A/N; I hate losing the information off my flash drive for no bloody stupid reason. The computer store owes me $40 for selling me a defective product. I had almost completed this chapter when for no reason it just deleted all the files I had saved on it. Much growling at stupid IT products. Well now this is written. I hope you like it. And of course I own no part of Redwall, especially the major quote from Mossflower

12.

Victory Parade

"I said no! Now be off with you!" Columbine turned to Gonff. "Where are those Salamandastron hares when we need them?" A large crowd had turned up next to Council Lodge intent on traveling up the path to see Martin. Columbine and Skipper had wanted to honor Rose's request and had felled several saplings. They had placed the wood across the path to form a small barricade, but it was in danger of failing because of the number of creatures pressing against it. Columbine had immediately pressed Gonff and the rest of the otter crew into service to hold back the sea of Noonvalers.

Gonff took the hero-worship of his best friend in stride. "Can't fault 'em m'darling. They are all providing good bit of exercise by all this pushing against these saplings. Oi! Brome! You're the chieftain-type mouse around here. Can't you get a grip on all these crazy creatures?"

Brome was trying to hold back the crowd. Brome raised his voice to its considerable limit to be heard over the press of bodies. "Noonvale! QUIET!!" A hush finally descended in the glen. "I told you all yesterday morning; Rose the Vigil Keeper wanted Martin to rest in peace and solitude. Please go back to your business!"

The crowd though was undeterred. Voices started calling out to Brome and the Redwallers.

"We just want to say thank you."

"I've never seen a warrior before; I want to know is that really Martin?"

"What did you do with that sword of his?"

"Let us pass Brome!"

The voices came thick and fast as the crowd redoubled its efforts to see the fabled Mouse Warrior. From atop the valley rim Martin and Rose watched the scene. "Oh dear, we should go down and help them." Rose had a concerned paw over her mouth.

Martin peered through the trees at the mob. "Oh don't worry about that lot. Gonff and Skip are more than capable of holding them back. That and with your brother screaming at them it should give us enough time to prepare."

Rose was confused. "Prepare for what?"

"Do you think you can sneak down into Noonvale and get my armor and sword? I know it will be hard to smuggle them out and back here."

Rose seemed delighted by the idea. "Oh you're going to walk down there in full armor. That will be the best thing Noonvale has seen in a long time."

"I'm not going to be wearing the armor."

Puzzlement was written in Rose's eyes. "If it's not you, than who is going to wear it?"

Mischief shone in Martin's as he answered. "You"

Rose swatted his arm. "You big Squidjee! You're going to play a trick on them!"

"Nothing so horrible as anything those monsters would come up with I assure you. It'll be fun. Now could you please hurry, the sun will soon be at the right angle."

In a short time Rose had returned to where Martin had hidden himself in the brush. She was bent double carrying the haversacks carrying his armor and had his sword strapped to her side. She dropped the bundles with a crash. "You didn't tell me it was all so heavy. How you marched here wearing all that and then fought in all of it, is beyond me."

"I didn't wear it all the way here from Redwall. And once it's on the weight is evenly carried by my entire body. It's actually quite light and comfortable to wear." Martin began buckling on the plate steel. It soon became apparent that Rose was a touch to small to wear the armor believably.

She clanked around the clearing trying to get a feel for the armor and ended up glaring at Martin. "This is not funny."

The Warrior was biting his paw in an effort to bust out laughing at the comical sight. With great effort he put on a straight face. "You're absolutely right Rose. I apologize; I should have sized up the situation better." At that Martin did lose control and ended up on the ground holding his sides because he was laughing so hard.

Rose stood over him tapping a footpaw impatiently. "Are you quite done?"

Martin stood up, wiped away the tears his bit of merriment had caused, and cleared his throat. "Ahem…ahemm! Yes I think so. Here, hand me those haversacks, we'll use them as padding to keep the breastplate in place." In a short while Rose again tried to walk around the clearing. The extra padding had indeed filled out the armor and she could walk without looking like a young mouse who had tied several iron pots around its body. Martin waited with the helmet as Rose got a feel for the steel. "I'm sorry I laughed at you Rose. But you should have seen the look on your face."

Rose gave a wry smile as she came up next to Martin. "Oh, don't worry about that. I would have laughed at you."

