Authors Notes: Olah from my very cold computer room!!!! This is part 6 of
my story; there are 25 parts all total. I'm thinking of starting a
Mariel/Dandin romance next. Hmmmmm. What do you all think?? Please email me
with your thoughts. Anyway, I will post the next part after I get 3
reviews. Only 3 teeny little reviews. All you have to do is click that
little button, wait for it to load, type in what you think and click
review. Very easy. So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP REVIEW. Ok.
I know nobody is going to anyway, so I'm not sure why I bother. Oh well.
PART 6- LOOK OUT BELOW!!!
Matthias and Cornflower started their walk, going outside and strolling around the outer wall of the abbey. (A/N- they were on the inside of the abbey, walking next to the wall. Get it??? I know that part is confusing. So sorry.) It was a chilly night, and Cornflower seemed to love getting chilly because she didn't have a sweater or anything to wrap up in. Matthias took pity on her and took off his cloak for her. Knowing that she would refuse to take it, Matthias wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Here you are," he said while wrapping her in it.
"I'm fine."
"But you're still slightly under the weather. Your cold could get worse."
"But what if you get cold?"
"I'll be fine."
Cornflower wisely stopped arguing, knowing she wouldn't win and that he had a point. They continued their walk, each enjoying the presence of the other. When they got near the east wall, they heard a snicker.
"Oh look, a pair of love birds."
Matthias and Cornflower both whipped around, thinking it was someone from behind them. They were gravely mistaken.
"Look out below!" the voice sneered. They both looked up, seeing a rat preparing to drop a rough wood plank.
"Cornflower, run!!" yelled Matthias. He himself started running, and got out of the way. He watched what happened, seemingly in slow motion. Cornflower heeded his warning, and made as if to run, but tripped over Matthias' cloak. She fell to the ground just before the wood plank landed on her back with a sickening crash.
Feeling his warrior blood rising, Matthias yelled at the top of his lungs and then ran to the east wallgate. He opened it just in time to see seven rats running away into Mossflower woods.
He knew that chasing them would be pointless, so he closed and bolted the gate and ran back to Cornflower's unconscious, motionless body. He threw away the plank and picked her up gently, taking her back inside to the infirmaries. He then went to alert the rest of the abbey, to check on the guards and to arrange a Council of War.
Those present at the meeting were Jess Squirrel, Abbot Mortimer, Matthias, Winifred Otter, Constance, and Ambrose Spike. Matthias related to them what had happened.
"I went and got the board, and there was no trace of poison or a message on it. I would be willing to bet that it was rats of Cluny's army that decided to get a little revenge," said Jess.
"Do you think they will return?" questioned Winifred.
"Matthias said there was only seven. They wouldn't. They are too few," replied Constance.
"Yes, but what if that was only seven of a big horde?" The reality of Ambrose Spike's words hit them like a ton of rocks.
"What reason would they have for only sending seven of their force, assuming they are a big horde? They would have more luck sending their whole force to scare us and to show us that they can win. Or at least try to win. Redwall will never fall to vermin." Matthias' words lifted their spirits.
"Good point, Matthias."
"Thank you, Father. Um, is it alright if I go see Cornflower?"
The entire room burst out in smiles at his request. They could see what was happening. They knew that their warrior was falling, but they wisely all held their tongues, letting the abbot give his permission.
"Of course, she will be asking for you, I'm sure. Go right ahead. Tell her we send our best wishes."
"Thank you. I'll be sure to tell her." Matthias rushed out of the room and ran to the infirmary to help Sister Sage and the others who were administering to Cornflower's wounds.
The moment Matthias saw her lying on the bed, still unconscious, with her clothes ripped away and bloody, he started crying. The tears fell silently down his face as he watched them slowly extract long, sharp splinters from her back.
When Sister Sage noticed Matthias, she asked him what had happened. He explained in a hoarse, unnatural voice.
"We were out walking along the east wall then we heard a voice. It said 'look out below'. Seeing that it was a rat, I told Cornflower to run. She tripped over my cloak, which she was wearing because she was cold, and fell. They dropped the plank on her back before she could get up, knocking her unconcoius. I ran to the east wallgate, opening it in time to see seven rats running into Mossflower." He left out the lovebird part, saving himself from any comments he might get from Sage or her helpers. "Will she be alright?" he asked, tears returning to his eyes.
"Matthias, we know how much you love her, and we are doing everything in our power to fix her up and get her over this cold. She is a very strong mouse, Matthias. She managed to teach you dancing, even though she was sick, and she is still alive. The most she will have will be scars."
"How did you know she taught me to ---"
"I saw you. Now dry your eyes. I assure you, she will be okay. And don't even think about leaving before she wakes. She would be most disappointed."
"Thank you, Sister," he said, sitting in a chair near her bed.
