The grace of a friend

[serenji]

Darmani, the little squirrel, was deeply impressed. He was being taken on a winter tour of the grounds. Right now, him and his new friend Recu were inside the bell tower, and he was looking up. It was a huge tower, with twin bells at the top. Again, Darmani was deeply impressed.

[Recu Foxer]

“Yon Methuselah and Matthias bells. ‘Twas once one bell, yes, the Joseph bell. Matthias, in defeating Cluny the Scourge, cracked yon bell into two. Thus, they were reformed, and twere renamed after yon warrior, and his mentor. Joseph, maker of yon bell at first, was father of Mariel, a young mouse maid turned warrior, yes. Ye see yon bell pull? Though ‘tis old, the end, here, ‘twas her rope, her weapon. Though, now, yon rope splits into two at yon top, yes.”

The fox stopped turning to smile at his listener. It wasn’t often he had a chance to display what he had learned as Librarian.

(I don’t really know what happened to the rope at the end of Redwall, so I made that little part up. But her rope was left as the bell pull. I don’t know how far you’ve read.)

[serenji]

(I'll not list them all, but I've read most all but Eulailia. I can't remember what happens in some of them though, I'll have to reread them.)
Darmani gazed in awe at the bells. "So much history in those two instruments." He turned to the fox, and grinned sheepishly. "You'll have to recite me the stories. I've not heard most of them." The little squirrel started up the steps to examin the bells and the pull. He was telling the truth though. He had never heard of Mossflower's history, seeing as how he grew up outside of it's borders. The only information leaked out of the woods of Mossflower and into the villiage was about a great abbey made of red stone. A single tear broke through the defenses of the squirrel and began a journey down his snout and across a whisker. It hung there, as if contemplating it's decision to break through, and then fell. It splashed on the steps, as Darmani was reminded of his little sister Millany. She may still live, but who knew if she had the heart to travel, and he missed his family so much...

[Recu Foxer]

Recu smiled, glad that his work was paying off. Even if it didn’t, it didn’t mean that he wouldn’t do it, but it was still nice. He turned, starting to ramble off more facts and legends of the tower and the surrounding Abbey, only to turn back to the squirrel in time to see the tear.

“Mon friend, what is wrong, yes? Are ye alright, tell I.” This wasn’t something he had seen before. Before coming to the Abbey, everyone was angry, cruel, happy, many other things that he would rather not think of.

But none had ever been sad before. They might have, if he had seen what his assassinations had left in their wake… but he had never seen someone in tears before. This was new for him.

[serenji]

Darmani looked up. He smiled, as if he had always been happy. "There's nothing wrong Recu. Why would you think that?" He looked up and scrunched his eyes. "Is that a sword slash I see in the wood up there, Recu. Why would someone do that to the scaffolding?" He needed to divert Recu's attention from the tear. Darmani wasn't ready to talk about his past yet, and it seemed like he never would be.

[Recu Foxer]

Recu pursed his lips, then let it drop. If the brush-beast didn’t wish to speak of it, the fox wasn’t going to press it. Heaven knows that he wouldn’t divulge everything either.

“’Tis where Matthias cut yon rope to let yon Joseph Bell fall. Martin’s Sword, ‘twas the blade that did it, yes. A wonderful weapon, have ye seen it?”

[serenji]

"Martin's sword? Don't the warrior traditions state that a warrior should be buried with his sword. How could this Mathias use it?" Darmani knew well the sacred beliefs of warriors. Having been initiated into the order when he escaped from the vermin. He felt a kindo of solomn air fall in the bell tower as he looked down. "Yes, Recu. I would very much like to see this sword."

[Recu Foxer]

“Yes, it is. Yon sword was buried with our warrior. Mon books say that ‘twas stolen, by the sparrows in yon attic. In turn, ‘twas stolen from them by a great adder. Matthias battled yon snake, and killeth it, returning the sword to the Abbey.” As preposterous as it sounded, that’s what was written, and therefore, Recu believed it.

“Come, I shalt show ye.” He led the squirrel to the great tapestry. Standing before it, he pointed at the likeness of the warrior.

“Yon Martin. And there, seeith it? ‘Tis his sword above him.”

[serenji]

Darmani gasped. The warrior, Martin, looked like the one in the story told every year. And the blade. It was a beautifully made weapon. But the sheen on the blade looked different than that of normal steel. "Recu, what is that blade made of?"

[Recu Foxer]

“’Twas said it was from a fallen star. A Badger Lord, Boar the Fighter, crafted yon sword from it, in the forges of Salamandastron.” He smiled at the squirrel’s wonder. “’Tis harder than steel, yes. Many haveth tried to destroy it, yea, to no avail.”

He reached forward, and touched the woven version of the same sword.

“First, ‘twas the blade of Luke, Martin’s father. Yea, it broke, an’ was in need of repair. To think something so wonderful could come from a broken tool, yes?”

[serenji]

"Indeed." Darmani couldn't help a glint of admiration and awe come into his eyes. He looked over the sword, and saw that it was of the finest craftsmanship. Two blood channels on the broad blade. A hilt wrapped in black, and a ruby pommel. It was a beautiful sword, and to think that it has been around for a long time.