The Foreign Girl (Ranger's Apprentice FanFiction)

8 ~ Rangers' Gathering

I woke up in the light of the sun. I stayed in bed for a while, enjoy one of my last days, probably forever. I knew I could take Halt's offer, but I was -like he'd said- proud and stubborn.

I sighed and stood up. I'd better go as soon as possible. Hopefully that would be a bit less hard. I walked towards the kitchen, where Will and Halt were already eating breakfast. They looked up and nodded. I sat down, not feeling well. I didn't feel like eating, but I knew I had to. When you're going on a yourney, you need to have a good, full stomach.

After we had eaten in silence for a while, Halt cleared his throat.

"Sarah, in a few days we will be leaving for the annual Rangers' Gathering. Since we will also go to the east, we thought that you can maybe stay here until we leave and we can go together until our ways separate." He basically asked it, he looked so unsure. Relief washed over me.

I don't have to go just yet. I can live a bit longer.

But I hid my feelings and pretended like I had to think first. Then I nodded, still pretending to be hesitant. Will's face spread open in a wide grin and now I couldn't hold back mine anymore. Halt joined us and we were smiling like madmen at each other.

Then Halt suddenly frowned.

"Look at those pots! I swear they shone yesterday!" I recognized this from the other days that I was here and gladly joined.

"Yeah, you're right! They definitely were! How is this possible?" I pretended to be shocked. Will sighed.

"All right, all right, I'm already on it!" he said, standing up to clean the pots.

Halt and I grinned widely to each other, hearing clattering of the pots.

***

"Are we there yet?" Halt and I looked at each other with exhausted looks on our faces. This was like the thousandth time Will asked it.

We were on our ways and I couldn't say I was glad. The past days were amazing and they had already become my best friends. More like a father and brother to be honest.

I was riding on a huge stallion, a retired steed. Baron Arald has given Halt permission to give it to me.

Halt had given me my weapons back and these past days I had practised almost non-stop. Even though I knew it wouldn't really make a difference, it felt good to do.

We ignored Will and after a while a I couldn't hold in the question that bothered me the past days.

"Halt, when I came in your room that night when... You know..." Halt looked at me and nodded, his eyebrow rose.

"How did you come to me? You were lying in your bed and suddenly you were standing next to me. How did you do that?" He was silent for a few seconds. Then he looked me deeply in my eyes.

"I knew that you were a Tem'uj. I didn't trust you. So I made sure to sleep very lightly, to be able to wake up with the smallest sound. And that night -even though you were very, very quiet- I heard you and got out, put my cloak on, stuffed some clothes under my blanket and stood in the corner. When you came in, you saw something in my bed and thought it was me. But it wasn't." My eyes widened as everything became clear.

"That's why I thought something was wrong! I didn't hear you breath!" I was shocked that I just found that out now. I was probably so nervous that I didn't realise that.

Halt looked at me with a mixture of surprise and light awe.

We didn't really talk anymore, until Halt stopped Abelard, his horse on a crossing. Will and I also stopped.

"Here is where our paths separate." he spoke. I nodded sadly. I shook Halt's hand and patted Will's shoulder. I didn't really like saying goodbye.

"Well, bye then." They both nodded. Apparently they felt the same. I was about to turn away when a thought came up in me.

"Oh, and thanks for saving my life and everything." Again they nodded. I rode away.

"Bye Sarah!" Will yelled after me. I turned around in my saddle and waved one last time.

It's time to go and face my father's wrath.

~~~

Hi guys!

I already uploaded today because I won't be able to tomorrow and last week I uploaded on Sunday. So here you go, I hope you like it! (:

xx love