For some reason or another I can't see all of my documents on the computer I am currently working on and it means I can't get to any of them to add to them. I had a few one-shots lined up but now I don't know when they will appear.

I have attempted to write this for the past few hours and I have no words! Now there are lots of words and I'm high as a kite on cold and flu meds cause I'm sick as hell ;) Only this bit is going up now though because the sleeping half of the meds is starting to kick in.

WARNING: The chapters that are set mainly from Will's perspective are going to get darker and I don't want to accidentally set anyone off. So count this as a trigger warning now for various things (I would tell you what but that would spoil what I have planned).

Whilst Will knew that he had time to travel at a comfortable pace he was constantly worried that Halt had somehow worked out that he had left before morning and was following. To solve this he had spent the last few days at a Ranger's forced march, because whilst Halt would ride faster than normal to catch up, he certainly wouldn't be riding at that pace. Poor Tug didn't understand the emergency but still continued faithfully.

The night of the third day Will lept of Tug for the night and decided to just stay the whole night. He figured that he had enough of a lead that he could afford it and whilst Tug was trained to keep on going, he was starting to notice the weariness of the horse. Of course, it was present in his own bones, ignored for the sake of getting to his destination.

The next morning was the highlight of the trip. It was a bright morning and promised decent riding weather, even Tug seemed happy at the day's journey rather than annoyed with the fact that his Ranger had dragged him out there for no good reason at all. After eating breakfast Will packed up everything and set off again. For the first time in a long time he smiled at everything as he went passed.

Two hours later he passed a village where everything went on as normal. Just as he reached the outskirts he pulled his hood up so that if Halt were to come through, as he undoubtedly would following Will's footsteps (or perhaps not if he was able to think of a faster route to the Castle, knowing where Will was headed for), he would be able to gather information about a Ranger passing through, but not which one. Passing through that particular town was common for the Rangers and the people knew it. Anyone who was heading to Araluen would normally take the busier road that swung off to the left of Will's current position five miles back. The Ranger's never did however and all generally ended up spending the night there.

The farmers nodded to him and as was expected Will nodded back. Strangely enough one of the more bizarre aspects of a Ranger's apprentice ship was when their mentor turned around to teach them how to nod whilst they had their hood. Will remembered this long process with a groan and made sure to do it correctly every time since in a desperate effort to never have to go through that torture again. Halt had sat in front of him for over two hours telling him to nod over and over and over again until it was exaggerated enough that he was able to see it with the same level of clarity as though he wasn't wearing the hood.

Around three in the afternoon was when Will's perfect day took a turn for the worst. The temperature dropped suddenly and he felt a wind creeping up on him on the back of his neck. He shivered slightly at the feeling and pulled his hood up once again in order to stop it from getting through. Curious he turned around to see the cause and swore upon seeing the dark clouds that probably once had been gathered on the horizon but now were taking up the whole sky behind him.

"We might need to find shelter soon," Will commented to Tug. The horse neighed its agreement. It was at that moment that Will wished he had indeed stopped at the town because at least then he knew he would have had a roof over his head and somewhere warm for Tug.

Will watch nervously as the clouds grew closer and closer and took up more of the sky than ever. Pretty soon he was travelling in what could have been confused as night.

"Come on. Just until we find a nice place to stop for the night," Will promised Tug. As a response this time the horse started walking off the road and down the small hill that was underneath. Will grinned as he saw the tree line looming closer and knew that's what Tug was aiming for.

If only you had trusted me earlier, Tug said to him mockingly. Will groaned back in the same tone before swinging down off his horse.

"Now do you want to complain about our situation more or do you want to find at least somewhat of a shelter before the rain begins?" Will asked.

Just as Tug was about to reply the rain did as Will said it would. The horse gave him an annoyed look and trudge forwards miserably. Finally they found a spot to rest the night and camped there, eating cold rations.

It was midday when Will finally made it to Castle Araluen. The rain had been pelting down hard since the night before and hadn't let up at all whatsoever. Tug wasn't dragging his feet, but he was as close to it as he would ever be and that did resonate within Will's mind. He promised that no matter what the outcome between him and Crowley was he would spend the night, if at least to give Tug a rest from the rain. There was the possibility of staying longer if the weather kept up, but he knew that he would have to get moving before Halt would arrive.

Hey, Halt was riding through the rain as well. Shared misery makes everyone happy, or no one.

There were special rooms located near Crowley for whenever a Ranger stayed near him or had recently retired until they could find them a more permanent room. Each one was the same nondescript walls and nothing personal to them. they did however had small features that once you knew about them, made the rooms appear perfect for a Ranger's temporary accommodation. It was either that or ask Horace for a room, and he knew that the knight wouldn't mind helping him find one.

As normal for that time of day the drawbridge was down, and seeing that he was a Ranger, the guards let him through straight away. For a second Will paused. What if he was only someone masquerading as a Ranger? Then he rethought that question. The people of Araluen wouldn't dare to attempt something like that as they were generally terrified of the 'magic' that Ranger's used and if it was a foreigner it would have became really obvious as soon as they were expected to respond to the "Who are you?" question.

He led Tug over to the stables and waved off all offers from other people to look after his horse. He would be the one to do it to make sure that Tug was comfortable and to thank him personally for putting up with his madness not only in general but in the last few days.

More should be coming really soon. When I said this was a long chapter I meant it. There is still another two thousands words of the ending written and I haven't gotten to the middle yet. Perhaps this section should have been planned as more than one chapter…

Aly