XIII
Roken felt the cold stone of the Abbey slap upon his footpaws as he raced down into Great Hall, his heart beating frantically. Shouts rang out through the air. Roken couldn't hear what they were saying, due to the wind blowing in his ears as he ran. He saw the Abbey walls blur by, and finally after seemingly running endlessly, he reached Great Hall to find it empty. He looked around, listening as hard as he could, despite the relentless booming sound of the bells. His head ached unbearably. The great door of the Abbey was slightly open. He looked through it's cracked opening from where he stood, but saw nothing. He looked around the abbey anxiously once more. He was now sure he could hear whispering. He looked back through the door, and saw a creature that was new to him. It was a stoat. He carried a bow, and an evil grin. He cocked his bow with a black arrow, and pointed it at Roken. He stood there, riveted in fear. He watched as he saw the stoat draw back his bow. He aimed at the young squirrel. Roken inhaled sharply, shaking all over. He dropped his instrument cases onto the floor with a resounding thump. Roken closed his eyes. His ears fell back onto his head as he heard a sharp twang. Then, a familiar sound of something ripping through the air. He couldn't remember where he had heard it before, but he was sure he had. He waited patiently as the arrow headed for him. He dared not open his eyes, even for a moment. If death was to come, it was to come swiftly. Then, he heard somebeast yell hoarsely, followed by a dull thud that echoed throughout the halls of the Abbey. As he heard the thud, his back stiffened and his neck snapped back in agonized surprise. His eyes popped open as he heard a familiar voice calling.
"Roken!" He then looked behind his back, and saw Andrew standing at the ready, also with a bow in his paws and arrows across his back. Roken then looked forward and saw the stoat lying on the ground with an arrow embedded in his chest. Again, he heard the young mouse cry out.
"Roken, hurry! Follow me!" Roken wanted to respond, but his voice had somehow abandoned him. Luckily, life returned to his legs and he ran towards Andrew, who then ushered him down the stairs and into Cavern Hole. He ran down the short stairway and found himself surrounded by all of the other Redwallers. He stood next to Faulk, who was breathing heavily. He saw the otter's eyes dart around worriedly. He then spotted Friar Jake across the room who was comforting the three mousebabes. Sean was standing next to Sister Carol with his arm around her, helping her up. She looked very distraught. Then he saw the young hedgehog Luther, who was holding Eva in his arms, soothing her. Nikki was in the far corner of the room, surveying the scene with a anxious look on her face. As his eyes met hers, she gave him a reassuring nod. Even though he wasn't sure what she was trying to express to him, he felt a little better, although his heart was still pumping madly from his recent near death situation. He then looked around again and saw that Fargo was laying down on the ground with a squirrel at his side. It looked like he was having his head wrapped and taken care of. Roken's eyes widened as he noticed it was Wintergreen who was bandaging his forehead. The Abbess was standing next to her daughter with tears in her eyes. He started forward, but felt a large paw touch his shoulder and hold him back.
"It'd be best if you just stayed here so we don't lose each other, son." He looked back and saw that it was Faulk's arm touching him. Roken still couldn't find his own voice to speak. He just looked on anxiously as Wintergreen took care of Fargo. He raised his arm and held onto Faulk's paw tightly. All he could do was stand there as this went on around him. He was still feeling confused and worried because he had absolutely no idea what had been happening. He suddenly found his voice again as a thought raced through his mind.
"Where's Andrew? Has he come back down yet?" As he spoke, he saw the young mouse jog down the stairs and into Cavern Hole, holding the instrument cases in his paws. He handed Roken his mandolin case with a swift smile.
"Here you go, I was afraid you had forgotten about it." Roken was momentarily lost for words by Andrew's selfless actions. He managed to breath out a few words.
"Andrew... thank you." He looked back at the squirrel with a roguish smile on his face. He new he was talking about more than the instrument that he saved.
"No problem bud, just next time: be more careful. You'll be the death of me, you will." Roken chuckled a bit, holding back tears.
* * *
It was late in the evening when Roken was handed a cup of soup by a mole. It smelled very good, and was steaming hot.
"'ere ya go, lad. Drink 'ee oop, naow. It be good fore yuz." Roken nodded curtly as he took it from the kind beast.
"Thank you..." He was sitting with his back to the wall in Cavern Hole, with a blanket over himself. The room was quite full, and in it there was an air of great tension. No one was allowed to step out of the room, unless otherwise stated by Abbess Annabelle. Roken took a sip of the delicious meal, and sighed heavily as he thought of what had happened. Redwall Abbey had been attacked. Again. And this time, it was serious. The Redwallers had been ambushed by a group of 25 to 30 vermin, and were currently being held up in Cavern Hole. Only ten or so vermin had been killed, mostly by Andrew, Faulk, and Nikki. For how fast everything had happened, a surprising amount of Redwallers were able to be brought into Cavern Hole. Only a few were missing, and no one dared venture outward even to look for them. Among the missing, was Joan the vole. A few of the Redwallers had been attacked, but most escaped without much harm. The most seriously injured was Fargo, who had just recently fainted. It didn't look good for the old one, but Wintergreen along with others kept trying to revive him. Roken shook his head to try and clear it, but it just made the dull throbbing headache of his worse. He sat with his back against the cold brick wall and took another drink of the warm soup. He wanted more than anything to talk with somebeast, but they all seemed busy doing something else. Roken was left alone with his thoughts, which was never a good thing for the squirrel. He let his head fall down into his knees and closed his eyes as he tried to relax. Andrew stood up amongst the crowd, and shouted out.
