Author's Note: Muwahahahaha! It is I, the All Powerful Story Writer, with another chapter!

Oh yes, I now have a title and you shall never hear the end of it, thanks fantasycrazyperson409!

And a thanks to all my other reviewers: -takes a deep breath- Mystical mare, Redwallfreak108, Little Moon Marauder, Orenda Parker, Clouded Horizon, InChrist-Billios, MidnightFeline and Nasgul07. You guys are why I get up in the morning. And try to stop killing myself during school. And stuff. I love L-O-V-E in capital letters LOVE your reviews, I hope this won't disappoint.

-smiles sweetly and hopes that compliments and praise will stop them from killing her. Unfortunately, she is wrong.-

OK, OK! I know it is very late, but I blame la computera. First it deletes all four pages of this chapter, so I have to start again, then it decides it won't let me on for days.

Really, is it me, or does my computer hate me?

Disclaimer: Not even a candid chestnut –sniffles- I WANNA CANDID CHESTNUT!

Fear and Resistance

Ayila stared at her friend. Rose smiled at the effect she had caused by her extraordinary announcement, which was considerable.

Skipper had gasped and was staring at her like she was Martin come back from the dead, Mother Tamlin was shaking and trying (unsuccessfully) to calm Foremole Deeper and Tyg, who had started to leap about in a manner which, quite frankly, was very alarming.

The shrew, Wurren and the mouse, Arren, seemed engaged in an intense conversation, which they carried out in low voices, glancing round at the two maids from time to time. Rose smiled obliviously, seeming lost in thought. Ayila, sensing she was the only one in this group who had a level head, grabbed Skipper by the paws and tapped Arren and Wurren one the heads to bring them out of their discussion. Having done all that, she jumped on Tyg, pinned his paws to his sides and shoved them all the direction of the large opening from which a large and alarming amount of s noise was emanating.

Rose had sufficiently recovered by this time to help Ayila usher the dumbfound Corim leaders into the large cavern, where a large number of beasts were sitting at wooden tables, chattering loudly, the echoes creating a huge cacophony of sound that made Ayila wince as she stepped into it.

Mother Tamlin came out of her trance as they stepped inside, probably due to the horrendous amount of noise. She gently extracted the others (now, thankfully, calmed down) from Ayila and together, they walked to the end of the cavern, where a long table was set up, but where nobeast was sitting.

The Corim leaders seated themselves and Rose and Ayila, after hesitation, did the same.

As Mother Tamlin stood, the racket ceased and everybeast turned to look at her. She smiled and began to speak.

"My friends, we have with us two travellers. Rose and Ayila, who have travelled a long distance to be here, I hope that their arrival will mark the downfall of the wolf Tehera and her sister, Tula who, we know has taken Salamandastron." There was a lot of whispering at this announcement, silenced only when the badger cleared her throat loudly. The whispers ceased and she smiled.

"Now, I think that our cooks have managed to cook a special dish tonight, so please, eat!"

Chatter and laughter soon filled the room, as the beasts tucked in heartily to the good food that had been provided.

The cooks had carried on the famous Redwall tradition of creating something out of nothing. Out of the meagre vegetables and some berries they had managed to gather out in the woodlands, together with the few food items that they had managed to save from the war-torn Redwall, they had been able to create deeper 'n'ever turnip 'n' 'tater 'n' beetroot pie (a dish, Foremole Deeper informed Rose proudly, that she was named after), the last of the woodland scones and a slice of nut bread. The pudding was a large woodland trifle.

To the Abbeybeasts, this was a light meal, but to the two travellers, it was a veritable feast. Never had they seen so much food laid down in one place and they dug in with enthusiasm.

As they ate, they talked of the events that had taken place in Mossflower over the past few seasons.

"Redwall has been laid siege to many times before," Arren informed them "But always, good has prevailed. But this time…" he trailed off. The silence was so long that Rose was about to say something, but then Tygann, the Recorder, cut in.

