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Eleven days. That's how long it took for Gilan to finally concede that Will was okay enough to travel, and that he was needed more in Redmont than Araluen at the present.
It may have also had something to do with Will’s constant whining about being bored and that he was ‘being held against his will!’ to anyone who would listen to him.
A bored Ranger was a dangerous Ranger.
(Just ask anyone who’d worked with Halt in his younger years. There was a reason he was assigned to one of the busiest fiefs in the kingdom and it wasn’t because of his sparkling personality.)
Will had a feeling that by the ninth day, it was more of a conscious effort on Gilan’s part, rather than self restraint - to stop himself from chucking the younger man out his second story window to get some peace and quiet.
But hey, turns out nagging works!
Horace and Cass had taken considerably more persuading to agree, although they hadn’t spent all of last week in a small room with him, so they had a lot more patience with him than Gilan did at this point.
In retrospect maybe he shouldn’t have drawn that doodle of the boss standing over his ‘perfectly capable’ employees with the sign over his head reading ‘Commendant Buzzkill.’ At least not on the official reports. Gilan’s eye had twitched dangerously when he saw that one.
But like he said, he was bored.
Turns out there were only so many reports you could fill out in as many days before going stir crazy. It was one of the reasons he was glad he’d never been asked to fill Crowley’s role. If he had, there was a good chance he’d have started several uprisings by now - which, he decided, could only be blamed on Halt’s teachings.
No Ranger enjoyed being cooped up, they were built for the freedom of forests, not for the life of a hot house flower.
That’s not to say that Gilan didn’t appreciate Will’s input. They were two of the senior most Rangers in the core, and Will being one of the most well travelled Rangers often had a unique view of situations that wouldn’t have otherwise been considered.
Gilan had, however, required that Peter check Will over one final time and give him a clear bill of health to travel before he was allowed to leave.
Will had thought about protesting but decided against it, he really was in no mood to play a round of ‘duck, duck, head shot!’ with Cass’s sling.
Just under an hour later Peter had begrudgingly stated that he wasn’t going to keel over on the spot if he undertook the trip back to Redmont and, after changing the bandage around his ribs one final time, released him.
The knicks left behind from the rope burns on his hands and feet had crusted over and the bruises had started healing, meaning that instead of the ugly purple, they were now a lovely mosaic of pink, green and yellow.
His ribs were another matter altogether, but that was to be expected since they hadn’t just been strangled by the ropes but had the result of a kick delivered with the man's whole body weight to them. Still, at least he could breathe without feeling like there was a knife sticking him in his side.
When he’d entered the royal apartments to deliver the good news, Maddie, to absolutely no one’s surprise, had begun complaining how unfair it was that he got leave and she was still under ‘house arrest!’
“I’m just saying!” Maddie pouted from where she’d attempted to throw herself dramatically onto the couch - the crutches somewhat ruining the effect. “I was honest about my injuries - not like uncle Will, and you’re letting him leave.”
Will just rolled his eyes. “Thank you so much for that reminder your highness,” sarcasm dripped in his tone.
“What?” Maddie blinked innocently at him.
Will decided to ignore it. “And besides, they're not ‘letting me leave’ as you put it. I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions.”
Cass snorted. “Wanna bet? I can order you to stay and then you would have to.”
Horace saw where this was going from far too many years spent with devious Rangers *cough, Halt, cough* and knew what Will was about to say.
Will just grinned cheekily at her. “Technincally,” he stressed the word out. “I’m not answerable to you, I’m only answerable to the Ranger commandant or kingdoms ruler - which would be your father. Gilan’s my superior and he’s already said I can leave.”
Gilan smacked him upside the head lightly. “Watch it. I could always make you take my place and I'll go to Redmont.”
“Or,” Cass said undeterred. “As the King’s consort I could order Gilan to make you stay until you’re fully healed.”
“You absolutely could,” Will nodded his head agreeably. “And I can always find someone in this lovely castle to publicly insult your father to, and get myself banished. Afterall, that story about the hatcha hatcha dancer does go down a treat I’m told.”
The three of them stared at each other for a beat before bursting into laughter.
Maddie stared at them in confusion. “I don’t get it?”
