I AM SSSSOOOOO SORRY!!!!!!!!!! I know it has been sssssoooooooo long!! I have no *decent* excuse..if u read my Merlin fics youll know I got really really really really really really sick..then hols started and I tried to recover, then krissy and add to that I got real lazy all adds up to not updating for a LONG time..so I am sorry..Ive been trying to upload this chappie for a few days now but everytime I do it decides to hate me and NOT WORK!! so if youre reading this...it FINALLY worked.. :D kk..so I said last chappie that 100th reviewer would get special shoutout so here it is..

Congratulations to ROSE ANGEL 428!!!!!!! ur my 100th reviewer!!!! :D

hope you all had great krissy and new years!! I did :D I got MERLIN!!!!! for krissy..yay!! :D now youve waited long enough so...as always..

ENJOY!!..

Chapter 19 - Escape

As he was waking up Will came to the realisation he had fallen asleep, or unconscious, and Lukas still had not returned. Having rested a tiny bit combined with the slightly less depressing than usual thought of Lukas not being around gave Will a small amount of energy.

Tenderly he gathered his good leg underneath him and stood, gasping as the pressure was released from his arms. Knowing what he was about to do was going to hurt, Will braced himself. He jumped up then as he was on his way down he yanked his arms in hope that the chains might break under the extra pressure.

Luckily the chains were old with rust and they snapped easily enough. Will was allowed a brief moment of pleasure before plunging into the hard dirt.

A combination between a slightly animalistic yowl and a desperate sob was torn from his lips as his raw, aching back slammed into the ground. Instinctively he rolled off his back onto his side and curled into a foetal position, drawing in ragged gasps of air, attempting to still the pain.

After what seemed like an eternity the pain subsided and Will slumped. He had been upright for so long it was heaven to just lie down and relax for a moment. What have I ever done to deserve this? he thought. Why me? How could anyone be so cruel, so inhuman? The young apprentice sighed deeply, then instantly regretted it as the strong movement tore painfully at his bettered frame.

He gathered his strength and strung up his mental defences ready to block out the pain he knew he was about to experience. Slowly, with only one useable leg, he pushed up with his arms and hopped his good leg underneath him, and eventually he was standing. Now gasping for air and back drenched in, what Will hoped was sweat, he looked around, trying to decide which way to go.

If he headed the opposite way to which he came he could be going straight to the middle of nowhere. He had no idea where he was, he would easily become lost and it was most likely there would be no civilisation until he reach the end of the forest, and he didn't know how far that was, most likely miles. The alternative was not much better. He knew there was civilisation back the way he came, if you could call it that. People, at least, but the wrong people. But he knew where to go from there.

The last option was to go across the river. It had much the same positives and negatives as heading in the opposite direction but if he crossed the river he could much easily escape without being followed. Lukas would return to find Will simply gone. No footprints.

Will nodded to himself slightly. That was the way he would go.

The two Rangers were riding a good few hundred metres ahead of the Unit. They knew that if they were to successfully track Joel the would need to be silent, a skill they had perfected. The Unit, not only had no idea how to tread carefully, but there was a whole lot of them. If Joel knew he was being followed there would be almost no hope of finding Will.

And that was not an option.

So Halt and Gilan took every precaution. While Gilan kept his eyes on the tracks, Halt's sharp eyes were searching the surround area for any signs that someone had been there. They both knew Joel was not stupid and he could lay a false trail then go off somewhere to the side, covering his tracks.

After what Halt thought was far too long the smell of fires, people and general stink drifted their way. A few more minutes and they were on the edge of a war camp, Moragarath's, they rightly assumed.

Finally, they had arrived.

Gilan turned to Halt. The older man's eyes were clearly assessing the situation.

"Morgarath's getting overconfident,'' Halt mused to himself.

"No warning guard?" Gilan guessed.

"Not a single man. I suppose he doesn't think anyone will find him here."

"Well, it's only because we followed Joel we found it."

"That's still no excuse, he should have one set up."

"Are you telling me you wish he did have a warning guard set up?"

Halt faced his former apprentice with annoyance on his face. "You realise you're getting almost as bad as Will when it comes to asking questions and of course I don't want him to have a guard, though he should. His laziness will make our job a lot easier."

"My thoughts exactly, so why were you complaining?"

"I was not complaining."

The tone of Halt's voice made it clear the conversation was over, though if he had still been looking at Gilan he would have noticed the corners of the younger man's mouth were slighty upturned.

"So what's the plan?"

"We can't go blundering in with only us and a Unit, we will have to send someone to Castle Araluen and inform the King, in the meantime we wait and watch."

"Where do you think Will could be?"

Halt's reply was soft, "I don't know."

kk.....so.

I am giving you awsumm peoples a choice:

1) Will can get caught again by Lukas or someone and Halt will have to come in and save him.

2) Will can escape over the river as planned but over the river means in the opposite direction from Halt.
or
3) Will can escape over the river as planned and over the river conveniantly means in the direction of Halt.

please please please please please please please REVIEW!!! tell m your vote!!! :D

luv u all..

passion.