Origins Of The Bellmaker

by T1Weasel

Not much is known about Joseph The Bellmaker's early life, but what if he had a story to tell? With Martin's help, Joseph's hazy past becomes known. Enjoy!

6. The Fight For Celaena

Origins Of The Bellmaker: Chapter 5 - The Fight For Celaena

As soon as Celaena went limp, Joseph tore a strip from his cloak, found some driftwood nearby, and made a torch. Gently laying Celaena on the beach, Joseph approached where Gabool lay unconscious. Looking for the key to the female mouse's slave chains, Joseph quickly found it and unlocked the shackles from the woefully thin creature.

Hefting Celaena to one shoulder, he lit the torch from the campfire and began running down the beach as quickly as he could. Near Salamandastron, two hares were watching. One was a Sergeant, the other was a leveret runner.

Sergeant Willoughby, a tough grizzled veteran, nodded to the much younger hare. "Woodsorrel! Run to his Lordship and tell him to open the gates."

He squinted. "One rat and one wounded, and hurry."

The runner, Tarquin L. Woodsorrel, saluted and dashed off, kicking up the grass behind him. Sergeant Willoughby whistled softly to his scout detail, numbering six hares. "Alright you scruffy lot! Form a litter and go down to the beach! Relieve the rat of his burden, and leave the rat to me!"

The seven hares dashed down to the beach with a makeshift stretcher made from a tent canvas and two spears. Joseph had to skid to a stop and almost dropped Celaena as the Sergeant's lance tickled his throat from the right side. "Don't move, vermin. Give us the mouse."

Joseph cleared his throat. "I am not vermin, but I will give her to you. She needs help."

The limp form of Celaena was placed on the stretcher and carried off to Salamandastron while Sergeant Willoughby circled Joseph slowly. "Not a vermin eh? Your tail says otherwise. I warn you not to lie to me. Lord Rawnblade would have killed you himself if you had made it to the mountain."

Joseph sighed. "It has to be the hood. If I am not a mouse after you see my face, you may kill me."

Willoughby took the torch and nodded. "Okay, I agree to the terms. Show me your face."

Joseph nodded and slowly lowered his hood, revealing almond eyes, rounded ears, and twelve whiskers. The hare chuckled. "Well, stap me and boil me tail. You are a mouse, a big one too. Alright then, let's reunite you with your lovely lass."

The lance was sheathed, and the mouse and hare jogged down the beach, chatting to each other. Joseph looked at the hare. "She's not my lovely lass... Not yet anyway. We've only just met tonight when I rescued her from a searat."

Sergeant Willoughby nodded as Joseph described the searat, a grim look on his features. "A slaver... I'll post a guard to watch for searats during the night."

The two creatures reached the gate of the mountain fortress after a reasonable jog and found a huge badger waiting for them. The Sergeant saluted. "All present and correct sah! I trust the cargo made it safely?"

The badger nodded once, his features flickering in the torch light. "They did, she's being looked at now in the Infirmary. Who might this be?"

Joseph gave a small bow. "My name is Joseph, I am a stranger in this country. My search for a mouse named Bartholomew has brought me here to learn his bellfounding skills."

The badger nodded. "Welcome to Salamandastron, Joseph. I am Lord Rawnblade Widestripe, and Bartholomew is indeed here. You two can discuss things in the morning. Come in, eat, rest, and tell us about yourself."

The hare, mouse, and badger went inside the gates as the night guard was posted. In the Infirmary, Celaena was once again fighting for her life. She was walking toward the gates of Dark Forest, with Rose pleading for her to stop. "Celaena, no! Go back! Don't give up!"

Celaena sighed wearily. "I can't, Rose... I have nothing and no one... I should just give up."

The gates opened as Celaena got closer and closer, and Rose's pleas became more desperate. "What about Joseph? He saved you! Isn't he worth living for?"

Celaena shrugged. "I don't know... I'm ugly and he's... Well, not ugly. He deserves better."

She managed to walk a few paces past the gates when she stopped. Looking behind her, Celaena saw that they had not closed, and then a stern voice came from behind the female mouse. "It's not yet your time, Celaena. If you don't go back on your own then I'm making you go back."

