9.
A Warrior's Legacy
Urran Voh turned to the voice, fury still his eyes. "Of course it's Martin's fault!" he yelled at Teaslepaw, who had spoken. "Rose would still be alive if not for that mouse! If not for him, I'd still have a daughter!"
Then Urran Voh broke down and fell to his knees sobbing. Aryah rose from her chair as well only to kneel next to her husband. Brome joined them on the floor and together they wept for Rose. The only sound was of the three mice lost in their grief. Until another maidens voice was heard though it was very faint.
"Oh my head. Where am I? Where's Martin?"
Urran Voh looked up, but only saw the other creatures also with their heads down looking at the floor. The mouse shook his head. No it can't be, I'm just imagining things. It just can't.
The voice spoke again this time more clearly. "My room? How'd I get home to Noonvale?"
Urran Voh looked at his family. Their shocked expressions told him that they had also heard the voice as well. So had the Rosehip Players and Teaslepaw. To a beast they were wide eyed and staring at the door leading to Rose's room. They were all rooted to where they were on the floor as they heard a creature moving around slowly in Rose's room. Gauchee and Kastern then slowly backed out of the room their mouths hanging open in silence and eyes wide as saucers. Staggering on unsteady legs and holding onto the wall for support, Rose followed them and turned to her family.
"Mama? Papa? Brome?"
"ROSE!!" Brome surged to his footpaws and launched himself at his sister. He collided with her and the two of them fell to the ground. Brome found himself weeping again, but this time in relief.
Aryah put both of her paws to her mouth in disbelief and slowly got up from the floor and walked to where Brome was embracing his sister. "Rose?" she said.
"I'm right here Mama," Rose said weakly.
"Oh my Rose!" said Aryah and she fell down next to Brome and pulled both of them into her arms.
Urran Voh found that his earlier fury had completely disappeared. His heart was beating again and he too joined his family, in a multi-pawed embrace on their cottage floor. Urran Voh, Aryah, Brome all just sat on the floor holding onto Rose. For her part Rose was somewhat confused.
"I'm glad you're so glad that I'm home, but don't you think this is a bit much? And where's Martin?" she asked.
It was then that Urran Voh, Aryah, and Brome finally let go of her. "It's just that we thought you were dead," Brome told her. "We're just so happy to see and hear you again."
Aryah still hadn't let go of Rose. She looked as if she let go of Rose it would all prove to be a dream. "Let's go back to the sitting room and get off the floor. Let me help you up dear," she told her daughter.
Aryah got up still holding onto Rose's arm. Rose tried getting up but found that her legs and footpaws couldn't hold her weight. Every time she tried to get up she fell back to the floor.
"I can't get up," she said with a note of horror in her voice. "Why can't I get up?"
Urran Voh walked over and carefully picked up his daughter to bring her to a pile of cushions that were laid out on the sitting room floor. He then turned to the others. "Would you please excuse us? There seems to be much we have to discuss. However you may tell Noonvale that Rose is alive. I'm sure that everybeast will want to hear the news."
Ballaw got up with a bound. "Right you are old sport! Come on then lads and lasses, sharp's the word and quick's the jolly good action don'cha know!" Soon the only creatures in the cottage were Urran Voh, Aryah, Rose, and Brome.
"Can you please tell me what's going on now? Why did you think I was dead? And for the third time where is Martin?" Rose was by now getting a little impatient.
"Rose what's the last thing you remember?" Brome asked.
"I had just crawled out of the tunnel Grumm had dug and looked around. Badrang was right there and had knocked out Grumm. I jumped on him and tried beating him with my sling. I think I remember him grabbing the back of my dress. After that nothing until I just now when I woke up with a white blanket over top of me."
