Ranger's Apprentice - The Afterwards

Chapter 1

Horace opened the door with a smile on his face. It faded more than quickly.
"Maddie!" He exclaimed. She had bruises and blood on her face, and she was obviously leaning on this blonde boy next to her for support.
"Hi Dad..." She grimaced. Horace opened the door wider and motioned the boy to bring her inside.
"Madelyn, what on earth happened to you?" His voice wavered slightly.
"Nothing bad!" She promised.
Horace huffed. "Nothing bad! Maddie, you're covered in blood and bruises and you were escorted up her by..." Horace's voice trailed off as he took his first long look at the boy. "I know you." He stated.
"Yes sir," the boy replied. "I'm one of your battle students."
"Jason." Horace said. "Right?" The boy nodded.
Maddie had taken advantage of the lack of attention, trying to walk on her own. With every step of the left leg, she whimpered slightly. This made the second injury to the limb.
Horace heard the noise. "Maddie, please stop before you hurt yourself even more." He said.
"Dad, I'm fine. I just need to walk it-" Maddie didn't get to finish. Her legs collapsed and she fell to the floor. Jason and Horace both rushed over and caught her head.
"Off..." she finished in a defeated tone.
"Maddie," Horace said. "Tell me what happened, or I'll have to ask Jason instead." Maddie sighed and recounted her story to her father. As she spoke, Jason rearranged pillows on the sofa. When she was done, Horace carried her to the seat. She lay comfortably on the makeshift bed.
"Sir," Jason said calmly. "She hasn't the whole thing, I'm afraid."
Horace shot his daughter a look, but she was too bust glaring at Jason.
"What did she leave out?" Horace asked.
"When I found her, she was unconscious." Maddie held her tongue. It would've been difficult to explain her reasoning for faking her unconsciousness.
Horace cast a worried glance at his daughter. She rarely lost consciousness in a fight. She had a very high tolerance for pain. If she had been knocked out, the injuries weren't as minor as she'd made them out to be.
"Also, I'm afraid I can tell you who the leader was." Jason continued.
"I think I know as well. Curly brown hair and an evil sneer? A posy of 5? That sounds like Hans to me." Horace glanced at Jason, who was nodding.
"Aye, it was. Saw him just as he turned to run."
Horace nodded and shook Jason's hand.
"Thank you, Jason. My daughter can get herself into some, ah...difficult situations. She's lucky you were there to help." Maddie snorted on the couch behind them, but both men ignored her
Jason nodded again. "Always, sir." He turned to leave, but glanced over his shoulders at Maddie. "Feel better soon, Maddie. I'll drop by sometime to check on you, if that's alright?" He directed the last three words at Horace.
"Any time, Jason."
Jason nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. Horace turned to Maddie.
"Maddie, please be more careful out there." He began. Maddie sighed.
"Dad, I could've taken them! They just came all at once is all."
Horace groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.
Maddie's lecture probably would've lasted another ten minutes, but at that moment a servant came in.
"Sir Horace." He said.
"Yes, Philip?" Horace asked.
"Ranger Will Treaty has just arrived and would like to see you."
Maddie perked up. It had been nearly a year since she'd seen her godfather. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until now.
"Will?" Horace asked, curiously. "He didn't tell us he was coming. I wonder what the occation is..."
"He didn't say, Sir." Philip replied.
"Send him in," Horace said.
Philip nodded and left. After a few moments, the door opened again, and Will stepped inside.
"Horace." Will said as a greeting. The two friends embraced one another. Maddie watched quietly.
"You didn't tell us you were coming!" Horace exclaimed.
"Wanted it to be a surprised. Needed to tie up some loose ends near the castle, so I figured I could stop by."
"Of course! You're welcome any time!" Horace said.
Will laughed, and his smiled grew as she spotted Maddie.
"Madelyn!" He exclaimed.
The joyous expression on his face stripped Maddie's mind of any memory of her injury. She leapt off the couch and strode forward a step. When she put her left leg down, her knee buckled again. She yelped and stumbled forwards. Will caught her.
"Maddie!" He said, shocked. She clung to his forearms and cursed.
"I'm okay," she assured him. He looked back at Horace, who also had a look of concern on his face.
"Here," Will said as he led her back to the couch. When he saw her face, he gasped.
"Madelyn, what happened to you!" He said.
"Nothing major!" She replied. Will didn't look very convinced, but he let the matter go. He and Horace sat down, Will next to Maddie and Horace in a tall chair.
"So, how are things at Redmont?" Horace asked, and Will plunged in to all the latest gossip of their home feif.

I made up Philip and Hans.