"I used to be the Recorder at Redwall Abbey. When the wolf took it, I fl- came here with the other Abbeybeasts who could escape. Ever since then, my task had been to search through the old records to find riddles, words, messages, anything at all, that could help us. Incidentally," he said, glancing at the two maids "those herbs that knocked you out? We adapted them from an account written by Abbot Saxtus, many seasons ago. The name Corim we took from an account of the Great Mossflower Battle, the name we have given to the battle that was held when Martin the Warrior took Mossflower from the wildcat Tsarmina. He-"

"Hang on." It was Ayila who spoke "Stop. Halt. Belay. Finish." She was beginning to run away with her words when she saw the raised eyebrows of Skipper and hurried to her point. "Who is this Martin? You've mentioned him before, but you haven't explained who he is. And while you're doing that, you could explain more of the situation Redwall is in. And who is Laterose of Noonvale, the person you mentioned earlier Tyg? And what-"

Log-a-log Wurren raised her paws, as if to stem the tide of words and laughed. "Allright, mate. We'll tell you everything, just as soon as we've finished eating."

And after that, they applied themselves to that most serious task. All anyone could hear from the top table for the rest of the meal was the sound of chewing, slurping and satisfied sighs.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Honeysuckle's breath froze in her throat and she reached slowly for her fallen javelin as she lay underneath the beast who had tackled her.

The weapon was not needed, however, as they jumped up quickly and reached down an urgent paw. She took it warily and was hoisted up by the other beast. She gathered up her small items of food hurriedly and stood, staring at them.

It was a tall male squirrel. His fur was a light tan and his eyes a muddy brown. He was tense, his ears twitching and his tail thrashing from side to side. He beckoned impatiently to her and then bounded away, high up into the treetops.

She followed him as best she could, still clutching her meagre supply of food. Now and then, he would stop and wait, albeit for only a few seconds, before hurrying on. In this manner, they crossed a considerable amount of land before she found herself in a small woodland clearing.

A voice sounded close to her. "Quick, grab hold of that rope, we'll hoist you up. Hurry!"

Looking around, she saw the end of a rope hanging down from the trees. She grabbed a hold of it hurriedly and gasped as she almost flew up into the tall pine.

She grabbed hold of a thick limb and pulled herself onto it, for the first time getting a proper look at her…well, rescuer.

Rescuers, she noted, looking around. There seemed to be about a score of them, mainly young 'uns or elders, though there were some, like the squirrel she had met, who were younger. They all seemed scared, tense and alert, the mothers clutching their babes close and not permitting them to make a sound.

It soon became evident why.

The sound of many paws marching drifted to her and the squirrels all stiffened, looking down. Honeysuckle peered downwards as well, only to gaze right into the tops of vermin heads as they marched past. It was a veritable army, at least fivescore, and led by a tall, tough looking fox with a fiery coat and slitted eyes. Honeysuckle instinctively shrank backwards as his gaze roved about the trees close to where they were hidden.

But he did not see them and soon the horde had marched out of sight through the trees. The squirrel community breathed an audible sigh of relief. The one who had saved her, turned to her.

"They would have been on you in a matter of seconds. I had to get you away from there, otherwise you would have been seen."

Honeysuckle smield gratefully "Thank you friend. My name is Honeysuckle Daisybine, though everyone calls me Honeysuckle."

He nodded "I am called Elmdar. We used to live in the pine groves close to the mountain. But when the wolf arrived, her vermin drove us out and torched our home. We were lucky to escape. You are one of the Salamandastron hares, are you not?"

She nodded bitterly "Aye, I was, until Tula attacked my home. The remainder of the Long Patrol is hidden in these woods, cowering from her like babes. We Barely escaped with our lives."

Elmdar looked troubled "You are camped in the old cave?"

She nodded, startled "Yes, yes we are."

"But that cave lies directly in the path of the vermin who just passed!" Elmdar said, his voice urgent.

Honeysuckle felt the blood drain from her face "By my scut…I've got to get back to them! They're in great danger!"

