Subject:  Chapters One through Five |
Author:
Jessie
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 00:18:40 02/12/03 Wed
In reply to:
Jessie Oakshade, Ex-Fort Storyteller
's message, "If Rose had Lived....re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-vived...." on 00:16:43 02/12/03 Wed
Chapter one: The returning warriors
Badrang was dead.
Martin, and the Fur and Freedom warriors had fought a valiant battle against Marshank, to bring it down forever. And they had succeeded.
Badrang was dead.
It was plain Martin had great feelings for Laterose, the gentle, and extremely beautiful mousemaid from the village of Noonvale, so he had made her stay behind, where it was safe.
Badrang was dead.
Rose, of course, had argued, but Martin insisted on Rose staying with Grumm, so she obliged and awaited their return.
Badrang was dead.
Most everyone had made it through the battle okay, though everyone was sorely tired. When they had met up with Rose and Grumm in the forest, Rose happily announced that a feast was being prepared in Noonvale on their return.
Badrang was dead.
So, Martin sheathed his father’s sword and went back to Noonvale, his arm around Rose’s shoulder, happy at last that no beast such as Badrang would ever disturb goodbeasts again.
Badrang was dead, and Rose was alive!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter two: The desperate Corim
Bella was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace in her home, Brockhall. Anybeast could see that plainly that she was worried. Gonff, the Prince of Mousethieves, was missing, and everybeast, knowing Gonff’s passion for stealing, had all suspected he had been captured by the hordebeasts of Kotir. Bella knew it was probably true, but she couldn’t believe all the bad luck that had befallen the creatures of Mossflower.
First, horde soldiers had broken into Ben Stickle’s home, and killed him, when he wouldn’t give them any supplies or food. Goody Stickle had almost dragged herself, for she was sorely wounded, left for dead by the soldiers, to Brockhall, with her four young ones.
Then Gonff had gone missing. Bella rather liked the rascal, even though he could be mischievous at times. She sighed. That rascal would never learn to stay out of trouble.
Also, news had swept its way toward Brockhall that Gingivere, brother to the formidable Tsarmina Greeneyes and son to Verdauga, had been killed by “missing” a step on the way up the stairs. Everybeast knew this was not true; Tsarmina had always hated her brother. Bella glanced up to the family crest above the fireplace. Gingivere probably would have been a useful ally, as he was not as hard-hearted as his cruel sister.
The conclusion was inescapable: Mossflower was falling, and without reinforcements, Brockhall would also soon fall. Lady Amber and Skipper of Otters were very willing to help, but even though they were good leaders, they couldn’t give the encouragement and spirit to the Mossflower residents. They needed some warrior, a natural leader, with the will to help other creatures and the spirit to defend.
Bella sighed as she relaxed in her armchair. Where would they find such a creature? Would he (or she, Bella reminded herself) be willing to help them? Would this creature be likely to come in the dead of winter? The badger had many questions, but they didn’t seem very likely to be answered. She hoped the answers would come soon, or, she felt, something terrible will happen, or something will not happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter three: The Wedding
The returning warriors were joyfully welcomed into Noonvale, where Urran Voh and Aryah were waiting to congratulate Martin and the rest.
Martin smiled and nodded his head as somebeasts came up to welcome them and congratulate them
As the procession reached the Council Lodge, where Aryah and Urran Voh were waiting, Martin kneeled and laid his father’s sword at their feet. “Badrang is dead, and Noonvale will live in peace, knowing that Marshank and slavery is gone from this country forever.”
Urran Voh smiled, not a big smile, but a relieved and understanding smile. “Thank you, Martin. All the creatures of Noonvale are in your debt. The best we can do for you is to offer you a home here in Noonvale.” The Noonvale Chieftain’s eyes rested on Rose, who was standing with Grumm.
Martin rose to his feet and turned his head towards Rose and grinned. “I would like nothing more, sir.”
Martin and Rose sat by each other during the whole feast, with Rose introducing him to all the Noonvale residents.
“This is Wirtha, one of my best friends as a dibbun.” Rose indicated a jolly looking female hedgehog.
“Hello Rose! This is Martin? Pleased to meet you, I’m sure!”
“Nice to meet you too, Wirtha.” Martin shook paws, careful of her spikes.
“That’s Bergle, one of the naughtiest dibbuns in Noonvale.”
“That one there, the one in the pond?”
“No, see, the one who just threw that blackberry pie in Grumm’s face.”
“Oh, I see which one now.”
Martin was enjoying himself, trying different foods and meeting new friends. Aryah came over and sat next to Martin.
“Are you two ready?”
Martin looked at Aryah quizzically. “Ready? For what?”
“Don’t be kidding me, young warrior. It’s all set for today.”
Martin was still befuddled. “Sorry, marm, you’ve lost me.”
Rose stood up and whispered in his ear. “Our wedding.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter four: As Time Goes By
Rose and Martin were happily married, and Rose was now pregnant. Martin was still the strong, silent warrior, but enjoyed his life at Noonvale with Rose. He was also excited about becoming a father.
“I’ll tell my son about all the battles and quests we went on, and he’ll learn all the fighting tecniques, and someday he will inherit this sword!”
