A/N; Okay so here is the part I know a lot of you have been waiting for. "Martin the Warrior" will obviously be heavily quoted in this chapter but I have added my own touches to the story just as I did in "Winter's Flowers." So without any further ado let's just get into it.

5.

Martin the Warrior

"I am a warrior! Martin son of Luke! I will live, I will not give in and die up here! Do you hear me, Badrang? I will live to take back my father's sword and slay you one day! Badraaaaaaaannggg!"

The roar was long and loud and Rose heard it clearly over the gale. A shiver of awe ran up her spine and something sparked in her spirit. It was as if the strange feeling that had come over her since leaving Noonvale was growing clearer. Poking her head out their shelter she saw the form of a young mouse tied between two posts above the ramparts. Abandoning her shelter she ran for the fortress walls and found shelter beneath the main gates. Before she knew it she was calling back to him. "Martin son of Luke, can you hear me?"

Grumm had seen her run off and quickly followed her under the gates. "What you'm be a-doin' Miz Rozer?"

Rose just waved a paw at the mole. The mouse was calling back. "Yes I hear you. What is your name?"

"There are two of us, my friend Grumm Trencher the mole and myself, Laterose, daughter of the Chieftain Urran Voh. We heard you calling out. Tell me, is there a prisoner in there called Brome, a young mouse? He is my brother."

There was a pause before an answer came from the wall tops. When it did the voice seemed to be strained to be heard against the wind and rain. "I do not know of a mouse called Brome and I don't think I'll have much of a chance to. I am sentenced to die up here, Laterose."

I can't believe I told him my full name, Rose thought to herself. Smiling at her own lack of knowing what she wanted she tried to respond kindly to this Martin. "Laterose is my full title. Please call me Rose. My friend and I will do anything possible to help you, though we cannot climb up-the walls are too sheer and high. What can we do? Is there a message you wish carried to another creature?"

When Martin called back there was no mistaking the strain he was under. "No message. I am alone. The guards told me that if I live through the night the big sea birds will finish me off in the morning. Is there any way…you can keep them…off me?"

Seabirds! Rose thought. What good are our slings going to do against them? I'm not even a good shot. They won't scare any birds away. Wait a tick, that's it! "Maybe, yes. We are not warriors. But we can use our slings. Also I know a trick to drive sea birds away."

She waited, but there was no reply. Grumm stepped away from the wall, out onto the beach, shading his eyes against the downpour as he gazed at the limp figure slumped between the posts.

"Yurr, ee'm lost 'is senses, fallen aconshuss, in'n you ask oi, pore creature."

Rose joined Grumm, and together they watch the unconscious form sway slackly as the elements assaulted it. The mousemaid chose a hard round pebble and fitted it to her sling.

"We must help him to live, we must!" Her lip quivered as she spoke. "Ooh that Badrang, the cruel cowardly, heartless vermin…"

Grumm chuckled softly. "Noice wurrds fer a mousey-maid, oi must say, Hurr hurr, him'n ull live sure 'nuff, iffen 'ee be arf as ill-tempurred as 'ee mizzy."

Rose didn't reply back to Grumm as they made their way back to their rocky shelter. Seemingly countless thoughts were racing through her head. A warrior who's a slave, how could that be? I've got to help him! Somehow I've got to. Then we can find Brome and…and what just leave him? He needs my help I can't just leave him. It's past midnight how was he able to hold out in this weather this long? Are there others like him inside that dreadful place? Oh why did I tell him my full title? Now there's another male mouse who's going to just see me as the daughter of the Chief. But I still have to help him don't I? But then when I did tell him I was daughter of the Chief he didn't seem to care. But he's sentenced to die anyway but…NO! He WON'T die. Not if I have anything to say about it. When I've got him out of Marshank I can help him.

Rose didn't fall asleep that night. She put up the hood of her travel dress and sat at the mouth of the shelter. She kept a vigil on Martin that night. Even though she knew that the chances of her actually meeting this Martin were slim her imagination started to run wild. She pictured that somehow she had climbed up the fortress wall and cut the ropes binding his paws to have his wake up at her touch. Together they climbed down the walls and raced off along the shore.

The next morning the storm had passed and the sun began to shine through the clouds. Rose and Grumm peaked out of their shelter to where the sodden form of Martin still hung between the two posts. They had stocked a small pile of hard rocks near their shelter. Rose had also taken some time to practice with the sling a bit more by aiming at a nearby rock outcrop. She was now more comfortable with the weapon as she was hitting her target more than she was missing it. Looking up she saw that the gulls were beginning to wheel and call in the morning air. She knew it would soon be time to see if she could make good on her promise.

