Note: Sequel to Saving Rose, and loaded with Martin/Rose. And yes, you do have to read the first one to understand what happens in this story, but you don't have to read this to get what happens in the first one – it can end there if you want. But if you're still reading…

Redwall © Brian Jacques

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SAVING ROSE 2: Journal of a Hope

Chapter One

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Gonff was sitting by Redwall's abbey pond with his wife Columbine. It was a warm day out, and nobeast wished to be stuck indoors. Babes were running away from the big badgermum named Bella, as she chased after them, roaring. Columbine greeted the aging abbess as she approached.

"Hello, Abbess Germaine. What brings you here?"

The Abbess chuckled softly to herself. "What, am I too old to enjoy the sun's warmth?"

Gonff winked at her, a gesture she could barely see through her failing eyesight. "Aye, I suppose maybe we can make an exception for you, mother." The couple helped Germaine settle down between them.

Uselessly looking around out of habit, the abbess questioned, "Where is our friend Martin?"

The mousethief sighed. "Up on the battlements, abbess. Our warrior chooses to be alone at the strangest times."

All three mice were silent until Columbine offered to fetch him.

"That would be lovely, dear," Germaine smiled at Gonff's wife. They both watched Columbine go as she excused herself and went to find the abbey's founder.

Martin was indeed on the battlements, separate from the cheerful abbey dwellers. There was something about happy days that wrenched his heart out. He knew it wasn't healthy, but the warrior preferred to be alone when they came, and reminisce about the past. He was much older now than he had been then, and rather handsome. Still his memories of past days like this lingered.

The mouse heard a beast climbing the steps up to his spot, but did not acknowledge them. He listened to the sounds the coming beast made – light pawsteps burdened with a purpose, and a swishing of the tail against the stones. A female mouse – most likely Columbine. He ignored her presence until she spoke to him.

"Martin," she breathed. As close friends as they were, he was always unsettling to be around on tranquil sunny days. Martin glanced at her, letting Columbine know that he was listening. She caught the look and continued.

"Come sit with Gonff, and abbess and I," she said gently as she sat beside him on Redwall's sun warmed stones.

He was silent for a moment. "Tell the abbess that I'll be along shortly," he said, aware that Gonff's wife had been sent to get him.

Yet Columbine did not move, nor did she speak. Some of Martin's orders demanded to be obeyed immediately, but this was not one them. Instead she sat by him, and stared out at Mossflower Woods.

"We freed this land together," she said so softly that Martin barely heard her.

"We did," he confirmed, unsure of why she was repeating this known fact. In one of his moods, he didn't tolerate beasts saying things for the sake of talking. Another reason to steer clear of others.

"Do you want me to leave you alone?" Columbine looked at him.

Martin said nothing. No point in denying it when it was obviously true. Columbine knew this, but she asked anyway.

Columbine smiled, and squeezed his paw in a friendly gesture. "The abbess is expecting you," she said, then left him alone.

The warrior wasn't pleased with his own selfish acts of ungratefulness. He wanted to smile at Columbine, thank her, and walk down to where Abbess Germaine was waiting for him. But his mood made him stay where he was, and memories of what he gave up always haunted him on these kinds of days. Not that Martin resented Redwall's peace, but he could have been somewhere else right now, enjoying the sun with another beast…

He closed his eyes and reasoned with himself. Past was past, present was present. She wasn't there with him, and nothing he did would change that. That didn't mean he had to take it out on others. This thought in mind, Martin left his little sanctuary and started walking down to the abbey pond.

All three were surprised when Martin joined them, as none expected him to really come down. They welcomed him nonetheless. Gonff placed a paw around Martin's shoulders, and winked at him. "Missed my irresistible personality already, mate?"

Martin snorted in disbelief, then coughed and pretended to have done it by mistake.

Gonff acted hurt as Columbine and Abbess roared with laughter.

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EDIT... I've gone through and edited the formatting. Is it okay? Please let me know if some parts are screwey.

I apologise once again if the formatting is messed up... the coffee still isn't good enough.