((A/N: I am very sorry to say I will not be continuing this story-drabble-thing, I wrote it five? years ago, long before I knew what a fanfic was. If anyone would like to finish either ending, then by all means, go ahead, and send me the url if you want. I tried for the accents, and I'd like to think I did well. Don't disillusion me.))

Alternative Ending (These are fun)

"Friar, I am sorry, but…" She motioned to her wounded hand. He gasped.

"Why, what have you done?" The Friar glanced up at the potatoes and knife as realization dawned. Cornflower smiled lightly. "It's all right, I'm fine. Though I still should go and find Constance or the Abbot."

"That's all right. Maybe you could take some with you when you go."

"Good idea. Sam, Sam! Come here please. Friar Hugo has just informed me that I will need your protection. Could you, Tess and Tim join me as we bravely search for the Abbot?"

Sam jumped with excitement and brought Tess and Tim to Cornflower. She picked them up while Sam led the way. They left quickly and with a lot of marching on Sam's part.

"Where should we go first, Sam?"

He pointed outside to the orchards. "So I see. Well, lead the way, soldier." She added teasingly. They stepped outside.

"Where is everyone?" Cornflower said wonderingly. Sam looked around, bounded around the doorway, and disappeared. Cornflower's eyes widened.

"Sam? Sam! Where are you?" she called as she too rounded the walls. "Sa-" Paws grabbed her roughly and took Tess and Tim out of her arms. She was gagged quickly and her paws were tied. Tess was held roughly by the paws of a searat as was Tim. Sam was gagged and tied up too. A thin but fit ferret stood in front of Cornflower as she struggled.

"Be silent, pretty one, or these three are dead," he hissed at her. Cornflower froze. "Very good. Now, we are going to leave the Abbey as silently as possible. You," he spat at her, "Behave! No tricks now, or you and the children are as good as dead. Understand?"

Defeated, she nodded, a tear trickling down her cheek.

The Abbey was quiet and no one disturbed their exit, which was as silent as it could be. It was still mid-afternoon, and those who were in the orchards or lawns were kidnapped. A small patrol group guarded the prisoners. They were armed heavily, though, and no match for the Redwallers.

Cornflower searched the prisoners diligently. There were thirteen in total, a fair number. There were the three little ones and Cornflower, the Abbot and Brother Alf,  Brother Rufus and Sister May, three female moles Cornflower knew by sight, Foremole and Sister June. They made no sound as they left their beloved and began to walk a good distance from the abbey. Tess cried quietly near Cornflower, so close she reached out to take her, forgetting her paws were bound.

"Stop that, slave," A rat who had seen her slapped her paw with his blade. "There's to be no talk until after the leader seen you lot. Come on, move."

Cornflower pulled her paw back quickly with a small gasp of pain. The Abbot started. She held it tightly and glanced at him reassuringly, wrapping it in a torn piece of her apron. Tess wailed quietly at the sight of blood.

A mean-looking ferret turned and glared at her. He pointed his cutlass at Cornflower threateningly. "Make'er shuttup if ye know what's good for ye." Cornflower bent down and hugged her as they stopped and waited in the rapidly cooling air.

A large searat that bore, Cornflower thought, a close resemblance to Cluny strutted out of a large tent. Cornflower straightened, Tess and Tim clutching her skirts. The rabble loitering nearby came instantly to attention. The rat walked imperiously over to the prisoners.

"Today, you worthless dirt, you low-lifes, I am your master. Your leader and protector. I own you now. Your lives are in my hands. You are mine until you die and probably after that too." The vermin laughed uproariously along with their chief. The Redwallers glared defiantly at him. The laughter stopped. "No humour, eh? Well, maybe we can do something about that. Let me look at you." He paced in front of them.

He stopped in front of Cornflower. "Well, well. We did get lucky. Wot a pretty one."

Cornflower raised her head to glare at him murderously. The leader took a step back in mock horror and threw up his paws. He laughed and sneered at her. "Spirited, aren't you? Mind you, spirit can be a good thing to have. Gives you fuel for your duties. Hmm, you group work in the fields. They need tending ever since that last group you brought in," he thrust his face in one of his captains, "Ratlouse, died of plague. You will need to redeem yourself, now won't you?

"At any rate, I suppose I will have to fill you in on your duties. You will sleep in the slave den with the others, pick and tend the fruit in these, um, gardens. Simple job for a soft lot. There are rumours that you are healers and harvesters. Here is your chance to prove it. Rewards are given, such as clothing or baths.

"However, I'm being quite generous with you. I will not, under any circumstances, tolerate laziness. Young children and the very old are of course exceptions and must stay with their parents or in the slave den, presuming they don't cause trouble. Understand?"

They nodded, somewhat relieved.

"If you choose to disobey me, you will receive a beating or whipping, harder work, possibly a day or so in the Crack. Without rations, naturally. Depending on your offence, I might just decide to kill you for my army's pleasure. It so builds up their spirits, doesn't it?" Ralu motioned to the guards arranged, who obligingly burst into applause and hooted happily.

He turned back to Cornflower. She blazed at him. "We were talking about spirit before, no? Ah yes, one last thing, former leaders must come with me. Now. I need to discuss agreements. If you choose to remain anonymous, we'll just take one of those babes and question him, or possibly her." His gaze rested on Tess, who was huddling next to Cornflower.

Father Abbot stood up steadily. The rat stared angrily, laughed a very raucous laugh and smacked his forehead in self-disgust.

