Author's Note: Oops...I unintentionally forgot about this story. I was looking through my profile of fics and decided that there was no reason a couple of them couldn't be finished. Don't expect this to be updated very quickly, but I will do my best to finish it.
Chapter 6
As they walked through the dark, Ash felt her heart jumping at every noise. Her head whipped around at the flap of wings overhead, a rustle in the bushes. They had not been walking more than half an hour and already she wished to return to the abbey and continue with her normal routine.
Stop that, Ash! You must find Gareth, for the sake of the Abbey. If I cannot find them, then we are lost, she chastised herself. Gareth, are you alive? I have not seen you in so long, I have my doubts, but my heart tells me you're still alive. Please be so. I need you. When she had first run to Belgara for help in getting Gareth out the door, she had not considered for one moment how she might miss him. When he had left, she braced herself for the emptiness his missing presence would cause but she had never imagined she would wait more than six seasons for his return. Where could he be? What could he be doing? He said he was going south, but is he really there anymore? He suggested he might walk elsewhere. I hope it does not take too long to find him. Redwall does not have that kind of time.
In the midst of her thoughts she failed to see where she was going and gasped when she felt her paw catch on a root and she fell.
"Shhh! Ash, we're not yet out of danger," Perrad hissed at her and she glared in response.
"Don't think I don't know that, broomtail," Ash retorted.
"That's enough. Perrad, how long 'til we're clear o' Redwall?"
"I can't tell. I would just keep quiet until daybreak. I wish we needn't have left under cover of darkness; I can hardly see an arm's length in front of me, even with our lantern."
"Do what ye can an' we'll keep watch from back here," Belgara replied. Even in the dark, Ash could see her own head turning from side to side warily.
They walked in silence for the rest of the morning, breaking it sparingly with hurried whispers to one another. Fear of what the dark held in secret kept them mute until finally light filtered into the sky. It was so gradual, Ash could hardly tell, but it struck her after some time that she could finally see Belgara's slim back without aid of the lantern ahead of her and she smiled.
"The sun! The sun is rising," she suddenly said in a hushed voice. In that instant the fear that had gripped their hearts left and their shoulders sank with relief and a sigh.
Perrad looked around at the setting as the sun continued to reveal more of it and said, "I believe we're still in Mossflower woods, but we have left the abbey long behind. That army should not bother us anymore, but remember to be on your guard. We have no idea if anyone were following us or not."
When Perrad turned away Ash huffed at his back. Does he think we're fools? I am certainly not naïve enough to believe we are not completely out of danger. How did he ever become leader? As Friar, she had power over all in her kitchens and yet she certainly did not treat them like dibbuns. In fact, if she watched everyone like a hawk she doubted anyone would get much done.
Their spirits continued to swell with the sun as they walked forward, and it was not long that Ash found her skipping along to Perrad humming to herself. At first she found it strange that after walking through the night in such tense surroundings that she should be cheerful and so full of energy, and then she was reminded that at this time she would be kicking the kitchen into gear. I wonder how Darma is doing without me? She was such a good assistant, I imagine she'll have no trouble whatsoever. Oh, I do hope the Abbey is okay.
Her mood immediately dampened and she threw a troubled look back to the way Redwall was. She could no longer see its Belltower looming in the distance and then she felt unease fall onto her again. She had never been so far from home as to not see it, and yet here she was out in the middle of the woods out to find Gareth.
Stay cheerful, Ash. You wanted to go on an adventure not so long ago, just as Gareth did. Indulge in it a little, she assuaged her soul with this sense and breathed deeply. She smiled as she let it out, pushing her worries aside for the moment. Time enough for that when they actually found Gareth.
She turned to her companions. "We've been walking all night. Let's stop for a little breakfast, shall we?"
"Sounds good ta me, matey," Belgara said.
But, again, Perrad eyed her shrewdly. "A little food would not go amiss, but, remember, Ash, you're no longer the cook. We cannot make an ordeal of this as you normally would."
"I know that! I'll believe you're a good leader when you stop doubting my clear sense, thank you," Ash replied, with her paws resting on her hips as she peered sternly.
Belgara sighed deeply, but to her surprise Perrad stayed quiet. The comment appeared to have stung him, but he nodded his head and started looking for a place to rest for the moment and eat. After a couple of minutes search, a small clearing just off the beaten path proved adequate and Ash eagerly threw her pack down and began rifling through it.
"Hmm…since we have no idea how long we'll be gone, the bread should go first. It will become stale faster. Let's see…oatcakes should last longer than any scones we might have here. Did Darma pack scones? Mm…smells like peach and strawberry scones to me. One apiece should take us through to lunch," Ash said, as she cheerfully handed a scone to each of them from her pack.
"To be honest, Ash, I'm not sure we'll stop for lunch. We should keep to our paws as often as possible."
Ash frowned at him. "Why did we stop now then? I can see our time constraints, but we should not starve ourselves to save Redwall. We are no good to the others dead."
Perrad smiled at her and, for once, it did not seem to be in a condescending manner. Her fur would have bristled in indignation otherwise.
"You are right, Ash. However…we can survive on two meals a day," he replied and in that was when she understood. He was far more worried about Redwall than she had initially given him credit for.
