A/N: OLAF! It's me, IFYOUCOULDFLY! I AM EXPANDING THIS STORY. I AM GOING TO BE INCORPORATING LITTLE BITS OF BOOK 2 (VERY LITTLE BITS) INTO THIS FANFIC. Anyways, thanks for the reviews and sympathies :). And yes, the baby is okay, she's already eating hay and alfalfa, and she's really open and friendly. We've also introduced her to one of the older geldings to act as a parental figure, and they already have a bond forming. On that happy note, read on!

-Chapter Nine: Face to Face-

Will was faintly aware of something…a steady drumming. Was he at a concert? No, the drumming was coming from inside his head. He groaned softly, and managed to pry his eyes open, and was alarmed to find he couldn't see.

After a few moments of panic, spots of blurry light began to rupture the blackness. Soon, a smeared image had formed. He blinked a few times, and his eyes began to adjust, his pounding headache slowly fading.

He realized that the smudged figure in front of him was growing closer. It stopped before him and leaned down, face inches from his. "I see you're awake." The figure stated, and Will moaned.

Where was he? He racked his brain before remembering his capture, and even worse, his fleeing from the Gathering. "Oh, God. I was so stupid!" He thought.

"Now, I'll just state up front, you will address me as nothing other than Lord Morgarath." The man sneered, and Will's eyes widened in fear. For so many years, the name Morgarath had been a part of countless scary stories. It was spoken with a shudder, or a grimace, and often was not voiced at all out of fear. And now here they were, face to face.

"And in addition," Morgarath began again, "I must inform you that your father is here." A pin could have dropped. Will gulped, watching as Morgarath grinned. The former baron obviously had a love for dramatics.

"And if you defy me, I intend to turn you over to him. He is not yet aware of your capture, but I assure you that he won't be pleased when you are reunited." Morgarath sneered again, and Will cast his eyes to the floor, unable to endure his goading stare.

Instantly, a sickening smack sounded through the room, and Will cried out. He twisted violently away from the whip that had just made contact with his back. He cringed as Morgarath laughed sharply.

"I expect you to look me in the eye, Ranger." He spat the word as if it were poisonous. "Now, let's begin. So tell me, where is that mysterious place you Rangers love? The Gathering Grounds, I believe it is?"

Thus began the longest day of Will's young life.

HERE YOU GO! I'M BREAKING THE PAGE! THAT'S ALL I'M GOOD FOR, AFTER ALL!

"What do you mean, no?" Halt exclaimed, glaring at the exasperated Crowley before him.

Crowley sighed. "Halt, I'm sorry, but the Kalkara have been sighted nearby, and a war is brewing. You can't go running off to find your apprentice now."

Halt growled. "We have forty-nine other Rangers!" He cried impatiently, and Crowley just shook his head sadly. "None of them are Halt. Listen, we need you right now. The kingdom needs you. I'm sorry."

Halt sighed sadly and stared down at his boots. "Fine. But as soon as this business is over, I'm going to Celtica to find Will." He had no doubt in his mind that that was where Will would go. After all, his friend Elena had openly invited him.

"Well, Halt, there's a thought that's crossed my mind." Crowley began timidly, and Halt arched his brow, eyes asking him to continue. With a deep breath, the commandant complied. "Maybe Will doesn't want to be found." Halt was silent, and Crowley took that as an invitation to explain.

"He ran away from us, hastily I might add. He hasn't been your apprentice for too long, either. Maybe he just wasn't ready to be a Ranger, but was too ashamed to tell you." He glanced at his companion cautiously.

Halt's expression was as bleak as it always was, but his eyes showed his thoughts. They were switching between disbelief, hurt, and fear. Finally, Crowley's old friend shook his head determinedly. "No." Halt stated bluntly, then turned to prepare for the upcoming Kalkara hunt.

Crowley sighed. "Sometimes," he thought, "I just can't stand Halt."

(Oh, c'mon, don't be like that, Pagebreak! The fans love you!) YOU'RE A LIAR. NOBODY LOVES ME!

Blood spilled again onto the cement, and Morgarath sighed. "You Rangers are such a stubborn type. And a shame, too. It tends to cause everybody trouble." He glanced at the half-conscious apprentice before him and scoffed.

"Well, it seems we'll just have to take him with us." His tormenter decided nonchalantly, then stepped away to his rooms.

"What? Where are we going?" Will thought as he began to fall into unconsciousness. Just thinking seemed painful to him at this point.

His back was a horrible sight, a splattered collection of black, purple, and red. There were swollen lumps all along his spine that slowly oozed blood, and purple splotches from the fists that beat down upon him by some unseen torturer. If anyone were to see him now, they would certainly fall sick at the sight of him.

Suddenly, a large fist grabbed Will's arm, then another. They tugged the chains that had bound him away, and dragged him off. They certainly weren't gentle about it. Will tried to cry out in pain each time they tugged on him too hard, each time they jerked him upward just to laugh at his tears.

"Alright, baby, looks like Lord Morgarath's decided to take you along." A voice, which Will recognized as Bryn, mocked. "Just don't expect to get off easy. Today's only the first day, after all." Jerome cut it, shoving him into a poorly constructed prison cell.

"Night-night, baby!" Alda cried, laughing as the group walked away. Just as they were going to leave, Alda looked back to the cell. "There's a war brewing, Will. And you're gonna be right in the middle of it."

(Pagebreak, just look at the reviews! There are like, NINE reviewers all worshipping you! They love you Pagebreak! I mean seriously. Most amazing people EVER. I LOVE LOVE LOVE ALL MA REVIEWERS!) OH….GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT…THANKS GUYS!

King Duncan rubbed his temples, leaning back into his throne. This whole business with Morgarath was becoming increasingly troublesome. He spent long nights wondering and worrying if tomorrow would be the day that war broke out.

He let out a deep sigh and shook his head, deciding to let himself relax, if only for a moment. In all reality, he would prefer that Morgarath appear right now, rather than drag out the anticipation. At that moment, a courier burst through the doors.

"My Lord," The graceful Lady Pauline said with a respectful curtsy, "Morgarath is on the move." Immediately, King Duncan let out a loud sigh. "Oh, thank the Lord!" He cried, receiving a few puzzled looks from the courtroom.

Miles away, Crowley was receiving the same news, and was already rallying the Rangers.

And even further away, a small boy, much too small for the pressure on his shoulders, was marching in chains alongside his fellow prisoners, listening to the Wargals' chanting.

A/N: I AM EXPANDING THIS STORY. I AM GOING TO BE INCORPORATING LITTLE BITS OF BOOK 2 (VERY LITTLE BITS) INTO THIS FANFIC. Sorry, had to say that twice in case you didn't get that the first time…ANYWAYS IM SO SO SORRY I DIDN'T UPLOAD SOONER BUT LIFE SUUUUUCKS :P. Anywho, keep reading/reviewing/being awesome!-FLY