Chapter 21
Like how it had been with the ball the week before, the Council Lodge was arrayed with strings of flowers and colored lights. But instead of a wide, open space for dancing, there were more long tables covered in all kinds of food:
Cakes of all kinds lathered with meadowcream, candied chestnuts, and honey-preserves; many cheeses of deep yellow and pale cream, some studded with nuts; nutbrown ale; dandelion beer; watercress-and-scallion salads; latticed tarts; plum'n'beetroot wine; puddings of all kinds; vegetable soups and stews; honeyed scones; burdock cordial; wild cherry turnovers; watershrimp and hotroot soup; flans, turnovers, and farls, all warm and delectable.
Ferdinand the hare practically drooled at the sight of it all. However, before he could make a move towards the table, he felt himself being lifted up into the air.
"Arrg! Hey, what-?!" the irate hare shouted, glaring over his shoulder at Rogak, who grinned.
"Sorry, boss, but I'm under strict orders to let all the other beasts get their share before you go piggin' it all down."
"I say, what ridiculous-! Put me down! Let go, I say! A poor chap's bound to starve in a place like this! Put me down, waterdog! Arrrggg!"
"Don't worry," laughed Petunia as she and her sisters made their way past. "We'll save you some of the food."
"Ah, thank you, my dear! Thank you!" Ferdinand called gratefully. "Just make certain that you get me some of that apple crumble, and that strawberry tart, and maybe just a bit of that vegetable pasty? The one with the golden-fried crust?"
Soon all of the Noonvalers, along with The Roaming Whimsical Troupe (who were all still clad in their costumes), were feasting away. Pansy had entered a strawberry-fizz-drinking game with some of the other youngbeasts, while Merola sat down next to Ruri and the other oldbeasts. Petunia found Dakar and began discussing picking up the sword-lessons again.
Vanna was sitting next to Dakar. As she listened with an amused ear to the haremaid and warriormouse making conversation, the squirrel glanced up and saw Lily walking by.
"Oh, Lily! Hey, come sit with us!" she called.
The mousemaid, however, only shot Vanna a shockingly cold glance and stalked on by. The squirrelmaid was stunned. Why should Lily look at her that way? But she had little time to ponder this, as she was called upon by Petunia to help convince Dakar to give her sword-lessons again.
Pansy wiped her lips, gasping for air as she set down her fifth cup of strawberry fizz. The squirrelmaid then smiled around at the other creatures who had only drank about three.
"Hah! I win!" She then gave a belch. "Excuse me," she said to those laughing around her.
"Oh, miss Pansy?"
The squirrelmaid looked up and smiled when she saw it was Spiketipp. "Oh hi, Spike! Did you see me? I finished five cupfuls of strawberry fizz!" She gave another belch. "Excuse me again."
"That's great," the hedgehog smiled, his nose wrinkling a bit. "But Madam wants a word with you in her tent. She says to hurry."
Feeling surprised, and slightly concerned, Pansy jumped up and dashed outside, hoping that she wouldn't belch within the old hare-lady's presence.
After what seemed an eternity to Ferdinand, Rogak finally released him. The hare immediately dived at one of the food tables, and promptly began filling up a plate with whatever would fit on it. He also trooped by Petunia's table to retrieve the food she had picked out for him, not failing to thank her.
"No trouble at all," the haremaid told him. "Just one hare looking out for another, eh?"
"Ah, but you're a noble creature, miss Petunia!" Ferdinand said, bowing deeply. "If ever you decided to become a Long Patroller, they'd be lucky to have you!"
"See?" Petunia said to Dakar when Ferdinand left. "That's why I have to pick up my lessons again! I've been off them for too long–"
"You have not," the warriormouse retorted. "A week isn't too long. But I do see your point. Well, I suppose we'll pick up sword-lessons tomorrow, alright?"
"Ooh, thank you!" the haremaid squealed as she flung her arms around his neck.
When he had released Ferdinand, Rogak headed towards the food-tables to get himself some food, chuckling at the hare's antics.
However, the otter was hailed by Winifred. "Oh, Rogak? Yoohoo! I already got you some food! Come sit with me!"
Truthfully, the male otter was getting a little tired of the ottermaid's company, but it seemed impolite to refuse her offer, so Rogak plastered on a smile and sat down next to her.
Primrose, who was getting herself some cordial, noticed, and gave a bad-tempered snort. That was when she noticed Lily sitting all by herself, drinking some nutbrown beer. Giving her brow a slight furrow, the ferretmaid went over to the mousemaid.
"Anything wrong?" she asked, sitting across from Lily.
The mousemaid looked up from her tankard, jerked out of her thoughts. "Oh. Eh, no, nothing's wrong."
"Are you sure?" the ferretmaid persisted. "You look really down. Are you not feeling well?"
Lily looked at Primrose . . . and suddenly, for some reason, it seemed to make perfect sense to confide in the ferretmaid. She didn't know why, it just did. And so, taking a deep breath, she started.
"I know."
Primrose cocked her head. "Sorry?"
"I know about you and Dakar."
There was a long, long moment of silence between the two females.
Finally, Primrose gave a small exhale, an even smaller inhale, and said, "You mean about. . . ?"
"The kiss? Yes. I know."
". . . how did. . . ?"
"I saw you. That night at the ball. I saw it all."
Primrose swallowed, her face flushing, her heart trembling.
"I also heard everything."
The ferret blinked, and suddenly her heart began to lighten. "Y-you did?"
"Yes." Lily looked very seriously at the ferretmaid whom she had raised from infancy. "I suppose you've already figured this out, but . . . I'm in love with Dakar."
Primrose suddenly felt very gleeful, and didn't bother hiding it. "Oh, Lily! Have you told him yet?"
