Ranger's Apprentices (Will X Reader) Book 1 (Discontinued for now)

Chapter 4

"Wait what!?" I exclaimed. "You heard me, I don't like to repeat myself," Halt said stonily. I had so many emotions going through my system they were hard to process. I was terrified, confused, and elated, but most of all, I was relieved. I wouldn't have to be a farmer and I wouldn't get separated from my best friend, in fact, we would spend practically every day together!

I looked up and saw the Baron with a hopeful expression on his face. "Thank you! Thank you!" I exclaimed, almost hugging the Baron but that would be very inappropriate. On second thought, I amended, this would be the last time I saw him for a while. I plucked up my courage and hugged the Baron happily, letting go a second or two later. I pulled back with a slight blush from embarrassment but the Baron smiled warmly. I then noticed that Will hadn't said anything and was still looking at the paper. "Will?" I nudged him. He snapped his head up like he was coming out of a trance. "Thank you, my lord?" he said it as more of a question. The Baron sighed and sat comfortably in his armchair, waving Halt and I away. "Perhaps I could have a word with young Will here?" he asked us politely.

Halt said nothing, just drifted out of the room like a ghost. I was a little more reluctant to leave but the Baron urged me into the hallway with Halt. We sat in silence for the first few moments before I resumed our previous conversation. "So, you said you had a theory about my necklace, what was it?" I asked. Halt sighed mellowly. "Apprentices never shut up," he muttered. I waited for him to answer, and in time he did. "Alright, I saw your necklace at the choosing and thought you had stolen it from a ranger," he whispered. My eyebrows shot up in alarm.

"Wait! Why would you think I stole it from a ranger!?" I asked, equally as quiet. Halt said nothing, he just pulled something out of his cloak. It was an oakleaf identical to mine, except this one was silver. I looked at the design closely, there was no way anyone could copy the exact design of my necklace in under 5 hours. I stared at Halt, wide eyed, waiting for him to elaborate. "This is the symbol of the rangers, fully fledged ones get a silver oakleaf, but apprentices get a bronze one," Halt explained. "Wait, but my father gave me this!" I exclaimed, not ready to wrap my weary head around this new information.

"Yes, I think that your father was a ranger."

I stumbled back, unable to meet my new mentors eyes, unable to even think. So that was what my father was, he was a ranger! I knew I could feel the connection between me and the skills, but I didn't realize I had inherited them from my dad! At that moment Will came out of the Baron's living chamber. Halt quickly swept out of the hallway, giving us a warning to be on time in the morning. Will took one look at my shell shocked face and instantly went over to me, looking worried.

"(Y/n)! Are you okay?" he asked. I shook my head a moment and then just sat on the floor with my knees pressed against my chest, clutching my necklace for the life of me. Will sat down next to me and gave me a little side hug, which I accepted gratefully. "What happened?" Will asked quietly. I knew he wouldn't pressure me to tell him, which is why I told him. "My father was a ranger," I whispered. I heard Will's small gasp and he shifted so he was facing me.

"Halt told you that?" he asked doubtfully. "He showed me proof too, he had a necklace identical to mine, except silver!" I exclaimed breathlessly. "Woah," Will whispered. All of a sudden I let a little yawn escape my mouth. "Come one, we had better get back to the ward, get some sleep before tomorrow," Will chuckled lightly. I smiled at him, I knew that whatever was going to happen we would deal with it together. I pulled him into a full on hug and he hugged me back, smiling against my hair.

We walked back to the ward in a nice silence, only breaking it when one of us stepped on a twig or a lose rock. When we got back into the ward, I saw a bunch of blond hair swarm around Will and I. My first instinct was to run, but I knew it was just Jenny and Alyss. It turns out though, only one was for me. I felt a huge squeeze and I knew that Jenny was hugging me. "How are you feeling? What happened? Jenny questioned, it was like a rapid fire quiz.