The mousemaid, Rose, woke with a start. Excited and nervous at the same time she quickly dressed and dashed out the door of her hovel. Today was the day, the day she would finally know where he was, or so she hoped. The hidden valley village of Noonvale was beginning to enter the spring season, and it was noticeable. Leaves began to grow, grass was turning green again, and all seemed to glitter amidst the almost completely melted snow. As Rose entered the center of the village she almost ran into her younger brother, Brome, in her haste and skidded to a halt, "Brome!"
"Steady on there Rose! I know you're excited but remember Boldred was unable to find out any information the last few times…" Brome both chuckled then heaved a concerned sigh.
"Oh, come now dear brother, be optimistic! We're getting closer to finding him, I can feel it!" Rose grinned from ear to ear despite feeling a little doubt deep down.
"I hope you are right, for your sake, Rose," Brome and Rose both heard an owl call and looked up to see a massive short-eared owl hover overhead then gracefully land before them.
"Well seems that you're getting better and better and predicting my arrival, Rose," the owl smiled gently to the young mousemaid.
"Boldred!" Rose dashed over and hugged the owl, much to Boldred's embarrassment, "Now now, let's not get too excited my old friend, I may be close, but I don't quite have the information you're hoping for."
"What do you mean Boldred?" Brome inquisitively stepped forward.
"I journeyed as far south as I could for this timeframe. I heard word that in a land called Mossflower an Abbey was almost finished being built called Redwall. Supposedly a Mouse warrior helped to liberate Mossflower from a wildcat family and their army. Common consensus was his name was Martin, but there were several discrepancies that give me pause. At least all the other names started with an M."
Rose and Brome glanced at each other briefly, "That has to be Martin! It sounds like something he would do…not sure about the Abbey but helping free creatures from tyranny….it has to be him!" Rose exclaimed.
"Rose you can't base that off what he did for us. It could be him it may not," Brome exhaled exhaustedly.
"It has to be him Brome, I'm going. I know where he is now and I'm going."
"Hold up just one second there missy," Boldred blocked Rose with her wing, "Brome is right, you both asked me to confirm where he is before I let you go find him, so let me do so…after I've been able to spend time with Horty and Emalet."
Rose sighed defeatedly, "You're both right…I shouldn't leap at the chance to find him if we're not certain…"
"Also, Brome," Boldred stated turning to the young mouse chieftain, "King Aidan and a few others are almost to Noonvale, I met them on my way here."
Brome face turned to shock, "He doesn't usually visit Noonvale at this time…how long until he arrives?"
"An hour perhaps," Boldred shrugged, "Either way I figured I'd warn you. Oh, and Sir Kieran is with him."
"Oh of course he is," Rose groaned, "Every chance he gets…"
"You can be nice, Rose," Brome smirked.
"Doesn't mean I don't want him here," Rose giggled, poking her tongue out.
Brome chuckled, then turned his attention to Boldred, "I know you want to return home, Boldred, but I am concerned about the arrival of the Tanarians, would you be willing to stay a bit longer just in case it's more than a simple visit?"
"If you feel it necessary, then yes I shall," Boldred gently nodded to the mouse chieftain.
Aidan and his party sat around a stone able outside Noonvale's village hall alongside Rose, Brome, the hare Ballaw and the badger Rowanoak with Boldred perched nearby. Brome was the fist to speak, "No offense meant, your majesty, but your visit is unexpected," Brome stated simply, "It gives me pause, I almost assume there's more to your visit, than just a simple visit."
"You are correct, Chieftain Brome, I do not come to visit the lovely Noonvale, I come on business," Aidan exhaled heavily and deeply, "An old enemy is nearing our shores, if they haven't arrived yet. Tanaria is not at the strength we once had and we fear it may be a struggled to drive the enemy away."
Brome leaned forward, disbelieving what he had heard, "If I understand you correctly, you're asking for Noonvale's aid."
"Yes, that is correct."
Brome, Ballaw, Rose, and Rowanoak all glanced at each other, "Noonvale is a village of peace…few here have actually seen war, I don't those who have are eager to see such again," Brome thusly informed Aidan, "Personally I'm far from eager."
"Yet, if this new enemy is a threat to Noonvale, Master Brome, should we not help?" Ballaw chimed in.
"I agree Brome, I'm not desirous to wage war again myself but if it means protecting Noonvale it's worth it."
Brome sat silently at the table, nobeast seemed to speak for what felt like an eternity, finally Aidan broke the silence, "It seems you need some time, Chieftain Brome. If we may spend the night in Noonvale, we'll be on our way in the morning."
"Oh, of course…" Brome paused briefly, "You'll have an answer by the morn."
Aidan and his entourage rose to their footpaws and began to depart, Kieran stopped briefly and turned to Rose, "My lady, might I call on you this evening," he smiled.
Rose turned her attention to him briefly, "Oh, no I don't think so…"
Kieran glanced and Brome, "Ah, I understand, your brother needs your help, I will bid you good, my lady," He stated before Rose had a chance to continue, giving her a courteous bow and turned to march off with the others.
"No that's not what I…ugh…" Rose groaned then turned to Brome, attempting to distract herself, "Brome, what are you thinking?"
Brome stood up and nervously paced, "I don't know what to do! I can't ask everybeast in Noonvale to take up arms or find other ways to help…I'm not the leader to rally others…if Martin was here…"
"He's not!" Rose snapped, then quickly calmed herself, "You are the leader all Noonvale looks to, Brome."
"Your sister is right Brome, but we can help wot? Raise the Fur and Freedom Fighter banner again! Of course Noonvale has other ways to help the war effort, the Players can help entertain the troops, and you, Rose, and Pallum are highly skilled healers."
"It's not just that… If I ask Noonvale to join in a war…am I not forgetting all that Noonvale stands for?"
"It's not your decision, anybeast who feel it necessary can decide for themselves," Rose rested a paw on Brome's shoulder.
"You sound like mother," Brome released a lengthy sigh, "I will call Noonvale to support the war effort, and those who decide to will go…I will personally aid the healers."
"I will travel to this, Redwall Abbey in hopes of finding Martin and anybeast else who can aid us," Boldred finally spoke up, "I'll bring Horty and Emalet, seems fitting she learn the family trade finally."
"I think the right person to lead the Fur and Freedom Fighters would be you, Brome," Ballaw suggested.
"No Ballaw, I am no soldier no warrior, I am not the one to lead them."
"I suppose Rowan and I can do our best," Ballaw disappointedly responded.
"Well someone needs to keep you in line Ballaw," Rowanoak smirked.
"Rose…I'll need your help…" Brome started.
"I know Brome," Rose halfheartedly smiled, "As much as I want to go with Boldred, I need to stay and help you."
The next morning, Brome, Ballaw, Rowanoak, Rose, and the Tanarians stood before the Noonvalers, "My friends," Brome opened, "I call you all because war has come to the Northlands again," he paused, "I ask you all, as Martin once did, to join in the fight. Some of you have seen war before and have no taste for it again, while others have lived their lives in peace. War is terrible, but if it means defending our beloved Noonvale and our friends, then war is a necessary evil. I myself will go and aid in the ways I know how. It is a difficult thing I ask all of you, but I will force nobeast to join me, but I will know who would," Brome silently waited, but soon paw after paw lifted into the air, some who fought before, others who did not.
"Shall we sound the old warcry again, dear friends?" Ballaw grinned raising the banner that was flown so long ago. The cry echoed throughout the valley, a rallying cry to defend all they loved and held dear. Once heard it would again across the fields of the North.
FUR AND FREEEEEEEEDOM!