A Visit to the Abbey

Characters: Benar, Will, Starlenia

Location: Redwall Abbey

Redwall Abbey: Kitchen Yard

Benar is sat in the Kiln, on his stool working clay, head down, dressed in shorts, vest and his apron, working away shaping a vase, humming to himself as he works.

Will walks out to the kitchen yard and straight to the kiln. It's habit for the rat, even though with his left arm still in a sling he can't really use the kiln. He stands outside the kiln and grins at the familiar squirrel inside. "Hello, Benar," he greets the novice, "We're back. You wouldn't know where I could find a lute around here would you? I could buy one at th market but I though I'd look here first and I thinking about making a wagon too." The one-eyed rat peers over the squirrl, "What ya making?" he asks.

Benar looks up and mms and then smiles, "Wil dear how nice to see you," his clay coated paws keep working, ladling more water on his creation. "A set of flower vases for the great hall. And a lute? I'm afraid not... If we do have any they'll be in the old music room but they are Abbey property."

The rat nods, "Ok. Have t buy one then. Did you ever figure out how t make corks? I'd been meaning t ask about that but lot of stuff going on. First with th trip and now with Mum gonna have a baby. Fall's been real busy."

Benar says, "mmm oh yeah Corks, I can do corks, you need the wood from a certain kind of tree however, Cedar is best to make good corks."

Will clarifies, "Actually I meant clay corks. Like that fox asked for a long time ago. I tried it before th trip but I didn't have much luck."

Benar exclaims, "Oh! Those yeah.. I can make them, they are tricky to make however, how many did you need?""

Will smiles and holds his paw up to stop the squirrel, "I don't need any right now, I just wanted t know if you'd figured it out or not. I know they must be tricky since I haven't figured it out yet. Making them's not so hard it's making them so they work that's th problem. I'll probably figure it out later. Might have been able to already but," he motions toward his bad arm, "things seem to be working against me right now," he chuckles.

Benar smiles softly and nods his head, "well when you arm is fixed come and talk to me about them, I can show you how I make them.

Will nods, "I will. Should just be a few more weeks. Depends on what Pa says."

Benar smiles and nods his head, "Well tell him I am always happy to walk down to Moledeep and show you there if he does not want you traveling up to the abbey."

"I don't think that'd be the problem so much as if he'd want me using my arm a lot right after it's healed. But I'll tell him anyway. I have a kiln there of my own, not quite as nice or big as this one but it's real nice. My brother made th oven for me an Pa bought a wheel t go with it. Already found out I can't use it with just one arm. Lot of stuff I can do still with only one arm but that's not one of them. I don't think he'd mind me coming here but you never know and once th baby's born he an Mum might want everyone close by t help with th baby."

Benar smiles and nods his head, "Well I am glad everything is going well for you there at Moledeep, and your family too" he looks around and considers, "Once your arm is fixed I am sure you can build its strength back up again."

Will shrugs a little, "Don't see why not. .... Are you goring to be busy around th beginning of Spring?" the rat asks suddenly.

Benar smiles, "Not really that busy, spring tends to be a quiet month for the abbey."

"Ah good. There isn't a day picked yet still have lot of stuff t work out but it will be in th first or second week of Spring. And you an Flicky, Miz Gwen, Martha, Harper an Darcey, Abbot Nic and all Flicky's dibbuns an Miz Fae and Lucus an Layne if they want to come are invited t come to Moledeep. Well actually it'll be in th willow grove near there but you can just come t th tunnel and we'll tell you where t go or whatever. And there will be cake. A big cake since there'll be so many beasts coming. It may have been easier t have it here but Mum and Amy both would not like that and I'm lucky I can invite any beasts at all as it is. I'd invite everyone from here, but Mum an Amy wouldn't like it and might leave case they don't like crowds. Amy's better with them then Mum but better t be safe then mess everything up. And if not everyone can come that's ok, but I'm still gonna ask." the rat hardily pauses for breath as he talks but this is far from unusual for him.

