Redwall, a place of permanent tranquility and security. With friendly moles voles, mice, squirrels, a badger, and even a ferret. But all that was going to change.

Badgermum Melody, a middle aged, graying badger that had never harmed a beast, was sitting on the Abbey steps, talking to Foremole Mumel.

"Mizz Meladies, oi thinks tat anofer aby wod bes a herd tazk evan for oi an oi 'oles" said Foremole, who was speaking of the new abbey that was to be built, 'Rosehall'. It was to be built by the timeless statues of the otter and his wife.

"I understand that Foremole, but Abbot Langus insists that we build a second abbey for those to weak or old to come down here to Red-" Melody did not finish what she said because she was hit by rhubarb pie from the battlements above. The culprit ran down the stairs quickly, trying to look innocent.

After licking the remains of the pie off her paw, Melody turned and looked at the pie throwing villain. It was Abbot Langus, possibly the only ferret to ever rule Redwall. He was a little mischievous sometimes, but never meant any harm.

"Hurr, Hurr, mista abot, you bes asettin a bad example for the dibuns" The moles logic was undeniable.

Abbot Langus laughed out loud as he dusted off the last of the pie crusts on his green habit.

"I don't know how all of you manage to never do anything fun besides getting tickle tortured by the little dibuns" said the ferret.

"Oh well, we do enjoy cutting off Father Abbot's tails" said Melody.

A passing mousebabe heard the comment, and flung his arms around the Abbot's footpaws crying out "Don't cut off mista fatha Abbots tail, wes like him!" the little dibbun started sobbing.

"Oh no worys mista Dolra, we 'ont cop of our Fatha abboteses tal, we'll cut off yours!" Foremole could hardly keep himself from breaking the serious look on his face when he said this.

Dolram the mousebabe immediately jumped up and ran off searching for a safe place to hide from the 'insane' Foremole.

Because she was turning blue from laughter, Melody could barley say "Langus when do you plan to send off Skipper, Foremole, and their crews off to begin construction on 'Rosehall'?"

Langus thought for a moment, then said "As soon as the summer season starts"

Wiping the last of the Rhubarb pie off her muzzle Melody replied "But that's only tomorrow!"

"Zurr wy so 'oon?" asked Foremole.

"Because it would be best for you, Skipper, and your crews to have most, if not all, of Rosehall's dormitories completed by the winter, or else you'll because molecicles" Langus laughed at his crappy pun.

"Tru zurr"

Langus continued to answer all of Foremole and Melody's questions.

"Father Abbot, when do you intend to tell Skipper he will be leaving soon?" asked Melody.

"He already knows, he is also going to meet up with LogaLog on the path"

"Zurr abot, why did youses names the new abbeys Roseshalls?" asked Foremole.

"I named it after Martin the warrior's wife, Laterose of Noonvale"

"Langus, abbey records indicate that Laterose of Noonvale perished before she and Martin could be wed" said Melody with a lecturing voice.

"I was reading Aubrietia's story of Martin, when I noticed that near the end of the records, there were burn marks. After intense research and many battle wounds" he held up a paw, it had large paper cuts still healing "I found this"

Langus pulled out his hand copied volume of "The Blossom, the complete life of Laterose of Noonvale, wife to Martin the warrior"

"You carry the huge book around?" asked Melody, with an expression of mock horror on her face.

"Yes" replied Langus, blushing "I haven't finished reading it yet, I am only half way through!"

It was true; Langus had somehow managed to not read the book while copying it down onto a blank sheet of paper.

The Abbot looked over his shoulder to look at his sundial, which he had made over a year ago and placed in between the Abbey pond and walkway. It said that it was mere minutes before dinner time. Another way to tell it was close to feast time was the amazing color the red stones of the Abbey when the sun had disappeared behind the battlements; it was absolutely amazing how close the color copied twilights.

"We should head in now, it's almost time for the new summers eve feast" told Langus to Melody and Foremole.

The trio headed into the Great Hall. Melody and Foremole went ahead where as Langus stopped in front of Martin the Warrior's tapestry. He took in the scene in front of him.

Friar Stallone had once again outdone himself. A large Redwall Abbot's cake stood on the center table, the centerpiece of the feast. Lots of woodland trifles, all topped with meadowcream, were sitting in large piles at each table. Plenty of woodland and fruit salad sat in heaps, waiting to be devoured. There were also many scones of different sorts. Many other delicious things were standing around the cordial, ale, wine and champagne, a personal invention of Cellerhog Hermald.

Langus smiled, then turned and looked in to the warm, friendly eyes of Martin.

"Thank you, without you we would not have this wondrous fe-"

Langus stopped talking, he turned cold and still.