Little Mattimeo and Tess moment, really liked how this chapt turned out. :)

Chapter 5

When the Sword of Martin wasn't being used, it was usually put on display above the fireplace mantle in the gatehouse cottage. It hadn't been needed often over the past few seasons, something Redwall was very thankful for. Regardless, Matthias would take it down and practice with it occasionally, and always had it at the ready when he felt like it. He also brought it to the occasional feast, really for decoration.

Until now.

Mattimeo stared at the sword for several long moments, then reached up and lifted the sword off it's hooks. It had been a long time since he had last wielded the blade, and even then, it was still just slightly too heavy for him to use properly.

That was over two seasons ago. Now Mattimeo was surprised that he and the sword seemed to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. Like they were suddenly one. Like they were meant to be. But never this soon.

Mattimeo took some practice swings with the sword, knowing it would be some time before he was skilled with it. He was in no hurry, he rather wait another season or so before that. Now he had no choice.

Placing the sword point down at his feet, he rested his head on the red pommel stone, distressed. Just when it seemed like he knew what the next few seasons would bring, his father had to fall ill, and possibly die. Now things were happening too quickly. Others were beginning to expect a great deal from him, more than he felt he could handle.

Mattimeo sighed. It had been a long time since he felt like it was all too much for him to handle. He thought he had learned to accept the fact that his destiny was already laid out for him, but now he wasn't so sure. With that fate ready to topple down on him, Mattimeo felt like he wanted to run away from it, to escape it. Yet he already knew that he simply couldn't, for he had tried once, when he was much younger.

He wasn't sure how long he had been there, and he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he really didn't care. The world around him could go on without him for all he cared at the moment. Therefore, he had no real idea how long Tess had been standing behind him, watching him.

At some point, Mattimeo had realized that she was there, and had been debating when and how to acknowledge that. But he didn't have the will or want to do so. His heart wasn't set on anything, but to just stand here forever. His legs eventually began to object to that, so Mattimeo finally knelt down, balancing the sword on it's point in front of him. He watched Tess's reflection in the blade of the sword, wondering what she was thinking.

"Matti." Tess finally spoke slowly. "Are you all right?"

Mattimeo wasn't sure. There was too much going on around him for him to think about that much. So he didn't answer. Tess seemed to understand, for she didn't press the question any further. Silence fell once again in the room.

Finally, Mattimeo spoke. "Tess," he said slowly, "What would you do if you were in my position?"

Tess didn't respond right away. "Since I'm not in your position, I cannot say." she said, knowing it probably wasn't what Mattimeo wanted to hear.

If that were true, Mattimeo didn't acknowledge it. Remaining silent, Tess walked over and crouched down next to Mattimeo, placed one paw on his shoulder.

"I can't do this Tess." Mattimeo finally said, reaching up to touch the fur on Tess's paw. "I'm not ready. And I don't know if I'll ever will be."

Tess already knew this, and she knew Mattimeo knew that. She watched Mattimeo's reflection in the blade of the sword, while Mattimeo did likewise.

"Is there anything I can do to make this easier?" he asked suddenly.

Tess turned to face her friend. "I think you're the only one who can answer that." she said. "But there is something I want to show you."

Taking the sword with, Mattimeo let her guide him into the Great Hall. No body was around, and the room was very silent. Mattimeo had to wonder if that was somehow done on purpose.

They stopped in front of the tapestry that lined the walls of the Great Hall. At it's start was a depiction of Martin the Warrior himself. From there, as the tapestry stretched across the large room, important points in Redwall's history were depicted. History that was constantly being added, so to tell all who see the tapestry about Redwall's past, and maybe even hint about it's future.

Mattimeo and Tess focused their attention on the depiction of Martin, sitting in the left hand corner of the tapestry.

"What do we know about Martin, Matti?" Tess asked.

"That he was a great warrior." Mattimeo answered. "And that he helped found our abbey on peaceful terms, and shortly thereafter gave up the life of a warrior."

"What else?" Tess asked.

Mattimeo turned to a portion of tapestry that hung adjacent to Martin. "He helped free Mossflower from vermin rule. And that he has passed the responsibility of defender for Redwall on down to several other beasts, like Father." He paused. "And me." he added. "Tess, where are you going with this?"

Tess pressed one claw to Mattimeo's lips, silencing him. "Matti, what's the most difficult part of these past few days for you?"

Mattimeo stared up at the tapestry, studying a depiction of a battle at Kotir, a vermin fortress that was once the symbol of an enslaved Mossflower many seasons ago. It was a moment before he answered. "The part with Father being ill, and being close to death." he said. "That, and the prospect of receiving the responsibility of warrior of Redwall from Father, should he pass on."

"It's a very difficult matter for you, isn't it, Matti?" Tess asked softly.

