The end...? (Ranger's apprentice/ Brotherband fan-fiction)

Chapter 13

Halt wandered calmly over the deck, to make sure he didn't attract any attention to himself. His cloak and weapons kind of ruined thies effect, but he could never be too careful. He could barely believe nobody noticed he didn't belong here; it was suspicious, as if they had secretly agreed that Halt was allowed to be there. He slowly walked over to the railing and saw that the ship had not yet left the harbour. On the contrary, it was actually slowing down, heading back towards the wharf. He kept leaning against the railing, looking out over the small amount of water still separating him from solid ground. Just a little while longer until he would be able to get back on land; it seemed a little too perfect...
Waiting for the ship to be secured on the wharf, Halt tried out all of his little tricks against seasickness. It seemed to work. Of course, the fact that the ship was still in the harbour, where the waves didn't get the chance to rock the ship, might play a big role in that. He suppressed the urge to smile; without being seasick it was quite nice on a ship, with the fresh air... He shook his head to clear it of such strange thoughts. No, he didn't like ships and he would stick with that opinion. As soon as he got back on the shore, nobody would be able to stop him, he mused. Then he would make his way to Skandia and find Will and the others there. He knew he shouldn't focus on these plans too much; he needed to get off the ship first. It all seemed so easy, but with the Scoti, nothing was as it seemed nowadays.
He fixed his glance on the wharf, which was getting closer and closer by the second. Only fifty more meters, twenty, ten... When the ship got within a few meters from the wharf, orders were yelled about all around him. Thick, rolled up ropes were gathered and hurled onto the wharf, sailors jumped after them to tie them up. The deck was filled with activity all of a sudden. This was his chance. Before the ship was completely still and secured, he jumped off it onto the shore. Halt pulled the cap of his cloak over his head and ran down the wharf. Just a little longer and then he would be free. There was no castle door to stop him here. His heart was pounding wildly as he saw the freedom of a forest appearing in front of him.

Evan cursed loudly. Why...? He let out an annoyed sigh, before getting himself together.
"Alright," he told the messenger. "Put down the plank. I'll be right there." He couldn't believe t. The king had arrived to kick dirt in his plans once again. For years he had worked on this plan. Years! Almost his entire life. And now, now came this lazy pig of a king tell him he was coming along?! Evan paced through his cabin. This was disastrous. As soon as the king arrived in Skandia, he would find out that the entire story about his son was a lie, that it wasn't the Skandians who had kidnapped him. Frustrated, he combed his hand through his hair. How could he turn this around? His entire plan was falling apart!
He decided to clear this mess later and firmly walked over to the place where the king had had someone announce his arrival. He got off board and spread open his arms in a welcoming gesture.
"Yoru majesty!" he called out with a fake smile towards the king's entourage. "What a surprise!" He watching on with faked joy as the extravagant group came to a halt in front of him. The king nodded solemnly, as if his presence brightened everyone's day. Evan suppressed the urge to snort indignantly; if only he knew...

"I have decided," the king announced slowly, "that I will join you on this quest. Someone needs to tell the Skandians that they should keep their hand off other people's possessions. If they had been the ones who had kidnapped my son," the man flinched involuntarily, "then they would have had all right to take his shield." He gritted his teeth, a bitter expression on his face. "But they didn't kidnap him!" he screamed then. Evan unconsciously took a step backwards, but he recovered quickly.
"Precisely, your majesty. You should focus on the rebels who are to blame for that, that I shall..." Evan started in a soothing voice, but the stubborn man interrupted him.
"No! I shall go there in person. The barbarians shall pay!" Evan started to get seriously worried about the man. His breathing was raspy and his eyes seemed to bulge out of his head. Evan wished the queen was still alive, she could have calmed down her husband and persuaded him to get his mind off the trip. Unfortunately the quiet woman had disappeared years ago. Nobody had ever heard something from her again and it was assumed she had perished.
"Your majesty, I'm not so sure that is a good idea..." he tried, but the king shut him up.
"I do not give a damn! I am going. And if you defy me any further, you can stay here!" the man stared Evan in the eyes, challenging him to continue, but Evan knew better than that. The king didn't make idle threats. He nodded reluctantly.
"Of course. I shall have a cabin prepared for you," Evan answered sourly. He turned around and prepared for departure - again.
"Evan," the king called in a satisfied voice. Evan slowly turned around and managed to produce a smile.
"Yes, your majesty?" he asked sweetly. The king gestured to some guards.
"We ran into this man. He ignored our request to halt. I had him arrested," the king explained vaguely, while the guards pushed forward a struggling man.
Evan regarded the scene curiously. Who would dare ignore a direct order from the king? Even Evan was not able to do that without facing the consequences! He laughed scornfully as he saw that the person was Halt. He crossed his arms over his chest and waiting until the guards had put him to face Evan. Then he turned to the king, who was looking on with a suspicious expression on his face.
"This, your majesty, it no one less than Halt. Due to personal reasons he is my prisoner. He will join us to Skandia to await his fate." Evan sent a hateful glance towards the ranger, who answered it neutrally. Too bad he couldn't get a better reaction, but he couldn't change that right now. The king had lost his interest and was walking the plank onto the ship, followed by his entourage. Evan ordered the guards to take Halt back to his cell. He didn't call for anyone to guard him; he didn't want to bestow that satisfaction onto him. It wasn't necessary anyways, the sailors were already removed the ropes that held the ship in its place. By the time Halt would manage to get free, the would have reached open water and it would be too late for him.

Halt couldn't believe it. The Scoti had managed to capture him - again! Also Evan's message of him being brought to Skandia was hard to believe. Skandia was the exact place he was trying to reach! Of course he hid his joy at these words from Evan and he had stared back neutrally. By now he was already being taken back to the room behind the barrels of wine. He felt a movement shuddering through the ship beneath his feet, a sign that the long journey had just started. The guards tied him up to the hook again and left the room, leaving his weapons on the same spot as before. Halt decided he would take off his ties, but would no longer try to escape. By the time he could reach Skandia on his own it would be too late. Now he had transportation and a fixed spot to watch the enemy in one. A sense of satisfaction waved through him, as he started untying the ropes. Yes, Halt though, everything would be okay.