Chapter Text
“Finally, it’s spring. The children of the ward can play outside instead of running through the castle. I can’t wait to do my job again without one of those brats running into me. They never seem to watch where they are going.” One of the castle maids complains to another.
“I wonder who keeps an eye on them. They are always running around. Especially that one boy, you know, the smallest of them all.” The other one replies.
“At least the older ones learn to read, but those six year olds are always alone.”
“I think it's because there are just too many children.” And she was right.
The children are playing outside. George is reading a book on a bench, Jenny and Alyss are playing with a doll, and Horace and Will are ‘practicing’ their fighting skills using sticks.
“Ha, I told you, you’re too small to be a proper knight, Will No-Name.” Horace yells as Will falls to the ground.
“Oh yeah, well, just try and get me!” Will replies as he stands up before he runs away.
Horace promptly starts to follow him. Will runs around the bench George is sitting on, who appears to be tired of the boys chasing each other. Horace almost catches up to Will, but suddenly the smaller boy jumps aside and Horace runs right into a tree.
“Ow, you are such-”
TWEET! The children watch as one of the birds falls out of the tree. Will runs to it and carefully picks it up. All the wards swiftly gather around the smallest boy with the bird in his hands.
“Oh no, look how the wing looks a bit funny!” Jenny says.
“And it has a little bit of blood on it, maybe we should go to a healer.” Alyss adds.
“Yes, that's a good idea. I am already holding it so I’ll bring it.” Will says determined. They start walking carefully to the hospital on the right side of the castle.
“No sorry I can’t help. I heal people, not animals.” The woman tells the ward children as she rushes to a patient.
They decide to go to the stables. There, they quickly find the horse vet and show him the bird.
“Horses are the only animals I know how to help. But you should go to the bird healer.”
“Why is there a bird healer? And how can we find him? Is he nice? Is he even a he?” Will showers the man with questions immediately.
"Woah, calm down. You can find him in the pigeon tower. The couriers use them to send messages.” The horse vet answers before wishing the children and the bird well and leading a horse away .
Now the vet is gone, Will turns to his friends. “He didn’t say if he was nice.”
>>------->
The children cross the castle's courtyard and reach the pigeon tower. Horace knocks on the door and an old man opens it. The children stare at him. With a nose like a hawk and eyes like a raven, the old man has features just like his birds.
“What do you want!” the man hisses at the children.
“S-sir, do you want to help our bird, pl-please?” Alyse stammers after a moment of silence.
“I don’t want to help just a silly bird. Go away and don’t bother me anymore!”
Scared of the pigeon man, the ward children start running back to the courtyard after being frozen in the place for a second. When they are out in the sun again, they’re sad that nobody can help the little bird. They sit down under a tree in silence. After a few minutes Jenny suddenly says:
“I wish I had magic, then I could help.”
“Yeah me too”, Horace replies. “But wait, rangers have magic, right?”
“And they help people!”, George beames in. “Maybe the ranger can help us.”
“But he is a little scary don’t you think? What’s on your mind, Will?” Alyss adds. She noticed how the boy is being very quiet for his standards.
“You know, I think it’s worth a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You coming?” Will replies.
The rest of the children seem a little hesitant, but Alyss and Horace decide to join. The three children walk to the cabin in the woods. Will is still holding the little bird but now he has it wrapped in his coat so it doesn’t get cold.
When they arrive, Horace and Alyss stop walking when they get near the tree line. Will notices a bit later and turns around to look at them.
“Second thoughts?”
“Yes, you never know what kind of spells he has and maybe it’s safer if you go alone.” Horace says.
“Maybe it’s better if we go back so there is less chance somebody notices we are gone.”
Will shrugs and walks further. When he is in front of the door, he starts to wonder how to knock since his hands are still occupied. As he is struggling, the door flies open. A tall young man with light brown hair opens the door.
“Can I help you?” The ranger smiles.
“H-hello I am Will and uhm-”
Silence.
The man is still smiling but Will doesn't know how to respond. Most rangers he has ever heard of seem scarier and more mysterious.
“Nice to meet you, Will. I’m Gilan. What do you have there?”
Quickly reminding why he was here, Will opens his mouth again:
“Thisbirdfelloutofthetreeandithurtitswingandnobodyatthecastlewantedtohelpsowedidn’t-”
"Woah, hold up. Please breathe and tell me again.”
