Hey, Dora! Wanna go to Salamandastron? The Spirit of Martin the Warrior will even deliver a message to you about it! :D

From Redwall MUCK Wiki


RW Abbey: Gatehouse Loft

This room is as wide as the one below it, if not quite as tall. The roof meets at a visible point above your head. There is a single window that looks out over the entry area of Redwall, but it is quite small and has thin pale blue curtains partially drawn over it. The room itself appears to have been very recently remodeled by a skilled craftsbeast and it also has been well furnished with a wooden bed frame that is complete with a head and footboard, two small chests of drawers, a simple chest sitting at the bottom of the bed and on the floor is spread a thick woven rug. The bed is just the size for two beasts to sleep in it comfortably and it is covered in a mid-weight blue blanket and made complete with two pillows. In one corner of the room, is a beautifully constructed baby cradle. The entire area has a very peaceful, secure feeling about it with few shadows but rather soft, warm light spread by several candles placed strategically about and a lit oil lamp hanging from the rafters.

Exits: Climb [Down] the Ladder

Benar the male squirrel. Leon the male mouse. DoraRose the female mouse.

A lazy late summer lunchtime, the sky outside is blue, the air is crisp and the silence of beasts taking a break from harvest is the loudest noise. Right up until Benar knocks smartly on the door to the cottage.

Leon is inside today, hey he isn't always in the infirm, he looks to the door and speaks "You can come in." He says loudly.

DoraRose is also here, laying on the bed, eyes covered with her arm. She grunts slightly at the knock, and then again at her husband's volume as he invites the beast in. Taking a deep breath, she says with just as much loudness, "But do it quietly, please. My head is killing me." She is wearing just her green dress, and her apron is draped on a chair.

The door clacks open and Benar walks in, the abbot pauses to shut the door before turning to the mice, "Good afternoon Leon, DoraRose, I am glad you are both in, I was hoping to talk to you both about something important."

Leon looks over and nods "What is it? Did something happen?" He sounds a little worried, but hopes it's nothing he should worry on and waits to see what it is.

DoraRose peeks out from under her arm and sighs. "Was it Lily, or did something else happen?" She obviously is expecting her daughter to have gotten into trouble for some reason.

Benar says, "Hmm... oh no nothing bad, please calm down both of you." he walks over, a soft smile on his face, "Really everything is fine I just need to ask Dora and your permission for something is all Leon.""

Leon nods "Go on then" He says, yes he has calmed down and seems glad it's nothing to worry over.

DoraRose sits up and brings her arm from off of her face, wincing. "Ow, bright." she blinks up at the squirrel. "Alright, go on. My curiosity is piqued," she adds with a smile of her own.

Benar says, "You see Lilymoore has been clamouring at me to giver her a new book," he pulls out a piece of paper from his sleeve and unfolds it, "According to Lorimis' instructions I am supposed to giver her the Diary of Dandin the Warrior and the Chronicle of Mariel, just... Dandin's diary is filled with his personal experiences, including his romance and long wooing of Mariel. I am not sure if you want Lily reading that just yet. Lorimis says it is the next book but well you are her parents and he isn't here"

DoraRose thinks for a few minutes, slowly rubbing her forehead. "Well.....I think it......would /probably/ be okay. I mean, she's old enough to be learning about how other beasts court each-other."

Benar says, "Very well then, I'll give her the diary after her lesson tonight." he tucks the paper away, "There is just one more tiny little favour I'd like to ask of DoraRose, if Leon is ok with it. And that is to have Dora accompany my ambassador on a trip as a guard."

Leon listens "I think Dora would be fine going somewhere, she is a very good fighter. Is anyone else going?"

DoraRose sputters for a few moments, then says in a voice that's about an octave or 3 above her regular tone, "Wait, WHAT?! I can't....I shouldn't...where is the ambassador going?"

Benar tucks his paws inside the sleeves of his habit and sits down in a chair, "That is why I wanted to ask you both, I am sending an Ambassador to the Mountain of the Badgers, Salamandastron, with a message about the passing of Lorimis."

