Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Ranger's Apprentice or the content. These characters are my own. Disclaimer for whole story.

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|| True Path ||

xxx

Author's Note:

So although I am working on Majesty, (next chapter coming soon), I thought I'd take a crack at a Courier story.

Why do I keep making new stories? I'm such a fail author o_0

No spoilers since it's set 100 years before the books.

Anyway, I thought I'd take a different turn, hope you guys like it! :)

Prologue:

|| Female ||

520 Common Era

xxx

She had always preferred spending time at her father's stuffy little cabin, hidden at the edge of the Araluen Woods.

Away from the draughty and lonely halls of the Castle, the cabin had always held small secrets and adventures that Emelle could discover at any age.

Her father was a kind-hearted man, who loved his children. After losing his beloved wife to an incurable illness not long after Emelle was born, he had made a vow to spend time with them regardless of his duties as the Ranger Corps Commandant.

And so from the ripe age of seven, Emelle had begun to learn the tactics and secrets of a Ranger, alongside her slightly older brother, Nicholas.

Between the two, Brendon quickly realised that Emelle was more adventurous and daring then her brother. And so he had decided, perhaps out of pity, to teach both the basics he knew as a Ranger.

Nicholas, approaching twelve years of age, had taken a while to enjoy the practises. But soon he had wanted to become a Ranger in his own right, and Brendon organised to have his son apprenticed to one of his fellow Ranger's.

Emelle, only ten, and yet growing to be a young beauty like her mother, desperately wanted to do something fun and dangerous like Nicholas. Brendon knew he could never satisfy his daughter, and it saddened and troubled him at the same time.

They lived in a glorious age for Araluen, where the King Grahem was breaking out of the monarchical bonds and sending off men to learn of the world outside their island, and technology in metallurgy was being invented. But still, the women of society were limited to their jobs in life, especially nobility.

Emelle carried the burden of being an Aylwin, one of the longest lines of Araluen nobles, excluding royalty, but retaining the innocence of her age and her flair for adventure.

The Ranger knew she would one day realise her dreams would never come true, and he hated to think what she would do then.

Emelle Aylwin shook her head, brushing away stray strands of chestnut curls, as she raised her longbow and took aim at the tree, nearly 100 metres away.

"You won't hit it." Nicholas warned, a sly grin on his face.

"Watch me." Emelle retorted, loosening her arrow. She knew it was good before it struck home in the centre of the tree.

Her brother rolled his eyes, patting her gently on the shoulder. Her hazel eyes twinkled with mischief.

It was a long standing joke between them; Nick knew she was a good shot, while he had excelled in unseen movement. Emelle envied his talents, but knew even if she could seemingly disappear into thin air it wouldn't help her situation.

She was also unusually talented with the dagger, having learnt to throw one and defend herself with it from a young age. The longbow was the only weapon her father had supplied, knowing she would be in trouble if she were caught with the Ranger's saxe knife or throwing knife. So she had taught herself the dagger, secretly practising in the woods near her father's cabin with Nick while he learned real Ranger knives.

Her father had secured Nick and apprenticeship with a Ranger, at a Fief named Caraway that she had never seen. It was a while away from Castle Araluen, and she would miss her mischievous brother dearly. The siblings were spending the last private moments with each other, doing what they loved best: practising.

There would be a formal farewell at the Castle, since the Aylwins were a noble family close to the throne. But Emelle had begged her brother for one last session together, knowing she couldn't let the formal goodbye represent how much she would miss him.

Ranger Brandon strode over to the pair, having watched his children from the shadows. He approved of Emelle's shot with a small wink to her. She beamed in response.

"Nicholas, it's early and you are leaving late this afternoon. I think it's time you returned to the castle and dressed yourself appropriately." He ordered, not unkindly.

Nick glanced down at his rough clothes, taking in the sweat and dirt marks from a round of Ranger hide and seek with Emelle.

On a second thought, Brandon glanced at his daughter, raising an eyebrow. She was dirtier then Nick.

Emelle blushed, but refused to look away. She was approaching her thirteenth birthday, and knew if not her father, but the rest of the Noble Court wished for her to become the part of Lady Emelle Aylwin, as she was born to be. But for a little longer she wanted to retain the times where she could hide near her father's cabin and practise the skills he had graced her with.

Nick rubbed the back of his neck, trying to delay the inevitable. It wasn't that he didn't want to go to Caraway; he knew he would love being a true Ranger apprentice, but he could see the stony expression on Emelle's face and knew she was struggling with him leaving.

Thankfully, his sister broke the silence by moving forward and hugging him tightly.

"I'll be back before you know it." He told her, trying to smile.

They both knew he was lying.

"It will be so boring without you here." She murmured, and knew she was understating her loneliness in his absence.

The hugged once more and then Nick waved to his sister, before heading back to the castle.

Emelle watched him sadly, knowing she too would need to return and wash up for the evening.

Brendon wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulder, holding her close. He noticed the tears that began to form and wished, not for the first time, that his wife was still around to help him in these situations.

"It'll be alright Em, don't you worry about him." He told her soothingly.

"Now what am I going to do with my time?" She said bitterly.

Insightful and quick minded, she was still a girl and her immediate thoughts were based on herself.

"You start classes this year; you will spend your time doing that."

"Like sewing and needlework, I'll barely get to study geography and logic. I won't even be able to learn how to use a sword." She mumbled, crossing her arms to disguise her distress.

Brendon sighed.

"I wish that I wasn't a girl." Emelle whispered, shivering with sadness.

Her father glanced at her in surprise.

"Em, look at me."

She turned, stubbornly wiping away a loose tear as if pretending it didn't exist.

"Every day you remind me more of your mother, and I am so grateful for that. I wouldn't change you if I could." Her father confessed, petting her growing curls. She managed a weak smile.

"I know that one day, you will do something fantastic, even as a girl. I don't want you to ever believe you're inferior to anyone, do you understand?"

Inside, the Ranger wondered if he was setting her up for a hope that didn't exist. But he knew she had heart, and he couldn't bear to crush such a powerful spirit.

"I understand." She said meekly, but the light was returning to her eyes.

It would be that conversation that would make Ranger Brendon still wonder if he had done the right thing by telling her those words, for years to come.

A/N:

Prologues always are a bit iffy, especially since I have no original characters here which means everything is new and wierd... Even if it was strange I hope you read on to the next chapters!

Brendon is a noble, since he's the Commandant I figured at this age it would be more common for a noble to be the head of the Rangers. If it bother's you, say his wife was the true Aylwin and Brendon was a lesser noble or something.

- Love Mae.