Ranger's Apprentice - The Afterwards

Ch. 16

   Horace turned to the door as it opened.
   "Will?" He asked as the Ranger entered. "What's wrong?"
   Will's face was horrifying. His eyes were empty. His grim expression was gone; in fact, there was absolutely no  expression on his face. He moved to the couch and sat down as if in a trance. And he simply stared off into space.
   "Will?" Horace tried again. "Will! Cassandra, come here!" Horace knelt beside his friend, who was still unmoving.
   "Will! You have to talk! What happened? Where is Maddie!" Horace yelled. Cassandra came running from around the corner.
   "Horace? What's wrong!"
   "He won't talk, he won't move, he won't even blink." Horace began to worry about his daughter's wellbeing along with Will's.
   Cassandra knelt beside Horace and put an arm on Will.
   "Will, please talk. What happened? Is Maddie alright?" She asked nervously.
   "I- I don't... She...she's gone..." Will stammered, still in shock.
   Cassandra let out a yelp and clung to Horace, who had nearly had a heart attack"Gone? Gone where? She can't be- I mean you wouldn't have let her be... Will?" Horace pled.
   Will shook his head. "Not dead. Gone. Ran away. She- she said she-" Will's voice broke off.
   Horace's mind raced. What could his daughter have said to put Will in such a reaction? Will was so strong, Horace never would have imagined anything could break him like this, besides...
   "Will, what did she say?" He asked his friend.
   "That she wishes I had never been her godfather. Or mentor. Or in her life at all. She hates me now. She hates me." Will said it without stammering, but when he finished, he looked more heartbroken then before.
   "She didn't... She wouldn't say such a thing about you." Cassandra said, disbelief clear in her voice. "She loves you, Will!" But the Ranger just shook his head solemnly.
   Horace stood up. "I'm going to find her." He announced.
   Cassandra stood as well. "I will come with you."
   "No," Horace replied. "You'll need to stay to rule the kingdom and set guards on the lookout for Maddie."
   "Horace," she pled. "I don't want you going alone."
   "I will go with him." Will stood up, a new light in his eyes. "You'll need my skills. And I need to find Maddie. To apologize, whether she hates me or not."
   Horace nodded once. "Alright, let's go." Will left for the stables and Horace stepped closer to Cassandra and leaned down to kiss his wife.
   "I'll find her, Cassie. I'll find our daughter." He said before turning to the door. But she tugged his arm back gently.
   "Promise me you'll be safe yourself." She said.
   "I promise." Horace replied.
   "And promise you'll look after Will. I haven't seen him this heartbroken since-"
   "Alyss," they chorused.
   "I know," Horace said. "I promise."
   Cassandra kissed him again. "Then go. Be careful." She said, letting go of his forearm.
   "I love you." Horace said before turning to sprint after Will.
   "I love you too," Cassandra whispered before running to alert the guards.