Caring from a distance

(A/N) So, this is my first Rangers Apprentice fanfiction, and I am so excited. I have wanted to write this for probably six months now, but haven't found the right words till now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rangers Apprentice

Please review if you have any comments or questions, I would love to hear from you!

The sun was shining high overhead. Men, women and children were beaming as cartfulls of crops were hauled from the fields surrounding castle Redmont.

The harvest had been an enormous one. Finally after barely scraping by for the past few years, the summer had come where everyone could relax, with their belts a little bit too tight.

A man stood in the shadows of a tree on the outskirts of the castle watching the families and citizens of Araluen abuzz with happiness.

The ranger scanned the surrounding area, something wasn't right. His keen hearing picking up a small whimpering sound coming from behind a bush. It sounded like a wounded animal crying for help but not having the strength to do so.

Halt crept towards the noise, his ranger training and experience enabling him to almost slither across the ground without a sound. The bush rustled again, the whimpering continued but now sounded more to the likes of a small child.

The bush had a small opening at the bottom, where an animal had once had a home. Through it he could see a scrap of fabric, stained with blood.

Halt swept the bush aside, a weeping child came into view, his arm bent at an odd angle and a deep gash across his chest.

He knew this boy... Will, a ward to the baron. He had been looking after him ever since he had anonymously givin him to the baron five years ago , since he was orphaned. His mother dying after childbirth and his father saving Halt's life in the battle of Halcom-heath.

Will was conscious, but only enough to recognize that a figure was hunched over him.

"H-help... me... please." the boy stuttered. The pain and strain became too much and his head slumped to the ground, losing his awareness of the world.

Halt tore his the hem of his shirt and pressed it into the wound applying pressure to stop the bleeding. He whipped off his own ranger cloak and wrapped the child in it, careful not to jostle his broken arm. Halt picked the child up, and, with a grace that only a few could achieve, carried Will into the castle, through winding halls and stone staircases, until he reached the castle infirmary.

The nurses quickly directed him to place the boy on a bed. While they were assessing his condition, Halt sunk back into the shadows of the room, knowing that is was not his place to interfere.

He slid out of the room in the mindset that he had done his job. Even though he had appointed it to himself he knew that it would only cause the child more trouble if Halt got involved. The other children would think he was consorting with magic. No he would have to care for the child from afar, he intended to keep his distance.

-Harpfire