A/N: So this is what happens to Will! I hope you enjoy! Please review when you are finished. Thank you…
Also, special thanks to Hatakefire, who has reviewed every chapter so far… Way to go! I really appreciate the feedback.
Disclaimer: I don't own it...
4. Dark
"Will!" Halt called from in the kitchen. "We need more firewood!" Halt put a pot in a cabinet, glancing over to where his apprentice was sprawled on the couch.
Will moaned, lurching to his feet. His muscles were stiff and sore from his hard day of training. All he wanted to do was sit and relax. He stood there for a few moments as the blood rushed to his head, making his vision swim slightly.
"Anytime today would be great, Will," Halt said sarcastically.
"I'm going…" he said, grinning and then he stumbled out of the door. The cold air hit him like a slap to the face and he shivered.
He moved mechanically, stepping into the frosty air, the snow crunching under his boots. A gust of wind tore at him, and he cursed, glad he had remembered to grab his cloak.
I'll make this fast… he told himself wearily, bending over and scooping sticks into his arms.
CRACK! Will froze, his hand going instinctively to his waist where his knife belt usually was. But he had left both his knives in the cabin.
Another crack rang through the darkness. Will slowly set down the firewood, taking a large club-like stick as a weapon. He began to move into the shadows, going deeper into the forest.
The cautious part of him screamed to go back to the cabin where it was safe and warm. The curious part of him wanted to check it out. As usual, curiosity won over fear. Who would be out this late? He thought hurriedly, his brain scrambling for answers. I will just take a look…. And then go right back to the cabin.
As he moved deeper into the woods, the sounds became louder. Will paused for a moment as he realized he was trailing a rather large party. He came to a sudden realization. A traveling group this large would have lookouts…
As soon as he thought this, he heard a noise from behind him. He spun around, dropping to the ground as an axe swung straight at his head. A giant man stood over him, tall and menacing.
He scrambled backwards as the giant man swung the axe again. Will cried out as the weapon grazed the side of his leg, sending blood pooling into the snow. Just a scratch! His brain screamed at him. Get back up! (A/N: In case you are wondering, it just barely grazed his leg… it didn't smash into it… hence the reason he is still alive…)
He tried to climb to his feet, bloody hands scrambling at the branches above him. He had just made it to his knees when a fist smashed into the side of his head, and the world spiraled into darkness.
DARK
Hands gripped at him. Voices were shouting around him. He jolted as he was slammed onto the ground. Rope was tied tightly around his wrists, binding him to the hard bark of a tree.
He struggled to remove the bonds, sending pain shooting through his skull again. He fell into unconsciousness once more.
DARK
"And the next time I woke up, I was here…" Will finished.
Halt and Rodney had been completely silent as Will told his tale. Now, Halt spoke, his face full of sadness.
"I'm sorry that had to happen to you, Will… I'm sorry I didn't come after you sooner!" he said. "I fell asleep before you got home with the firewood and then the storm blew in… we couldn't find any sign of you after that… Not until I went deeper into the forest…"
"It's not your fault, Halt…" he said, yawning. Halt smiled.
"Get some rest, Will…" he said. Will closed his eyes, falling back to sleep once more. Halt turned to Rodney, still smiling, thankful that the darkness was behind them.
A/N: So if you are confused, Will was taken by some bandit people and a snowstorm prevented Halt from coming after him… that same snowstorm prevented the bandits from getting to far ahead so Halt caught up to them fast.
I didn't really like this chapter, but I hope it was okay…
Please review and tell me about what you thought. Are there any suggestions for my next chapter, Seeking Solace?