Chapter Thirty-Six
If the previous day's weather had been appropriately dismal for Broyall's funeral, this new day dawned with a sky so splendidly blue, a sun so warmly bright and air so invigoratingly fresh that there was no question of holding the Nameday festivities indoors. By the time the sun fully cleared the leafbud-festooned treetops to the east, Vanessa decreed that this spring's celebration would take place out on the lawns and in the orchard under the full wash of the early season sunshine.
Hares and otters and other burly beasts muscled tables and benches out onto the Abbey grounds while the early-risers among the kitchen staff applied the final touches to the feast offerings, re-heating previously prepared dishes where required and whipping up the few new ones whose recipes demanded that they be made and served on the same day. Many of the Abbeybeasts who'd labored in the kitchens for most of the night slept well past sunrise, enjoying their well-deserved rest, but that still left plenty of paws at work to ensure that the food would all be ready by midday.
In the meantime, trays of bread and honey-glazed buns were set out in Great Hall for the other Redwallers to nibble on while they awaited the main event. After all, with the torrent of savory aromas streaming out of the kitchens, it would have been torture for anybeast to go without a bite the entire morning!
While all of this was going on, gossip over the previous night's happenings spread like wildfire throughout the Abbey, and speculation ran rampant.
"Did she really go up there to kill him?"
"Has that big otter woken up yet? Sister Aurelia said he might sleep straight through Nameday!"
"They're getting married, can you believe it? One moment she wants to put a blade in his heart, the next she ends up betrothed to him!"
"The Colonel must be having fits! Him and all the rest of the Long Patrols."
"The Abbess is so furious, I heard she might not allow the marriage!"
"Where would they live anyway? I can't picture them dwelling down in the warren with all the other hares ... "
"Mizagelle certainly learned her sleeping potion lore from the time she spent helping Aurelia up in the Infirmary. Unless she got that vixen to help her whip up something ... "
"A Long Patrol hare teaming up with one of Urthblood's foxes? I don't think so!"
"How old is Browder, anyway? Isn't he twice her age or something like that?"
"Heard tell they'd gotten so cozy that they didn't even want to open their door after Kurdyla had been discovered and half the Abbey was standing outside their room!"
"Shameless, I tell you! Carrying on like they were already married, right under this Abbey's roof!"
"Well, that's not too different from what Alexander and Lady Mina were doing last winter, before the Abbess put a stop to it ... "
"What could possibly have gotten into that young haremaid's head?"
"Wouldn't be surprised if the Colonel locks her in her room for the rest of this season!"
"Haven't you heard? She's up with Browder right now, going over their vows or something ... though she probably just wants to make sure none of the other hares tries to stop the marriage by killing him first!"
"Well, hopefully they'll at least have the decency not to go pawing at each other anymore before they're wed, and defile Redwall more than they already have!"
"Wonder how her fellow hares feel about sharing their wedding day with a beast they'd vowed to kill if they ever saw again?"
"Hey, maybe everything will work out all right. You never know. This is Redwall, after all."
"Pah! This might be Redwall, but don't be surprised if the Abbess kicks those two right out of the Abbey altogether! T'would serve them right, too!"
And so it went, until tongues and throats grew tired from talking about it. If nothing else, it gave the Abbeydwellers something to occupy themselves and help pass the time while waiting for the Nameday festivities to commence. For their own part, the hares who were out helping with the tables remained a tight-lipped bunch, refusing to engage in such banter with the other creatures of Redwall. They'd gone through their own round of gossip and speculation in the predawn hours, after Mizagelle had stormed out of her meeting with Clewiston and the others, but that had been left down in their tunnels at the Colonel's urging. They were the Long Patrol, after all, bound by stricter rules of discipline and conduct than their fellow Redwallers, so they would maintain their stiff upper lips and resist the temptation to be drawn into the discussions going on all around them.
And then, as if it had crept up on all of them while nobeast was watching, it was time ...
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The mellow boom-bong of the Matthias and Methuselah bells rolled out over the Abbey grounds, announcing to everybeast that the Nameday celebration was underway. Under the sure paws of Cyril and Cyrus, the twin bells tolled out not the standard festival signal, nor even the pattern traditionally reserved for weddings, but a special melody combining the two that had been devised especially for this occasion by Vanessa and the mouse brothers.
