Will had been doing well the past months since Skandia. Despite the drop in temperatures he was training and gaining some of his old strength back, day by day. Halt was reluctant to let him out the cabin alone however he knew that his apprentice needed to do things in his own, he couldn't always be there if something happened. Early that morning, when the sun was barely over the horizon Halt woke up a very sleepy Will with an offer that to the boy, was proof that he was getting better.
"Why don't you go to the market and see if they have any honey, we're running low." Market, on his own, it was safe to say that Will was overjoyed.
He quickly saddled Tug and set out into the brisk winter morning. He smiled at the simple things, the birds in the trees, the slowly rising sun and the sound of playing children as he neared the village. He saddled tug in a stable outside the tavern and walked to where the merchant sold honey. He quickly exchanged his money for the heavenly jar and strolled leisurely back to the stable, stopping momentarily to look at to kids next to him. They were obviously brothers but they were fighting over a bucket of water, probably to do some washing, and as the apprentice stopped to watch the shorter of the two let go causing the bucket to swing dangerously sideways and spill its contents on the path, right on top of Will.
Horace spotted his friend in the market and was in the process of calling his name when the children playing tug of war with a bucket of water managed to pour the contents of said bucket all over Will. He watched in horror as the water soaked through his cloak and he started shaking. Horace ran to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the street and into an alleyway nearby. The movement jogged Will out of the shell shock state he was in, he sank down against the tavern wall, covering his eyes with his hands.
"Will," he reached out to comfort his friend but he flinched slightly at contact.
"I'm sorry Horace I didn't mean to-" tears fell from his warm brown eyes and his heart ached at the sight of him.
"Hey, it's ok, you just had a shock that's all." He sniffed and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. "Here let's trade," he gestured for Will to sit forward a bit and he swapped the rangers sodden cloak for his dry one, carrying the other in his arms. Then he offered a hand to him, which he accepted and hauled him up off the ground.
"Is Tug saddled near by?" He nodded,
"Just round the corner," but he still felt a bit unease at the slightly panicked look in Wills eyes and the thought of going home.
"I can-" but his sentence was cut short as his friend smashed into him, tackling him with a bear hug, Horace hugged him back.
"Thank you Horace, I don't know what I would've done without you." He tightened his hold, and then step back to study the small boy in front of him.
"Let me walk you home," he nodded and went to get Tug while Horace went to get kicker and they rode back towards the woods.
"Have I told you about the time I killed someone?"
"No, you do that a lot, it's kind of your job." He ignored the comment and pressed on.
"I mean the time I first killed someone. I couldn't believe what I had done, I had nightmares for weeks and couldn't even pick up my sword for a month." Will looked at him unbelieving.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"I was just getting to that jeez. It means, obviously what happened to you can't even compare to anything that's happened to me. But I do know what it's like, you know, if you ever want to talk about it."
"It's just," he sighed. "It's just really annoying because I so want to be better, to get better but it's so hard." Will visibly slouched in the saddle as they nears the cabin. "And now I have to explain to Halt why I forgot to get honey."
"He won't mind and besides, I thought you brought some?"
"No I dropped it when I got splashed." They both dismounted and hugged goodbye.
"I'll see you soon, stay safe." He put a foot in the stirrups.
"Thanks Horace, for everything." Then he watched his friend ride off into the sunset.
The next morning when Will went out onto the veranda to do his morning chores, he nearly tripped over a small brown package, it came with a note that said, 'what are friends for.' And sure enough, when he tested open the packaging, a pot of honey lay in his hands.