Leon listens and nods "Yes they should know of that." He looks at Dorarose, he will wait to see what she says, he knows how far is is to get there.

DoraRose stares at the Abbot, a strange, slightly strangled sound escaping from her. She points at him a few times, then manages to squeak, "How far is that???"

Benar says, "It is three weeks by foot, I fear you may have to spend the winter as guests in the mountain. Zinnia has agreed to be my ambassador." he looks toward Leon, "You are welcome to go as well, if you think Angela can hold down the fort here in the infirmary and you don't mind leaving the children in our care.""

Leon thinks on this "I...should probably stay here, I trust Dorarose to be safe on the trip there." He then looks surprised, "You managed to speak to Zinnia and get her to come out of a locked room?"

DoraRose starts shaking her head, then bolts upright and starts pacing agitatedly, waving her paws around in little circles. "But....but.....my family....how.....I can't.....would it....3 weeks, AND staying through the winter???"

Benar grins and pats his belt pouch, "It is amazing how locked rooms give in to you when you have a key for every door. Zinnia and I had a long talk, she is doing better," he looks at DoraRose, "I know it is a lot to ask, but I cannot send Flicktail, Lee is the captain of the guard, I do think there should be a third person, I was going to ask Lacota to go with you as a member of the Order, or someone else if you think of anyone better then Lacota."

Leon goes to lay a paw on Dora's shoulder "Calm down dear, it will be ok...I am sure Caleb and Lillymoore would be fine and if needed I .....could go maybe, if anything as a healer...Angela would be fine with the infirm. and that reminds me I do have a list of all the infirm supplies for winter so that's done."

DoraRose allows her husband to lay a paw on her shoulder as she slumps to the floor at his feet. "But....." she looks between the 2 malebeasts and sighs heavily. "...the last time I left my home, which was back in Tuscani......I found out, seasons later, that my parents had died. I.....I don't think I could handle it if....." she can't finish her sentence.

Benar looks at DoraRose and nods his head, "I understand, you are well within your right to say no. I'll ask another warrior to accompany Zinnia. But the two of you travelling together would be ideal in my mind. The children would be safe with me and the Abbey."

Leon nods "They would be safe with Lee and Flicktail dear and it may do you some good to get out of the abbey for a while. Also Zinnia will need someone she trusts to go with her and...I will go with you. The abbey is a very safe place"

DoraRose looks up at her husband, then goes to very gently and tenderly take his paw in her own. "You don't have to go if you don't want to." She sighs and rubs her forehead. "I do agree that it would do me some good to get out of here for a while. The amount of creatures, so many of them pacifists, grates on my nerves. No offense," she adds, glancing up at the squirrel. She sighs, then lifts her head from her paw. "I.....I'll do it. May the Fates protect us all," she adds in a mutter.

Benar smiles softly and inclines his head, "Thank you DoraRose, it means a lot to know that Zinnia will be in such good company. I will have the letters written up for you to present to the Badger Lord, and something for the Long Patrol. They'll likely find you first."

Leon smiles a little "I am still ok with going, it may help keep you calmer during the trip and...I never have really been there, well inside anyways"

DoraRose smiles up at her husband and goes to hug him as far up him as she can reach without standing up. "You're too good for me, you know that, right?" Looking at the squirrel, she nods. "I'll protect her as best as I can. Is there anything else about the route that I should know about? And do you mind if I teach her and Leon how to use slings? I feel a bit uncomfortable traveling with 2 non-combatants without knowing that they have a way of defending themselves if I get knocked unconscious or something."

Leon frowns, oh yes go and say something like that Dora, yep...he clears his throat "I do...know how to use a sling ..remember?"

Benar says, "I am afraid not DoraRose, they are members of the Order, actual weapons training of any kind is against the charter." he shakes his head smiling softly, "I have every faith in you being able to protect them. Besides Zinnia is a badger, most vermin will take one look at her size and scamper." he stands up and shakes out his robes, "Skills that one has garnered from before joining the order are one thing and can be used in a time of need. But actually training with something? Definetly not. as for the Route, Zinnia is the badger, the route is hers. All I can do is write."

