A small platoon of woodlander soldiers wandered through Mossflower Wood. Night had fallen, and the beauty of the woodland at night was something the soldiers had not seen for some time. The young mouse, Kingsley, paused a moment to take it all in before turning to his companions, "We'll rest here for the night, there's no need to wake the Redwallers now," his companions graciously nodded as they let their gear fall to the soft soil beneath them. Kingsley couldn't help but smile slightly as his comrades set up camp. He looked to the southern horizon, noticing Redwall's reddish-violet tint in the night. "Not long now," he quietly muttered to himself.
"Captain Kingsley," the mouse warrior turned as another mouse stepped closer to him. The mouse was dressed in a red and white cotehardie. A black leather belt wrapped around his waist held a short sword that hung loosely at his side. Noticing his captain had acknowledged his presence, the mouse spoke again, "Are you certain he's still alive? With the war we heard happened down this way..." the young soldier couldn't seem to finish his sentence, Kingsley responded quickly.
"He has to be alive, Fenton, for the sake of the war effort he has to..."
A young former mouse warrior wandered through a forest, both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time as though it was someplace he had not been in a while. He wandered for a bit until coming to a small clearing, and their she stood, her light brown fur lightly swaying in the breeze. Her hazel eyes glistened in the noonday sunlight. Her beauty was just as he remembered. She sang about Noonvale, her beautiful singing voice was also the same as he remembered. He slowly inched to her, when she finished she turned and smiled at him. "It's been a long time since you last were here Martin."
"I know...it feels like a dream, one I don't want to wake from. I've missed you so much Rose," Martin at last reached her. He pulled her in for a warm embrace, of which she returned.
"I've missed you as well Martin," Rose reached up and kissed him softly, "but it is time to wake up. I only ask you to find me..."
Martin the Warrior awoke to sunlight striking his face. He rose from his bed groggily and gradually dressed in his bright yellow shirt and blue tunic, wrapping his old sword belt around his waist to complete his usual garb. He sighed, "Same dream every season," slowly the former warrior rose to his footpaws and wandered down to the Great Hall. He stood in front of the altar where his sword and armor rested. It had been two seasons since he gave up the way of the warrior, some days he almost missed carrying his sword or wearing his armor, and on this particular day he was almost tempted to take his sword and secretly journey back north. He cursed himself for letting her die, cursed himself for running away from a broken promise, but he made his choices, and had to live with them.
Martin silently entered Cavern Hole for breakfast. Usually the young mouse would greet most of the Redwallers, but his silence was something they all remembered and understood. Abbess Germaine frowned, "That time again I suppose."
"It would appear so," Bella, Mother of Redwall responded, "think we should try talking to him about it again?" Abbess Germaine shook her head.
"No, we've tried several times before, we best just let it pass," they watched as Martin finished his breakfast and wandered out of Cavern Hole, barely acknowledging his old friend, Gonff, and the mousethief's family on his way out. Gonff and Columbine wandered to the abbess and the old badger. Before even being able to ask, the two nodded to the two mice, answering the question on their minds. Gonff sighed heavily.
"He does this one day every season, and it's on the exact same day each season. He won't tell us what's wrong either. I just don't understand why me mate's always needs a day to be so down," Columbine, his wife, smiled and set him down at the table.
"You worry too much Gonff, it'll subside after today, it always does," Gonff shook his head.
"I know, but I wish it would never happen, I hate seeing him like this, especially since none of us can truly understand why other than it's something about his past," the others couldn't help but nod in agreement, "I just wish I knew what to do...wait! I know I could find him a lovely mousemaid for him to marr..."
"Don't you start coming up with crazy ideas Gonff," It was Abbess Germaine who cut him off quickly, "It'd be best if we didn't pry into Martin's private life, for all we know a lost love could be why he goes through these days of mourning," Gonff's eyes brightened.
"You think that's it? At last we..."
"Gonff. That wasn't the point I was trying to get through to you," the old abbess stated, lightly smacking the mousethief's forehead, "the point was to convince you to stay out of Martin's privacy. If he decides to tell us he will, but if he takes his past to his grave, then there's nothing we can do about it."