Benar chuckles, "Well I'll be glad to come Wil but I need to know.. what are we celebrating? You've not told me yet." he sets the completed vase to the side and smiles as he picks up another lump of clay.

Will blinks and ohs, "Oops. Sorry. Well this coming Spring we'll be celebrating my wedding. I know Spring is still a long way away ... still a long long way away ... but I wanted t ask and find out who can come and who can't before Spring and most of the stuff that needs t be done wont be done til th end of Winter or it's hard stuff that I have t do myself so I'm trying t do th easy parts first. And a lot depends on when Amy'll be able t walk again too and then there's th new baby that's gonna be born and lots of stuff."

Benar blinks, "You? Getting married? Aren't you a bit young?" he shakes his head, "Well congratulations I guess Wil. I will be happy to be there."

The rat sighs, "Yes me getting married next Spring. Two seasons from now or something like that. Yes I'm only six and a half /now/. But by Spring I'll be eight and a half, half a season older than Pa was when he got married th first time. And Amy'll be nine in th Spring, same as Mum was when she married Pa this past Summer." The rat relaxes a little since the squirrel doesn't seem to disapprove so much as be surprised. "It's still a long way off but I wanted t get th word out and who knows what Abbot Nic may be doing or Flicky, being Abbey champion, so I figured th sooner I told you all th sooner you could make plans or work around stuff if ya needed to."

Benar says, "Ahhh of course sorry I wasn't thinking about time like that. And Nicodemus is no longer abbot my young friend. But I am sure Nicodemus will visit if he is able to do so.

Will hmms, "He's not? I'd heard that and then Flicky said he still was and th new Abbot was also Abbot. Guess that changed. Don't know where Nic is now so you think you or somebeast around here could tell him he's invited to my wedding this Spring for me?"

Benar shakes his head, "Do not... listen to everything Flicktail says, our ways still confuse him. Nicodemus might on occasion be referred to as Abbot out of respect for the office he once held. But technically he is once more just brother Nicodemus, former Abbott of Redwall."

Will shrugs, "I just called him Nic at first, only added th Abbot part cause some beasts didn't know who I was talking about otherwise. So would you or somebeast here be able t tell him he's in invited t th wedding? I can write it down for you if you need me to."

Benar chuckles, "I think he'd prefer you to call him Nic, I would suggest writing something down, we can make sure he gets it. He is off traveling with his wife after all."

Will nods and thumbs through his pack a moment looking for something to write with. "Ok," he scrawls the details down on a piece of paper quickly and holds it out to the squirrel, "Here. That's says he's invited and it's at Moledeep toward the end of the second week of Spring or there about. And it says there will be cake."

Benar smiles and takes the paper, "Thank you, I will make sure he gets it Will, how long are you here in the abbey for?"

"Not too long," Will says, "I'd like t make a wagon for th baby but I'm not quite sure how and I need t get a new lute for Amy but I probably 'll have t go down to th market for that. She lost hers on th trip. Wish we could have found it but it probably got smashed from th fall. She'd had it forever. It was a gift from her father, so not gonna be easy t just get her a new one. But I know she'd be happier if she had another one."

Benar nods his head and frowns, "Mmm I could help with the wagon, I know a bit about wood working and making wheels."

Will smiles a little, "That'll help. I don't know wood working but I do know what a wagon looks like and how it's supposed t work just not how t put one together and the getting it to work part. .... Ok so I don't know anything about making a wagon. Hmmm, it'll need t be big enough for a otter dibbun t fit in it comfortably, a big otter dibbun most likely. And probably a ... Eh should make it big enough t hold two since Chris'll want t ride in it too and maybe even Kluna. And it'll need t be strong enough t hold them and a good load of wood without them in it for Winter, might as well make it useful for something other than dragging dibbuns around the gardens in. .... This is gonna take a while."

Benar smiles, "Leave it to me, I'll see what I can do in my spare time, give me a month and I'll have a proper wagon built for you."

Will grins, "Ok. Thanks. Wish I could make it myself, but I think I could make them something else and it'd be better for them t have a good wagon instead of one that might need t be fixed all th time."

