Note: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice!

The final chapter of this section! Remember, if you liked this one, keep your eyes open for the next installment: The Gold-Bronze Oakleaf!

I tried to get this done as quickly as possible for you guys! I hope you appreciate it! This chapter is short due to the fact that I have to get back to my schoolwork.

Deadly Choice Chapter 6

Will opened his eye. His right eye refused to open, held tightly shut by an unknown pressure. He turned his head to his left, struggling to see with only one eye. His vision swam in and out of focus. Finally, it came into focus enough for him to see.

He was in the Redmont infirmary. Towards his feet was the door to the main hall. Across from him was another bed, the sheets freshly cleaned. Obviously someone was staying with him. His eye roamed upward, beyond his head. There was a table with clean bandages and a jug of water. As his eye saw the jug, he realized how dry his mouth and throat were. If only someone would enter and give him a glass.

Voices faintly came to his ears. Will looked towards the door. Maybe someone was coming to check on him. Maybe they would be willing to give him water. The door opened and a familiar figure limped in. His grizzled face was set in a frown of displeasure. Following behind was a tall, graceful woman that Will instantly recognized as Lady Pauline. His heart relaxed. He was truly home, safe and alive.

"I need to get back to work," Halt was grumbling loudly.

Pauline glared sternly at him and snapped in a whisper, "I know you don't want to be here but it is for your own good. Now, for goodness sake, be quiet! You don't want to disturb Will. He needs to rest!"

Halt turned back to her but kept quiet. She was right, staying in the infirmary was good for him. Also, they did not know that Will was awake. Will swallowed, trying to find his voice. Halt whispered something to Pauline. She smiled weakly and nodded. Whatever Halt had said, she obviously understood. Will felt his heart twist. Did it have to do with him? Was he causing Halt any trouble? Was Halt alright? The Baron! How was Baron Arald doing? And Rodney? Will wanted answers but that meant he needed to talk.

"Halt," he managed to whisper hoarsely.

Halt instantly spun around. Pauline looked shocked then smiled warmly. She turned and left, planning to find the doctor in charge of Will. Halt limped over to a chair next to his apprentice's bed. He sat down and grabbed Will's left hand. However, Will could hardly feel anything in his arm and hand. Yet, the simple presence of his mentor brought him comfort and smile to his mouth. Pain shot from the right side of his face. His eye closed as he fought the pain. When it opened again, Halt was watching him, frowning worriedly.

"Halt," Will coughed weakly. His eye turned towards the water.

Instantly, Halt touched his face and rose. He poured a glass and came back. Slowly, gently, he drew his arm under Will and raised him up enough to drink. Faint pain flowed from his left shoulder and side as he sat up. Will winced but opened his mouth. Well, as much as it would open. It seemed as if something was stopping it just like it was stopping his eye from opening. Finishing the glass, Will lied back down, sighing weakly.

Pauline returned shortly with the doctor. The man leaned over Will and checked him over. Halt never left Will's side, always hovering in his young apprentice's sight. Will faintly knew that something was really wrong. What is was, he could not fathom. After the doctor left, saying something to Halt and Pauline, Will started to close his eye. He would ask when he did not feel so tired.

Halt leaned over him and pressed his hand against Will's left cheek, "Sleep, Will. You need to rest and recover." His voice faded as Will fell asleep.

Horace, Alyss, Jenny, and George were visiting him. He was laughing weakly at a joke that Jenny said. Will's side pained him greatly, as did his right leg. The day before, Will had tried to ask what was wrong with him but Halt had silenced him and put him back to bed. Now his friends were here, trying to draw his mind off of his injuries. However, Alyss could see that it was not working. She sighed inwardly. Will would be disappointed.

Alyss had been waiting outside with Pauline when the group had returned. Her heart had begun to beat rapidly as the group straggled in. Rodney came first, looking completely exhausted. Then came Baron Arald, surrounded by men trying to help him ride with his injuries. The rest of knights followed behind, guiding the extra horses. The doctor had immediately stepped towards the Baron. Arald, however, waved him away.

"I'm not the one who needs your skills. I can wait. You have to help someone else," the normally cheerful Baron had said with a tone of deep sadness.

At that moment, Halt and Gilan had appeared, with Tug between them. Will was not riding him. Instead, the little horse was pulling a litter with the young apprentice in it. Alyss had started forward but Rodney had stopped her. He explained that she would not like what she saw.

Indeed, as Will was carried past her, Alyss had gasped in shock. Her oldest friend, the man she harbored feelings for, was covered in bloody bandages. It had taken days for the doctors to stop the constant flow of blood. All the while, they were reminding Will's friends that it was more than likely that Will would die. Horace, at one point, had adamantly declared that Will would not die. George said nothing, knowing that he would not be helping the situation. Jenny, every time, had run off crying. Alyss herself had continually struggled with the possibility of Will's death.

Now he was awake, guaranteed to live. However, he was pale and weak. Also, Alyss knew all too well the truth of Will's injuries. Her heart ached for her friend. She knew that he would not take the news well, if he accepted it at all.

Halt appeared, shooing them all away. When Horace started to argue, Halt had glared at him and almost threatened him. Alyss kissed Will on the forehead before pushing Horace out in front of her. She hoped that Halt would break the news gently to Will when the day came.

"What do you mean?" Will asked.

He was sitting on his bed, looking at Halt. Gilan leaned against the door, his face a mask. Halt sighed and rubbed his neck. Will could see that he was having a hard time with this. Gilan was far from comfortable as well. Growing uncomfortable himself, Will started to rise. Instantly both Rangers jumped forward, telling him to remain seated. Confused, and surprised, Will obeyed.

Halt sighed weakly, "Will, I know that you fought bravely against the Kalkara…I'm proud of you for it…but you were badly injured in the fight…"

"And I'll heal," Will interrupted. What was the big deal about his injuries? Surely he would heal…right?

Gilan shook his head slowly at the interruption. Halt looked at his former apprentice then sighed. He knew how much Will's had pained Gilan. After all, if Gilan had just gotten there sooner then maybe Will would not be so badly injured, with his future at risk.

Halt returned his gaze to Will. He just had to say, no matter how painful it was. "Will, you will never fully heal. Never. From now on, you will have a limp, if your leg chooses to work at all, and your left shoulder won't be able to hold a bow properly."

"Of course I'll…"

The full implications hit Will. His mouth dropped open in horror. His bright brown eyes filled with tears. He leaped to his feet, forcing his leg to hold his weight. Before Halt or Gilan could stop him, Will dragged his leg over to the mirror. His left hand gripped the table while his right tore at the bandage at his face. He had to know…he had to know. Ripping the last strip away, Will looked at his reflection. Three massive cuts ran from his temple, the bottom most cut slicing across his ear, to his chin. The top most scar came within inches of his right eye, so close to leaving him blind in one eye.

Gilan spoke softly, "The doctors did all they could, Will. However, the damage was too great."

"I'm not useless!" Will spat, spinning around to face his mentor and friend. He glared hard at them. "I will heal! I will be able to walk, to use a bow! I…will…heal!"

Halt shook his head, "No, Will. You will never heal enough. I'm sorry…

But you can no longer be a Ranger."