A Starry Night in the Garden
Characters: Bree, Hactor, Treaglo
Location: Redwall Abbey: Late Rose Garden
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Late afternoon, early evening...Treaglo's favorite time to drift off- besides dawn. She's lost is the vivid colors of the rose garden. She gathers flowers, picking each one carefully and sniffing its petals with happiness. She's a flower-loving kind of squirrelmaid. The bells on her head tinkle faintly as she continues to stroll.
And in enters Lady Regent Bree, peering around with those curious brown eyes of hers at the flowers. She's dressed in a simple silk red dress today - matching in color to the bright red of the roses. Her eyes, however, are soon caught by the squirrel, and a smile in greeting appears, "Lady Treaglo! It's a pleasure to see you again."
Hactor also strolls into the garden from the opposite direction. He is dressed in a purple tunic and pants today. (It's too hot to wear his cloak.) He notices the two other beasts and bows saying, "Lady Soulslash. Lady Squirrel. How are you today?"
Treaglo knows the only one who would call her that is one of the Abbey's newest guests. She turns around with a cheery smile, and lifts the flowers up to sniff them dramatically in the same movement. "You too Bree! I was jus' picking some of these pretty petals to decorate with...y'know, get away..." Then she sees Hactor. That fox is everywhere. She sighs, a little forced smile upon her features now. Her paw of flowers fall down from her face disappointedly.
Bree's smile briefly grows warmer, "They're quite lovely, Lady Treaglo. Where were you planning on decorating?" And then, a small dip of the head to Hactor, "Good evening, Sir Hactor! How has your day faired?"
Hactor smiles at Bree and replies, "Well thank you." He then noticed Treaglo drop her petals and shifted a bit. He coughed and asked, "Umm How has your day faired...Treaglo wasn't it?"
Treaglo continues to pick flowers slowly, with great care not to 'hurt' them, replying to Bree. "I like to decorate...everywhere. All inside the Abbey." A smile appears and disappears. "But somebeast always rips 'em down anyway." She straightens up for a moment to curtsy just a bit at Hactor. "M'day was fine, sir. And...yes, that's my name." She adds the last part slowly, beginning to study his face again...
Bree turns a friendly expression in Hactor's direction, "Excellent, Sir Hactor. My apologies again for leaving your feast so early last night. I hope my reasons were understandable," And then, to Treaglo, "That's tragic! Maybe we can find a space for you, where your decorations might last?"
Hactor nods to Bree and replies, "Not at all. I just hope your husband is well and active soon." He folds his arms behind his back and says to Treaglo a quick look of concern passing his face, "Ripping them down eh? Well that'll soon be fixed. We could use the decoration in that Hall." He grinned ever so slightly and continued, "I'll have a word with the guards later."
A brief, fleeting look of surprise crosses the squirrelmaid's face, looking Hactor up and down for no apparent reason. She curtsies again absent-mindedly. "Thank...you. My, er, these flowers are jus' too beautiful to pass up a good picking, sometimes." She gives a slowly growing grin, reaches down and picks a small, budding pale pink rose. "This...goes prettily with your nice dress," she says as she hands the rose to Bree. She picks another lavender-colored rose and sticks it in the mess of her hair, laughing a little.
Bree accepts the flower, taking a quick sniff before tucking it carefully in her own headfur, "Thank you, Lady Treaglo! It matches beautifully. I'll be certain to tell Jirael it's from him - I'm sure he'll be just as pleased by it. If you don't mind my curiosity, how long have you lived within these walls?" And, to Hactor, "I'm afraid I've forced him to rest one more day, to ease my own mind. He'll be up again soon, though. He's trained far harder than our travels could have possibly taken out of him."
Hactor replied with a smile, "I'm glad to hear. I hope to speak with him very soon." He looked at the flowers for a moment in thought then asked, "And your father. Would it ever be possible to arrange a meeting in the future?"
Treaglo counts the flowers in her bouquet, cocking her head a bit as her she focuses at them- but replies clearly. "Oh, not long...maybe only a few weeks. I read a lot 'bout the Abbey though, I was curious. It's not like I was raised here or anything." A carefree smile is still upon her. She doesn't pay much attention to Hactor, she'd rather keep her mind of the pleasant garden.
Bree tilts her head slightly to one side, her expression toward Hactor appearing quizzical, "My father?" And, a smile back toward Treaglo, "Really? Where is it you're from?"
Treaglo furrows her brows with her head bowed, but she raises it cautiously. "North. The woodlands far north. I came here alone, and by chance...well I was traveling with my brother, but I, well he, disappeared, I guess you could say. That's the very short version, heh." She smiles, with a hint of guilt or sadness or something, and eyes Hactor. She can't help but be very aware of his ever-presence.