"Lookit mizzy. They'm villuns be bringin' Marthen aroun'."

Indeed a rat was reviving Martin. Rose watched as he spat the last bit of his water in the rat's face. Good for you. Keep fighting she thought. Then she looked up as the gulls and gannets began to swoop. Martin must have seen the birds too because he began to struggle against the ropes, but to no avail. They still held him tight. Steeling herself she put a paw over her throat and took a deep breath.

Grumm nudged his friend urgently. "Aow, do 'asten an' 'urry mizzy. They burds be a-goen t'peck Marthen to death. Aowurr, oi carn't lukk no moare!"

The sea birds came diving in voraciously at Martin's unprotected body. They were within a hair's breath of his head when a wild, ear-splitting screech, halfway between a whistle and a cry, rent the morning air. Immediately, the scavenging birds swooped away and zoomed high into the air, shrilling anxiously and wheeling about willy-nilly. Anther loud screech followed, and the gulls and gannets milled about high above Martin, some of them bumping into each other in the apparent confusion. A further screech followed, even louder and more angry-sounding than the former two. This time the sea birds sheared off sharply and dispersed.

Grumm was holding his head between his digging claws trying to block out the noise. Rose was still peering upwards for danger. A final eagle call scared off the last kittiwake that had dared to stay around. Scanning the sky Rose saw it was free and clear of sea birds.

"Thank goodness I won't have to do the eagle call again, Grumm. It was beginning to strain my throat."

Grumm peeked over the rocky outcrop at Martin on the walltop. "Mizzy Rozer, 'earken! Wot be they villuns a-doin' to Marthen?"

The mousemaid began twirling her loaded sling. "I don't know, but whatever it is we'll have to stop them!"

Up on the walltop Martin was still fighting as best he could. He dodged the rope that held the reeking fish Gurrad was trying to put around his neck. The next thing Martin knew the rat was hopping up and down and sucking on his paw. A flash of movement caught Martin's eye as a second stone came whizzing up from the shore. A bark of laughter escaped from Martin as the rat went flying off the wall and into the courtyard below. Always nice to have help, he thought to himself. Maybe this Rose is more than just a pretty name and voice.

Grumm was running out of good rocks to fit his ladle when Rose pointed to the wall. "Look, they've had enough; they're cutting Martin loose and retreating into the fortress. Thank the seasons that we were able to help that poor mouse, eh, Grumm?"

As they conversed adrenaline was flowing through Rose. She had never felt this way. The pride she felt in defending Martin had fanned the spark that had been glowing inside her since she had first spoke to Martin. Now it was a flame that longed for more fuel to feed it. It was only when Grumm pointed out the invading searats that she grew cautious.

Later when they were safely hidden in the marshes behind Marshank did she take some more time to reflect on her actions that day. Never before had she ever thought she would so ardently defend someone she hadn't really even met. There was just something in the tone of his voice that called to her. That even when faced with certain defeat he still didn't give up. Rose found it very inspiring as she and Grumm watched Marshank that early summer day.

That night after the searats had left Rose and Grumm stole back up to the fortress. They had both taken time to catch a nap while hiding in the marshes so they were well rested. The two companions walked back to the fortress walls, to the spot beneath the main gates where Rose had conversed with Martin. The mousemaid looked up at the twin posts with rope ends blowing loosely from it in the night wind.

"I hope Martin is all right. Trust Badrang to think up something cruel like that, binding a poor creature up there in the middle of a storm-"

Grumm held up a paw for silence. "Shush naow, Roser. Do 'ee 'ear that? Somebeast a-singen'."

"I know a mouse called Martin,
And a young un who's named Brome,
Captured by some vermin scouts
As he strayed from his home.
So if you're out there list'ning,
I'll pause awhile and wait,
For I've been singing half the night
On this side of the gate."

Rose almost wept for joy. While she now knew that Brome was alive, the fact that Martin's name was also mentioned somehow made her just as happy. She was answering in an instant, being both a good singer and balladeer. Grumm grunted softly as she hugged him tight with happiness, her clear voice ringing out plaintively on the night breeze.

"My name is Rose of Noonvale,
The tribe of Urran Voh,
My only brother is called Brome,
And Martin's name I know.
We're here so we can help them,
So please, friend, tell to me
What we can do to aid those two
And try and set them free!"

Immediately a hurried few lines rang out clear in reply.