Gonff sighed once more, "I guess you're right Mother Abbess, I just wish I knew what to do for him."
"I know I'm right Gonff, and don't you start disagreeing with an old mouse like me, especially your abbess," Abbess Germaine said with a hint of mockery in her voice, she then smiled understandingly, "We all wish we could do something wonderful for Martin, after all he does so much for us, but right now the best gift is probably to leave him alone."
Martin wandered the western ramparts of Redwall. He stopped at one of the towers near the west gate. He gazed at the northern horizon distantly. He was so lost in his own memory he barely heard the a voice from below. "Greetings!" the voice said. Martin looked down to see a mouse calling up to him. From this height Martin couldn't easily make the visitor out.
"What is it traveler? Seeking someplace to rest?" Martin responded.
"Your offer is kind, but no, my camp it not far from here. I only come seeking a mouse warrior named Martin. My name is Sir Kingsley, Knight of the Kingdom of Terrasylva. We, my companions and I, have been searching for him for a long time and heard rumors that he lived here at this abbey!"
"I answer to that name, but I'm not a warrior, at least not anymore."
"I still wish to speak to you, do you think we could do this more face to face?" Martin felt a slight temptation to continue this hollering for his own amusement, but the former warrior was not a mouse of practical jokes as opposed to him mousethief friend.
"Very well I'll come let you in," a few moments later Martin opened the gate and let Kingsley in. Now that they were closer, Martin was able to get a good look and the mouse knight. He had to only be a few seasons younger than Martin. He was about the same height, strong and handsome. The mouse wore a red and white infantry gambeson, the colors patterned in party pattern with a pair of heraldic wyverns facing each other on both sides of the chest.. Underneath was a white shirt, the sleeves tucked into a pair of black leather gauntlets. A black sword belt wrapped around his waist, hanging off the belt to his left side was an arming sword, the silver hilt with black leather wrapping around the handle fit snugly into a beautiful black leather scabbard.
"What was it you wished to speak to me about Sir Kingsley?" Martin asked, not entirely sure how to address the knight properly.
"You are welcome to just call me Kingsley," the mouse knight said sensing Martin's uncertainty, "and, we need your help, my home needs your help."
Martin tilted his head to one side slightly, "Yes, this...Kingdom of Terrasylva...I've never heard of it."
Kingsley nodded to him understandingly, "It was formed a few seasons ago by tribes in the Northlands."
"The...Northlands?" Martin frowned, "I'm sorry I can't help you."
"What do you mean you can't? My home is at war! Invaders from a vermin empire to the east have breached the northeastern shores, and you're desperately needed!" Kingsley protested. Martin felt his fury rising, but kept it in.
"I told you I'm no longer a warrior, I gave up fighting two seasons ago. Besides, even if I was still a warrior why come for me? What have I done to gain your kingdom's notice?"
"You're a legend! Stories of your heroism at Marshank are still told up there, and the stories about how you fell a wildcat, freeing Mossflower Wood; such acts could not have been done by any mere mouse," Martin cringed at the knight's words. Of all the places and deeds the former warrior had done, the knight had to remind him of Marshank.
"I don't know what you've heard or from who, but I was no hero then than I am now, nor am I a legend. Again, my answer is no, I'm retired and there's nothing that will change that."
The young knight couldn't help but let his fury get the best of him, "Even a retired warrior would never ignore a plea for aid, at least one as noble as the stories made you out to be! I suppose they were wrong to send me and my men searching for you! I suppose I misjudged you, the broken down warrior that you are!" It was now Martin's turn to get angry.
"Very well, if you honestly must know, I can't return to the north for my own reasons! Not because I am retired!"
Martin's outburst caught Kingsley somewhat off guard, "So you're running from your past? What could truly keep you from going back?"
"That's not of your business!" Martin growled. He was just ready to force this young knight out of abbey.
At last Kingsley sighed and let go of his temper, "If you change your mind, my men and I wait till dawn. We leave in the morning," without another word the knight departed.
