(Please don't kill me. You'll know why I'm saying that when you read the chapter. My defense is that if you kill me you won't know how this story ends)
By the time Daniel and Maddie had reached the courtyard things had escalated to a mass of chaos.
People were hugging the sides of the walls in fear of getting caught in the cross fire while the stable hands tried desperately to control the raging horse. It's hooves lashed out at anyone that came near and was never still, always dashing to one side before twisting to the next at a breakneck speed. It's neigh's were close to that of a rage-filled scream; nothing but pure fury.
"Damn." The muttered curse signaled the arrival of Halt in Gilan as both Rangers arrived at the scene. "Maddie, go help clear the are until that horse is secured, Gilan and I will get that blasted horse under control." Daniel back to his mentor, "What will I do Halt?" The older Ranger looked at him before jerking his head to the other side of the courtyard. "Make sure that if it gets loose that it doesn't get out to open ground. Once that happens we will never be able to recapture it." With that, the group broke up to its assignment. Maddie started helping people reach a safe area while Halt and Gilan went straight for the horse. Daniel skirted the edge of the courtyard to not catch the horses attention and block the horses path to the open fields beyond Castle Araluens walls.
Daniel watched with a dry throat as the man he considered his father (A/N- That's a little creepy when you think about it) suddenly put himself into an uncomfortably close distance to the horses thrashing hooves. Gilan approached the horse from the opposite side as Halt and at a small nod, Halt suddenly surged forward to the horse. The quick movement caught the mares attention and she snaked her neck at Halt in an attempt to snap her teeth at his hand- missing by mere centimeters. It was all that was needed for Gilan to spring forward with the grace of youth- unlike Halt, and snag the horses halter. Holding fast, Gilan braced his feet against the stones of the yard and held the horses head as still as possible.
Using the newly risen opportunity to the best of its advantage, the stable hands quickly clipped a lead rope to the halter, making it easier to control the horse. The tension started to leave Daniels shoulders as he saw the situation start to come under control.
Only to see it unravel in seconds.
In his haste to follow Halts orders, Daniel had forgotten the entrance to the courtyard from the path that came from one of Castle Araluens parks- which in turn served as a small access point from the path that led to the docks.
Now emerging from this entry point was none other than the Assembly. In the front was an array of guards- ranging from the wild Northmen of Skandian Sea Wolves to the desert dwelling Arridian soldiers. At first they seemed oblivious to the trouble in the courtyard, but a quick cry of alarm was all it took to alert the horse of another exit.
With a scream of triumph and a new burst of strength, the horse savagely tore the ropes from the hands of the stable hands and the two Rangers- barreling at a breakneck pace to the park entrance; and eventually, the open fields and forest. To Daniels horror, one of the Arridian soldiers fell back over a discarded water bucket in his quick attempt to flee from the path of the charging animal.
In a mater of seconds he had an arrow notched and flying in their direction. Not at the soldier, nor at the horse. But at the open gate between them. For you see, as a security measure, three guards would guard the gate there to check the people that entered through it. Now, it was abandoned and the gate wide open. The soldier on one side, the charging horse on the other. Daniels arrow flew at the gate now, slamming into it so the force sent the gate flying shut just as the mare reached it. Being prepared to charge past the wooden gate, and not jumping over it, the horse skidded to a stop, slamming it's chest into the gate as it neighed in frustration.

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Rangers Apprentice: Return of the Dead
FanfictionBook Two Book One: The Hidden Ranger Daniel Treaty, son of courier Alyss Mainwaring and the late Will Treaty, the greatest Ranger Araluen had ever known besides the Legendary Halt, is about to become a Rangers Apprentice. It's been his dream to beco...