"Listen everyone! Let's not all be so glum! We should take this opportunity to be together and have fun." Nikki called out.
"Aha, talking in rhyme, eh?" Andrew blinked.
"Oh, yes... I suppose I was. That gives me an idea. Does anybeast have any poetry that they'd like to share maybe? Nothing too depressing, if you please. Roken's eyes shot over to Wintergreen as he heard her speak next.
"I have one. ...although I'm afraid it is rather sad. But it's still pretty, if you'd like to hear it." Several words of encouragement could be heard shouted throughout Cavern Hole. It seemed the Redwallers were eager to have something else on their minds for a change. Andrew nodded, and stepped out of the center of the room.
"Alright then, let's hear it! What's it called?" She then walked forward and replied.
"Misty Morning." Clearing her throat, she began:
"A chill breeze had blown
Throughout the land
That fine misty morning
"When through the fog
Came a mysterious figure
"He wasn't much bigger
Than you or I
But he sang sweetly
Soft and high
That fine misty morning
"He sang of a love
That he once knew
On that fine misty morning
"He played a fiddle
And sang her name
"'Till the stars came
Out at night
And played again
'Till the sun's light
Shone through in that misty morning
"'Alas!' he would cry
As he played his tune
On that fine misty morning
"'For I'll never know,
'If we'll meet again,
'Shall I ever,
'Call out your name,
'and in return hear you speak softly of mine?'
"'The question has haunted me,
'Forever I fear,
"'But the time is near,
'That you and I will meet.
'For without you,
'Life is not sweet
'And hardly worth living, my dear'
"'I gladly embrace whatever's ahead
'So long as you are near.
'This is my last misty morning.'
"The fiddle was silenced
No one was singing
But his notes are still ringing
throughout the air.
"A chill breeze had blown
But it was not known,
For no one was around
to feel it there
"On that fine misty morning."
It took a few moments, but soon afterwards Cavern Hole was ringing with applause. Roken clapped harder than any other in the room as his eyes swelled with tears.
Roken felt the cold stone of the Abbey slap upon his footpaws as he raced down into Great Hall, his heart beating frantically. Shouts rang out through the air. Roken couldn't hear what they were saying, due to the wind blowing in his ears as he ran. He saw the Abbey walls blur by, and finally after seemingly running endlessly, he reached Great Hall to find it empty. He looked around, listening as hard as he could, despite the relentless booming sound of the bells. His head ached unbearably. The great door of the Abbey was slightly open. He looked through it's cracked opening from where he stood, but saw nothing. He looked around the abbey anxiously once more. He was now sure he could hear whispering. He looked back through the door, and saw a creature that was new to him. It was a stoat. He carried a bow, and an evil grin. He cocked his bow with a black arrow, and pointed it at Roken. He stood there, riveted in fear. He watched as he saw the stoat draw back his bow. He aimed at the young squirrel. Roken inhaled sharply, shaking all over. He dropped his instrument cases onto the floor with a resounding thump. Roken closed his eyes. His ears fell back onto his head as he heard a sharp twang. Then, a familiar sound of something ripping through the air. He couldn't remember where he had heard it before, but he was sure he had. He waited patiently as the arrow headed for him. He dared not open his eyes, even for a moment. If death was to come, it was to come swiftly. Then, he heard somebeast yell hoarsely, followed by a dull thud that echoed throughout the halls of the Abbey. As he heard the thud, his back stiffened and his neck snapped back in agonized surprise. His eyes popped open as he heard a familiar voice calling.
"Roken!" He then looked behind his back, and saw Andrew standing at the ready, also with a bow in his paws and arrows across his back. Roken then looked forward and saw the stoat lying on the ground with an arrow embedded in his chest. Again, he heard the young mouse cry out.
"Roken, hurry! Follow me!" Roken wanted to respond, but his voice had somehow abandoned him. Luckily, life returned to his legs and he ran towards Andrew, who then ushered him down the stairs and into Cavern Hole. He ran down the short stairway and found himself surrounded by all of the other Redwallers. He stood next to Faulk, who was breathing heavily. He saw the otter's eyes dart around worriedly. He then spotted Friar Jake across the room who was comforting the three mousebabes. Sean was standing next to Sister Carol with his arm around her, helping her up. She looked very distraught. Then he saw the young hedgehog Luther, who was holding Eva in his arms, soothing her. Nikki was in the far corner of the room, surveying the scene with a anxious look on her face. As his eyes met hers, she gave him a reassuring nod. Even though he wasn't sure what she was trying to express to him, he felt a little better, although his heart was still pumping madly from his recent near death situation. He then looked around again and saw that Fargo was laying down on the ground with a squirrel at his side. It looked like he was having his head wrapped and taken care of. Roken's eyes widened as he noticed it was Wintergreen who was bandaging his forehead. The Abbess was standing next to her daughter with tears in her eyes. He started forward, but felt a large paw touch his shoulder and hold him back.