Martin turned to see, Columbine, Gonff, Abbess Germaine, and Mother Bella standing only a few yards away. The four of them heard the commotion and came to see what was going on, but they soon felt that it was a bad idea, seeing the anger and pain in Martin's eyes. Gonff was the first to speak.
"Sorry Martin, we didn't mean to pry...we only wanted to know what the ruckus was all about..."
Martin exhaled heavily, allowing his face to soften which reassured his friends, "Don't worry...I'm not mad at any of you, I just need time to myself, that's all," as silently as he entered Cavern Hole, Martin wandered off.
The three mice and badger watched as the former warrior left the scene. Bella turned to Abbess Germaine, "What do you think he'll do, Mother Abbess?" Abbess Germaine shook her head at Bella's question.
"I'm afriad I don't know," the old mouse lied, "I suppose we'll just have to wait and see," secretly however, Abbess Germaine felt she know exactly what the former warrior was going to do.
Late that night, Martin crept as silently as he could into the Great Hall. It was easy as Gonff had taught him a thing or two. He reached the alter where his sword and armor were. He sighed and stood still a moment, almost struggling with his choice, but at last he began to dawn the armor. The scale mail hauberk was first, then the rerebraces, breast plate and gauntlets. The armor was still as heavy as he remembered, but wearing it again was almost more comfortable than not. He wrapped his sword belt around his waist. He slowly lifted his sword from it's stand on the alter. It had been two long seasons since he last held his sword. He stood there awhile, simply holding the sword before at last hanging it off his belt. He took his shield, wearing it over his left arm, and his armet, carrying it under his arm, "There's no turning back now..." he muttered to himself.
"Going to battle again? Or just remembering what it was like being a legendary warrior?" Martin turned in surprise to see Abbess Germaine standing in the moonlight that found it's way through the large windows of the Great Hall. The old abbess simply smiled at the mouse warrior's surprise.
"Mother Abbess...I didn't think..." Martin was quickly cut off by the old mouse.
"That I would be awake? You need not worry Martin, I already guessed you'd do this, and don't worry I haven't told anyone," Martin began to speak, but was stopped by her, "You don't need to explain, or tell my why you can't explain. Whatever it is Martin, I'm sure you have a good reason for keeping your past so secret from us, and yes, I am almost certain this has to do with your past as well as protecting the abbey."
Martin smiled at her, he lightly stepped to her and gently kissed her forehead, "Thank you, Mother Abbess, I only ask one favor."
"Of course Martin, what is it?" the abbess nodded.
"Don't let anyone follow me, especially Gonff. I don't want anyone to be put in as much danger as I will be," Abbess Germaine nodded understandingly at the mouse warrior's words.
"I will try my best Martin, but I don't know how well I will be able to," Martin left Abbess Germaine alone in the Great Hall, "Martin, it's unfortunate you feel that you must do it alone, I hope you'll soon realize that you need your friends as much as they need you," she gazed up at the tapestry Vurg had given them, "Spirits of Dark Forest, loved ones of Martin and ancestors of Martin, please protect our warrior and bring him home to us safely," she quietly prayed. After she finished she returned to her chambers and wandered into a deep sleep.
Kingsley and his men sat around the campfire conversing about this and that, trying to keep their minds of the war happening so far north. One of the rangers in his platoon quickly reached for her bow, "Someone's coming!" she whispered urgently, and soon all the Terrasylvan soldiers had their weapons out and ready, but Kingsley ordered them to relax, seeing who it was. Martin, clad in armor, wandered through the shrubbery.
"I see you changed your mind," Kingsley stated, Martin nodded.
"I thought long and hard about what you said, and I decided it was time for me to stop running," Kingsley couldn't help but smile at the mouse warrior's words.
"I'm glad you did, I do apologise for the things I said earlier, I was out of line."
"I appreciate that," Martin responded with a slight smile. He turned to the rest of the platoon, "Now I hope you are all well rested because we'll need to start off soon if you want to gain troops from Salamandastron to help with your war."