Origins Of The Bellmaker: Chapter 6 - Titles and Romance

In Redwall Abbey, the story audience had moved from Great Hall to Cavern Hole as a storm rolled in. Though smaller than Great Hall, it was a much better story-telling room, as the audience could be closer and enjoy the company of Redwallers a bit more.

Joseph took a seat at the table as the lanterns were lit. "I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Just a reminder: Don't ever use the foul language I just used."

Dandin chuckled as Mariel sat in his lap. "I'm certainly enjoying it. You've lived an adventurous life it seems, Joseph."

The old mouse nodded. "Yes, but there's much more to go. After my fight with that rat, I began finding out more about Celaena."

Mariel spoke next. "Celaena... Was she as beautiful as her name?"

Joseph gave a deep chuckle as he looked at his daughter. "Yes she was, and I had great difficulty telling her so. It turns out she had the same problem, but for a different reason..."

The sun rose in a brilliant autumn display of golden rays on the shores of Salamandastron. Joseph slowly came out of his unconscious stupor and then began wishing he hadn't. His jaw was sore, his head and face hurt, and throbs of pain lanced through him from his chest to his footpaws. Reaching up to rub his eyes, Joseph heard a clank as his paws stopped short of his face.

Blinking rapidly, Joseph looked around and found himself shackled to his infirmary bed. He heard some warped voices talking where he thought the door was placed. A huge shape made its way over. "Looks like he's coming around. Free his paws but leave the footpaws chained."

Another shape, much smaller in size, arrived behind him and unchained the manacles holding his paws. He was given some water and Joseph wiped his eyes, looking around the room. His voice was raspy. "Lord Rawnblade? Is that you?"

The badger lord sat down next to him. "Morning, Joseph. We need to have a talk about what happened yesterday."

Joseph nodded slowly. "I can only recall going out to fight some rat. After that it's a red blur and then... Nothing. No name from the rat or anything."

Rawnblade nodded. "You don't recall his name because he never gave it. You did win the battle though, and Celaena remains free."

Joseph tried to sit up but the badger's massive paw forbade him. "It's best not to move Joseph. Springbrooke and Celaena will be back soon. Just rest, and I'll send Brother Bartholomew up to talk with you later."

Joseph nodded. "Thank you. What happened to my staff and dagger?"

Lord Widestripe motioned to the table beside the tall mouse. "The dagger you still have. It's quite a weapon too, even if not designed for that purpose. It's very sharp, as a skinning knife should be, and it's excellent for close-range combat. Your staff lies in ruins on the shore, because you broke it on the searat's back."

Joseph gave a long sigh. "Where am I going to find another staff? I've had that one almost my whole life."

Rawnblade stood up. "I have one in my forge, made from a much stronger wood. When you're able to walk soundly again, you can take it for your own."

The badger left and Joseph fell asleep again for an unknown amount of time. The sun was high in the sky when he awoke again. This time he found Celaena holding his left paw and Springbrooke standing over him.

Joseph went to speak but couldn't form words, so the hare gave him some fresh water. "Drink slowly Joseph. There are some herbs in the water to help heal your cuts and bruises."

Joseph drank the entire bowl and whispered. "What happened to me?"

Springbrooke began replacing his bandages, making Joseph wince with each removal of old bandages. "Your left footpaw has a clean wound, as the dagger went right through. Your chest, thigh, and stomach cuts had to be checked for infection and then sewn up. I couldn't find any poison from the rat's sword blade, and no infections in your cuts either, so you'll be alright."

Joseph nodded as he looked over at the female mouse beside him and back to the female hare. "Thank you. How is Celaena doing?"

Spring let Celaena answer for herself. "I was so worried about you Joseph... I'm so thankful for all you've done to get me away from that evil rat. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Joseph gave a gentle squeeze to Celaena's paw. "We need to have a talk at some point, but for now, just stay here."

There was a knock on the door and a mouse with a white beard and rock-crystal spectacles poked his head inside. "Sorry to interrupt, I was sent here by Lord Rawnblade. Is Joseph awake?"

Joseph waved. "Right here. I would sit up but the Badger Lord has asked me not to move so my wounds heal."

The old mouse came in and unlocked the shackles on Joseph's footpaws. "I'll keep you from moving then. My name is Brother Bartholomew, the resident bellfounder here in Salamandastron."

Joseph's huge paw dwarfed the Brother's paw as they greeted each other. "Nice to meet you. As you may know, I'm Joseph, here to learn how to make bells from you."

