They made through the city with no problems and reached the ship before four that morning. Most of the crew was sleeping, but Quint was sitting up, drawing in the sand, while MJ and Lynn whispered to each other where they were laying down. Quint stood when he heard the sound of their feet on the crunching sand, and he smiled when he saw Emmy.

"Back so soon?" He asked. She rose an eyebrow.

"I was gone all day! I can go back and rot in the room if you'd like." She said. He simply smiled and hugged her tightly.

"Well, we forced Willy to go after you." Quint said. Emmy flashed a glare at Willy.

"Why am I not surprised?" She asked. Willy rolled his eyes.

"He's teasing." Willy said. Emmy then glared at Quint, who gave her a small grin. "Come, let's get the others up. We need to leave before Jackson realizes Emmy is gone." Willy said. They went around the camp waking everyone up and they all boarded Wolfwill and set out for Araluen.

***

    "Thanks for being willing to be traded for me." Lynn said to Emmy. Emmy was startled by Lynn's sudden appearance. She had only been an apprentice for a few weeks and was already very skilled in the rangers ways.

"No problem. You're Lynn, right?" Emmy asked. Lynn nodded.

"Are you really the Oberjarls niece?" She asked. Emmy smiled and nodded.

"Yes, and he's going to kill me when we get back to Skandia, because I sort of jumped out a window and defied his orders to get here." She said smirking. Lynn smiled.

"Wow, okay then. All just to sail with the hounds?" Lynn asked. Emmy had a flash of worry through her eyes, and she tried to cover it, but Lynn noticed. "What is it?"

Emmy cleared her throat and glanced over at Willy before returning her gaze to Lynn.

"Well, I've always felt like I never belonged anywhere. Mother forced me to be proper, and I wanted to sail. When Willy's uncle resigned, my uncle gave me the chance to escape. I didn't think I'd be able to lead a brotherband, because I was a girl, because I was different. Willy showed me otherwise. He taught me that being different doesn't have to stop you. Even though he's half Araluen, and a thief, he still is a skirl." She drew in a deep breath. "I was lost until I realized that sailing is what I need. I thought by coming along on this journey, I might be able to convince Willy to take me into his crew."

Lynn stared at Emmy for a moment before biting her lip.

"Willy will take you in, Emmy. You two may have your differences, but he's a good person. Just see past the arrogance." Lynn said. Emmy chuckled and nodded.

"Not the easiest, but I'll try."

***

  "We'll stay with Will until Svengal comes to pick us up. Woldwind has stables built onto the ship that will carry Maple and Angel." MJ told his brother.

"Are you sure?" Willy asked. MJ nodded and turned to Lynn, who was saying farewell to the crew and Emmy. Will gathered up his packs and they left the crew, heading up the shore towards castle Araluen. The watched them fade into the distance before setting up camp. They were all exhausted and needed a good nights sleep. Night was falling, so they finished setting up and collecting firewood. Boyd began the fire while Dannie and Oilge began the meal. They settled down once the meal was done and ate silently, contemplating the past month they had spent at sea.

"My uncle's going to kill me." Emmy said staring into the fire. A few of the boys chuckled and Quint gave her a sincere smile.

"He can't blame you for wanting to help, Em. You have been

useful." Willy said. Emmy gave him a small smile.

"Acctually, I was wondering if...I could possibly join the crew?" She said quietly.

"Of coarse!" Quint beamed, but Emmy ignored him, focusing her gaze on Willy for the final decision.

"Are you sure?" He asked, "You sure I won't annoy you to death?" He teased. She smiled.

"If I survived a month with you, I can surivive being a hound." She said.

"We were kicked out of brotherband training because we had to rescue Lynn, we won't be going back there, we're on our own

now." He said. She rolled her eyes.

"And what's stopping us then? I don't care, Willy." She scoffed. He grinned, showing his dimpled cheeks.

"Then welcome to the crew, Emilia."

***

   The loud neigh was enough to get her heart beating as the small cabin in the clearing came into view.

"Angel!" Lynn called. An excited whinny answered her. Lynn ran to the stable, ignoring MJ as he told her to come into the cabin. Angel was standing waiting by her gate. Lynn opened the gate and threw her arms around ber shaggy mares neck. Even though they had only spent a week together, she and the mare had bonded.

"Tá mé abhaile anois, Aingeal." Lynn whispered to her mare. Angels ears twitched at the sound of her voice. In the common tongue, she said, I'm home now, Angel. There was a chuckle behind her and she turned around to find MJ standing in the door.

"Come on, saddle up. We're meeting someone at the castle." He said grabbing Maples saddle blanket.

"Who?" She asked, following his example. He smiled.

"An old friend. You may have heard of him. His name is Halt." He said.

***

"So this is the famous Lynnette I've heard so much about?" The grim old ranger had gray beard and hair, and his face was wrinkled from years of frowning. Lynn blushed and nodded.

"Yes sir." She said. Halt rose an eyebrow and turned to MJ.

"She's a nice lass, Mik. I wouldn't mind if you kept her after her apprenticeship is up!" Halt teased the now blushing MJ.

"Halt!" MJ hissed. Halt gave him an innocent look.

"What?" He grinned. "Come in and sit, I just put a fresh pot of coffee on." He opened the door wider and allowed them to step through. Halt lived in a neat chamber at Castle Redmont. The aroma of coffee filled the air as Halt poured three mugs and set out a jar of honey. Lynn took the mug in her hands and savoured the sweet aroma she had longed for during her captivity.

"Has Gil been keeping you busy?" MJ asked before taking a long draft of his coffee. Halt rolled his eyes.

"The boy doesn't realize what the word retired means." He said. "I swear he gives me the hardest paper work because he likes being able to push me around."

"Former Mentor Apprentice relationship." MJ said stirring in some honey into his coffee. Halt glared at him.

"Typically the mentor of the corps commandant is dead, and doesn't have to put up with those antics." Halt growled. MJ smirked.

"We all know you'll never die, Halt." He said. Halt let out a groan and rubbed his arm, where a sore muscle was.

"I've out lived King Duncan, Baron Arald, and Crowley. I think my time is soon." He said with a pleased smirk. MJ simply rolled his eyes and stood.

"Well, thank you for the coffee, but Lynn and I must be getting

back." He said. Halt smirked a bit.

"Fine, I hope to see you again soon, Lass." He said turning to Lynn. She stood and gave him a small smile.

"Yes, thank you." She then followed MJ out of the chamber.

***

Hey. Sorry it's been a while. I've been rather occupied, and a lot is on my mind right now. My friend died a few days ago, and we're all still mourning. So sorry if this chapter is crap, because I haven't been focused. Please comment your opinions and vote. Thanks for reading.

~Avis