Origins Of The Bellmaker: Chapter 8 - Noonvale's Joyous Occasion

After Celaena accepted Joseph's marriage proposal, Noonvale exploded in cheers. Only a few residents refused to cheer, that being Rosemary and her group. Screaming with rage at being scorned, she scooped up Joseph's oak wood staff and charged at Celaena. "No one takes Joseph from me!"

Celaena squeaked in fright as the heavy staff swung her way, but the blow never struck. Instead, Joseph caught the staff, used Rosemary's momentum to flip her head over tail, and planted her back-first in the snow. Rosemary squeaked as she hit the ground and the air was driven from her lungs.

Joseph reached for the fishing dagger he always carried and was in mid-swing toward Rosemary's throat before his reflexes to stop swinging the knife kicked in. His muscles tightened and the razor-sharp blade came to a stop just a hair's breadth from slicing into Rosemary's neck.

Silence reigned for a few seconds, broken only by Joseph's seething as he stared down at Rosemary. The female mouse, much like Syra before her, was scared speechless as she looked into the angered and slowly reddening eyes of the big male she tried to poach.

Suddenly Joseph stood upright and threw his dagger into a dead sycamore tree, bellowing at the top of his lungs. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! Curse you Rosemary! Curse you and curse you again and DAMN YOUR HIDE DOWN TO THE VERY BONES THAT ROT UNDER YOUR FUR!"

The shock roared through the peaceful Noonvale residents as Joseph vented his spleen on the mousemaid. "Do you have ANY idea what was about to happen to you?! If I had kept swinging or if you were a male you'd be drowning in a pool of your own blood right now!"

Brome and Celaena came forward to calm Joseph down, but he continued berating Rosemary. "What do you not understand about me not wanting you?! I came here with Celaena, I'm leaving with Celaena, and I'm marrying Celaena! I don't want you, I have NEVER wanted you, and you need to stay away from me and my future wife! Have I made myself clear?!"

Rosemary frantically nodded, still trying to catch her breath, but Joseph wasn't done. Picking up his staff, he went to the sycamore tree, retrieved the dagger, and then began laying into the tree with the staff, screaming for all he was worth as he vented his full frustration. After fifteen tense minutes, Joseph left a dented tree trunk behind and stalked off to a random part of Noonvale.

Brome hobbled over to the sycamore tree and examined it, looking at Celaena. "What's gotten into him? I've never seen a mouse so angry before."

Celaena nodded. "I've seen it, but only one other time. It was when he was fighting my former slave master to keep me a free mouse. I'll give him some time to calm down and then I'll go find him."

Brome nodded and turned to the shocked and frightened Noonvale residents. "Let this be a warning to all of you! Don't let yourselves become this tree trunk because of your wandering eyes!"

Everybeast nodded, and Brome went over to Rosemary, shaking his head as the crowd dispersed. "You have only yourself to blame for this, Rosemary. Joseph warned you and told you he didn't want you, but you wouldn't listen, would you?"

The Patriarch of Noonvale went about his business, leaving Rosemary's brood to help her off the snowy ground. A full hour later, Celaena went to find Joseph. She found him sitting on a rock by the Broadstream, his face like stone. Celaena took hold of his arm. "Joseph? Are you alright?"

He sighed. "It seems I've inherited my father's instinct to kill if my wife is in danger."

Celaena frowned. "What do you mean?"

Joseph looked at his wife-to-be. "Before I was even born, my mother came under attack by a female mouse named Syra. She was jealous of my mother because she was married to my father, and tried to kill her one day. My father bruised several of her ribs as he drove her through a wall of his house. He nearly killed her with the same knife I almost killed Rosemary with... I'm just tired of getting all this attention from females I don't want."

Celaena sat beside him, holding his paw. "You've been wonderful to me, Joseph. I don't love you any less because of the temper you displayed an hour ago."

Joseph smiled. "Thanks, Celaena. I really needed to hear that."

She kissed him as Brome came over. "There you are. Since you didn't hear the announcement, I'll tell you. I have confined Rosemary and her brood to their huts until after the two of you leave. Your wedding should be uninterrupted."