Mattimeo nodded.

"Do you think it was the same for Martin?" Tess asked, gesturing to the warrior's depiction on the tapestry.

Mattimeo shook his head, smiling slightly. "No, Martin was a warrior born." he said.

"Was he?" Tess asked. She asked the question in such a matter that Mattimeo didn't answer.

"Matti, when my brother became apprentice recorder, he learned a great deal about Martin's past, a lot that neither of us knew." Tess continued. "And there is one moment that we know of in Martin's life that I think will help you." she turned to the tapestry and pointed to one corner of the tapestry, next to Martin's depiction. "Tell me what that is." she requested.

"It's a rose." Mattimeo stated plainly.

"Do you know what it stands for?" Tess asked.

"No." Mattimeo admitted.

"Neither did I, until recently." Tess said. "Apparently, very early in Martin's life, before he came to Mossflower, he met a mousemaiden and it's said they were in love. So much so, that had things not happened as they did, Martin might have never come to Mossflower at all."

Mattimeo was intrigued at that prospect. "But he did leave for Mossflower." he pointed out. "So what happened?"

"There was a battle, and many were killed, Martin's love among them." Tess answered.

A silent moment fell.

"Matti, I think you have everything you need to become the next defender of Redwall." Tess continued suddenly, turning to face her friend. "But there is something standing in your way, and I think it's something more than becoming a warrior for Redwall."

Mattimeo didn't answer.

"It's you're father, isn't it?" Tess asked gently. "You're thinking that you can't live without him."

Mattimeo shook his head. "I can't. Not yet." he admitted.

"I imagine Martin felt that way himself, more than once." Tess said. "He lost several people close to him throughout his lifetime, especially when he was young. His own father among them."

Tess glanced at Mattimeo's face and saw that he understood what Tess was getting at. "Matti, you've faced the prospect of losing those close to you once yourself. Several seasons back, when you, me, and others were captured by Slagar the Cruel as slaves. You thought your father had died at one point back then, remember?"

"It's a time I try not to remember." Mattimeo responded.

"It's one I try to avoid myself." Tess admitted. "But even as early as then, as painful as the thought that your father might have been killed, you went on. If you could do it then, Matti, you can do it now."

Mattimeo smiled. "Thank you Tess, I feel a little better now." he said.

They embraced for a short moment, then stood together in front of the tapestry, studying it.

"What was the name of Martin's maiden?" Mattimeo asked.

"Laterose." Tess answered. "Of Noonvale. Or at least, that's what it says in the story."

"Can you imaging losing someone some one that important to you like that?" Mattimeo asked. "It must have been terrible for Martin for the rest of his life."

Tess thought about Mattimeo's question. "No, I couldn't." she eventually answered.

"Neither could I." Mattimeo agreed. "Life would be too difficult for me without her."

Tess looked up at Mattimeo. "'Her?'" she questioned.

"You know, I'm suddenly hungry, let's see if there is something we could eat in the kitchens." Mattimeo said, avoided the question.

Tess grinned. "I believe there are some extra rolls left over from breakfast." she said. "I'll go see if I can get some."

She left for Cavern Hole, leaving Mattimeo alone. He stared up at Martin's depiction. He hadn't lied to Tess when he said that he felt a little better, but he still felt very uneasy and full of grief over the whole prospect.

"Martin." he found himself saying. "What would you suggest I do about all of this?"

Sitting down on the cool stone floor, he stared up at Martin's figure, rubbing the pommel stone on Martin's sword, which he still held by the handle in his paw. He stared at Martin for a long while, with Martin seemingly to stare back.

Then Martin blinked.

Rasing his sword, he used it to point at Mattimeo, and spoke.

"Arise now.

Climb to the top,

Of the west wall.

Coming this way,

Is the answer..."

Mattimeo awoke to the sound of Tess's voice.

"Matti, are you alright?" She was saying while gently shaking him. "You were asleep, like you were in a trance."

Mattimeo sat up, rubbing his side where the flat of Martin's sword had been pressing into him.

"Here, maybe you're just hungry." Tess said, handing him a roll. "Here, Swayner said we could have these. He was in there washing pots again, for trying to snitch Brother Fren's tomatoes."

But Mattimeo didn't take the roll. Instead, he stood, slipping the sword through his belt. Quietly, but quickly, he exited the abbey and climbed the stairs to the top of the west wall. Tess followed, curious.

Squinting his eyes. Mattimeo scanned up and down the path below, and finally stopped, staring due south.

"Visitors at the gates!" he called out, as Tess looked at the figures arriving.

Hurrying to the gates, he helped the other creatures who had heard his shout open the main gates.

"Who goes there?" he asked, almost forgetting to ask.

"Weylan's me name." came the answer.