Ghost of the Past-Ranger's Apprentice Fanfic *Working Progress*

Chapter 1

Author's Note

For all new readers thank you for reading this it means a lot and for those who have been patiently waiting for updates thanking you for bearing with me. I have rewritten the entire story but the story line is the same up until Chapter 13, although I'd recommended at least skim reading it as I tweaked  things throughout any continuity errors. I hope this is a better read than its former condition, but thank you so much for bearing with me and supporting me, love you guys.

   

The clash of steel on steel rang through their ears as their eyes met their opponents in determination. In a second his determination fled his body, as though someone had blown out a burning candle, as the bright rays of summer hit her emerald eyes causing them to glisten like jewels and spark the ghost of a memory within him. There was something so familiar about her eyes and at the same time there wasn't. It was like everything and nothing in a single moment.

Impossible.

Frozen in thought his opponent should have taken the opportunity to knock him down, to kill him or at least injure him but she couldn't. She knew him. She'd seen him before, many years ago and although years had passed and the world had changed something about him had remained the same. Yes he had aged, grown stubble, changed his hair, but his eyes still held that glimmer of hope and happiness that he had always carried with him through a world of misery and hatred.

"I'm so sorry" she muttered quietly, barely loud enough for him to hear. She disengaged her blade from his and turned away. Thick Auburn curls filled his view for a moment before they began to grow distant till the point that he saw brief flashes of them as she delved through the thick alcove of trees to his right. His brain clicked back into gear again having recovered from its shock and he began to run after her. No sooner had his feet left the ground that he was stopped by a large burly man swinging an axe at him. He ducked his blow pushing him aside to continue his pursuit of the mysterious woman. Dashing into the trees he halted immediately at the sound of Will grunting. He turned back to see his friend fighting against three men, with a final glance into the trees he sighed and ran to his friends aid, abandoning any hope of finding the woman again.

As the dust settled on the path Gilan looked back to the trees in longing, he wanted to run after her even now; though he knew it was pointless she was gone...again. He jumped in surprise as Will grabbed his shoulder. Will laughed at his friend unaware of what had distracted him.

"You look like you've seen a ghost" he joked.

"I have" Gilan replied solemnly, glancing back to the trees.