Martin grinned as he gave Rose the helmet. "Glad to hear it. Now here is what we'll do…"

Down in Noonvale the Redwallers and Brome were even more hard pressed to keep the crowd back. Overhead the last clouds had rolled back leaving the sun to shine down its afternoon warmth. A blinding flash to the north caused everybeast to throw their paws to their eyes. Moments later a mouse in bright armor walked out from the dazzling light and down the hillside.

The crowd fell silent at the sight. Behind the assembled creatures Martin had climbed onto the roof of the Refuge. Catching Gonff's eye he motioned that a joke was being planned and to inform the other Redwallers. It wouldn't do to have them ruin the surprise. Gonff nodded and went up and down the line explaining quietly to the otters and Columbine to let the scene play out.

Meanwhile, Rose, in Martin's armor, had reached the crowd. Being an excellent mimic she called out in a passable imitation of Martin's voice from beneath the closed helmet visor. "Noonvale, I am Martin the Warrior."

But before a cheer could be raised a new and thunderous voice was heard from the Refuge. "No! I am Martin the Warrior!"

The mouse atop the structure was whirling something overhead attached to a long rope. Hurling it downwards the keen sword blade buried itself point first into an oak tree near the rear of the crowd. Martin pulled the rope taught and tied it securely to the roof of the Refuge. Fearlessly he slid down the line. He was dressed in a simple brown tunic and carried a domed shield slug across his back. Beneath the shied a black leather and silver scabbard was visible. Landing lightly the mouse pulled his sword free and untied the rope. The crowd parted as the armored mouse faced the challenger.

"What claim do you have on the name of Martin the Warrior?" came the question from under the helmet.

"I need no proof save my sword," was the response. The tunic clad mouse flashed the sword in a circle of silver steel before sheathing it with a quick thrust behind his back.

The two mice faced each other and started circling. Many confused mutterings came from the crowd. The newcomers had never seen Martin before. Even when he fought Rassk they had not seen his face, since the visor of the helmet had been down at the time. Those who had been in Noonvale on Martin's first visit to the glen were just as confused. The mouse who had slid down from the Refuge looked similar to the Warrior they remembered. However, he was older and carried a sword unlike anything they had ever been told about.

"I am the true Martin. I defeated Badrang, saved Noonvale, and then traveled south," claimed the armored mouse.

Martin then stepped forward and raised the helmet visor as he spoke. "No, I am. That is…" but the rest of his words were lost. At the sight of Rose's face under the helmet the crowd had thrown up a great cheer. Lifting Martin onto its shoulders a victory parade set off at once. Gonff was never one to let a parade start without a song. Taking out his flute he played a few merry bars before he started singing.

"Oh, me matey Martin is the finest with a blade.

He saved the slaves, felled the fox, and found his dearest maid.

Oh come all you silly beasts and see,

For Martin has once again set Noonvale free."

Rose stayed where she was, as it was somewhat hard for her to move in all the padding and armor she was wearing. Columbine came up and offered to assist her in removing the armor. "Here let me help you take all that off."

"Oh, thank you so much. I don't care what Martin says, this is not light or easy to wear."

Columbine chuckled at Rose's plight. "Don't worry, this isn't the first time I've helped to take this armor off. Martin hardly ever wears it. When he does I don't think he feels it though."

Rose stood straighter as the heavy steel cuirass was taken off her shoulders. "How could he not? Wearing all that made me feel like a loaf of bread just about to go into the oven."

Columbine's face turned somewhat grave as she answered. "Do you remember how I told you that Martin had fought a wildcat queen who was trying to enslave Mossflower?" Rose nodded. "Well Martin isn't the only warrior we have in Mossflower. While he was recovering from that bout the hares from Salamandastron, all brave and perilous beasts, told us that even they were surprised that a mouse had been able to win against a wildcat in direct paw-to-paw combat. They said that they thought only a warrior like a badger lord could have even stood a chance."

Columbine had finished removing all the steel plates and the two maids were packing it all in the haversacks. Rose was curious as to what Columbine had said. "Then how was he able to win? I know Martin is a warrior of no fear, but if what those hares said was true, how can it be possible?"

"Abbess Germaine was the first true healer to see Martin after the fight. The rest of us had been evacuated to the east. Germaine said that had Martin received just one more wound he would have surely died. She said there was only one thing that both saved him, and gave him the strength to battle in such a way. The Bloodwrath."

