Chapter 2
Kesmin's funeral was held the following morning. Unlike the day previous, which was bright, sunny, and cheerful, today was very different. A storm had rolled in overnight, as it would commonly do in the spring time. But this storm was very fierce, dropping thick torrents of rain onto the Redwallers below.
It was almost like the sky was mourning too.
The Redwallers had grouped together en masse just outside the northern wall, the wall that looked deep into Mossflower. Weylan had requested that Kesmin be buried here, so that it would be in the line of sight of the old Riverstryke dwelling, abandoned about two seasons earlier due to an attack by vermin. That, and the fact that Weylan knew how much his mother loved Mossflower Woods.
The Redwaller's parted to make room for four beasts carrying a stretcher, covered with a thick cloth. Weylan was among them. Getting drenched in the heavy rain, but ignoring it all together, they carried the body of Kesmin to a large hole the moles had dug, and gently lowered the body into it.
Three of the bearers then merged with the surrounding the crowd, but Weylan remained standing at the edge of the grave, peering down into it. When he showed no signs of moving, Mattimeo stepped forward and gently pulled Weylan into the crowd. The otter provided no resistence. Mattimeo wasn't sure if it was because Weylan knew he needed to take a step back, or that he was too numbed by shock and pain to care.
Abbot Mordalfus then stepped behind the simple headstone that had been prepared, his head bowed, the rain splattering off of his habit's hood. He sighed deeply, and for a long moment, did not say anything.
Slowly, he began to shake his head, muttering softly, "Kesmin, please rest in peace."
He then raised his head again to face the others, adopting a very serious expression.
"Yesterday we gathered together to witness a most joyous event." he began. "The wedding of two of our own, Mattimeo and Tess."
"But today, we are here on an entirely different matter, one that is most unfortunate to have occurred so soon after such a happy, happy occasion. My fellow Redwallers, I beg of you, please do not let this event ruin those happy feelings. Instead, embrace them, and savor them. While Kesmin's death is indeed tragic, it was not unexpected. Therefore, we should not focus on the depressing feelings it has bestowed upon us. Kesmin wouldn't have wanted it, and I must agree. Focusing on the happy feelings will help us overcome this tragic event."
The abbot sighed once more, before continuing. "Kesmin was a very kind and courteous creature. She would comfort the young when they were scared or hurt. She carved many magnificent wooden pieces of art for us to decorate our abbey with. And, she was a wonderful cook, always seeming to find a way to prepare enough for all, and then some."
"Kesmin contributed a great deal to our abbey." Mordalfus concluded. "I only wish we could've repaid her for her kindness."
A moment of silence fell, as everyone bowed their heads in respect for the lost ottermum.
A line then formed, running along the side of the grave. Everybeast slowly filed past to have one final look upon the body, and give their last respects.
Most of them dropped flowers into the grave, a group of Dibbuns dropping a whole bouquet into the grave. But others set things of more importance to them into the grave. Tess set a small, empty, jar of jam into the grave, her way of apologizing for the time she accidently broke such a jar filled with freshly made strawberry jam that Kesmin had just finished. Tess felt so bad about it, but Kesmin had shooed the matter aside dismissively and together they both replaced the lost jam.
Mattimeo set a bundle bandages and herbs into the grave, in memory of the time the warrior had injured himself while practicing with Martin's sword. The only ones who had spent more time with Mattimeo as he recovered beside Tess and Weylan was Kesmin, who took such good care of the young mouse that not even Sister May, who was in charge of the Infirmary, said she couldn't have done it better.
Marigold placed a beautifully carved paperweight, which Kesmin made in Marigold's own image, into the grave. "I never used it." the squirrel admitted afterwards. "It was far too beautiful to be used merely as a paperweight."
Basil and Cheek jointly lowered an empty pie tray into the grave.
"For all of spiffin' food you made, marm." Basil explained, like Kesmin could hear him.
Cheek had something to add, but was too overcome with tears to find his voice.
Abbot Mordalfus came second to last. He lowered a small tablet of simple, unremarkable, stone, with a very lengthy text on it written in the old hand.
"A poem in your memory." Mordalfus explained to Kesmin's limp form. "I had intended to read it today at your funeral, but I could not bring myself to do it."