Brome nodded. "Well what happened was this; Badrang threw you hard against the wall and you hit headfirst. We all saw it. Martin too. He went berserk. He jumped off the battlements to get at Badrang. They fought around the ruins of the slave compound. Martin was able to slay Badrang and took his father's sword back. He then collapsed in the dust next to you. Most beasts thought you were both dead. I got there as soon as I could and checked your pulse, but I didn't find one. So I started bandaging Martin's wounds because I could see he was still breathing."
"Where did you check Rose's pulse Brome?" Aryah asked.
"On her neck," he answered.
"Yes, but where on her neck?"
"Right here," Brome said and he placed his paw in the middle of his own neck where he had checked Rose's pulse that morning. To his surprise he didn't feel his own pulse there either.
"You checked the wrong spot Brome. Move you paw to either side of the neck."
Brome did so and then clearly felt the beat of his heart. "Oh," he said quietly.
Aryah shook her head. "There is a lot I'll need to teach you about healing."
"So we all thought you were dead," Brome said turning back to Rose. "Rowanoak, Grumm, Pallum, and that owl Boldred told me they were going to take Martin to Polleekin's. He never came around before we left for Noonvale on the Waterlily. I'm sure that once he recovers he'll be along with the others."
Rose felt her heart sink a little. She was glad that Martin had made it through the battle but was sad that he wasn't in Noonvale like how they had talked about. She nodded and in doing so looked at her legs under her dress. "So why can't I walk or even get up?"
Brome shrugged his shoulders and looked to his mother. Aryah knelt down next to Rose and starting giving her a more thorough examination. She pulled Rose's legs out straight and put one paw on the bottom of Rose's right footpaw, pointing it straight up at the ceiling. "Try and push against my paw Rose and point your footpaw," Aryah told her.
Rose leaned back on her arms and tried to do as her mother asked. However try as she might she could barely get her footpaw to press against her mother's paw let along point her footpaw. Aryah checked the other footpaw and leg with the same results. A few similar tests followed and included the whole leg rather than just the footpaw. They produced similar results. Rose had some feeling and movement, but there was no way she would be able to stand or walk unassisted.
"Can you do anything about this Mama?" Rose asked.
"I'll have to look at some of the scrolls and books we have on healing before I can say for sure Rose," Aryah told her.
"Don't worry Rose, I'll help too." Brome promised her.
"Papa?" Rose looked at her father. "You've been awful quiet."
How can I tell her how upset I am at Martin for leaving her like this, but at the same time I'm so glad she's alive? Urran Voh choose to take a more diplomatic approach. "I'm just relieved you're alive Rose. Don't worry; your mother is one of the finest healers Noonvale has ever had. I'm sure that she'll be able to get you back on your feet in no time. Until then I'll talk to some of our carpenters and see if we can rig up a litter or wheelchair so you can get around."
"Good, because I want to get going to Polleekin's tree as soon as I can if that's where Martin is recovering."
Urran Voh was about to speak up, but Aryah and Brome both beat him. "No Rose, you can't do that." Brome told her.
"You're still too weak for a journey like that dear," Aryah told her. "You need to focus on recovering right now."
Rose sighed but she knew her mother was right. She just nodded, and then yawned.
Brome saw it. "Tired Rose?" he asked.
"Yes, I know I just woke up, but I can't seem to keep my eyes open anymore."
"That's because you're still very weak," said Aryah. "Some rest is just what you need. Brome and I will start looking through our books and scrolls while you sleep." Aryah turned to Brome. "Can you carry Rose to her room?"
"Of course mother," Brome said. He got up from where he had been sitting and picked up Rose. He gently carried her back to her room immensely grateful that instead of a burial shroud he could now just put a blanket over her.
When they had gone Aryah turned to her husband. "You were going to prohibit her from looking for Martin, weren't you?"
He nodded. "It's because of Martin that she got hurt. I told you and her that Martin was trouble."
Aryah took a deep breath. "It does look like that now, but it's obvious she cares a great deal for him still. If you're dead set against Martin could you please not say anything in front of her? She needs positive things to think about to help her healing and the thought of Martin coming back once he recovers could be a very big help."