Horace ran a hand over his face, staring at the three ‘grown adults’ still giggling in the corner. “A story for when you’re older. Much older.” A faint grin twitched at the corner of his mouth at the memory.
Maddie huffed, knowing she wouldn’t be getting any more information about the situation from any of them. Maybe she should ask her grandfather, he was always more than willing to tell her stories about her parents adventures when they were her age.
“Stillllll,” she whined, drawing the room's attention back to her. “The Ranger gathering is in a few months and you want me to pass my tests don’t you?” She turned her best puppy dog eyes on her parents who nodded.
“Of course we do love.” Cass spoke.
“But how can I do my best if you delay my training until I’m healed?”
Gilan and Will exchanged a look and the elder Ranger spoke, one eyebrow raised in question. “Who said anything about you not training while you’re here?”
Horace started to protest, “Whoa! Hold up, you two can’t seriously be thinking her training right now is a good idea-”
Will held up a hand to forestall any further protests from either parent. “Active or combat training, no absolutely not, we’re not idiots you know.”
He ignored Cass’s muttered ‘sure you’re not.’ And people seriously wondered where Maddie got her attitude from?
“But,” he continued, meeting his friend's gaze levelly. “There’s more to being a Ranger than just knowing how to shoot a bow or blending into the shadows.”
Maddie’s interest was piqued by this, she’d only really started her training and didn’t know all the ins and outs of the core yet. “Like what?” she asked eagerly.
Gilan grinned at her. “Paperwork.”
She stared at him aghast. “Paperwork?”
Gilan just nodded, “mhm,” he hummed in agreement. “Paperwork is a vital part of being a Ranger. We observe the Kingdom’s going on and report back on our findings. Surely you would have seen the reports Will received from myself and others?”
At the words Maddie could picture the stack of reports Will kept by his desk and she nodded miserably.
“Cheer up, it’s not so bad.” Will grinned at her.
Maddie crossed her arms sulking into the cushions. "You're just saying that because you get to leave and escape the paperwork!”
Will arched an eyebrow at her, “you do realise I’m not ‘escaping paperwork’ right?” He put ‘escaping’ into air quotes, “I’m quite literally going back to my own fief where I’ll have my own stack of paperwork waiting for me I’m sure.”
Gilan sniffed disdainfully at him. “Which is nothing less than you deserve after all the times you left all your paperwork for me to do when I covered you.”
“That was Halt! Not me!”
“I found the files in your cabin!”
“Again! Halt told me to do that, he literally tore the reports I had done up and said to leave it for you! Apparently it was payback for all the times you tried to jump him at the gatherings.”
Gilan gasped, “Lies!!!!”
“I have seen you do it! With my own eyes!”
“And you’ve helped me on at least half a dozen occasions.”
“Because you are a terrible influence! And also, see the previous statement! Why do you think I’m going to have a stack of paperwork waiting for me?” Will glared at him.
Cass chose that moment to interrupt, much to the others dismay as they were finding this highly amusing. “All right ladies, we get it, you both suck and are mean to your former master. Can we get back to the point please?”
Gilan shot Will one last stink eye to which he responded by sticking out his tongue. Watching this display, Horace privately wondered how Redmont had managed to survive both of them and still be in one piece at the end.
“Anyways to answer your question Cass,” Gilan looked at Maddie. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m not the only active Ranger at Araluen anymore?” he waited for her to nod her assent before continuing. “Good. That's because I’ve been having the current apprentices spend a few months here with me to learn how to create, write and deliver reports in a professional setting.”
Will saw the question in her eyes before it was voiced. “The way we conduct meetings with dignitaries, nobles or royals, is different to how we send reports amongst other Rangers and it's important to know how to do both so you’re prepared when the time comes.”
“So is that what I’ll be doing?” Maddie asked.
Gilan nodded, “as luck would have it my current apprentice-”
“Young Aaron, isn’t it?” Horace interrupted.
“Yes, Aaron. He’s a good lad. He returned to his fief last week and Will’s been helping me in the interim, so you can take over once he leaves.”
“Granted you are a bit young,” Will said.
Cass turned to him, “young?”
“Mhm,” he nodded, “Gil usually does this with the second or third year apprentices so they’ve got a bit more experience under their belt before tackling a place like Araluen.”
