Painted Purple Chapter 4: Gilan and Nyan Cat, a ranger's apprentice fanfic

Chap 4

16. Questioning
When he was five years old, at the ward, it went something like this:

" 'ibby?"

" 'ibby? 'ibby'ibby'ibby'ibby'ibby'ibby'ibby'ibby..."
"What?"
"Can I have a 'tweet cake?"
"No."
"Can I have a 'cone? A bloobrr'y one?"
"No."
"Can I have sum pie? Or sum tea wif sugars? Or jus' a lumpa sugar?"
"Absolutely not. The last thing ye need is sugar Will."
"...Da last fing? But it's still onna list, wight?"
In the first year of his apprenticeship, it went more like this:

"Why Halt? Does it need to be held that way? Why? Isn't easier this way?"
Will demonstrated holding his throwing knife "this way" to an impassive Halt. He threw it, but jerking his hand back at the last minute caused him to miss. At least, he missed the target. He hit the ground just fine. The knife had cut Wills hand on the skin flap between forefinger and thumb; it was deep, as the knife was razor sharp, but not too damaging in the long run.
Halt shook his head at the hapless apprentice.
"How annoying, that cut will slow your training."
Will glared accusingly.
"You should've told me how to hold it! Why'd you go and let me hold it that way?"
And when he was at last a Ranger:

"I wonder why the tracks keep changing. Why are they heavier thrice a day? What does that mean? Is it the same times each day? How can I tell if I'm getting closer or farther? If I can't determine that, how do I know what time of day the tracks are heavier? Why?"
Tug snorted at him.
Too many questions, not enough answers. Did you consider that he gets heavier after he eats? Thrice a day?
Tug whinnied in satisfaction. That'd shut up his human.
"...Why does he eat so much?"
Then, when he himself became a mentor:

The blond boy never stopped talking! The endless questions! What'd Will been thinking when he got an apprentice?
"Why do our cloaks look this way? Does it really make you invisible? When do I learn how to use it? Do all the rangers use bow and arrows? Do any use swords? How..."
"Stop." Will said firmly.
"One question at a time, and only if it's pertinent to the lesson"
"...What does pertinent mean?"
Will sighed.
" Now I know why Halt got annoyed at my questioning."

17. Blood

Italics=book, script book 1 pg. 231

The screams were nonstop, piercing, reaching higher and higher into a scale of agony that that the mind could barely comprehend as the rush of flames grew fiercer and fiercer with each second.

And then the screaming stopped, and the Kalkara was dead.

Dumbstruck with shock, Will could only stand and stare at the pile of ashes that had been the most feared creature in the world, only moments ago. The screams still rang in his ears, striking terror into his soul.

Then he remembered.

"Halt!"

Running forward, he could barely hear his own voice as a whisper.

Dropping to his knees in front of Halt, he looked aghast at him; this was Halt the invincible, Halt the legend, crumpled lifelessly on the stone ruins.

Will gingerly rolled Halt onto his other side, wounded leg up. Blood poured from the reopened gash, and from several deep wounds on his upper shoulders, where the beast had struck him. Pale and drawn, Halt's face looked terrifyingly dead in the moonlight. Ghostly.

"Halt, Halt please don't be dead! I'll practice every day and won't pester you with questions, just don't be dead! I'll never talk to you again if you die."

Time seemed to slow as Will was stuck in a state of shock; he cradled Halt's head and shoulders in his arms.

Covering them both in his blood.

A/N Oooh, that was dark…

18. Rainbow

"Wha' is it Dada?"

"It's a rainbow Gilan"

"Wha's a rainbow Dada?"

Sir David paused; he could hardly tell Gilan the scientific definition of a rainbow. What then?...

"Well, you see Gilan-"

Coming to a decision, he just went with it.

"-It's a happy sign. It appears when the sky is happy."

Gilan's eyes widened.

"It does?"

"Yes. Or when a person is very happy."

"Oh. An' does a kitteh cat run on it Dada?"

What on earth?...

"Um, yes, yes it certainly does Gilan."

"And does kitteh cat sing a happy song Dada?"

"Of course it does."

"But rainbows only come when people are happy Dada?"

"I told you so already."

"So, da rainbow wiwl go 'way if Mista Halt comes?"

Goodness gracious! Where does he get these ideas?

Laughing, Battlemaster David had a sudden inspiration.

"No no. Halt is from Hibernia; so, he's a leprechaun, you see. Leprechauns live under rainbows."

"Dada? Does leprechauns have scary knives? Cuz mista Halt is right behind you. I don' think he's a ferry happy leprechaun."

Sir David stiffened.

"Curse you, rainbow."

19. Grey

italics= (c) John Flanagan, referenced form Ranger's Apprentice wiki.

Strumming idly on his new mandola, not mandolin, Will treaty was trying to come up with somthing to play. Absentmindedly, he strunk a few chords. quirking his ear, he realized that it sounded an awful lot like the tune for Old Joe Smoke. Huh. He quickly worked out the rest of the song, and began to sing it, elated at his newfound skill. But, half way through, he forgot the lyrics! So, he just ad-libbed whatever came into his head.

"Uh, um, do de do de dododo...

Greybeard Halt is a friend of mine

He lives on Redmont's hill

Greybeard Halt never took a bath

And they say He never will!