Slowly Urran Voh nodded. "Alright, but don't expect me to have anything good to say about the mouse who almost led both our son and daughter to their deaths."
"But they're not dead, remember that too," Aryah told him with a firm look to her face.
Winter was fast approaching the valley of Noonvale. The trees had long shed their leaves and the fields and orchards lay bare of the crops. The fall harvest had been brought in and stored for the coming cold season. In a side room off the main room of Council Lodge, Brome and Rose were working together.
The room wasn't all that large, but it was almost the entire length of the Lodge. Along one wall was a wooden railing at waist height for Rose. In the middle of the room was another set of railings that was at the perfect height for her to work on re-gaining her mobility. Scattered throughout the room were other implements designed to assist Rose in her recovery.
"You can do it this time Rose, I just know it." Brome was encouraging her to traverse the parallel railings in the middle of the room. Rose was having a difficult time because she had to support most of her weight on her arms and it was quite tiring for her. So far she had not yet traversed the length of the railings. It was not for lack of trying however. Rose had been very diligent in her the recovery regimen Brome and Aryah had worked out for her.
"I know Brome. I want to run to Martin when he comes back. I just wish we knew when he, Grumm, Pallum, and Rowanoak are coming back here."
There had been no word of Martin or any of the others. Rose was greatly looking forward to the day when she would see Martin, Grumm, and Pallum again. Already the story of the Battle of Marshank was quickly becoming the most requested story by the young ones of Noonvale after dinner. The former Marshank slaves and those who had fought in the battle were more than happy to oblige the wide-eyed youngsters. It was only when the exaggerations grew too extreme, Brome having actually turned into a frog by Tibbar's magic for example, that Rose and Brome both intervened and asked the tellers to stick to the truth of the story.
"Don't worry Rose, I'm sure they'll be back any day now," Brome told her. "Now see if you can put any more weight on your footpaw this time.
Rose stained against the weight of holding her body up as she very slowly brought her right footpaw forward. She tried to lower her body down and have her leg support her weight, but it proved too much for her. With a cry of dismay she fell forward, her sweaty paws having slipped off the railings she had been holding.
"Don't worry I've got you," Brome told her as he swiftly caught Rose. He had been standing right in front of her just in case such an occurrence happened. "Ready to try again?" he asked once he got her steady.
"I don't think so," she said. "My arms feel like pudding. I think we need to stop for today. Especially since I need to get ready for the feast tonight."
"Alright, but you owe me a little extra longer tomorrow to make up for it," Brome said in a mock-stern voice as he helped Rose into the wheelchair the Noonvale carpenters had made for her.
"Yes sir!" Rose laughed at him. "Now scamper on out of here and tell Teaslepaw she can come in and help me get ready."
Brome walked over to the door and opened it to allow the hogmaid to enter. "Teaslepaw," he called. "Rose is ready for you." He left the room as Teaslepaw entered. She had been waiting just outside the door anyway.
"You got done early today," she commented as she walked over to where Rose was sitting.
"Yes, Brome said we could finish quickly because of the feast tonight."
Teaslepaw grinned in delight. "I'm so excited! To think that Keyla and Tullgrew were wed and now they're having their feast tonight. It's going to be so much fun."
"I know, I just wish Martin was here already to share it with me," Rose told her friend.
"You love him don't you?" Teaslepaw said with a gleam in her eye.
Rose's face turned a very deep shade of crimson. "Is it that obvious?" she asked in return.
"Rose it was obvious last summer to everybeast when Martin was here with you. The two of you were inseparable. You couldn't take your eyes off each other. Even now you don't go a day without mentioning him at least thrice before noon."
"I just miss him so much," Rose said wistfully as she looked out a nearby window.
Teaslepaw bent down to give her friend a hug. "Don't you worry. He'll come back one of these days. Right down from on top of the bluffs, holding his father's sword and you'll run into his arms."