“But,” Gilan continued smoothly from Will’s point. “Your unique position means that you’ve already had some degree of training on the subject matter that puts you on par with the other apprentices and the timing of this works out so you can do it now.”
“How long do the apprentices normally work with you Gil?” Cass queried.
Gilan shrugged non-committably. “Depends on the year, honestly. We had a bunch of new recruits come in last year, so there are more second-years now. Means I don’t need them as long - usually just two, maybe three months tops.”
“See?” Horace said, squeezing his daughter's shoulder. “That’ll give you plenty of time to heal up properly and still get to train with Will again before the gathering.”
“I suppose,” Maddie grumbled. She could see the sense in what the others were saying, and truthfully it might be more fun to do reports as a Ranger, where she’d have more freedom, than as the heir to the throne.
“Still, it’s not fair that you're just letting uncle Will leave all by himself.”
Horace, Gilan and Cass shared a covert look at that. A look that both heightened Maddie’s curiosity and Will’s sense of dread.
“What?”
Horace cleared his throat, choosing to conveniently not look at Will as he spoke. “Well, actually, I’ve been thinking…” He let the statement hang for a second before continuing. “Rodney’s been asking me to help him demonstrate a few manoeuvres for his more advanced class for a few months now and this seems like the perfect time to do it.”
Will was protesting before he even finished, “Oh no. Absolutely not. Nu-uh,” he glared at his fellow adults, “I do not need a babysitter.”
“It’s not babysitting,” Horace tried.
“Oh yeah? Then what would you call it?”
“A necessary series of steps to keep your trouble finding ass alive?” Gilan said.
“It’s a straightforward, six hour ride from here to Redmont. What exactly do you think is going to happen?”
“Do you really want me to answer that, with your luck?” Cass snorted, a few choice examples springing to mind
Will waved the point a side. “Regardless, I will be fine by myself, thank you very much.”
“Oh you poor naive child.” Gilan shook his head in a mock what-am-I-going-to-do-with-you kind of way. “This isn’t up for debate. Someone is going to go with you.”
“And lucky for you, you get your pick of three options.” Cass said. “A) you quit complaining and let Horace go with you. B) you continue kicking up a fuss and I order several of the royal guards to accompany you, regardless of what you tell them-”
“I could just shoot them,” Will muttered.
“Or C),” Gilan continued, ignoring his snide remark. “Another Ranger goes with you, they’ll be a lot harder for you to shake than a few guards.”
“You’ve just spent the last few days bellyaching to me about your to-do list, so not sure where you’re gonna find another Ranger to accompany me.”
Gilan’s grin was similar to that of the devil’s. “I never said it would be me. I have a castle full of retired Rangers, all of whom would be more than willing to keep you in line. I’m thinking… Reed, or maybe even Morris.”
“Morris? Are you kidding me?”
“Well then it seems like quite a simple choice to me.”
Will huffed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to simply sneak away on his own without being caught. “Fine. Horace, seems like we’ve got a road trip to go on then.”
Horace beamed at him. “Excellent! And as it so happens my bag is already packed so I’m ready when you are.”
“Of course you are,” Will said dryly.
“When will you be leaving?” Maddie asked.
Will paused, meeting Horace’s gaze. “After lunch?”
Horace nodded in agreement. “No time like the present. That’ll get us there by early evening.”
“Excellent!” Gilan clapped his hands together in approval. “Who fancies one last Rabbit stew from the master before he leaves?”
Several hands rose at once.
Lunch passed quickly and after a quick tidy up of the dishes the group had made their way down the stairs to farewell the two men.
Maddie was stroking Kicker’s muzzle absently from where she was perched on a hale bale in front of the horses stall as her father finished saddling Stomper. “How long will you be gone?”
Horace glanced at her, surprised how young she sounded. “It should be less than a week.” He shot his daughter a reassuring smile. “Just enough time for you to get into all sorts of trouble I’m sure.”
Maddie’s mouth ticked upwards, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m an angel.”
“Sure. And Halt doesn’t commit mail fraud ‘for the thrill of it’.” He looped the horse's reins over the front of the stable door and stopped in front of Maddie and pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
He could feel her nodding against the material of his shirt. “I know.”