Bartholomew smiled. "Once you're healed up we can start that task. This mountain is more than supplied with proper materials and tools to make the highest-quality bells known to all creatures."

Joseph agreed and Bartholomew left to get his materials ready. It took two seasons for Joseph to completely heal up from his injuries, but once he had, he spent from dawn to dusk deep under the mountain in a fire pit hewn out by the hares from the living rock. Celaena would often come by to watch Joseph work, only to get a smile or a nod from the giant mouse.

She was falling for Joseph but was having trouble with telling him so. Joseph wanted to talk with her but he was so busy working with Brother Bartholomew he didn't have the time after lessons were finished.

The older mouse watched his apprentice's work like a hawk, giving him advice on what to do. "Okay, now pour the three ounces of the copper and the four ounces of the tin together into the crucible... Good. Now, mix the two of them together and let them settle for a bit."

Joseph triple-checked the temperature in the pit before mixing the two molten metals and inserting the crucible into the pit. "What kind of bell is being made?"

Bartholomew drank some water from a barrel. "Just a small one for the Infirmary, something for the patients to ring in case they need anything."

Joseph nodded. "I've heard the hares talking about a place called Redwall Abbey... What's it like and where is it located?"

It was like the older mouse was dozens of seasons younger. "It's located deep in Mossflower, and it's the best place honest paws have ever built. Made of red sandstone, it's a massive building that welcomes all with good hearts. I've only been there a few times, but the hospitality is second to none. The food Joseph... Oh the food! Tarts, pies, crumbles, cheeses, breads, it's all grown in their orchard and gardens. Their drinks are brewed in their cellars from apples, pears, and all manner of fruit. Elderberry wine, October Ale, strawberry fizz, and so many more. Joseph, if I could tell you everything they had to eat and drink there, you would be my age when I finished."

Joseph laughed, the echo booming around the chamber. "It sounds like I'll need to visit sometime."

Brother Bartholomew smiled. "You really should. They lack a bell tower, instead using a hollow log to call in the residents."

Joseph checked the crucible. "Maybe I can make a bell for them one day."

Bartholomew nodded as he checked on the metals. "Looks good, Joseph. Now pour the mix into the molding... Good, not a drop spilled. It will take a few days to cool, but once it does we can present it to Lord Rawnblade for inspection."

Joseph put the tools in a cooling barrel and poured some water over his head. "Sounds great to me. Are there any engravings to be made?"

Brother Bartholomew smiled up at the big mouse. "Such a willingness to learn... Yes, engravings can be done, but that won't be taught for a while yet."

The Infirmary bell was a huge success, and Bartholomew and Joseph were asked to make more for each important room of the mountain fortress. Over the next eleven seasons Joseph learned everything Bartholomew could teach him, and during the summer a celebration was held.

Brother Bartholomew was speaking at the night-time ceremony to all the residents and guests staying at Salamandastron. "My apprentice Joseph has completed his training under me, but there is one final task he must complete before he can truly be called a bellmaker. Joseph, join me please."

Joseph, now 45 seasons of age, walked to the platform with Celaena on his paw. Bartholomew nodded to him. "Through your hard work and eagerness, I hereby award you the title of Bellmaker. Your final task is to help other citizens by fashioning a bell for them on your own, wherever it may be. Are you ready?"

Joseph gave a small bow to his instructor. "I am ready, and I accept not only the title, but also the challenge."

There was loud cheering as the celebration kicked off, and there was even a jesting contest after much drink had been consumed. Sergeant Willoughby was in fine form, and he was bellowing his latest joke to the crowd. Then the punch line came. "The only thing that has lower value is an oar slave!"

Everything stopped, and all eyes turned toward Celaena, sitting next to Joseph with a horrified look on her face. Flinging her bowl of celery and flan onto the sergeant, she ran off wailing. The sergeant blinked a few times and then tried to form words, but couldn't due to his inebriation.

Joseph stood up so fast it tipped the table over, sending Sergeant Willoughby tumbling to the sand. Picking up the sergeant he slammed the hare onto a nearby table and growled to him, almost touching noses. "Drinking or not, you KNEW better than to tell that kind of joke. You KNOW what she's been through, Sergeant! Now I have to go clean up your mess! I hope you're proud of yourself!"

Joseph stalked off after Celaena, leaving a befuddled Willoughby a little shocked though he was slightly more sober. "Was it something I said?"

Lord Rawnblade growled. "Inside, Sergeant. NOW."

The hare looked over at the Badger Lord. "But Lord Rawnblade…"
The badger scowled at him. "I won't tell you again."

