United
Chapter One
Professor: Hi everyone! Thank you for checking out my new story! This isn't my first time writing for Ranger's Apprentice, but this is the first story that I have posted online. I've had this idea for a while now and just had to start writing it down.
So, I just wanted to say a few things first.
First, WARNING! This story will contain scenes of violence, anxiety, abuse, some racism, depression, rape, and other adult content. There is nothing graphic, detailed, or explicit, but it does deal with these topics. More warnings will be given for future chapters as needed.
Second, Flanagan's world is based off of ours. As such, I used inspiration from ours to help with the world building for this story, such as with names and customs/traditions. If I have gotten something wrong, then I apologize. I get all my information off of the internet when it comes to these things. Please point it out so I can fix it. I love constructive criticism.
Third, this is a slight AU of Ranger's Apprentice. I am changing the timeline/some of the events of the books to fit with this story. It will be explained in more detail as the story progresses.
Fourth, I do not own Ranger's Apprentice.
Enjoy and please review!
"Alright, are you sure you have everything?" Malcolm asked, checking over the girl's things one last time, "Your books, herbs, supplies, all of it? I don't want to walk into your old room and find a slew of items you've left behind."
Aranel giggled, "For the twelfth time, yes. I've double checked everything."
"Good, because I'm not going to have time to send anything to you if you forgot it. Now that everyone knows I'm here, I'm busier than ever." he huffed, continuing to check her bags despite the reassurance.
Aranel smiled before pulling the older man away from her things and into a hug, "I'll miss you too."
Malcolm stiffened at the sudden affection, but quickly returned it, "I can't believe it's been three years already."
"Me either," she murmured, "Time flies."
Malcolm nodded, pulling away and straightening his shoulders, "Ok, now off with you, before I start crying."
Aranel giggled again before reaching for her bags, "Gilan should have most of my things on the pack pony by now. All I've got left is here."
"Hmm…" was his response, watching as she swung a second bag over her shoulder.
A moment later had him lifting some of her bags and following her out the door. They were met by the sight of Gilan strapping another bag down on the pack pony and Will off to the side, playing fetch with Shadow and Trobar.
Malcolm shook his head in mock annoyance, "With how he acts everytime he comes here, you'd think that he only cares about seeing that dog."
"Will always did have a soft spot for animals." she said, smiling at the sight.
"That he does."
The boy in question chose that moment to look up, breaking into a grin when he saw them.
"Almost ready?!" he called.
"Just these and two more bags!" she yelled back, gesturing to the house as she did so.
"Got it!" Will nodded a quick goodbye to Trobar before jogging towards the house.
As he did that, they made their way to Gilan, Malcolm handing his bags to the Ranger so he could tie them down while Aranel did the same with hers.
Will was there a moment later, tying the last two of them on.
Far sooner than she thought, Aranel was being surrounded for one final goodbye. It all seemed to pass by in a blur and before she knew it, she was pulling away from Trobar's hug and turning to Malcolm again.
"Now, I expect you to keep up your research. That encyclopedia isn't going to write itself." he was saying, "And remember, every herb always has another use. Don't be afraid to experiment."
She nodded, "Yes sir."
"Just because I'm not going to be looking over your shoulder anymore doesn't mean you can let your technique lapse either. Surgery requires a very steady hand."
"Of course."
"And when drying your herbs, remember-"
"I think she's got it." Gilan interrupted, smiling at the older man, "If she can't remember how to dry herbs after three years with you, then she's fairly hopeless."
Malcolm huffed, raising an eyebrow at Aranel, "They certainly have high opinions of healers, now don't they?"
"The highest." Will smirked, "After all, where would we be without someone experimenting with herbs?"
"I think these two have spent far too much time around your father."
Aranel glanced away shyly, "I promise, they do actually respect healers. Especially you."
"I know, but I can't let them visit without giving them a hard time," he smiled at her.
She returned the smile, pulling him in for one last hug, "Don't forget to have your tea every night. You hurt too much in the morning without it."
"Doctor's orders?"
"Doctor's orders." she laughed.
"Goodbye Nellie." he whispered.
"Goodbye Malcolm." she whispered back, holding him tighter for a split second, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." he pulled away, waving away her thanks.
She turned around, accepting Gilan's help to mount the horse. It seemed like they were waving goodbye and making their way through Grimsdell Forest within seconds.
They rode in silence for a while, in single file as the forest was so densely packed.
"You ok Nel?" Will asked from behind her, leading the pack pony.
"Little sad." she said truthfully, "I spent the last three years training with Malcolm. I...I feel like he's family at this point."
"Trust me, he feels the same way." Gilan said, "Why else would he have given you the same reminders four times?"
"He wasn't that bad!" Will said, quick to jump to the healer's defense.
"Relax, I'm only joking." Gilan tossed a smile over his shoulder at them, "But he does feel the same way Nellie. I'm sure watching you leave was like saying goodbye to his only granddaughter."
Nel smiled to herself, blushing slightly, "So, um, why are we not headed towards Redmont?"
The other two, used to Nellie's shyness, didn't comment on the change of subject.