Rose turned the strange word over in her mind. "Bloodwrath? What's that?"

By now the two maids had entered Council Lodge and were storing the haversacks in a side room. "Abbess Germaine was never able to fully explain exactly what it is. It's almost a sickness that comes upon great warriors. Pain, injury, common sense even, is thrown out the window. All that matters is the destruction of the enemy. It's a terrible sight to behold so I'm told. After a battle most beasts fall to the ground senseless. No one knows why."

A memory came to Rose. Martin standing hard eyed on a hill near Marshank. His bloodcurdling war cry echoed in her mind. Rose had not seen Martin's duel with Badrang, as she was lying unconscious on the ground at the time. From what others had told her, his behavior at the fort was similar to what Columbine had just described. Leaping off the battlements, able to fight on even when being sorely wounded by his father's own sword, the inexplicable power in his paws as he regained that weapon at last, the fact that he collapsed right after the duel had been decided, all had the hallmarks of the Bloodwrath. Rose couldn't help but feel concerned and a little frightened with this new information. "Has Martin ever been taken, is that the word, by this Bloodwrath since then?"

Relief was in Columbine's eyes as she answered. "Thank the fates no. Since that day he has been the most gentle and caring creature I've ever met. Gonff may have stolen my heart, but Martin will always be a very special friend. I think everyone who has met him feels the same way" A knowing grin spread on Columbine's face as she finished talking.

Rose tuned a pale shade of pink at Columbine's look. "Yes, I think you're right."

"Don't worry about the Bloodwrath Rose. Since that fight with the Tsarmina, we have never been troubled by vermin bands. We've been told that they're all scared of Martin and those of us who pulled down Kotir. Now let's go back to the main room. I think I hear the parade coming this way."

Sure enough the crowd of creatures carrying Martin had made its way to Council Lodge. Columbine ran off to find Gonff who promptly swept her off her feet. Martin was born to the head table. Rose worked her way to where he stood and took his paw. Martin looked down at her joy dancing in his eyes. He was about to say something when Gonff's flute rang out again. The plump Mousethief then launched into a lively song that was a great favorite of the Redwallers.

"Let no foul beast give one command,

I'll say 'O no not me'

My back bends to no tyrant's rule,

Hey, friends this mouse is free.

Free has a sound, it rings around,

A lovely place to be.

So dance and sing do anything,

You're free free free free freeeeee!"

Gonff was called on to sing the song many times over as all the Noonvalers had started dancing to it. Rose had even pulled a reluctant Martin onto the floor and skipped about. Later several barrels of berry juice punch were brought up. The cooks had done their best to have victory feast from the preserved foods they had kept in the Refuge. It was simple affair without the usually culinary delights because of the lingering effects of the drought. But the atmosphere was celebratory and the good creatures would have been content with plain scones and water.

As evening fell Rose wandered out of Council Lodge. Martin had been pulled away so he could receive the thanks of everybeast in the building. She smiled at the Warrior being pulled every which way. Walking across the dell she stopped at the waterfall pool. Rose couldn't keep her mind off the thought of Martin as a bloodthirsty berserking war beast that couldn't control his actions. Had that been how he fought Rassk? Could this Bloodwrath come upon him unexpectedly? How could she tell him her own deep secret? A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Now what's a pretty thing like you doing crying? I would have though you and Martin would have been stuck together like you had run in to a pine tree and gotten covered in the sap"

It was Gonff. Rose wiped away the tear and smiled at the thought of a pine sap covered Martin trying to free her from the sticky mess. "Noonvale needs time to thank Martin. I needed some fresh air," replied the mousemaid.

"And the tear?" Gonff could be quite persistent.

"Columbine told me something very worrying earlier. She said that in the past Martin had been taken by something called Bloodwrath. She said that was how he was able to defeat that wildcat. I know it's how he was able to slay Badrang. I don't know if that's how he was able to defeat Rassk. I'm scared that it will come upon him and he'll do something terrible."

The smile was instantly gone from Gonff's face. "I know how you feel Rose. I was the first one to see Martin after he fought Tsarmina. I thought he was dead. There wasn't a part of him that wasn't cut, bruised, beaten, or battered. We all thought there was no way he could have lived through such injuries. And you're right it was the Bloodwrath that enabled him to slay the cat. I talked to Brome and others who were at Marshank that day. From everything they said it sounds like it was Bloodwrath there too."

