High ho, high ho, fellow Redwaller-oh! And now, I will present to you: A haiku.
I have just finished
"Roken's" next and ninth chapter
I hope you enjoy
Meh, not much, but it gets the point across a lot better then I thought it might, given the 5-7-5 syllable restrictions. ;-) Onward ho, merrily oh!
IX
A very messy and aggravated Nikki was led out of the kitchens and into Great Hall by Roken and Sean. She was covered from head to foot in some form of doughy pastry mix. Roken thought that if Nikki didn't cool off and become calm again, it might bake into her fur.
"Well, how was I supposed to bally know that when I mixed in my secret ingredient, it would explode in the oven and all over the place, wot?!" Sean patted her on the back.
"I believe that's why cooking is left to the cooks, generally." He then looked at his own paw, which was now covered in dough of a disgusting viscosity. Roken spoke to the hare.
"Would we be able to ask you a few questions?" Nikki shook dough off of her paws.
"Yeah, sure, but after I wash off, alright? This sticky stuff is just horrid, wot." Roken nodded in response.
"Yes, of course." She then walked off and upstairs muttering darkly under her breath as she went. Soggy footprints made of dough could be seen as a trail formed that followed Nikki's path. Sean shrugged.
"So, what do we do while we wait for her to get done?" Now it was Roken's turn to shrug.
"I dunno... I guess we just wait patiently. You sure there isn't anything else you can tell me about Annabelle?"
"What about my mom?" Roken shot around and looked at Wintergreen, who had veritably snuck up on them. Roken had been wondering how things were going on between her and her mother for the past hour, but he didn't feel comfortable in asking just yet. Roken was lost for an excuse to Wintergreen's perfectly appropriate question.
"Uh-- uh, well... um, you see, uh, I... I was..." Sean tried to help out.
"It's nothing really. Just a friendly chat that turned to her. How are you Wintergreen? I haven't seen you 'round for a while." Sean was not up to date on the current situation between the Abbess and her daughter. Roken's eyes averted hers as he looked down at the floor.
"Oh, I've... I've been having a conversation with my mother, actually. How are you Sean?" Sean was blissfully unaware of how uncomfortable this was for Roken.
"Wonderful, wonderful..." Wintergreen then approached Roken and spoke softly.
"Sean, if it's not too much trouble, could I be alone with Roken for a moment?" Roken swallowed. Hard.
Huh?! What does she want to talk to me about? ...could she-- No! No... no, don't go there. She's just your friend. There's nothing more between you. She's your friend. She trusts you, and she probably has enough of a problem avoiding annoying young boys as it is. Don't give her any more trouble then she already must have. If you really care about her, you'll be her one true friend. There! Doesn't that feel better? ...no, it doesn't
It's amazing how much you can think in a matter of seconds, isn't it? Sean spoke up.
"Actually, we are kind of waiting for miss Nikki to come back down from having a wash. It's important, really." Wintergreen looked resolute.
"She's washing? Then I will have time. Please, this is very important, Sean. I need to talk to Roken." Sean's eyes skirted over to Roken's. The young squirrel nodded reluctantly.
"Alright then, I'll be helping clean up in the kitchens." Wintergreen looked curious. "Don't ask." He walked off in the direction of the kitchens in a brisk stride. Roken cleared his throat and addressed Wintergreen in a serious matter.
"What's the problem?" Wintergreen looked down at her own footpaws and sighed heavily. She then looked up and at Roken with watery eyes, which made her normally bright emerald eyes even brighter, and they shone like moonlight through a clear sky, accompanied by a few loyal stars. To listen to her voice as she spoke, was like listening to your own heart break. Roken almost fainted.
"Well... I- I wanted your advice on a... a decision that I have to make." Roken nodded and chose not to say anything. He was sure his voice would either crack, or falter in it's search for the right words to say. However in situations like these, eventually you're forced to speak. "Is that alright, Roken?"
"Yes, that's fine. Go ahead." He was shocked to hear his own voice be deeper than usual, and even rather soothing, like a father speaking to a scared child. He noticed that she looked more at ease than before.
"My mother... my mother said that it was up to me. Um, that is, it's my decision... whether or not I go with you and Andrew. I wanted to know how you feel." Truthfully, Roken didn't really know how he felt. He wanted to be with her, but he also wanted her to be safe.
"Well, Wintergreen, I suppose..." he then decided to say exactly how he felt. He let out a sigh. "Honestly... I want you to come with us, but I also want what your mother wants. ...your safety." Wintergreen looked charmed by his concerns as she let out a soft sigh. Of course, as all other boys, Roken was oblivious to the look in her eyes as he continued. "Ultimately though, it's your decision. Do you feel like you'd be up to it? I think we could definitely use your help." Wintergreen smiled.
