Love In The Light 02: Loving And Leaving
Dandin looked soberly back at the Abbey. "I'd like to stay for the rest of the season," he said sadly.
"Oh, for goodness sake, don't cry," replied Mariel, blinking back her own tears. She was worried herself, but not over the same things as Dandin. The storms. How bad were they going to be?
*
It was a kind of anticlimax when the rain began to fall. Part of Mariel was annoyed, it was hampering their progress, another part of her was glad, wanting it to keeping raining so that she didn't have to worry about storms, and yet a third part was fear that it would suddenly turn into a full-scale storm.
"I'm worried," was all she said, however. Dandin understood immediately, but could not resist the chance of teasing his friend.
"It's all right, Mariel, I'll look after you."
He ducked as the Gullwhacker swung over his head. "I can look after myself perfectly, thank you!"
"Oh, right. You can look after yourself perfectly. Then why are you attacking me?"
"I'm - "
But Dandin never heard Mariel finish the sentence. Having been attacked from behind, he put up no defence, and was taken out easily with a blow to the head.
Mariel struggled fruitlessly for a while before Mangear clubbed her as well, knocking her out cold.
*
She woke in a dark place. Stars still glittered around her, and she moaned, feeling the lump on the back of her head.
"You all right?"
She recognised Dandin's voice, and she stumbled towards it, but tripped and fell. Dandin caught her in his paws and they sat together for a while, talking quietly.
"Whose fault is it that we're here?"
"Probably mine." Dandin spared himself no insults. What a fool he had been to miss the attack.
"No, it was both of us."
"It doesn't matter now, surely? After all, we're still stuck here."
"I suppose so. I wonder whose pleasure we're here at."
"Pleasure indeed. Vermin!"
"I agree."
"Well, you're hardly going to disagree, are you?"
"Good point. D'you think it's a fox? It was the last time we were locked up."
"A Foxwolf, Mariel."
"Ha, ha, very funny. So funny I forgot to laugh."
"I was being sarcastic, my Mariel."
"Hey! Who said that I was yours?"
"Me."
"I'm not your Mariel, nor anyone else's. Mariel belongs to Mariel, all right?"
"Yes, my Mariel."
Mariel was glad that Dandin hadn't lost his sense of humour.
"Have you got your flute?"
"I hope so…yes! It was tucked into my cloak, along with my dagger, but that's gone."
"I've got my Gullwhacker, but that can't do us much good. Still, you can lighten the atmosphere in this place."
Dandin nodded with a grin and began to play. Mariel sang and beat time to it with her footpaws.
"It's sapphire and emerald, all green and blue
With an outline of silver, topaz and ruby too.
It's an engagement ring, from me to you
Or from Adrian Skipper to otter Mary-Lou!"
There was a banging on the heavy oaken door. "Shut that caterwauling!" yelled the guard. "You're breaking the door."
Mariel looked mildly offended. "I don't caterwaul, do I, Dandin?"
"No, Mariel," said Dandin, lifting his flute to his lips again.
"There's amethyst, there's diamond and there's pearl
There's enough to make any vermin's headfur curl
There's jewels and precious metal fit for an earl
But now we go forth, there's a flag to unfurl!"
Mariel's song came out sweet and clear, the words falling from her lips like a golden stream. She certainly was not 'caterwauling'.
"We lead into battle, we mayn't see each other again
But that's not our problem, not in the main
We can't lose or draw, a win we must gain
Before we meet once more in Lovers' Lane."
Dandin smiled at Mariel, singing her heart out. They were both used to freedom, and hated slavery, but even imprisonment couldn't stifle their thoughts - as the old harewife had said so many seasons ago, they were free in their heads and in their hearts wherever they were!
He changed to an old travelling song they had heard on their quests. It was called 'Side By Side' and it was a popular one amongst themselves.
"Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money
Maybe we're ragged and funny
But we'll travel along, singin' a song
Side by side.
Don't know what's comin' tomorrow
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow
But we'll travel the road, sharin' our load
Side by side.
Through all kinds of weather
What if the sky should fall?
As long as we're together
It doesn't matter at all.
When they've all had their quarrels and parted
We'll be the same as we started
Just trav'lin' along, singin' a song
Side by side."
The guard slammed in and grabbed Dandin roughly by the shoulder.
"The boss wants to see you. Can't imagine why, but you're lucky." He glanced at Mariel, who had risen. "Not you, mousemaid. The boss doesn't like maids."
Dandin bent down and hugged Mariel, feeling like a sacrificial victim.
"Mariel, I guess I'll have to love you and leave you."
He left in the company of the guard. Mariel sat there, completely confused. It wasn't often that Dandin hugged her, or indeed, that she hugged him. And what did he mean, 'love you and leave you'? She shook her head. Sometimes even your best friends could surprise you.
______________________________________________________
A/N: This part is based on the bit in The Bellmaker where Dandin says: "That's my Mariel! Escaping's not good enough for her, she's got to capture the gatehouse as well!" Or words to that effect, anyhow.
Disclaimer: I tend to skip these, as no one reads them. Still, one thing - 'Side By Side' belongs to Harry Woods, according to my songbook. All the other songs belong to me, as I wrote them. (Never! I'm sure you didn't notice!) You probably guessed that, them being such bad poetry.
Mariel Gullwhacker.