Leon asks, "When is the trip?"

DoraRose suppresses a sigh. Again, pacifists. They bug the stuffing out of her sometimes. She goes to squeeze her husband's paw. "Oh, yeah, I had forgotten that, love. And you're pretty good at it, too." She stands and nods to the Abbot. "I understand. I'll make sure to....at least /try/to get Zinnia to tell me about any dangers I'll have to be on the lookout for."

Benar says, "You're leaving the day after the Autumn feast, I'll see to it you have all the supplies you need, we'll give you a rousing Redwall send off." He looks toward Dora, "As for the route, it is long and dangerous, a path walked only by badgers and hares normally. But Martin made the walk with Gonff and I believe you shall all be fine," he starts to move toward the door then freezes for a moment then speaks, his voice slow and quiet, his dark eyes clouded,

"Some say she has no direction,

That she's a light of speed and distraction,

That's a knee-jerk reaction,

This is the final frontier,

Everything is so clear,

To destiny you steer her,

companions true,

healer and warrior,

as it must be as the path is written so shall it be."

he then jerks, resuming the movement and walks to the door, "If you need anything else just let me know."

Leon tilts his head, "What did you say?"

DoraRose leaps forward and goes to grab the Abbot's sleeve. "Wait! You just said something!" She goes to whip him around to face her, revealing her great strength. She might be able to pick him up with ease if she really wanted to. "What just happened here???"

Benar staggers as Dora spins him around, catching himself against the mouse and then down he goes in a heap atop the smaller warrior, "What... I said tell me if there was anything else you needed." he flailed for a moment with his cowl and pushed it back, "Seriously DoraRose, be careful."

Leon frowns "No you said,

'Some say she has no direction,

That she's a light of speed and distraction,

That's a knee-jerk reaction,

This is the final frontier,

Everything is so clear,

To destiny you steer her,

companions true,

healer and warrior,

as it must be as the path is written so shall it be.'"

DoraRose is strong enough to hold them both up and goes to hold him firmly by his shoulders.....while helping him stay standing up. Unless he fell without dragging her down. Then she's trying to help him stand back up. "What Leon said. Except when you said it, your voice got all.....quiet. And your eyes got a funny look in them." She looks him dead in the eye and demands, not unkindly, "Did you see Martin when you said that?"

Benar stares at Leon for a moment then slowly stands back up, "I am afraid I do not remember saying that Leon, but if I did then listen to the words of Martin," he takes Dora's hands off his shoulders and smiles softly, "As for if I saw him, I see Martin all the time." he resumes his walk toward the door, "Now then I have much to do."

Leon blinks, "But...what does it mean?"

DoraRose drops her paws to her sides. "Aye....I see him sometimes in my dreams," she mutters, then looks back at her husband, smiling recklessly. "I like riddles. Let's see....." she rests her chin in her paw. "Hmm....Healer and Warrior....this came to Benar after we said that we would go.....he must've been talking about Zinnia!" She then shrugs and goes to escort the Abbot out the door. "But I haven't heard anybeast say that she has no direction. We'll have to work on it."

Leon says, "Well...she should know the way, she went before. I am unsure how..helpful she will be, she is still...I think still depressed by a lot"

Benar looks at DoraRose and shrugs, "I am afraid I cannot help you with interpreting his words, he gave them to you not I. So you three are the focus"

Leon looks around, gets a paper and quill and he then quickly writes down the words before they slip from his memory.

DoraRose nods, then smiles again. "Well.....this looks like fun. A journey that starts with a message from Martin. Thank you, Benar. I shall try to talk to Zinnia soon." She then goes over and starts working on memorizing the riddle.

Thanks for reading! When Benar dropped the Martin riddle on us (he gave us no warning, LOL), I may or may not have fan-girled. Hey, Martin Son of Luke is in my top 3 favourite Redwall characters, what else can I say? ;)

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