Hey guys! Another plot bunny decided to visit me last was inspired by another fic from someone's favorites. It was a one shot that I really liked.I'll look for the name one day! Also it came after i started thinking of Halt's relationship with his two apprentices. It will pretty much be a fic up to twelve chapters long delving on Halt's relationship between his two apprentices. Not as big as Danger Zone. It's just a plot bunny that had to be freed.

"I do so make my challenge to prove my cause right and just to… Halt the Ranger"

Will's heart thudded as he watched the scenes unfold before him. Morgarath was right before his eyes and he was challenging Halt to a duel. Why were these turns of events happening so suddenly?

It all started with the events that transpired in the burning bridge. Will had almost gotten him and Evanlyn killed trying to cross the bridge they were burning. It was Horace who helped keep the flames in the other side at bay so it wouldn't consume and destroy too much of the support and foundation of the bridge yet. As soon as Will and Evanlyn had arrived back on the other side, Horace stopped carefully pouring water on the growing flames and let the orange tongues do what they do best -consume the ropes of the bridge and then eventually, the bridge. At first, Will intended to stay at the bridge to keep the fire from being put out but as he observed the state of the already weakened bridge, he knew it wasn't needed anymore. The bridge was beyond help and even if they did save it, it wouldn't be able to take the weight of all the marching Wargals anymore. They arrived back at their base tell to the tearful reunion of Evanlyn, now Cass, and her father, Will and Horace's report about the bridge Morgarath had created and how they were able to destroy it and lots more, including the issue at that moment. As soon as he reunites with his mentor, this happens. The young apprentice was tempted to challenge Morgarath to a duel. In the end, He put the Saxe knife that he instinctively pulled out back in its scabbard. Halt probably wouldn't like it if a ranger, an apprentice at that, who knew little about swordsmanship and close combat tried to take his place without proper invitation.

"I'll take my chance, my Lord." It was Halt who spoke first.

Then Duncan's urgent reply "Halt is not a knight, you cannot challenge him."

"Actually Duncan, I can challenge anyone and anyone can challenge me. As a knight I don't have to accept any challenge unless issued by another knight but I can choose to do so. I can also choose whom to challenge…"Morgarath stared menacingly at the grim faced ranger who was now wheeling his horse forward. That was when the knight saw the young apprentice who had burned down the bridge thus, destroying a very important piece in his puzzle.

How the heck did he escape?. He turned back at the ranger then at his apprentice. He felt a deep hatred for both of them but for the young ranger whelp, it was much more fresh. Halt would be hard to win against but he knew that if he were going to lose eventually, might as well take, some important people along with him, that was something that can hurt Halt even worse.

"Duncan, since you're very much reluctant to let me challenge one of your prized advisors, I have decided to spare Halt from a one on one combat with me and have decided on another opponent…"

To that, Duncan sighed in relief, a sigh that was too subtle and too early.

"I challenge that whelp of an apprentice to a duel."

Halt's eyes widened in surprise. He looked around him for any other apprentices that Morgarath might be talking about. There were some battle school apprentices but Morgarath wasn't pointing at them, he was pointing at Will.

It was the grizzled ranger who was protecting Will this time.

"You'll have to go through me before you get to him… I've already accepted your challenge. Let's get on with it." Halt wheeled Abelard in front of Will protectively.

"No I take back that challenge instead I want to challenge your apprentice."

Halt shook his head " He's not a knight nor a full fledged ranger at that, he needs more training. He's not ready for this kind of thing yet."

Morgarath eyes narrowed, the anger evident in them." You are saying that about the boy who burned down my bridge and foiled my plans. If he can stop full troops from coming here and raging war, what makes you think he can't fight a lowly fallen knight? Sometimes you rangers can have the worst sense of judgment…" The last two sentences were said with a tone of mockery. He was provoking them.

Morgarath was a hundred percent sure it wouldn't work on Halt. The grim faced ranger, who was then putting a hand out as if to protect his apprentice, wasn't his target though. It was the younger ranger. His eyes were shining with newfound fire. He noticed the small detail that the boy's hand was resting on his scabbard. He just needed a little more push.

" What do you think Will? A battle to the death? Or would you rather have your master put his life on the line?"

Will looked up and before he knew it, he had pushed Halt's protecting hand down and brought out his Saxe knife. " Let's do this…"

" Wait…" It was Halt. " This is a stupid move Will. Don't do it."

"Sorry Halt, I can't! I can't let you put your life on the line!" Will shook his head ready to wheel himself forward when he realized Tug wouldn't budge.

" Even your horse is smarter than you" Halt said shaking his head. "Will, Listen first. Do you even know anything about close combat? What are you planning on doing anyway? Stay on the sides and just shoot arrows at him? He's a trained fighter. He can't be underestimated."

Will was silent for a moment because that was exactly what he was planning on doing. " Just let me do this…"

"You shouldn't stop him Halt. I didn't ask you for the challenge. I asked him. Let him make his choice." Morgarath said, intervening in the conversation between the master and his apprentice.

Halt had lost his patience. His eyes were already staring daggers at Will. "Let me tell you this Will. What you are about to do isn't heroic at all. It's very selfish. You would rather put your life at risk than watch other people do it. Sometimes you have to put your feelings aside for others or what's better for them. Look around you."

Will looked around him to see Horace and Cass who both wore worried faces. Their eyes were telling him no and he could tell from their faces that they were tempted to actually go up to him and knock some sense into him if they weren't restricted by the royal code to do just that. He was tempted to turn down Morgarath's request at that moment. His sense of judgment was almost defeating his feelings. In the end though, his feelings prevailed.

He urged the already reluctant Tug forward despite its hesitations, his Saxe knife in hand. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't look back because he knew that what he'd see would definitely change his mind. He heard a deep breath. He knew what those kinds of deep breaths are. It wasn't the tired kind you do after a long run nor the one you do before a big speech. It was the kind you get when you're holding back tears.

"Let's go." He stared at Morgarath who was smiling smugly at the young ranger. He knew what the man wanted—revenge. He didn't plan on giving it to Morgarath though. He planned on winning. He was ready with his recurve bow and Saxe knife, Morgarath with his sword.

" Wait!" Someone galloped into the arena. It was Gilan on his horse Blaze. His sword was held in front of him as if to challenge him. "I challenge you, a sword fighter versus another sword fighter. This is the fairest way Morgarath. You'll have to go through me before you even touch my mentor or Will."

Morgarath laughed in reply "Another former apprentice of Halt? This is getting better and better. " He turned to Halt "You would allow to kill both of your apprentices right?"

All he got as a reaction though was Halt's grim face watching everything that was happening. He didn't know anymore how Halt was feeling. The best way to get a reaction from him was to most kill both his apprentices and he planned on doing just that.

He sighed. " Alright, after you though, you wouldn't mind me going against Will right?"

Gilan smiled sardonically "I wouldn't let that happen. Not on my watch."

" Alright. We'll see about that then. Let the fight begin."

Ok who was expecting Gilan to come in?! Sorry he's just so underused in the books and he just doesn't have enough badass moments! I decided to give him one here! Hehe! Anyway... R AND R!