Rose was truly crying now. "But after all that time it comes on him again here in Noonvale. Against a vermin crew he had no personal grudge against other than they were threatening this place. I'm scared for him." Rose fell to the ground sobbing.

Gonff kneeled beside her and place a gentle paw on her shoulder. "Hush now missy. I can tell for certain it wasn't Bloodwrath that came upon Martin when he clashed with Rassk."

Rose looked up and him with a tear stained face. "How do you know that?"

Gonff drew a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Rose. "Here dry your tears. Columbine told you of Trubbs and company? The hares who came with us from Salamandastron to Mossflower. Well those hares are some of the finest warriors I've ever seen. We would have brought them here with us, but Martin wanted to leave quick like. Skipper and his otter crew were the only ones available. We didn't have time to seek them out as they have formed a roving patrol around Mossflower. Anyway, the hares brought me to where Martin had fought against Tsarmina.

"Those hares were so well trained in tracking they could tell how a battle had progressed just by the paw prints and other sign around the area. The thing you have to understand about Bloodwrath is that the only thing that matters is the destruction of the enemy. The most skilled warrior would forget the better part of their training and use anything they had. Blade, rock, bush, branch, or paw it wouldn't make a difference. The tracks on the lakeside where we found Martin bore all the hallmarks of such a fight. A skill like that I just had to learn.

"Before the rain came and destroyed the battle site I took a look at where Martin fought Rassk. He wasn't no beserkin' wildbeast that night."

Rose had finished wiping her eyes and offered Gonff the handkerchief back. "Then how was he able to win."

"Keep it," Gonff looked at the dirty cloth Rose was holding, a new smile broke across his face. "As for beating Rassk, do you really think that some hopped up fox could really best Martin? Not only was Martin born with superb natural fighting instincts, but he has trained long and hard to sharpen and hone them. When I looked at the tracks left by Rassk, it was clear that he was not a natural to the sword. Yes, he was very good, but his skill had been learned. The instinctual skill Martin has always had took care of that one no problem."

Rose was almost convinced. She had one more question though. "But he collapsed after the duel. Your wife said that usually happens to a beast with the Bloodwrath."

Gonff laughed again. "He collapsed not from come down from Bloodwrath, but sheer exhaustion. We really trekked hard to get here from Redwall so quickly. That and the last three hours Martin forced the march wearing his full armor. He'd never admit it, but Martin knows that even he can't wear all that and keep up a pace like the one he did forever. He was just too tired to go on."

At last Rose felt better about Martin. She stood up and dusted off her dress. "Yes, I know what you mean. I could hardly wear it just for the little bit I did this afternoon."

Merriment shone in Gonff's eyes. "That was great by the way. How did you ever come up with the idea for all that?"

"I didn't. It was all Martin's idea."

"That it was. You've taught me a thing or two about having fun Gonff." Martin had walked up behind the pair. He was holding a small linen bag. Rose went to his side where Martin put an arm around her waist. Gonff was grinning. "Like I said, tree sap"

Rose blushed but Martin was very confused. "What? Tree sap?"

Rose swatted Gonff's arm. "Nothing, forget about it."

"What were you going to say when you lifted up the visor over Rose's face this afternoon?"

Martin was bewildered at Gonff's question. "Something to the effect of 'No, I am. That is unless Martin is really a maid.' I don't really remember. Why do you ask?"

"Well the only thing we heard was 'No, I am that is.' It sort of sticks to the brain doesn't it?"

Martin rolled the phrase around. "I am that is, sounds nice. Hey, where are you going?"

Gonff turned back to Martin and Rose with a sly grin. "Oh I'm sure you two won't mind me leaving. Besides I promised Columbine another dance."

"She's asleep!" Martin called after the friendly thief.

Gonff's grin grew wider as he plucked the feather from his cap. "Not for long matey."

Martin and Rose laughed at the retreating figure of the Mousethief. The two mice began walking paw in paw around the base of the waterfall pool. Rose led Martin to a small hollow behind the curtain of water. A split in the rocks above let moon and starlight shine on the pair. Rose pointed at the small bag in Martin's paw. "What's that?" She gasped at the object Martin pulled out.