Rose smiled and placed a paw on her swelling stomach. “You talk as if you know it’s a male. It could be a maid, you know.”
Martin snorted. “A maid? Never in my ancestor’s history through my father Luke has there been a maid born.” Then he winked and went to go relax by the pond.
Rose shook her head as he left and said to herself quietly, “But there might have been on your mother Sanya’s side.”
Bella was desperate. The Corim and the soldiers of Kotir had engaged in battle, and they had hardly made a dent in their horde. The losses on their own side, was much greater. Bella herself, lay on a couch, wounded by an arrow and a spear. She would live, but would not be able to fight again.
The badger looked up. Sitting close to her was Abbess Germaine, from the Abbey of Loamhedge. Germaine and her followers had walked almost straight into the horde, but at the cost of a few lives, they were able to rescue them safely.
Gonff also was rescued, but in the process, Goody Stickle’s daughter Posy had been killed. Posy and her siblings had been distracting the horde soldiers while Lady Amber and Skipper of Otters rescued Gonff, still as cheerful and jolly as ever. Bella smiled a bit as she recalled Amber telling her as they pulled Gonff from the prison, he climbed up the rope fit as a flea, asking when dinner would be served.
However, whichever way the Corim leader looked at it, the conclusion was inevitable: The Corim would eventually lose. When they lose, then Tsarmina Greeneye’s soldiers would take over Mossflower, and make it inhabitable for any creature who happened to venture there. Every single one of them would die eventually without any help. Bella thought to herself, ‘Help! That’s right! We need help! We’ll ask creatures outside Mossflower to help us to fight the Kotir soldiers and win back Mossflower!’
“Chibb, come here!”
The fat robin flew over and landed on the arm of the couch. “Er, harrumph. What is it that you need me of, Miss Bella?”
“Don’t ‘Miss Bella’ me impudent bird, now I have a very important task for you, concerning the very future of our dibbuns and their dibbuns and their dibbuns and so on.”
Chibb raised his eyebrow. “How much will the, harrumph, pay be?”
Bella retorted. “Chibb, how can you think of candied chesnuts at a time like this? The whole future of Mossflower is at stake!”
The robin had been practically blown across the room, and flew back over to Bella.
“I understand now, er harumph, Bella, what am I to do?”
“Search for warriors who can help us, with a leader who possesses a great spirit and leadership.”
“Ahem harrumph, which direction do I search?”
The reply came back short and irritated. “Anywhere!”
“I need a direction, Mi... er, Bella! I can’t wander willy-nilly!”
“I don’t know....” Bella picked a random direction. “North!”
“Harrumph! North it is, then.”
Chibb flew out the window, winging to the north.
Bella lay back down on the couch. She didn’t know it, but the direction she chose was the only direction she could have found what she was looking for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter five: Martin’s child
Noonvale was a happy place in spring, the birds sang, and the flowers bloomed. And Martin waited.
Aryah was in the tent with Rose, and Martin would be a father any minute. He couldn’t wait to hold his newborn son. Luke! He would name his son Luke, to keep the tradition. He would teach baby Luke the ways of a warrior, and someday Luke would have a son of his own, named Martin.
He was brought back to the present when he heard cries of delight coming from inside the tent. Aryah came walking out, a bundle in her arms and her face wreathed in smiles. “Meet your new daughter, Martin!”
Martin was sitting in the tent with Rose and Aryah, astonishent on his face as he looked into his daughter’s face cradled in his arms.
“It’s a maid, you were right, Rose...”
Rose was in good spirits, and sat up in her bed and smiled. “I told you it would be. Our new daughter.”
Martin looked from the bundle in his arms to Rose, still stunned. “But...but what will we name her? We can’t name her Luke.”
“Silly, of course not. I’m naming her Chrysanthemum.”
“Krisanthawhat?”
Rose stifled a giggle. “Chrysanthemum, because I’m named after a flower, the laterose, so our daughter can be named after a flower too!”
Martin looked back to the tiny mousemaid in his arms, a little smile on his face. “That’s a mouthful. ‘No no, Krisanthamum, hold the sword in this position.’”
Rose suddenly became serious. “No, Martin, don’t teach her about fighting. Please don’t.”
Martin looked surprised at Rose. “But Rose, she’s the daughter of a warrior, she’s got to learn how to fight!”
Aryah shook her head. “I’m sorry, Martin, but not in Noonvale. You know this is a place of peace, and your Chrysanthemum may stay here all her life. And what does a maid need of a sword?”
Martin was still surprised he was a father of a maid, and stared at his daughter. “I suppose you’re right, Aryah, and you too, Rose. I won’t teach her how to fight.” This he said with some diffuculty, then gently, he placed her on a mat to sleep, and left the tent.
Unknown to Rose, Martin, or Aryah, Martin’s sword had been left by the straw mat where Chrysanthemum had been laid. She was asleep, but slowly, her tiny paw moved up... and very slowly, closed on the hilt of the sword. She gripped the sword tightly, as if she was used to holding it. To anybeast who happened to be watching, they could be sure that if this daughter of a warrior could lift the sword, she would use it properly, swiftly, quickly, and dangerously. Woe to the foe who dares to challenge Chrysanthemum the daughter of Martin the Warrior!
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 