He dropped a kiss onto the crown of her head. “Be good. Try not to make your mother's hair go grey while I'm gone. Or go along with too many of Gilan’s hair brained schemes.”
“Oi!” Gilan called from where he’d been speaking quietly to Will. He squeezed his friend's shoulder one last time for luck before marching over to the royal duo to defend his honor. “I don’t think you really have a leg to stand on there - I’ve heard too many stories about the stupid things you’ve done, mainly from Halt.”
“Like what?” Horace challenged, half grinning already.
“Oh I don’t know. Something about you assaulting a fief with only thirty people, starting fights with people you had no business fighting, vanishing off the map,” he trailed off meaningfully. “ Do you need me to continue?”
“I blame my time spent around you Rangers. Where do you think I learned any of that from?”
“Na, you were mad long before we ever met you.” Gilan said cheerfully.
Maddie laughed as the two men bickered playfully in front of her, noting that her mother had taken Will’s hand and led him several steps away and was speaking in hushed tones.
“I know Peter cleared you to travel but take it easy on the trip. Gilan said your sides still bothering you and the last thing you need is to end up with actual broken ribs from over doing it and-”
“Cass,” Will squeezed her hand lightly, partly to reassure her and partly to stop her rambling. “I know I don’t always act like it, but I do know my limits, and I’ll have Horace to keep me honest.”
Cass let out a breath, “I know, I know. Just… remember you’re not alone yeah? You don’t have to rush back into things, Will. Redmont will still be standing even if you take a few days to breathe first. And Halt is there to help.”
“I know, and I will. Promise.”
He meant it she knew, she could hear the sincerity in his tone. She felt her body relax at the reassurance.
“I guess I’m pretty lucky,” he smiled at the question in her eyes. “I may have started out in this world alone, but I’ve gained a pretty awesome family along the way. Including one very loving and very protective sister.”
Her eyes shone wetly, “and you’re the brother I never knew I needed.”
There may be no blood tie connecting them, but that didn’t matter, it had never mattered. Families weren’t built on blood, they were about the people who you chose to stand by time and time again, no matter what the world threw at you.
“Come here.” Will pulled her into an embrace and she let her head rest against his shoulder for several long beats.
Her words came out slightly mumbled with her head still resting against him. “Let us know when you get there, yeah? Send a pigeon or something.”
“I will.” She could feel the vibration of the words in his chest. “But truthfully I’m more worried about you lot than Horace and I.”
She pulled away slightly so she could meet his gaze, “and why is that exactly?”
Will grinned, a mischievous glint that spoke of years of first hand experience. “I’m confident Horace and I can handle whatever the trail throws at us. You on the other hand - you’re letting Maddie spend an extended period of time alone with Gilan, who Halt’s always said was the worst behaved of the two of us. Can’t wait to see what new habits she develops from that.”
Cass stepped away from him, smacking his shoulder as she did. “Well, you’ve officially ruined the moment.” She jerked her head towards where the others were waiting, “get going before I change my mind about all of this.”
“Looks like we’re ready to go,” Horace said, momentarily stopping his squabble with Gilan as Cass and Will returned to the group.
“Almost,” Will agreed. He stopped before Maddie and gave his apprentice a brief hug. “Time will pass quicker than you think it will, so enjoy your break. You’ll be longing to be back here once you're back to the old training schedule.”
“No rest for the wicked huh?”
Will grinned, “Where’s the fun in that?” He ruffled her hair one final time, ignoring the squawk of protest at the action before stepping into Tug’s stall to check his gear and leading the horse out.
Behind him Horace and Cass shared a kiss before he claimed Stomper’s reins and swung himself up onto his horse's back.
Cass rested a hand on Maddie’s back as the two men headed for the castle's gate.
“Godspeed!” Gilan called and Will waved in reply, the two figures growing smaller as they crossed the drawbridge.
Once they were out of sight, Gilan turned to Maddie and grinned. “So….. ready to unlearn all those bad official princessy behaviours you’ve been taught all your life?”
Cass groaned. “I’m already regretting this!”
The journey had been uneventful. The two friends had kept up a steady stream of chatter as the hills rolled by under foot, and soon enough the familiar sight of Redmount’s castle had come into view.
