I haven't been having the greatest of weeks. My mom completely hijacked my life last week, so I had practically no time to write and then when I finally did find the time I got a major case of writer's block, which I'm pretty much over now, thank goodness. Every time I tried to write this story I just completely blanked out. Overall, my week has sucked. But you probably don't want to read my ranting. Oops. Kay, here's the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice. Deal with it.

Kietleen woke gradually, her senses slowly swimming up towards the surface of consciousness. She didn't open her eyes, simply lying there and exploring with her other senses.

Every breath and every heart beat sent fresh new waves of pain radiating from her side. But it wasn't quite so bad as before, and she could feel that it was also bandaged. She was wearing a gown that wasn't her own, and was lying underneath starched sheets. The air around her was somewhat cool. She guessed that she was inside a healer's home, or maybe even an infirmary. She was, at the very least, safe for the moment.

She listened for a moment, trying to make sense out of the buzzing sound near her. As it came into focus, she realized it was two people conversing.

"He'll be back in a week or so," said one voice, a young male. "Besides, Halt can look after himself, he'll be fine."

There was a sigh from the other participant in the conversation. "I know," they said, this one a female. "But I always worry about him, just like I did when you went to Arrida, and Hibernia too. It's the natural instinct of a wife, Will." There was another sigh, this one heavier.

Kietleen had already gleaned quite a lot of information from the dialogue, even as little as she had heard. These two were Will Treaty and Halt's wife, although her name remained a mystery. But what in the world were the two doing here? Apparently Halt's wife had the same question.

"Why exactly are we here, Will? Or is there not any particular reason?"

"I'm here because I'm waiting for her to wake up so I can find out who stabbed her and you're here because you decided to follow me around expressing what great doubts you have in your own husband's ability." The last part was said in a lighter tone than the rest, indicating that it was only a passing jibe. "Really, Pauline, he'll be perfectly fine. And when he gets home, he'll have a merry little chuckle when he finds out how little faith you have in him. Well, his version of a chuckle, anyway."

"Which would be a grim smirk or a sarcastic comment," she said, a laugh in her voice.

"Yep, that's about right."

Kietleen decided it was her turn to break up the conversation. She groaned and let her eyelids flicker open. The Ranger had a definite grin on his face, and it seemed to hold permanent residence there. This was quite the cheery Ranger. The woman standing next to him had the air of someone with competence and knowledge. This was Halt's wife, Pauline, apparently. She was a diplomat or something of the sort, by the looks of it.

They both looked down as she feigned only just waking up. "Where am I?" Kietleen asked. She was surprised at how hoarse her voice sounded, though it added to the desired effect of a defenseless victim. The question, however, was authentic; she wanted to know where exactly she was. Any doubts were unacceptable to her mind.

"You're in Redmont castle's infirmary," the Ranger, Will, said gently. He seemed to buy the 'defenseless victim' pose. Of course, it wasn't entirely a pose; she was injured, and she needed the help she was apparently being given here in the infirmary. Besides, if Halt wasn't going to be back for a week, she might as well get some rest and regain her health. She might even get the chance to scout out the insides of this castle. She brought her mind back to the conversation.

"How did I get here?" Kietleen asked.

"I found you stabbed in an alleyway. I brought you to healer Damon's and he sent you here. Do you know who attacked you?" The explanation was followed so quickly by the question Kietleen blinked. She wasn't used to people questioning her, she was used to listening in the background and not being seen.

She paused for only a moment, then answered, "I don't know. It was just some drunk. I was walking to the inn and he surprised me."

Will nodded. "So you don't know his name? Drunkards carrying daggers aren't exactly safe."

Keitleen shook her head, then stopped as her head began throbbing. "No, I don't know his name. I'm just passing through. I'm actually from Gallica," she lied easily. Luckily, since she'd had to use her fake accent so often lately, it had been there instinctively, despite her not consciously choosing to use it. It was a defense mechanism, Kietleen supposed.

Will nodded again, completely believing. "Long way to travel. Visiting friends of the family?" he asked lightly.

Kietleen resisted the sudden urge to laugh. Friends of the family indeed. But she instead said, "No, I've just always wanted to see Araluen. I'd heard it was a great place. I thought so too, until I got stabbed," she added.

"Sorry about that, it doesn't usually happen. Just the occasional drunk." Kieleen wondered what on earth he was appologizing for. It had been a drunk who wielded the dagger, not him. Though, as a Ranger, he was supposed to keep his assigned fief safe for others. Maybe that was why.

"You can stay here until you heal," he told her. "Then, I'm afraid, you'll have to leave."

A thought struck Kietleen. "My horse is still at the inn," she said, a touch guiltily.

Will glanced at her. "Which inn? I'll send a stable hand to get it for you and it can be stabled here at the castle."

Kietleen told him the name of the inn. He nodded once more and turned, Pauline following him to the door, only to have him stop as he reached the entrance. Will turned around, a grin of chagrin on his face.

"And who would that stable hand be retrieving a horse for?"

It took a moment before Kietleen realized what he meant. Then she smiled. This whole time the Ranger had forgotten to ask her name. "Kietleen Arratez," she supplied. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a thoughtful expression cross Pauline's face. Kietleen hoped against hope that she didn't know Gallican, though she knew her husband did. But her face cleared, and she made no comment. Perhaps it had simply been interest in the Gallican name itself, and not its meaning. Perhaps.

Will smiled again. "That does sound Gallic." Then he turned and left, Pauline sweeping after him.

Halt looked down at the tracks—or rather, where his sense told him the tracks should be. He couldn't believe this. He'd lost the trail. He must have made a mistake in the village he'd just left. Maybe he'd taken a wrong turn on one of the roads, or his information was inaccurate, or… The possibilities went on, but they weren't the things that mattered right now. He needed to know it the bandits had ever even been to the town. If they hadn't, it would take longer than a week to sort this out.

Nearly three hours later, his search confirmed what he'd feared. The information he'd gotten in the report was false; the bandits must have moved to another town after it had been sent. Halt sighed, somewhat frustrated. This was going to take longer than a week. He'd be on this for an extra couple days at least, possibly even be out here for another week and a half, depending on when and where he could pick up the trail.

Halt swung into Abelard's saddle and began trotting in the direction he was fairly sure was his best bet. This was going to be an annoying mission.

The week passed slowly for Kietleen. She ate what she was given, didn't talk much as the healers bandaged her wound, and listened to whatever conversations were going on. Which was boring her very quickly; it wasn't as if there was anything important going on in the infirmary. If only Halt could return, then she could finish up and leave…

Well, the Ranger seemed to be taking his sweet time with whatever mission he was occupied with at the moment. Kietleen was ready to howl with frustration. At least when she'd been traipsing through the fiefs she'd been doing something. The forced inactivity was wearing her down very fast.

But at least she wouldn't have to wait too much longer. Only, what was it, three days left and then Halt would be here. Then she would be done.

When the three days had passed, however, he hadn't come.

She waited anxiously, her patience running thin as it ever had. She'd give him five days, and then she was going to find him, wounded or not. He'd better be here by then. She wanted this over with, already. And it could be finished, quite soon, actually, as long as he was back within five days.

But he wasn't.

Alright, I think my writer's block is gone for good, at least until it comes again. (Okay, that just made no sense, but you catch my drift.) That wasn't the greatest chapter I've ever written, I promise the next one will be better... I hope. Actually, yes, I do promise. There's a bit more action in that one. Tell me what you thought about this chapter, though, cuz I won't update again until I get a couple reviews. I need to know that someone appreciates me writing this, and likes it. So, REVIEW!

-Rydd Rider