A/N Btw, fergot to mention;

Credit to 'Black Panter 101' and 'Alyss Mainwaring' for giving me some idea's in the reviews! You guys ROCK! These last two chaps were really hard to write btw. :P Also, shoutout to 'anon' and 'Tessi', since I can't p.m them back.

Tessi: Thanks for reviewing! I'm really glad you like the story! Ik, aren't Will and Alyss cute when they're little? I love how they're so close, cuz they came to the ward the same year. It's fun writing about little Will. :)

Anon: Heya anon! Well, initially i forgot that Horace and Will are the same age. :P But, it kinda works with the story. Idk. Do ya think i should go back and change it?

c'ya! :)

An Apology

Where did he go?

When George ran up, Will wasn't where Alyss had said he'd be- Then where was he? Looking around, George could tell that Will had been lying on the ground under the fig tree, just like Alyss said, but now he was nowhere in sight.

Maybe he went to lie down somewhere? I doubt he would go inside, where Horace is. Perhaps he's on one of the benches over there?

He ran over to look…and Will wasn't there.

Hmm, that's odd. Maybe Horace regrets what he's done, and helped Will go inside. Not likely, but worth a try…

Loosing no time, he ran to the wardbuilding, and looked in.

"Will! Horace, what happened? I mean, I know you beat him up-"

"Shut up George."

"Sorry! Sorry, just saying what I know. Why is he unconscious? Surely it wasn't that bad."

Coming closer, George saw the swell on Will's head, and the ugly bruise beneath his open tunic. He sucked in a sharp breath.

"Oh…It was that bad then?"

"Just shut- look, I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to hurt him so badly, but it was his fault…"

As bad as he truly felt about it, Horace's pride couldn't take apologizing gracefully. Nonetheless, George's stern glance silenced him.

"Did you bring him in here Horace?"

Horace froze. He couldn't tell George that the Ranger brought him in! That'd be, well, he wasn't sure what, but it'd be bad. But, an honest boy, he couldn't lie…

"I, uh, um, I-I-I…"

"C'mon Horace, spit it out!"

"N-no, I-I didn't, H-Hal- the Ranger did."

Shamefaced, Horace found sudden interest in his boots.

"The Ranger!"

George all but shouted.

"What was the Ranger doing here? Where did he go? How did he know you fought? I-is he still here?"

He glanced around nervously. You never could tell what that mysterious Ranger was up to. None of the wardchildren knew whether or not to fear the man. What if the stories were true? But no; George was a rational boy. He wouldn't believe silly rumors!

"Well, anyway, Hannah will be here in a moment. I ran ahead, you see. She had to slow down cuz she got out of breath. Doesn't run very well. Meanwhile, I'll take care of Will, and you wait outside for her; she'll be expecting Will to be under the tree."

With that, George started to get clean cloth, and other things to take care of Will. He started a fire in the hearth: Hannah would want to boil a poultice.

When she came, Horace led Hannah inside, avoiding eye contact with the young woman. She didn't ask any questions for the moment, more concerned with Will, who was still unconscious.

"Have you started a fire? Good boy George. Go to the kitchen and ask for poppy, fennel, feverfew, and mint. Go on!"

"What do I say if they ask what it's for?"

"Well, then tell 'em George."

Just then Alyss and Jenny ran in.

"Alyss! I told you to stay and catch your breath."

"I know. I'm sorry. I did for a minute, but Jen and I both wanted to get here as fast as possible. George! Don't tell them that Will and Horace got in a fight; Will said he didn't want the Baron to find out; that's why he wouldn't let me get Anne!"

Hannah surveyed the girl critically for a moment.

"I don't know why he doesn't want the Baron to know; but I'll let it go. George, just tell them I asked for it. Go."

The ointment Halt gave him took full effect after a while, and Will felt the darkness surging away, flooding out as quickly as it had overtaken him. Eyes fluttering open weakly, he lay still, full consciousness coming back to him.

"Hannah! Hannah, look! He's opening his eyes!"

Alyss's smiling face bent over him.

"Will, how are you? Oh, I wouldn't have left you if I knew you would faint like that."

"Hello Alyss, Hannah. Where's Horace? W-who took me in here? I was outside…"

"Will, Horace says that Ranger Halt brought you in here. I have no idea why he was around."

Alyss, Will, Jenny and Hannah turned to George in disbelief.

"What?" They asked in unison.

"The Ranger Halt? So that's who the cloud was…"

Mused Will quietly to himself so no one could hear him. Turing his head slightly, causing himself to wince, he saw Horace standing by the door to his bedroom. Horace looked back uneasily, rubbing the back of his neck, and left.

Later that night, Will had been put in his own bed, where he slept peacefully. Opening the door a crack, Horace peered in, checking to see that no one was in sight. He walked in, carefully closing the door. Slowly, he walked to the bedside.

"Will, are you asleep?"

Snore...

Once he was sure that Will was actually asleep, Horace sat down on a stool near the bed.

"Will, I, I don't know how to say this."

He began softly.

"But, but I'm really sorry about, about today. The drawing and all that. I get mad so easily, and you-"

He cut himself off.

"No, I won't blame you. As much as I want to; a knight wouldn't behave that way. I- I made you this. It doesn't compare to your old one, but I tried."

Pulling a piece of parchment from his tunic, Horace held it in front of himself, looking at it. It was a drawing, which he had tried to replicate from the original drawing. It wasn't half as good as the Baron's, but it was the best he could do. Gently, he slipped the drawing under Will's pillow, and simply sat there for a while.

From the door way, Alyss watched with a smile.

Will never found out who gave him the drawing, he assumed it was Alyss, but was too shy to ask about it as she hadn't given it to him personally. Nor did he ever find out about Horace's apology. That is, not for many years…

A/N There's the last one. I'll do an epilogue cuz I say so. I have a good idea for one. *rubs hands together mischievously* Review plz! \/ Button iz dere.