"I think I'd like to come along."
"Great!" The two looked around and saw Andrew, who had just come walking up. Roken then noticed how near he had been to Wintergreen as they talked, and moved back a few inches out of self consciousness. "So it's all set then, is it? We leave tomorrow at dawn's first light. Everything should be ready!" Wintergreen walked a few steps forward to Andrew as he approached.
"What about Joan? The volemaid? Has she agreed to come?" Andrew clapped his paws together and rubbed them in excitement. Roken was wondering if he would get a chance to ask Nikki about the Abbess before they went out or not.
"Yes, yes, everything is ready. I have to admit, even though I was a little bit nervous about setting off, I'm now quite ready for it. I've got itchy paws, that's for sure!" There was the light of adventure in Andrew's eyes. "How about you, Roken? You ready to tackle whatever lies ahead in the name of our good Abbey?" Roken's reply sounded depressed.
"Well, as ready as ever, I expect. And also, remember, it's your Abbey, not mine... I don't live here. I'm just a visitor." Andrew playfully shoved Roken.
"Ah, nonsense! You're a true blue Redwaller, alright! C'mon, dinner is about to begin." Andrew began to usher Roken towards the Abbey Grounds, but Roken resisted.
"Actually, I'm waiting up for Nikki... need to ask her something." Andrew laughed.
"Well, it had better not take long, or else Nikki will eat you as a substitute for supper if you make her miss it!" Sean came ambling up, genuinely covered with slop.
"Oh, I have a feeling that: One, dinner will be late, and Two, Nikki will not have that strong of an apatite, after making that mess in the kitchens!" Andrew looked positively shocked.
"That was her who caused all that racket?! Goodness gracious! Oh well, I should have known. You know what they say: A hungry hare and her brain are soon parted." Even while being irritated by his own filthy state, Sean could not help but laugh at the all too true statement. At this moment, Nikki came walking up, in new clean clothes.
"I say, wot, after having to completely throw away all of that bally tucker that was in my fur, I'm quite in the mood to pack some victuals down my throat instead of the waste bin!" Sean shuffled his feet as he tried not to laugh.
"Well, I suppose that wasn't the wisest statement of mine!" Nikki walked over to Roken.
"Now then, what was it you wanted to ask me then lad?" Roken stuttered a bit as he thought of something to say. There was no way he was going to be comfortable in asking about Wintergreen's mother right in front of her own daughter.
"Uh, well... you see, the thing is... uhm, could I see you in privet?" Nikki looked a bit puzzled.
"I... suppose, so, wot. Erm, perhaps you all could go on ahead and get ready for dinner while I talk to Roken. Even if I did-- erm, uh... even if for some reason, it's delayed, it shouldn't be long now, eh wot?" Sean sauntered over to the stairs.
"Well, you all have fun eating while I go change clothes! Ugh, what a mess..." Sean was a bit of a "neat freak" outside of his Gatehouse. Andrew spoke next.
"Alright then, off to supper! Come on you all..." He was then followed out of Great Hall by all, save the squirrel and hare. Wintergreen looked over her shoulder and called out to Roken as she followed Andrew outwards.
"I'll save you a seat next to me, alright? It gets crowded easily, you know." Roken sounded elated.
"Great! -I mean, uh, thank you, that's very kind." Wintergreen smiled furtively at the tense young squirrel. Nikki grinned at him.
"She's a very nice girl, y'know." Roken looked up at her apprehensively.
"What are you saying?" She shrugged non-chalantly at the comment.
"What else was it you wanted to ask me about then, hmm?" The young squirrel was becoming even more uneasy.
"No, you misunderstand, what I wanted to ask you about has nothing to do with her, it's about... oh, wait... well, I guess it is of some concern to her. But only a little." Nikki nodded.
"Ah yes, I understand, I'm sure." Roken was getting angry.
"No really! It's nothing! I wanted to ask you about the Abbess!"
"Ah, yes, no relation to Wintergreen at all. What do you want to know? Annabelle likes you, I know. I don't think she would mind her daughter-"
"No, no, no! I- what? Really?" Nikki grinned. "Uh, no that's not it, um... I wanted to ask you about the goings on here at the Abbey when you were here last time. You know, when Annabelle became the Abbess?" Nikki placed a paw over her mouth deep in thought as she muttered.
"Ahh yes, alright... hmm... quite a while ago, you know. I might have some trouble remembering everything you ask me, but go ahead. Shoot." Roken then began questioning the hare on all he had been pondering about since that afternoon, hoping to find some answers.