The mousemaid's face hadn't lost its seriousness. "No. But right now, I don't think I can."
The ferret's smile melted. "Why not?"
Lily glanced this way and that before leaning closer to Primrose, who also leaned forward.
"He's fallen in love with somebeast else."
The ferret's eyes popped. She leaned back, her mouth hanging open. "No! He couldn't be-"
"That's what I thought," interrupted Lily. "But I know he is. I've seen them together. Sitting together, laughing together, eating together, dancing together. I found out that he was trying to take dancing lessons, but he said it was from Breeze! He lied; he's been going around with another female."
"Who?" Primrose asked, curious in spite of herself.
"Vanna," Lily replied, saying the name as though it was a filthy word.
"No!"
"Yes. I saw them."
"But . . . but . . ." The ferretmaid tried to see a way around this, but she suddenly recalled how Vanna had not taken part in this last play. How she was constantly absent from the camp. . . .
"Oh, Lily," Primrose consoled. "I'm so sorry."
"For what? You haven't done anything – except give him a kiss that opened a door for him to start courting pretty squirrelmaids."
Primrose flushed, suddenly recalling how Dakar had said her kiss caused him to realize that there was only one maiden that he wanted. She had always suspected that it was Lily he had been talking about, not Vanna! It didn't seem right at all!
"Lily, I honestly thought he was in love with you–"
"I know you did. Really, I can't lay any blame on you. You are young and new to such things like this. I can't expect you to not make any mistakes. And besides, you only kissed Dakar because you were hurt and reaching out for comfort. But Vanna . . ." The mousemaid gave a contemptuous laugh. "The squirrel actually told me she was in love with a certain male, but she wouldn't tell me who he was. And I wished her good luck. Good luck, hah!"
Primrose's eyes were beginning to fill with tears. It was so strange seeing Lily, who was normally so kind and nurturing, being so bitter and angry.
"And Dakar," the mousemaid went on. "I sent him clear signals, I gave him clear hints! He's been in a relationship before, how could he not notice what I was doing? And yet, there they are, the both of them." Lily jerked her head at where the male mouse and squirrelmaid sat, eating and laughing. "I guess they're just too wrapped up in their own silly little affair to think of anybeast else, eh?"
Meanwhile, Pansy had made it to Madam Breeze's tent. There was very little light within the tent, even less than usual. The old hare-lady sat drooped in her chair, watching a small candle melt away.
"Madam?" the squirrelmaid said, giving a curtsy.
Breeze gave a small start, but her face formed a smile at the sight of Pansy. "Ah, my dear. Come closer, my sight is not was it used to be."
The squirrelmaid did so, noticing as she did how old and frail the hare-lady seemed. Usually she seemed to exclude an aura of power and majesty . . . but now . . . now she just seemed . . . elderly. It was very strange.
Madam Breeze's eyes looked Pansy over, her smile filled with approval. Finally, she spoke in a very quiet, tired voice, "Congratulations on your performance, tonight."
"Thank you," Pansy replied, curtsying again. She was still a bit taken aback by her teacher's sudden change. Usually Madam seemed to full of strength and energy.
"I have trained you . . . all that I can train you."
Pansy blinked. "What? Oh you couldn't possibly mean that."
Breeze went on, as though the squirrelmaid hadn't spoken at all. "Do not give up dancing," she whispered. "You are truly . . . truly a remarkable dancer. . . . Remember . . . all that I . . . taught you."
"Yes, Madam, I will."
Breeze gave one final smile before sitting back. For a long moment, there was just silence and stillness.
At last Pansy approached her teacher, murmuring, "Madam, would you like a blanket? . . . Madam?"
"Have you tried . . . talking to them?" Primrose asked Lily.
The mousemaid gave a short laugh. "Talk? Oh, Primrose, you have much to learn about romance . . . like this," she added, her eyes widening when she saw Vanna get up and walk towards them.
To Primrose's shock, Lily stuck her foot out and tripped Vanna, sending her flying to the floor. The ferret was further shocked when Lily laughed, long and loud.
Vanna picked herself up, red with rage. "You did that on purpose!" she screamed.
"Yeah, that's right," Lily replied, taking a sip from her tankard. "What're you gonna do about it?"
The squirrel walked straight up to Lily and seized the tankard, dumping its contents over the mousemaid's head.
Lily screeched in anger and tackled Vanna. The two females rolled around on the floor, hitting, shrieking, biting and scratching. The other creatures could only scream and watch wide-eyed or jump out of the way. Primrose, however, got up and tried to separate them, but to no avail.
"Stop it! Stop it!" she yelled. "Dakar, Rogak, help me!"
The two males hardly needed any bidding. They dashed over, Rogak grabbing Vanna while Dakar took hold of Lily. Together, they managed to pull the two females away from each other.
Realizing that it was Dakar who was holding her, Lily turned and struck at him. The male mouse just barely was able to hold her off, roaring, "Lily! Get a hold of yourself! What's the matter with you?!"
"What's the matter with me?!" screamed Lily. "What's the matter with you?! I made it perfectly clear that I was in love with you, and yet you don't even have the decency to let me down easy! No, you just skip off with this–"
Before the mousemaid could come up with a name bad enough to call Vanna, Pansy came running in, shrieking and sobbing,
"Help! Help! Somebeast help! Madam Breeze, she won't wake up! She's all cold and still, she won't wake up! Help, help!"
A/N: Congratulate storiewriter, because she somehow figured out that it was Madam's head on the chopping block. Don't know how she figured it out, but oh well.
And also, storiewriter, you keep saying how snippy Pansy is . . . well, in the next chapter, we'll find out just why she is so snippy.