𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑎𝑤𝑛 | 𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐒𝐎𝐍

12⋆☾⋆A curious letter

My peaceful slumber was interrupted when the rattling of keys rang through the room. Somewhere far away I registered it, but it wasn't enough to wake me. I pried my eyes open, unwillingly I must add, and looked right at Gilan. He was still sleeping, his face resting on a make-shift pillow made from a leather bag he'd found.

I shot upright. If Gilan was here then who was opening the door?

Hastily I shook my mentor by his shoulders and got up to help him get to his feet.

"Gil. Gil, there's someone at the door." I frantically grabbed his arms and tried to get him upright, but he was way too heavy for me. I had to give up ten seconds in.

"What?" He grumbled as he scrambled to his feet, hair still completely wild and eyes barely open.

The keys clicked and the door flung open towards us. In my scare, I unconsciously stepped in front of Gilan. His hand reached out to mine and snatched it so fast I almost hadn't noticed it.

In the door post stood a lanky pale Scribe-apprentice of about seventeen stood with wide eyes and keys dangling in his hands. His gaze bounced from me to Gilan.

"Good morning," The tall Ranger greeted, as if he was a acquaintance passing by, "we were just leaving, don't worry. You'll have the room all to yourself."

He started gathering our cloaks and upon spotting those the young boy nodded, sighing softly in relief. It was clear he had no idea what he should've done if we had been intruders.

"What's your name?" I asked, eying him curiously. If there was a chance he'd sell us out, it'd be good to know who did it.

"George," he held out a hand for me to shake, "George Carter."

With a smile plastered on my lips I accepted his hand. "Nice to meet you George."

A comforting warmth spread over my chest when I realized how much this boy reminded me of Steven. The warmth was replaced with a painful breeze when I realized that my little brother wasn't like that anymore.

"You're a Ranger as well?" A frown formed on his brows, because it seemed he was putting two and two together and was probably coming to a whole different answer as to who I was. After all there had never been a female Ranger, it so happened that I was the first.

I shot Gilan a panicked look and he immediately took over.

"No, she's my fiancée,"

Behind his back, I rolled my eyes. One of these days it was going to cause trouble, because there was no way he'd every marry me for real.

I let my gaze fall onto him and tried to imagine it: him in a groom's suit, standing at the altar. A girl in white trotting down the aisle. Their family and friends in awe at such a good match: a nobleman's son and a peasant. I was the only thing in that picture that wasn't quite right.

He would have to marry someone at least of his own rank, meaning a Baron's daughter or higher. Because of the role he'd played in the war against Morgarath, his status had risen highly. Not to forget his apprenticeship with Halt, the most famous Ranger in all of Araluen, and the training from MacNeil, the best swordsman in Araluen.

"Thank you George, we owe you one." A hand enclosed around mine and I was tugged along. Bewildered I looked back at George and quickly sent him a small wave which he returned.

I'd missed most of Gilan's conversation with him, but at this point I was afraid to ask. So I stayed silent as we ran through the massive castle. Up and down stairs, turning into corridors. I was utterly lost, but the tall Ranger knew exactly where he was going and how he was going to get there.