A/N: Here is the next one shot. I hope you like it. XD Yes, It is about Skandia...

Special thanks to Spiffy for the review. I'm sorry this chapter isn't Gilan/Jenny... I will try to add them later. XD

More thanks to Weeping Willow and Tanger Robin for the reviews. Just to point out... Halt isn't really dead. XD Since that was a one shot, it was technically a whole different story. So Halt is not dead and he will probably not die in any chapters in the near future. I'm sorry I made you sad... I was bawling as I wrote this.

Warning: Really angsty.

Disclaimer: I still don't own it.

15- Silence

Will looked behind him one last time as they left Araluen, noticing the sun casting a warm golden glow over the castle. He smiled sadly, turning to face forward in his saddle and patting Tug lightly on the neck. He could feel Halt's worried eyes on the back of his head and he shifted a little, hoping the grizzled ranger wouldn't come forward and try to start up a conversation. He really didn't feel like talking at the moment. Dark thoughts ran through his mind as he rode ever closer to Redmont.

SILENCE

Life returned to normal after they arrived back at Redmont. But while life returned to normal, Will did not. Halt noticed that the young boy was quieter than ever, never seeming to ask a question or tell a story. Halt knew that the only thing that could heal the boy was time, but he was worried that the painful experiences of Skandia were slowly creeping up on the apprentice, and would soon consume him like a raging fire, completely enveloping him in hopeless pain.

A week after they returned, Halt was just sitting down for his morning coffee when a knock sounded at the door. He opened it to reveal a tall, blonde girl standing at the threshold. Her gray eyes looked worriedly into Halt's face.

"I'm here to see Will," Alyss said softly. "He hasn't come to visit me since he got back from Skandia..."

Halt nodded, opening the door wider and letting Alyss into the house. "He hasn't been in the mood for much of anything lately," Halt said, leading her down the hall to Will's door.

"Will!" he called, through the door, knocking lightly. "Alyss is here to see you." There was no answer. Halt turned and looked at the girl, alarmed to see tears filling her grey eyes.

Giving her a nod of comfort, he knocked on the door again. "Will!" he called. "we are coming in now..."

He twisted the knob, and the door swung open with a creak. He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room.

Will was lying on his bed, facing the wall away from the door. Halt stepped aside and let Alyss into the room, shutting the door to give them some privacy.

Alyss swallowed past the lump in her throat, tears dripping out of her eyes and cascading down her pale cheeks. She stumbled towards the window, throwing open the thick curtains and letting soft golden light spill through the room and pool on the floor. She then made her way over to the bed, slowly sitting down at the end. She still couldn't see Will's face.

"Will," she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Sit up for me please."

Alyss sighed when there was no response. "At least roll over to I can see your face..."

Again, there was silence. "Please... Will, I'm here to help..."

After what seemed like an eternity, Will rolled over, facing Alyss. The first thing that she noticed were his eyes. Normally so full of cheer, his eyes were red and puffy, looking up at her, full of deep pain. His cheeks were blotchy and streaked with tears. Without his ranger cloak on, he looked thin and vulnerable. Alyss could have sworn she saw every one of his bones sticking out through his translucent skin.

"Oh, Will," she muttered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head, eyes glancing downwards almost guiltily. Her heart jolted inside of her chest.

"It's okay..." she muttered. "It isn't your fault..."

She removed her hand from his shoulder, placing it gently on the side of his face.

"Maybe another time," she said, standing up and turning towards the door.

A hand shot out and weakly grabbed her wrist, making her turn around quickly in shock. Will looked up at her pleadingly. Hands shaking, he let go of her wrist.

"Please," he croaked. "Don't leave..."

"OK..." Alyss replied, her voice thick. She went back to her seat at the end of the bed, holding Will's hand as silence crept into the room like a cat stalking its prey.

Alyss sat with him, stroking her hands through his hair as his eyes drooped shut. She leaned forwards, brushing her lips lightly against his. He struggled to keep his eyes open, looking at her with a look of fright on his face.

"It's okay," she muttered. "Go to sleep... You... You're safe here," she said. And finally, his eyes fell shut.

Alyss slowly stood up as to not disturb him. She took her fingers slowly out of his hair and went to the door, swinging it open and stepping out into the main room of the cabin.

"Halt," she called, shutting the door behind her. He was sitting on the couch, hands clasped around a now cold mug of coffee. He glanced up as she entered the room and sat down next to him.

"How is he?" Halt asked, his voice gruff.

