7.2.10 A Positively Puzzling Riddle
== RW Abbey: Great Hall
==
The Great Hall of Redwall Abbey. Countless paw falls have echoed from these stones, and untold numbers of feasts and merry gatherings have been held here. A table, not nearly so grand or large as its predecessors, but quite functional for mealtimes, rests near the center of the hall. Chairs exist here aplenty, and they are all of a matching set. High above, the stain glass windows give the Great Hall a beautiful appearance. The glasswork is exceptionally done, crafted by a skilled artist. The floor is clean and swept. A fire is kept burning in the fireplace at almost all times of the day and night, and there are several more comfortable chairs and cushions set up here, of varying sizes. One looks large enough to easily accommodate a badger.
The Tapestry hangs proud and tall, and while the rest of Redwall may still bear the scars of natural disaster, this most famous of Redwall's relics remains unharmed by beast, time, or the elements. The figure of Martin the Warrior seems to be watching over his own with an unchanging, kindly gaze.
Shadows are long in the dying evening light.
Starring:
Otto
Treaglo
Wevrin
Jo
Thalion
It seems there's a pool among certain Abbey members over whether or not Thalion can possibly slam the doors any louder. The mouse himself has withheld comment. However, at this point, Thalion chooses to enter the Hall again, this time through a new entrance; the library. The door flies open so rapidly it seems in literal danger of coming off it's hinges, slamming with emphasis against the wall before rebounding shut of it's own accord. The mouse stands back in wonder. "/That/ was my best work. I think it has something to do with the contrast."
"Well what's it all mean?" Treaglo suddenly goes wide-eyed, very surprised at her own words. She lowers her head, and looks away sheepishly. She then jumps at the extremely loud sound coming from the library and looks up sharply...
Wevrin says, "Dontcha know ye'd can't goin around breakin' doors just because ye'd want to." he says scolding thalion"
Thalion glances around, strolling in as he does so, a look of complacence on his face. He waves to the familiar face of the squirrel. "Hey, Treeglow!" The older hare gets a look, as well. "I didn't... break it. It still works."
Jo shakes his head and sighs
Wevrin exclaims, "Well ye'd be fixin' it, its near come off!" The hare spys the kitchen door as well, "And that door too!" He points at the other almost broken door "
Treaglo waves cheerily back at Thalion. "Nice to see ya again...that was...um, wuite an entrance." She looks at the door, then at the kitchen door Wevrin pointed to..."I'm impressed" she mouths silently to him, not letting the elders see.
Jo gets up and heads up stairs with wevrin following chatting away
Otto smiles and waves good bye to Jo. He then looks to Thalion and opens his mouth to say somethin, but just waves a paw at him. He then continues his melincholy stare at the floor.
Thalion grins widely at the squirrel, moving over to sit down near her. "Did you eat yet, Treeglow?" He looks around in the vicinity. "I had a snack in the library. Tried reading and eating at the same time."
Treaglo notices Otto. "Hey now, don't pull such a long face. I'll help Thalion fix the door later..." She winks at the younger mouse. "Yeah, I had something. You might not want to try eating and reading at the same time, in your case it probably won't work out." She grinned and added, "You'll fix the door with me, right?"
Otto sighs and smiles warmly to Treaglo, "It's not the door I'm worried about my dear." He then looks over to Thalion and asks, "You do know how to fix a door don't you?"
Thalion returns the wink, snatching a nearby roll. "Of course I will, Treeglow." He smiles, biting into the roll. While he chews, he addresses Otto. "Yeah, I know how to fix a door! We fixed all kinds of things on the boat. Ship."
"Ok well, now that we got that covered..." Treaglo gave a quick return smile to Thalion. But concern still showed on her understanding face as she looked to Otto. "I get it, it's the Martin thing...I wish I could do something to help, but I don't think there's much to help with." Her ears drooped slightly.
Thalion returns the smile, cheeks bulging slightly with the roll inside.
Otto nods a determined look now in his eyes. He sits up straight and sayes, "You're right. There's a reason I said that, and sitting here feeling sorry for myself isn't going to help."
"Could be somethin' you're drinkin'," Thalion suggests. "Jack always spiked the Scholar's drinks when he wanted 'im to say something silly."
Treaglo's eyes follow him as Otto stands. "What are ya gonna do, then?" She inquires, nudging Thalion in the ribs under the table and giving him a "look" from the corner of her eye.
Otto gives a look to Thalion that sayes 'Why must you excist?' but sayes, " I'm going to think about the meening of these riddles, and figure it out. Maybe the Abott would know?" He scratched his chin and looked at the cealing in thought.