They had parted ways at the gate. Horace had sent a pigeon on ahead to let Rodney know he was coming, so he had no reason to accompany Will in meeting with Baron Arlad. Or at least that was the excuse he gave, shooting him a cheeky smile as he departed the stables in the direction of the battleschool.
Will waved a hand in reply and made his way to Arald’s study.
Thankfully the meeting didn’t take too long. Baron Arald had received a copy of Will and Gilan’s report of the mission a few days ago so he hadn’t needed to hash out all the details - a fact he was grateful for.
Arald had expressed his sympathy towards Maddie. He’d had his fair share of injuries during his time and knew how dull and boring the recovery time could be.
In return he had updated Will about the goings on in Redmount while he’d been away. The fief had been relatively calm over the past few weeks. It seems like his attitude over the last year and a half had been good for one thing at least - making crooks rethink if a little bit of highway robbery was worth being on the wrong end of an arrow.
And, since it had been so peaceful, it meant Halt had been able to return a few days prior to his lodgings in the castle. So if Will felt like swinging by on his way out….
Arald’s tone was casual as he informed his friend of this fact.
It was the twinkle in his eye that gave him away, making it clear that he was in no way, shape or form trying to be subtle.
The look Will shot him in return would have most men cowering, but not Arald. Arald was far too used to those looks after spending decades with Halt. They had no effect on him.
He was still smiling to himself as Will slipped out the door, tugging it shut behind him.
In spite of Arald’s gentle teasing, Will found himself taking the route that would lead him past Halt and Pauline’s rooms.
He would have to see them at some point, he and Halt regularly worked together after all, despite the older Ranger claiming to be retired anytime the mention of paperwork came up.
He was still thinking about the impending encounter when he rounded the corner and realised, in some surprise, that he was almost at their door. He’d been so lost in thought that the journey had passed quicker than he thought.
Will hesitated a few feet away from the door uncertainly. He didn’t know where this sudden bout of anxiety was coming from, this wasn’t the first time he’d been in the apartment, it wasn’t even the first time since losing Alyss.
He’d had dinner with the couple of times, once before and once after Maddie had arrived to start her apprenticeship. And he and Halt had already spoken privately about the words said in anger, there was no bad blood between them. No reason to be nervous.
Still…..
He felt like his boots had been filled with lead. Weighing him down and making the door seem much further away than it really was.
He could leave, Will knew. He could just turn around and head back to his cabin without anyone being any the wiser. But his feet wouldn’t do that either.
It was like he was stuck at a crossroads with both paths simultaneously trying to pull him in and push him away.
Before he could make a decision, a voice behind him spoke.
“You know,” Rodney spoke in an amused tone as he studied the Ranger. “I may just be another one of the old fogeys you youngsters love to make fun of, but back in my day, when we needed a door opened we would knock. You do remember how to knock don’t you? With all your bad Rangery habits.”
Rodney strode forward in the same easy gate he’d had for as long as Will could remember - closing the distance to the door in a few smooth steps. “No matter,” he continued without giving Will a chance to reply. “Allow me to refresh your memory and demonstrate.” so saying, he rapped sharply on the oak door several times before striding away.
“Rodney!” Will hissed, crimson heat flooding his face.
“You’re welcome!” The knight replied, mirth clear in his tone as he continued down the hallway.
Before Will could decide whether to stay or flee, the apartment door swung open revealing Pauline.
“Will! What a pleasant surprise.”
Will felt his face heat up even more if that was possible. “My lady.”
“Come in, come in,” she made an ushering gesture, waving him inside the apartment.
“Oh, that’s quite alright. I wouldn’t want to impose,” Will tried.
“Nonsense!” planting one hand firmly on Will’s shoulder, Pauline steered him in herself. “You know you are always welcome my dear.” There was something earnest and familiar about the words that worked to undo the knot that had formed in his chest.
Pauline closed the door firmly behind him before he could protest further. The click of the latch sounded suspiciously final.
Halt glanced up from the report he was signing at the table as Will shuffled in, offering a small smile. “I was wondering if you’d be by.”
“If?” Will parroted, mimicking the phrasing.”