Joseph nodded. "Thank you… I'm sorry for my behavior. I never explode like that."

Brome chuckled. "Just don't hurt anyone. Now, once the snow melts, we'll have the wedding."

The three mice soon made their way back to Noonvale, even though the villagers kept their distance from Joseph for a while. One week later, clothing was sought out for Joseph and Celaena to wear during their wedding. Celaena was well ahead in this area, thanks to her mother's wardrobe. Joseph, because of his stature and physique, would have to have his wedding outfit specially made.

So, a few days after Joseph's meltdown, he went with Celaena to Brome's hut to be measured. Brome welcomed them and Celaena kissed her groom-to-be. "Try not to get carried away, alright?"

Joseph chuckled. "Me? I'm not doing anything but getting measured. I think it's YOU who might get carried away my dear."

Celaena made a face at him as Brome explained what needed to be done to the seamstresses that were coming in, most of them around Joseph's age. "Okay ladies, he's here, but remember his betrothed is also here."

The mice tugged Joseph over to them and began taking measurements, making sure to feel all of his muscles. Celaena crossed her arms. "Ladies? What are you doing with my husband-to-be?"

The lead seamstress, a graying mouse named Aria, giggled. "Our apologies Celaena, but we have to know what we're working with to make sure his wedding clothing doesn't tear."

Celaena nods. "That's fine, but he's marrying me, so if anyone is going to stare at him, it's going to be ME."

Joseph gave a deep chuckle. "Stare all you want, Celaena. You might see something you like."

Celaena slyly smiled at him. "I already do, but you're right. I haven't seen much of your fur at all."

The seamstresses did have to reveal some fur to get their measurements, and Joseph winked at Celaena. "You want to get a closer look at my fur, or are you comfortable with staying way over there?"

The female mouse approached the male mouse and ran her paws through Joseph's fur. "Ooh, soft and thick, an amber-brown color, and those muscles..."

Celaena turns to Brome. "Can we move the marriage to tomorrow?"

Brome almost fell out of his chair from laughing. "You must really like what you see and feel."

Celaena nodded quickly. "Oh yes I do."

This time it was Joseph laughing. "Alright dear, try and control yourself until after the wedding."

Joseph was measured and the seamstress mice began their work on his marriage outfit. Celaena then led Joseph on a full tour of the Noonvale area, ending with a stop at the grave of Laterose.

A fresh wooden sign marked the resting place of the maid's bones, and Joseph examined the plant as Celaena explained. "From what I've gathered, this rose plant is named for the young maid who perished in a long-ago battle. It blooms later than other roses, and so is called the Laterose."

Joseph smiled. "I wish I could have met her... She sounds brave."

Celaena held his paw. "I'm sure you'll meet her at some point. This was her home after all."

The tall mouse looked around. "Once we've finished consummating our marriage, I want to introduce you to my parents... If they're still alive."

His gaze met Celaena's as she turned his face to hers. "What happened to them?"

Joseph sighed. "It's been more than thirty seasons since I left the island I called home. We were six seasons into a severe famine, and I was sent away so I could become a bellmaker. I've done that, but I've received no word on if anyone survived."

Celaena kissed his nose, making him blush a little bit. "I would love to meet your parents. What are their names?"

Joseph brushed off his cloak. "My father is Jeremiah, and my mother is Periwinkle."

They began walking back to their hut as Joseph described his home to his future wife. The short rest of the winter came and went, taking the cold and snow with it. Spring was mild, and Noonvale erupted in colorful beauty. Bluebells, roses, daisies, dandelions, and saxifrage all fought to be seen in the golden shafts of sunlight that sought the ground through a leafy green canopy.

Brome was proudly ringing their new bell, manufactured by Joseph during his stay. "Attention everyone! The time has come! Let's decorate and get ready!"

In separate huts, Joseph and Celaena were getting ready to be married. Joseph had the help of a few seamstresses to make sure his royal purple outfit didn't get ruined. "This turned out beautifully, ladies. Excellent work."