"A vermin guard approaches.
Quick, get yourselves from sight.
I'll try to get back to you
This time tomorrow night!"

Heeding the warning, Rose and Grumm withdrew swiftly to the rocky outcrop where they had hidden earlier that day.

In the prison pit Brome watched as Keyla departed after outwitting the guards. After getting captured on the shore he had felt very alone. Then when the grate was pulled of the pit he started to hope that he would be released. That's when Felldoh came crashing down into the pit. Soon after they were joined by Martin. Brome had never met any creatures like these two. Though they were only a few seasons older than him, Brome could tell that they were two natural born warriors. The fact that they wouldn't back down from Badrang's horde gave the young mouse a huge boost to his confidence. Added to his new hopeful feelings was that Martin and Felldoh were always trying to take his mind off the situation and focus on something outside the walls of the pit. After Felldoh had fallen asleep that night Brome was sitting with Martin.

"What's your sister like?" Martin asked Brome.

"She's always been there for me," Brome told him. "Even though we've had some pretty big fights I know she's looking out for me."

"Is she nice?"

"I guess so," Brome shrugged. "Most of the creatures back at home like her well enough. Probably because she can sing so well. Did you ever sing before you came to this place Martin?"

Martin shook his head. "No I didn't Brome. I spent most of my time learning how to be a warrior from my father Luke. Then after I was captured by Badrang there was never much to sing about."

"I still can't believe that somehow you got caught by these vermin." Even in the gloom of the prison pit Martin could see the admiration in Brome's eyes. "How could a warrior like you let that happen?"

Steel was in Martin's voice as he answered. "First off I won't consider myself a warrior until I've taken back my father's sword. Second I was probably younger than you are now when I was captured. It makes my blood boil to know what that stoat has done with my father's sword."

Brome looked at Martin in wonder. The other mouse was staring hard up through the grate in the direction of the fortress longhouse. Before he lay down to sleep that night Brome had a thought that he wished he could be as strong as his two new friends.

The next evening Rose was waiting on the shore for contact from inside Marshank. She and Grumm had to keep themselves well hidden due to the presence of two guards on the walltops keeping a lookout for the return of the corsairs.

The mousemaid shook her head despairingly. "With those two up there we won't be able to communicate with our friend. What can we do Grumm?"

"Oi says we sit'n toight an' wait. You'm friend be a cleverbeast, 'ee'll think o' summat, miz, you'm see, hurr aye."

Rose only bit her lip nervously as she waited for any contact. More and more stars began to come out as the night fell across the shore. Rose and Grumm were silent straining to hear anything that resembled a clue from the fortress. Then a loud and whining voice carried out into the night.

"Somebeast, anybeast, can you hear me? Help us, there's a fever down here!"

Through her tears of joy Rose sat back, giggling helplessly. "Heeheehee! That's my little brother all right. Remember he used to scream and shout like that back home until Mama let him have his way?"

"Yurr, oi amembers miz. Oi used t'plug moi ole ears oop wi' grass. If'n yon choild 'as fever wi' a voice loik that, oi be a taddypole!"

Soon Rose and Brome had communicated the escape plan. As Grumm dug the tunnel Rose found her heart began to beat faster and faster. Noticing this she began thinking to herself as she cleared out the rubble from Grumm's tunnel. Now this is an adventure. I can't believe I'd get caught up in something like this. It's almost midnight, I'm sure Grumm has almost reached the prison pit by now. One good thing about that corsair attack is that Badrang's forces probably aren't paying attention to us. One other thought though was racing through her mind more than any other. Something she hadn't thought possible yet it was surely coming to pass now. Now I'll finally get to meet this Martin.

Soon there was no more sand for her to shift so she crouched at the entrance to the tunnel waiting for any sign of the escapees. She didn't have long to wait. The reddish-brown fur of a squirrel came into view first. She gladly helped him out of the hole.

"Up you come, treejumper. Is Grumm with you?" Rose asked as Felldoh climbed out. However the squirrel didn't answer her as he rolled to the side and helped the next creature out. It was another mouse who had his back to her as he pulled himself out of the tunnel and bent down to help the next creature in line.

"He'll be along shortly when he's blocked off the hole. Phwah! I've swallowed so much sand I'll be spitting it out all season."

Rose reached for her canteen. "Here, wash it out with some cold mint tea."

