Ranger's Apprentice - Race For Halt

Ch. 31

Gilan stood in the mirror and pinned on his oakleaf the next day.
Behind him, someone chuckled.
"You'd think you would have learned to pin that on without your reflection after all these years."
Gilan turned to see Jenny smiling at him.
"One of my flaws," He said, grinning back.
Jenny put her hands on her hips. She frowned.
"I hope you're not going to say the same about your hair."
Gilan raised his eyes in an attempt to look at his own hair.
"Why, what's wrong with it?" He asked innocently.
Jenny rolled her eyes and walked over to him. She stood on her toes and ran her fingers through his hair. To Gilan, it only felt like she was messing it up more. But if Jenny liked it that way, he supposed it was fine.
"Better?" He asked once she stepped back.
"Better." She agreed.
Gilan laughed and grabbed his bow and quiver.
"I'm going to visit Will," He told Jenny. She nodded and turned back to the kitchen.
"Give him a hug for me!" She called as Gilan stepped outside.
The spring air was beautiful. It was fresh, and a breeze blew his hair gently.
"Ahh," He sighed.
Blaze snorted.
We going somewhere?
"Hullo, Blaze!" He said, smiling as he mounted the shaggy beast. "Ready to visit Will?"
Blaze snickered and flicked her tail. Gilan laughed.
"Then let's go."

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Gilan knocked on the door of Will's cabin.
Halt opened it.
"Morning, Halt, how-" Gilan started before getting a good look at Halt.
To say the least, it was very clear he hadn't slept the night before.
"I think you can gather 'how it went last night'." Halt grumbled.
"What happened?" Gilan asked, ignoring Halt's tone.
Halt shifted to let Gilan through the doorway.
"You'd better come in." He said.
Gilan raised his eyebrows in question but entered the cabin.
"Halt," He said once the old Ranger closed the door. "What happened?"
Halt leaned against the back wall, clearly exhausted.
"Will remembered." Was all he said.
Gilan perked up in hope.
"Remembered?" He asked eagerly. "Remembered what?"
"Everything." Halt said, too calmly.
"Well then, I don't understand! What was so bad about last night if-"
"Do you remember," Halt intervened. "When the doctors said remembering too much at once could shake him up horribly?"
Gilan swallowed. "Yes?"
Halt sighed. "He hasn't spoken since late yesterday afternoon. He won't eat or drink, and he won't get out of bed."
Gilan couldn't speak. His body trembled in fear for Will. After all this, he had to be alright. He had to.
"I'm afraid," Halt croaked with emotion, though Gilan already knew what was coming.
"I'm afraid Will has been broken."