Benar winks and starts to clean his hands setting aside another vase, "I'll teach you how, we can do it together if you like."

Will asks, "You mind if my brother helps to? He said he wanted t help with th wagon sides I still need t want til my arms' better before I can do a lot of stuff."

Benar says, "Not at all... mmm can he be here tomorrow? I will be free then and we can make a start on it together and that gives me time to get things together.

Will chews on his lip, "I'll ask him when I see him again but I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't be able to come. He does have a baby but Garnet and their two older sons can watch him as can Pa an Mum and Amy even. So that shouldn't be a problem. He did hurt his one paw real bad but ... I'll ask him anyway.

Benar nods his head and smiles, "Ok well you just let me know I can always free up time when you are both available."

Will nods, "Ok. I'll ask him if he still wants to help when I get home and even if he doesn't I'll come back here tomorrow or soon as I can."

Benar asks, "Ok I look forward to it Will, you take care getting back home you understand?"

Will salutes the squirrel with a smile, "Yes sir, I understand, sir." He grins, "I'll be careful, Benar. Don't worry. Sides I hear that vermin fox is locked up in th bell tower. Hope they got th right one this time. Woods should be lot safer if they did."

Benar sighs, "I doubt he will stay there... he is growing to be an annoyance."

Will gives the squirrel an odd look when he tries to change the subject. "What will be done about the fox, he won't just stay in the bell tower forever. And as nice as it would be I can't see the Abbeybeasts letting him stay there til he starves to death. Surely you know what he's done to beast and will do again if he ever gets the chance. This isn't just because he took my eye. I met him more than enough times that revenge is not of importance. It's getting rid of him for everybeast's good that's important!"

Benar sighs and closes his eyes , he lifts a shelf and slides it into the kiln and slides the door shut, "I do not know, that will be up to the Abbot and the Champion..."

The rat sighs trying to calm himself, "Flicky, last I saw him, was sleeping in th hall at Moledeep when I left t come here. He was visiting Mum. With th new baby coming he wanted t visit I guess. He's Flicky he doesn't that. I haven't met th new Abbot, heard of him but never met him yet. Doubt they'd let him free. Not sure what they can do, he's a tricky one that fox. I've seen him trick beasts and heard about th battle here with two or so Flicktails. Anba Hor's been killed at least four time and yet he's alive and now thankfully locked up. If that /is/ him. .... If I can I will be here tomorrow t help with th wagon and I'll ask Kentar if he still wants t help or not. .... If we didn't need t get things from th Abbey t live and if most of my friends didn't live here I'd have no reason t come here anymore." the rat shakes his head.

Benar nods his head and closes his eyes with a sigh, "I know... it is... worrying... but I am sure the Abbey Elders will come up with something."

Will sighs, "I hope so. Abbey isn't likely t kill him and sure can't let him go. Why can't he stay in the tower anyway, what's the problem other than the order thinking he should be allowed t eat and such like any other beast."

Benar nods his head and sighs, "Maybe we will hand him over to Camp Willow or the GUOSIM or the Long Patrol to deal with..."

Will chews on his lower lip, "Don't know much about th GUOSIM but Camp Willow is close t home and I know they've fought him before. Hmm hard decision. I'd vote th hares though. Otters are not a beast one wants t mess with but hares are much worse. Don't know about shrews though."

Benar nods his head and smiles, "Well maybe I will suggest that, we petition the mountain to take care of him for us."

Will nods, "Why not they seem t have done a good job with that hare Craven. I haven't seen him since Harper wrote th mountain but I guess he's been taken care of by somebeasts by now."

Benar nods his head and sighs, "We will contact them and see what they say."

Will nods again, "If they don't want him guess you can ask th Skipper at Camp Willow or th nearest Log-a-log or whoever will take him. If he does end up at Camp Willow instead I may have t stop by there and see what they do with him."

Benar looks at the rat and nods his head, "Understood... but enough about this fox! I am sick of hearing about him."

Will nods a smiles a little, "Alright. Good t know he's been caught though. I'll have t tell Pa an th others when I get home. They'll be glad t know he's locked up."