Ash mulled this over a bite of scone and then said, "Well, don't just sit there like a bloomin' frog. Frowns won't help Redwall anymore than lazing about. Hop to it, scout. If you have to flippin' jog whilst you eat in the next few minutes, then that is what you must do." She finally turned marginally serious and said, "Skipper Dalgo, Mother Arlene, and Abbess Clarine will keep the abbey out of danger. Need you be versed in more of Adriel's history lessons?"
"No, please!" Perrad said and Ash giggled.
"'Tis a nice sight to see ye both talkin' and not jabberin' at the other," Belgara said with a chuckle of her own. "I was afraid ye might bicker 'til the sun fell from the sky."
"It will fall before I let Perrad into my kitchen," Ash said with another bite of her scone, and she smiled triumphantly.
Perrad was about to retort but then he seemed to think better of it, and then said, "I think lunch is over. We should continue our journey again."
They put their packs on again and rose to their feet once more to continue their journey. "It's been five seasons since Gareth passed through here. D'ya think anybeast will remember him?" Belgara asked aloud.
Assuming it was a rhetorical answer, Ash stayed silent. She wasn't even sure what to say on the matter. Am I ever to see Gareth again? What is he like now? All that came to her mind was his warm smile. She sincerely hoped she could see it again.
"Are your beasts prepared, Skipper Dalgo?" Abbess Clarine asked. The day was bright, beautiful, and clear, but she continued to remain grim. Instead of cheerfully heading about their morning chores, the Redwallers found themselves living in an entirely different state from just the other morning. Breakfast was a quick affair, nothing more than a scone and watercrest tea, and then they were sent out onto the grounds to be issued weapons of war. The dibbuns were kept inside with a trio of mothers to help keep them under control and out of harm's way.
Clarine shuddered as she saw Dalgo put a helmet on a younger otter that could be no more than fifteen seasons old. Too young, far too young to be in war. She felt her shoulders slump in defeat though. But it cannot be helped. We need every able paw that we may have.
"There ye go mate," Skipper said as he handed him a spear. "Now go assemble on the lawns with the other young'uns." He gave the young otter a reassuring pat on his arm and then turned to the Abbess. "We're ready fer whatever them vermin wants to throw at us."
Clarine relaxed a little when she saw that Skipper had put all the older beasts on the wall, and everyone younger than 20 seasons was assembled on the lawn. "Thank you, Skipper. I appreciate all you have done. Now, we must wait until noon." That was hardly an hour away and she found herself touring the grounds checking and double checking that everything was prepared. A line of squirrel and mice archers were positioned behind the wall and next to each beast was a pile of wooden arrows, hopefully sufficient enough for the skirmish that would likely ensue after the negotiations.
The next thing Clarine knew, the Abbey bells were tolling the arrival of the vermin army. She, Skipper, and Mother Arlene, rushed up to the Abbey walls to peer down below at the road.
"It appears they came fer a fight all righ'," Skipper muttered low enough only for them to hear. They watched as the common soldiers crawled into the ditch with their weapons already in their paws. Skipper nudged at her and nodded at the trees, and just beyond she saw so many vermin standing in the field it was like an ocean. Oh, how are we going to defeat them? Martin, please lend us your strength.
Only Ashtar Samov stepped out onto the road this time. Argas Burnad stood proudly at the edge of the ditch, his tail waving languidly of its own accord. The pine marten held his helmet at his side as he stared up at the three abbey leaders in condescension. "Well, mouse, have you decided?"
"Yes, we have," Clarine said, standing straighter to give the appearance of strength and confidence. "We needed not a whole day. You will never step on the beautiful grounds of Redwall Abbey so long as we have strength to keep fighting."
The statement was accompanied by a roar from the other abbey creatures, both on the wall top and on the grounds. Mother Arlene opened her mouth in a fearsome snarl, showing them her pearly white teeth, and Skipper Dalgo threw back his head and yelled, "Redwaaalll!"
Clarine kept her gaze on Ashtar the entire time, and his expression changed not one jot. When the thunder had died down he threw back his head and laughed.
"Ahahahahaha! You think you can frighten us? You will know the true meaning of fear soon enough, you fools," he replied. Then he raised his sword to the sky, the sun glinting off of its point as though giving him its blessing, and then it fell and a volley of arrows flew straight from the ditch to them.
"Get down," Skipper shouted.
Clarine had not even given it a thought before she found herself staring and clutching at the red stone in desperation. She clenched her teeth when she heard a beast scream from on top the wall, and then she quickly looked around to see who it was. Adriel! The plump little vole had fallen back onto the walkway and his paw clutched the arrow that had grown from his right shoulder.
"Abbess, a stretcher. The rest o' ya, fire," Skipper commanded and then threw his spear. Clarine dared to look over the wall and saw a rat take the spear clean through the chest. As she continued to watch, dozens of other vermin fell forward right before her very eyes and her heart lifted with hope. "Abbess, ye need to get Adriel."
"O-of course," she sunk below the walls again and crawled for the stairs. She kept her brush curled close to her body as she moved, and then she called down below, "Sister Mabel, we need a stretcher and your healing paws."
"Yes, Mother."
More screams arose around her and she shuddered. The battle for their very lives was joined.