Hey again, devoted minions of Redwall… thanks muchly to redwall-squirrel
for reviewing all, yes ALL of my Redwall fics. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Ok, now
onto the fic!
Young Warriors' Quest Part 3: Two Warriors' Dreams
Arven the Abbey Warrior had also been summoned by Cregga Rose Eyes, Tammo and Pasque Valerian to their secret conference that night. He sat up in bed, thinking over the pros and cons of allowing Rica Gonffen, a fifteen season old mousemaid, to leave the Abbey with Martin's sword, the sword that he, Arven of Redwall, had been chosen to own from birth. To her side, Rica was Gonff's relative, and also the relative of a previous Abbey warrior, Dandin. Arven also knew her to be a loyal friend, a good leader and a determined fighter. He had taught her a little sword fighting and found her to be a remarkably quick learner. But still, she was so young, and then she was female… although he knew or had heard of several truly perilous female leaders- Mariel Gullwhacker, Captain Twayblade, Pasque Valerian, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, Lady Amber the SquirrelQueen, Grath Longfletch, Hon Rosie Woodsorrel, and others- it was a recognised fact that not one of Martin's chosen Abbey Warriors had ever been female. Why should Martin suddenly change his ways? And besides, there had also only ever been one Abbey Warrior at any one time. What was so different now, even though, he, Arven, had come to his middle seasons? He dropped off to sleep with the question still echoing in his mind.
The great bells of Redwall tolled through his mind, he heard the clamour of battles fought and battles yet to come echoing through the corners of his mind. He heard the greatest war cries of them all: Eulaliaaa! Redwaaall! Logalogalogalooog! Regubaaaaa! Fur and Freeedoooom! Mossflowerrrrrr! All these and more echoed through his mind as though from very far away. Martin the Warrior came to him then. He was repeating a verse over and over again, though his mouth did not move.
"Do not hinder Rica,
Help her in the quest.
Teach her how to use my sword,
And how to lead the rest."
Arven awoke with a start just as the Abbey bells softly chimed the midnight hour.
~*~
In the dormitory upstairs, Danmar too was dreaming of the great Abbey warrior. Martin came to him through the mists. The legendary Warrior smiled at him for a moment, leaning on his perilous blade. Then Martin the Warrior disappeared. Out of the mists of time came a female mouse warrior swinging a knotted rope. The hard rope knotted rope end spun like a windmill as she swung it in the face of a vermin horde who tripped and stumbled over the bodies of their fallen comrades as they tried to get at her. A wild war cry ripped from the throat of the fiery eyed warrior maid. "Redwaaaaall!"
Teeth flew, heads cracked and limbs splintered as the lone mousemaid took a stand against the vermin army. Danmar knew at once that she was a true Warrior, like Martin. Suddenly the hordes of foebeasts disappeared. Mariel the Gullwhacker of Redwall winked at him. She strode forwards as the rope she carried hummed and whirred like a live thing and winked once more. Danmar knew that she had a message for him. Her strong voice floated towards him for the first time as she called her verse, repeating it twice.
"Maids can be warriors too,
Not all must be males like you.
Support your friends, young ones defend,
And come back to Redwall in the end."
Danmar awoke with a jerk as she faded away from him to the sound of the Abbey bells ringing.
Young Warriors' Quest Part 3: Two Warriors' Dreams
Arven the Abbey Warrior had also been summoned by Cregga Rose Eyes, Tammo and Pasque Valerian to their secret conference that night. He sat up in bed, thinking over the pros and cons of allowing Rica Gonffen, a fifteen season old mousemaid, to leave the Abbey with Martin's sword, the sword that he, Arven of Redwall, had been chosen to own from birth. To her side, Rica was Gonff's relative, and also the relative of a previous Abbey warrior, Dandin. Arven also knew her to be a loyal friend, a good leader and a determined fighter. He had taught her a little sword fighting and found her to be a remarkably quick learner. But still, she was so young, and then she was female… although he knew or had heard of several truly perilous female leaders- Mariel Gullwhacker, Captain Twayblade, Pasque Valerian, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, Lady Amber the SquirrelQueen, Grath Longfletch, Hon Rosie Woodsorrel, and others- it was a recognised fact that not one of Martin's chosen Abbey Warriors had ever been female. Why should Martin suddenly change his ways? And besides, there had also only ever been one Abbey Warrior at any one time. What was so different now, even though, he, Arven, had come to his middle seasons? He dropped off to sleep with the question still echoing in his mind.
The great bells of Redwall tolled through his mind, he heard the clamour of battles fought and battles yet to come echoing through the corners of his mind. He heard the greatest war cries of them all: Eulaliaaa! Redwaaall! Logalogalogalooog! Regubaaaaa! Fur and Freeedoooom! Mossflowerrrrrr! All these and more echoed through his mind as though from very far away. Martin the Warrior came to him then. He was repeating a verse over and over again, though his mouth did not move.
"Do not hinder Rica,
Help her in the quest.
Teach her how to use my sword,
And how to lead the rest."
Arven awoke with a start just as the Abbey bells softly chimed the midnight hour.
~*~
In the dormitory upstairs, Danmar too was dreaming of the great Abbey warrior. Martin came to him through the mists. The legendary Warrior smiled at him for a moment, leaning on his perilous blade. Then Martin the Warrior disappeared. Out of the mists of time came a female mouse warrior swinging a knotted rope. The hard rope knotted rope end spun like a windmill as she swung it in the face of a vermin horde who tripped and stumbled over the bodies of their fallen comrades as they tried to get at her. A wild war cry ripped from the throat of the fiery eyed warrior maid. "Redwaaaaall!"
Teeth flew, heads cracked and limbs splintered as the lone mousemaid took a stand against the vermin army. Danmar knew at once that she was a true Warrior, like Martin. Suddenly the hordes of foebeasts disappeared. Mariel the Gullwhacker of Redwall winked at him. She strode forwards as the rope she carried hummed and whirred like a live thing and winked once more. Danmar knew that she had a message for him. Her strong voice floated towards him for the first time as she called her verse, repeating it twice.
"Maids can be warriors too,
Not all must be males like you.
Support your friends, young ones defend,
And come back to Redwall in the end."
Danmar awoke with a jerk as she faded away from him to the sound of the Abbey bells ringing.