Benar smiles, "Aye I think all of Mossflower is happy to hear he is locked up."

Will says, "Yes, I'm sure. Very glad. So anything else happen around here while we were gone?"

Benar says, "Mmm not really, nothing I can think of myself. Been rather quiet... oh I am going out with Gwennythe."

Will blinks clearly confused, "Uh ... Miz Gwen?" The only Gwennythe he knows is a bat and while she's very nice the rat is now very puzzled, "Miz Gwen th bat?" he asks still confused, maybe there's another maid named Gwennythe around here he hasn't met.

Benar says, "Yes Gwen the bat... we are a walking out together now."

Will is still confused. "Um ok. She's very nice," he says having no idea what the squirrel is talking about.

Benar smiles, "She is yes... mmm think of it... like you're intend to get married no? You had to get to know them first? We are... very good friends like that."

Will chuckles, "I don't think it's quite th same. Unless Miz Gwen told you you an her were gonna get married soon as possible cause it was in both your best interests and then she moved in to your home to live with you and your family who though you and her were either joking or crazy.

And she says /I'm/ not normal when it was /her idea/ in the first place."

Benar blinks and frowns, "That doesn't sound like a marriage I or any abbey beast would approve of... if you are not marrying her because you want to, but because she insists.... it is wrong. One should marry for love and nothing else....."

Will sighs, "I didn't know I'd have to explain that 'I will be old enough to get married by Spring and that yes I do love the girl I'm going to marry and she loves me but that is not the /only/ reason we are getting married' to everyone I'm inviting. I just got through hearing this all Summer from my parents. Do I have to go through it with everyone else too? It's really annoying."

Benar smiles, "Sorry Will, I am afraid everyone who cares about you will ask you the same question." he touches the rat's paw and smiles, "But if in the end it is what you truly want we will of course give you both our support."

Will sighs and smiles a little, "Maybe I should write down th answers and just pass it out to everyone, save time. I'd only have t say it if somebeast couldn't read it for themselves. I know everyone asks cause they don't want me t do something like this if it's a mistake but it's /not/. And by Spring she'll be able t walk again and with a lot of luck she might act civil to everyone. Still have a little over a season left t work on that and stuff."

Benar smiles softly at Will and nods, "Well I look forward to meeting her anyway Will, I am sure it will be a good wedding."

Will nods, "Hope so. That you'll all like her or at least not hate her. She's not the easiest beast t get along with. And I hope the wedding goes well too. We still have lot t do and we're writing our own vows like Pa an Mum did which is very hard. Harder cause I have to write mine and hers cause she can't write her own. Cause she's blind and even if she wasn't she doesn't know how t write anyway, but she will be able t walk by Winter if nothing goes wrong. I really hope nothings does go wrong."

Benar smiles and nods his head with a soft grin, "I am sure everything will be fine and Martin is smiling upon your union. So have no worries over that Will."

Will hmms, "Sure he isn't laughing? We've had a very eventful fall don't know if we could take much more excitement. Already have a new brother or sister on th way and a ship which we may buy and go off riding on but that may not happen now."

Benar smiles softly, "And a wagon to build and an arm to fix.... sounds like you have an exciting winter lined up."

Will chuckles, "My arm should be fine before winter and Amy should be able t walk by then too. I'm thinking the ship idea may not happen though. With the baby coming it'll make it really hard t do. I thought it up last Spring as a boat trip that me and Aikuen, he wasn't my pa then, Zen could do when Summer came but that didn't happen. And we changed it so it would be in th fall and it was gonna be me an Pa and Fira, his wife and my mum. But now it could be me, Pa, Mum and th baby and we'll be gone a long time and th baby won't know th others when we get back. And then if Mum doesn't want to go that makes it worse cause then it'd be me an Pa gone for a long time and th baby wouldn't know us when we get back which would be very bad. And we can't move the trip back t Winter cause I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work very well and any time after that just wouldn't work I don't think. And I wouldn't want t go by myself."