"What'd he say to you?" Thalion looks genuinely interested, now, ignoring Treaglo's chastisement. "The Scholar used to tell me riddles all the time. He was crazy though." He thinks for a moment. "Then again, maybe that'll help.
Treaglo chuckles a little at what Thalion said, then offers help. "Well, I haven't met the Abbot yet, but I'd like to, and I'd also like to help any way I can if'n you'd like." She turns to Thalion, thinking. "Do you remember what Jo told you you said, Otto? Maybe this rogue can help out a bit."
Otto looks to Thalion and sayes, "Well it's like Jo said um," He thinks for a moment trying to remember the words, "Ah it goes, "From the willow a flower shall spring, And the divided blossoms shall become one, sheltering from the locusts who will wilt the great rose.
Thalion's expression deepens into thought, and he pushes back his chair so that he can get his feet up onto the table. "Well... I'd say the great rose thingy is this place. Redwall. On account of it's large, and pinkish-red."
Otto nods and wrinkles his brow as he begins thinking too, "Hmmm, the locusts might be vermin. Considering all the talk of armies that's floating around, I think that's not far from the mark."
Treaglo is surprised at Thalion, and it shows in her face. "Er...nice job, that actually kinda makes sense." She stares at the wall, absent-mindedly chewing on a roll. "And the vermin thing makes sense too. Then what's the flower mean, the one that blooms from the willow...?"
Otto srcratches his head and replies to Treaglo, "That is a puzzler isn't it?"
Thalion leans back on the back legs of his chair. "Well, an army of vermin coming to sack Redwall is what we've got. So... Willow... willow... Ita said she was going to /Camp/ Willow. Maybe the flower's there."
Treaglo looks at Thalion. "Who's Ita? I've heard of Camp Willow, it's a place for otters..."
Otto shakes his head, "I doubt it's her. She practicalley despises this place now."
Treaglo glances at the each mouse back and forth. "Someone wanna tell me who she is?"
"Well, I didn't mean /her,/ obviously." Thalion looks at the older mouse with a bit of irritation. "She's an ottermaid," he confers to Treaglo. "I just thought it might be there."
Otto he taps the table with a finger and looks up saying, "Maybe it meens the whole of Camp Willow is the blossom?"
Thalion says, "And some kind of division they must have there will mend right up, and apparently it'll shelter us."
Treaglo leans her chin in the cup of her paw, still thinking. "Are you /sure/ this ottermaid isn't going to come back? She's from Redwall, so she might be called back to help..."
Otto puts his fingers togeher in a thoughtful manner and replies, "Hmmm. Perhaps. Though she seemed incredibly determined to leave."
Treaglo eyes each mouse. "Why did she leave?"
"I dunno. I had just met her." Thalion looks at the squirrelmaid curiously. "Why so eager to find out? She just got mad and stormed out."
Treaglo glances back at Thalion. "Well, it seems somehow that she's a part of this...does she have something to do with Jo?"
"I don't think so. Far as I could tell, she hates the guy." Thalion shrugs. "Seemed far more interested in me, actually, which was kinda strange, considering we'd just met an' all." He pauses. "I /had/ just done /that,/ though." He points at the kitchen door.
After a moment of awkward silence, Thalion speaks again. "Maybe you'll have another vision and Martin will get his act together this time, Otto. Maybe this was just a test to see if we could figure it out."
Otto nods, "Maybe. Although Martin /rareley/ shows up withought reason."
Treaglo scratches her head. "Aye, that could be true. Maybe he'll come again, but then again maybe not. I've heard he get be a pretty tricky beast when it comes to this stuff."
"Yeah, like I said." Thalion decides it's time to have another bite of roll. "Maybe it was a test."
Treaglo stands up, pushing Thalion's legs off the table none-too-gently. "I got an idea. Why don't we get some rest, and we'll figure the rest out later? Maybe if we get more heads together, we can actually do something with the riddle. Or per'aps Martin will give Otto another little pep talk." She winks at Otto.
Thalion allows Treaglo to move his legs, having decided he likes her well enough. The mouse gets to his feet, finishing off what was left of his roll, and heads for the kitchen. "Yeah, we'll see in the morning."
Otto smiles and rises himself, "Agreed although," he chuckles, "pPep talk is putting it mildley." He waves to the two and sayes, "Thanks for the help." He heads to the bunks wondering /how/ he can possibly sleep with these questions in his head.
Treaglo waves back, and calls after Thalion, "G'night, Thalion."
Thalion smiles and waves in return. "Night, Treeglow!"
Treaglo silently shakes her head with a quiet smile, and heads for bed.