"It'd be best if you just stayed here so we don't lose each other, son." He looked back and saw that it was Faulk's arm touching him. Roken still couldn't find his own voice to speak. He just looked on anxiously as Wintergreen took care of Fargo. He raised his arm and held onto Faulk's paw tightly. All he could do was stand there as this went on around him. He was still feeling confused and worried because he had absolutely no idea what had been happening. He suddenly found his voice again as a thought raced through his mind.
"Where's Andrew? Has he come back down yet?" As he spoke, he saw the young mouse jog down the stairs and into Cavern Hole, holding the instrument cases in his paws. He handed Roken his mandolin case with a swift smile.
"Here you go, I was afraid you had forgotten about it." Roken was momentarily lost for words by Andrew's selfless actions. He managed to breath out a few words.
"Andrew... thank you." He looked back at the squirrel with a roguish smile on his face. He new he was talking about more than the instrument that he saved.
"No problem bud, just next time: be more careful. You'll be the death of me, you will." Roken chuckled a bit, holding back tears.
* * *
It was late in the evening when Roken was handed a cup of soup by a mole. It smelled very good, and was steaming hot.
"'ere ya go, lad. Drink 'ee oop, naow. It be good fore yuz." Roken nodded curtly as he took it from the kind beast.
"Thank you..." He was sitting with his back to the wall in Cavern Hole, with a blanket over himself. The room was quite full, and in it there was an air of great tension. No one was allowed to step out of the room, unless otherwise stated by Abbess Annabelle. Roken took a sip of the delicious meal, and sighed heavily as he thought of what had happened. Redwall Abbey had been attacked. Again. And this time, it was serious. The Redwallers had been ambushed by a group of 25 to 30 vermin, and were currently being held up in Cavern Hole. Only ten or so vermin had been killed, mostly by Andrew, Faulk, and Nikki. For how fast everything had happened, a surprising amount of Redwallers were able to be brought into Cavern Hole. Only a few were missing, and no one dared venture outward even to look for them. Among the missing, was Joan the vole. A few of the Redwallers had been attacked, but most escaped without much harm. The most seriously injured was Fargo, who had just recently fainted. It didn't look good for the old one, but Wintergreen along with others kept trying to revive him. Roken shook his head to try and clear it, but it just made the dull throbbing headache of his worse. He sat with his back against the cold brick wall and took another drink of the warm soup. He wanted more than anything to talk with somebeast, but they all seemed busy doing something else. Roken was left alone with his thoughts, which was never a good thing for the squirrel. He let his head fall down into his knees and closed his eyes as he tried to relax. Andrew stood up amongst the crowd, and shouted out.
"Listen everyone! Let's not all be so glum! We should take this opportunity to be together and have fun." Nikki called out.
"Aha, talking in rhyme, eh?" Andrew blinked.
"Oh, yes... I suppose I was. That gives me an idea. Does anybeast have any poetry that they'd like to share maybe? Nothing too depressing, if you please. Roken's eyes shot over to Wintergreen as he heard her speak next.
"I have one. ...although I'm afraid it is rather sad. But it's still pretty, if you'd like to hear it." Several words of encouragement could be heard shouted throughout Cavern Hole. It seemed the Redwallers were eager to have something else on their minds for a change. Andrew nodded, and stepped out of the center of the room.
"Alright then, let's hear it! What's it called?" She then walked forward and replied.
"Misty Morning." Clearing her throat, she began:
"A chill breeze had blown
Throughout the land
That fine misty morning
"When through the fog
Came a mysterious figure
"He wasn't much bigger
Than you or I
But he sang sweetly
Soft and high
That fine misty morning
"He sang of a love
That he once knew
On that fine misty morning
"He played a fiddle
And sang her name
"'Till the stars came
Out at night
And played again
'Till the sun's light
Shone through in that misty morning
"'Alas!' he would cry
As he played his tune
On that fine misty morning
"'For I'll never know,
'If we'll meet again,
'Shall I ever,
'Call out your name,
'and in return hear you speak softly of mine?'
"'The question has haunted me,
'Forever I fear,
"'But the time is near,
'That you and I will meet.
'For without you,
'Life is not sweet
'And hardly worth living, my dear'
"'I gladly embrace whatever's ahead
'So long as you are near.
'This is my last misty morning.'
"The fiddle was silenced
No one was singing
But his notes are still ringing
throughout the air.
"A chill breeze had blown
But it was not known,
For no one was around
to feel it there
"On that fine misty morning."
It took a few moments, but soon afterwards Cavern Hole was ringing with applause. Roken clapped harder than any other in the room as his eyes swelled with tears.