After having been rescued from Castle Floret and winning the war against Foxwolf, Mariel, Dandin and the rest of the resuce party who had set out on the Pearl Queen returned to Redwall Abbey. Although Mariel was adventuorous she decided to stay in the Abbey a while before she went out questing for adventure again. At the moment she was sitting with Danding at the head of the table near Sister Sage and Abbot Saxtus. She was wearing a simple russet coloured dress to welcome in the Autumn. The great Joseph Bell tolled out the summoning for supper. The Abbey dwellers took their places at the table as Mariel thought of her father, who stayed in Southsward after the battle. Maybe one day he will return, Mariel thought to herself. She knew she was not the only one who missed the wise old mouse.
Abbot Saxtus said the grave and the Redwallers tucked into the delicious feast spread in front of them. When the meal was near it's end, Dandin stood up and walked to the Abbot. Saxtus tapped a glass with his spoon and the feasters immediately silenced.
"Redwallers, my good friend Dandin has an immportant announcment to make tonight, I pray you be silent while he is takling" Abbot Saxtus sat down and Danding stood nervously in front of the crowd waiting expectantly for him to speak. He had a nervous twinkle in his eye. Mariel wondered what he was going to say. He hadn't mentioned anything about this to her.
"My friends, my message tonight does not concern you, but I want you to hear what I have to say. You know that Mariel and I have been adventuring together for a long time, and are very dear friends. I have not had to courage to ask until know, but..." from his pocet he pulled a shining gold ring. "Mariel, will, I mean, if you want to, maybe, you might, marry me?" he trailed off hopefully.
Every eye in the great hall turned to Mariel. She had a look of confusion etched on her face Suddenly a huge smile lit up her features. "Of course I will Dandin!"
Everybeast cheered and threw their hats into the air. It took a while for the Abbot to regain control. "Well, this calls for a celebration!"
These celebrations went on deep into the night.
~ Mariel scooped Blyth into her arms. "Honestly, I'm never going to get to hold my own daughter at this rate!" she laughed. The mouse babe was being passed from beast to beast, and the same with her twin brother. Only one sad thought stopped Mariel from enjoying herself fully. "If only Mother Mellus was here to see my Dibbuns" she sighed. She fodly remembered the times when she herself was thrown into the tub by the old badger of Redwall.
After the crowds had stopped crowding around Mariel and Dandin, he asked,
"What she we call them my darling?"
"Joseph" Mariel said firmly. "The boy shall be called Joseph. Why don't you choose the girl's name?"
"I once had a sister who lived here in Redwall. She wandered off as a dibbun and never returned. No one knows what happened to her, I shall name our daughter after her, Blyth"
"Blyth. I like it" Mariel agreed. That night the two mice slept soundly, with their two dibbuns at their side.