Hactor can since Treaglo's staring but doesn't return the stare. Instead he asks Bree politely, "Yes your father. He is still living?" a slight breeze blows the old fox's long hair, but he still stands firm.
Bree shakes her head, "I haven't the faintest, to be honest. I was an urchin, in my day - I've never known my father. Perhaps, however, you're referring to my husband's father, Lord Merdez?" And now to Treaglo, some concern creeping in her expression, "Disappeared?"
Hactor chuckles and replies, "Ah yes how stupid of me." But then on hearing of missing brother turns to Treaglo. One would assume he looked a bit uncaring. But if you look closely into his eye, you could see a flash of interest and concern. It was always his eyes that could give away his emotion. Even before he was a warlord.
Treaglo nods, her gaze blinking from Hactor to Bree. "Just before I came upon Redwall...stoats, a band of stoats took him. They ambushed us and jus' took him. Somewhere. That I don't know. And the rest of m'family are, or rather should be, still at our little farming village. That's my hope, though it's been a pretty long while since my brother and I left- I was only a Dibbun." She shifts her weight, not extremely fond of talking about it in front of both of them, in particular the contradictory old fox. "Er, that's still a shortened story, but...that's basically it, I s'ppose.”
Bree nods to Treaglo, though the discomfort doesn't go unnoticed. The subject is quite abruptly changed, "Might I ask, by the way - where would I find Sir Skip, should I be looking for him?"
Hactor snorts a bit at the mention of Skipper but quickly says, "Not sure really. He comes and goes. I'm sorry for his...gruffness at last nights dinner."
"Heh. He's pro'lly either in th'pond or kitchen, like most otters." She pauses a moment, reflecting on last night. Her eyes are bright with kindliness. "Missus Bree, why, uh, if y'don't mind me asking, have you come t'Redwall?"
Bree shakes her head quickly, "He was fine, I assure you, Sir Hactor. However...please let me know if you happen to get word of where he may be." And then, a grin at Treaglo, "Ah! I'll be sure to check there first. ...We've come to Redwall to get a sense of what's happened here, and discover if this was truly the will of the Stars. We wanted to be assured of your well being and treatment, as well as to meet Sir Hactor here for ourselves."
Hactor ahs and nods. He listen's to her explanation for coming and his ears perk when she mention’s the 'Will of the stars'. He asks, "M'lady. Please explain to me ..exactly what do the stars have to do with your coming?" He was becoming more and more fascinated by the both of them.
Treaglo gives a very animated, curious look to the vixen. "Er, 'scuse me for saying something kinda...blunt, but why would you care about us here? You came from far 'way, I'm sure. And..." She listens to Hactor's question, which finished her own. She notices a dying flower and picks it gingerly, then begins pulling the petals off one by one like the young maid she is.
Bree smiles slightly, "It's everything to do with it. Let me ask you both this - Why is there suffering in the world?"
Hactor scratches his chin at the questiona and thinks for a long moment. He finally gives up and answers, "Couldn't say. Many diffrent things I sappose." He then turnes to Treaglo, waiting to hear her answer.
Treaglo frowns very deeply and stares at the bare stem in her paw. "I dearly wish I knew th'answer to that question...I try to see the good in people, but I find myself disappointed by otherbeasts. Especially when something like this happens." She waves her paw around, indicating the Abbey, and points to the vermin sentries on the battlements. A fleeting glance is directed toward Hactor before looking back to Bree.
Bree nods slightly, speaking with that eloquent, cultured dialect of the royal Family, "It's because creatures want more than they have. ...They long for more. They fight for more. They are miserable when they can't get it...But, a beast that is happy knows what is theirs. Knows their place. Holds it. Keeps it."
Hactor nods mulling this information over in his head. He replies after a few moments, "So exactly what is your point mam. Your words are indeed very wise but they don't quite answer my question?"
Bree nods to Hactor, offering another smile, "You'll see, Sir Hactor." And then, she continues, "...You see, a beast that is happy lives in perfect relation to their world and their surroundings. They have Order." And then, a gesture toward the darkened sky above, where stars have crept out into the night sky, "A star. The stars are eternal, unchanging, and even as they move across the heavens, even as they change position, their interrelation remains the same. This is the supreme example of harmonious interrelation, the model for the imperfect world beneath the firmament. The Star wants the world to mirror their Order. And they give hint of their wishes...via the North Star. The Star of Narsilis."
