Snow fell outside and compared to Redmonts freezing temperatures, the inside of the castle was as warm and alive as could be. It was the annual award evening for the fief and everyone was dressed in a suit and tie and various dresses that shone from the light of the chandelier. The dancing was performed in a flourish of twirls and spins that made one nauseous to watch and the dim candlelight made everything hazy and magical. Will stood, back leaning against a wall, holding a glass of champagne with such loseness a passerby would assume that the young ranger was drunk, however he was not drunk, no ranger ever allowed themselves to be in such a comfort that they would let their barriers down this much. Will was not drunk, but scanning. Scanning the crowd for the own person he hoped to see among the Castle's stoney walls. His former mentor, Halt, was supposed to return from a mission today but Will had not seen him in the Castle, where he now lived with lady Pauline, or outside, where he might have been practising or riding to pass the time. But he had heard from the Baron that Halt was home, so where was he?

He looked up to where the stage was and noticed that the dancing had stopped and everyone was waiting eagerly for the Baron to start handing out the awards. The awards were trivial things really and they made up the titles every year, for example, the year that Horace and Will had stopped the boar, because by the time the snowy evening had rolled around, it was still fresh in everyone's minds, he and Horace had won an award for bravery.

He felt giddy and drunk, although he had not touched a glass all evening. He glanced sidelong at his friend as two medals were placed around their necks, the audience was clapping and it seemed to merge with Will's own heartbeat as they made their way off the stage and back into the crowd. People were smiling at him and patting him on the back but it wasn't them he was looking at, it was his mentor, Halt. Who stood off to the side, a small smile on his face and his hand still raised in mute applause. As Will met his proud gaze, he mouthed one thing that made the young boy's heart lift, 'well done'.

Will sipped at his glass distractedly throughout the speech and then watched with only mild interest as people started making their way up to the stage. Old people, young, from knights to cooks, as long as what you had achieved was worth celebrating, you were bound to be up there. Halfway through, they had a break where more dancing resumed and Will caught the eye of his friend, suddenly having trouble thinking straight, maybe that champagne wasn't a good idea after all. Alyss walked over to him, the reminisce of snow still present on her boots. He put his glass down on the table next to him and made his way over to her, when they met, no words were needed, he bent down poetically and offered her his hand, which she took and he led her to the dance floor. They began to dance as he spun her around and her long blonde hair spun with her, giving her an ethereal look. Will couldn't help but notice all the stares they were getting, a ranger and courier, one in his traditional rangers suit with his cloak thrown over and the other elegant, poised in her long navy blue gown, with a sleeve hanging off one shoulder. They probably looked like an odd couple, Will pondered, but he wouldn't have changed it for the world. "Will?" She asked in a lighthearted yet knowing tone. Will looked into her eyes and thought about how beautiful they were, how beautiful she was.

The sun basked her in a warm glow, her white courier dress catching the light. Will watched as he rode into the clearing on Tug and she was waiting on the bench on the veranda, her long hair flowing over one shoulder. She had a book in her lap, which Will assumed she had been reading before he rode could see the loving in her eyes, but also a subtle patience which told him she would wait until he had brushed down Tug, but after two weeks away on a mission, he ran straight to her and hugged her deeply, inhaling the smell of flowers and perfume he had longed for every night away. He brought a hand up to her cheek and she lent into his warmth, putting her hand on top of his.

"I think someone's here to see you." She released him and led him off to the side,

"But I'm with you now," he intertwined their fingers, "Whoever it is can wait."

"Oh I think you'll want to see him." She smirked and gestured behind him to where a man in a green and grey cloak stood, slightly apart from all the other guests, lingering by the door, not looking fully sure if he wanted to stay or leave. Will smiled at Alyss, flicked the hood over his head and disappeared. He weaved his way through shimmering gowns and bubbling glasses, to reach his mentor, who of course spotted him before he had a real chance to sneak up on him. Then again Will was too excited to see Halt to really focus on his sleuthing skills. He hugged his mentor deeply.

"You've been gone a long time." He pointed out, releasing Halt. The older ranger smiled grimly.

"Two months give or take, and I still have to attend this poor excuse for an event." Will laughed as he rolled his eyes.

"I can put some coffee on back home, if you don't feel like staying?" Will offered, he was desperate to get out of here, all the dancing and champagne was getting to his head, he needed coffee.

"Please, I've only been here for five minutes and I'm ready to kill the baron for making me come. I'll saddle Abelard, see you outside?"

"I'll be there in a minute. Halt?"

"Yes Will?" he hugged him, all his worry about his surrogate father long gone.

"I missed you." he stepped back.

"I missed you too." Halt smiled.