"Hmmm," Rose sighed as she smiled and closed her eyes at the vision Teaslepaw had inspired. Teaslepaw rolled Rose back to her parents cottage where she helped the mousemaid wash and change in preparation for the feast.
Soon the inhabitants of Noonvale were gathered in Council Lodge for the marriage feast of Keyla and Tullgrew. They had been wed in a short ceremony aboard the Waterlily earlier that day. They had preferred to have a simple ceremony but a large feast. As such the creatures of Noonvale had turned out in their best to celebrate the new union. The Rosehip Players were set to perform except for Trefoil. She was well advanced in pregnancy with a babe. She had turned bright red when she revealed that the father was none other than Felldoh. As such she was excused from performing and was sitting in the crowds of other Noonvalers.
Keyla stood up from his chair at the head table once everybeast had made it inside Council Lodge. He raised his beaker to toast them all. "My friends, both Tullgrew and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the good friendship and hospitality you have shown us. You welcomed us into Noonvale with open arms and open hearts. However none of this would have been possible if not for the bravery of one mouse. And even though he's not here yet, though we all hoped he would have been by now, raise you glasses one and all to the one who defeated the evil hordes of Marshank, to Martin the Warrior!"
"To Martin the Warrior!" a multitude of voices echoed back.
With that the feast began in earnest. Mounds of succulent dishes were passed back and forth. Barrels were broached and shared with smiling friends. In the midst of it all the Rambling Rosehip Players were singing songs, performing slight-of-paw tricks, and acting out mini-plays between the tables.
Tullgrew turned to Rose who was sitting near the new otterwife. "Rose would you sing us a song?"
"Of course," Rose said with a smile. She turned to Teaslepaw. "Could you help wheel me in front of the table please?" The hogmaid helped her out and soon Rose was on the other side of the head table where she could be seen and heard clearly. The creatures inside Council Lodge saw and soon had quieted their conversations to hear her. Taking a deep breath Rose began to sing.
"Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailing
Somewhere beyond the sea
He's there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
Then straight to his arms I'd go sailing
It's far beyond the stars
It's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
My heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet beyond the shore
We'll kiss just like before
Happy we will be beyond the sea
And never again I'll go sailing
We'll meet, I know we'll meet beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
And never again I'll go sailing"
Cheers and applause greeted Rose as she finished her song. She smiled and bowed her head as Teaslepaw helped wheel her back to her place.
"Oh Rose that was wonderful," Tullgrew gushed once Rose was close enough for the otterwife to talk to her. "I don't think there was a more perfect song for Keyla and I."
"Except for the no more sailin' part," Keyla chimed in. "I plan on sailin' as long as I can."
Tullgrew slapped his arm playfully. "That's not what she meant you great lummox! It means we won't be separated anymore."
"Jus' makin' a joke dear," Keyla said with a twinkle in his eye.
"We know," Rose told him. "Although I also sang it because it reminds me to hold on until Martin comes back from recovering at Polleekin's."
Tullgrew was about to answer when there was a bang on the doors of Council Lodge. Without waiting for someone to open them, the doors flew open to reveal Rowanoak standing in the doorway.
"What's this then? A party and I wasn't invited?"
More cheers greeted the new arrivals as Grumm and Pallum appeared in the doorway behind the badger. Rose looked to where Brome was sitting at a nearby table. Her face was lit up in expectation. Brome saw the look Rose was giving him and got up to help wheel Rose to Rowanoak, Grumm, and Pallum were standing.
"Make way please," Brome said kindly but firmly as he pushed his way through the crowds. Soon he and Rose reached the new arrivals.
"Grumm! Pallum! You're home! Where's Martin? Is he coming soon?" Rose called out to them.
The three new arrivals looked at Rose and then stood in shock at seeing her alive. They hadn't known she had survived the battle as they had believed Brome when he had mistakenly pronounced her dead. Grumm was the first to find his voice.