Hactor nods beginning to ever so slightly understand. He replies gazing at the stars, "Fascinating. Though my advisor and I belief in another reason for violence in this world, Though he believes in it more than I do." He looks back to Bree and continues, "I'm afraid it's far less.... romantic as your philosophy, but if you wish I will share it with you."
Bree gives a slight nod, her attention turning toward Hactor, "Certainly."
Hactor nods and folds his arms behind his back. He replies, "Well I don't believe in this philosophy as a whole mind you. But in anycase here is how my advisor, Anba_Hor puts it. There is a God of Chaos named Zorr. He is a fox deity of course, and also goes by many other names. The Sly One, The Crule One, The cunning etc. etc." He paused a moment collecting his thoughts then continued, "Well there is a thing called 'The Balance.' Anba tells me that all good, and all suffering in the world must be evened out. And when it is not Zorr has individuals fix The Balance. These individuals are to be rewarded in the afterlife apparently." He shook his head, "Personally your beliefs sound much more attractive."
Bree smiles slightly, nodding, "Well - I'm glad to hear are beliefs sound favorable to you. Jirael, I'm quite certain, would be delighted to discuss them with you further, should time arise. It would please him greatly."
Treaglo is drinking this all in, becoming thoughtfully silent as they talk about...supernatural things, supposedly. She turns her head and gazes over the faded, darkening garden flowers. Her head goes up to look at the flickering stars and surreal nighttime clouds as Bree talks about them, and it stays there as Hactor talks as well. "I...well I think what you say about everybeast is true. We all want something out o'life, but I also think that some are more content with the simple things than others. Being happy /is/ a lot simpler than others perceive it, I believe. Happiness can be as simple as family, friends, and flowers." She smiles a little sheepishly, but her face shows contentment.
Hactor hears Treaglo and smiles faintly. He never quite knew family but he did know friends. And not the kind that stab you in the back. On hearing the vixen he replies, "Ah yes that would be nice. Your husband seems to be a very wise beast."
Treaglo adds with soft innocence, "Yes, he does seem wise, I think. And I dunno 'bout all the star stuff an' everything, but it sure sounds dreamy." Her eyes are still to the stars wistfully.
Bree smiles warmly at Treaglo, "I didn't use to believe in them, to be honest. It sounded strange when I first heard it. Lord Merdez - my husband's father, was very patient with my questions. If you're interested in knowing more, Jirael and I will be at your service whenever you need us."
Hactor stares once again at the stars with his good eye and replies, "Well in anycase thay are very pretty." He then replies to Bree, "You're husband's father. I should hope to meet him one day as well."
Treaglo snaps back from her dreaminess, and looks to Bree with honest gratitude. "Thank you...heh." She says this quietly, and slowly. Then she glances to Hactor and taps her chin a bit...wondering what this apparently famed Lord Merdez is like. If he's like Bree, then he shouldn't be too bad. But she is hit with the cold fact that he /is/ a fox, and the nice beasts of Redwall and the surrounding country are probably not his favorite beasts. And vice-versa. But she's thinking too much again. "Ah well, maybe I should put these inside for safe-keeping." Sigh.
Bree hesitates as she looks over at Hactor, "...He's growing old, I'm afraid, and cannot travel. But. Perhaps, if it's your wish, you may visit one day." And a nod to Treaglo, "Of course, Lady Treaglo. ..Do you need any help carrying them back? I should be getting back to Jirael, myself."
Hactor nods and senses that this chance meeting is over. He replies to Bree, "Ah. Yes one day perhaps." He then turnes to Treaglo and says, "I'm sure they'll look very pretty." He gave them both a light bow before strolling off to the wall to see the view.
Treaglo watches Hactor with a cheerful little nod as he departs. She looks down again at her flower bunch and pulls out a few, giving the mini-bouquet to the fox lady. "Here, I'm sure this will brightened up your room, 'specially in th'morning. If you get up early enough, they sometimes seem to turn different colors under the sunrise." She winks light-heartedly. "I can get th'rest by myself, thanks though. P'raps you can help me put these up around the Hall and Cavern Hole later?"
Bree smiles brightly as she accepts the flowers, "I'd be quite happy to help the next chance I get. As always, it was a pleasure, Lady Treaglo." And with that, the Lady Regent slips off to check on her other half.
Treaglo gives a warm smile and a little curtsy, kind of a mock-curtsy, but still. She heads off a bit deeper into the garden, deciding that she wants to enjoy the silence for a while and let her thoughts go before she goes to sleep. Though she will probably fall asleep outside. Oh well, it's a beautiful night and no one's around to stop her, she thinks to herself and smiles.
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