• • •
There are decisions made and truths found, whether by choice or fate. The characters find more in their lives by just by living a new story, though they don't know why. When love is involved, does it really matter?
What will the next step be? It is only for the players to decide.
"And that's why I bring you here," a kindly voice said, from everywhere in the realms of dream. Mark and Liz sat next to each other on a park bench, now in their human forms. A lamp shone above them.
Shadows formed and faded in the fogginess around them, until one of the shadows slipped into a solid entity and stood before them. It was a mouse, a grin playing across his features.
"Martin?" Liz gasped.
The mouse laughed as he repositioned his floppy beret. "Not exactly, fair maiden."
"You're not...Gonff, are you?" Mark guessed.
"Bingo, Flinchy," Gonff exclaimed, leaping up besides Mark on the bench and clapping him on the back, "Martin is a stick in the mud for this sort of thing. He would never imagine bringing characters over from the other side."
"Characters? I don't understand."
"You're not supposed to Markie," Gonff said, mussing up the teen's brown hair. "There is so much you humans are not allowed to know. Dangerous information, don'tcha know."
"But...why?" Liz managed to ask.
"To teach you both lessons of life, love, and happiness. Also, because it's so fun messin' with you." Gonff rubbed his paws impatiently. "I guess you want to return to reality, eh?"
There was silence on the park bench. Gonff smiled as he waited.
• • •
Four seasons later...
"Our leader requests an audience with your leader."
"Why? So you can trick us?" Skipper shot back at the ferret messenger.
"Our leader will submit to any terms you set. He says we have shown no signs of aggression and have voiced no ill will towards Redwall Abbey. Surely your leader will consider."
Skipper released some of his tension, glancing at the huge horde of vermin lined up next to the Abbey. It was true what the ferret said and he knew it. But they were vermin.
"She says let the leader in," Treeskip whispered into his ear.
"Is she certain?"
Treeskip had to laugh. "Is she ever not?"
Even Skipper had to smile at that. He responded to the ferret, "Your leader will be allowed in on these terms..."
• • •
The Abbess folded her paws on her lap, "So, you are on a peaceful mission at this time?"
The warlord sipped at his glass of October Ale. "Aye. Currently. We had some conflicts with the Lakeravengers in the Northlands a season back. We made a trade agreement: we transport their material wealth to our extensive contacts along our route. We'd been avoiding the Abbey due to...historical tradition."
"Ah, yes, the ever strong feud between vermin and goodbeasts. Our Abbey has been studying that, you know, sifting through records to find its source."
"Really. How interesting." The weasel grinned as he took another sip of October Ale. "You must allow us to buy a cask of this before we leave. Er...Thorn, could you leave me and Abbess alone for a moment?" The warlord winked at the weaselmaid, his second-in-command, that stood watch by the door.
"That's fine, Markus." Thorn complied.
"Treeskip, would you please escort Thorn to the kitchens and present her with one of our famed deserts?" the Abbess added.
Treeskip nodded. "My pleasure, Abbess Elizabeth." He presented his arm to Thorn, who took it, and they silently left the room.
The weasel and squirrel stared at each other a long time.
Mark spoke first. "So, since I choose first, I didn't know if you...well... What was the way that Gonff put it?"
"Stayed for the next page?"
"Why did you stay?"
"The Abbot said he was told of me a dream, that my heart held a special love for the Abbey, that I was destined to be the squirrel to bring Redwall into a new era. And...there was...Treeskip..."
"Love?"
Liz seemed startled by the word. "Yes...I..."
"By horde law, I was the next candidate to be warlord. Velaren had a mess of a system. And there was Thorn also…so it seems we stayed for the same reasons."
"So it seems."
"Liz, I want you to know, that I did love you before."
The squirrel Abbress couldn't hide the tears. "Mark...I never would say it then, but I still loved you too."
• • •
"The food is amazing," Thorn mused.
"It's not called the famed Redwall kitchens for nothing," Treeskip countered. "I wonder if their private conversation is over."
"Strange, but I think they know each other."
"I thought so too, they were talking like old friends."
"You're the Abbess's mate, eh? Is that allowed?"
"It's a first, that's for certain. And Markus..."
"Yes. We've been together for a while now. I think we should check, it's pretty quiet in there."
The weaselmaid started to open the door but stopped midway. Both Thorn and Treeskip blinked. Thorn carefully closed the door again.
"You know, Markus always said there was only one other beast that he ever loved. A love so deep it hurt."
"Elizabeth used to say the same thing."
They smiled at each other.
And that was all that needed to be said. They would never speak of what they saw to anybeast as long as they lived, for they knew that it was a moment of love over boundaries and time and space, a love that was fated never to happen and was not meant to be.
Questions remain and seasons would continue. Mark and Liz found that a kiss could cover all they would ever need to say.
Writer's Note: And so, here is the conclusion of this tale of love and fate. I'm surprised how it turned out and satisfied. I think in the future I may return to this premise, but for now, I think I will leave the tale with Mark and Liz... Thank you so much for reading and good advice. I hope you enjoyed!