“Yes, if,” Halt rose to greet him properly. “I did train you for some six odd years, you know.” He drew back from the embrace, his smile morphing into a wolf's grin. “And Gilan’s never had the same level of refrain I did.”
Halt ignored Will’s spluttered ‘refrain?’, choosing to simply continue his line of thinking. “I figured your endless energy would have him chucking you out a window sooner or later.”
Will glared at him, “wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence. Also, I don’t recall throwing people out of windows to be on the required list of skills.”
Halt just shrugged innocently. “You must not have gotten the same version I did then. We all know I’d never go rogue or against protocol.”
Pauline let out a very un-lady-like snort at the ridiculousness of that statement.
Halt turned to her, a mock wounded look on his face. “What? Don’t you believe me?”
She just snorted again. “You, Halt, wouldn’t know the meaning of being by the book if it hit you on the head.”
“Are you trying to imply that I’m a rebel? That I break the rules?”
“Lets just say,” Pauline stepped past Will towards the kitchen. “Age isn’t the only reason Arald’s hair is white.”
Will let out a short laugh at that, quickly turning it into an exaggerated cough when he caught the look in Halt’s eye. It was one he and Gilan had been on the receiving end of more than once. It said I may not be your master anymore but I can still make you sleep in a tree.
“You two get settled and I’ll bring the coffee out once it's ready,” came Pauline’s slightly muffled voice.
Halt waved Will towards a free seat, stacking the reports neatly to one side.
Will sank down, turning his face away to hide a wince as the movement pulled at his ribs once more. While his ribs were healing, and he and Horace’d had a quiet journey home, they weren’t healed yet.
It didn’t help that while the journey had been an easy one, it was also the most exercise he’d done since arriving at Araluen. Not that he’d had much say in the matter. Between the healer and the constant presence of at least one of his three friends (cough *babysitters* cough), he hadn’t had the chance to move much.
Once he was confident that he had managed to school his expression adequately he turned back, only to find his former master eyed him appraisingly.
“What?” Will asked, shifting uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
“I’m simply wondering whether I should’ve had Horace borrow Cass’s sling for me.”
Will gaped at him. “Her sl- why on earth would you need her sling?”
Halt continued to eye him levelly. “Gil said it’s been quite effective in getting you to be honest about your injuries.”
“What injuries?” It would have been more convincing if his voice hadn’t cracked up an octave with the words.
Halt’s eyebrow rose in an all too familiar gesture. “What injuries he asks? Oh I’m sure you don’t know, because getting a souvenir from being kicked in the chest is all the rage right now isn’t it?” Sarcasm practically oozing from the words.
“How do you even know about that?”
“Come now Will. You do realise who sends me the reports right?”
Ahh yes. Gilan would feel absolutely no remorse at ratting him out Will knew. “Traitor,” he scowled, “he’d better sleep with one eye open at the gathering.”
Halt remained entirely unimpressed. “He was worried about you. And if you really didn’t want him to say anything you probably should’ve tried not making fun of him through drawings.” He made a hurry up gesture. “Are you waiting for a formal invitation?”
“To do what exactly?”
“Take your shirt off, what else?”
“Why do I need to take my shirt off?” Will stalled.
“I believe we have been over this. You - kicked in the chest, I need to check your ribs.”
“My ribs are fine!” Will protested, barely resisting the impulse to wrap an arm around them protectively. “Besides, I've already been cleared by the medics.”
“Mmhm.” Halt nodded, “but that was before you embarked on a several hour long journey.”
“And?” Will challenged. “It’s not like I wrestled a bear on the way here.”
“You rode,” Halt replied evenly.
“Yes. On a horse. A very calm and considerate horse.”
“Did you dismount?”
“Well, yes, obviously-”
“And mount again?”
“That is generally how riding works.”
Halt’s expression didn’t shift. “Then it’s likely that you could have jarred them. Take your shirt off.”
“I am perfectly capable of assessing my own injuries, thank you very much.” Will scowled.
“You realise I saw you wince as you sat down right, I’m not blind Will.”
Will threw his hands up, realising a second too late that it was a bad idea as a jolt of pain ran through him. “My ribs are fine!” He insisted for a second time, “I’m stiff is all.”
