LilyMoore Louise likes to climb things.....
RW Abbey: Bell Tower
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The interior of the Bell Tower of Redwall Abbey is cool and
quiet. At least when the bells are not ringing and from inside
the care and workmanship devoted to the rebuilding can easily
be seen. After every forth row of sandstone bricks held in
place by mole made mortar is a row of stout cast iron brackets.
Designed to help support the hollow structure.
The iron work was also carried over into the beautiful wooden
staircase. The steps are made from carved oak planks pinned into
sockets in the wall by iron frames and the bannister has had a
lot of care and attention lavished on it. The hand-rail is oak
to match the steps but the balusters are made from cast iron
moulded into the shape of Mice wearing the robes of the order
of Redwall.
The stair spirals up the length of the tower, a span of at
least two storeys from the ground to the first floor. It is a
simple wooden floor filling the width of the tower and from
here the Bellringers can use the ropes to sound the Matthias
and Methuselah bells.
From the first floor an iron ladder set into the sandstone
wall allows access to the actual Belfry where the bells are
hung. It is possible to climb all the way up to the open canopy
at the top of the building and the huge rafters that support
the twin bells of Redwall Abbey.
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Exits: [Out]side
Contents:
Matthias and Methuselah Bells
LilyMoore the mouse and Butterclaw the Sparra. Benar the squirrel. Mirabella, another mouse.
LilyMoore has arrived early. She very much wanted to not be late, and so she got here in plenty of time. She is sitting way up in the top of the tower, having actually climbed on top of the rafters holding the bells up. She is busily writing a letter, pausing every few sentences to chatter with her Sparra friend, Butterclaw. They seem very happy.
Benar walks up from down below, his habit held up in one hand to keep it from under his sandals. He stands on the last floor and folds his arms, looking up at the young mouse in the rafters and then scampers up the bell-pull to Matthias, swings himself up and plops himself down on the rafters next to Lily, "What have I told you about climbing up here Lilymoore?"
Butterclaw saw the squirrel coming and warned LilyMoore, so she doesn't jump when the Abbot hops up beside her. "Um....." she glances at the wall. "Don't do it with sticky paws?" She is very obviously guessing. She sits up and seals her letter shut, then hands it to her friend, who wisely uses her as a shield for just in case the squirrel gets mad. He tucks the letter into his bag and adjusts his bronze helmet. Good things he's a bird....they are /really/ far off the ground. How Lily is avoiding barfing everywhere is on of the mysteries of life.
Benar shakes his head "Do not do it at all, if you are not an adult squirrel, I do not expect to see you climbing anything without a good reason. You'll be trying to scale to the sparra loft next and well... that would not go well for you my dear." he grins then, "Well done for getting up here however."
LilyMoore grins back at him. "Thanks. It was easy. And this time I didn't even need Butterclaw's help!" The Sparra chirrups worriedly and peeks around the young mouse. "Lilymouse never notsay that Abbotworm talksay that sheno climb uphere."
Benar gives Lily a look then turns to Butterclaw, "Well then Lilymouse was most rude, she is not supposed to climb anything Butterlcaw. If you could see to keeping her on the ground. I'll see..." he turns to look at the mouse, "About taking her on a field trip to the attic sometime soon."
"Someone's got to tend the candles!" A distant voice rings into the building from outside. "I don't /care/ if I shouldn't be up," it continues, as the door below slowly creaks open and wood methodically begins to clonk against wood. Down below, Mirabella crutches in, somehow clutching a basket in one paw as she goes, muttering to herself. "My leg's just fine, goodness. As though I'll let someone else take care of my chores. I will /not/ be a burden."
LilyMoore cringes as the sparrow nods. "Butterclaw SparraWarrior willdo verybest to keep Lilymouse on Earthground, yousee!" The mouse slumps and rests her head on the rafter, then peeks up at the Abbot. "A feild trip? To the attic? What for? I thought there were just spiders up there." She jumps as the older mouse yells and hobbles into the belltower. Sitting up, she leans over and whispers to the squirrel, "She reminds me of Nana." Butterclaw waves a wing at the mouse in a friendly manner. "Goodhunting!"
Benar chuckles softly, "Not that attic," he points out of the transverse windows of the belfry at the peak of the abbey roof, "I mean the real attics, where the Sparra's live." he grins and then looks down at the loud voice. He steps off the window ledge, drops, grabs a bellrope and scampers down, landing on the upper platform, adjusting his habit and strolling down the steps. "Can I help you?" he asks softly, "I was about to start a lesson in here so it is about to get very noisy."
The noise above draws Mirabella's attention, and the mousemaid turns her face upwards, a bright smile immediately painting itself across her face as she sees the younger mousemaid. "Oh! Good afternoon to you!" Large green eyes blink with surprise as Benar descends, stuttering back on her crutches. "Father Abbot! How good to see you! I'm dreadfully sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, normally I would be in here much earlier in the day to check on the candle supply, but I've been a little slow today..." She doesn't mention why, but it's a fair bet it has something to do with the crutches and the sizeable splint on her leg.
LilyMoore stares at the Sparra loft and makes a sound somewhere between a gasp and a sigh. If that's possible. Butterclaw flutters down beside the Abbot and chirrups a very pretty little song. Lily loops a rope around the rafter and carefully climbs down it, not trusting the pawholds (or, rather, her grip on them) that she used on the way up. After reaching the floor where people stand to ring the bells, she scampers part of the way down the stairs and leans over the railing, hanging on very tightly to it. "You're in charge of the candles? That sounds very important." she says in an honest, but kind, voice.
