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

Chapter 13

Her stomach growled loudly for the fifth time that morning. Lady Pauline hadn't come the previous night and as such Ayla hadn't eaten in twenty seven hours, her last meal being breakfast with Halt the previous morning before he left to help Will. Maybe Lady Pauline didn't realise that she didn't have any access to food, or maybe she forgot although that didn't seem very likely. Her stomach admitted another loud growl causing her to snap in frustration at it,

"if you get my legs to co-operate with us then I'll be able to feed you." For the tenth time in the past half hour she tried to get up but couldn't, without her legs pushing herself off the bed seemed like a stupid idea because she still wouldn't be able to go anywhere, unless...

She grabbed her legs and pushed them off the bed allowing them to drape off the edge before she leant out as far as she could, her hands brushing against the cold flooring. Making sure her arms had the strength to catch her, by doing a few press up like movements with them, she pushed herself off the bed and onto them, her legs crumbling to the floor behind her as she gently lowered herself to the floor. Extending her arms out as far as they could go on the floor she used the limited strength they had and pulled herself to them, repeating the process until she had reached the bedroom door. She slumped against it for a while trying to catch her breath before navigating the next task of opening the door.

It had taken her a couple of hours but she had finally managed to get to the kitchen and find some half stale bread to eat, but right now anything was good-stale or not. Deciding that it was too much effort to go back to bed she hauled herself to the tattered old sofa where she fell asleep within seconds of clambering on it.

She was so exhausted that she didn't hear Lady Pauline knock on the door, or enter the Cabin.

"Ayla" she said softly. It was that soft, calm voice, reminding her of Gretel. Her eyes fluttered open, greeting by the site of an elegant, grey-haired woman, whom had been a considerable beauty in her youth and still had the grace and style to turn men's heads. Something that reminded her of Gretel, they were uncannily similar for two unrelated women.

"Sorry, it's quite exhausting trying to move" she explained softly before emitting a small yawn.

"It's quite alright dear." With that one sentence Ayla was transported back to her second meeting with Gretel where she gave her a slice of Plum pie, a situation and feeling which was immediately transferred upon Pauline causing her to smile. "I've made some stew."

"Thank you" she smiled knowing that with only one visit a day she was going to manage just fine.

A week passed uneventfully. Pauline would come to the Cabin at the same time everyday, tend to Ayla, feed her and then get her back to bed. Each morning Ayla would haul herself to the kitchen where there would be some food left out for her breakfast by Pauline, after which she'd make it to the couch and go straight back to sleep.

"Amber" her ears pricked up aware that it wasn't Pauline that had woken her. She froze unsure of what to do, she couldn't recognise the voice but was too scared to open her eyes. Whoever it was they knew her but they weren't Pauline, Will, Alyss, Gilan or Halt and that's what scared her. "Amber wake up, we haven't got much time."

"Daniel?" She asked frowning. Opening her eyes she was greeted with a man she had thought of as a brother within the Bandits. He was the one who had accepted her within the Bandit group and kept her safe when she was too young to keep herself safe from everyone else and the dangers around them. "What are you doing here?" She asked confused as to how he'd found her and why he had even bothered, it wasn't as if someone wasn't going to notice she was gone if he took her, Pauline would be here soon and she'd know that she'd have been taken.

"I came looking for you" he answered as though it was obvious.

"You shouldn't be here" he shook his head with a smile on his face.

"Neither should you, let's get you home." He went to pick her up but she fought back shaking her head frantically at him.

"I'm staying here. This is my home." He shook his head at her as he continued to try and pick her up.

"Stop fighting Amber. You know these people aren't really your family. I'm your family, me and Michael. These people did this to you and you're stupid to think that they're helping you." He said through gritted teeth as she relentlessly fought against him, finally she succumbed to his strength and he got her up into his arms.

"Daniel let me go!" She cried continuing to try and get free but his grip was too strong and she was getting weaker by the second. "Please let me go!" She cried pushing against his chest trying to break away. When that failed she grabbed hold of the support beams of the veranda for dear life knowing that once they left the Cabin they'd never be able to find her.

"Amber stop fighting me, you know you belong with us. You chose us after all, always turning that Ranger away every time he tracked you down." He snarled as he tried to pry her from the beam, her grip surprisingly strong considering how close to death she'd been. "Just stop it!" He shouted causing her to relinquish her grip in fear. She'd never heard Daniel shout before and knew he had a violent side, scared that he'd unleash it on her she gave in to his demands and let her take her into the woods and away from Halt forever. Tears pricked her eyes as she watched the Cabin disappear behind countless numbers of trees as Daniel delved further into the woods.

Having fallen asleep in Daniel's arms she was confused when she woke to find herself outside of the Cabin and that's when it came flooding back to her and she tried to fight against Daniel but he simply laughed as he tightened his grip on her.

"Back to this again" he chuckled watching with an amused smile as she fought helplessly against him. "You know this would be easier if you'd just accept the fact that this is the right thing and where you belong."

"Take me home" She commanded hitting his chest as she did.

"You let go at the Cabin for a reason, remember that" he replied in an eerily calm voice sending shivers down her spine. Sighing she stopped fighting and allowed him to carry her into the heart of Western Woods where the Bandits Camp was.