Slightly embarrassed, Will tries again, this time at a far more moderate speed.
“Horace and I were- uh, playing and he ran into a tree and then this bird fell out. He can’t fly and nobody could help us. So we were hoping you could heal it with your ranger magic.”
“You mean the two children that walked with you?”
Will's mouth fell open. How does he know that? This confirmed his suspicion of magic. As Gilan let’s him know he had simply looked out of the window when the horses signaled them.
But that childish illusion was quickly destroyed.
“I don’t have magic but maybe we can ask Halt to help. Please come in, he is cleaning his bedroom.”
When Will goes inside, he looks around with big eyes. It’s simple but it’s cozy. There isn’t a lot of furniture, but certainly with all the personal things it has become a home. Maybe one day he could live in a place like this. As he is thinking, he sees how an older ranger enters the living room. He has black hair and a beard. His eyes are dark, but not mean.
“Hello Will, I heard you need help.” Will is perplexed. How did the old ranger his name? Unknown to the boy, Halt heard the conversation from behind the door.
“Uhm- yes, Ranger Sir.” After a moment of further hesitation, he shows the bird still in his coat. Halt takes it carefully and places it on the table. Will stands on his toes trying to see what the ranger is doing. Gilan, on the other hand, decides to stand to the side, but sees a spark of joy in his mentor’s eyes. Yet it disappears so soon he isn’t sure whether he wasn’t just imagining things. Gilan places Will on a chair so he has a better view of what Halt is doing.
“I think I know what to do for this little patient. Let me grab some things.” Halts says walking away. After a minute or two Halt returns with a tinny bandage and some liquid in a bottle. Will and Gilan watch how Halt rubs the liquid on the wound first and then wraps the wing.
“I think this should be enough. In two days the wing will probably be healed. If you can come back, you and Gilan can let the bird free.”
“Thank you, sir ranger! I will!" Will replies as Halt walks away to put the bottle back in its place.
Gilan turns to Will.
“I told you he could help. He can help anyone!”
“Gilan, stop that.” Halt grumps, still with his back to the boys.
Will looks at Gilan and sees a mischievous glare in his eyes as Gilan’s starts talking again in a cheeky tone.
“Don’t mind him Will, he acts all grumpy but he is actually a real softy!”
Halt turns around rapidly and gives Gilan a death glare.
“Yeah right, that hasn’t scared me in ages, notsince my first year apprenticeship.” Gilan laughs
“Gilan, you’ve been in your second year for only two days. We came back from the gathering yesterday.” Halt replies drily.
Gilan tries to counter back, but both ranger’s gazes shoot to the door after they hear a little giggle sound. They see now that the chair is empty and the sound comes from outside.
“How the HELL did he leave without us noticing?” Gilan says in a surprised voice.
“You mean without you noticing.” Halt shot back.
“Don’t try to hide it! You didn’t see it either.”
Halt doesn’t respond, but he knows Gilan is right. The boy indeed left without them noticing. He heads towards the door and Gilan follows right after him. When outside, both see Blaze eat an apple out of Will’s hand and to their leftAbelard is already happily chewing. Ranger and apprentice stay standing in their spot smiling for a few minutes as Will plays with the horses.
“Uhm Halt, it’s getting dark. Shall I bring him back to the village?” Gilan asks.
“He doesn’t live in the village, but in the ward. But yes, please bring him back. When you’re home the food will be ready.” Gilan looks confused. How does he know that? Not questioning it further, he walks down the stairs of the veranda.
Halt watches as Gilan walks to Will and takes him to the path that leads to the castle. When they are almost out of sight he sees the little boy quickly turn and wave at him. He only nods back with a smile touching the corners of his face.
When Will and Gilan get to the forest, Alyss and George did indeed leave.
When they arrive at the ward Gilan knocks on the door. An older lady with gray hair in a bun, friendly but tired eyes, and a child in her arms opens the door. Gilan explains what happens and the matron thanks him for bringing the boy back. The ranger starts heading off, but turns back as he remembers something.
“Oh, one more thing. Is it okay if I pick up Will in two days' time so we can release the bird?”
“Yes, it would be nice if you took him for a while. I am very busy and he deserves a little attention. ” Gilan nods in understanding and leaves.