Alyss felt overjoyed as she watched her newborn baby girl sleep soundlessly in her crib. The baby already showed signs of Alyss' silky blond hair and her features matched her mothers as well. Alyss stroked the baby's cheek, thinking about the little person who had finally entered their lives. Her husband, Will, entered the room and kissed her on the cheek.

    "How are my two favourite girls this morning?" he asked cheerfully. Alyss didn't answer, she simply gave him a warm smile and scooped their baby up into her arms. The little girl was only a day old. Alyss' old mentor, Lady Pauline, had helped Alyss through the birth the previous night, while Will's old mentor, Halt, tried to comfort him in the kitchen over some coffee. Though neither of their two mentors had the experience of child bearing, they were grateful they were there to share in their joy. The baby was beautiful and wasn't too fussy the first night. Alyss already had the strong feeling that their little girl would have her fathers personality. 

    There was a knock on the door and Will left the room to answer it. He soon returned with Lady Pauline, Princess Cassandra and her husband Horace, and also Halt and Gilan. They had gotten quite a few visitors that morning, including Jenny and George, their old ward mates. Everyone had wanted to get a glimpse of Ranger Will Treaty, and Lady Alyss' newborn daughter.

   "Oh Alyss, you look very well this morning!" Cassandra said in her usual happy voice. She and Alyss had grown closer together in the years following their trip to Nihon-Ja. They had had their disputes on that trip, but they were resolved and they became best friends. Gilan smiled at the baby in Alyss' arms.

"You must let me see this Goddaughter of mine." he said holding out his hands. Alyss hesitantly placed the baby in the tall, handsome rangers arms. Will noted Alyss' hesitation, and thought he would discuss it later with her, once everyone had left. Gilan moved the blankets away from her face and smiled down at the little pink baby.

"Uncle Will, What's her name?" For the first time, Alyss noticed Madelyn, Horace and Cassandras daughter, hanging onto Will's sleeve. Will glanced at Alyss, looking puzzled by the four year olds question. He knelt down next to her and smiled.

"We haven't picked one out yet, Maddie." He said. She looked slightly disappointed.

"Well, you should pick one." she said simply. Cassandra quickly scolded her daughter.

     The baby was passed around the room, each one took a chance holding her, even Halt, who seemed the most compassionate about the baby. When the baby was finally back in Alyss' arms, only then did she relax. She hadn't realized how tense she was. Could she trust these people to hold her baby? The most presious thing in life to her? Alyss bit her lip and pushed the thought aside. Of course she could! These people were family! She trusted her life with every single one of them, except maybe Maddie, but she was only four.

      Will seeing Alyss was exhausted, tried to end the conversations and politely push them out the door, but he was stopped by Gilan and Halt.

"Acctually, Will. We must speak with you." Gilan said. Alyss dreaded those words. Everytime Gilan and Halt had to speak to her husband, it meant he had to leave her for possibly months. It was unfair. She hadn't thought this way until half way through her pregnancy. She didn't want Will to miss anything about their daughters life. What if he was called off on a mission and missed her first steps, or her first words? It wasn't right. Both Alyss and Will were orphans, and she didn't want her daughter to grow up knowing her father could die at any moment.

       Will glanced back at Alyss and gave her a sad smile.

"Get some rest. You need it." He said before shutting the door to their bedroom quietly behind him. Alyss stared at the door for sometime, wondering what they were talking about. Was she going to loose her husband again? She let out a deep sigh and gently laid her baby in her crib, blew out the lantern, and fell into a restless slumber.

***

    Will quickly put a fresh pot of coffee on the stove and gestured for Gilan and Halt to sit. They didn't look too happy, so Will knew it wasn't going to be good news.

"Spit it out." He said dully. Halt gave him his famous eyebrow, than turned to Gilan, a gesture for him to speak.

"A Wolfship raided Seacliff three days ago. The Skandians are refusing to leave the village. They said it's too dangerous to leave for Skandia this time of year, the Stormwhite would take them...." Gilan started, but Will interrupted him.

"What's the problem with that?" He asked a little to forcefully than he had intended. He cleared his throat.

"Will, if they stay during winter, They'll eat through Seacliffs stores." Halt said. Will knitted his eyebrows together.

"Why tell me this? I'm not in charge of Seacliff anymore. Have the local ranger handle it if it's such a big problem." He said, slightly annoyed. Gilan nodded a bit.

"The villagers know you, Will. They know you can handle this situation." Gilan said. Will glared at the two older rangers.

"So you want me to leave my wife and my newborn daughter to solve a dispute that isn't even my problem?" He asked. Halt and Gilan glanced at each other, both looking guilty.

"They won't trust anyone else. You have history with the Skandians. They'll listen to you."

***

Alyss couldn't believe how angry she felt as she held her baby on the veranda, watching Will disappear into the distance. Just what she had feared, They took her husband again. And he wouldn't be back for a while.

