Fading Rose Petals
Rose Petals

Timballisto reacted quickly, moving forward to catch the young mousemaid as she fell forward. Her mother hurried along as he looked at both her and Rowanoak to see both were surprised. "Rose. What were you…" And there came a pause. "You're attempting to walk? But didn't tell your brother?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise, given I know he's been blaming myself. Plus, I know that there is someone who definitely wouldn't be happy if I didn't give it my all, even if it was only a little bit. Tiny steps. But then…" Rose took a deep breath. "I want to see Martin."

Timballisto frowned. "Um, miss. Martin's spoken for."

He felt her body tense, yet—oh, how there'd been some form of suspicion in his head the moment he'd stepped into this place, along with the way he wasn't sure to react around them. There was a sound of disappointment, and an, "Oh?"

"He is?" Rowanoak. "Who?"

"Well," Timballisto laughed before helping her to a seat next to Rowanoak. "I don't know because Martin can't right tell me. He knows. It's one of those things."

"So Martin really has lost his memory of us?" Uranvoh's wife said before, "Oh. Sorry. This isn't how Uranvoh or I wanted to bring the subject up. But yes. We do know Martin. And no, we don't blame Martin for what happened to Rose."

"What did happen?" Timballisto asked. "I think he meant to tell me, or at least what he could without revealing this place because, unlike the others, I know he didn't leave our tribe of his free will. He was taken away with his grandmother."

"He's faced a lot of loss in his young life, hasn't he?"

"Most definitely," Timballisto said. "But, if you're alive…"

"Martin doesn't know I am," Rose smiled, though sadness was in her eyes. "And I do want to see him."

Timballisto stared. "But you can't journey in your current condition because what would take us a few days would take you much longer."

"Not if the Rambling Rosehip Players were to take her, all of you, back to Mossflower, which would mean that the herbs would arrive faster, but I'm sure Ballaw would be open to another trip before returning here to Noonvale. And we could help Martin and his friends build this abbey of there's before returning. Goodness knows their goodbeasts will be short a few workers for a while."

"Most certainly," a voice spoke from the side, making Timballisto turn to look at Uranvoh. "And this time, there might be a few more willing to venture out of Noonvale to help. Though others are more cautious regarding outsiders as well, given what happened."

Which seemed strange to Timballisto, far from what he expected as he waited for Gonff and Dinny to return with Brome. Yet in that wait, he did notice the other goodcreatures who were definitely not pleased with the memory of Martin coming up, although it wasn't Uranvoh, who poked and prodded with questions regarding how Martin was doing as did his wife. Still, in ways it always came to a dead-end, or him talking about what happened.

Yet, he felt glad when they arrived, wanting to get back there as his worry regarding what was going on back in Mossflower was growing, as was his fear regarding Martin growing. There was also that odd feeling, having met some of those who knew Martin after being taken away that he couldn't put into words, although he did know Rose's voice was rather beautiful.

And the squirrelmaid of the Rambling Rosehip Players was painfully annoying, definitely distracting him from having any real train of thought to figure it out. Rowanoak was right in saying her pulling the cart would get them back faster, for which he was grateful, as was he of a few others who came with some planning on coming over winter. In truth, it was a shock similar to the one when Martin freed him from the slave ship.

"I can't help but feel things are finally going his way," Timballisto thought to himself, still nervous around Rose and her younger brother, knowing full well what her and Martin's relationship was. And then there were Gonff's promises that, yes, Martin would recognize all of them. Rose, her brother, their companions from when they traveled, the Rosehips. And an old squirrel named Barkjon who couldn't travel south as he wished to see Martin, but wished for his well wishes to be passed on.

"I'm sorry," Brome said before they left—there wouldn't have been much time for conversation before they left.

"What for?" Timballisto.

"For the not so warm welcoming from us."

"What do you mean?"

"They—I'm sure my father was suspicious, even thinking Martin had broken his promise."

"I don't think he did. I think, it was more of they were shocked to see us, to hear of Martin. And I think they see it as a positive thing for your sister," Timballisto said, while pondering it the entire time as they quickly moved back to Mossflower. "Perhaps though it is because we're moving so fast and we left so soon after me finding out that I'm not able to wrap my mind around all of this."

Yet, as they arrived in Mossflower there was no mistaking his thoughts regarding how silent everything was, the silence only broken when a few of the still healthy goodbeasts. Abbess Germaine and Columbine smiled at them, although they both looked tired. "Welcome back. I believe you were sucessful?"

"We wouldn't have returned if we weren't?" Timballisto said. "Where is Martin?"

"Bella's quarters," the abbess said.

"Martin is ill as well," Brome said, before blurting out. "Sorry. I'm here to help with the healing as well, but can I see him?"

"Abbess. Let him treat Martin," Timballisto said.

"All right. Show him where Bella's quarters are."

To which Timballisto followed, unsure of how things would turn out in the end, only to find Martin trying to get up out of the chair, feverishly wanting to help while Bella gently made him sit back down. Which was when Martin caught sight of Brome. "I know you."

"Gonff said you'd recognize me," the young mouse laughed. "It's nice to see you again."

"Oh?" Bell said, while not questioning.

"You're Brome," Martin then frowned. "You're—you're Rose's little brother."

"Martin, about Rose."

"I'm sorry," Martin muttered slowly, feverishly. "It's my fault she died. It…"

"Rose is alive."

"Then, am I dreaming that you're here?"

"Because of the fever?" Brome laughed. "No. You're not. I'm really here. Rose is as well. The Rambling Rosehip Players brought us so we could get here quickly to help you out."

"Can I see her?"

"Work on getting better first, young warrior," Bella said as Brome adminstered the medicine. And when it was deemed safe…

It didn't feel like Martin's memories were returned, but the nightmares—they stopped, and Martin was happy to see her, and Timballisto was happy to see them together.

A hare elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't you like happy endings, chap?"

"That…" Timballisto turned as he helped carry food to the feast that proceeded most of the woodlanders becoming well, with only a small handful of deaths among the elderly.

"And we'll be staying over winter, but visiting every so often. At least us Rambling Rosehip Players jolly will," the leader of the acting trope said as he piled his plate higher as any hare would. "Though I think a certain chiefton might make the journey for a bloomin' wedding, wot."

Timballisto looked over, watching Martin interact with Rose. "It is a happy ending."