Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews, here's chapter 6 (the epilogue). By
the way, clara200, if you write negative reviews, it's best that you don't
read this if you don't like it, and your reviews will be ignored. Thanks
for everyone else's support for this story, though! Another story might
come in the near future, so stay tuned in with me.
[Benji of Redwall-Epilogue]
A story addition by [Shadow of Silver]
It was dawn at Redwall, and the first day of autumn sought out the eastern
walls, the golden rays bathing the red bricks. It was an unusually cool day
for the new season, and Father Abbot was the first to awaken. He still
hadn't thought of a good name for the new season, but he couldn't worry
about that. The kitchens were alive with cooking an hour before dawn, and
the cooking was almost halfway finished.
Father Abbot walked into the kitchens, seeing Cornflower directing five
different dormice to cool or put things into the oven. The fires were
blazing hot, making it easier and faster to cook.
"Good morning, Cornflower." Father Abbot said, "How was your...short sleep?"
he asked.
"I'm nowhere near tired out yet, surprisingly. The feast is today, and
we're only halfway done, so I ordered the kitchen helpers up early to get
it done by today. Hopefully I can have everything finished by this
evening." Cornflower said, and returned to her business. The old Abbot went
into the Great Hall for a small breakfast, and greeted Mother Abbess after
she awoke.
"I wonder when Benji and Martin will return? They've been gone three days..."
she asked. "I've not a clue, but I'm sure they'll be back soon for the
feast. Benji wouldn't be gone for that long, he's always hungry..." Father
Abbot responded.
The mourning of Redarrow was over, and the six warriors were ready to
return. "You three must come to Redwall with us. Just for a few days to
gain your energy, then you can return to the Guosim!" Martin offered. They
both agreed.
"Oi'm still a bit worried about those chaps that got away, they moight be
goin' to Redwall, wot!" Benji said. "Yes, they could be there...but I doubt
they'd attack it this early. We might as well return to Redwall right away
to see, and besides, it's the first day of autumn, there's going to be a
feast tonight!" Martin said.
"Top hole, wot! Let's return back to beat 'em up again and then have a
bally feast!" Benji said.
The five warriors ran fast to return to Redwall, unaware of the vermin band
ready to attack.
Rangbad's crew was asleep, awaiting Rangbad to wake them and give the
orders to attack Redwall. Those who were up already were eating their cold,
stale leftovers, unable to start a fire because of his orders. Some vermin
were watching Rangbad sleep, hearing his groans in between snores.
It was pitch dark, and Martin the Warrior was facing Rangbad, who was lying
on the floor, helpless. "Now, Rangbad, I will finish you once and for
all!!" Martin yelled. Rangbad screamed, and awoke, panting and sweating.
The spectators that were once there went off on their breakfast business.
"'E's off 'is rocker..." one of the corsairs muddled under his breath. The
others agreed.
A few hours later, the small band of corsairs was ready to attack. Some
started to climb the brick wall already, but were too scared and fell back
down. Up in the trees, the sparrows were silently watching the band of
corsairs, but were waiting until the messenger came back silently from
informing the Abbey.
The four avengers were walking down the cleared, dirt-beaten path through
the woods of Mossflower, caught in silence because of the sudden death of
their good friend. It was hours before anyone decided to talk. Benji, not
so surprisingly, was the first to talk. "Anyone else hungry? I could go for
somethin'—Aagh!" Benji exclaimed in surprise. An arrow nipped the end of
his ear, and stuck to a nearby tree, vibrating from the impact. The crew
then suddenly heard rustling through the woods. It was Rangbad's crew!
"Seems loike we're surrounded, chaps! Give 'em a bally beatin' one last
toime!" Benji whispered. "REDWAAALLLLLL!!!!", they all screamed out their
battle cries, "EEULALIAAAA! 'S DEATH ON THE WIND!" The war against good and
evil fought on for three hours.
Meanwhile back at Redwall, the feast was pretty much finished...actually, it was finished. The things that needed to be kept warm were in the
simmering brick oven for warmth, and the dibbuns were mischievously poking
at the cakes that were on the windowsill to be kept cool. "Gerrofit moi!
Oi'm toired of bein' kept as a stewl!" one of the dibbuns said. The small
ones ran away.
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall where the banquet was being held (off),
everyone was mumbling about where Benji and Martin were. But no one knew
that they were really not far from the outside gates...except those who
guarded them, who bombarded into the Great Hall, panting.
"Everyone......Martin......Benji......fighting against....some corsair....band!" Mother
Abbess immediately got up. "Well?! What are we all waiting for? Grab as
many poisoned arrows as you can, go up to the walls and shoot those vermin
down!!" her voice reverberated throughout the hall. Everyone immediately
got up and rushed to the walls.
There was a sudden shower of arrows going out to defeat the vermin that was
left from the three-hour battle...which was basically just Rangbad left over.
He was, actually, a very skilled warrior. Rangbad kept on feverishly
looking back to the arrows and to the avengers in front of him. Benji
slowly took out an arrow, and when Rangbad suddenly wasn't looking, it was
his last fatal move of his life. Benji shot him, straight in the heart. The
arrows stopped showering, and they all crowded around the freshly killed
vermin.
"Benjiman...how the bloody hell could ya do this t'me....especially if
you....were the one....who taught me....."and he dozed off, dead. Everyone was in
shock; Benji used to be an apprentice of Rangbad?
The four forgot about what happened, until after the feast was finally
over. "You all don't seem to understand. I'll tell you the story....someday..."
Benji said.
An excerpt from Matti Squirrel, Recorder of Redwall.
I'm still in tears of joy from the recent marriage. Oh! I didn't tell you?
Cornflower and Greenleaf wedded today. It was a wonderful day: the sun was
as bright as it was ever in Redwall, and the weather was cool, which made
it a perfectly good day. Roses and Daffodils were picked up by the wind and
flew throughout the Abbey, spreading their beautiful smell everywhere.
Which, by the way, there were many thanks given to Mother Abbot who picked
the thousands of flowers over a week's time from her private meadow (which
no one but me knows about) and were decorated in the wedding. The only
thing she didn't tell me was where the meadow was...which I guess was a good
thing, seeing as I tell all that happens on this parchment, which is
strangely running out of room, even though it's only been a season! Oh
well, I must be off, Mother Abbot and I were going to have some tea and
chat about recent events. I must be off now....
Matti Squirrel, Recorder of Redwall.
Cornflower and Greenleaf lead a peaceful life. They had two dormice
together, named Emerald and Josephine. Cornflower later died, peacefully,
at an unusually old age. Greenleaf was sent on a mission from Redwall to go
and defeat all evil from Mossflower after a violent attack from searats. He
did not die in battle, but in his sleep. Mother Abbott also lead a long and
prosperous life, but died of a heart attack after a crow flock that took
over Redwall for a good three days.
[The End]
Author's Note: I'm really sorry for the length of time this one took. I had
to dig it out of my archives in my laptop after it crashed, so I couldn't
finish this for a while. This was a five-pager, so I hope you liked this
story, and although the unusual fates are described above, you can think of
your own fates for the rest of the characters. You might even see another
story come up from me, so I urge you to stay tuned into me and check back
once in a while. Thanks to every one who sent me optimistic reviews. (And thanks to the new edit tool, I made the story look shorter )