"Rozer! You'm be aloive? O joy an' 'arpiness! Oi carn't burlly talk!" he said as he ran to give Rose a hug.
Pallum was equally relieved. "We thought you were dead Rose. Oh, I'm so glad to see you again!" He was soon adding his own hug to Grumm's.
"I'm happy to see you too," said Rose as she returned their hugs, being careful about holding Pallum. "But where's Martin? I thought he was with you recovering from his own wounds? I can't wait to see him."
Grumm and Pallum released Rose and then looked at each other with concerned looks on their faces. Fortunately for them Rowanoak came to their rescue, though her expression was somewhat grave. "Rose dear, there's something we have to tell you. Is there a place we can talk in private, away from all these creatures?"
"Yes of course, there's a side room just over here. Brome could you help me please?"
Once all five of them were in the side room and the door closed Rowanoak began talking. "This is going to be hard for you Rose, but there's not any other way to say it. After the battle Martin was lying senseless in the sand next to you. We all believed Brome when he said you were dead. After all he was our chief healer and hadn't been wrong about anything up to that point. It was decided that Brome would take you home to Noonvale while Boldred, Grumm, Pallum and I would look after Martin.
"We took him to Polleekin's tree where he could recover in peace. He didn't wake up for a full three days after the battle and when he did he was still very weak and couldn't talk. The first thing he asked about was you though. He mouthed 'Where's Rose,' to me. I told him you hadn't made it. He took it very hard and began thrashing wildly. He only calmed down after Polleekin gave him a sleeping potion. He then didn't wake up till the next day.
"We all thought he might do something rash so at first we all kept an eye on him. Then Polleekin told us that we needed to let him be alone. He didn't say a word to us. It was as if he was going through the motions of being alive, but there was nothing there. The fire that was always in his eyes was gone. We knew his body was healing just fine, but we were all worried about his mental well being. But Polleekin told us to just let him be. So we did. Soon he was able to get up and begin wandering through the woods. He'd be gone all day long. Sometimes when we were out gathering herbs we'd hear him crying in the distance. And still all the time he never said a word.
"Then on the first day of autumn he woke up, ate breakfast and told us all simply he was leaving."
Rose couldn't take it anymore. She had felt her heart breaking as she listened to Rowanoak's story. She had to interrupt at that point. "What do you mean he said he was leaving? Leaving to come here to Noonvale right?"
Rowanoak slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry Rose, no. I remember his words clearly when I asked him if he was going to return to Noonvale. Grumm, Pallum and I were planning on leaving that day too you see. Martin said, 'I can never return to Noonvale. I will travel alone. South.'"
"Et be troo Miz Rozer," Grumm said. "Oi arsked him woi's an' he'm said…" but Grumm got too choked up to continue.
Rowanoak took up the tale again. "Martin looked at Grumm and said, 'One day maybe I will hang up my sword and be a creature of peace. Until then, I must follow the way of the Warrior; it is in my blood. Have no fear, I will never mention Noonvale, or any of you. Noonvale is a secret place untouched by evil. I could not forgive myself if I ever unknowingly sent trouble there. Nobeast will know where I came from.'"
"Aye, it's true Rose," Pallum said. He could see the sorrow growing in her face. "I asked him what he would say then or if he would ever tell the tale of our adventures. When he replied it was the last thing he said to us except for one last warcry before he left. He said, 'Never! I will only say that I guarded my father's cave against searats while he was away. When I felt he would not return I began my wanderings. How could anybeast understand what we went through together, the freedom we won and the friends we lost?' He did seem to get quite choked up at the end though."
Rose felt her own throat tighten as the enormity of what they had said sunk in. "So he's not coming back?" she said in a tight quiet voice.
"I'm sorry Rose, no he's not," Rowanoak told her as she put a gentle paw on Rose's shoulder. "The last we saw him he had his father's sword strapped across his back and he was walking south through the trees."
