested, already resigning to his duty.
"As do the rest of us." Pritchard said, sparing nothing on his former apprentice. "If we are overrun, the Living will have to attempt to stop the threat. The only Living who might be capable of combatting the threat would be outnumbered, and Will Treaty will die, only to be killed again!"
"Halt-" Crowley started to say.
"Halt still has Gilan. He will be fine." Pritchard said. "We need a few more numbers."
"And if Horace falls in battle attempting to protect Will?" Crowley asked. "Would you have me claim the soul of the King of Araluan?"
"Cassandra is the one in charge." Pritchard said, voice stern. "This battle is on such a huge scale that they will most likely be seperated." A short pause, and when the older Ranger spoke again, his voice was softer. "We have no choice." Crowley looked at his mentor, tears shining in his eyes.
"For the record, I was against this." He said softly. "I wanted Will to live a long, happy life."
"As did we all, kid." Grosvenor said, seeing that the argument between mentor and apprentice had finished. "Go and get 'em." Crowley turned, facing the doorway that would return him to the world of the living long enough to steal Will away from his loved ones.
"Crowley." Pritchard said. "You're forgetting your bow and arrows."
Crowley turned around and accepted his weapons, and looked Pritchard in the eyes. To send him away with his weapons meant that the situtation was more dire than he had thought or-
Or Pritchard was giving him permission to destroy the army that would kill Will, but only while the boy was dying.
"Thank you." he said, bowing his head before turning around to walk through the door.
And that's Part 3! It's not quite what she suggested, but it'll do, I think.
This is NOT the end. I have stuff planned (kinda) after this. Let me know in the reviews what you thought!
Here's the suggestion that Ranger Katie gave me:
Well, I think maybe have it kinda being mostly in the dead Rangers view as they help apprentices and the Rangers and slowly explain through things happening how and why they help apprentices and Rangers.