Turning around, Celaena found Martin in front of her, a glint in his eyes. Celaena shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "He doesn't want me... Just let me in."

Martin crossed his arms. "No."

He had enough when Celaena tried to push past him. Grabbing Celaena in a tight grasp, Martin got a running start and hurled her toward a thin shaft of light with a mighty throw, bellowing his Abbey's war cry. "Redwaaaaaaaallllllllllll!"

The gates to Dark Forest slammed shut and Celaena awoke with a start in the Salamandastron Infirmary. A female hare was just walking in with fresh water and herbs, and she smiled when she saw her patient was awake. "Oh good, you're alive."

Celaena tried to sit up but squeaked in pain and resigned herself to lying down. "Where am I? Who are you?"

The hare sat down beside the mouse. "In the same order, you are at Salamandastron in the Infirmary. As for me, my name is Springbrooke, but call me Spring please."

Celaena nods. "I am Celaena, nice to meet you... For a while I thought I was dead."

Spring nodded. "For a while, you were. Guess it wasn't your time yet."

Celaena winced as a shot of pain lanced through her body. "What of my rescuer? Joseph is his name."

Spring giggled. "That big mouse who came in with Sergeant Willoughby? You're lucky. If I were a mouse I'd be all over him."

Celaena felt a little jealousy rise within her, even though she didn't know what it was. "Why?"

Spring helped Celaena sit up. "Have you seen him up close? He's tall, strong, and those eyes..."

This time Spring heard a small growl from her charge. "I'm sorry, did you already claim him?"

Celaena groaned with resignation. "I'd like to, but what I look like may push him away."

Springbrooke smiled. "Keep your head up. He rescued you right? So there has to be something there. As for what happened to you... While you were unconscious I reset your nose, cleaned your cuts and bruises with dock, sanicle, whitlow grass, and yarrow herb. Your entire torso is bandaged up, and the whip cuts from your former slave master were beginning to get infected. You'll live, but it's unknown what happened on the inside."

Celaena nods slowly. "Thank you for your help... Could I... possibly go see Joseph? I don't think he knows who I am yet."

Springbrooke nodded and helped the mouse up. "It's nearly dawn, but maybe he's up."

The two females made their way slowly down to the scout barracks, with Celaena hoping to finally see her rescuer in the daylight.

It was a full hour past dawn when a sharp peck from a seagull brought Gabool back to the world of the conscious. Kicking at the bird until it flew off, the searat slowly sat up, rubbing at a lump on his jaw. Looking around, Gabool found his campsite occupied only by him, the fire long dead, and his slave chain slack. He also took note of the key to that chain lying nearby in the sand.

Staggering to his feet, Gabool stumbled out to the beach, where he found some old but trackable footprints. Taking only his canteen of water, Gabool followed the tracks until he got to just outside Salamandastron a bit before noon. "So... That's where you've gone to have yer..."

Testing his sword's edge, he bangs on the gates. "Halloo the mountain! Me name is Gabool, and I demand ye to return me slave!"

The gates opened and Gabool found himself surrounded by threescore hares and a badger. The silence was broken by the Badger Lord himself. "We were expecting you. Our sentries saw you stumbling down the beach. Did you have too much to drink?"

Stung by the remark, Gabool paced around until the laughter died down. "Aye, too much water and not enough grog. All I want is the female mouse."

Rawnblade chuckled. "She's under my protection now, but I will bring out the one who brought her here. That way you two can settle things. Last creature standing gets the mouse?"

Gabool nods. "Sounds fair t'me."

Rawnblade looked behind him to the mountain. "Joseph!"

Joseph was about to leave when Celaena and Springbrooke reached him. Spring nodded. "Morning, Joseph. Someone wanted to see you."

Joseph looked at Celaena. "Glad to see you're doing okay."

Celaena finally saw Joseph in the daylight, and she cupped his cheek with a paw, her heart racing. "Joseph... My name is Celaena. Thank you for rescuing me."

Joseph smiled. "Nice to meet you. We'll talk again once this is over."

Celaena saw the sympathy on Joseph's face, and Joseph saw the hope on hers, but then Rawnblade called again, and the tall mouse went down to the beach. Celaena hobbled to a window as best she could, along with some younger hares who were eager to watch a slaughter.