Any joy Rose had been feeling because of the feast was now lost. She buried her head in her paws and began to weep. She didn't hear when Rowanoak herded Grumm and Pallum out of the room leaving her alone with Brome.
Urran Voh was walking through Noonvale as he always did. He didn't have the spring in his step he had had a few seasons ago. However that wasn't the only thing the Patriarch of Noonvale had noticed that was different in Noonvale. A subtle but gradual change had come to the valley since the fateful Summer of the Warrior, as it had been come to be called, last summer. Noonvalers walked more confidently. They helped each other out more freely. Work projects that had been long neglected were seen too. Creatures treated each other more fairly. Whenever Urran Voh asked a given creature about these changes they always replied with some form of it being the right thing to do.
The biggest change Urran Voh saw though was in his son. Before the Summer of the Warrior he had known Brome to be a reckless layabout of a young mouse. Now, much to his father's surprise and pleasure, Brome was living up to his responsibilities. Urran Voh was actually looking for his son to discuss this change. He knew where to find Brome though. Brome was in the room off of the main room in Council Lodge, still helping Rose recover the use of her legs.
Rose had made remarkable progress. After she had learned that Martin had left for the south alone Rose had sunk into a depression and hadn't done anything in her recovery regimen. It was only through the constant support of her friends and family that Rose was able to regain some of her old spark and continue with her recovery. Urran Voh made another mental note that it was mainly due to Brome that Rose had re-started her exercises again.
The Noonvale Patriarch walked into Council Lodge and passed by the tables quickly on his way to the Recovery Room. He opened the door and silently watched as Rose gingerly walked her way across the room supported by two crutches. She had started to forego the wheelchair now that she was walking again. She still wasn't very fast, but it was a joy to see her up and about again.
"Well done Rose," Urran Voh said as she finished walking across the room. "You look like you're getting stronger every day."
"I am Papa. Thanks to Brome that is," she said returning her father's smile.
"I'm glad to hear it. But your mother is waiting for you back at the cottage. She said something about an examination you needed."
Rose nodded. "Yes she told me that this morning before breakfast"
"Are you strong enough to walk back to the cottage on your own?"
"I don't know." Rose looked at Brome. "Am I?"
Brome nodded. "I think you're ready. Give it a try. If you need to stop and rest do so."
"I will," Rose told him.
Slowly she walked out of the Recovery Room leaving Urran Voh and Brome by themselves. "You've done a remarkable job with her, you know. I daresay you're a better healer than your mother by now."
"Thank you Father," Brome was beaming. "But you don't usually come in here. What brings you in today?"
Urran Voh wandered through the room for a bit before he answered. "Well I've been watching you and the rest of Noonvale since this Summer of the Warrior. I can't help notice that things have changed around here. And they've all been for the better it seems. But most of all you. You're not the mouse you used to be."
"You're right Father I'm not," Brome said. "And there's a reason for it. Martin."
"Martin," Urran Voh repeated. "It always comes back to him doesn't it? Martin the Warrior."
"Not always, but usually," said Brome. "Are you having second thoughts about him?"
"Actually I am," Urran Voh answered. "After you and Rose returned home from the coast I hated Martin for what he had done to our family. First I thought Rose was dead because of him, then I blamed Rose's injuries on him. But then as these last few seasons went on I noticed something I couldn't explain. Everybeast that met him never had a bad thing to say about him. Even creatures that barely knew him. I don't think I've ever seen a mouse with that kind of presence, and he was only here in Noonvale for at most a day and a half."
Brome was now puzzled. "What are you saying Father?"
"I guess I'm saying that I was wrong. I was wrong about Martin, wrong about warriors like him in general. Things have changed too much for the better around Noonvale, and there's no denying it was because of him."
Brome was stunned. He never would have expected his father to admit to being wrong like that. "I'm glad you've realized why we all look up to him so much."
Urran Voh was also relieved. He was relieved that his son wasn't now throwing his seasons of misplaced dislike back in his face. "Also I've seen the change in you. You're more reasonable and responsible now. Is that due to Martin as well?"