"It's alright, Alyss, He'll be fine." Jenny said. Jenny had come early that morning to see Will off. He made her promise that she would look after Alyss and the baby. Jenny placed her hand on Alyss' shoulder to comfort her, but she was startled by Alyss' response. Alyss jerked away from her old friend and placed a protective arm around her daughter.

"Don't touch us." Alyss' voice was quivering in fright. Jenny stared at Alyss in suprise. The elegant courier had never behaved this way that Jenny knew of.

"Come inside, Alyss." Jenny said softly. She held the cabin door open for Alyss as she quickly walked in, not making eye contact with Jenny. Jenny sat her down in a chair and began to make coffee. One of Alyss' hands were clutched tightly around her baby, while the other held her own head. She had her eyes closed and she let out a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry Jenny. I...I don't know what's gotten into me." She said looking over at girl she'd known all her life. Jenny gave her a warm smile and rubbed Alyss' forearm.

"It's not your fault, I understand. You're mad that Will has to leave, and miss the first days of his daughters life. You feel as though the baby will disappear if you let go of her." Jenny said. Alyss stared down at the little girl and nodded a bit.

"Yes. I've waited so long for her. I can't let anyone take her away from me." She said. Jenny nodded.

"And she will be safe, Alyss. Nothing is going to happen to her." Jenny glanced over at the bundle in Alyss' arms. "What did you name her?"

"Abigail Treaty."

***

   Abby soon grew into a bouncing toddlar, than into a little rascal of a child, than as she approached her teenage years, she began to calm down a bit. As they had all predicted, Abby looked a lot like her mother, though they could all see Will in her big brown eyes. Her blond hair, that she had inherited from her mother, could never be tamed. It always stuck up in places Alyss didn't like, and it was usually covered in dirt, from her playing outside with their new puppy, Sable. Abby was ten years old by that time, and Alyss thought it was time for her daughter to begin training as a Courier. Right away, Abby hated the white dress she put her in, And it didn't help when Will saw her and held in his laughter. But Abby knew that look too well.

"Why can't I train to be a Ranger, Mum?" Abby pouted. Alyss glared at her.

"Abby, you are a lady. A Courier can take just as many risks as a Ranger, but still be proper." Alyss said trying to comb through Abby's hair. Abby looked at her father for help, but Will only sniggered.

"What your mother is trying to say, is that Couriers fight just as well as rangers, but still look good doing it." Ayss glared at her husband slightly, but then returned to Abby.

      Within another year, Abby was beginning to show signs of promise. Lady Pauline approved of the work Alyss had done on Abby and said she would make a fine Courier with a few more months of practice. Abby was getting the hang of it all. Alyss had let her have a few exceptions, and allowed Will to teach her how to use the saxe knife and his throwing knife, and also how to use the recurve bow. She even allowed Gilan, Abby's Godfather, to teach her a little about sword play. Between those four weapons and the Couriers own dagger, she was not a Courier anyone wanted to mess with.

      One evening, Abby was outside practicing her archery when a rushed messenger reined his horse in next to the cabin. Will approached the man cautiously, throwing Abby a glance that told her to stay where she was. Abby felt sick, and wanted her mother. Alyss was on a mission though. She wouldn't be back for a week. The messenger whispered to her father in hushed tones, so Abby couldn't hear. When Abby noticed how pale Will had gotten, she began to panick. What could be so horrible that her father would go that pale? She felt sick to her stomach when Will glanced at her, his eyes filled with tears. The messenger mounted his horse and road swiftly out of the clearing.

"What is it, Dad?" She asked hesitantly. She slowly approached her father, who was staring at his hands in horror. When she reached him, he wrapped her in a fierce embrace, not letting go. His fingers combed through her wild hair and he pressed his forehead to hers, letting out a small sob.

"Your mother...Alyss is dead!" Abby couldn't believe the words she was hearing. She pushed out of his grip and shook her head.

"No! Mum is coming back next week! You are mistaken!" she shouted at him. He said nothing, just sank to his knees and sobbed quietly. Abby felt her heart beat faster, and she knew what he said was true. But how? Alyss was one of the best Couriers there was! Abby ran into the stables next to the cabin and quickly saddled up her rangers horse. Old Bob had given her the gelding last year for her tenth birthday. She was so excited to have her very own rangers horse, one that could out run the battle horses. But right now, all she needed was some comfort. She would not find comfort with Will, He was as distraught as she was. Sable ran into the stables as Abby was mounting her horse. Sable whimpered a bit and pawed at Abby's leg.

"Stay here, Sable." She told the border shepherd. Sable let out another whine, but Abby ignored her.

"Come on, Timber." she told her bay gelding. He let out a low rumble that she could feel in his barrel chest. She urged him out the stables and they bolted down the path leading out of the clearing. The only person she knew she could find true comfort from, lived at castle Araluen.