"He is sleeping now... But he didn't really say anything to me. He..." she swallowed past the huge lump in her throat. Her head pounded from the effort of trying to hold back tears. "He just needs some more time."

Halt nodded and they sat in silence for a few moments.

"Thank you for coming over and checking on him..." Halt said. Alyss nodded once and stood up, clearing her throat.

"I must be going now. I have duties to attend to back at the castle for Lady Pauline..." She paused for a moment and looked into Halt's grizzled face. "Is it okay if I come back every week to check on him?"

"Of course," Halt replied. "That would do him good."

Alyss smiled. Halt may have been battle worn and gruff on the outside, but on the inside she could tell that he really cared for people. She kissed him once on the cheek before exiting the cabin and heading out towards the castle.

SILENCE

Will's eyes slowly blinked open, his vision blurring. He sat up, a groan escaping his lips as his sore body protested.

"How long have I been asleep?" he muttered to himself, glancing out the dark window. Seeing the darkness made him remember of the darkness of Skandia, sitting alone with nothing but the cold. His body shivered as a chill passed over him.

He shook his head, trying to clear the muddled thoughts from his mind.

He stood up, swaying as the world tilted at a dangerous angle. His took a second to steady himself and then tried to take a step forwards. A second was obviously not long enough for him to recover and his knees buckled, sending him crashing to the floor.

His head hit the ground with a thud and his vision exploded in stars.

The door to the room swung open and Halt charged in, looking frantically around. "Will?" he said worriedly when he spotted the apprentice on the floor. "Are you okay?"

Will tried to sit up, his vision blurring. Halt came over and helped him lean himself against the side of the bed.

He checked the boy's pulse and then laid his hand on Will's forehead to feel for a temperature.

"You seem to be fine," he said, relief evident in his voice. "But you haven't eaten properly in days." Without another word, Halt stood up and left the room.

Will closed his eyes against his pounding head. The next thing he knew, Halt was crouched next to him, a bowl of soup balanced in his hands.

"I'm not hungry..." Will moaned, clutching his skull in an attempt to dull the pain.

"You need to eat, Will," Halt said. "It will make you feel better."

Will accepted the bowl, grudgingly spooning some soup into his mouth. When he had finished most of it, he handed the bowl back to Halt, who was still crouched on the floor next to him.

Halt helped the thin boy into bed and then left, hoping that Will would get better soon.

SILENCE

A week later, Alyss went back to visit the cabin, this time carrying a large package. When she swung open the door to the cabin and stepped inside, she was relived to see Will sitting on the couch, a blanket draped over his bony shoulders.

"Will!" she cried. "How are you feeling?"

"Better..." He said, grinning weakly. "What are you doing here?"

"Halt didn't tell you?" she asked, looking into the kitchen where the grizzled ranger was staking up pots on a shelf.

"No," Will said.

"I'm coming once a week to check on you," Alyss said, sitting down next to him and holding up the package that she held in her hands. "Jenny was sad that she didn't have time to come with me, so she made you some pies."

Alyss handed him the package and he set it aside, his stomach protesting at the thought of food. Alyss frowned with sadness when she saw this. In the old days, Will would stop at nothing to get his hands on one of Jenny's pies. She opened her mouth to say something about it, but decided it would be best to say nothing. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a little while.

"Listen..." Alyss said. "About Skandia..." Will looked up at her quickly, fear plain on his face.

"I'm not going to ask you to tell me anything about it. I just want you to tell me when you are ready..." Alyss finished. It took a second for her words to sink in.

"Th... thank you," Will said, his voice cracking. He smiled and looked back at the package. "You know... I think I might have one of those pies after all."

Halt smiled and stepped out of the room, leaving them both alone and stepping outside to sit on the porch. Sunlight spilled over his face, making him blink a few times. Things were beginning to look up.

A/N: *claps* YAY FOR LONG CHAPTER XD

Quick question for you guys for future reference. How long would it take to get from Araluen to Redmont riding at a comfortable pace? I couldn't find it on the internet, so... cookies to the person who answers first. XD

I hope you liked this chapter... I spent a little more time on this one than I normally do.

Next up will be 'Questioning'. Any suggestions?

Oh yes, since I am at 80 reviews at this point, I think I might address this now. I plan on doing something special for my 100th reviewer. I am still not sure what though. I may make a special one shot just for you... or read and review one of your stories... But I'm still debating that. So keep reviewing so we can reach that 100!

You guys are great! Have a phenomenal week!

-Dawn