The tables had been arranged in an enormous half-circle around the spot where the brides and grooms would be united this day. The food was to be brought out after the triple - or perhaps now quadruple - marriage ceremony was concluded. Now the benches around those tables filled as hundreds of creatures streamed out of the Abbey into the sparkling noontide sunshine.
Smallert and Broggen were waiting for the bellringer siblings when they emerged from the bell tower, and the four of them sat together as had become their custom at Redwall feasts.
It might have seemed natural that the ferret Grayfoot and his retiring wife Judelka would join the weasel and stoat, seeking out the company of those most like themselves in the midst of so many woodlanders, but instead they stuck with Sergeant Fryc and his shrews, whom they'd accompanied down from the Northlands. The Guosim, with their honorary resident bankvole inventor Lorr, then made a point of sitting on the opposite end of the semicircle, having had quite enough of the brash Northerner shrews over the past half season. The vixen Mona, meanwhile, sat not with her travelling companions Grayfoot and Fryc but with her fellow foxes Tolar and Roxroy. The former slaves of the searats mingled amongst the other woodlanders in no particular order, eager to experience the famous open hospitality and friendliness of Redwall about which they'd heard so much. And Maura, naturally, presided over the Abbey children, who had a separate table all to themselves so as not to pester the adults and their guests too badly.
Of course, this was just the opening seating arrangement. As always at Nameday festivals, it was bound to be thrown to the winds as the day wore on, and as the partiers roamed and mingled among friends and family.
Owing to the unusually large number of creatures staying at the Abbey this spring, there really was no room to include the Sparra without making the gathering wholly unmanageable. However, Highwing and his brethren were not to be totally excluded from this day's events, for Vanessa had invited them to observe from the walltop, where dishes would be put out especially for the feathered folk. And while the birds' tastes generally ran toward insects and worms, many of them had over the seasons also developed a palate to appreciate the finer fare of Redwall. Candied chestnuts were an especial favorite, as were just about any breads and cheeses with seeds or nuts in them, and Vanessa saw to it that Friar Hugh provided plenty of these for their Sparra friends.
With the tables and ramparts fully packed and the Abbess standing at the ready to officiate the weddings, it was time for the brides and grooms to make their appearance.
The grooms came out first - Alexander, in the presence of Elmwood and some of his other closest comrades from the Mossflower Patrol, dressed in his royal blue and green-trimmed wedding tunic, followed by the hares Baxley and Gallatin, appointed in their splendidly fashioned dress jackets. The three groombeasts, to the tune of much applause and unabashed shouts of encouragement, strode across the lawns to stand before Vanessa.
Of Browder there was no sign.
"Um, we seem to be a groom short," the Abbess observed.
"No loss far as I'm concerned," Colonel Clewiston said from beside Gallatin. "Be a happy day for us hares if he never shows his scut t'all. Maybe he got a whompin' big case o' cold footpaws at th' last moment. One can always hope ... "
"Will somebeast please go see what's keeping Browder?" Vanessa requested. "I don't want to start this until everybeast is here."
"Oh, please don't hold things up on his account," Clewiston implored.
As one of the sisters of the order scurried off to check on the tardy hare, the three brides emerged from the Abbey - Florissant in a flowing dress of peach taffeta with white trim, and Givadon in a similar long dress made of pale green chiffon with gold lace. But it was Lady Mina, garbed in a much less elegant fashion, who stood out as the true jewel of the procession. She'd had Sister Orellana make her a tunic that was a companion piece to Alexander's. The powder blue with gold trim of her garment complemented the darker blue and green of her mate's, while her hemline dropped lower than his, halfway to the knee, so that it almost looked like a hybrid between a tunic and a short dress. When she took her place at Alexander's side, they truly looked like the Lord and Lady of the forestlands that they were.
Givadon looked around her in surprise as she stood at Baxley's side. "Where's Mizzy?"
"Yeah," added Florissant, "an' where's Browder?"