He turned to face her. She was thunderstruck. He was covered in sandy grit from the tunnel and his clothes were ragged from the hard life he must have led. Yet he was strongly built and had a roguish look to his face. But Rose hardly saw that. Instead she found herself staring into the most confident and determined grey eyes she had ever seen. Another tremor ran down her spine as she realized he was staring at her in much the same fashion. With the males of Noonvale Rose had only seen ambition in their eyes. She had always felt they had been looking past her with out truly seeing her. Not so this time. When her eyes locked with Martin's for the first time she felt something completely new. He was looking at her and what's more was seeing her for who she was. She somehow knew he was looking at Rose, not Laterose daughter of Urran Voh. It was the most touching moment of her life.

"You must be Martin," she said quietly.

He didn't respond instead he continued to just stare at her. She couldn't help but blush a little and smile. "Drink up, Martin. Your friend and my brother are waiting their turn."

Without taking his eyes off her he brought the canteen to his lips and found his voice around a mouthful of tea. "Yurn b'rosty nose!"

"I beg your pardon?" she laughed. When he had babbled to her she knew that he was just as approachable as any other creature. Her image of a hard tough warrior was shattered, replaced by the real mouse in front of her. And she found she liked the change more than what she had pictured in her mind.

Martin took another gulp and cleared his throat. "Sorry. You must be Rose."

He called me Rose she thought to herself. When Grumm was pulled out of the hole and ruined the moment by pointing out the searat attack Rose saw her first glimpse of Martin the Warrior. As they cemented their resolve over the escape tunnel Rose found her paw had somehow wound up underneath Martin's. He gave her paw a gentle squeeze as they set out to complete their newly laid plans.

As they began to steal off in the direction of the longboats Martin and Felldoh's personalities both shifted. Where once they had been calm smiling creatures, now their eyes were set with the fire of determination. They began issuing orders as they raced to the longboats. Rose grabbed a heavy piece of driftwood and managed to wallop one of the foebeasts before she, Brome, and Grumm began pushing one of the boats out to sea. Her courage held as she dealt two more foes hard blows with an oar as they made their way out over the waves. As they rowed to freedom she joined in the joyous laughter of her friends. And somewhere deep inside her that little voice that had whispered to her since she was a tiny creature in Noonvale was telling her she had just found the creature she had been searching for all her life.

Days later Martin, Rose, Grumm, and their new friend Pallum were all resting after a long day of looking after the Squidjees. They had finished their meal and Grumm and Pallum had fallen asleep. Martin and Rose were still awake though.

"How do you do it Rose?" he asked her.

She was puzzled by the question. "Do what?"

"How do you keep laughing and smiling? Even after those terrors mussed up their beds more times than I can count you never once grew angry with them. I mean we're slaves but it's almost as if you don't seem to mind all that much. Especially that rotten no good Dinjer."

Rose gently admonished him. "Now Martin don't say things like that. These creatures aren't evil like those back in Marshank. They just need somebeast to show them some kindness and maybe a touch of discipline. The reason I can smile is because I know we won't be here forever."

"So you want to be rid of these monsters as much as I do then?" he teased using her description of the Squidjees from earlier.

Rose quietly laughed at his playful tone. "I never said I'd want to be their mother mind you. But like I told you earlier, with a warrior like you with us I'm sure we won't be here long." She then took his paw in hers and gave it a comforting squeeze. "We should get some rest. Who knows what's in store for us tomorrow. Good night Martin."

She tried pulling her paw away but found Martin hadn't let go. Instead he squeezed her paw in return and smiled at her. "Good night Rose. Sleep well."

Rose felt her face flame as she slowly slipped her paw out of Martin's and lay down on her mattress. She had her back to Martin so he couldn't see her crimson face. But she could somehow feel his comforting and watchful gaze still on her.

The next morning as she helped to build sandcastles on the beach Rose's thoughts were still on how she had felt the night before. The more she learned about Martin the more she found herself attracted to him. She had seen that he was a warrior born. Their escape from Marshank had proved that. But she had also seen that under his mental armor was a very kind mouse that did have very deep feelings. Working next to him she accidentally kept bumping against his arm. She was very glad to see it had the reaction she was hoping for. Martin kept smiling at her.

When Martin's temper got the best of him a stab of fear hit her heart when Amballa threw a rock at him and started demanding his execution. Then the gannet swooped down and picked Dinjer off the cliff. It was then that Martin did something Rose didn't expect. He ran to comfort the distraught shrew queen.

"Notdead, Ballamum, Dinjer notdead. Biggamouse savehim!" As Martin ran off with Amballa's sword in his paw she heard his shout. "Get more nets and follow me. Hurry!"

