Don't kill me for this chapter! I was having trouble figuring it all out and my sister suggested it, so blame her! This chapter is dedicated to Dontlookbak17, for helping me with ideas. This is definitely not going in the way I planned, but it works and I hope you all like / don't absolutely despise this chapter. Love you all!

~Avis

***

"He's simply the talk of the whole village!" Emmy said smiling to Aarah. Little Shaz was only a week old, but Abby said it was time her left the house for a little bit. She met Emmy and Lynn up at the newly built great hall and the four of them sat in Emmy's room.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Aarah asked nervously.

"A few were skeptical at first, but everyone knows that Shaz was not exactly planned. It's good talk now." Emmy explained. Aarah smiled at the news. She was afraid she and her son would be rejected, but Tristan seemed to help a lot.

"Are you and Tristan together now?" Lynn asked. Emmy had been wanting to know the same thing. Aarah gave them a shy smile before nodding.

"Actually, he proposed last night. We were going to wait till the feast this Friday to tell everyone." Emmy and Lynn stared at Aarah for a few seconds before bursting into a fit of squealing.

"You're getting married!" Emmy said beaming. Aarah nodded.

"Why wait till the feast?" Lynn asked.

"Because it's to celebrate the village finally become whole once more after the Arridans have gone. We both feel it's special, now that I'm free." Aarah explained. Emmy placed a hand over her chest at the heartfelt gesture.

"That's so sweet." She said. Aarah smiled once more, nodding.

"Alright, girls and Shaz. I must be on my way." Lynn said standing. "MJ only gave me till noon."

"He works you to hard, Lynn." Emmy said.

"I may be a girl, but I can work just as well as any ranger, thank you very much." Lynn teased. Emmy rolled her eyes and quickly embraced her friend. Aarah followed Emmy's example, careful not to squish Shaz.

"See you soon, Lynn." Emmy said. Lynn nodded and then left them.

"I'd best be getting back too, Emmy. Shaz needs a feeding." Aarah said. Emmy nodded.

"Yes, Of course. I'll see you later then." She said. She hugged Aarah quickly before watching her friend leave.

***

Lynn arrived at the little rangers cabin several minutes past noon. She tripped slightly as she ran up the steps of the veranda and through the door. She shut it softly behind her and hung her cloak up behind her on it's peg. Turning around, she was startled to see MJ seated at the table, chair leaned back and boots on the table.

"You're late." He said. He was wearing his cowl on his head, so it was hard to see any expression under the shadows.

"Sorry, Aarah told us some rather shocking news." She said, running her fingers through her brunette hair. MJ throw back his cowl and stood, a look of horror etched across his face.

"Please tell me she's not pregnant again!" He begged. Lynn rose an eyebrow and then suddenly burst into laughter at her master's reaction. His eyebrows furrowed together and he bit his lip.

"I take that as a no then?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yes, MJ. She's not pregnant." She chuckled. His cheeks where tinged a crimson red.

"Oh...well that's good." He said, sitting back down again. "So what did she tell you?" Lynn smirked and shook her head.

"You'll have to wait and find that out on Friday." She said. MJ groaned.

"A whole two days? Aarah's my best friend, can't you just tell me?" He pleaded, pouting his lip. Lynn chuckled before walking towards him. She slung her arm around his neck and leaned down till her lips were almost pressed against his ear, before whispering quietly.

"Nope." MJ's cheeks once again were that crimson red colour. Lynn straightened with a smile and headed to her room. Once she shut the door and locked it, she leaned against it, letting out a pent up sigh. She felt bad for teasing him, and she felt like the jittery feeling wasn't from her excitement for Aarah's wedding.

"He's your Master, for Gorlogs sake, Lynn!" She hissed to herself.

***

Emmy sat bored in her room after Lynn and Aarah left her. She decided that she could take a walk to keep her mind occupied. She stood and walked towards the door. She was about to open it to leave when there was knock on the door. A messenger boy stood outside.

"Oberjarl requests your presence, Lady Emilia. He says it's urgent." He said. Emmy nodded.

"Yes, thank you. You are dismissed." She said. He ran off and she shut her door, hurrying as she walked down the corridors to her uncle's quarters. What could possibly be so urgent? She took in a deep breath before knocking twice on the door.

"Come in." His gruff voice answered. He sat facing away from her, staring into the dying fire.

"Uncle? Is everything alright?" She asked hesitantly. She moved towards him, sitting in an armchair next to his. Only then did she notice the tears staining his bearded cheeks. She stood once more and rushed to his side, kneeling by his arm. When Erak saw her, more tears began to spill over his eyelids. He gingerly placed his calloused hand on her cheek, and rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone. "Uncle, what has happened?" She asked. It pained her to see her uncle like this. He had always been so strong, never letting the emotions that affected his work show.

   Erak stared at her for a few more moments before finally stuttering out his heart shattering response.

"Emilia...your father is dead."

***

  That evening, as their small family sat at the table for supper, there was a knock on the door. Jesper stood to answer it as the others watched.

"Emmy!" He sounded startled. The view of the door was blocked by a wall, so everyone at the table could not see Emmy at the door.

"I must speak with Willy." Her voice sniffed. Abby, Aarah, and Tristan all looked at Willy with worry in their eyes. He set his fork down and stood, nodding to his father as he approached the door. Emmy stood on the threshold, looking distraught. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, and her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"Em? What's the matter?" He asked quietly. Jesper took this opportunity to slip away from them. Willy pulled Emmy into an embrace, and she fell into his arms, clinging to the front of his shirt for support as her knees buckled. She let out a quiet sob into his chest, trying to keep quiet so his family wouldn't hear. Willy, however, knew how much of eavesdroppers his family was. They would hear everything. Willy took Emmy around the waist and guided her outside, shutting the door behind the two of them. The farther from the small house they were, the easier it would be from Emmy to speak openly. He took her hand and led her down to Bearclaw.

   Wolfwill was moored along the Heron. Willy led her onto the deck. Sitting her down on a rowers bench, he took her hands in his own and waited patiently for her to calm down. When she finally had control of her breathing, he hugged her tightly.

"Emmy?" He asked softly. She sat up, taking in a deep breath.

"My father is dead. He died last night. Something to do with his heart." She managed to say. "I'm leaving right after the feast on Friday for the burial." Willy stared at her with sympathy in his eyes.

"Em, I'm so sorry." He whispered. She refused to meet his gaze.

"Willy, this isn't easy for me right now. I need to be there for my mother." She said. She finally met his gaze. Her eyes were filled to the brim with tears threatening to spill over. "I'm not coming back to Hallasholm."

***

...hi? Just a friendly reminder that my sister was inspiration for the Emmy part... not me, my sister. I just like, wrote it. Please comment and vote. Please don't hate me!

~Avis