“Now I see why Cass’s sling is held in such high regard when it comes to dealing with you.” Will got the feeling that he may not have been meant to hear that part.
“Shirt off Will.” Halt’s eyes darkened. “Or I bench you.”
“You can’t be serious?” Will stared at him.
“I am completely serious.”
“I’m not an apprentice anymore! You can’t just ben-”
Halt cut him off, “I can take this to Arald if you want him to make it official.” The tone warned Will not to push it any further.
Logically, Will knew there was no reason to be protesting as much as he was. He was being truthful, his ribs were fine, nothing had changed since this morning.
However….
He was aware that Halt’s protective streak was a mile wide when it came to people he cared about. Will was equally aware of how bad the coloring on his side made the injury seem. He wouldn’t put it past Halt to go dig up graves just to put them deeper in the ground for what they’d done.
Pauline chose that moment to emerge from the kitchen, setting the mugs of coffee down at the edge of the table. “Will, dear. You will be getting your ribs checked, that is not up for debate. The only thing you need to ask yourself is if you wish to spend the rest of the evening sewing your shirt back together if Halt has to cut it off.” She shrugged, “or if you’d rather save yourself the trouble and simply remove it now.”
Will eyed her balefully. “You really have a way with words, you know?”
She smiled. “So I’ve been told.”
Will didn’t meet either of their gazes as he tugged the shirt over his head. It didn’t reveal much, as the bandage Peter had put on before he’d left had covered the bruising from top to bottom. The bandage had stayed in place, and aside from a little discolouration from sweat and dust, it looked as new as ever.
Will kept his gaze firmly on the table as Halt’s hands worked to unwrap the bandage in a steady, practised motion.
He didn’t need to look to know what their expressions would be as the last of the wrapping fell away, leaving the mottled bruising in full display.
Halt swore, letting out several of the more colourful words he saved for special occasions.
Pauline made no verbal reaction but he could see the way her knuckles turned white from the grip she held on the coffee mug.
“It’s not as bad it looks.” He tried to reassure.
“If that’s your idea of not bad, I’d hate to know what you think bad is.” Pauline’s voice was tight as she studied the mish-mash of marbled black and blue.
Halt said nothing, merely probing along Will’s ribs for any sign of give or breaks.
Will bit his tongue to stop himself from swearing as Halt brushed over the worst of the damage.
Halt felt him tense, and glanced up at him, “alright?”
“Tender,” Will bit out. Halt’s hand stilled mid-air. “They’re bruises. What did you expect? A pleasant tickle?” His tone was unmistakably waspish - but he had been kicked in the chest. He felt that justified a certain lack of cheer.
“Seems your sense of sarcasm survived the attack,” Halt mused, continuing with his examination.
A few presses later and Halt was forced to admit that aside from some rather extensive and colourful bruising, there was nothing wrong. No cracked or broken ribs.
“Could’a told you that before you made me take my shirt off.” Will grouched as Halt carefully wrapped a new bandage around his side.
If Halt happened to tug the next band a little bit tighter in response to the snark causing Will to yelp, well that was completely a coincidence. Honestly.
After Halt was finished administering all his tender mercies - seriously he should’ve been a medic, he definitely had the right bedside manor for the role - Will tugged his shirt back on and resettled himself in the chair
For a moment he busied himself with straightening the hem and smoothing nonexistent creases, knowing that the hard part of the conversation was still to come.
He stealed himself before speaking. “You said Gilan told you about my ribs,” Will’s voice was the quietest it had been since he entered the apartment. “Did… did he tell you about the rest of the mission?”
Halt saw through to the root of the question. “He did.”
Pauline, sensing that this may be something the two men may be more comfortable discussing in private, announced she would check on the stew Halt was cooking and stepped out of the room.
Will waited until she left before risking a glance at his old mentor. He couldn’t quite make out the meaning behind Halt’s eyes and dropped his gaze to the carpet. “What did he tell you exactly?”
Halt’s tone softened, seeing the unease in Will. “He told me that you shut down an underground slave ring. That you returned ten children safely to their parents.”
Will snorted at that, it wasn’t an amused sound. “Not all of them.”
Halt gestured for him to continue.
“One of the kids got their leg burned by one of the crew. It’ll take ages to heal-”
“But it will heal.” Halt interrupted smoothly.
