The Ranger's Apprentice - A New Story ON HOLD

Chapter 2-An Unexpected Choice

Anna stood in her room, waiting for the Baron's assistant, or someone, to get her to go to the choosing. She got to her room right before dawn and changed into something nicer. Anna had to wash up and pull the sticks and leaves out of her hair. Her heart pounding harder with each minute that passed, she began to pace, worried thoughts swarming through her head. What if she was not allowed to attend the choosing? Maybe they decided that because of her parents, she was doomed to farm work? Anna paced even faster when these thoughts appeared, growing more and more anxious. Anna had come to the decision to talk to the Baron herself when the door opened. Anna stopped and stood up straight as Baron Arald walked in. Anna relaxed a bit. She was fond of Baron Arald, for when her parents abandoned her, he saved her from getting shot by a ranger when she was only three. The Baron took Anna in out of sympathy, and remembering that her uncle was a knight for Redmont before he was killed. Pulling herself back, she saw a slight frown on the Baron's face. 

"I have bad news. Your other wardmates wish to have their choosing seperate than you. Therefore, you will have your choosing alone in a seperate room after the others have done their choosing. Understood?" Baron Arald said this sadly, looking into Anna's astonished eyes. Anna was sad then angry at hearing the news. She wanted to let her anger out, but held it in. She stiffly nodded her head in reply. 

"Good," Baron Arald started. He turned and opened the door. "I will show you where you will be." Anna breathed a sigh and followed him. They had to go up one flight of stairs and down a brightly lit corridor before getting to the room. She opened the door but was held back. The Baron had grabbed her shoulder and looked at her. 

"I really am sorry about this. I will be back in a while," he said.  

"Thank you, my lord," replied Anna. She went in the room struggling to contain her anger. The Baron smiled and closed the door. 

Shortly after Baron Arald left, Anna let go of her anger. Clenching her teeth, she turned and loudly slammed her fists on the desk. 

"Why?" she screamed. "Why?" she whispered to herself, tears appeared in her eyes. 

"Why me?" she said crying now, still whispering to herself. "Why do they hate me for something I did not even do? I am not my parents!" Anna's parents haunted her. They where traitors to the kingdom, and had helped Morgorath revolt against King Duncan during Morgorath's banishment. They sent messages reporting the growing weakness of the kingdom, and when it was right to strike. They were caught after a message was intercepted, warning Morgorath of Halt, Gillan and Will chasing after the Kalkara. Discovering this, Anna's parents fled Redmont, leaving their youngest child in the cabin to die. Her parents traveled through the countryside slowly making their way to Morgorath. As they entered a village to regain supplies, they heard they news of Morgorath's defeat. Devistated, they changed course, and headed for the sea. A week later, Anna's parents were starving and exausted and ran into a ranger, who killed them on the spot. During the time that her parents were fleeing, Anna was found in the cabin crying, very near to death. She was heard crying by other farmers, and the next day, Halt and Baron Arald arrived. Although she was only three, she remembered it perfectly. Anna saw the tip of the arrow pointed right at her, the tall, gruff man, and then Baron Arald ordering him not to. Anna shivered as she remembred the incident. Pulling herself together, she grabbed the only chair in the room, and sat at the window. She laughed as she saw two girls madly running toward the castle. She wondered what they were late for. She started listing off ideas in her her head when the door opened and Baron Arald came in, followed by a figure in a cloak.