"I should've known! A stupid, doddering old mouse is the leader! You must think I'm an idiot. But of course. Maybe you are the leader after all. However, you are completely unfit for my purposes." He surveyed the crowd again.

"Hmm, you, the spirited one. And your children too. Bring them along."

Cornflower stood defiantly. "All right, but you see, I have no children. You may do with me what you wish, if you spare my friends."

The rat's sneer faded. "You think you are being clever? Fine, I hold you to your word. You may spend three days in the Crack, after which you will endure a beating by me and in front of your little friends and then I will question you. Should you refuse, you will die."

Cornflower smiled, not the least perturbed by his threats. "You have a big mouth, but you would never kill me if you knew who I was." She laughed lightly, ending that with a cough. The Abbot exchanged a concerned glance with Sister May.

"And who might you be?"

Cornflower set her face and hardened it. She shut her mouth firmly and looked straight at him. He glared fiercely, then sighed and looked down.

"I see. Well, maybe you'll talk after those days of hunger. Or the whipping. Or the questioning. Or, if all else fails, I'll hang you after all. Understand?"

Cornflower nodded mutely, her eyes meeting his. Her gaze broke as she coughed long and hard. The rat captain glanced away and collected himself. Ralu faced the slaves once more, a warning tone in his voice.

"Go to the den, now. Old one, follow me. Guards take her away. Wait, on second thought, bring her to me. Oh, and by the bye, the name's Ralu."

The guards, a slack-jawed pair of ferrets, grabbed her roughly by the arms and dragged her towards him. Cornflower threw a punch at one that caught him in the eye soundly and he went down. She turned as Ralu stepped forward and kicked her in the leg solidly. He pushed her to the floor.

"Now, behave, or I whip you now. A nice long stay in the Crack with nothing but hunger to occupy your thoughts will do you plenty of good. But first, a talk. You, too, old one. Follow me to my tent. Hurry now."

They went into a small building off to the side in the fortress. More guards, interested in protecting each other and in teaching her a lesson, flanked Cornflower. She ignored them.

Father Abbot walked in front of her, shielding her slightly from Ralu, who walked confidently through the building until they came into a large room, set up like a courtroom. The guards blocked the door as Ralu strutted to the tall desk set up. He sat down and put his footpaws up, resting his head in his paws. He yawned, and motioned to the chairs set out. He leaned forward and began to speak.

"You are…" he waited expectantly, but both had their mouths firmly closed. "Are you listening? I need names, or I will lose my temper." The guards straightened at this. "You see, even my guards are afraid of my temper. One last time, old one, what is your name?"

The old mouse said clearly, "I am Father Abbot of Redwall Abbey. Do with me as you must, but I must protect those in my care."

Ralu smiled contentedly. "That will do. You are the leader then, what use have I for this one? Speak, my slave!"

Cornflower glared at him defiantly. "I will speak, but would have you not know my name. Let him go, he is old and cannot hurt you. He has given vows against it. I, however, will be glad of the chance to hurt you."

Ralu nodded. "I agree, he cannot possibly harm me, but will make an excellent hostage. Place him with the other field slaves for now." The guards nodded and led him away.

Ralu leaned forward, interested. "All right, mouse, I need a name for you. Should it be Spirit? No, that might inspire the slaves. Their spirits are broken. Now, what shall it be? Flower?"

He watched Cornflower stiffen and smiled. "I'm close, aren't I? Good guess. Hmm. Rose? No, no. Lily? Too much credit. Dandelion? Guess not. Oh, well. I think I'll call you Spirit after all. What a lark t'would be to see you when your spirit is broken." He laughed harshly.

Cornflower glowered at him. He looked at her callously and motioned to his guards to take her away. She hit one of the guards who grabbed her. Ralu jumped down and walked over to her, emotionless.

"You shouldn't do that." His control snapped as he drew his blade and struck her with it. She cried out as he hit her with all his force, breaking the blade on her side. He hissed through his teeth as she dropped in pain. He tested the broken blade with his paw, grinning at the blood.

"Perfect." He grabbed her arm and began making slashes, uneven and deep, with the blade. "Excellent."

Cornflower shut her eyes and whimpered slightly. He stopped, slashing once at her shoulder. She fainted.

Ralu turned away, grinning. "Hurts, doesn't it? Oh, well, I'll find out who you are soon enough. Take her away. Throw her in the Crack." He turned to them, suddenly angry again. "Well hurry about it, I don't have all day. Oh, and make sure the others see her as an… example."

The guards picked her up and lifted her onto one of their backs. She stirred briefly and they froze for a minute before resuming their duties.

Ralu looked on for a moment then turned and went to the gates. Another tired group of prisoners walked in. He smiled lightly and waved to them.

Father Abbot was worried when the guards let him into the prison den. Sister May and Brother Rufus waited anxiously to greet him and led him to a corner in the cage where the other Redwallers were more or less.

Sister May spoke first. "Father Abbot, what happened? Where's Cornflower? Are you all right? Is she all right? Where are-"

"Calm down. Cornflower was fine when I left and he, Ralu, looked calm. Still, watch where they lead her. I want to know, for when Matthias finds and rescues us, we will be able to find her."

"Of course, Father. Then we wait, behave and do the work required of us. Bide our time. Matthias will free us."

"Yes, he will." They separated and kept their eyes toward the prison pit.