"It is," Brome answered. "I find myself still trying to live up to the example Martin set. We all remember him as being firm but fair and still treating every goodbeast he came across with respect. It was only then that I also realized that you were trying to teach me the same thing long before I ever met Martin. It just took me a long time to stop being so stubborn and face that."
"It does me good to hear you say that Brome," Urran Voh told him. "You'll make a fine Patriarch one day."
Brome was stunned again. "Me? I thought Rose was going to lead Noonvale? She's older than me."
"Your mother and I talked to Rose about that. Rose actually decided it was best that you be the next one to lead Noonvale. She still has a long road ahead of her in her recovery and she admitted her heart wouldn't be in it to lead our tribe. She even asked me to talk to you about this today. So what do you say?"
Brome took a deep breath before meeting his father eye for eye. "It would be my honor."
"Good!" Urran Voh said happily. "Now don't you go getting any ideas mind you. I've still got a lot of seasons left in me, but I can start teaching you some of the tricks I've learned along the way."
"I'd be happy to learn them from you," Brome said as he walked out of the recovery room with his Father.
Across the valley Rose was just making it back to the cottage she called home. She found her mother waiting for her. Aryah beckoned Rose into her room and had Rose lay down on her bed. After a very thorough examination Aryah had Rose sit up again.
Aryah had a sad look to her face. "Rose I know these last three seasons haven't been easy for you. With your condition and Martin gone and all. I'm afraid I have more bad news for you. Because you laid so long unconscious coming back from the coast and also because of the time you weren't on your recovery program some of your muscles have atrophied. What that means is that they've stopped working because of disuse."
"But my legs are getting stronger every day," Rose said.
"It's not your legs I'm talking about," Aryah said. "I don't think you'll ever be able to bear a babe. I'm so sorry."
The news hit Rose hard. In one instant her dreams of one day finding Martin and starting a family with him were dashed. Hot tears started welling up in her eyes as she felt the loss sink in. "I need to be alone I think," she said.
Wordlessly Aryah got up and left Rose alone in her room. When she left Rose cried tears of shame. A multitude of thoughts were going through her head. Why does this keep on happening? This has to be a dream, is has to. None of this can be real. None of if it! Martin, Marshank, that summer, it can't be real! I wish it would have never happened! None of it1 I just want to wake up! Please let this just be a bad dream!
Rose wept until she finally looked up and saw the red sky of evening outside her window. She couldn't stay in her room any longer and got up on her crutches. Slowly she got up and began the journey to her secret spot by the river under the willow trees. As she walked gust of wind picked up and blew in from behind her. A shout was clearly heard on the wind.
"Catch it! Catch it!"
Rose turned and saw a tunic flying along the ground. It had obviously gotten away from the creature that had been taking if off the line. Rose reached out with one of her crutches and caught the wayward garment. She then looked around for the owner. To her surprise it was Camilla, the mousemaid who had so often picked on her, who came running up to claim the tunic.
"Here you go," Rose said as she held out her crutch towards the other mouse.
"Oh, thank you," Camilla said. "I was afraid it was going to blow all the way to the wood line."
"Well I'm glad I could help," Rose said as she turned to leave.
"Rose wait!"
Rose turned back around to face Camilla. It was the first time she and Camilla had talked and the first time Camilla hadn't used Rose's full name. "What is it?" Rose asked.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Camilla told her. "Joyce, Teerla, and I were horrible to you when we were growing up. You never deserved it and… well there you go."
Rose blinked it was the last thing she was expecting from the other maid. "Forgive me for asking, but what brought this on after all this time?"
Camilla scuffed her footpaw in the dirt before asking. "Well to tell you the truth it was because of the Remembrance Feast we had a few nights ago. When you sang that song about the Summer of the Warrior it made me remember something else Martin did."
