The New Apprentice

The New Apprentice: A Ranger's Apprentice Fan-fiction

The day has finally come.

Choosing day.

I got ready this morning, pulling back my dark brown hair into a bun with a black ribbon. I like tight fitting clothes, as I can move more agily in them, but it is considered vulgar, so I'm forced to wear the light dresses of the ward. They don't match me very much as my shoulders are broad, unlike blonde Alyss, who is elegant and light-footed.

Except for me, there are five others in this orphanage (called a ward). Horace Altman, who is broad shouldered and sure to request a job as the kingdom's warrior, loves bullying Will as he is superior in strength; Jenny Dalby, a slightly chubby 15 year old with a bright personality; George Carter, a shy boy with a lanky body; Alyss Mainwaring, the beautiful, graceful girl with a sure tongue that I mentioned earlier; and finally, Will. Will doesn't have a last name, as he was mysteriously left in front of the ward's front door. But anyways, Will has a lean body... if you take out the part about the muscle.

I let out a nervous breath. Choosing day is the day that us orphans at Redmont choose what path we shall take: The path of a warrior, a royal chef, a scribemaster, a royal courier, or... a royal ranger. My legs feel like jelly the moment I think about it.

Rangers are people shrouded in mystery, although it's no secret that the Royal Ranger Corps has saved this kingdom countless times. They work under the command of our well loved King Duncan. As I was saying, many think that the Ranger Corps are associated with black magic, so although people respect them, the Rangers are also feared by the people. You see, Rangers are unique to this kingdom and do the work of spies and assassins. They use longbows with deadly accuracy, and daggers just as well. Also, they're professionals at unseen movement. A Ranger could be standing on the other side of a well lit room, and yet you'd have trouble seeing him... I think that's the effect of those gray-green mottled cloaks they're always wearing.

My heart starts beating fast as I think of what I must do today. But I have made my resolve, and I will not let them keep me from becoming a Ranger's apprentice just because I'm a girl. Cooking just isn't for me, and although if I had absolutely no choice I wouldn't mind being a courier as much as cooking(as it is a dangerous job), I know my path lies in being a Ranger.

I will become a Ranger.

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As Jenny, Alyss, and I arrive at the kitchen for breakfast, we see that George, Will, and Horace are already there. And it's no big secret that Will and Horace being alone together with only George is not a good idea.

The thing about Horace and Will is that while Horace is physically fit and obviously stronger, Will has quick feet and a sharp tongue. Not a good combination.

Today, Horace's topic on teasing Will is Choosing Day; Horace will obviously be choosing Battleschool (he made sure we knew), and Will has also set his sights on Battleschool, although the chance of him being accepted is slim as he's far from built for wielding a steel sword with heavy chain armor, not to mention the heavy set shield. Personally, I think Will is well suited to being a Ranger, but the one time I proposed the idea to him, he stared at me like I had lost my mind.

As usual, this argument ends in a fight, which ends in Will fleeing to 'his tree' as I call it. I could probably convince Horace to stop or even show him up, but I, as usual, stay silent. Will can take care of himself. Even if he couldn't, I still wouldn't interfere as Will needs to learn how to take care of himself. Whenever he's upset and needs to be left alone, he climbs it, and no one has ever gotten him down from there. I can climb it, but I know what it feels like to want to be left alone, so I leave him be whenever Alyss asks me to get up there and talk to him.