As they went inside the mountain fortress, Joseph followed the tracks to where Celaena had run, down to the shoreline where the only lighting was from the moon overhead. "Celaena?"

She looked at him, sniffling. "Why did he do that Joseph? What made him say such a thing?"

Joseph sat beside the female mouse, holding her to him. "Strong drink makes everyone a dithering idiot, Celaena. It doesn't make it right, and I'm really sorry you had to go through that."

Celaena held Joseph close and wept. "He was so nice when I first got here."

Joseph rubbed her back and wound up carrying her inside. She was so inconsolable she eventually cried herself to sleep. Joseph stayed with her until she had fallen asleep, and by that time the celebration had ended.

The torches had long since burned out and everyone had gone to bed as a tall shadow made its way down to the shore, sitting down on the sand. It was Joseph, and he sighed before talking to no one in particular. "So now what do I do? I'm officially a Bellmaker, and have to make a bell for someone as my final task. Then there's Celaena... How do I tell her how I feel? I was never taught how to do that..."

His ears twitched and he turned to see Celaena coming toward him. "Joseph? Can we talk?"

He nodded and helped her sit down. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

The female mouse, now 42 seasons old, looked at the older mouse. "First, I'm sorry about what happened tonight. I should have controlled myself a little better."

Joseph shook his head. "You have nothing to apologize for. Lord Rawnblade is punishing the Sergeant by having him clean all the barracks and dishes from all the meals for the next twelve seasons. Harsh probably, but a lesson had to be taught."

Celaena smiled a little. "Thank you, but I mean what are we going to do about us? We've been friends for almost twelve seasons now. Do you not like me at all?"

Joseph looked her over. Celaena had fully healed after six full seasons, and she had quite the figure for a mouse. "What makes you ask that?"

Celaena sighed as she looked at the gently crashing waves. "You rescued me from slavery and haven't shown any interest in me since then. Am I too ugly for you?"

Joseph frowned. "I was never taught about romance or courting or any of that. It was always fishing or farming or foraging, all day long."

The almond eyes of Joseph looked into the hazel eyes of Celaena. "It's not that I don't like you or that you're ugly. You're very beautiful and I do like you, but I don't know how to express those feelings."

Celaena took his huge paws. "I never thought I would ever be a free mouse, but now I am, thanks to you. All my life the only things I've known are pain, suffering, starvation, heartache, loss, and loneliness. Since I've been around you, I feel things I don't understand, but they're far better than what I used to know. I also don't know how to tell you my feelings, but I can say that I have wanted you by my side since I first saw you."

Joseph smiled. "That means a lot, Celaena. Thank you, but where do we go from here?"

Celaena smiled, a blush on her cheeks. "If you can't tell me how you feel, then show me how you feel."

Joseph didn't realize he was getting closer to the female mouse. "How do I do that?"

Celaena held the male mouse's paws tightly as the distance between them closed. "I'm sure you can find a way."

They got no further, because their lips met in the bright moonlight. The chills that rocketed down Joseph's spine and the fire that burned in Celaena's heart were so strong that the two mice pulled away from each other.

Joseph stared at Celaena in complete shock. "Wow... That was amazing."

Celaena's reaction was completely different. She grabbed Joseph's cloak, pulled him to her, and kissed him again. Joseph was surprised but Celaena had a vice-like grip on him, as if she never wanted to let him go.

The female mouse eventually did break the kiss due to lack of air, and she looked Joseph right in his eyes. "I don't know any other way to express my feelings Joseph, at least at this point anyway. I want you by my side for as long as we're alive. I... I guess you could say I... love you..."

Joseph was shocked. "You love me?"

Celaena nodded. "I just can't tell you how much, or even what that feeling is, but I've tried to make it obvious."

Joseph smiled. "That explains why you were always hanging around the bellfounding pit."

Celaena giggled, and Joseph took her paws again. "You could say I love you as well, but with all the bellfounding training, I wasn't able to tell you until now."

Celaena sat herself closer to Joseph and laid her head on his shoulder. "So now what? We've asked this three times, and haven't figured out an answer."

Joseph stood up and helped Celaena stand as well. "We go inside and get some rest. I'm curious about this Noonvale place you're supposedly from."

Celaena gasps. "Yes! I want to see my home as soon as possible! Can we leave tomorrow?"

Joseph carried Celaena inside. "Possibly, but try and calm down. Otherwise you won't be able to sleep tonight."

The two mice went to their own room to get some sleep before undertaking the journey to Celaena's home, a place she had not seen for nearly forty seasons.