"We're trying to ascertain that right now," said Vanessa. "We haven't been so busy out here that we wouldn't have noticed them leaving by one of the wallgates, so we can safely assume they haven't run off together. We'll hold off on getting started here - sorry, Colonel - until their whereabouts have been established, and I know whether I'll be performing three weddings today or four. But I will say, you are a splendid-looking group who stands before me now! All these tunics and dresses are magnificent! Sister Orellana outdid herself this time."
"Maybe Mizzy finally came to her bally senses!" Givadon muttered hopefully.
"No such luck, Givvy," Florissant said, glancing back toward the Abbey.
Browder and Mizagelle strolled out of the door, down the steps and across the grass toward everybeast else, arm in arm and smiling contentedly. Behind them walked Kurdyla, finally returned to his senses and looking none the worse for his enforced period of unconsciousness.
While the other hares glowered wordlessly at Browder, Vanessa said, "We were all beginning to wonder whether you two might have changed your minds about getting married after all."
"Of course not, Abbess," Mizagelle assured her. "I'm more serious about this than I've ever been about anything in my life."
"Hadta wait for Kurdy t' come 'round, don'tcha know," Browder added airily. "Couldn't go an' tie th' bally knot without my best otter, wot?"
Vanessa looked to the hulking waterbeast, who was actually sporting a cheerful smile. "How are you feeling, Kurdyla?"
"Like somebeast went an' whomped me over th' head with me own rudder, a bit." He ruffled Mizagelle's headfur between her ears. "I owe this lass a big thanks fer puttin' them knockout drops in my soup last night. Mebbe it was that snooze, or mebbe t'was that clunk on my headbone I took when I fell outta my chair, but I finally feel like I'm gettin' back to me ol' self. Been kinda scatterbrained ever since that weasel cave - kinda like my mind was always half asleep, even when I was awake."
"So, no hard feelings toward Mizagelle?" Vanessa asked.
"Naw. Why would there be?" Kurdyla gave Browder a friendly pound on the shoulder that made the hare shudder under the impact. "This's yer moment, Browder, so lemme get outta yer light. Have a nice weddin'!" The otter sauntered off toward the tables to find himself a seat.
Vanessa looked the two latecomers up and down; Browder still wore the travel-stained tunic in which he'd arrived at Redwall, while Mizagelle was adorned in nothing more than her everyday Long Patrol garb. "Um, if you'd like, I can delay this ceremony while you go put on something a little finer for the occasion ... "
Mizagelle resolutely took Browder's paw in her own. "I'm marrying Browder, not his clothes. We've kept everybeast waiting long enough, Abbess. Let's get on with it, an' seize th' bally moment, wot?"
"Mizagelle," Melanie implored softly from behind her as she and Browder took their places in the wedding line before Vanessa, "don't do this. Please don't do it."
"Sorry, Mum. Meant t' be, an' all that. Disown me if you must, but I'm goin' through with this."
Melanie sighed sadly and nodded for the Abbess to proceed.
The four couples stood abreast before Vanessa: Givadon and Baxley and Florissant and Gallatin to the right of the two squirrels, Mizagelle and Browder to their left. The Abbess moved from one pair to the next, reciting for each a short poem she'd composed especially for them, after which they exchanged their vows and Vanessa declared them husband and wife.
When she reached Browder and Mizagelle, however, she paused, brow furrowed. "I'm afraid I don't have any special verse prepared for the two of you. You did spring your engagement upon us rather suddenly, you know. Do you have anything to say to each other, or shall I just go ahead and pronounce you married?"
"One moment, Abbess ... " Mizagelle took Browder's paw in both of hers. "All my young life, I've been trained to be a fearless fighter, and to reserve my love and compassion only for my fellow Long Patrol. When I came to live at Redwall last autumn, I had to learn to think of everybeast at the Abbey as part of my family. I also had to adopt Redwall's ways as my own. I think this is what enabled me to see the decency in a creature I thought an enemy. I am no longer blinded by hatred, and that truly is the greatest gift Redwall could have given me."
She turned to her intended. "Browder, you have my heart now and for always. I thank wotever fates brought us to this moment. When I went to you last night I could only think of ending your life. Now I can think only of spending a long life with you, my beloved."
