Martin felt his eyes slowly open. He blinked. It was evening. There were colored lanterns hanging from the trees around the lake where Kotir once stood. Their lights reflected in the water. The sky was clear and full of stars. He could see garlands of flowers everywhere and could smell delicious smells from food cooking over bonfires.
And Gonff. He was standing near one of the fires, singing:
"Let no foul beast give one command,
I'll say 'O no not me,
My back bends to no tyrant's rule.
Hey, friends, this mouse is free.'
Free has a sound, it rings around,
A lovely way to be.
So dance or sing, do anything,
You're free free free free freeeeeeeeeee!"
"Hurr, that's what 'ee think, Gonffen," Dinny said. "You tell 'im missus."
"Gonff," called Columbine, "Come and help me to get this stopper off this strawberry wine, right away."
"Immediately, my Columbine," Gonff called, hurrying over to her, "O nurse of warriors and charming mouselet. I'm coming, my little candied chestnut."
Martin could hear roars of laughter.
Martin saw Timballisto come over to the blanket he was lying on and flop down on the edge of it. "So, you're awake, mate," he said. "The Abbess said it'd be sometime today."
Martin smiled and grasped his friend's paw. "Don't worry," he said, "I'm back now. How long have I lain here?"
Suddenly Ferdy and Coggs dashed over.
"Ha," teased Ferdy, "So you're awake, sleepyhead."
"Yes," added Coggs, "fancy dozing off when there's a party."
Then the Abbess and Bella joined the small group. Both were decked out in flowers and they carried a bowl of woodland vegetable soup between them.
Abbess Germaine began feeding the soup to Martin from a ladle. "Good evening, Martin," she said. Martin started to say something, but the Abbess fed him another ladle full of soup before he could speak. "Don't answer," she continued, "just keep eating; we want you up and about as soon as possible." Martin did as he was told.
Pretty soon the other woodlanders noticed what was going on and came over. They started exclaiming over him.
"Look, Martin's awake now!"
"My, my, doesn't he look well!"
"Urr, loivly as pepper 'n' strong as ale."
"Haha, ahoy there, shipmate."
Once everybeast had settled down, Bella chuckled ever so slightly and asked, "Well, how do you feel, Champion of Mossflower?"
Martin felt tears well in his eyes and spill over as he looked around at all the friendly faces. He smiled and said, "Good to be alive, Bella!"