Gabool almost laughed when he saw Joseph. "Another mouse? Really?"

Joseph stared at him levelly. "Don't laugh. I'm not a coward that enslaves those weaker than himself."

Rawnblade looked at the combatants. "Here are the rules: Any weapons you brought are fair game. Last creature standing, whether dead or alive, wins."

Gabool nodded, pacing back and forth as he took off all but his pantaloons. "Aye, those be fair rules."

Joseph nodded, stretching out his sturdy limbs. "Sounds good to me."

Rawnblade stepped back as Gabool took out his sword and Joseph twirled his ash wood staff. "Begin when you're ready."

The searat and mouse paced around, sizing the other up. Gabool was taller than Joseph, though not by much, but to him Joseph looked strong and able to hold his own. Joseph wasn't worried about Gabool's size, but rather any dirty tricks he may have to defend against.

Gabool buried his sword point in the sand and charged at Joseph with a roar, hoping to shove him around. Joseph ran and met him, knocking Gabool to the sand with a shoulder charge. Gabool rolled a few times and got up, wincing a little and holding his chest. Joseph rotated his left shoulder and waited for the next move.

This time Gabool came at Joseph but went low and tackled him, landing four hard punches to Joseph's torso. Joseph grunted with the hits and rolled over, slamming both fists into Gabool's snout. Pushing the mouse off of him, the searat got up and kicked Joseph flat, ignoring a stream of blood pouring from his nose.

Joseph hopped up and caught Gabool's arm as he threw a punch, returning fire with two hard elbows to the rat's face. Gabool staggered backwards and Joseph stalked toward him, but Gabool kicked sand into his adversary's face. Blinded, Joseph was hit with two right jabs and an uppercut that left him sprawled on the sand and bleeding from his nose.

Gabool jumped, hoping to drive home a dagger and was met with a mighty kick from the mouse's footpaws. Gasping for air, Gabool flew head over tail and landed with a thud on the beach. Pawing sand from his eyes, Joseph rose to his footpaws and removed his cloak, as it was slowing him down.

Lord Rawnblade and the sixty hares watched in complete silence as they fought. Celaena was losing her mind over Joseph, hoping he would be alright. Joseph stretched out again. "You won't win, rat. Just give up."

Gabool slowly got to his feet. "Tougher than ye look, mouse... No matter. I'll just kill ye before I takes me slave back."

They charged again, this time with Joseph doing the tackling. Gabool went down and was hit by what felt like eight bricks. Scrambling free and to his feet, he rocked Joseph with a double-pawed punch to the jaw. Using that momentum, Joseph spun and sent Gabool reeling with a mighty uppercut that knocked some teeth loose.

Gabool stared at his opponent after regaining his composure, who casually cracked his knuckles. "What kind of mouse are you?"

Joseph shrugged. "None of consequence."

Gabool frowned. "I must know."

Joseph chuckled. "Get used to disappointment."

Grunting, Gabool sprinted for his sword and swung it in an arc, hoping to catch Joseph in a surprise attack. He missed, because Joseph hadn't moved. "Okay mouse, let's see yer skill with a weapon."

Joseph casually walked to his staff and picked it up. "Ready when you think you are."

Gabool paused for a second as the remark struck, then reached into his pantaloons and pulled out a second dagger, which he threw at Joseph. The mouse ducked but still got a nick in his right ear. He ignored it, because the rat was charging him again, waving his sword wildly.

Joseph's ash staff blocked the attacks but lost chunks in the process. On one such block, Gabool allowed Joseph to push his sword almost to the sand before backhanding the big mouse and slashing across his stomach. The sharp sword licked fire across Joseph's belly and immediately across his right thigh.

Joseph yelped and fell to the sand, screeching in pain as Gabool punched and kicked his cuts. Raising the sword, Gabool went for the kill, only to have his weapon knocked aside. Joseph jabbed upward with his staff and poked Gabool in his chest, then rolled over and swung the staff.

It connected with Gabool's paws, knocking the sword free. Kicking the rat, Joseph scrambled to his paws, scooped up the sword and cleaved downward, leaving a deep gash in line with Gabool's entire spine. Screeching in pain, Gabool spun and reached for the fish-skinning dagger Joseph carried.

