Ranger Apprentice Shorts

That Fateful letter

After a long day at work, Alyss sat with a cup of tea in her hands by the crackling fire in her cozy apartments.

It was usually how she spent her evenings. With nobody to talk to, and no more thing to be done for the day. She usually didn't mind being alone, she enjoyed peace and quiet. But as of lately, she didn't like it as much.

She smoothed a stray strand of hair away from her face, resting her hand on her forehead. She took a sip of her tea, hoping the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach would be washed down with the hot liquid. She couldn't stop thinking about him.

Was it strange, She asked herself, that in all the quiet moments in her day the very first thought that comes to her mind was him?

It wasn't the thinking of him that was strange. She thought of him periodically before their time in Macindaw, about what he might be up to, or if she wanted to send him a letter. He was her friend, and she valued keeping in touch - there were not many people in her life. But this, the constant remembrance...it was different this time.

She had sent her letter just a week before. She had been bold, declaring her love to him, and then having to endure the days of no reply.

What if he never responded? What if the answer he gave was not what she wanted to hear. Her stomach flipped with anxiety at the thought, and she moved her hand to press it. She knew that if he didn't feel the same way, her heart would be broken. And she would hate herself because there was no one else for her but him. She would never love someone as she loved him.

She took a sip of her tea, scrunching her nose in distaste when she realized how cold it had become. She stood up with a sigh, heading for the kitchenette to warm up her cup. She was just about to pour the liquid into the pot when she heard a knock on her door.

Frowning, having no idea who it could be, she placed the cup on the counter and hastened to open the door. When she opened the door and caught sight of the person on the other side she felt her throat go dry.

"Will..." She breathed. "What are you doing here?"

He was dressed in a dark tunic, no cloak. His face was slightly damp. Not from sweat, and it hadn't rained in days. He must have just washed his face, she thought vaguely. His hair was mussed, and a piece of his hair, exquisitely curled, fell in front of his eyes. His eyes, she swallowed. The usually coffee-colored eyes were dark as midnight, twinkling as they gazed back at her like scintillating stars on a bright night.

"I-I'm sorry," He said, pulling Alyss out of her reverie. "It's late...I came unannounced, I shouldn't have-"

Will suddenly felt acutely nervous. On his three-day journey from Seacliff to Redmont, only one thing was on his mind: Alyss. He had spent the entire ride planning what he would say when he saw her. He came to profess his love to her, and he had to be as sincere and genuine as he could.

When he had arrived in Redmont, he was dirty and exhausted. It was not a state he wanted to be in when he finally saw Alyss. So on impulse, he had stopped briefly by Halt's apartments - much to Halt's surprise - to freshen up. He exchanged quick words with his former mentor, washed his face quickly, threw on fresh clothes, and dashed out. When he stood in front of her door, he finally stopped. He cleared his mind from the frenzy of the past few days, and took a deep breath, and knocked.

But when she opened the door, every thought in his mind blew away.

She was dressed in an oversized green shirt and wore leggings underneath. Her hair was plaited in one long, untidy, braid that was brought forward across her shoulder. He had not seen that hairstyle on her since they were children in the ward, and he realized then how much he loved it. She was surprised to see him, and her eyes looked to him, a piercing grey hue he could easily get lost in.

"No no, come inside," she was saying to him. She brought him into her sitting area, and they both stood, rather awkwardly, until Alyss made a move towards her kitchen.

"Should I get you something to eat? You must be famished." Then she paused. "Did you come here straight from Seacliffe?" Will nodded, taking her arm gently, and pulling her away from the kitchen.

"Yes. But I'm not hungry Alyss. Don't trouble yourself" He smiled at her. "I'm not here for you to cook for me."

Alyss turned to him fully, finally asking the biggest question. "What are you here for Will?" The way she said his name sent shivers down his spine, only Alyss could make him feel this way. She has and always will be his love, his Alyss.

Alyss thought she knew the answer to her question, and her stomach tied itself into knots at the thought of what it might be. His next words confirmed it.

"I got your letter," Will said softly, finally mustering up the courage. Alyss looked quickly at him. His eyes were warm, and he spoke with a small smile on his face.

"You did?" She spoke quietly, suddenly very timid. Regardless of what he thought, She knew, he had come all this way just for that reason. Would he travel that urgently, on such a long journey, just to tell her something she didn't want to hear?

Will stepped forward and took her hands gently into his. "I did." He glanced at her eyes and saw the uncertainty in them. He wanted to tell her, right then, how deeply he felt for her.

Before he could say anything else, Will moved to sit on her two-person settle, bringing her with him. He retained hold of her hands and looked once more into her expectant eyes. Pushing down any form of uncertainty, he spoke.

"That night in the tower," Will started, and she already knew what night he was talking about. "I was terrified. Terrified of what Keren might have done to you, or what he would do" He swallowed. "I kept telling to myself that I would do anything he asked if it would get you out of danger. I wouldn't leave you in his clutches. Not again."

"But he was so smart." The Ranger's voice was strained as if the memory pained him. Alyss squeezed his hand in some kind of reassurance for him to continue. "He used you as a shield to protect himself. Because I could never hurt you. And he knew that." Will smiled grimly. "He knew that even if you tried to kill me, I wouldn't be able to stop you."

He came closer to her, taking hold of her arms gently, and looking into her eyes with compassion. Alyss looked back at him, regarding him with ardor. She stopped her gaze from flitting down to his lips. Until he spoke again, and her desire for him became overmuch.

"But if you did kill me, that would be alright." He whispered. "I just needed you to know that, at that moment...I forgave you. For what you were about to do, and for anything else. Because I love you. And when you wake up from the trance, it would be alright, because I died with nothing but peace in my heart. Because I love you, Alyss. I always have" The last words came out husky and unsteady.

The moment the last words escaped from his lips, Alyss was in shock. She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing, Will, the man she has always loved is telling her that he feels the same way about her.

"I have always loved you, Will, and I always will," Alyss said softly Will's small grin turned into the huge goofy grin that she loved so much. Will closed the space between them and brought their lips together Her hands skimmed up his chest and wrapped around his neck as she kissed him fiercely. She felt his arms wrap around her waist so tightly as he kissed her back with just as much fervor. Both of their bodies became warm with passion. After a long time, Alyss pulled away, they rested their foreheads together as they tried to catch their breaths.

She felt her heartache when he pulled her closer to him, touching his lips to hers in the lightest of kisses, a contrast to the one they had just shared. He pulled her onto his lap, facing him so as not to interrupt the light kiss. He put one of his hands in her hair, and the other was holding her calf. Gently he kissed her neck before he whispered in her ear.

"I love you." He said for the fourth time that day, "Always."