Marek has a friend (Redemption of Marek TP)
Redwall Abbey Graveyard
Marek the stoat. LilyMoore the mouse.
LilyMoore is feeling much better than she was a few days ago, having had plenty of tea and soup and herbs from her great-grandmother. The young mouse was, however, getting very tired of the Infirmary, and so this morning has snuck out. She's feeling almost all better, anyway...she should be able to leave now! She jogs over to the graveyard, clothed in a new brown tunic and green leggings. She enters the cemetery and heads over to the old Abbot's headstone.
Marek had left shortly after he had taken the young mouse to the infirm. He gave the guards a note given to him on his way out and waited a few days to come back. He even did some looking around for some beasts but gave up on that and slipped back into the abbey today. The guard on duty took his blade and didn't think to much of the cloaked beast as he wasn't posing a threat and was polite. He then walks slowly to the graveyard and slows when he sees the young mouse again but he doesn't say anything to her. He looks around making sure no other beast is here before glancing back at her.
LilyMoore is genuinely happy, even though she's in a cemetery. She's free from her feelings of guilt and shame! It's not her fault the Abbot died! She twirls on her toes, looking as graceful as a floating feather. As she spins again, she sees the stoat, whom she sees as a friend. A grin spreads over her face as she waves and runs over to him. "Hi! How are you?"
Marek backs up a couple steps as she rushes over to him, this is new as he has never had anyone seem happy to see him and most in Ferravale just look at him and go back to what ever they were doing like oh its him whatever. He nods and speaks "Hello again young, you seem to be better now"
LilyMoore slides to a stop in front of the stoat. "I am, thanks in part to you. If you hadn't talked to me and taken me to the Infirm, I don't think I would've gotten better. So thank you." She smiles up into his face, then impulsively goes to give him a hug. "Thank you. For everything."
Marek smiles a little and then tenses up at the hug, "W...What are you doing?" This is clearly a first for him, he doesn't push her away her just looks surprised as this may be his first hug in many seasons as he probably got hugs as maybe a dibbun..right?
LilyMoore looks up into his face, slightly puzzled. "I'm hugging you, silly. What does it look like I'm doin'? Givin' you a bath?" She adds cheekily, trying to lighten his mood. She goes to hug him tighter, having an inkling that he might need it.
Marek simply stands there, he is unsure of hugging back as he looks around and nods "I...see, just not use to it. No one has ever hugged me in my life, or ...rather in a long time"
LilyMoore lets go and stands back, looking up into his face with pity. "That's literally one of the saddest things I've ever heard. Everybeast needs hugs. It makes life better." She smiles, full of innocent honesty.
Marek manages a very small smile "Well, wise words for one so young. But some beasts may think otherwise but not all beasts"
LilyMoore blushes slightly and ducks her head in embarrassment. "Well, I believe it's the truth. And Momma and Nana always say to tell the truth." She goes to take the stoat's paw. "And I always try to tell the truth, especially to my friends."
Marek nods "Yes the truth is always important to tell, I...try to tell the truth"
LilyMoore grins. "Well, good! We can be a pair of truth-tellers together!" She lets go of his paw and does a cartwheel of joy. "Y'know, you're the first grown-up I've ever met that I know isn't mad at me about anything. It makes me feel so free!" She twirls again, her smile like sunshine on a rainy day.
Marek watches the dibbun and chuckles softly, it seems to feel good to have someone trust him right now, he only wishes others trusted him and the couple who do to trust him more. "And as for grown ups being mad well...hopefully they are no longer mad or upset and one does get over that in time"
LilyMoore stops spinning and sighs, her smile fading a little. "I hope you're right. Nana always seems mad, but Momma says that's just 'cause she's in pain all the time. OH!" The mousemaid claps a paw to her forehead. "I just realized, I never told you who I am!" She makes an exaggerated bow and declares with mock officiousness, "I am LilyMoore Louise, daughter of DoraRose Strongheart and Leon, Master Healer of Redwall, and twin to Caleb, Novice of the Order. And friend to you." She smiles brightly as she stands back up to her full height.
Marek nods "I...know of your parents and have meet them before, not spoken to recently...wait I did speak to your father just a couple moments before I left a few days and he informed me who was abbot now and the abbey made a wise choice"
LilyMoore goes to sit on a nearby headstone, swinging her legs, full of energy. Perhaps that's part of the reason she gets in trouble so much--too much energy to be able to conform to rules. "I hope you 2 had a good chat." She says, a little hesitantly, not wanting to seem to be pressing for any kind of information. She then adds brightly, "I'm going to learn how to ring the bells! Abbot Lorimis said that I needed to learn to channel my anger into something beautiful, and he left a not for Benar saying...something." She frowns. "Y'know, I'm not sure what the note says. Benar wants to talk to me in private about it..." Her face is filled with trepidation, some of her old fear that beasts are mad at her coming back.