After they got all the wood out of her back, Sister Sage and her helpers left Matthias with her. He moved his chair closer to her bed, holding her paw. He didn't sleep at all that night, but merely held her paw and thought about getting revenge on the rats who had brought all this pain on her.
PART 6- LOOK OUT BELOW!!!
Matthias and Cornflower started their walk, going outside and strolling around the outer wall of the abbey. (A/N- they were on the inside of the abbey, walking next to the wall. Get it??? I know that part is confusing. So sorry.) It was a chilly night, and Cornflower seemed to love getting chilly because she didn't have a sweater or anything to wrap up in. Matthias took pity on her and took off his cloak for her. Knowing that she would refuse to take it, Matthias wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Here you are," he said while wrapping her in it.
"I'm fine."
"But you're still slightly under the weather. Your cold could get worse."
"But what if you get cold?"
"I'll be fine."
Cornflower wisely stopped arguing, knowing she wouldn't win and that he had a point. They continued their walk, each enjoying the presence of the other. When they got near the east wall, they heard a snicker.
"Oh look, a pair of love birds."
Matthias and Cornflower both whipped around, thinking it was someone from behind them. They were gravely mistaken.
"Look out below!" the voice sneered. They both looked up, seeing a rat preparing to drop a rough wood plank.
"Cornflower, run!!" yelled Matthias. He himself started running, and got out of the way. He watched what happened, seemingly in slow motion. Cornflower heeded his warning, and made as if to run, but tripped over Matthias' cloak. She fell to the ground just before the wood plank landed on her back with a sickening crash.
Feeling his warrior blood rising, Matthias yelled at the top of his lungs and then ran to the east wallgate. He opened it just in time to see seven rats running away into Mossflower woods.
He knew that chasing them would be pointless, so he closed and bolted the gate and ran back to Cornflower's unconscious, motionless body. He threw away the plank and picked her up gently, taking her back inside to the infirmaries. He then went to alert the rest of the abbey, to check on the guards and to arrange a Council of War.
Those present at the meeting were Jess Squirrel, Abbot Mortimer, Matthias, Winifred Otter, Constance, and Ambrose Spike. Matthias related to them what had happened.
"I went and got the board, and there was no trace of poison or a message on it. I would be willing to bet that it was rats of Cluny's army that decided to get a little revenge," said Jess.
"Do you think they will return?" questioned Winifred.
"Matthias said there was only seven. They wouldn't. They are too few," replied Constance.
"Yes, but what if that was only seven of a big horde?" The reality of Ambrose Spike's words hit them like a ton of rocks.
"What reason would they have for only sending seven of their force, assuming they are a big horde? They would have more luck sending their whole force to scare us and to show us that they can win. Or at least try to win. Redwall will never fall to vermin." Matthias' words lifted their spirits.
"Good point, Matthias."
"Thank you, Father. Um, is it alright if I go see Cornflower?"
The entire room burst out in smiles at his request. They could see what was happening. They knew that their warrior was falling, but they wisely all held their tongues, letting the abbot give his permission.
"Of course, she will be asking for you, I'm sure. Go right ahead. Tell her we send our best wishes."
"Thank you. I'll be sure to tell her." Matthias rushed out of the room and ran to the infirmary to help Sister Sage and the others who were administering to Cornflower's wounds.
The moment Matthias saw her lying on the bed, still unconscious, with her clothes ripped away and bloody, he started crying. The tears fell silently down his face as he watched them slowly extract long, sharp splinters from her back.
When Sister Sage noticed Matthias, she asked him what had happened. He explained in a hoarse, unnatural voice.
"We were out walking along the east wall then we heard a voice. It said 'look out below'. Seeing that it was a rat, I told Cornflower to run. She tripped over my cloak, which she was wearing because she was cold, and fell. They dropped the plank on her back before she could get up, knocking her unconcoius. I ran to the east wallgate, opening it in time to see seven rats running into Mossflower." He left out the lovebird part, saving himself from any comments he might get from Sage or her helpers. "Will she be alright?" he asked, tears returning to his eyes.
"Matthias, we know how much you love her, and we are doing everything in our power to fix her up and get her over this cold. She is a very strong mouse, Matthias. She managed to teach you dancing, even though she was sick, and she is still alive. The most she will have will be scars."
"How did you know she taught me to ---"
"I saw you. Now dry your eyes. I assure you, she will be okay. And don't even think about leaving before she wakes. She would be most disappointed."
"Thank you, Sister," he said, sitting in a chair near her bed.
After they got all the wood out of her back, Sister Sage and her helpers left Matthias with her. He moved his chair closer to her bed, holding her paw. He didn't sleep at all that night, but merely held her paw and thought about getting revenge on the rats who had brought all this pain on her.