While Martin hauled himself up the cliff face with the short sword and net, Rose, Grumm, and Pallum tried to follow his instructions. The Highbeast shrews did not help causes until inexplicably Amballa sided with the mousemaid.

"Gettaway quicknow like mousesay, allayou!"

Rose comforted the queen as the rest of the shrews began to spread the net out on the sand. Once it was fully spread out all eyes went back up to the cliff where Martin was whirling his net over his head. They heard his shout clearly.

"Stretch the nets! Hold them up, lots of you. Be ready!"

Rose hastened to heed the call. "Holdup net. Stretch it tight. Now!" Her tone was clear command and authority and galvanized the shrews into action once Amballa again sided with the mousemaid. Once the nets were tight she looked up to Martin again.

She drew a swift breath as the gannet pecked Martin in the side. Behind him Dinjer was peaking down over the drop, terror clear in his tear stained face. He seemed to argue with Martin for a moment before the mouse turned and dealt the young shrew a swift kick. Dinjer was sent flying off the cliff.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhkkkk!"

Whump!

Dinjer bounced up and down in the center of the net. Saved! As Dinjer climbed out of the nets Rose looked up again. Martin had flung the net around the gannet's feet and by falling to one side dragged the big bird down with him. Once more his clear voice rang out in the morning air.

"One for the net coming doooooooooooooooooown!"

Rose put a paw to her mouth as she saw Martin leap off the cliff and plummet downwards. He hit the net dead center. As the shrews cheered she rushed up to him. The mousemaid tore a strip from her smock.

"You're hurt. Let me see. Oh, thank goodness, it's not serious."

Martin's courage proved to be worth more than they had anticipated. Soon the four friends were once again free and on their way along the shore. As soon at the four travelers were out of sight of the shrew encampment Rose turned to Martin.

"Sit down please."

"Why?"

"That's a nasty bump that little terror Dinjer gave you. And I'm not done wrapping your side."

Martin tried to shrug her off. "Oh please don't worry about it. I've hade worse before. We need to get a move on."

Rose stood in his way paws akimbo. "We'll do no such thing Warrior." She walked over to Martin and forcefully pushed him down into a seated position so she could tend his wounds better. She dug into her bag that she had taken from the shrews before they left, muttering as she worked. "Let's see a strip of willow bark, a few dock leaves, and an actual bandage. I don't have that much of my smock left to rip up you know. I can't believe you just jumped like that. I though my heart would stop when I saw you falling so fast. Still you're right, this isn't too bad. We'll be ready to go in a few ticks."

Martin found himself smiling as she tended him. He couldn't remember a creature that had cared for him as tenderly as she was. Even while she was scolding him he felt his grim grow. It was nice to be well thought of by such a pretty maid.

Soon they were on their way again. Grumm and Pallum were walking ahead of Martin and Rose. The warm summer sun shone down on them as they made their way off the shore and into an expanse of forest before them.

Rose looked at Martin. "I'm proud of you."

Martin was taken aback. "For what?"

"For saving Dinjer. He treated you, well poorly to put it kindly, but you still didn't hesitate to save him. It takes a real warrior to do that." She took his paw and gave it a squeeze while she smiled at him.

Martin stopped dead in his tracks and smiled bashfully at her unsure of what to say or do. "Er, thank you Rose. That's very kind of you to say."

Rose flashed him another smile before trotting off to catch up with Grumm. Pallum waited for Martin to catch up with him. The hedgehog was grinning. "Come on Martin. Let's get going."

Shaking his head to clear the slight daze he had found himself in Martin re-adjusted the pack on his shoulders. "Right! Let's see if we can find anyone that can tell us where Noonvale is." With that the Warrior trotted up to the head of their little column. Coming up next to Rose he grinned at her and intertwined his paw with hers. "We won't find it just standing here. Come on Rose I'll race you to that tree!"

Martin kept hold of Rose's paw as he took off running. Their laughter rang in the summer air. Behind them Grumm and Pallum kept their walking pace letting Martin and Rose run ahead.

"Hurr hurr tha' Marthen be a-lookin' roight noicly at Miz Rozer. Hurr hurr," Grumm chuckled.

Pallum agreed with his mole friend. "Aye Grumm. Does a beast good to see two young creatures fallin' fer each other like that."

The summer day wore on as the four travelers continued on their way in search of Noonvale.

A/N; So I originally thought I'd do all of "Martin the Warrior" in one chapter. But I'm thinking I'll divvy that up into at least two chapters now. I really hope you like this installment. It's a lot harder than you might think to add in all this extra detail to an already very detailed story. As always I eagerly await your comments.