Once he was ready they went to help with Celaena. The seamstresses had chosen a lighter shade of purple for her, with a matching veil to compliment it. It was her hair that gave everybeast the most trouble. It had been washed and dried five separate times before being draped over her shoulders.

Celaena was growing anxious about the looming ceremony. "What if he leaves me before the ceremony, or at the altar?"

Aria fixed her veil. "None of that talk. I think if Joseph was going to leave then he'd have done so by now."

The final adjustments were made, and everyone gathered by the water fountain in the middle of the village just after noon. Brome was performing the wedding, and he stood upon a bench so everyone could see him. "Bring the groom please."

Joseph was fetched, and he strode with a purpose to stand on Brome's right side. The Patriarch nodded and asked for the bride to be brought down. The musicians played their reed flutes as Celaena walked down and stood on Brome's left side.

Joseph smiled. "You look so beautiful, Celaena."

She smiled at him, trying not to cry. "You're very handsome yourself, Joseph. I can't believe this is happening."

Brome chuckled and began. "Ladies, gentlemice, moles, and hedgehogs, we are gathered here today to marry Joseph and Celaena. If anyone other than Rosemary or her brood disagrees with this, speak now or forever remain silent."

Nobeast says anything, so Brome continues. "Do you have any vows you wish to exchange?"

Celaena nods and looks into Joseph's eyes. "Joseph, when we first met, I wasn't sure if I was going to live to see the sun rise again. I had no hope, no future, and I was scared that I would be a slave for the rest of my life. But now, twenty-five seasons later, I'm ready to give myself to you and raise a family with a truly good mouse. Thank you for saving me in every way a mouse can be saved."

Brome grins at Joseph. "Think you can top that?"

Joseph chuckles. "Nope."

This gets some laughs, and Joseph looks at Celaena. "I can honestly say I had no idea where our journey would take us when we first met, and when I found you I wasn't sure you would recover from your injuries. But you did, and have been by my side every step of the way. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be marrying you today, but I'm glad I get the chance to do so."

Celaena began crying, her shoulders heaving as she tried to regain her composure. Brome motions for the hand-fasting cloths to be brought forward. One is a match to Joseph's outfit, the other matching Celaena's wedding gown.

Once she recovered, Brome joined their paws and recited again. "The light purple cloth is for Joseph to wear, and the darker one for Celaena."

He tightens the cloths around their paws and looks at the female mouse. "Celaena, do you take Joseph as your husband, in sickness and in health, as long as you both live?"

Celaena nods. "I do."

Brome smiles and turns to Joseph. "Joseph, do you take Celaena as your wife, in sickness and in health, as long as you both live?"

Joseph looks at Celaena, who has tears falling down her face and is almost begging to have Joseph as her husband. Her relief is clear when he replies to Brome. "I do."

Brome looks at the mice as he speaks again. "By the power vested in me as Patriarch of Noonvale, and it's been far too long since I've gotten to do this, I now pronounce Joseph and Celaena to be husband and wife! Joseph, you may kiss your bride."

Joseph frees his paws, wrapping Celaena's cloth around his shoulders. He lifts her veil, and dips Celaena as he kisses her. The Noonvale crowd cheers as Celaena clings to her new husband and kisses him back.

Music begins playing as Brome announces to the crowd. "Congratulations to Joseph and Celaena!"

The kiss breaks and the reception begins in earnest. Eating contests, jokes, Joseph even sang a little ditty in his strong baritone voice about a hedgehog who'd lost all his quills in a bet. Once the reception was over Joseph carried Celaena over the threshold of their hut and closed the door.

The big mouse put his wife down, and she kissed him. "Thank you, Joseph."

Joseph smiled. "For what?"

Celaena held him close. "For everything... I can't express with words how much you mean to me..."

She sniffled and completely broke down, crying into Joseph's chest. He held her and rubbed her back until she finished, and Joseph wiped her tears away. "Better?"

Celaena nodded. "I love you Joseph."

He smiled again. "I love you too Celaena. It's late though, so let's get to bed. We can do all the romantic stuff tomorrow."

Celaena giggled. "Deal."

The newlywed mice flopped thankfully into bed, ready to begin their married life the following morning.