"You mean get you, Teerla, and Joyce covered in dirt then put on laundry duty?" Rose asked.
"Yes," Camilla nodded. "We were very stuck up and spoiled and he was the only one willing to call us out on it. After that no one let us get away acting like spoiled brats again. It may have been a hard lesson to learn, but in hindsight I'm glad we learned it. I just wanted you to know, because it's obvious you still have deep feelings for him."
Rose was stunned. Don't worry Rose. I promise you that as long as I'm with you, you won't have to worry about bullies like that. She clearly heard Martin's words in her mind. It's not a dream Rose thought. Even now you're still looking out for me Martin. "I forgive you Camilla," was all she could say back.
"Thank you," said Camilla as she carefully stepped forward and gave Rose a hug. "I'd like us to be friends, if that's alright with you?" she said as she let go.
"I'd like that too," Rose said as a smile crept across her face. She said goodbye to Camilla and with a much lighter heart she made her way to her secret spot by the river. It was fully dark by the time she arrived and the springtime stars were sparkling in the night sky. She wasn't worried about being out in the woods by herself. Gingerly she sat down and then laid back to look up at the sky. Far above her a shooting star streaked across the heavens to the south. Closing her eyes, Rose made her wish. It was the same wish she always wished when she saw a shooting star.
I wish to see Martin again.
The warm spring night worked its magic on Rose and she was soon fast asleep. That night she had a very pleasant dream.
She was standing on the cliffs the night before the attack on Marshank staring up into a very similar night sky. From behind her a pair of strong arms encircled her waist and held her gently. Neither she nor Martin made a sound as they stared across the cliffs watching the ocean. Suddenly a bright light flashed overhead and Rose felt Martin let go to look up and point at the star streaking across the sky.
"Look at that!" Martin said. "Let's each make a wish, Rose!"
Rose grinned and closed her eyes to make her wish. I wish that we both survive the battle at Marshank and live happily together afterwards.
Rose woke up from her dream and looked again for the shooting star she had wished upon. Of course it was now nowhere to be seen. However she looked to where she had last see it. The meteor had been travelling to the south. She knew that was where Martin had gone. Her imagination took hold again and she pictured that somehow she had tied a message to the shooting star telling Martin that she was alive and still waiting for him in Noonvale. That she would wait for him as long as she lived. Silently Rose sent her thoughts out across the heavens along the path the star had taken, hoping beyond hope that somehow he would get her message.
Another creature saw the same shooting star that night. This one however not only saw the star streak across the sky, but saw where it landed. Running across the sand dunes of the Western Sea she found the deep hole it had made on impact. A red hot piece of metal was buried deep in the sand. The hare waited until it had cooled then carefully dug it out.
"I've never seen metal like this before," Lupin said to herself. "What a sword Lord Boar could make with star metal like this!"
The Salamandastron hare carefully put the star metal in her pack and began her long trek back to the Mountain of the Fire Lizard.
A/N; Well now wasn't that fun? In case you're wondering I had been planning to keep Rose alive all along. I've had so much fun grinning evilly at you all when you keep asking if I'm going to tie this into "A Mask and A Song," and "Winter's Flowers." The answer now is of course yes, I will. I do have one thing to add though about the end of this chapter. It's not my idea, though I wish it was. The dream scene on the cliff is based on a picture called "Wish Upon a Star," done by cybercatmia on DeviantArt. She helped me with a project and in return she asked if I were to write in that scene. The idea that of the meteor that Rose wishes on falls to become the metal for the Sword of Martin was posted in the comment section of that picture by one, DCLeadboot.
I also don't own the words to the song Rose sings at the wedding feast, "Beyond The Sea." However if you choose to re-read this chapter I do suggest opening a new tab or window and pulling it up on YouTube and listening along. The version I listened to basically the entire time I wrote this chapter was sung, once again, by the group Celtic Woman. They have lovely voices that always make me think of how Rose must sound.
I'm really looking forward to the comments for this chapter.