Joseph heaved Gabool over his head, not feeling the dagger come loose, and slammed him down back-first on his good leg. Gabool went rigid as the shock and pain shot through him, and now Joseph stood over him with the sword, swinging for the kill.

Acting on instinct, the searat slammed the razor-sharp dagger through the mouse's left footpaw. Joseph screamed and fell down, with Gabool in hot pursuit. A third dagger from Gabool raked across Joseph's chest, and more blood flowed to the reddened sand. Gabool raised the sword once he retrieved it and stabbed downward.

Joseph rolled to his left side, the sword grazing his right arm. Kicking Gabool away from him, Joseph yanked the fish-skinning dagger free of his foot and sliced deep across both of the searat's ankles. Yelping, Gabool fell down and Joseph crawled to his staff. Staggering to his feet, Joseph waited for Gaboo's next attack, panting like a bellows.

Gabool slowly stood, exhausted but determined not to let Joseph know. "Surrender mouse! Ye can't win!"

Joseph shook his head. "You just refuse to give up don't you?"

Gabool limped as quickly as he could toward his foe while Joseph sheathed his fish-skinning dagger. He landed eight more punches, splitting Joseph's lips and reopening the nose wounds. Joseph now had blood pouring from his mouth and nose, but he remained standing. Gabool gave one more mighty thrust with the sword as Joseph staggered from the onslaught, but he missed again.

Joseph's mangled staff knocked the sword free again, and the tide turned so fast it made Gabool's head spin. Joseph hit the rat with a hard left fist, sending a fang flying. Joseph followed this with a left backpaw and then an almighty right, sending the other fang sailing and putting Gabool on all fours.

Gabool screamed out loud for his missing fangs, spitting blood into the sand. "I'll kill yer once I gets back on me feet!"

Joseph ignored him. Retrieving his staff, Joseph stood directly behind Gabool and broke it over his back with the hardest swing he'd ever made, sending Gabool to the sand for the last time.

Lord Rawnblade Widestripe stepped in. "The contest is over! Joseph remains standing, so the mouse remains free! The rat will be tied and sent north in his own boat. Alone."

Gabool raised his head, blood still streaming from his mouth. "Just ye wait mouse. Out on the open seas, ye have no protection from me! That slave will be mine again, and when she is, I'll destroy her insides before I destroy her outsides!"

Joseph froze in mid-step. Something inside him snapped, and he ran at Gabool with blood in his eyes. Hares were bowled aside like ninepins as the enraged mouse threw himself on Gabool, pummeling him and ignoring his own injuries. Gabool was defenseless against the onslaught as Joseph hit him with anything he could get his paws on. Rocks, shells, it didn't matter to the enraged mouse.

Joseph grabbed the rat's whiskers and tore them out before slamming his head to the sand repeatedly as hard as he could. Four hares grabbed Joseph and pulled him off, but Joseph's rage was too great. Shaking them off, the big mouse heaved Gabool over his head again and slammed him into the big rocks by the shoreline.

Five of the strongest hares came running with Sergeant Willoughby at the front, but Joseph roared at them and lowered his shoulder into the Sergeant, sending him into the five hares behind him and making them crash into a heap on the beach. Joseph then dealt five hefty punches to Gabool's back, retrieved the cat-o-nine-tails whip, and began flaying the rat as hard as he could. "Taste your own medicine you rotten mange-furred flinky-eared twoggle-eyed yellow-bellied bottomfeeder!"

Lord Rawnblade finally stepped in, giving both Gabool and Joseph what were to him gentle taps on their heads with part of Joseph's broken staff. Both fighters fell to the ground unconscious, and the Badger Lord nodded. "Say goodbye to the last hour of your respective memories."

He turned and nodded to his hares. "Send the rat on his way before he wakes up. As for Joseph, chain him in the Infirmary, just in case the rage hasn't left him when he comes to. Clean his wounds please."

Gabool was dropped in a boat and floated north with the next breeze while Joseph was chained to a bed in the infirmary by all four paws with Celaena beside him and Springbrooke tending to his injuries.