Benar takes in the splint and the crutches, "Sister Mirabella isn't it?" he shakes his head, "It is no bother, you can place the candles whilst Lily practices bell-ringing. But I do wonder why you are walking about if you have had an accident? You should be resting so you do not injure yourself further." he watches Lily climb down, "Have you met Lilymoore?"
"Oh, it's not /sister,/" Mirabella stammers out, her pretty cheeks flushing at the incense of correcting the Abbot himself. "It's just Mirabella." Her crutches shift about nervously on the floor until the younger mouse catches her attention again. "Well, it's not /frightfully/ important," she chimes back, leaning into the crutches to free up her paws and switch the basket from one side to the other. "But it is necessary, and the light just looks ever so charming when the sun goes down." The Abbot's statement about resting is ignored. "I haven't met her yet, no! It's delightful to make your acquaintance, Miss Lily!"
LilyMoore grins and comes lightly skipping down the stairs. "You, too, thank you. But are you sure you shouldn't be resting? Your leg looks like it must hurt allot." Butterclaw smiles and flies out the window, taking the letter to its recipient.
Benar folds his hands inside his sleeves, "Ah, I was misinformed then, I am glad however to see one of our guests helping out, there are some beasts who do not take helping out seriously and take liberties with our hospitality. However I must insist if you have injured yourself you let a Novice take care of the candles, resting and healing properly is the most important chore if you are injured. If you push yourself too far you will only hurt yourself further."
"Oh, I would never presume to take liberties with the hospitality here, Father Abbot," Mirabella assures him, shaking her head and dropping her chin to show her sincerity and conviction. "And I did rest for quite some time! Brother Healer assured me that it was perfectly fine for me to return to my chores and duties, and so I have, and it's just wonderful to be helping people again." She beams brightly at the Abbot, eyes wide and cheerful. "I probably don't even need these dreadful crutches anymore, to be honest, but I wanted to humor Brother Healer. He does so try to be safe." She's fine! Really! Really.
LilyMoore narrows her eyes and tugs on the Abbot's sleeve. "I don't think Dad or Nana would say that. Are you sure you're okay?" She also wondering in the back of her mind if her mother is one of the beasts who takes advantage of the Abbey's hospitality, but she isn't going to ask that right now.
Benar quirks his ears at what is said by both mice then smiles, "Ah well I am sure you are right Mirabella, and I am no healer but I do know any guest in my abbey on crutches shouldn't be clambering to reach wall sconces and only Brother Leon can decide when someone's care is complete." he deftly sidles around Mirabella, looping an arm about her shoulders, "Lily be a dear and replace the candles here in the bell tower with fresh ones and then! I would like you to show Mirabella what you have learned! Play me a tune upon the bells, come Miss Mirabella let us sit down and listen to my student play Matthias."
"Well, really I'm fine, Father Abbot," Mirabella protests demurely, clutching tightly to her basket and tottering backwards on her crutches at the squirrel's touch, completely unsure of how to sit gracefully with these things. "I would feel positively dreadful if I knew some other beast was carrying my burden, and I'm sure Miss Lily has plenty of other, more important duties to attend to..."
LilyMoore darts forward and goes to take the basket away. If she succeeds, she's going to dance around the room and gracefully replace all the candles, and delighted grin on her face. She is trying to be fast (but efficient!) so she can hurry up and at least try to make music with the bell. "My duties are to learn how to ring the bells and obey my elders, especially my parents and the Abbot! Oh, and my great-grandmother."
Benar says, "Oh well yes, Lily has one very important task to perform right now as she said to ring the bells. She is training to be our Bell-ringer and a warrior like her mother. Which reminds me Lily did you finish that book yet? I have one on someone call Trisscar I think you should read."
Mirabella is going to hang onto that basket, thank you very much. The mousemaid hangs on gamely when Lily makes her grab, nearly tilting a few of the beeswax columns out onto the floor. "Gracious! Miss Lily, I really do appreciate your... thoughtfulness... really, I do, but I'm more than capable of taking care of my own chores." Thoroughly flustered now, she releases a dainty sigh, large green eyes blinking and ears laying back. "Why don't you play us a lovely song?"
Benar chuckles and reaches into the basket to take out some of the candles, "Yes, do play us a song and take care of these for me would you." he can be a sneaky thing when neccessary.
LilyMoore looks at the candles as she tugs on the basket. "So....ring the bell first, then try to pry the candles away, or....what?" It's not her fault she's confused! She's easily distracted and distractible! It's not her fault!!!!!
With a frustrated sigh, Mirabella watches the Abbot skim some of her precious cargo out of the basket. Fine. "...Father Abbot, I... you really are dreadfully considerate. I just love the spirit of goodwill everyone has here." For once, the cheer doesn't quite make it all the way into her words. It would appear the mousemaid is genuinely put out.
Benar says, "The candles first Lily, then the bells." he moves to one of the chairs he has had placed in here and sit down. "Hurry now Lily."
LilyMoore nods and takes the candles from Benar. Running around the room, she replaces the old candles and hands them to the Abbot. Then she runs over to the rope and starts to show what she has learned. She has done the best she can to remember how to play music with the bells, but we shall see how she does.
Benar smiles softly and settles back in his chair to listen to the deep, rich booming tone of the bells
"Are you quite sure this is safe?" Mirabella shouts, covering her ears. "It's frightfully loud!" Nevertheless, she takes a seat, arranging her crutches around her and doing her best to enjoy the noise.
Thanks for reading!
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