Browder seemed almost at a loss for words after this profession of devotion, but at last he said, "It takes a mighty big heart t' forgive, an' I must be th' luckiest hare alive to've won yours, Mizzy. I'm not any kind o' courageous beast, seasons know I'm not, but I swear I'd lay down my worthless life for you. An' that's ... well, that's really all I can jolly well say, wot?"
"And it's quite enough for me," Mizagelle said, and leaned over to kiss Browder deeply.
"A-hem," Vanessa said loudly. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, you two. Plenty of time for that later. Now then ... Mizagelle, do you hereby take Browder as your husband from this day forth, to love as you love no other creature, to be the best and most caring wife to him that you can be?"
"I do."
"And do you, Browder, hereby take Mizagelle for your wife for all the remaining seasons that you two walk in this world together, to give her the unwavering devotion that being a husband demands, to never let your affections stray from her, and to support her throughout any struggles and misfortunes that might find you?'
"I do, ma'am."
"Very well. I now declare you to be married in the eyes of Redwall, and all of Mossflower and the lands beyond. Wherever you may go in the world, may your love be an unshakeable bond and strength for both of you. Now, you may kiss."
And so they did. Even Clewiston and Melanie were moved by the obvious tenderness Browder and Mizagelle displayed toward each other. "Can't believe it's come to this," the Colonel muttered, but his tone was far less disapproving than it might have been.
Vanessa turned from the eight newlyweds to address everybeast else. "This concludes the wedding portion of our festivities ... " She waited while the applause, cheers and whistles died down. "I know Friar Hugh hasn't started to bring out the food yet, but since I have everybeast's attention, I might as well go ahead and give the naming of this season."
More applause and cheers washed over her, but this round cut off even more abruptly than before; most of the assembled Abbeybeasts and guests still had no idea what name Vanessa had chosen for this spring, and they were as eager to hear it as they were to commence the feast.
Vanessa stepped into the center of the semicircle of tables, where she could command the full gathering's attention. Paws clasped serenely in front of her, she recited in a clear, loud voice:
"Winter is past and the woodlands awake
From snow-frosted ground and ice-crusted lake
The season of slumber has now given way
To the rebirth of life and long mild days
Spring has returned to Mossflower once more
Bringing many new friends to our door
The brothers of Machus build their own stronghold
While shrews march the lands in numbers untold
Battles fierce along the shores to our west
Send more beasts our way to be welcomed as guests
Squirrel, mouse, hedgehog, otter and hare
Has fate delivered into our care
Longtime friends take their wedding vows today
This day is so special in so many ways
So let everybeast here celebrate as one
The Spring of Many Wanderers has begun!"
This time the pawclaps and cheers went on and on, an outpouring of appreciation for yet another of Vanessa's perfectly-chosen season names. Winokur and Brother Geoff traded a knowing wink and a smile between them.
The Abbess didn't even try to make herself heard over the happy tumult. Raising her paw in the air, she twirled it in a signal for the food to start being brought out ... which only elicited more exuberant shouts of joy. Naturally.
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It took so long to wheel, cart and carry all the dishes out to the waiting feasters that some of the kitchen helpers didn't even taste the fruits of their labors until after some of the other Abbeybeasts had eaten their fill. The moles' deeper'n'ever pies were hauled out at one go aboard the cart which was usually pulled only by Maura. A separate cart trip was needed to convey all the breads and dried fruit and vegetable salads, while the otters wrestled out their cauldron-sized crock of shrimp and hotroot soup under muscle power alone. But it was the cascade of desserts and sweets which was the true star of this Nameday. A veritable convoy of carts was needed to roll out all the cakes, pies, puddings, flans, sweetbreads and biscuits that had been produced for the festive occasion. Quince pie, bilberry truffles, carrot cake, flans of honey and almond and peach and pear, sweetmeadow custard with crystallized raspberries, blueberry muffins, cherry and apple scones, almond wafers topped with sweet pink cream, hazelnut and acorn fritters, woodland nutcrunch, wild plum crumble, raisin and cinnamon bread, plum pudding with candied chestnuts, and ten different kinds of fruitcake, plain or iced or cream-topped ... it was almost too much to take in.