Marek nods "Well, maybe that's best and maybe its important for your ears only. The abbey does need a bell ringer." He sighs some "I...used to think bells were annoying, loud, but I have heard the ones here at least once, their sound is nice once one achally listens to them and is not...let's just say distracted "
LilyMoore sighs and shakes herself, trying to be rid of her feeling of fear, and falls off the headstone in the process. She lands on her bum with a bump. She giggles sheepishly. "Whoops." pulling her knees up to her chin, she looks seriously into her friend's face. "When did you hear the bells? I didn't see you at the funeral."
Marek answers, "It was later in the day, the day when you passed out...before I left I heard them, think signaling lunch maybe or tea time"
LilyMoore 'ohs' and nods. "Okay, that makes sense." she stands up, still full of energy. "Do you mind my asking if you're a warrior? I wanta be a warrior...Flicktail's promised to teach me, and I hope Momma will, too. She has a huge battleaxe!" She spreads her paws to the approximate size of Nightsong the axe, which is a beauty of a double-headed battleaxe.
Marek nods as she shows him the size, "I am a warrior, as well as recently a tavern owner. I can also cook and know some other useful skills here and there."
LilyMoore claps her paws eagerly. "Will you be staying here long? Maybe, if it's alright with everyone, you can teach me a little, too! That'd be great! I wanna learn as much as I can from as many beasts as I can!" Here eyes are shining with hope.
Marek blinks, learn...from him? "From me?" He looks towards the open ground as he speaks "I am unsure how long I will stay, I had hoped to speak to the new abbot on some matters, but maybe another time."
LilyMoore spreads her paws wide. "Why not?" She tilts her head to one side as he continues, deflating slightly. "Oh. Well, then, will you visit? Where do you live? Maybe Momma will let me visit you sometime."
Marek sighs, he has found a beast who fully trusts him it looks like and this is good, but also not so good in other ways "I live in Ferravale..." He smiles at this, a home finally and one he hopes to keep, "And I am sure your mother will not let you visit me, least I do not believe so"
LilyMoore deflates even more, looking at him aghast. "Why in the seasons not? She loves Ferravale! Why wouldn't she let me visit you??"
Marek sighs, he is unsure how to answer that as he starts to pace, "I...my past. But my past is not whom I am now but many would not believe that young one." He kneels down so he is more level with her, "I am glad your my friend, friendship is one of the strongest things in life and should not be forgotten, friendship is powerful and true and much needed...I have ...well maybe 2-3 friends and you're one of them and hope you remain one of them"
LilyMoore smiles softly and goes to clasp the stoat's paws. "I'll always be your friend. Even...even if somebeast told me that..." she pauses for a moment, then goes on defiantly. "Even is somebeast tells me that you're Marek, I won't care! You're my friend. I've seen how you act and who you are now, and I think that's all that matters!"
Marek debates on telling the young mouse just who is standing in front of her, he does smile a bit better now. "I am glad" He says quietly.
LilyMoore grins "I wonder if Dad would let me go...?" she says, then goes to give the stoat another hug.
Marek allows the hug and gives her one one as well...slowly and a little carefully, this is a serious first for him. "Maybe we can ask...later maybe"
LilyMoore smiles as he hugs her back, filled with unbounded joy that he's feeling more comfortable. She wrinkles her brow and asks, "So...um...what is your name, by the way? I'd feel kind of dumb if I had to say 'hey, you' next time I saw you."
Marek sighs as he will be honest, "I am Marek..." He says quietly, "I still hope to remain friends Lilymoore as you are kind and understanding, and maybe you can help others be that as well child. I will be here for a little while as...I wish to seek forgiveness from those willing to give it, whom ever those will be. Some may hate me, others may forgive and others will not.....I only wish I had spoken to Lorimis sooner...to gain..." Tears go down his face as he walks back to sit by Lorimis' grave laying a paw on the grave "I am so...sorry...wish you were here to help...you seemed to listen to me and I did listen to your words even if it was...late" Yeah Marek is crying softly now...wow.
LilyMoore stares at the stoat as he wanders off. After a few moments, she nods decisively and turns to walk away, leaving him to mourn in peace. She will still be his friend, she will, but right now she needs to write down exactly what she feels she should say to anyone who says something mean to him when she's around. She's going to defend her friends, even if they are fully capable of defending themselves.
Thanks for reading!
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