Benar smiles softly, "I've not seen Zen lately... where is he? And mmm well maybe it is something you can all do next year? That would be a nice summer trip."

Will nods, "It would have been a nice summer trip but ... Wait, w-when was the last time you saw /Zen/?"

Benar says, "mmm a few weeks ago now... just before we finished getting the harvest in."

Will sputters, "W-what? I was told last summer he was dead! Th- He's not dead? Zen's alive? The fox didn't kill him?"

Benar blinks and tilts his head, "But... I saw him the other week... he is fine William... just fine... I assure you. I suspect he never found the fox."

Will sighs, "Or the fox didn't find him." He takes a deep breath, "H-how long has, when did he get back? I know we were gone for weeks just now but ... I-I think I need to sit down." the rat lowers himself onto a neighboring stool and sighs, "I ... I'm glad he's ok."

Benar says, "I've not seen him in awhile like I said... so I couldn't say I have been very busy with the Harvest and my work out here in the kiln. I will tell him you where looking for him.

Will nods, "Please do if you see him, I'd like to talk with him. He may have gone to his house. He has a house in th grasslands. I may just go see him myself, I think I remember how t get there. Pa an me walked him there once cause he wanted t get some things from there and bring them back t th Abbey. .... Thank you, Benar. For offering t help with th wagon and telling me about Zen. I .... I probably should head home now. They'll be worried if I'm gone all day. I'll see you tomorrow I guess." The rat gets up and waves a little at the squirrel before walking off back toward the kitchens, letting this new information sink in.

Redwall Abbey: Kitchen

Will walks into the kitchen from the gardens slowly still a little dazed from learning that Zen was alive and not dead as he'd been told seasons ago. He doesn't pay any attention to the beasts who may be in the kitchen as he goes to sit in unoccupied chair somebeast had been using previously to reach something.

Starlenia is in the kitchen again, brandishing a wooden knife and looking very intently at the sheet of dough in front of her. Well, noone really said they had to be /well-made/ dumplings. "Um. Yes, Si-sister?" she answers, ears twitching, and turns around -- and, er, bumps right into Will with a nervous squeak. Um.

Will blinks at the squirrel a moment or two before scrambling out of her way. "Sorry, Miz. Didn't see you there," he says in way of an apology.

Starlenia blanches, but rallies rather well and puts on a calmer face. "U-um, I-I," she stammers, "I'm s-s-sorry, I-I didn't s-see you. Um. Th-th-there."

Starlenia tries to step back a bit, but... bumps into a countertop. Er.

Will nods a little in response and stays out of the squirrels way but he's not feeling that well so way not hang around the kitchen for a little longer. "Are you ok?" he asks the squirrel when he notices her backing away.

Starlenia nods. "Um, I-I'm quite a-alright, th-thank you," she answers. "You-you s-sss-startled me."

"Sorry. I didn't see you. I just came in from outside, talking with Benar. Uh novice Benar," the rat explains, "I'm sorry I scared you. Didn't mean to." He watches the squirrel to see what she'll do.

Starlenia watches the rat carefully. "B-be--oh," says the novice slowly, thinking aloud. Her mind's still coming back from cooking, and she seems scatterbrained more than anything. "I'm alr-right."

Will smiles a little, "Yeah, Benar. He's in th order. I met him back when he first decided t join th Abbey. I was telling him about what've been going on at home and he told me what's happen at th Abbey. He's one of my friends here and I guess my master you could say since he's taught me how t use th kiln out there an get better at making things. Well not today, but before." he amends since he couldn't have been out working at the kiln with a broken arm.

Starlenia opens her mouth, and closes it. And nods, instead. She does know Benar, though only in that fuzzy 'that's probably him' way of the only-vaguely-acquainted, and reaches back for the knife. "I-I've, um, I'm s-s-sorry, only I've to c-cut these out," she says, glancing at the dough wasting away on the table behind her. "E-excuse me..?"

Will nods. "Ok. I should be getting back anyway. Sorry t bother you." the rat says quietly as he moves off into the great hall nodding to the beasts in the kitchen as he leaves.