(So sorry that took so long. My thing froze up for pretty much the entire month. I'm back! and so is the story here goes again!)

Chapter Four

"Martin, you really have fallen off your rocker this time." Mattimeo shook his head and laughed.

"Father, please listen."

Mattimeo and Martin sat around the table in the gatehouse cottage, talking over Martin's dinner, since he decided to take it late.

"I thought that she was a rat at first."

Mattimeo leaned back against the back of his chair. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, sighing in a way that seemed rather content. "It's been a long time since I've seen a rat."

"She wasn't one."

Mattimeo smiled. "Why did you think she was, then?"

"She was dressed in an odd manner."

Sitting up straighter, Mattimeo replied, "I'm in for a story; tell me."

Martin sighed. He told the story up until he had come across Vaneeya. Then he slowed down to describe her. "Her clothing was so peculiar…the likes of which I have never seen. She wore a long black tunic and she had a sash about her waist…it was purple, rather ragged, by the look of it; it was adorned by some silver designs around the hem, but that was all. Her ears were pierced a few times…silver hoops and a few drops of amethyst. Her fur was brown and her eyes were so deep and gentle and purple…and…" Martin's voice trailed as he looked into his father's eyes. He couldn't see what his father was feeling, but he knew he wanted to speak.

"Son, a girl like that would be known as a gypsy." Martin started to speak but Mattimeo raised his paw to stop him. "Now, I know the shrews are gypsies and good creatures they are, so I cannot judge this Vaneeya. But…" Mattimeo pressed his claws lightly to his temple. "Was she alone?"

"Yes."

"No, son, I know she was when she met you, but were their other creatures?"

Martin sat transfixed. "I haven't a clue, father. But, may I ask why?"

"Because we have just recently been sent a message from Salamandastron which tells of a band of gypsy foxes coming toward Redwall. Sent by a hare…yes, the Lieutenant. How wonderful to have another mouth to feed... that of a hare, of all things!" He said this with a laugh.

"You don't think…?"

"I don't know what to think, I have never met her. I would believe that they aren't near enough yet to matter, but Redwall is preparing." He stopped to sigh. "I will go with you to find out, if you are so concerned about this maid."

Martin blushed. "I guess I am."

"Might I ask why you are so enthralled with her, considering you talked to her for hardly a moment?"

"Well, I…" he debated telling his father about the dream he had had, and the poem and how the Lieutenant Klein has said it meant that he was due in for the love of his life, but decided to keep his dream quiet.

Mattimeo smiled, remembering his own feelings for the mousemaid that was now his wife. "Remember, Martin, you are young. Don't let these new feelings take hold of you."

Martin blushed deeper, but managed to say. "I am almost fully grown, father, I only have a season left. I…I could fall in love if...if…"

Mattimeo nodded. "I know, and I trust you. Remember, you have only just met this maid." He smiled and walked out of the gatehouse, expecting Martin to follow him.

Martin soon did, but his checks still burned red with his embarrassment.

XxXxX

"Mali, I am so sorry for taking such a long time, I got lost in the woods."

The seer Mali's eyes were impassive and she gazed at Vaneeya. "Lost in the woods, have you? Oh, well then. Just make our dinner, all the rest have gone to sleep."

Vaneeya nodded, happy that there was no real punishment, and prepared the meal. She was too concerned over her meeting with the mouse Martin, and she didn't eat. Docim'e took her pan of stew, staring at her as thought she had some resentment. Vaneeya was confused, because normally Docim'e was her dear friend, and she was looking at her as though she hated her.

After they had eaten, Vaneeya wanted to go to sleep at just the same time as Docim'e did, but as she went to lie down on her out spread cape, Mali came up to her and grasped her wrist, pulling her toward her face.

The seer fox glared at Vaneeya with barred teeth, hissing between her fangs. "You cannot lie to me, you fool! I can read you like I can read my own stones! Who was the boy? Where was he from? What profound things did you do with him? Did you tell him anything? What if that Abbey knows we are coming because of your foolishness?" Mali then threw Vaneeya on the ground.

Vaneeya gasped for breath as she responded to the enraged seer. "He saw the bird fall and came to see what happened! He left and that was all! I promise, we did nothing!"

Mali's hard eyes looked the mousemaid up and down. "I guess you haven't. But don't get into the same mess your mother did. And we most certainly do not want Redwall to know we are coming! We travel to their gates tomorrow, you know, mousie."

The vixen stumbled off then, muttering under her breath before lying down and instantly falling asleep.

The same mess my mother was in? What mess? She thought to herself, knowing full well that there was another story about her mother she had yet to learn. Vaneeya dashed to her bed and took her black cloak off the ground, and ran off into the deep foliage of Mossflower wood, knowing that any sane creature would be sleeping. She had to talk to Martin, she had to talk to him. She was…attracted to him in some way; with some type of feeling she had not had for a creature before. What that feeling was she didn't know, but she had to find out. She had to see him again. She went quietly, hoping that no one would see her leave.

And no one did, except one: Kefgahn!

XxXxX

"To the south, you said?"

"Yes, father, I found her on the path just south of here."

Mattimeo shook his head and drew his cloak closer to his body.

"It certainly is a cold night. Eh, Martin?"

Martin wasn't paying attention to his father, but instead to the intense beauty of Mossflower at night. The crickets chirped, night crawlers hummed, and birds sang in the distance. The full moon was out, illuminating all the beauty around them. A soft moon-white butterfly flew by Martin's shoulder, and landed on a flower beside him, fluttering its wings. He could swear he heard Martin's (the first one, that is)voice in the still night air, whispering Follow where my own heart left off… It certainly was a beautiful night.

"Are you quite all right?"

Martin shook his head as he awakened from his thoughts. "Yes, I am."

Concern brought Mattimeo's eyebrows together. "Did you hear what I just said?"

"That it is cold."

"No, Martin, I just said that we are about to reach St. Ninians, were you this far south?"

Martin stopped in his tracks. "No…"

Mattimeo stopped with him. "Should be turn back, wait for day perhaps?"

Shaking his head, Martin answered, "I just have this feeling that she's around here somewhere…"

A rustle could be heard to the side of the path, and both mice went quiet as a creature came sprinting out of the foliage of Mossflower and onto the path. The creature wore a long black tunic with a purple sash, her black cloak fluttering, and Martin's breath was immediately drawn from him. Vaneeya…

As the creature dashed for the church, Mattimeo looked toward his son. "That was her?"

Martin nodded dumbly. It was Mattimeo that took the first advancements toward the church, but Martin soon surpassed him, dashing for the main doorway to Saint Ninians. "Martin…" Mattimeo held out a cautionary paw.

"Don't you trust me, father?"

"Yes…"

"Come if you want. I just want to know who she is."

Mattimeo could not explain it, but although he knew the maid was harmless, something in his heart struck. The only thing that he could think was Martin, I trust you, and I believe you will do right…but something will go very wrong before much time will pass.