“Yeah. be a real shame if I crippled two kids.”
“You didn’t cripple anyone, Will. You said it yourself, that kid was already hurt when you got there. And you are not to blame for Maddie.”
“Course not! I’m only the sole reason she was there in the first place and she put herself in harm's way for me!” His voice was filled with self loathing.
“Will, you can not blame yourself.”
“But I-”
“No,” Halt cut him off with a chopping motion. “No more self-inflicted guilt, it does neither of you any good.”
When Will made to argue Halt simply rolled over him.
“Do you think I have never felt guilty for someone being hurt? Of course I have! In Gilan’s second year he fell out of a tree after stepping on a branch I told him to step on and broke his arm. Was that my fault?”
He continued without giving Will a chance to reply. “Or what about in Celtica? I sent you there and Gilan left you in charge, surely one of us is to blame for your subsequent capture?”
Will shifted uncomfortably, “halt, I never blamed either of you for that. It wasn’t your fault-”
“Exactly!” Halt pointed a finger at him. “Just like what happened to Maddie wasn’t yours. Will the only person responsible for that is Rhul!”
The name hung in silence for a few seconds.
“Rhul. It always seems to come back to him.” Will’s voice was low.
Halt rose and made his way over to his side. “How does that make you feel?”
“He’s dead. He can never hurt anyone again.”
“No. No he can’t” Halt agreed softly.
“Doesn’t make it better.” Will’s voice was dull with old grief.
Halt stayed silent, knowing there was nothing he could say to make it better.
The silence hung for a few minutes before Will answered his question. “I think I’m glad.”
Halt’s eyebrow rose in confusion. “Glad he’s dead?” He queried.
“Glad that I saw the end.” Will finally met Halt’s gaze. “I think I needed it.”
Will saw Halt’s eyebrows knit together and hurried to reassure him. “Not like that! Not like that stupid vengeance bender I was on before.”
“Then what?” Halt prompted.
“I think I needed to see it through, to know it was really over, so I could get closure.”
“Closure?” Halt echoed.
Will gave him a faint smile. “Yeah. He’s been this dark cloud hanging over my head for so long. If anyone else were to have told me he had died, I’m not sure I would have believed it.”
“And now?”
“Now I leave the ghosts that have haunted my life for far too long where they belong, dead and buried. Now I try to heal.”
Halt let his forehead rest against Will’s for a beat. “I’m proud of you.”
It was Will’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “For finally pulling my head out of the sand?”
Halt shook his head. “For being able to see past the anger. Grief is a monster unlike any other. It can make us do terrible things for the people we love.”
“I almost did.”
“But you didn’t. You never killed any of his crew, just made sure they faced justice” Halt cleared his throat before continuing.
“I was worried about you, worried that your obsession with Rhul might lead you to do something reckless.”
“I might have,” Will answered, an honest frankness to his voice. “I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t been for Maddie. She was a… godsend, for lack of a better term.”
“She’s a good kid.” A fond smile breaking onto Halt’s face.
“It’s more than that,” Will waved a hand. “It's like I was - I dunno - drowning or something and she was the lighthouse that brought me back to shore. Reminded me that there was light in the world. She made me laugh, made me feel more alive than I have in a while.”
“That’s the thing about family Will, we don’t leave you to drown alone.” He hauled Will out of his seat and tugged him into a proper embrace. “And we never will.”
Will held on to him just as tightly. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
Pauline rejoined them a few minutes after the two men had separated. “Now that that’s all taken care of, will you be joining us for dinner?” Her tone made it clear that while it may be phrased like one, it wasn’t really a question.
Will hesitated. “I-”
“You will be joining us for dinner won’t you?”
A smile clawed at the corner of his mouth. “I would be delighted.”
“Excellent!” Pauline clapped her hands, “it should be ready any moment, so take a seat.” She made her way to the kitchen.
Halt waited a beat until he was sure she was out of earshot before leaning his head towards Will’s as they sat and whispered. “You’re learning.”
Halt flinched at the cracking, “Halt!” that echoed from the kitchen, how his wife knew was beyond him. At least this time - possibly because Will was present - she had elected not to throw her shoe at him. Small mercies.