Elmdar gestured to two of the younger squirrels "We shall accompany you. Come, Honeysuckle Daisybine, and quickly!"

They took off through the trees like fishes through water, Honeysuckle galloping on the ground behind them.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The slaves at the Abbey tried to avert their eyes from the horrible sight. The molemaid, whose hands and stabbed the knife into her own back, was strung up over the gate, hung on thick rope, her dark head covered with flies, the red blood now brown, her once-bright eyes dull and lifeless.

Those who had known her tried to contain their tears, whilst the other beasts gritted their teeth and continued with their work. Chubb the robin had not come last night and they were scared. Chubb was heir link with the outside world and the Corim and without him, they were ignorant of what was happening.

The wolf, Tehera was watching them work today, watching them haul the giant sandstone blocks from the ground, where they had been knocked in the siege and painstakingly re-building the wall which had been destroyed in the invasion. Some of them were fixing the stained-glass windows, which had been smashed, and some were making the new, massive wooden gates, to replace the ones that had been burned.

The Abbott was on the party that were re-building the wall. His paws ached and his body screamed in protest as he hauled the heavy blocks from the unforgiving earthen floor. He was tired and worried about the otter, Ade, who had escaped the night before. A party of twelve had been sent out to re-capture him and the Abbey beasts were expecting to see him being dragged through the gateway any moment. Martin knew what torment Tehera would dream up for him when he returned.

Then, something entirely unheard of occurred. Somebeast started to sing.

'Away o, away o

From dusty road to sea, o

I walk on through the summer's heat

Away o, away o

The leaves are fresh and green, o

The sun is hot an' warm

The earth beneath my feet o

Feels fresh an' new an' reborn

Away o, away o

From dusty road to sea, o

I walk on through the summer's heat

Away o, away o

Away o, away O!'

The singer was an old hedgehog; Bunty, the Cellarhog. His song carried on through the Abbey grounds, carrying with it a message of hope. It was an old hauling song that he was singing, one that made beasts who heard it instinctively begin the work to it's pounding rhythm.

Tehera waited for him to finish (because that's the kind of thoughtful tyrant she was) before she spoke to him. Her voice was a low, menacing growl.

"Come here, hedgepig."

Bunty strode resolutely over, his shoulders thrown back defiantly. He stopped before her and looked her up and down contemptuously. "Yes, wolf?"

There was a muffled gasp from the onlookers. Tehera licked a razor sharp claw slowly, looking at him with her mesmerizing eyes.

"That was a good song you were singing. Let us hear it again."

But, instead of obediently breaking into song as she had commanded, Brunty laughed. He threw his head back and let out a side-splitting roar, the like of which had not been heard in Redwall for two seasons.

"I may be chained and manacled, wolf, but I am still a free creature, in here and here," his paw rested on his heart and his head "And you shall never enslave my mind. It is mine and mine alone!"

Tehera snarled and slashed across his face, leaving deep, red, bleeding claw marks where she had hit in. He staggered backwards, clutching his face and Tehera howled.

"Take this one to the dungeons to cool off," she ordered her guards "Let him have no food or water for a week. Then we shall see who is enslaved."

As Brunty was ;ed off, she whirled to face the gaping woodlanders. "Well?" she roared "Who told you to stop working! Let that be a lesson to anybeast who thinks they can defeat Tehera Redeyes, conqueror of Redwall, Queen of Mossflower, Mistress of the Mind! I can make anyone of ye do my bidding in a second! Now get back to work!"

But for the rest of that day, the sound of humming followed Tehera through the grounds of Redwall Abbey.

Author's Note: Well, that was…interesting. I really don't want to tell you what Rose's riddle means, nor how Redwall was conquered do I?

Ah well, all in the next chapter.

And this is the longest chapter I have posted yet! So, I applaud myself and look forward to a trip to Cadbury's World on Thursday. An entire place devoted to chocolate. I shall be in heaven –smiles dreamily-

Oh, and please review, please, please, please. Thank you.