But taken in it was, with so many hares and all of the Guosim on paw to do their part. The former slaves positively boggled at such plenty, as did the trio of foxes; even though Tolar had dwelt at Redwall for part of the previous summer, this was his first time at the Abbey during a feast day. Even longtime residents, however, were impressed and surprised by the scope of what was offered that afternoon, especially since there had been no fresh fruits or vegetables from the winter-desolate gardens and bare orchard to support this colossal culinary effort. All had been produced using the winter stores of what had been harvested the summer and fall before. Vanessa had said she'd wanted enough food to satisfy anybeast who might show up, even all of Urthblood's beasts at the quarry, and it certainly seemed as if Friar Hugh had obeyed her wishes.
Of course, none of the others from the quarry besides Tolar and Roxroy had shown up ... which meant more for everybeast there!
The Sparra stayed mainly to the walltop, not the least bit regretful of being excluded from the chaos down on the lawns. This allowed the birds to keep a watch on the surrounding countryside so that the Abbeybeasts below could properly concentrate on their feasting.
A special table was set up in the center of all the others for the newlyweds. They might not have had the honor of getting the season named for them, but they would receive a position of honor at these festivities nonetheless.
Mina and Mizagelle were mindful to seat Browder between them, so that he would be spared direct contact with any of the other Long Patrol hares. Given their attitude toward him, it would not have been surprising for Browder to have taken a few "accidental" elbows to the ribs or stomach, a fork to the paw or a bowl of scalding soup clumsily spilled into his lap.
As the feast progressed and the partiers began to circulate beyond their initial seating arrangement, Mizagelle wrangled her new husband into taking her over to meet some of the escaped slaves he'd escorted to Redwall from the coastlands. She'd heard the tales of Browder's heroism and selfless dedication in assisting these wayward refugees, but had yet to speak personally with any of them other than Kurdyla, who'd come awake a short time before the weddings. Now she wanted to hear about her groom's finest hour firstpaw from the creatures who'd been there to see it.
Since the slaves had settled themselves amongst Redwallers in no particular order, it happened that some of them were seated near Long Patrol hares, who also sat scattered among the other woodlanders. Many scowls came from these quarters whenever Browder approached, and more than one hare made a show of rising from their own seats to go mingle with other creatures they plainly held to be more worthy of their company. But with Mizagelle constantly at his side, and with so many other beasts nearby who held a high opinion of Browder, none of the hares offered anything worse than bad grace.
"He's a hero, plain 'n' simple," the otter Wharff told Mizagelle as he pounded Browder's shoulder. "Snatched us clean outta th' jaws o' death, 'ee did. Why, I might well be naught more'n bones right now if this courageous flopears hadn't come back fer us!"
Browder shrugged off this praise. "All I did was fall flat smack on my bally bobtail an' sit there gettin' poked by those primitives 'til Klystra came along an' fooled 'em all inta thinkin' he was some kind o' great owl. I'd be bones now m'self if that featherbag hadn't pulled all our paws outta th' fire."
Mizagelle cozied up alongside Browder. "Well, I'm glad he did. I'd hate t' have just your bones to snuggle up to at night."
Browder smiled in embarrassment and blushed to his eartips. The mute hare Saticoy, sitting on Wharff's other paw, rolled his eyes and gave a disgusted grunt as he rose to get away from the enemy hare who'd married into the Long Patrol.
"But you were th' first in," Wharff went on, "with no way o' knowin' what kinda numbers you'd be facin'. That takes some real spine, matey. You c'n claim yore a coward all you want, but we who were there know better."
"Yes, we do," seconded Clovis, who sat to Mizagelle's other side. "I don't know what exactly made you change your mind about Browder, but you've chosen a fine beast to make your husband. Why, if I were a hare instead of a mouse, I might've set my sights on him for myself."
"Then I'm glad you're not, missy!" Mizagelle laughed, drawing Browder closer to her once more. "I'm glad you're not!"
Browder smirked and blushed some more.