"Duncan requested his top advisors to return to the castle, along with a few extra Rangers for protection."
"Is-Is something going on?" she looked back and forth between her two traveling companions.
There was a tense silence as they rode through the forest. Finally, when they were near the edge of the trees, Gilan sighed.
"I don't know how much news you got while hiding deep in the Grimsdell, but the war isn't going well. The Temujai have conquered Teutlandt, with their sights set on Gallica next. Crowley thinks we have maybe a year before they march on Toscana, if we're lucky."
"I...I hadn't realized," she whispered, "Last I heard the Temujai had just gotten control of Alpina and Magyara."
"That was six months ago." Will said softly, urging Tug forward to ride next to her as they cleared the forest.
"They conquered Teutlandt so soon after all that?!" she couldn't hide any of the shock in her voice, "How is that possible?"
"We aren't a hundred percent certain, but we've got a pretty decent theory." Gilan said, "A few refugees got word to us. They reported seeing Alpinians and Magyarans fighting alongside the Temujai."
"W-What?"
"Not by choice." Will put in quickly, "More like slaves. The Temujai are forcing the soldiers of the countries they invade to fight their battles for them."
"Sadly, it's smart and it's working," Gilan was looking at his reigns intently as he said this, eyebrows furrowed, "The Temujai already have the largest army the world has ever seen. Using this method, the Sha'shan is losing less and less of his own people than ever before."
"Sorry Nellie," Will leaned over, squeezing her hand lightly, "Didn't mean to give you such bad news when we picked you up."
Nel brushed off his concern, "It's ok. Besides, Dad never believed in holding information back from those who needed it. I don't want to show up to Castle Araluen and not know the state the world is in."
"Well, good news then." Gilan looked up, smiling at her, "You'll be fully informed. Plus, Halt is already at the Castle."
"Really?" she perked up, "He's meeting us there?"
"Yep." Will nodded, "Honestly, he would've come to get you himself, but the king couldn't spare him from the preparations."
"The...preparations?"
The two men exchanged a glance.
"That sort of ties into what we think the Temujai are doing next," Gilan explained, "Obviously their goal is to take over as much land as they can. But some countries are guarded by the sea, right?"
"Right," she said hesitantly, "Like Araluen and Sonderland."
"Exactly." Will said, "But the Temujai don't know anything about sailing. They're cavalry and archers."
"But, using their new strategy, they could go after Skandia." Gilan put in.
"And then nothing could stop them." Aranel finished, "That's horrible."
The other two voiced their agreement.
"So what is His Majesty's plan? What is he preparing for?" she asked.
"The only hope of stopping the Temujai is to get a force large enough to rival theirs and then take back the countries one by one."
"Where could we find an army that big?" she looked back and forth between the two Rangers.
"We make one," Gilan continued, "That's what Duncan's preparing for. He's contacted four other countries and invited them to peace talks in the hopes of creating a treaty so that they can all fight the Temujai together, as allies."
"That's brilliant!" Nel exclaimed, "Who did he contact?"
"Anyone who could stand a chance against the Temujai." Will said, "Toscana. Nihon-Ja. Skandia. And Arrida."
Nel pulled up on her reigns, stopping her horse and staring at them in shock, "W-Who?"
Gilan sighed, "I know Nellie, I agree."
"But-But the Skandians! And-And Arridi!"
"We know." Gilan repeated, urging his horse forward so that he could take her hand, "They aren't my first choices either. Skandians have almost no skill for diplomacy and the Arridi...well that situation speaks for itself. But this alliance needs both of them to have any hope of succeeding."
"T-There has to be another way." she stammered, unknowingly pulling her hand away from Gilan's so that she could rub her thumb over her palm, a nervous habit from childhood that she had never broken, "Th-This is too dangerous!"
"We're at war Nellie-girl," Gilan said softly, "We have to take some risks. Every country is already sending officials and delegates."
"B-But-"
"Hey, it's like your dad says," Will whispered, "There are always risks in battle. The trick is to take the right ones."
"And how does the King know this is the right one?" she asked.
"He doesn't. He's waiting until the end and then seeing if he's won." they chorused at her, smirked.
Nel felt the tension leave her shoulders and she couldn't help but give a resigned sigh, "You Rangers, do you only know the same five sayings?"
Gilan scoffed, pretending to be insulted, "Untrue. We have seven actually. The entire Corps gets together once a year to chant them non-stop."
Will groaned, "Please don't lump me in with him. I'm still only an apprentice."
"Only for another three months." Nel said, looking at him proudly.
Will turned away, embarrassed at the praise.
Gilan laughed, Nel joining in a moment later, before the three of them continued their journey.
The sun had risen three hours ago, shining brightly over the Castle and its town. Halt breathed in the deep morning air. He glanced out the window again, scanning the landscape for any sight of Gilan, Will, or Nel.
Will had left almost two weeks ago to fetch Gilan, per Duncan's orders. He had offered to pick up Nellie along the way as it would only be a few days out of his way. Since Halt couldn't fetch his daughter himself, something that he had given Duncan plenty of grief about, he had jumped at the chance of his apprentice doing so. With both Will and Gilan, he knew that she would arrive safely. As always in times of war, the amount of bandits and the crime rate had increased quickly. With so many people being called to Castle Araluen, the number was going to go up even more.
