3 times Halt hugged someone and one time Halt got hugged

1

The crimson red sunrise danced in the reflection of Wills warm brown eyes. Halt had heard him get up a couple minutes earlier and had decided to give him some space before following him outside. Both still dressed in their nightclothes they sat on the veranda side by side basked in the morning light. Halt noticed Will sniffed slightly and dashed his sleeve over his eyes quickly in a futile attempt not to be noticed. He sat for a few moments more before turning to face his apprentice his eyes still focused on a point in the distance. "It's cold, we should go inside." He made no move to stand up. "Will?" He turned to face him and Halts heart ached when he saw the glistening tears forming in the young eyes. "Come here," he opened his arms and Will scooted closer allowing Halt to wrap his arms around him. He held him as his small body shook slightly with silent sobs. He finally released him from the embrace and put a hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" He shook his head. "Okay," he turned to face the forest stretching out before them, putting an arm around Will and resting his head on the boys when he put it on his shoulder. He rubbed his arm absentmindedly, wishing he could do something to help his apprentice.

2

Gilan was undoubtedly sick. He felt feverish and slightly dizzy when he moved to fast. He lowered his bow and shivered at the soft breeze that blew through the clearing in the cabin. He had his fourth year exams at the gathering in two weeks and he felt woefully underprepared, he had to keep training sick or not. He gritted his teeth and started forward to collect his arrows when he felt a hand on his shoulder stopping him. Gilan knew who it was, and because of the fact that the world was spinning slightly the hand was enough to send him tumbling backwards, tripping as he turned to face his mentor. "You alright Gil?" Halt asked concern reflecting on his dark brown eyes. "Fine, just practicing." He fiddled with his cloak sleeve and was too slow to step back when Halts hand moved from his shoulder to his forehead. "You're sick Gilan, come inside." He shook his head looking him in the eye. "I can't I need to practice, exams are in two weeks and-" he stopped when the world lurched and his vision swam, he would have collapsed if Halt hadn't caught him. Tears lurked in the corner of his eyes, he didn't have time to be ill, he needed to practice, needed to get a good score. If he was sick that could mean a week of bed rest which was time he couldn't afford to lose. "Woah, come on, to bed with you." Halt slung Gilan's arm over his shoulder so he could lean on him. He shook his head meekly, even though he knew it was useless, as they walked back anyway.

Halt sat Gilan on the edge of his bed and went off to the kitchen to fetch something for him. He put his head in his hands, silent tears falling down his cheeks. The door opened a few minutes later and he dimly heard the sound of his mentor setting a cup of something on the bedside table. "Gil?" He gently took his hands away from his face and squatted down in front of him so he was eye level with his apprentice, lifting his chin up to meet his gaze. His eyes were red and swollen and his cheeks were pink and flushed with fever. "Gilan, what's wrong?" He pulled the sleeve of his cloak down over his hand and wiped the tears off his cheeks, when he didn't answer he sat down next to him and wrapped him up in a hug. Gilan sank into the embrace shivering as the wind blew through his open window. Halt helped him lie down and sit up slightly against his pillows then handed him a cup of water and some herbs. "For the fever and dizziness." He questioned how he knew about the dizziness, Gil hadn't told him, then shrugged it off because he always knew, he was Halt after all. After he had eaten the the herbs, grimacing at the bitter taste, he set the cup down and looked at his mentor who smiled at him "Better?" He asked.

"Mmm yea," he rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn. He ruffled his hair affectionately and stood up to leave.

"Get some sleep. Night Gil."

"Night Halt." He snuggled under the covers and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

3

The following short story is set after Halt goes on a mission with Alyss and throws someone in a moat before he leaves to search for Will

Halt heard a soft knock at his cabin door and walked to answer it as the graceful figure of Pauline stood in his doorway. "Lady Pauline, please come in, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I won't take much of your time, I hope I haven't caught you at a bad moment."

"Of course not," he gestured for her to sit down.

"I just wanted to thank you," she fiddled with her fingers and met his gaze from across the table.

"That's very kind of you but whatever for?"

"For what you did for Alyss, throwing that person in the moat. As unprofessional as it was, you protected her and I thank you for it." Halt smiled for the first time in a while.

"You're welcome, but she protected herself Pauline, she's a force to be reckoned with. She'll make an excellent diplomat." She stood up to leave and he escorted her to the door, she smiled at him and before he knew it, he hugged her. She smelt of flowers. "You're doing a good job Pauline, she didn't really need me." He released she thanked him once again before leaving him to the very empty cabin.

4

Crowley was reading over the monthly reports from his rangers when he noticed something strange in Halts. He knew him, Will and Horace had gone on a mission to Clomnel but he didn't really know the details apart from it resulted in the death of the king and a couple of Genovesan assassins. 'Was briefly injured, fine now.' Well that was vague. He shifted through to find Wills report which had a lot more detail than his friends. 'Halt was poisoned by an arrow from one of the Genovesans, he took a week to heal and nearly died in the process. I had to ride to Macindaw to fetch Malcom who managed to cure him.' Crowley felt his heart go cold and his stomach drop. Halt, nearly died? He put on his cloak and started the 3 day ride to Redmont.

He rode into Castle Redmont, making a beeline for Halts apartments once he had looked after Cropper and made sure he had an apple which was well deserved on his part. The horse, sensing his urgency to arrive had ridden hard and fast, making the usual 3 day journey in 2, never faltering even as the rain began to pour down upon them. He weaved in and out of servants busying themselves amongst the castle and climbed the stairs two at a time until he reached the familiar oak door, knocking before he had figured out what he was going to say. He shrugged, he'll just have to speak his mind, that after all was his specialty.

Halt grumbled as he rose from his place by the fire, it was a grim day and he could hear the rain lashing at the ground outside. He froze momentarily in shock, looking at a thoroughly soaked Crowley, red hair plaster to his face, panic concern and anger in his eyes. He didn't have time to react however as his best friend tackled him in a wet bear hug. Surprising both himself and Crowley, he hugged back. He released the usually sullen ranger from the hug and immediately punched him square in the arm. "Ow! What the devil was that for?" His hand went to where he had hit him protectively.

"How dare you nearly die on me!" He yelled. "And then how dare you not mention it! Even a simple comment would be fine; like one of your 'hey Crowley I nearly died on that mission but I'm fine now.' would have been better than not mentioning it at all!" Halt sighed, he was right, his best friend didn't deserve that.

"I'm sorry, I should've told you." He looked at his feet and felt Crowley hug him again.

"Just don't you dare go making this a hobby." He said, meeting his gaze. He laughed

"Don't worry I won't."