Shedding a tear, and allowing to fall into the grave, Mordalfus bowed respectively, then walked off for the dry shelter of the abbey.
Weylan was last in line, at his insistence. He said nothing, dropped nothing into the grave, doing nothing but simply staring down at his deceased mother. He remained like that for a very long time. Mattimeo watched him from inside the gatehouse window, then, fearing that Weylan was getting too wet in the rain for even an otter, he marched outside and wrapped around his friend.
Weylan silently accepted it, wrapping it tightly around him to gather warmth. He said nothing. Mattimeo watched him for a long moment, seeing how hard he was taking this, then finally ventured to speak.
"Weylan," he began, "would you like to talk?"
Weylan shook his head. "Ye've just been married." he said. "Ye should be celebratin' that, not worryin' about me." he shook his head. "I don't want to spoil it fer ye."
Mattimeo frowned. "Forget it." he insisted. "Right now, I'm more worried about you. We all are."
"Ye shouldn't be." Weylan said. "Wot does me Ma's death 'ave to do with ye?"
"Quite a bit, Weylan." Mattimeo said. "She was important to all of us, and we're all feeling the pain her death has brought."
Weylan was silent for a moment. "The abbot was right." he said. "Don't focus on those bad feelin's. T'would only make things worse fer ye."
"But what about you?" Mattimeo asked. "You are obviously not following Father Abbot's wise counsel."
Weylan shrugged. "Guess it doesn't apply to me." he said.
"Yes it does." Mattimeo persisted. "And you know it."
They fell silent again, listening to the pitter-patter of the falling rain striking their clothes and flesh.
"I don't know wot I'm gonna do now." Weylan finally admitted. "Ma meant everythin' t' me. If I ever 'ad a problem, I could go right to 'er, and she'd 'ave an answer. She was the cornerstone of a building fer me. Without 'er now, everythin's tumblin' down onto me."
Mattimeo did not reply. So Weylan continued.
"I don't think I can go on without 'er." he said. "Tis far too 'ard."
Mattimeo turned to look at his friend. "Two seasons ago," he began, "You told me that no matter what happens, one could overcome it. You told me that even if the very creature I admired the most should die, that I could overcome it. That I had friends to always help me."
Weylan was silent for a long moment, remembering the moment Mattimeo referred to. Mattimeo thought at first that maybe he was getting through to the otter, as Weylan shrugged again.
But Mattimeo was shocked at Weylan's reply.
"Guess I lied then." he said softly.
Mattimeo stared at the otter, dumbfounded. For what seemed like days, he couldn't find an answer.
"Weylan..." he eventually began, reaching to place a paw on Weylan's shoulder.
But Weylan stepped out of Mattimeo's reach. "Just...just leave me alone, Matti." he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
Mattimeo watched the otter weep for several moments, then finally respected Weylan's wish and retreated back into the abbey.
Tess was waiting for him in Great Hall.
"Where's Weylan?" she asked, and her husband entered.
"Still out there." Mattimeo said, shaking water from his drenched tail. "He's taking this very badly."
"Do you know when he will come in?" Tess asked. "Foremole is waiting for him to come in to fill in the grave."
Mattimeo shook his head. "I tried to talk him into coming in, but he wouldn't budge." he stated. "I suppose he'll come in when he feels like it."
Tess placed her paws on her hips. "Left up to him," she said, "Weylan won't come in until he's almost frozen solid standing in that cold rain. If then."
The main door leading in from the outside into Great Hall suddenly swung open. Mattimeo turned to face it.
"Or he could come in right now." Mattimeo said, as Weylan marched silently across the hall, sopping wet.
Tess tried to stand in his way. "Weylan, are you okay?" she asked.
The otter said nothing, he just brushed past Tess and marched up the spiral staircase to the dormitories. Mattimeo and Tess watched him go.
Tess shook her head sadly. "I wish there was something we could do to make him feel better." she said.
Mattimeo sighed. "Unfortunately, that must be left up to him." he was silent for a moment, then added, "Leave him be for now. Maybe he just needs to be alone for awhile."
Tess nodded, understanding. "I just hope he'll get over this soon. Being that depressed for so long isn't good for anybeast."
Mattimeo wrapped one arm around his wife. "I hope so too." he agreed.