Even with any sort of delays, the three of them should be arriving some time today.
"Haven't you ever heard that a watched pot never boils?" a voice spoke up behind him. Even without seeing him, Halt could hear the smirk in his Commandant's voice.
He turned around, coming face to face with Crowley. Halt wasn't at all surprised that he had snuck up on him. Crowley was the best there was at silent movement.
"Give them some time Halt, they'll be here soon."
"What makes you think I'm watching for them?" Halt asked gruffly, turning back to the window.
"It's your apprentice, your former apprentice, and your daughter," Crowley said, coming to lean against the other side of the window, "Not to mention you haven't seen Nellie in over a year. Sorry, but you aren't as mysterious as you'd hoped to be."
Halt grunted, sending him a sideways look.
Crowley just shrugged, "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you when you finally realize that everyone can read you like a book."
"They cannot."
"They can actually," Crowley smirked again, "Why do you think Duncan isn't letting you help with the peace talks themselves? Only with the preparations and as an advisor?"
"I thought it was because I was liable to punch the first idiot to open his mouth?"
"That too. But knowing you, you'd find a reason to punch everyone within thirty minutes."
Halt began smirking as well.
"That isn't something to be proud of." Crowley sighed.
"You can't blame me for the delegates' stupidity."
"Moving on," Crowley said, knowing better than to get into that subject with Halt, "Duncan's requested your help. He wants you to double check the maps, focusing on the Eastern Steppes, seeing as how you're more well traveled than most of this Castle put together."
"Are we forgetting your little trip to Sonderland?" Halt asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I did say 'most', but yes we are." Crowley glared at him, "We don't mention anything about that trip."
Halt shrugged, "I don't see why you're so embarrassed. Honestly, anyone could've boarded the wrong boat and then-"
"Never. Happened." Crowley said through gritted teeth.
The Ranger couldn't stop himself from smiling, "Course not."
"Shut up." Crowley huffed.
The two of them turned back to the window, falling into a companionable silence.
Eventually the red-headed Ranger broke it, "Do you think he's making the right choice?"
"Duncan?" Halt sighed, "I think he's making the smart choice. But if we aren't careful, this could do nothing but hurt Araluen in the future."
"Could end up costing us the war." Crowley agreed.
"With Horace's connections to Nihon-Ja, I don't see any issues there." Halt said, "And we've always been on good terms with Toscana."
"It's Skandia and Arrida that are the wild cards."
Halt nodded, "Allying ourselves with either is a major risk. With both of them? I think we'll be lucky to make it out of the peace talks without starting another war, let alone with a treaty."
"The Skandians are raiders. They allied themselves with Morgarath five years ago. As long as there is some sort of profit to be found, they'll be there." Crowley said thoughtfully.
"But, they'll only stay as long as there's profit. When that's gone, they will be too." Halt pointed out.
Crowley pressed his lips into a thin line, thinking it all over before responding, "At least they're straightforward. We shouldn't have to worry too much as long as we keep everyone in check. After all, they're a race of fighters, not politicians."
"And the Arridi?"
He shrugged, "Depends on if they've forgiven us. The fact that they're willing to talk to us for the first time in sixteen years is a good sign."
"But it also means that all our information about them is sixteen years out of date," Halt said, "Considering that we almost ended up in a war with them, most Araluens are terrified simply hearing the word 'Arrida', and that they did vow vengeance upon our entire country-"
"And they have the best trained cavalry in the world," Crowley cut him off, "The Temujai are good, but they're mostly archers. They win battles through numbers, overwhelming odds. The Arridi have more skill and training fighting on horseback. We need them to have any real chance against the Temujai."
"Provided they don't betray us first." Halt huffed.
"Trust me, they're thinking the exact same thing about us." Crowley muttered, "You do realize that Duncan's already thought over all of this, right?"
"Never hurts to double check." was Halt's reply.
"Think we can do it?" Crowley asked, "Drive the Temujai back? Save the countries they've invaded?"
Halt was silent for a long moment, the two of them watching the people around the town going about their business.
"I think it should be done. It needs to be done. But, it's ambitious. It's difficult. And it's a long shot. The best we can hope for is strengthening our own borders, maybe helping a few other countries. But we can't help everyone."
Crowley furrowed his eyebrows, "Why does that sound familiar?"
"Nel says that." Halt explained, "She says that is the first thing you learn as a healer. As much as you may want to, you won't be able to help everyone. Sometimes, the wound is just too severe."
"Smart girl."
"Very." Halt said proudly.
"Must get it from her mother."
Halt glared at him quickly before marching off down the hall.
Crowley laughed, "Wait! Halt! You need to get to Duncan!"
"Duncan can wait!"
"He's the king!"
"And my daughter just rode up to the Castle! He can, and will, wait!"
Crowley looked out the window in confusion. Sure enough, Nellie was there, along with Gilan and Will, dismounting at the front gate. Crowley's confusion turned into a smile.
"Duncan can wait," he agreed.