Blood, Sweat, and Hanon - A Ranger's Apprentice fanfiction

Chapter Thirty - Will

"Will Treaty!"

Will can hardly hear over the fast pounding of his heartbeat in his ears. Someone shoves him forward, and he glances back to see Gilan, wearing a ridiculously huge grin. "Go!" Gilan says.

Will steps forward, and his hand is quickly claimed by Mr. Baron. "Good job, my boy," Mr. Baron says. "I know you'll make the Conservatory proud at nationals!"

"Thanks, sir!" Will manages to gasp. He somehow finds his way back to the rest of the piano students.

Gilan slaps him on the back enthusiastically. "Congrats, Will!"

"Thanks, Gil!" Will says.

"Would all of the school representatives please step forward?" Mr. Baron says.

Will, Alyss, Jenny, and the other three students obey. Once they're standing next to each other, Alyss's hand slips into Will's.

"Ladies and gentlemen, faculty and students, your Redmont Conservatory representatives for the Junior International Music Competition!" Mr. Baron says dramatically.

There's a roar of applause, and Will finds himself grinning - out of relief, out of a huge feeling of happiness. He did it. They both did it. He squeezes Alyss's hand gently in excitement, and she squeezes back.

Mr. Baron smiles at them, and then addresses all of the students onstage. "Would everyone except for Will Treaty and Alyss Mainwaring please leave the stage?"

Gilan, George, and Jenny follow the rest of the students offstage, giving Will and Alyss what are probably supposed to be encouraging smiles but just look worried.

The stage is much bigger without all of the students there, Will thinks nervously. He's glad Alyss is out there with him, and judging by the look she's giving him and the death grip she's developed on his hand, she's glad he's there, too.

"Before I dismiss the assembly, there's one more important announcement I have to make," Mr. Baron says. "It has come to my attention that there has been some severe bullying going on at the Conservatory over the past semester. In the past few weeks, it has come to a head, perhaps from the pressure of the Junior International auditions. I would like to make an official announcement that bullying has never been tolerated at Redmont Conservatory, nor will it ever be. Any students caught in the act of bullying another student or students will be subjected to suspension and possible expulsion from the Conservatory. I am pleased to announce that of this afternoon, the students behind the bullying have been caught, thanks to Will and Alyss. These two students have proven their bravery and have sustained minor injuries in order to accomplish this. I would like to commend Will Treaty and Alyss Mainwaring."

The auditorium breaks into enthusiastic, albeit confused, applause. Will realizes with no small shock that the majority of the students present had no idea of the events that happened that day.

"Alyss," Mr. Baron says, "I would like to thank you for your service to the school. Not only were you subjected to severe bullying over the past few months due to oversight by the Conservatory, you were willing to put yourself in harm's way to apprehend the culprits. A result of this bullying was the destruction of your instrument. So as a reward for your courage, I would like to present you with a new instrument."

Will watches Alyss's eyes get wide as Gilan and Horace come onstage, carrying a violin case between them. They present it to Alyss, pulling the lid open to reveal the smooth, golden-brown wood of a violin.

"This instrument has been in storage at the Conservatory for nearly fifty years," Mr. Baron says. "It was endowed to the Conservatory, with the stipulations that it be presented to its most promising student. It was made by the renowned luthier Francis Gilet over a hundred years ago."